LED Micro Rocket Base with Shining Edison (10/29/2000)

Takara released L-26 Micro Rocket Base on October 29th, 2000 as part of the new Shining Tector series. Rocket Base was a mobile rocket launch pad that can transform into a base. The booster section of the rocket is in smoke clear plastic. Takara also included a full-size sheet of gold color stickers to decorate the vehicle and playset. The toy also came with a mini-size comic book which also double as a catalog.

Micro Rocket Base was a reissue of the Transformers Countdown toy with new sticker and color scheme. Takara unfortunately did not modify the toy to fit the new Microman figures, and created some awkward fit problems, most notably the rear gunner station on the vehicle. On the package box and instructions, Takara simply stands the figure on the seat, demonstrating the scale deficiencies. LED Powers Microman figure actually will fit into this particular seat by adjusting the feet of the figure, however once the figure is seated it can become very difficult to remove. It actually amazing that the toy even fit Microman figure at all since the Rocket Base was originally design for the small 2" tall Transformers figures.

The rocket can be remove from the base and transform into a spaceship. The front section of the rocket open to reveal a cockpit which will seat a LED Powers figure. The figure can be seat inside the rocket with the door open or close. The booster section can be split into two halves and the side panel open up and can be use as passenger section. While the instruction show the figures standing inside the small slots, they can also be seated using the door panels. The rocket reminds one of the vintage Microman toy Hoodman MicroNASA Space Shuttle.

Rocket Base also transform into a base for Microman. When transform, the play set is actually quite large and can take up quite a bit of display space. The base itself is not very exciting and actually look slightly out of scale with Microman figure. The base came with several ramps and runways which were originally design for Transformers cars and helicopter.

While it is hard to fault Takara for trying to save money by using the old mold during the company financial trouble period, one can't help but feel that Takara could done more to make the toy more "Micro-friendly". While the rocket does tie in nicely with the old Hoodman theme (if that was the intention), there are others old Transformers toys that would have work better with Microman figures. In the end if you buy this toy expecting to get top notch Microman playset like last year Micro-Station then you will be very disappointed besides the nifty Microman stickers, this toy is essentially a reissue of Transformers Countdown.

L-26 Rocket Base comes with exclusive Shining Edison. Shining Edison is done in dark clear green color. He also has green color LED bulb. He is probably the only reason many fans will buy the Rocket Base.