Skip to main content

Identifying Funrise Micro Action Jets


Funrise "Micro Action" jets are often found mixed in with collections of "Micro Machines" toys. While similar in size and sculpting, the Funrise jets are easily distinguished from their Galoob counterparts:

PAINT and DECO: While Galoob painted many of its jets in realistic color schemes they also used wilder patterns and bright neon colors to catch the attention of their target audience. Funrise did not use bright colors. Most Funrise jets primarily came in one of two realistic color schemes: green camouflage or plain gray. Galoob was also more varied and detailed in the deco printed onto their planes while Funrise jets have much simpler deco. Lastly, the tip of the front "landing gear" on Galoob jets is often painted black to represent the tire. This is never seen on Funrise jets.

WHEELS: A quick and easy way to distinguish Funrise's products from those of Galoob is to look at the wheels. The wheel block on Funrise jets is always unpainted gray plastic and will be marked with "(C) 1988 (or 1989) FUNRISE MADE IN CHINA." The wheel block on Galoob jets is painted to match the color of the jet's underside and has two parallel grooves as well as the Galoob markings and date, "(C) 198* GALOOB MD CHINA." Galoob wheels have a visible silver axle at the center while Funrise wheels are solid in the center with no visible axle.

Galoob top (notice block is painted and has two grooves), Funrise below (notice unpainted block without grooves)

Galoob right (notice silver axle at center of wheel), Funrise left (notice absence of silver in center)

Funrise produced a subline called "Micro Action Jet Ring Squadron." The jets in this line were the same molds and paints schemes as the regular "Micro Action" jets with new wheel blocks. These wheel blocks were larger, extending further forward. This added area was to accommodate a socket that could be plugged onto pegs on rings to allow the planes to be worn on fingers and "flown" around. These wheel blocks were also unpainted gray plastic and marked "(C) 1989 FUNRISE MADE IN CHINA." Packaging photos and online auctions seem to indicate that all the single-axle jet molds were available in this "ring" style.

"Ring squadron" version on left (note extended wheel block), regular version on right 

Another angle of "ring squadron" wheel block

Funrise also produced a line of "super jets" or "bombers and cargo planes". These models had a different wheel arrangement with two axles and four wheels. There is a black plate that holds the two axles in place in the wheel block (which is part of the plane mold). This plate is molded with some mechanical details and the company markings. For some reason, these are not marked with the Funrise name, rather they are marked "(C) DELES MADE IN CHINA." All examples I have seen are marked 1989.



The photo below shows a size comparison between a single-axle jet (on left) and a double-axle jet (on right):

Labels:

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 14, 2020 at 4:39 PM

    I found one of these in my basement. Any idea if anyone is interested in collecting one?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Introduction

Funrise's "Micro Action" line of miniature vehicles and playsets was a contemporary competitor to Galoob's well-known "Micro Machines." As a child, I received the Funrise "Micro Action Jet Aircraft Carrier" for Christmas. The carrier also came with two miniature jets. This large but simple toy and the two tiny jets became the center of my imaginative play. Not long after, I got the Funrise "Micro Action Space Shuttle Launch Set" and NASA's shuttle joined as an integral part of the stories I played out on the floor of my room. While I had a greater number of Galoob's toys, it is the Funrise toys that I look back upon most fondly. When I wanted to reacquire these long lost toys of childhood I started looking for information on the internet. I discovered that there is not nearly as much information about "Micro Machines" as one might expect and nothing dedicated to Funrise's "Micro Action" series. As I'...
1 comment
Read more

Micro Action Packaging

The single-axle jets were sold in a variety of ways including 2-packs, 4-packs, 5-packs and a 12-pack in a reusable carry case. Two jets were featured in some of the "Micro Action Cars, Trucks and Planes" sets (along with two road signs and three human figures). In addition, two jets were included with one version of the "Micro Action Jet Aircraft Carrier" and four jets with another version, and one jet was included with the "Micro Action Air Base." Below are some packaging examples. "Micro Jet Magnifiers" 2-pack (dated 1988), front and back: "Micro Action Jet Planes Collector Series I" 2-pack (dated 1989), front and back: "Micro Action Jet Planes Collector Series II" 2-packs (dated 1989), 2 fronts and 1 back: "Micro Action Jet Planes Collector Series II" 5-pack (dated 1989), front and back: Double-axle jets, the so-called "super jets," were available in 4-packs. The card and plastic b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Micro Action Space Shuttle Launch Set

The "Micro Action Space Shuttle Launch Set" contained 6 pieces: - NASA Shuttle Orbiter Vehicle - External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters (all one piece) - Launchpad/Crawler - Truck - Tank Trailer - Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft The back of the package was designed to be a small "playmat" for use with the vehicles. The shuttle orbiter has opening cargo bay doors and can be pegged onto either the tank/booster assembly or onto the back of the Boeing 747. The orbiter/tank/booster combination can also be plugged into the launchpad/crawler for launch. The shuttle orbiter has no wheels and is marked "(C) 1989 MADE IN CHINA" on the underside. The left wing is marked USA while the right wing is marked NASA. The Boeing 747 has the double-axle wheel assembly and is marked "(C) 1989 DELES MADE IN CHINA." The left wing is marked USA and the tail is marked NASA. The tank/booster assembly has no manufacturer/...
Post a Comment
Read more