Interesting fact about the Jet Hopper / Turbo Hopper

[R/C Toy Memories]

I wonder if anyone else really knew this already, but...

The timeline of releases of the famous Jet Hopper is like this:

1. Taiyo Jet Hopper (Japan) 1986

2 = Metro/Taiyo Jet Hopper (Australia) 1986

2 = Dickie/Taiyo Jet Hopper (Europe) 1986

3 = Tyco/Taiyo Turbo Hopper (USA) 1987


Tyco released the model in 1987, a little behind the rest of the world.
But this also means that, as far as I can tell, Tyco actually copied the style of the famous Tyco R/C box from Metro in Australia. The Metro box is pretty much identical - just with Metro branding.

If anyone else can confirm or deny this theory - please let me know. But for reference, this amazing public domain legal document is what I'm using as the basis. It's a legal fight between Taiyo and Playcorp of Australia, which goes into some detail about the sales of the Jet Hopper in Australia.

http://cisgw3.law.pace.edu/cisg/text/030424a2english.html

And basically, if Tyco only made a move on selling the Turbo Hopper in 1987, after it's success in Australia and elsewhere in 1986, then they seem to have copied the box style too.

I've worded my article to correspond with this.
http://rctoymemories.com/2012/05/06/tyco-taiyo-turbo-hopper-1987/

I also have a separate page for the original Taiyo Jet Hopper
http://rctoymemories.com/2014/06/08/taiyo-jet-hopper-1986/

cheers,
H.

[R/C Toy Memories]

Actually, I may be mistaken. I can find other references to the Tyco Turbo Hopper being available in the USA in 1986 (such as in toy catalogues). So I've amended my article back again, to state the release year of the Tyco release as 1986.

It seems that the legal document I shared above may have had it's facts incorrect when it said:

"As a result, in 1986 GTI marketed a Taiyo R/C toy in Australia called Jet Hopper. It was marketed through retailers under the Metro brand which was owned by GTI. It was heavily promoted on television. It was fast, agile, able to clear obstacles and be used outdoors. It achieved phenomenal sales, about 130,000 units in 1986. That led to Tyco distributing the toy in the United States in 1987 under the name Turbo Hopper, with great success. "

This implies the Turbo Hopper came out in 1987. But I think it was already available in the USA in 1986.

[Hopper]

Very interesting topic about arguably the most popular toy rc of all time. Well only a year and a bit till the 30th anniversary so the fact we are still talking about it cements its legacy.

[Hopper]

Hey, I think there maybe more variants of the jet hopper that we missed?

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk1 - (Front tyres larger, smaller wheels, turbo system bumper)

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk2 Variant 1 - (Front thinner tyres, bigger wheels, decals do not say 25km/h or 27km/h, turbo system bumper. Decals are same as MK1 apart from the number

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk2 Variant 2 - (Front thinner tyres, bigger wheels, decals do say 25km/h, no turbo system bumper, decals are different .

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk2 Variant 3 - (Front thinner tyres, bigger wheels, decals do say 27kmh, no turbo system bumper, decals are different.

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk3 - (Completely different front and rear wheels/tyres) decals are different


By the way the Mk2 Variant 1 (2nd pic) is currently on its way to me 

[Hopper]

In relation to last post, the first three pics are

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk1

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk2 Variant 1

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk2 Variant 2

Pics in this post are

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk2 Variant 3

Taiyo Jet Hopper Mk3

"Are there any more variants of this Jet Hopper , not including Jet Hopper II and aero jet hopper???"