Memory Alpha
Register
Advertisement
Memory Alpha
Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)
Galoob

Galoob was founded as Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. in 1954 in San Francisco, California and was reported to be the third-largest toy maker in the US at the time of its acquisition by toy giant Hasbro in 1998. [1] Since then, Galoob's logo has continued to appear on the packaging of a number of toys produced by Hasbro.

Aside from the Star Trek franchise, the company also licensed and manufactured toys featuring a number of other science fiction franchises, including Alien, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Predator, Starship Troopers, Terminator, and Star Wars.

Star Trek licensing[]

Before its acquisition by Hasbro, Galoob held three separate Star Trek licenses. It produced the first action figures and toys based on Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1988, created a line of figures for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier in 1989, and finally released a series of Star Trek "Micro Machines" starship miniatures from 1993 until 1997.

The history and development of the Galoob line was featured in the 2018 "Star Trek" episode of the Netflix series, The Toys That Made Us. In the documentary, former Galoob CEO and son of founders Lewis and Barbara, David Galoob, conceded that his company had, from the outset, made serious judgement errors when they acquired the Star Trek license, admitting, "We did not think Star Trek was a license for adults. We thought the Star Trek license would sell to the kids", thereby underestimating the vast adult collector fanbase that desired sculpted accuracy, rather than the emulation of Kenner's stylized Star Wars toys.

Consequently, its action figure lines were not only small, but were judged inaccurately-molded and had to endure a number of errors during production and release. "It just never really hit its stride at retail," Galoob added, (and) "never was anything like Star Wars, and ultimately we dropped it."

David Galoob's assessment notwithstanding, the wide-ranging and highly lauded Star Trek Micro Machines sub-line from the mid-1990s became very popular among Star Trek collectors for years, despite performing below the company's sales expectations at the times of their release. (see below)

Star Trek: The Next Generation releases[]

3-3/4" action figures[]

Crosby reference photo

Denise Crosby poses for Galoob reference photos

Series One
*with white, brown, speckled, or (rare) blue face
Series Two
*about a dozen prototypes of each may have existed but these figures were never mass-produced [2]
Vehicles

Other toys[]

*about five die-cast metal prototypes may have existed but this model was never mass-produced [3]
General Mills logo

General Mills releases[]

Galoob also provided Star Trek starship toys for a number of General Mills breakfast cereals in the US and Canada, as a cross-promotion for its TNG toy line.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier releases[]

Action figures[]

Micro Machines[]

Micro Machines

Star Trek Micro Machines were plastic miniatures produced by Galoob from 1993 to 1997 as an extension to their pre-existing and wildly popular Micro Machines toy line. Most of these models were less than three inches long, were pre-painted, and all came with transparent display stands.

Galoob Star Trek MM complete collection

Displayed Micro Machines miniatures

The first releases were three-packs packaged in transparent bubbles attached to printed cardboard cards, known as blister packs. In size, the miniatures were comparable to the (commonly 1:3900 scale) pewter gaming miniatures made by FASA and Task Force Games. And indeed, a pewter-colored collector's series release (no. 66072) was also issued in 1995 to reinforce the kinship between the two product lines. In total, 52 unique molds were created for the Micro Machines Star Trek line and 93 deco variants were released.

Galoob produced vessels from The Original Series, the movies, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. The first two editions featured ships and stations from TOS, the movies, TNG, and DS9. When the third edition ships were launched in 1994, some new ships were packaged anew with ships from the first editions. The third and fourth editions featured more ships from TOS, the movies, TNG, DS9, and early seasons of Voyager and were mounted on restyled cards.

Special ships were also manufactured, available only as parts of three 16-piece "Collector's Edition" box sets, in which all the models were combined, including ships from "All Good Things...", such as the USS Enterprise-A and the USS Enterprise-E. Other collector sets featuring silvered and bronzed versions of the ships were also issued. Five vessels were individually released in 1995 as part of a promotion for the fourth edition re-release of the three-pack series, and were simultaneously released in mainland Europe.

