Phobos thumbnail 1
Phobos thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Phobos

Robot
1977 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Boxed toy robot with interchangeable parts, with motorised features. The toy is made from black, red and silver plastic, with a removeable transparent plastic cockpit canopy in the centre of its chest. The head has a frightening robotic face on either side, it can be rotated, or removed from the robot's body. The arms are jointed at the elbow, and can also be removed. The claw-like hands can be detached, and are sprung so that they open and close with pressure from fingers. The torso plugs into a single unit representing the robot's loins and upper legs. Into these plug two lower-leg units, each consisting of a front and back half. The back half has two wheels which are concealed when the robot is fully assembled. The torso contains the robot's electric motor, it has two panels, one either side, into which can be fitted a single C-type battery apiece. On the proper left side of the front is a sliding on and off switch. On the back of the torso is a pair of caterpillar tracks, these can be folded forwards on a hinge.

With the toy is its original colour-printed card box, showing photographic images of the toy in several different modes, and a 'blueprint' image of the robot face-on.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 14 parts.

  • Head
  • Torso
  • Canopy
  • Arm
  • Arm
  • Groin
  • Leg
  • Leg
  • Leg
  • Leg
  • Box
  • Hand
  • Hand
  • Connectors
Titles
  • Phobos (manufacturer's title)
  • Micronauts (series title)
Materials and techniques
Plastic; printed card
Brief description
Boxed mechanical toy robot, 'Phobos' (Micronauts); Mego Corp/Airfix, 1977
Physical description
Boxed toy robot with interchangeable parts, with motorised features. The toy is made from black, red and silver plastic, with a removeable transparent plastic cockpit canopy in the centre of its chest. The head has a frightening robotic face on either side, it can be rotated, or removed from the robot's body. The arms are jointed at the elbow, and can also be removed. The claw-like hands can be detached, and are sprung so that they open and close with pressure from fingers. The torso plugs into a single unit representing the robot's loins and upper legs. Into these plug two lower-leg units, each consisting of a front and back half. The back half has two wheels which are concealed when the robot is fully assembled. The torso contains the robot's electric motor, it has two panels, one either side, into which can be fitted a single C-type battery apiece. On the proper left side of the front is a sliding on and off switch. On the back of the torso is a pair of caterpillar tracks, these can be folded forwards on a hinge.

With the toy is its original colour-printed card box, showing photographic images of the toy in several different modes, and a 'blueprint' image of the robot face-on.
Dimensions
  • Robot height: 34cm
Production typeMass produced
Object history
Part of the Edward Castle collection.
Production
Manufactured by Mego Corp for Airfix Products. This toy was produced for the third series of Micronauts toys, it is a redesigned version of Takara's earlier 'Biotron' (aka 'Robotman') toy. It is not clear which of the two sides of Phobos' face is supposed to be the 'correct' one.
Subject depicted
Collection
Accession number
B.156:1 to 6-2016

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Record createdNovember 3, 2016
Record URL
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