Rasti

Rasti is a toy construction system made ​​of plastic. It is now produced in Argentina. Its origins date back to the German business model toys Dr. Hazel & Co. in Reichartshausen / Baden.

Rasti is an expandable, modular system that competes with Lego or Fischer technique.

Construction of the system

In addition to the basic rock forms axles, gears and tile construction components that until much later collection held in the range of competition, with glass fronts and transparent decorative stones. To date, no further example is the node module, which allows technical constructions in 90 -degree angle, but at the same time suitable for motion sequences in a kind of hinge function. The attachment of the wheels, gears and other moving elements is done by means of shafts and Achslagersteinen. Due plates are omitted.

Falsely Rasti is considered by many collectors to be modular imitation. This is due to that the emergence time in the 1960s came on the market a complete range of modular systems. This is often oriented in the competition, which is reflected in the block forms, as well as in the model proposed and the design of the building instructions. One indication of the separate role of Rasti is that this system has undergone only marginal changes in South America since 2007 a ​​comeback.

Name

The product name Rasti refers to the independent technique of this block program. Thanks to a nub with their thickening at the end, this will snap into the provided with a circumferential Recording Toolbar foot of the next stone, thus ensuring cohesion in a variety of positions. Thus, the models from Rasti have a great stability. So much so that many of the kits manufactured in Germany contained a specific tool for separating the blocks.

Principle

The starting point is the main stone with 2 x 4 studs for the other sizes of the stones. They develop from ( multiple) duplication or ( easier) division. Thus, a halving in height, the projecting feature. A flat crush so only need a duplicate to reach the standard size. With the art series art box, however, an awkward one-point stone was introduced in the colors white and red at the beginning of the 1970s, which has a half times its height. He is so far the only exception in this size grid. All special shapes such as windows, tiles and doors this gridded system fit. Only halvings are in the gears required depending on positioning, which can be realized by the corresponding Achslagersteine ​​.

Genesis

The company in Reichartshausen still exists and operates on the production of injection molded parts under the name of Dr. Hasel molding technique GmbH.

Already in the 1960s, Rasti was produced in Argentina under the name Knittax ( a knitting machine manufacturer) and, for example exported to Canada. Between 1970 and 1980, the Brazilian company had herring in Blumenau a license for manufacturing and distribution. It complemented the range with today untypical additional parts, but can be partially integrated into the current modular system of Rasti. Particularly in demand among collectors is then developed the modular watches from plastic parts.

It is striking that the pressure plates were then used unchanged from Germany for brochures, instructions and sales packages for the South African market. As export products still came some changes from there to Germany. This is reflected in the newly designed kits and Ersatzteilblistern, as in the altered colors of the blocks. In particular, the axes for vehicle models possessed since then no longer have a chrome rod, but were completely made ​​of plastic. Unlike in Germany, contained the blueprints for the South American market proposals for tanks and military aircraft.

Economic influences and events of war ( Falklands War ) eventually meant the end for Rasti. 2002 rediscovered the injection molds for the block production in an abandoned factory for musical instruments in Brazil Blumenau and transferred to Argentina in 2005.

The local family Dimare finally brought this with all rights in his possession. From this it developed within two years of a business idea that is based on a modern interpretation of the made ​​in Germany development. Since Dimare already experience in sales of toys owned ( Bricky ), Rasti finally returned in June 2007 with a new look in the Argentine shops back. For this launch Dimare received various awards.

Since Rasti in South America originally had a wider distribution than competing Modular systems, pushed the reintroduction of great interest, especially since many of the former users now want their offspring open this world. The marketing includes television commercials, game points, design competitions and a homepage on the Internet. Since summer 2010 Rasti is marketed by the company Dimare also in Chile. In August 2011 it was announced that Rasti Argentina entered into a collaboration with the North American game manufacturer Mattel. Dimare took this the sales of Barbie in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. In return, Mattel Rasti took on in its range. Since the summer of 2012 under the name Hot Wheels a series of four car models in Rasti range available, the results from this cooperation. This is complemented by an additional extension now parcours ( Salto Infernal ), in which a rubber band drives the models.

Blocks

The Rasti - blocks are made ​​of soft plastic. Thus, there is the flexibility that allows the typical engagement, the basic principle of Rasti. In contrast, the additional parts are made of hard plastic. As well as the motor housing or the light-emitting blocks.

In terms of color Rasti long time moving in a narrow frame. Red, blue and white were reserved for the main stones. These gray came for the technical parts. In green window frames and balustrades were manufactured. Special parts such as tires, the company produced in black. There were also transparent decorative stones extensive coloring, which were designed for the illumination of a Rasti 's own battery lamp.

In the late 1970s kept yellow and black collection in various kits. A supplement with a view of other players were heads and movable arms for figures The concept of the last kits sold in Germany opened up to a wider group of consumers. So there are compilations that girls should respond by doll furniture and home furnishings could be reproduced. They experimented with decals, came to blocks in colors such as green or orange.

Another addition are the jumbo stones (similar to Lego Duplo ), although obtained only minor importance. Builds only recently Rasti - Argentina own product line for small children on it.

