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Mattel Disney Pixar CARS: The Al Oft Blimp Of It All

We sort of covered the scale of the Al Oft the Blimp (& Dinoco Helicopter) but it’s time to update the info. Reader SH points out there are some inflatable GOODYEAR blimps on eBay and asks if they are to scale … but also note that Al Oft is coming in a giant version (like Barney Stormin’) from Mattel in the next couple months. However, we don’t really know the scale of it as the new sound & action Barney Stormin’ is way, way too large for the 1:55 scale series.

However, the Barney Stormin’ released last year on the WM cards is technically not far from real scale to the other CARS. He might be be a skoosh too short but not by much - maybe another .5″ to .75″ so pretty close as oppose to the blimp or the Dinoco Helicopter (the blister version obviously).

(this is the ACTUAL GOODYEAR blimp painted with the words LIGHTYEAR - and those are real people underneath it).

If I can still do math, Wikipedia says the Goodyear Blimp is in real life 192 feet, presuming the Lightyear Blimp in the CARS world is also 192 feet long, proper scale to 1:55 should put it at about 3.7 feet long or about 43″?

So the inflatable ones on eBay are about 31″ long so probably close close enough. They do however require you to be able to re-sticker over the words GOODYEAR if you want to be a stickler for details.

Otherwise, not far off base, if you get and customize, send us a pic.

We also also wait to see how the new Mattel giant version Al Oft pans out …

Meanwhile, some other options …

These TOMY Gacha Vending Machines ones puts us closer …

They offer a lot of other vending choices such as WINNIE THE POOH, INCREDIBLES & CARS …

This photo is pretty close to actual size. If you breath in wrong - there’s a CAR in your windpipe …

They cost about $1 each from the vending machine if you can still find it but there’s no guarantee you’ll get the full set after tossing in your $8 dollars … you can buy them on eBay but check shipping - some places rip you off. Shipping should be $3-$4 since they really weigh less than a box of tic-tacs.

But really, also not in scale as three CARS total “192 feet” of blimp - arrgghhh, why has thou forsaken all of us who worship at the altar of scale, Mattel & Tomy?

How about the Dinoco Helicopter? Well, it sort of looks like the Bell 430 (even has a painted fuselage like a smile ) but clearly not large or powerful to fit a tow truck inside (Mater) and presumably the King, Mrs. the King & Tex Dinoco … or Tex Dinoco & some of the Showgirls

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion looks like it can do the trick - capable of a payload of 32,000 lbs … that should be enough to hold a bunch of CARS (not counting the bulk space a CAR would take up versus troops and cargo) but let’s presume it’ll work. In the real world, the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is about 100 feet long or just about half the size of the blimp … so the current release of the heli is clearly too long and out of scale with the blimp … the biggest “real world” helicopter was this oddball Soviet helicopter at @121 feet - still way shorter than a Goodyear Blimp.

The Dinoco Helicopter release to scale should be about 1.6′ or so - the giant plastic one is a bit too large and the small one is too long to its 1:55 scale brethern … but maybe in the CARS world, gravity is less oppressive allowing them to build a ginormous helicopter that can fit 3-4 CARS inside?

Sure, we resolved nothing but now you know a couple things about the MH-53 Sea Dragon and the world’s largest flying helicopter, the Mil Mi-12 … and the length of the Goodyear blimp …

« Mattel Disney Pixar CARS: The Mattel Collector’s Club

CARS & NASCAR - 50th Anniversary of ‘The King’ »

metroxing

11 July 2008

Advertising, Checklist, Film, Financial, Gadgets, Marketing, Mattel Disney Pixar CARS, Retail, TV, Toys, collecting

11 Comments

11 Comments »

I was an Armament, Avionics, and Electronics Repairer on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter in the Army. I love to hear about helicopters!

(MET: Now, you tell me … I should have just assigned the task to you - what kind of heli is Dinoco? … so can you fix anything or only things that hover in stealth and can fire missiles? )

[Reply]

//collectormom
11 July 2008 at 10:13 pm

The next time your helicopter breaks down or you can’t get your Hellfire Missiles to fire call me! I can also do a 300 hour service on the MMS

[Reply]

//collectormom
13 July 2008 at 9:40 pm

Collectormom: Ah, nothing like a combat helicopter assault into a hot LZ. I was in the infantry in Nam and loved flying in Huey’s. Loved sitting on the edge with feet hanging out and holding onto a cargo ring in the floor so you did not fall out. Loved those M60’s blazing away. The only down side was those green tracers coming up and the fear one would come through the floor and tear you a new one! You would have enjoyed the hunter-killer teams of a Cayuse followed by two Cobras- mini guns and rockets for everyone. A 3/21 196th LIB

[Reply]

//Steve AKA: Poppa
13 July 2008 at 10:35 pm

Steve AKA:Poppa

You’re scaring me…

[Reply]

//Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
14 July 2008 at 10:34 am

Got a tip for you about the vending.

Just ask the store manager to open and sell you the ones you need, if they can’t ask them when the operator comes in and nail them.

I don’t fancy buying 20 odd plastic cars to get a complete set.

[Reply]

//jackdaddy2008
15 July 2008 at 4:24 pm

I just dont see the appeal in little plastic cars that as it was pointed out are the exact size for a child to choke on, they are plastic, they look badly moulded because of the size and you just know you will be searching for the last one forever, besides how are they ever going to fit a Mac and trailer in them little balls !!!

[Reply]

//Adrian
15 July 2008 at 5:25 pm

At least these are available.

Me guesses $2 or £1.50 per ball.

I think they will only release the 8, and think they look good actually, especially wheel clamp mcqueen (chances of him as a diecast?).

I sold a complete Kinder egg collection for $140 a while back, and its little collections like this that usually go the distance and make silly money in later life.

I won’t miss £12.

[Reply]

//jackdaddy2008
15 July 2008 at 7:40 pm

Just ordered the Goodyear 33″ model — I’ll let you know how the tape-over goes. I’m painting a wall in my daughter’s room that will be Radiator Springs — this might look great hanging from the ceiling.

(MET: Yea, send us a pic so we can judge your artistry .., No Pressure )

[Reply]

//VirginiaRob
15 July 2008 at 8:54 pm

Just ordered the big Barney Stormin’ from Target.com (they call it Disney’s Cars Bi-Plane Air Adventure). And found Van today. Now if only I could find the Trunk Fresh Launcher!

[Reply]

//collectormom
15 July 2008 at 10:04 pm

If you’re interested in the Target Barney, be aware that they don’t call it that on the website, so it won’t show up in a search. They call it the “Bi-Plane.”

[Reply]

//VirginiaRob
16 July 2008 at 7:19 pm

I got my Barney Stormin’ (Disney Cars Bi-Plane Air Adenture) from Target.com today. It got here super fast! It’s really cute; a little smaller than I thought it would be. When you push on the head the propeller spins and makes a flying sound. Of course it’s all plastic but I don’t think my kids will care. It has to hide in the closet until my sons birthday on the 8th. Maybe I’ll take it out at night and play with it like Heather,ME does with her Screamin’ Banshee!

[Reply]

//collectormom
18 July 2008 at 4:30 pm