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Original Microman Series

Microman Base Series - Microman Rescue Secret Base (c.1979)

 

Rescue Microman

Microman Series

 

1974

Microman Zone
First year included the Founder Microman, Micro Kit Machines and the Conning Tower.

 

1975

Project Victory
Second year saw more Microman and several new sub series such as the Acroyears, Titans and Victory series.

 

1976

Spy Magician

The line finally came into its own during the third year with new figures and the classic Microman Transfer Fortress.

 

1977

Command
A watershed year for Microman series, this year saw some of the best toys for the line. 

 

1978

Police Keeper

Takara tried new design and direction for the series with the released of Hoodman and Arden. 

 

1979

Rescue Team
Takara "rescue" attempt for the line with the Rescue Team Microman.  This year also saw updated of the old favorite like the New Tower Base.

 

1980

Punch & Blizzard Man
The last year of the original series saw the shift in the line to more robot like look and larger figures.

 

New Microman Series

 

1981

New Microman
Takara reset the line and relaunch the series under the New Microman banner.

 

1982

Micro Robot
Micro Robot series became the main focus of the new line.  Takara also tried to cash in on the "pla-mo" popularity with Real Type and Micro Borg.

 

1983

Micro Change
The "transformation" for Microman series began with the Micro Change series.

 

1984

Transformers

Takara continued with the successful Micro Change series but the changing of the guard was inevitable.

PACKAGED

Rescue Base packaging

Microman Secret Base Story

In 19XX, Amazon Acroyear was found to be responsible for the depletion of resources in the Amazon Rain Forest.  Microman Police Keeper found that the Amazon monsters were Acroyear Presidents that were modified by Satan Arden.   Microman began to expedite the plan to build the Secret Base in Mt. Fuji. The Secret Base was divided into three different sectors each with four subsections.  They are known by their acronyms as CRIM, SHED and GLFT.

Rescue Base Secret

Secret "alarm" light and spinning turnstile that can store Microman ready for action.

 

Secret door launch Microman MB-1 Rescue Base vehicle.

 

The secret hidden wall on the right spin open to reveal secret gunner station. While the Secret Base didn't appear to have flight mode, it was portray in several drawing flying through the air via rocket booster under the base much like a flying mountain fortress.

 

Microman base was one of the key elements in the original Microman line. The concept of small aliens set up base in your backyard or bedroom was one of the exciting part of Microman story for many kids.  Each Microman series since 1974 had some type of bases in the line-up. Rescue Team series was no difference and featured two new Microman bases - the Rescue Secret Base and the New Conning Tower Base (retooled of 1974 Conning Tower Base).  These two Rescue series bases would be the last of Microman bases until the Micro Station Base released in 1999 for the Magne Power series.

Rescue Base or Rescue Secret Base had clear dome design and sit in the rock of Mt. Fuji.  Rescue Base had many play features pack into its compact size.  (The Secret Base was much smaller than last year Build Base).  The base had series of radar dishes that when trigger would activate the one of the Secret Base's features. The main lever radar dish (on the left side) activate the light and rotate the large chrome antennae, the back radar dish (back side of base) launch secret MB-1 vehicle and the front radar dish spin the hidden secret wall to reveal secret gun station.  Rescue Base even came with Amazon Cannon spring loaded missiles that can be used to shoot the radar dish to activate the base secret features.  Beside these mechanism features, the base also had several static feature such as missile launcher, open able dome top, observation post, sentry post and computer station for Microman figures.

   Amazon Cannon

The good old day when battery was included but unfortunately this one was over 20 years old. The base required 1.5 Volt C-size battery for the flashing light and turnstile feature.

Rescue Base had very beautiful design with the dome-look of the old sci-fi design combined with the modern (then) array of radar dish.  The clear red used for the radar dish antennae and the computer screens really well accent the gray fortress-like look of the Rescue base.  Though not as large as the Build Base and not as exotic looking as the Conning Tower Base, the Secret Base compact design and play features captured much of the original Microman theme and design trend.  However, it must be note that the old exploration base from the early 70's series had clearly changed into militaristic base by the late 1970's. Rescue Base toy came out at the wane of Microman series, and many "dead stock" can easily be found at reasonable price in secondary market.