New design toobs top :)

Many of us know the old, nice Safari "Toobs" with the turnable globe on top as lid, and a yellow piece of rope to hang it in..
Untill a couple of years ago the globe-lid was fastened on with sticky tape, and when you removed the tape, the whole thing came off.

But this globe-lid could not be used as a lid again, - unless you used sticky tape, it would not stay on the toob.
So Safari changed the design, so the globe-lid was clicked on, and could be snapped closed .

Now, this might been a good idea, but a new problem arose, - the larger models could not come out of the toob  
The few millimeters that the hole was smaller, and knots on the string made the model's wings, antlers etc stick . ... I began to open them in the bottom instead  
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Now, perhaps Safari were aware of this, because here in 2016 the desigh of the d**** lid was changed again, - this time more radically.
Most obviously, it has become orange, - and the globe is gone  

The smart thing is, that this gives room for a new kind of handle. It can be pushed inside the toob, or pulled out for carrying  
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So now the models do not stick in the knots
BUT, alas ! It is just a patching up of the problem. The larger models still can't come out unless you use force    
As you may see in the picture below, the lit still takes a couple of mm space, - they are sort of clicked with flaps on in the inside of the sides, and perhaps glued, - they are impossible to get off  
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So now we lost the lovely globe, - and I still have to open the toobs in the bottom

Well, good that Safari does some product development on the toobs. The sad thing is that perhaps they should have spent the money on what is INSIDE them
I was naive enough to think they had made a lot of new mini- animals, but, alas, most of them ar re-use, and sevral are in both of the new ones this year

2016 is the remastering year for Safari and even tube design was remastered.
Very interesting presention and a different subject from what we are used. The subtle changes in packaging are often important to organize some collections of less documented companies like K&M, for example. More recent Safari are known for catalogues but I think you're giving a lot of good points to Safari developers rethink their ideas regarding TOOBS. It is really a pitty that they are reusing several models once new figures is what we really want, not remastered ones.

Thankyou, Roger

Roger wrote:

.......It is really a pitty that they are reusing several models once new figures is what we really want, not remastered ones.

YES !!! Safari, did you hear this ?

So much for a solution to the problem!

I bought a bunch of the ponies toobs to make trophies for my model horse show, and they were all the globe attached to the plastic. Still couldn't get any of them out without pulling on them. So now I'm stuck with a handful that refuse to stand Ah well, it is what it is.

Don't care for that orange design, maybe they could have at least painted the globe on the round part if they really wanted orange plastic? The blue just looks so much more appealing.

From a marketing standpoint it makes sense, I guess. Based on the fact that orange is supposed to attract attention. It looks weird though. 

Although since the figures are "trapped" in the toobs, I guess using the same color as a prison jumpsuit is accurate enough...

Wilorvise wrote:

.....

Although since the figures are "trapped" in the toobs, I guess using the same color as a prison jumpsuit is accurate enough...

In stores around here, Michaels to be exact, they have toobs that don't have any lids--just the folded acetate on both ends. They aren't less expensive, but they do contribute less waste.

Which, I think, should be the priority. It's the reason that Safari discontinued the bookmark/inserts (especially in the various prehistoric toobs). Yes, it was also to drive more traffic to the Safari site, but saving paper is good too.

Yet, the big chunk of plastic on top remains...

Thanks for reviewing both the old and new TOOB tops.  It's really nice to see them side by side.  Personally, I still prefer the original blue globe, but I like the handle on the new one as well.  I know I've mentioned this before, but you want to be careful to inspect the paint job of the figures in the orange tubes.  On some of them, like the domestic cats, there seems to be a decrease in quality.

Quote :

In stores around here, Michaels to be exact, they have toobs that don't have any lids--just the folded acetate on both ends. They aren't less expensive, but they do contribute less waste.

You make a really good point.  It would be nice of them to create less waste if they are going the easier-to-produce route.

barracudacat wrote:

Thanks for reviewing both the old and new TOOB tops.  It's really nice to see them side by side.  Personally, I still prefer the original blue globe, but I like the handle on the new one as well.  I know I've mentioned this before, but you want to be careful to inspect the paint job of the figures in the orange tubes.  On some of them, like the domestic cats, there seems to be a decrease in quality.

Quote :

In stores around here, Michaels to be exact, they have toobs that don't have any lids--just the folded acetate on both ends. They aren't less expensive, but they do contribute less waste.

You make a really good point.  It would be nice of them to create less waste if they are going the easier-to-produce route.

Yes !!! A good point indeed

barracudacat wrote:

Thanks for reviewing both the old and new TOOB tops.  It's really nice to see them side by side.  Personally, I still prefer the original blue globe, but I like the handle on the new one as well.  I know I've mentioned this before, but you want to be careful to inspect the paint job of the figures in the orange tubes.  On some of them, like the domestic cats, there seems to be a decrease in quality.

Overall it seems to be a Safari trend--their initial runs always have far superior paint jobs to their later runs. For collectors, this should mean getting them in the first release.

Especially in the toobs. They tend to cheapen the paint schemes very quickly.

I've started to see several recent toobs without any plastic lids at all. Personally, I'm really glad to see them going in this direction.