For detailed model buildings the system track links, chains with snap conveying cups, propellers, winches, two-part trailer couplings and hooks, to general purpose doors in various colors (including transparent) and contains tiles in red and white transparent. Alone these are ridge tiles in two variants in the range, with each roof slope can be realized. Likewise, the stones of the roof tiles are available in two sizes variants. For the connection to the main stones white trim panels were introduced, which can be snapped into the brick.

Rasti - Argentina modified so far almost exclusively the color with which it granted a further authenticity to the model prototypes. In addition special double tires for models of racing cars were added. Another innovation are tubes made ​​of black soft plastic in two lengths that mimic with connector (yellow) hydraulic parts. Likewise, they can be used for contouring of body. Another addition is a black pen that already resulting from Knittax times. It can be inserted through the studs and used as an additional stabilization. It is also suitable as a replacement for hinges.

All modules and additions are independent of production time and place despite the interruptions in the company's history still compatible.

Motor

A supplement already learned the system very early by an electric motor. In conjunction with a main and intermediate gear 18 different speeds are possible, their range of nine revolutions / minute is sufficient to 13,500 revolutions / minute. Was offered the package " special engine ", in addition, there were, among others, the " Motobox 90 ". It included the engine block, to the intermediate gear, the extended number of revolutions, and a gear, where the two different long axes could be attached at different speeds. By the bayonet coupling, it was possible to incorporate this rotated 180 degrees, additional positioning allowed. Was included in the packages also, a commercially available standardized switch that the engine could be disconnected from the mains. Specially, as well as for lighting, a suitable base was created, who received the switch. For the battery power connection sat Rasti on modules that could be plugged into the existing studs on the one hand, the recordings but also with their metal plates flexible batteries ( C cells ). However, these current-carrying metal parts broke in practice very easily. For the maximum voltage of 4.5 volts three of these battery modules were used.

It therefore followed a " battery box ", who recorded two " baby cells " and the new pack went on sale. This was supplemented by a newly developed switch first forward and backward movements of the motor allowed, so that the built models could now be moved in two directions. Was of course that all the parts were provided with feet, which were set to the grid of blocks and thus could also be mounted hidden. The switch was well suited to to steer models that were on a train on the way back. Later engine boxes contained only two receiving modules for the batteries. Also accounted for the intermediate gear. The plug connection of the individual elements was carried out in Germany by means of banana plugs, as they are known from the model trains.

Since 2010, attacks Rasti - Argentina again reinforced this development back. Under " Con Motro " There are five kits with motor drive for numerous models. The connectors are made ​​much easier, as his time in Germany.

Kits

The packages produced in the early 1960s were made of cardboard. Around 1970, they received a Styrofoam insert. Special models were offered in boxes without dividers, but with sealed plastic bags. For replacement and new parts, there were blisters, later plastic bag with a four -color printed cardboard tab, functioning, or model suggestions pointed out.

The name of the building sets was based on the number of blocks contained. The box 400 consisted almost exclusively of headstones. This was followed Minibox 600, 800 and Multibox Starbox 1000th model packs were named mobile 200 (wagon), 201 ( Jeep ), 202 (tractor / tipper ), 203 ( tracked vehicles ) and 204 ( aircraft). Furthermore, there was the technology box 501 ( bridge / crane) and 502 ( tracked vehicles ), as well as Motobox 90th Especially about the mail-order source of the art kit, the kit homes and the special motor were expelled. Towards the end of the sale in Germany small and large boxes as Rasti came in 1023 ( construction vehicles ) or 1085 ( Dollhouse ) device on the market.

Under the aegis herring remained much the this classification. Rasti - Argentina knows the start, Giga -, super - and Masterbox today. The sorting is based on the baseline, transportation and construction. Of particular note here is the line extremes, which is a new way and contains dinosaur sets, which are based on the discovered in South America sauropods. She's since been removed from the range. 2010, the engine was at the center of the expansion of product range. Four special packs with new models that are electrically powered belong, since the range.

Figures

An expansion of the learned system Rasti in the late period in Germany by figure heads. They consisted of yellow balls with neck and settled into place between the knobs of the blocks. The face of the heads was placed in the screen printing process with black paint. For this they received a removable attachment which imitated hair in several colors. For further mobility armholes were added with a total of three joints. Stored was this figure head, so give it before the instructions of the kits in gray Achslagersteinen. But this had only, contrary to the hitherto displaced half-height achtnoppigen stones, four knobs. The lower body of the figures could be designed freely. To date, an extension of this new development is missing. This, especially since the viernoppigen jewels, which were used here for the joints of the figures, would an extension of the installation options for axes through the center alignment allowed.

Awards

Rasti was in the 1970 eV in Germany by the working committee and children's toys with the predicate "good game " award.

Fan Clubs

In Argentina, under Republica Rasti a fan club active, the exchanges independently of the part of the manufacturer.

Trivia

The importance of Rasti in Argentina underline the following proverbs:

• "Lo vas armando como un Rasti " (you can build it as Rasti ).
• "Se como un desarmó Rasti " ( There broke as Rasti ).

Logo

The logo of " Rasti " remained almost unchanged over the decades. The font is still published today in the color yellow. The former rectangular block that hemmed the logo was created in black, changed during ramp in Germany temporarily in red and was converted into Argentina in a three-dimensional black circle.

Its origin has the lettering in the science fiction series " Space Patrol ", which aired from 1965 in the first program of the German television ( ARD). The font used for this purpose has been used on instructions and packaging throughout.