MPC Western character playsets is an interesting category of playsets. Over the years MPC did a number of playsets based on television shows, I was recently reminded by our very good friend Andreas Dittmann.
Andreas reported that he saw a MPC Bonanza Playset at the Germany Plastic Show in Herne last month. The only thing he could that find was different was the box, the rest of the contents were standard MPC figures and accessories. The playset was priced at 70 Euros or $75.00 and was bought by another party before he could buy it. It is the first time I had heard of the MPC Bonanza playset and I told Andreas about two other MPC Western character playsets: the MPC Gunsmoke playset and the MPC Have Gun Will Travel playset. The MPC Gunsmoke playset had what I feel is one of the worse made character figures Marshall Matt Dillon. I used to use him as Frankenstein in my stories as a child. The MPC Have Gun will Travel playset has a character figure of Paladin; it is the mounted ring hand figure done in black. The figure is normally done in brown. I learned about this years ago when I did a table with a friend at the MFCA show in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. A gentleman walked up and told me that his father had worked for MPC or was a buyer for a store and he was able to go along with his father to the New York Toy Fair. When he saw the Have Gun Will Travel Playset he remarked that there was no figure of Paladin. The company added the ring hand figure in black.
Another MPC Western Playset was based on the television show Kung Fu. This set had three character figures Kwai Chang Caine as boy, Kwai Chang Caine as an adult this figure was done ride a horse and Master Po his blind shaolin Master. These three figures were hard plastic and were sold in a small window box with standard MPC figures and accessories
Wait I never heard of KUNG fu, you may me drop about it went I red. OMG!!!
Now I’m in the hunt, oh boy it never end!!
Erwin
The character figures turn up from time so you should be able to find them.
I had the “Have Gun Will Travel” Playset. I don’t remember a Paladin figure, just a bunch of regular ringhand figures. There were some of Paladin’s cards in the set. I could be wrong as I was quite young when I got it.
Wayne
The figure was a generic MPC ring hand figure that was done in black plastic. I have had several over the years.
Thanks to Paul and Andy – and Kent. I went to Kent’s site and checked it out. I don’t remember the guy but it’s quite possible he was in there.
Over the years I had several of the MPC sets, the Paladin set. I had the MPC war canoe, but my set had ringhand Indians. Later on my brother and I got the Dodge City set (had to be Christmas 1962) had the ringhand cowboys and Indians but I don’t remember Marshall Dillon (again, not to say he wasn’t there – I was about six); the last big MPC Western set I remember getting was the Daniel Boone/Boonesboro set, which to me was a sorry substitute for Ft Apache but…
Also got a lot of MPC WW2 and modern sets with both ringhand figures and others. I remember thinking the WW2 set I got with ringhand GIs and their Germans was strange. For awhile it was the sets with MPC tanks (and one with the destroyer) with the 45mm guys in various colors, green for Army, silver for Air Force, and light blue for Marines. I always was kind of fond of those little guys for some reason. Actually some nice sculpts if they’d been in a larger scale.
Wayne
It is understandable not to remember the Paladin figure because he was a ring hand done in black. I know it because of the person I met. It is interesting to see the different playsets that were made.
Paul I just hate that I didn’t appreciate all the extra effort MPC put into making the Paladin figure special (insert appropriate sarcastic sign here).
Check Kent’s web site for photos of MPC Kung Fu, Marshall Dillon and Paladin.
Erwin, Kung Fu figure is for sale @ $6!! Black Paladin was $15 before selling out!!
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/toysoldierhq/MPCwest.html
Thank you Andy for the information. I appreciate it, now I know.
OK, Buddy! Kent’s site is a toy soldier “encyclopedia”.
Andy
Thanks for the information.
I am glad I was too young for most of these MPC sets. The character figures might have ruined the excitement of getting the entire playset!
Having been a fan of the Kung-Fu series in the 70s, even the Cain figures are disappointing. Why isn’t David Carradine in “action” righteously beating up the bad guys? You would figure they could at least put a hat on the older Cain figure.
I have somehow acquired a small collection of MPC Lone Ranger figures. All of them have the raised pistol broken off at the chamber. I am still trying to figure out to customize them into something else.
Erwin, you should also look for the MPC Planet of the Apes playset. Hard plastic painted apes versus MPC army ringhands. I think there were also trees and bridges included.
Jack ,yes I agree in poses but still interesting in to my ever increasing martial arts and Asian figures collection. I will use them more as generic.
I do have all poses of planet of the apes and some acce as I’m fan of first movie only. I still look for repeated poses, what happen most always are damage because the odd idea of make them in so bad fragile plastic. I use other police army figures to oppose then, the MPC ring hand are a bit odd x me, poses generally look to rigid and 2D .Still I find them for artillery pieces crew much better