Category: Ectocontainment

Ectocontainment Recognition: Kenner Collector

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kcbanner11

One of the goals of scanning and uploading the Kenner instructions I own was to share them not only with ghostheads, but with Kenner/collector fans too. As I wrote about on July 6, 2012 (Can You Tell Me How To Get To Kenner St.?) Dan Flarida and John Wooten run the largest (and maybe only) comprehensive site about Kenner and for Kenner collecting. One of the features of Kenner Collector are Kenner’s instructions for their various toy lines. Missing from the line up are The Real Ghostbusters instructions. Being that I mostly could, I wanted to help fill in that section.

I wrote both Dan and John about the instructions. As they aren’t PDFs they could use them how they like or let other Kenner fans know about what i’ve been doing here and what I’m still looking for. Coincidentally a year to the day that I shared and wrote about Kenner Collector Dan wrote a blog entry (Ectocontainment.com Looking For Kenner Instructions) about the site, myself, and the instructions.

It’s appreciated. As I told them when I have new related Kenner The Real Ghostbusters content I’d be happy to share that with them and the Kenner community as well.

Photo Credit: Kenner Collector

Kenner Instructions: Ecto-Charger Pack

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ectocharge

When it came to toys based on Ghostbusters II Kenner didn’t fully capitalize on the potential opportunities. Even with a The Real Ghostbusters episode, Partners In Slime which has the most Ghostbusters II influence.

Kenner marketed the Ecto-Charger Pack as the official one The Real Ghostbusters wear. Unless the characters in the series were suppose to wear them and at some point that changed over at Columbia Pictures Television/DIC Entertainment they never wore Ecto-Charger Packs. Maybe that’s the reason a Ghostbusters II decal was included.

I’ve taken the original 4 page Ecto-Charger Pack Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files. I’ve also scanned and included the decal sheet.

Kenner Instructions: Ghost Grab-A-Meter

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When it came to The Real Ghostbusters toy weapons and tying them into Ghostbusters II their was only one you could say is directly from the movie. That’s the Ecto-Charger.

The Ghost Grab-A-Meter on the other hand while not exactly based on equipment from Ghostbusters II reminds me of a Slime Scoop merged with a Giga Meter.

When Kenner came up with the Ghost Grab-A-Meter they opted to make it more interesting then just another claw toy that can grab an object. With only one The Real Ghostbusters weapon/action toy to go, Kenner was all in. That’s because the Ghost Grab-A-Meter is also a missile launcher!

I’ve taken the original 4 page Ghost Grab-A-Meter Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files. I’ve also scanned and included the decal sheet.

Looking For Kenner Instructions Part 2

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kennerwereallydocare

On June 6 I wrote a blog entry about the Kenner instructions I was (and still am) looking for. I made due with what I had next, provided the majority of vehicle instructions, and provided what I consider rare instruction gems, all four Gooper Ghost Instructions.

I knew from there I have and will be able to share a few more instructions. Unfortunately I don’t have them all, if their were instructions for the rest of them. I’m reaching out to other ghostheads and the Kenner communities. if you have any of these instructions, please leave a comment.

1. Ghostpopper

These rarely come up for sale, I’ve seen less then 5 on eBay in the last 3 years. When I was a serious collector in 2011, I was able to buy one from a toy business out of England. It isn’t fully complete, I do have the toy in a European Kenner box, and some foam poppers. Decals had been previously applied. I’m assuming its instructions are long gone. Before this, I hadn’t owned a Ghostpopper since I was a kid.

2. NutronaBlaster

I thought the one I bought as a collector was complete, it isn’t. It’s pretty basic, the toy is complete.

3. WaterZapper

Its possible even when Kenner originally made them and they were all mint in the box the WaterZapper didn’t come with paper instructions. After all it is a squirt gun one fills with water. The instructions are sorta on the back of the box.

4. Ecto-Blaster

I thought the one I bought as a collector was complete, Where have we heard that before? I have a complete toy and its box, that’s about it. I feel this “complex” The Real Ghostbusters toy would have had instructions.

As I’m updating the site I’ll try to make “sorta instructions” with the toys boxes. Naturally I would prefer to have scans of the paper instructions that came with the original toys.

If you can help or know someone who has these instructions, please leave a comment. It would be very much appreciated.

Kenner Instructions: GhostZapper

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Before Kenner sold the real ghostbusting essentials ie: proton pack, ghost trap they came out with a projector toy. Which seemed more common in the 1980s then today.

GhostZapper is a “creative light and sound” toy. How could a kid (without a proton pack yet) not like a toy that resembled a nutrona wand, project ghosts, and make sounds that had to bother anyone older then eleven?

GhostZapper also included a film cartridge. When the cartridge wheel is inserted into GhostZapper 6 ghost images (one at a time of course) could be projected onto pretty much any surface. Ghosts included Slimer, Stay-Puft, Gozer, (yes Gozer, sweet right?) Terror Dog, a large skull head, and get this Slug!

If projecting Gozer onto a wall wasn’t enough, the GhostZapper included a small button you could press back and forth to animate each slide. Mainly the mouth or eyes.

