| Glider Launcher | |
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Cancelled |
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The Glider Launcher is a 1996 Nerf Aero blaster that holds 3 Aero Gliders. It is the only blaster to include Aero Gliders. It was initially a direct molding copy of the NB-1 Missile Blaster, before being slightly modified. It underperformed in its day.
Description[]
The Glider Launcher is a recolored NB-1 Missile Blaster without the ammunition holders. It is the exact same with the exception of a new color scheme and ammo.
History[]
The NB-1 series began in 1989 with the release of the Blast Jets Thrust Launcher. The Glider Launcher is the fourth, or second-to-last generation of this blaster to be released, with the Jurassic Park Pteranodon Launcher being the fifth and last in 2001.
It was made in 1996 and started the Aero series. However, the launchers and the gliders performed poorly, and the entire product ultimately never had a full release onto shelves, as according to sources, the product could have only partially made it past a prototype stage. However, some number of the launchers and gliders were mass-produced, making the Glider Launcher technically a prototype blaster, which is evident in the molding differences between the different versions.
In an old Daily press article named "TOY STORY: NASA MEETS NERF", the entire article never calls the blaster or gliders anything more than a prototype, and makes several direct references to the blaster being cancelled in favor of the throwable Ultra Stunt Glider and Super Soaring Glider.
Variations[]
Four unique versions of the blaster exist.
9651 - the earliest version, uses the exact same mold as the NB-1, comes with yellow & black camo gliders. This version has a good chance of being a prototype or small test market product, as it has only shown up with the gliders twice, and it has never been seen new in package, unlike the other two versions. This version's gliders are the lightest and the worst performing.
9712 - The first painted version, has large orange speckles of paint throughout it. This iteration has a modified barrel tip, which rather than having a hole at the bottom, has a hole in the center and two barbs on the sides. This version includes red and black gliders, and has the heaviest and most fragile gliders.
9729 - The second Painted version has orange speckles of paint throughout it, has a modified barrel tip; and comes with two orange, black, & purple gliders; and a third glider that is only orange and black. This version's gliders perform better than the other two versions and are overall the most refined, with their weight being noticeably heavier than the yellow ones but noticeably lighter than the black ones.
Catalog-only blue: a version of the blaster that has a dark blue shell with a similar pattern of orange speckles of paint as the two painted yellow versions. Strangely, it has ammo holders and is most likely a modified NB-1. It comes with gliders that have large red tips, a yellow body, and plain black fins. The gliders themselves resemble modified Missiles. The blaster and its gliders were ultimately never released, and it was advertised next to the other Aero Product, hinting at it being a later iteration.
Trivia[]
- It has the molding for NB-1 missile holders, despite not including one.
- Only the 9651 version is compatible with Blast Jets Planes and Batarangs, as the barbs on the other versions prevent the plastic tube on the inside from sliding over the post.
- It is one of two blasters to have two copyright dates, being copyrighted in 1989 and again in 1996. The only other known blaster to have this quirk is the Jurassic Park Pteranodon Launcher.
- Like its counterparts, it can technically fire five types of ammo, the highest of any blaster(equal to every other generation of the NB-1)
- It is the only known Nerf blaster to feature a barbed barrel.
- It is the only Nerf blaster to have iterations and design changes like a prototype.
- Based on evidence from old articles, it is likely this blaster never had a full release onto store shelves, as it failed at its only purpose.