Tag: Ecto-1A

Kenner ECTO-1A Original Box Artwork

Spengs2 Comments

Naturally on an important day for Ecto-Containment (because its about me :p) a Kenner and The Real Ghostbusters collectible surfaces. As Kenner held the license (would be cool to see that contract on-line) for basically every Ghostbusters toy of the era (just about would never happen today) and Ghostbusters II brought us a new vehicle (ECTO-1A) and equipment (Slime Blower) Kenner had the opportunity to design/update their ECTO-1.

As I’ve previously written about Kenner’s ECTO-1A is their ECTO-1 with new stickers. Something that bothered me if I thought too much about it at 12 years old. I’ve come to understand as an adult it might have been a financial drain for Kenner to design part of the new roof equipment. It wasn’t like the toys were suppose to be movie accurate. They’re toys, not the mostly over $100 USD collectibles we’ve had since.

kenner-real-ghostbusters-ecto1a-art-07

Even if ECTO-1A had excessive new decals, it was a new product and new packaging requires art. I might have bought just a cardboard box back then that read “New Ghostbusters toy.” Adults won’t, as Kenner knew a lot better then me, their talented and creative associates came up with the above art/copy for the front of the box.

I think if the 86% of my brain dedicated to Ghostbusters remembers, this artwork was for sale on eBay during the late 20th Century. Most ghostheads haven’t seen it since, now in the twenty teens thanks to Kenner Collector‘s Dan Flarida, he’s written and posted detailed photos of this ECTO-1A original box artwork.

Photo Source: Kenner Collector

Ghostbusters II VHS Insert

Spengs1 Comment

ecto1agb2vhsinsert

I was 12 when my uncle and aunt took me and my almost four year old cousin (who back in the day loved all things Ghostbusters, I’m sure because of me) to see Ghostbusters II on November 3, 1989. Unless it was always a misconception to me, Ghostbusters II was not playing in northeast New Jersey that past June 16. Pre-internet I followed Ghostbusters II debuting in nearby theaters as close as possible. I had this sticker/scrap book where as far as the “scrap booking” aspect went I’d cut out Ghostbusters II printed material (mainly from our state newspaper) and place it in this once keepsake I’m pretty sure I no longer have. As November 3, 1989 got closer the countdown (daily the paper’s ad would read something like four days until…) was on until the movie premiered, at least in Nutley, NJ.

If you’ve read any number of my Kenner The Real Ghostbusters pages you already knew I was moving beyond the toy lines. As my then young cousin had some Kenner toys I didn’t have (ie: Police Academy) and Ecto-1A I could enjoy them when we’d go to there house. As we inch closer to the 25 anniversary of Ghostbusters II their are a handful of related items I can share through Ectocontainment.Read More »

Kenner Instructions: Ecto-1A

SpengsLeave a comment

I never owned a Kenner Ecto-1A as a kid. As previously talked about I was older and was into other franchise properties and their toys. While I may have seen Ecto-1A in Kay-Bee stores. by then the only Kenner The Real Ghostbusters toy produced I wanted and would own is the Ecto-Charger.

A really younger cousin who I probably got into Ghostbusters/The Real Ghostbusters received one. Probably because I was at his then house and I was the resident Ghostbusters authority I helped him “assemble” Kenner’s ECTO-1A. and maybe apply some of the decals. I may not have expressed it out loud, I was disappointed that a new toy looked like the old one. It may have been about this time I began to get marketing and business.

When I was collecting Ghostbusters/The Real Ghostbusters toys during 2011 I came upon a eBay listing and bought an Ecto-1A. That was one of those times I should have been patient knowing eventually another better Ecto-1A will come up for sale. Mine was mostly complete, some of the contents had seen better days. The instructions in particular were really aged. You probably wouldn’t notice it 100% if I hadn’t brought it up. I’ve cleaned each page up and went over the illustrations where needed to clean them like brand new. It isn’t perfect, considering what my original looks like, I’m pleased with the results.

The slime decals were another issue, the original seller had been honest about them. Something happened with them, almost like a run off, second impression kind of thing. It was very noticeable with Slimer, pink slime spots, and rear “glass” window decals. They were also aged. I’ve cleaned them and somewhat restored the originality of this decal sheet. I’ve said this before, I would need a graphics tablet to make sure I didn’t completely ruin my sheet. Except for the Slimer impression I like the “double” pink slime spots.

I’ve taken my original 6 page Ecto-1A Instructions, scanned them, and made them into 4 PNG files. I’ve also scanned and included the two cleaned up/restored as possible decal sheets.

More Ecto Toys

SpengsLeave a comment

ecto500

I had a couple appointments this past week, one which took me out of town. In between and afterwards I’ve been working on the next two pages from the Kenner “chapter” of the Toys section. I spent the better part of the afternoon and evening on it today.

With the number of ecto vehicles Kenner produced I’m creating multiple pages to organize the toys and write ups.

Earlier in the week I wrote about Ecto-1, Ecto 2, and Ecto 3 on the Ecto Toys page. Today we take a look at ECTO-500, Ghost Sweeper which Kenner probably should have called an Ecto Sweeper, and ECTO-1A.

The third page will focus on the Ecto Bomber™. In the fourth and final page about the ecto vehicles that were made we’ll look at Kenner’s haunted rides.