Micro Action Jets - A Collector's Guide

This is the “Super Stealth” vehicle/playset/carry case produced by the Imperial Toy Corporation for use with their “Steel Screamers” die-cast micro jets and planes. The example I own is black but it was also available in dark blue as well as gray. When closed, it can be used as a large plane with functional and retractable landing gear on the underside. When opened, it has compartments for storing micro jets on one side and a series of runways on the other side for use as an airbase playset. There is even a “take-off ramp” that can be raised up. Interestingly, while the set came with 4 Imperial die-cast jets, no Imperial planes are pictured on the box. Instead, the photograph on the back of the box features a mix of Galoob and Funrise planes. Included in the photograph are: Funrise F-4 Phantom, Funrise F-19 Stealth, Funrise MIG 238N Flogger, Galoob Boeing 747 (NASA and commercial versions), Galoob F-4 Phantom (2 different versions), Galoob F-15 Eagle, Galoob B-1B Bomber, Galoob Conc...

In addition to Galoob and Funrise, the Imperial Toy Corporation also produced a line of micro vehicles (including military jets) in the late 1980’s. Unlike the competition, Imperial made their vehicles out of die-cast metal and called them “Steel Screamers.” But Imperial’s metal planes had one big thing in common with the competition: they’re the same sculpts as the competition. Imperial appears to have used jets from both Galoob and Funrise to create their line. I’m not sure if Imperial somehow acquired the molds the other two companies used to make the jets or if Imperial made new molds from the toys themselves, but as you can plainly see below, Imperial’s jets are identical in sculpt to those produced by Galoob and Funrise. Even the deco used is often similar to the originals. Imperial did make one significant change by altering the wheels/landing gear and adding a small, functional axle with two wheels to the nose of each jet allowing them to actually roll around. Imperial produ...