Galoob Star Trek Micro Machine 3-Packs guide

Three-pack guide

Continental Europe saw the official release of the Micro Machines in 1994 (all mounted on a DS9-style card), tied in with the three-pack third edition, and apart from the tri-lingual text on the packaging differed form the US packaging in that it was sub-licensed to Ideal, whose logo was also printed on the front of the packaging. Unlike the third edition, the fourth was in packaging, save for some minor language imprints and the lack of the numbering on the front, virtual identical to the US version. All European editions merely stated Star Trek on the bottom on the front of the packaging, as opposed to the US versions that specified which series was pertinent.

Micro Machine Collections[]

Set Item No. Issue Notes Photo
3-pack Collection, Series 65825, first edition
#1 Star Trek: The Original Series 65801 1993 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65881
#2 Star Trek The Movies 65802 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65882
#3 Star Trek: The Next Generation 65803 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65883
3-pack Collection, Series 65825, second edition
#1 Star Trek: The Original Series 65881 1993
  • USS Enterprise
  • Klingon Battlecruiser
  • Romulan Bird-of-Prey
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65881a
#2 Star Trek The Movies 65882
  • USS Excelsior (NCC-2000)
  • Klingon Bird-of-Prey
  • USS Reliant
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65882a
#3 Star Trek: The Next Generation 65883 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65883a
#4 Star Trek: The Next Generation 65884 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65884
#5 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 65885 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65885
3-pack Collection, Series 65825 (96-606 Europe), third edition
1. The Original Star Trek 66100 1994
  • Klingon Battlecruiser
  • Romulan Bird-of-Prey
  • Botany Bay
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66100
n/a (Europe)
2. The Original Star Trek 66101 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66101
n/a (Europe)
3. Star Trek The Movies 66102 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66102
n/a (Europe) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66102e
4. Star Trek The Movies 66103 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66103
n/a (Europe) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines 66103 e 3rd ed
5. Star Trek: The Next Generation 66104 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66104
n/a (Europe) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66104 (Europe)
6. Star Trek: The Next Generation 66105 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66105
n/a (Europe) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines 66105 e 3rd ed
7. Star Trek: The Next Generation 66106 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66106
n/a (Europe) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66106 (Europe)
8. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 66107
  • Cardassian Galor Warship
  • Space Station Deep Space 9
  • Runabout (USS Rio Grande)
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66107
n/a (Europe) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66107 (Europe)
3-pack Collection, Series 65825 (96-606 Europe), fourth edition
I. The Original Star Trek 66100 1995
  • Klingon Battlecruiser
  • Romulan Bird-of-Prey
  • Botany Bay
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66100(a)
II. The Original Star Trek 66101
  • Space Station K-7
  • USS Enterprise
  • Galileo II
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66101e
1996 reissue Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66101(a)
III. Star Trek The Movies 66102 1995
  • USS Reliant
  • Federation Space Dock
  • Klingon Bird-of-Prey
IV. Star Trek The Movies 66103
  • USS Grissom
  • USS Excelsior (NCC-2000 or NX-2000)
  • Vulcan Shuttle Surak
1996 reissue Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66103e
V. Star Trek: The Next Generation 66104 1995
  • Klingon Attack Cruiser
  • USS Enterprise-D
  • Romulan Scout Ship
VI. Star Trek: The Next Generation 66105
  • USS Enterprise-C
  • Borg Ship
  • Ferengi Marauder
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66105(a)
VII. Star Trek: The Next Generation 66106
  • USS Stargazer
  • Romulan Warbird
  • Shuttlecraft (Berman)
1996 reissue Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66106e
VIII. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 66107 1996 reissue
  • Space Station Deep Space 9
  • Cardassian Galor Warship
  • Runabout (USS Rio Grande)
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66107e
IX. Star Trek The Movies 65846 1995 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65846(a)
1996 reissue Galoob Micro Machines no.65846
X. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 66125 1995 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66125
XI. Star Trek The Movies 66126 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66126(a)
1996 reissue Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66126
XII. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 66127 1995 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66127(a)
1996 reissue Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66127
XIII. Star Trek: Voyager 66128 1995 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66128
1996 reissue Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66128(a)
XIV. Star Trek: Voyager 66129 1995 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66129
1996 reissue Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66129(a)
XV. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 66130 1996 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66130
XVI. Star Trek: Voyager 66131 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66131e
3-pack one-shot
Star Trek Generations 65846 1994
  • USS Enterprise-B
  • Klingon Bird-of-Prey (alternate deco)
  • USS Enterprise-D (detachable saucer section)
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65846
Individual releases "Single Edition", Series 65961 (96-855 Europe)
USS Enterprise n/a 1995 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-1
USS Enterprise-D n/a Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-2
n/a (European) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-2 (Europe)
USS Stargazer n/a Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-3
n/a (European) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-3 (Europe)
Klingon Bird-of-Prey n/a Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-4
n/a (European) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-4 (Europe)
Romulan Warbird n/a Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-5
n/a (European) Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65961-5 (Europe)
Limited Edition Collector's Sets (6-9 pieces)
Star Trek Super Pack 65594 1993
  • Cardassian Galor Warship
  • Ferengi Marauder
  • Romulan Scout Ship
  • USS Enterprise
  • USS Enterprise-B
  • USS Enterprise-D
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65594
Star Trek Collector's Set 65827
  • Borg Ship
  • Klingon Attack Cruiser
  • Klingon Bird-of-Prey
  • Klingon Battlecruiser
  • Romulan Bird-of-Prey
  • Romulan Warbird
  • USS Enterprise
  • USS Excelsior (NX-2000)
  • USS Reliant
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65827
Star Trek: The Next Generation 96-426 1994 Europe-only variant
  • Borg Ship
  • Ferengi Marauder
  • Klingon Attack Cruiser
  • Romulan Warbird
  • Shuttlecraft (Berman)
  • USS Enterprise-D