A knob on the side of GhostZapper can be set to one of four “zapping” sounds. When the trigger is pressed the ghostly images appear and the zapping sounds are heard.

I’ve taken the original 4 page GhostZapper Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files. I’ve also scanned and included the decal sheet.

While the GhostZapper film cartridge can’t exactly be duplicated I’ve included a high resolution photo of a brand new, straight out of a mint in box one.

Kenner Instructions: Gooper Ghosts – Green Ghost

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In 1988 Kenner released a Green Ghost Gooper Ghost.

I don’t know why Kenner was still calling Slimer Green Ghost in 1988. Like its carded figure the box reads “known as Slimer in the TV series ‘The Real Ghostbusters’.”

Gooper Ghost: Slimer has a modified proton pack (why did he need one?) with two rotating Nutrona Blasters™ and a large plunging button.

When slime (Ecto-plasm) is emptied into Gooper Ghost: Slimer it can slime a hero figure by pushing down on the proton pack.

I didn’t own a Gooper Ghost: Slimer around 10 years old. The one I own as a fan and collector was won through a popular internet auction site. This Gooper Ghost: Slimer was originally sold in Canada. The instructions are in English and French.

I’ve taken the original 4 page Green Ghost Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files. I’ve also scanned and included the decal sheet.

Kenner Instructions: Gooper Ghosts – Sludge Bucket

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In 1987 Kenner released three larger ghosts as part of the Gooper Ghost™ line. These three ghosts came in boxes instead of being packaged in a card. Each figure came with 5 ounces of Ecto-plazm™ “play gel” and in the case of Banshee Bomber a play mat.

Gooper Ghost: Sludge Bucket gets its name because it can hold Ecto-plasm in its mouth.

I’ve taken the original 4 page Sludge Bucket Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files. Sludge Bucket doesn’t have decals to apply.

Kenner Instructions: Gooper Ghosts – Banshee Bomber

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In 1987 Kenner released three larger ghosts as part of the Gooper Ghost™ line. These three ghosts came in boxes instead of being packaged in a card. Each figure came with 5 ounces of Ecto-plazm™ “play gel” and in the case of Banshee Bomber a play mat.

When slime (Ecto-plasm) is emptied into Gooper Ghost: Banshee Bomber it can slime a hero figure when its jaw is pulled open.

I’ve taken the original 4 page Banshee Bomber Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files.

Banshee Bomber comes with an iconic The Real Ghostbusters play mat based on The Real Ghostbusters promotional art work. I’ve included a scan of the original image which was printed on a material that can be easily washed.

Banshee Bomber doesn’t have decals to apply.

Kenner Instructions: Gooper Ghosts – Squisher

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In 1987 Kenner released three larger ghosts as part of the Gooper Ghost™ line. These three ghosts came in boxes instead of being packaged in a card. Each figure came with 5 ounces of Ecto-plazm™ “play gel” and in the case of Banshee Bomber a play mat.

In 1988 Kenner released a Green Ghost Gooper Ghost.

Squisher has posable arms to lift a hero figure across its mouth. If it feels nasty which happens at least once during play time Squisher lifts a The Real Ghostbusters figure into its mouth using the bottom teeth. The lift happens by moving Squisher’s tail up and down.

I’ve taken the original 4 page Squisher Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files. Squisher doesn’t have decals to apply.

Gooper Ghosts Goldmine

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When I first started scanning and providing Kenner’s The Real Ghostbusters toy instructions it wasn’t organized to how I’ve written about the vehicles, play sets, and role playing toys. Because I didn’t think to do that and my collection isn’t currently displayed. Early on I just provided easily accessible and favorite to me instructions. I also didn’t know what instructions I had to share. One day I went through most of the collection and from that point on i’ve shared the instructions to how I originally wrote about the toys.

With the next updates to come I hadn’t checked those The Real Ghostbusters toys to see if they had instructions. Partially because of time when I was going through the other toys and going by a Kenner web site. Its possible even they didn’t know these toys had instructions. As The Real Ghostbusters toys are only a small part of their overall site.

Yesterday I went through the four Gooper Ghosts boxes and came across what I feel are rare gems in the Kenner and Ghostbusters/The Real Ghostbusters communities. Each box had the original set of instructions! I’ve scanned them all and cleaned them up. In the next Kenner instructions updates I’ll be adding Squisher, Banshee Bomber, Sludge Bucket, and Green Ghost.

Kenner Instructions: Wicked Wheelie

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Kenner produced and sold two vehicles that weren’t meant to be used specifically by the hero figures. Each of the two Haunted Vehicles™ seemed normal enough at first, but when any of the hero figures were near, they could become scary to haunt The Real Ghostbusters. Ahhhh!!!

Wicked Wheelie is an average motorcycle rider with questionable fashion sense. Kenner calls his ride a motorcycle, let’s be honest. It’s a scooter.

I’ve taken the original 4 page Wicked Wheelie Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 3 PNG files. Wicked Wheelie doesn’t have decals to apply.