A lot of you probably know the story of how, back in the misty days of D&D's humble beginnings, the creator dumped out a bag of cheaply made plastic "prehistoric creatures" for use in his Chainmail game and so bulettes, owlbears, rust monsters, and who knows what else were born. By any chance does anyone have one of these tiny plastic rust monsters or know the link to any sites with good images of it? As I'm sure you can guess, this is totally unrelated to anything. Thanks!
I've got one!
It's tied to one string of my venerable dice bag. He's about 2 inches long, yellow-brown. It's a rust monster, propeller tail and all.
At least 20 years ago I walked into a NJ toy store -- it might have been KB-Toys -- and there, sitting in a glass jar full of little plastic dinosaurs and such, was the rust monster. I grabbed him (very cheap, perhaps 50 cents), tied him to my bag, nick-named him Lucky the Rust Monster, and I've had him ever since.
I'm not familiar with the creator story (and I'd like to hear more) ... but I've always wondered about my little rust monster; I've never seen another.
I actually used to have that bag of critters. it was maybe the early 80s. I didn't know what D&D was at the time, and they all went the way of most adolescent toys. years later, when I first saw those critters in the Monster Manual, I was amazed to see those familiar fellows. I guessed at the story behind it, but only now have I heard (or read) that anyone had a similar experience or even knew what the heck i was talking about when I mention those little guys. I just wish I still had 'em!
I had (and probably still have) a hard, white plastic one. I remember the googlie-looking eyes and big jack rabbitie-like hind legs, prop tail, and the antenna. All told this one was about 3-4 inches long and may or maynot have come with my Space: 1999 rocket, or perhaps a pack of monochromatic space dudes (like the little green army men).
Now feel old again,
GGG
I still have some of the full He-Man sized D&D toys I bought as a youngster! I have an Umber Hulk, Hooked Horror, Shambling Mound, and Hydra. They look great and are by far (except the hydra, of which the 3.0 drawing is pretty smooth) the best depictions I've ever seen of each. They're great!
I still have some of the full He-Man sized D&D toys I bought as a youngster! I have an Umber Hulk, Hooked Horror, Shambling Mound, and Hydra. They look great and are by far (except the hydra, of which the 3.0 drawing is pretty smooth) the best depictions I've ever seen of each. They're great!
The mound in particular if its the solid rubbery one.
GGG
Ooo, anyone have the rubber/wire-necked Tiamat with shiny plastic body and fall-out wings?!?! I think the central neck was plastic as well.
Hiya, Wesley! I snapped a photo of my plastic rust monster for you and threw it onto my website. If you want it in a different environment, lemme know. I can snap another pic of it, no biggie. In this pic, it's eating my daughters' red wagon! Munch munch munch.
Here it is:
http://www.zogonia.com/gallery
:)
Tony M
Hiya, Wesley! I snapped a photo of my plastic rust monster for you and threw it onto my website.
Mine looks identical, except a bit more red on the back instead of dark brown. We obviously have the same beast!
Check mine out here:
http://www.protopage.com/dragonflight
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I still have some of the full He-Man sized D&D toys I bought as a youngster! I have an Umber Hulk, Hooked Horror, Shambling Mound, and Hydra. They look great and are by far (except the hydra, of which the 3.0 drawing is pretty smooth) the best depictions I've ever seen of each. They're great!
I wish I could buy that whole set. I used to have 'em when I was younger (they battled G.I.Joe on more than one occasion).
It would be cool to have a full set to give to my kids, if anyone knows of a full set being sold say something! My favorite was the Umber Hulk.
I have had one of those bulettes since the 1970's. I never understood how a bulette wound up out there in a Boston grammar school grab bag. I also got a red godzilla-like dragon man with rotifer type pincers on his mouth, and two asian-esque dragons.
I had (and probably still have) a hard, white plastic one. I remember the googlie-looking eyes and big jack rabbitie-like hind legs, prop tail, and the antenna. All told this one was about 3-4 inches long and may or maynot have come with my Space: 1999 rocket, or perhaps a pack of monochromatic space dudes (like the little green army men).
I knew a kid who had that space 1999 ship. Until I got my Millenium Falcon a year later, nothing seemed cooler.
Mine, like Scylla's is more red than brown, but otherwise looks just like that.
Hiya, Wesley! I snapped a photo of my plastic rust monster for you and threw it onto my website. If you want it in a different environment, lemme know. I can snap another pic of it, no biggie. In this pic, it's eating my daughters' red wagon! Munch munch munch.
Here it is:
http://www.zogonia.com/gallery
:)
Tony M
Speaking of rust monsters, thanks for the spoon-eating rust monster illo in that short Dungeon adventure (issue 126) you provided artwork for. Not to mention all the other cool artwork (the potioned-upped shocker lizard splash page which is my semi-permanent desktop right now). I have something else with a slightly silly feel to it on Jeremy's desk right now, I kinda hope they can talk you into penning the art for it should it ever see print.
Thanks again,
Matt
PS the pic of Elgeen is sort of the way I look whenever I sit on a sea urchin.