Bonus Ship:

Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.96-426
Star Trek The Movies 66073 1995 Pewter series no. 66072 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66073
Star Trek Television Series I 66074 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66074
Star Trek Television Series II 66075 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66075
Star Trek I 66124 Bronze collection Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66124
Star Trek II 66125 Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.66125 (bronze)
Limited Edition Collector's Sets (16 pieces)
I 65301 1993
  • Borg Ship
  • Cardassian Galor Warship
  • Ferengi Marauder
  • Klingon Battlecruiser
  • Klingon Bird-of-Prey
  • Klingon Attack Cruiser
  • Romulan Bird-of-Prey
  • Romulan Warbird
  • Runabout (USS Rio Grande)
  • Shuttlecraft (Berman)
  • Space Station Deep Space 9
  • USS Enterprise
  • USS Enterprise-D
  • USS Excelsior (NCC-2000)
  • USS Reliant

Bonus ship:

  • USS Enterprise-A
Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65301
II 65946 1995
  • Botany Bay
  • Federation Space Dock
  • Galileo II
  • Romulan Scout Ship
  • Space Station K-7
  • USS Defiant
  • USS Farragut
  • USS Enterprise-B
  • USS Enterprise-C
  • USS Enterprise-D (removable saucer section)
  • USS Grissom
  • USS Stargazer
  • Vulcan Shuttle Surak

Bonus ships from "All Good Things...":

Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65946
III 65940 1996
  • Bajoran Fighter
  • Cardassian Obsidian
  • Jem'Hadar Ship
  • Karemma Vessel
  • Kazon Fighter
  • Kazon Mother Ship
  • Kazon Raider
  • Klaestron Ship
  • Maquis Ship
  • Miradorn Ship
  • Numiri Ship
  • Space Dock Shuttle
  • USS Saratoga
  • USS Voyager
  • Voyager Shuttlecraft

Bonus ship:

Galoob Star Trek MicroMachines no.65940

Additional European Micro Machine 3-pack variants[]

Differences between the second and third 3-pack editions

  • The Enterprise (NCC-1701) was in Set #1.
  • The first Klingon Bird-of-Prey, the Excelsior and the Reliant were in Set #2.
  • The Klingon Attack Cruiser, the Borg Cube and the Romulan Warbird were in Set #3. Later, the Borg cube was replaced by the Enterprise-D.
  • The Ferengi Marauder, the Borg Cube and the Shuttlecraft were in Set #4.
  • The Galor-class, Deep Space 9 and the Runabout were in Set #5.

