Plastic Figure Showcase Lone Star Part Two Inappropriate Figures we are going first look at some more Lone Star. Next I am going show a section of figures I call inappropiate. These figures if we look at today’s standards or viewpoints would be frown on.
Plastic Figure Showcase Lone Star Part Two Inappropriate Figures Lone Star
Lone Star did a series of World War Two Germans. They were done in gray and light green. I was told by collectors in the UK that the light green was for Afrika Corp. There are some interest aspects on these figures. First all of the soldiers are wearing soft caps. Second the set has two Germans surrendering. One with his hands up and the other holding rifle up with a white flag. I was told many children took the flag off. Finally the German officer is the only one I can think offhand that is heavy set. Other German officer figures are done same as their soldiers. This could be as the Lone Star WWII German figures are chunky. What do you think?
Lone Star did British Royal Navy figures. The sailors came with either a blue or white shirt. The naval officer with the binoculars is a swing arm. I believe it is the only swing arm that Lone Star did.
We have more Lone Star in part three.
Plastic Figure Showcase Lone Star Part Two Inappropriate Figures Inappropiate Figures
This is a new topic that I will do from time to time. Figures that were thought innocent or cute now are looked at as inappropriate. The first two examples are Dom Slave Trader from the Karl May Oriental series and the Chinese juggler from the Linde circus series. A slave trader would be frown on because of the subject matter. The Chinese face would be a no no due to its face. The face is negative sterotype of the Chinese people.
This figure was a giveaway by a German margine company. they did a series of anicent Olympic figures. The figures are depicted as how the games were played in the nude. I am sure if a company in the states did them today there would be a fire storm.
What do you think?
Those Dom Karl May figures are incredible! I have some Indians (just plain braves, not the character figures) and the only thing wrong with them is that they are 65-70mm and too large for most of my other figures. What scale is the slave trader?
I think some of the 54mm Marx Japanese figures might be seen as “incorrect” today. Look at the face of the kneeling radio operator with Nambu pistol: He looks like a WW2 propaganda picture of Tojo, with big buck teeth and round glasses. Couple other guys in that set have stereotypical features as well. I’ve also seen the African fat chief with cigar and top hat from the Jungle Jim/Daktari set referred to as incorrect.
Any set of German SS that has been released has to be called “Elite Troops”.
Indians (Whoops! “Native Americans”) holding scalps would definitely be frowned upon, as the current view is to present them as totally innocent and peaceful victims. As a matter of fact, I have heard people complain about Cowboy and Indian figures in general… One Amazon review of a set I read said something like “Why not make a toy Auschwitz set next?” implying that playing cowboys and Indians was endorsing genocide.
A certain segment of the population is extremely eager to brand things with the Un-PC label. That same segment actually might not find a problem with the nude Greek wrestlers, though, as both of them are male.
It is the ‘surrendering’ and ‘wounded’ poses of the Lone Star figures which make the set unique and more interesting. Also more realistic in that actual soldiers are wounded and killed in battle or may be forced to capitulate.
One of the great things about Marx play sets was the attention to the small details and the inclusion of wounded / dead soldiers and bombed out buildings and bridges, etc.
I always wondered why Marx did a surrendering Japanese figure when in reality they hardly ever did and not a surrendering German when they were more ready to do the “Kamarade” and no dead Japanese figure when there were usually lots of them after a battle and most kids at the time would have been familiar with pictures of dead Japanese especially the Beach pictures of Guadalcanal but they had the dead German machine gunner.
I agree Brian ,yet they did surender in some times in few quantities ,the ones at islands often stripped naked to avoid traps ,but back then the figure looks very odd ,in general MARX waste a lot poses in not actual action/fighting poses ,yet they did dynamic poses realistic of war too.The German death pose is direct copied or base possible from a picture/photo war ,i have it saved but not link to post.The japanese pose as well is seen in documentary in the surrendering of MaNCHURIAN last month acition to Russian -soviet forces.
Not the one but alike https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AeRdlh29ueaINm1Azw10DHuthVXiupB02uzK2C3a3DSHcF9z7NVFTRI/
some easy google.
https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+japanese+surrendering+in+manchuria&rlz=1C1EJFA_enUS670US713&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXsd2DjM7YAhWC0FMKHfC1CPwQsAQIKQ&biw=1680&bih=919
I’m not sure I would characterize the Lone Star officer as heavy set. If you show him from the side view his profile is actually somewhat thin. The general sculpting style of the Lone Star figures is more robust than some other makers, not a problem since they are toys, not works of art.
The Lone Star Dick Turpin also has a swing arm, I think that’s it, unless you count the Ski Troops, Models of the 1960’s and Noddy figures all of which have moveable arms and are very rare.
Thanks for the update and correcction brian. I have seen the Dick Turpin figure but not up close to notice the swing arm.
They issued the Afrika Korps again in field grey – remember them well.
Like the inappropriate figures topic – I saw a prize winning model of a slave market with Arab traders and a nude Caucasian female slave.
Incidentally how do you post photos to request makers to your splendid blog ?
I personally, don’t find any of them offensive. The Germans surrendering were a little annoying to me as a boy as I always was the Germans but everyone knows the Germans lost the war – eventually. I can’t imagine a British company making surrendering Brits or Aussies but obviously it happened. So now I just find it amusing.
As a cartoonist I find it unavoidable, if one is being honest, to sometimes exaggerate racial characteristics simply because cartoonists exaggerate individual traits anyway. The juggler is obviously intended as cartoony. If some figures have long noses are Caucasian traits being unfairly exaggerated? Anyone who object to it is being overly precious.
Slave traders? What a cool figure! Slavery has been a characteristic of most civilisations and pre-civilised societies for thousands of years but merely depicting it does not endorse it.
Personally, not much offends me except these whinning, sniveling freaks that cry over everything, hiding history does not change what happened. Let’s just stay uninformed and ignorant. Close your eyes maybe it will go away.
The Olympic Greek Roman fighter poses are splendid. NEVER see them before. Will have to hunt them.
Brand name please?
Best
First of all happy new year from Germany.
The fighter pose is one out of four if this information
https://www.agon-auction.de/auction_objects/2671876
is right made for German Dextro-Energen energy bars and drinks company.
Must admit I wasn’t aware of the figures yet but got combined fighter pose as a nice xmas surprise from a French collector friend. Made its way back to Germany so far.
Not sure if those had really been made for olympic games Rome in 1960 as German wikipedia company history mentioned those being sponsor for Munich games in 1972 which could be more likely for the figures to come with (plus sponsorship of Berlin games in 1936). Anyway gives even me with the other 3 missing something to put on my hunting list.
I got some in Germany at the show. I also got four of the figures in Maryland toy show. I resold all except what I kept.