Multiple Products Corporation of New York produced a set of eight 1/36 scale (50mm/2") astronaut figures, usually in red, blue, white and silver-grey soft plastic. Two of these figures were copied for the regular-sized Spacex figures (above), while one of these together with a third MPC figure were copied for the smaller figures supplied with the Spacex Moon Base (below). MPC produced these figures in various production runs, which can show quite a difference in definition on the figures' suit details. Sister company Multiple Toymakers took care of distribution as is clear from the pack at the end of this page.
Moon Base figures (3rd-6th from left) with regular-size Spacex figure (2nd from left) and MPC 2" originals at either side.
All eight MPC figures, from various production runs. The white figure exchanged his pistol for a grabbing tool at some point (lower right figure) but not before being copied for Spacex.
Trademark
1/36 scale figures carry the MPC trademark. Numbers are likely for mould identification.
As far as I know, genuine 2" MPC figures always carry a trademark underneath bases that are rounded or more angular between production versions. Many clones exist, in sizes ranging from 2" to around 1.5" (50-37mm) which do not have a trademark.
Although Spacex-type figures by LP later turned up with Spacex clones by Roxy and Apollo Exploration f ex, identical hard-plastic plated copies of these MPC figures in 1/72 scale I have yet to see packed with anything other than Spacex. I don't want to rule it out, however, since a rare copy of the 5" MT figures has turned up on an early Roxy card.
Origin
Like LP (and Marx for that matter), MPC based the design for these figures on the spacesuits worn by the Mercury astronauts. Although the helmet shape is less realistic, it has nicely rendered interior details. The suit is readily identifiable by the arrangement of the various zips (complete with pulling straps), the accurately rendered air intake connector (at belly level), the various straps around the chest as well as around the boots. Here too, each figure has an oxygen supply on its back that Mercury astronauts didn't have or need, and the helmet visor is also left open on top of the helmet.
Packaging
These MPC figures were sold (by Multiple Toymakers) on their own in various types of packaging, from simple bags with folded card riders as above to more useful and sturdy plastic boxes. They were also supplied with various MPC playsets, as in the example below.
