playmobil

Zoinks! Could this be the Scariest thing you see this Halloween? [Scooby Doo Collectable figures]

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I have written previously about PLAYMOBIL figures, and how they played a large part in my childhood, back in the mid 70’s. This was in the days before minifigures, so I dont feel like I was being disloyal. That said, my parents have continued to make the ocassional purchase to ensure fresh play experiences for visiting friends. (They also have custodianship of my brother’s and my childhood LEGO® collection)

I was a little surprised earlier in the year, to discover that PLAYMOBIL were expanding on their blind bag experiences, by adding 12 villains from the Scooby Doo to the lineup. There are 12 Scooby Doo Blind Bag sets, containing various classic viallains, as well as several sets containing the Scooby Gang.

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Rambling Brick Turns Four

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On January 30, 2016, the Rambling Brick was born. Four years ago, give or take a couple of hours. Please pardon a little indulgence as I take a quick look through some highlights of the last 12 months.

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I Can’t Believe It’s Not LEGO: Playmobil, in Competition or Comparison?

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I haven’t only played with LEGO in my life.  Back in Christmas 1974 we received our first Playmobil Knights sets.  We were frustrated by the legs being locked together, and I managed to give one of our figures independently moving legs.  It took quite a bit of force!

First Generation Playmobil Knights c. 1974

I hadn’t ever really considered Playmobil to be a competitor with LEGO as I grew up.  One was for building with, one was for role play/ setting up dioramas. That was easy in 1975, before mini figures with silly faces and moving limbs existed. And that seems to be how it has been culturally in Australia.  LEGO is available in most toy shops and department stores, and large retailers (Thinking target, Kmart, Big W)  While Playmobil has almost exclusively been in the domain of the smaller, independent toy shop.  We have continued to pick up the occasional playmobil set, especially for Grandma and Grandpa’s holiday house, where our children would often play with them.  With the exception of a nurse in 1978, be have basically stuck with variations of the medieval theme.

I knew Playmobil had continued to be a thing, but I hadn’t really worried about it.  Then coming home through Belgium in 2016, I saw an orange Porsche 911 on the shelves at the Duty Free Shop in the airport.porsche

This struck me as a little too coincidental. Continue reading →