LARGO TOYS LTD/ARCO: Stingers & Wings

I have updated my post on this crazy rare line each time I have learned something new about them or found a new figure, and now I'm redrafting the whole post. I think these are hands down the rarest fantasy toy soldiers made in the 1980s.  Their story has slowly come together and I can now provide some truly definitive information to go along with my speculations about their origin. I had very little solid information when I started this blog, and really hoped that somebody who knew more than me would see my post and fill me in. That worked out just as I hoped. Meeting people who share my interest in these guys and getting their help in finally finding out what they are called and who made them has been one of the best things about this blog for me.  I don't know if I could have ever learned as much as I have by my myself.  Thanks much Countzackula, Splittyhead, B-36, and Chris.

 I can now say with certainty that this line is called Stingers & Wings and was released by LarGo Toys, Ltd. in 1985. I have  seen one example of a packaged carded set of just the mounted figures and their mounts, called Stingers & Wings Battle Set.  There must be other packaged sets for the other figures.  There are four 55mm figures, two purple and two orange, and two smaller mounted figures that are available in both colors.  The sets came with a scorpion for the purple figures and a spider for the orange figures. 

 I still believe that the figures were actually made by Arco for LarGo just like the Sword & Sorcerer figures were made for Fleetwood by Arco. They use the same glow in the dark weapons as the Arco/Fleetwood Sword & Sorcerer figures, and look like the same style.  I'll make my case below.

I found this picture on the net.

Photo from an ebay auction.

The Orange Spider Guys



 Bampt Bampt Bampt  .  .  .  .  . Everybody dance now!

The Purple Scorpion Guys



WHY I THINK ARCO MADE THEM

I think Arco made these using the same artists and factory as the Sword & Sorcerer figures they made for Fleetwood.  First, I know that Arco made the Sword & Sorcerer figures because of an Italian carded set which lays it all out.  You can see a picture of that set at the bottom of my Sword & Sorcerer post here. 

Now, lets look at the similarities between the two lines:

1. The standing figures look like the same style and use the same glow in the dark weapons.

2. The mounted figures are in the same smaller scale with built in weapons.

3. The packaging art looks like it could have been done by the same artist.



Arco also made a pair of larger rubber bugs in the same style.  The spider looks more like a bee/spider mix and matches the art work better than the version that comes in the Stingers & Wings package.