Differences between the third and fourth 3-pack editions

There were no differences between the third (eight issues) and the fourth (sixteen issues) edition as far as contents were concerned, with the exception of the packaging, as the first nine sets are re-packaged items from previously released issues. The fourth edition sported a roman numeral numbering on the front and the models are mounted on the standard-style card used for the entire run. Unlike the first three editions, the fourth appeared to have enjoyed a smaller production run, both in the US and Europe, as especially the last seven items (despite having had two issues for the large part) can fetch high prices on after-market websites.

Trivia[]

Galoob Star Trek MM ad

Magazine promo

Starfleet headquarters studio model with mounted Micro Machines models

Presidio Starfleet Headquarters maquette micro machines

Galoob Namco Star Trek Micro Machines USS Enterprise

Namco/Tsukuda Hobby release for Japan

Galoob Buy 2 Get 1 Free Star Trek Micro Machines ships

"Buy 2 Get 1 Free" sleeve for the UK

Enterprise-D Galoob micro machine in glass tumbler

The Enterprise-D micro machine in a glass tumbler

  • The USS Excelsior miniature was released with a NCC-2000 registry and also was printed with a NX-2000 registry. The latter is rarer.
  • The yellow-painted USS Stargazer model, first released in 1994 in three-pack set 66106, is actually not that of the starship but is based on Captain Jean-Luc Picard's ready room display model (NCC-7100), though it has the correct registry number.
  • Likewise, the Kazon fighter of set 66128 is that of the studio model as it was originally delivered to Paramount Pictures and before it was decided to have it modified into its ultimate onscreen configuration.
  • The USS Saratoga was a reuse of the mold for the USS Reliant, with a slightly different paint scheme and the roll bar removed. However it lacks the sensor pods that the Saratoga had in DS9: "Emissary".
  • Some silver colored Micro Machines of the Starfleet ships, most likely from the pewter series, were used as part of the San Francisco Presidio Starfleet Headquarters maquette building, first seen in DS9: "Homefront" and used several other times throughout DS9 and VOY.
  • On the packaging for Collector Set Two, the descriptions for the USS Farragut and USS Defiant refer to the TOS ships bearing those names, rather than the ship models in the set.
  • In the TNG Season 6 DVD-special feature, "Dan Curry Profile", it was revealed that Star Trek Visual Effects Producer Dan Curry, an Original Series fan, collected Star Trek Micro Machines.
  • In 2013, former Galoob art department employees Jim Fong and Robert DiGiacomo provided extensive details and archival photographs from the development of the Next Generation toy line to TrekCore.com. Numerous cancelled products and previously unseen prototype designs were covered in these three articles. [4]
  • A number of Star Trek Micro Machines starships were also retailed by Namco in Japan and carried its brand logo on the windowbox packaging. The boxes also bore the Galoob and Tsukuda Hobby logos.
  • The Micro Machines line was quite popular in its day, and the format has also been employed for rival franchises such as Alien, Babylon 5, Marvel Comics, Predator, Starship Troopers, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and The Terminator. In the cases of Star Wars, Alien and Starship Troopers, several items packaged in the Micro Machines releases were compatible with their respective outings in Galoob's larger-scaled "Action Fleet" toy line, and therefore complementary. The Micro Machines logo was also printed on the packaging of many Action Fleet and Titanium Series (die-cast starship lines, typically scaled at a size in-between the larger Action Fleet and the smaller Micro Machines outings) releases, with the latter series also incorporating the Battlestar Galactica, and Tranformers franchises.
  • The license for larger-scaled Star Trek (toy) ship models passed to Galoob's successor, Playmates Toys, which, envious of the success Galoob had enjoyed with its Action Fleet toy line (particularly for Star Wars), unsuccessfully tried to emulate the formula with the Star Trek: Strike Force line in 1997.
  • An Enterprise-D micro machine made an in-universe appearance as late as 2023 in Star Trek: Picard's third season opening episode "The Next Generation", when a bar patron, who was surreptitiously observing Jean-Luc Picard and William T. Riker, absentmindedly dropped one in the glass tumbler of his beverage. The model was sold at Guinan's bar as a memento for the occasion of Frontier Day.

See also[]

External links[]

Advertisement