Construction toy, created by Dutch company called Moubal, between 1924~1962.
It’s a follow up of the wooden Pulko Patent Baukasten, which was patented 1919.
More information
Informative website: www.mobaco.nl
For discussions: facebook.com
Library
Download 3D library for free on: Cults3D
“The Mobaco system consists of square wooden columns of various lengths that fit into evenly spaced holes in a thick fiberboard base board. The columns have slots on all four sides, into which dense cardboard panels are slid. The panels have different colors, and are either solid or have window or door cut-outs of various shapes.
The system allows for pitched roofs. There are special gable ends and purlins that form the structural support for the roof. Opposite roof panels interlock at the ridge with hooks, and hang from the ridge beam.”
Building with Mobaco
More information on building instructions in real life. You could also try to build these examples, from the never produced box no. 5:
Reconstruction Model Z
Besides putting the existing parts into 3D, it’s also fun to research and virtualize those advertised, but never produced parts!
This is a nice example of Model Z, which was issued around 1931, but never produced. Together with C. Mol, we reconstructed these exiting new elements.
And not only that, also bring them (back) to life, by building them in real models:
The 3 roofs could also be modified from existing Mobaco roofs: 103, 123 & 124. This will give a nicer ‘Mobaco’ look. In this case, the wooden parts could be used as overlay.
Currently also selling ao. the special Model-Z parts. Parts are created now in plywood, still compatible with Mobaco:
This nice model is created by Pim ten Have, using special parts from Model Z, integrated in 2 Moubal example buildings.
Custom parts, specials & rare parts
Beside Model-Z, I’m also creating other custom parts on demand, like: ‘rare’ roof parts #150, #151, #152; bigger base plates (6×8, for the garages), special windows (see: Other Special Parts), laser engraving like the big clock (#29). Different engravings -texts/pictures/photo’s- are possible too.
Requested by my kids: prison panels, which is a nice addition.
When Mobaco was sold under Jumbo licenses, they also pictured a smaller windmill. Although these parts are numbered on the content inside the lid, these parts are never found. So again, it was time for a re-make.
The Mobaco farm was recreated from pictures found on MP. This might have been a Mobaco prototype but we are not sure. If you know this model, please let us know. Anyway it’s a nice model.
If you are interested in some parts, just send me an email and let’s discuse the details, see also the sales page about specific Mobaco deals.
Message in a bottle…
Special thanks to Nick & Caspar, who are both driving forces within the Dutch Mobaco group. Nick started building, collecting & researching Mobaco already for 30 years and Caspar was allowed to use Nick’s collection and continued the research & building a great Mobaco website (with help of many others). Both gentlemen sharing their findings & enthousiasm, which is always plesant to read, like a message in a bottle, you just have to find it and read the messages…
Read more about the Mobaco botteling process:
Mobaco timeline
A nice overview, of both realized buildings and their digital counter parts, all available in LeoCAD.
Since all panels are stamped parts, making a lot of these metal stamping tools must have been taken place before 1924 and would have cost a lot of money. It’s still unknown, who is involved for financing this building toy.
In this case the LeoCAD system was also used by a designer, for recreating the Maliebaan Train Station in Utrecht (model bottom right side) and was rebuild & styled by an other Mobaco enthausiast.
Some system characteristics
Here a short list of some system characteristics and how it’s retrofitted into the virtual LeoCAD library:
| Part types: | Original: | Virtual: |
|---|---|---|
| Base plates | Cardboard 6 [mm] thickness | Single color pieces |
| Columns | Wood – beech wood ~12×12 [mm] | Single color pieces |
| All panel elements | Cardboard 2.5 [mm] thickness | Single color pieces, some having textures |
| Bay size | ~57.5 [mm] | 40 [mm] (v0.2) 60 [mm] (v0.5) |
| Standard wall panel | 51 x 102 [mm] | (scaled) |
Library information
Here you see an overview of most parts in the library:
The Mobaco library consist of 5 different categories, each with their own unique type of parts:
| Categories: | Unique parts: | Numer of parts: |
|---|---|---|
| Generic parst | Both for Moubal & Jumbo style | 119 |
| Garage parts | Unique parts for building the 3 special garage models | 22 |
| Windmill parts | Unique parts for building the 2 special windmill models | 26 |
| Model Z | Unique parts for building the never produced model Z | 15 |
| User parts | Some DIY user parts are added for fun. | |
| Total parts: | 182 |
Virutal buildings
There are many Mobaco buildings created, both from the manuals & some by active users:
The virtual building community is still expanding. Even gnomes are helping now, building the latest models. My short list of favorite home made models:
Some random animated models from the manuals & pictures on covers:
If you want to join virtual building, download the library, start building and when finished, send your contributions.
Building
Mobaco is a nice game to build/play with. Most pannels fit well in the columns and building is quite rapid. Our kids never build from the manuals, which is fine. The only issue we encounter are these ground plates. When sticking columns in the ground plate, they will mostly tip over. (Especially the 12mm columns in the older 12.5mm base plates.) After the first floor is created, it’s more easy to build.
Tatami does a great job, by re-selling Mobaco like game, with a better ground plate, including a closed holes.
There are many occasions when we are building Mobaco, mostly incombination with other toys…
An other picture I like, a comparison of some other building toys..
For more info, click the links (rom left to right):
– Mobaco [NL]: 1924-1956
– Edilizia Moderna [Italy]: 1929~1933
– Edilizia [Italy]: 1929
– L’Edifice [France]: 1920~1953