StarBird Space Avenger
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There are two main modesl of Starbird, the Electronic Starbird and the Star Bird Space Avenger which was also boxed as the StarBird Avenger. Depending on the model, there are diferent sticker sets. The lasers on the Avenger’s nose are set closer together, the canopy plastic is much darker. The Avenger was a second release of the Starbird and included updated electronics that could both send and receive infrared signals. The Avenger model comes with a "target" to shoot at to test your skill with the infrared lasers.
Milton Bradley made a playset to go along with the Starbird line, the Command Base. It is a large cardboard station with plastic accessories like radar dishes, laser guns, a working crane, little vehicles and space men. |
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Electronic Starbird
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Star Bird Space Avenger
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Starbird front view
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Starbird rear view
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Starbird Command Base
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Loose Command Base
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German Star Bird Supervogel
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In the 70’s, a lot of toy companies were incorporating electronics into their toys. While I still maintain that Rom the Space Knight is the coolest of the electronic 70’s toys, the Starbird and it’s variations are pretty close. All the Starbird toys have a few things in common; press a button and their front lasers light up and fire, tilt the ship up or down and it makes engine sounds that raise or lower in pitch, removable front assemblies, wing fighters and engine parts. These ships are often missing parts, most commonly a little gun that sits in the ball turret at the back.
A third vessel, the Starbird Intruder, was also made but is much harder to find. It is basically the front assembly of a Starbird with wings done up in black. It makes the same laser and engine sounds and includes the advanced infrared electronics as the Avenger. In fact, the Avenger and Intruder can have battles, knocking out the opponents ship with infrared beams like lasertag. A disabled ship’s engine will knock out briefly when hit.
May 13th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Rick, I have some bigger pics of the command base if you want to post them.
May 31st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Starbird rules! I got my S-Bird as a gift when I was a teen, and loved it! It is one of my top toys ever. I broke mine of course, and 20 years later,got one off E-Bay. I still fire her up when I can. Great laser blasts and the acceleration sound are some of the best memories I have. Thanks for a great website!
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Starbirds completely rocked. MIne got a lot of play time. I think I still have it somewhere. It was in good condition except for it lost a few decals.
June 15th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
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August 5th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Go on Ebay, there you will find your parts you seek!
August 31st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
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September 1st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I was looking on ebay to find out what an Electronic Starbird is worth but I didn’t see any. I was fixing to put mine on ebay when I found your site.
It is missing one of the thrusters on the back & the gun is missing, it also has a burn mark on the engine exhaust area where I put a lighter up to it to see if it would make a flame come out. Yeah a 9 or 10 year old with a lighter
doesn’t sound good does it. Anyway all the electronics & lights still work good. any ideas thanks Howard h-n-h@att.net
September 7th, 2008 at 4:23 am
I remember last seeing one of these hanging in a comic book shop in Syracuse, NY in the early 90s. The owner had taken it and painted it gun metal grey aand highlighted certain areas blood red. I think he painted large black wings on the bottom of it. It looked awesome.
I had one when I was a kid, which is how I stumbled across this site when I did a search on eBay. Just wanted to see if anyone even remembered this toy. And when I remembered the name and did a search, I found this site. Thanks for helping me remember my childhood.
September 12th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Thank goodness for mothers who saved things. My mom just sent me 2 Milton Bradley Electronic Starbirds that I had when I was a kid. Just like anyone, both are missing the gun. But for the mostpart, there mostly all there. I just handed them over to my five year old boy and he’s just as excited as I was when I got mine. Oh yeah, I’m forty now and the sound just takes me back. Thanks for the site.
September 18th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Is their any way you could scan the cardboard base and post or email it to me
thanks
October 20th, 2008 at 10:44 am
My brother used to have ’starbird’ , think around about same time as ‘big track’ came out! I used to play all the time when he wasnt around. Would love another one!
October 21st, 2008 at 8:58 am
wasnt there a short lived live action show based on this?
December 30th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
There were no shows or other media to support this toyline. In america there were only 3 ships and one base.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:07 am
I have an intruder and an avenger both boxed in fair condition but both work and make noise if anyone is intrested in making me an offer before i put them on ebay
gillhalliday@hotmail.com
February 12th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I still have the intruder in beautiful shape, that thing is crazy cool.
I used to have the star bird, but that toy was completly wrecked.
( guess the intruder won the fight)
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:10 am
Mom and Dad still have all of our toys from when we were kids and they are slowly starting to migrate the 2 hours south to my house. My 6 year old boy spent spring break at my parents and when I went to pick him up we went to the attic with the intention of finding my brothers Xwing fighter (remember the cool old ones that had the light on the nose like a lazer). Anyhow, he got that and I got the intruder(I was always bummed My figure wouldn’t fit in the ship). I pulled it down out of the attic and found a battery for it and it still works. The entire ship is in very good shape although missing one of the wings/fighters & The gun. I’m sure it’s around somewhere, just need to find it. I remember taking it to school in about 2nd grade….back when lazers and toy guns were just toys. Memories. Thanks to whoever took the time to put this page up and letting us chime in!
Randy in Des Moines, IA.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Great article! I had the original StarBird and the Command Center when they came out and thought they were the coolest thing – especially the variable pitch engine sound. I lost mine in the typical “Mom Purge” of toys “I grew out of” and it was likely sold in a garage sale along with many Star Wars, Battlestar Gallactica, and Buck Rogers toys. If we knew then what we know now…
July 21st, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Ok, so I’ve posted this somewhere else too, but I thought it belonged here too. If you have TSR’s (quite excellent) pocket game Revolt on Antares, check out the graphic on the Air Jets counter… they are StarBird ripoffs!
I never had one of these wicked-cool babies, but somebody at school did, and I once got to fly on of the little detatchable wing ships. I always thought that was a line of BS, but I guess they really were supposed to be ships. So I guess that wasn’t quite as lame as I thought it was (not that I refused).
September 13th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Does anyone remember if their was a black wing like nemisis to the starbird . I remember having the starbird and the playset and my step brother having the starbird intruder and another black wing evil version also with lights and sound. The vehicle was also made by MB and hade little wiglets that could come of and be used as fighters i just cannot remember the name of it. Does anyone remember the name of the starbirds nemisis
October 10th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
hey guys n gals!! does any one know where to get the gun part or a reproduction of it???
i need that part!!!!
still have the one i had as a kid and it still looks n sounds great!!
atill have the box inserts and instructions as well!!!
in hella great shape for being ancient!!!!
hell I’m 40 and still play all my old stuff ive had or re bought
over the years!! also love my mega bugs!! got em all!!
December 24th, 2009 at 5:26 am
I LOVED MINE! I got one of the ships as a BD gift from my parents when I turned 9 and I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s been almost 30 years ago now and I still have the nose part that has the electronics in it. Doesn’t work anymore and I have taken it apart to try to repair, but I have had no luck. I think I will just hunt a nice one down and buy it. Thanks for this site so I could take a stroll down memory lane again!
January 10th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Hello Friends from space,
I’m looking for the starbird Intruder to complete the war!!!
If you want to sell it, please write to my adresse
dircompc@yahoo.fr
And thanks for this web site so cool.
January 12th, 2010 at 12:26 am
And star bird also, because i didn’t find any….let me konw