Plastic Figure Roundup December 2016 is going to look at various pieces of information. We have information from Billy Hirn who he thinks the Joker figure really is. Joker is part of the Chin Toys French Napoleonic General staff. Then T D Barnecut shows us spike fence variation. Our very good friend Peter Bergner has sent a link to more photos from German Plastic Show. Final we will some odds and ends.
Plastic Figure Roundup December 2016 Billy Hill’s Find
Billy Hill’s friend Les has figured out who the Joker may be. Les feels Joker is actually French Brigadier General Loup General Loup is a character from the Sharpe’s Battle episode of the Sharpe’s Rifle series. This make sense as the Chin Toys did the Sharpe’s Rifle figures.
Plastic Figure Roundup December 2016 TD Barnecut
Next we have TD Barnecut’s rainy day project.
Here is a project for those handy with a hobby knife; how to make a spiked barricade from 4 popsicle sticks and a section of 1/4 inch dowel. Very inexpensive to make, it does require a drill press to make the holes in the dowel. The model is based on the 1865 photos of Confederate defenses used in Petersburg, Virginia. The third photo shows a different type of spiked barricade made from the same size spikes and dowels, known as a ‘fraise’.
Plastic Figure Roundup December 2016 More German Plastic Show
Our very good friend Peter has sent a link to more photos of the German Plastic Show . Peter has a 101 photos. I wonder if these photos will get Don to finally plan a trip to Germany.
Plastic Figure Roundup December 2016 Tanks
We have photo from Lorrie Causey showing two 81 Tanks that were recently purchased.
Plastic Figure Roundup December 2016 Timmee Army
Timmee Army Blog had a link of Timmee army figures being produced. Tthe article done by Bloomberg was of J.K. Manufacturing Co. in Kalkaska, Mich. They may only company doing plastic figures in the United States.
Plastic Figure Roundup December 2016 My Finds
December was a rough month for finding items. One show I did changed 180 degrees from general toys to mostly diecast. I did find a few items including the Timmee Tank shown above. What was funny the dealer had two of them. One had a gun barrel and the other did not. The one with the barrel was a $1.00 higher.
The building where the show was held has a dealer with PVC figures. I can find some interesting figures for the collection. I believe the mintour is from Narnia. The next figure is Lizard from the last Spiderman movie. Finally I got different Black Widow figure.
Those Marx 81 tanks look pretty nice.
Unfortunately, as to either the German Show or the Plastic Warrior Show, it’s all I can do to get to the Chicago and Indiana shows these days.
And now, Joseph Saine (an Ohio resident) says he’s “considering” moving the Michigan Toy Soldier Show from Livonia, Michigan (45 minutes from my house) to Monroe, Michigan (an hour and 15 minutes from my house), and converting it from a toy soldier show to just a general vintage toy show, all in the hopes of increasing what has become somewhat anemic gate turnout from the general public.
That’s pretty funny that a seller prices the Timmee armored wheeled vehicle $1.00 more for the one that has the gun barrel vs. $1.00 lower for the one that’s missing the gun barrel. I guess his thinking was “Gee, they’re 99% the same — just missing this one little piece of plastic.” Ha Ha Ha.
And actually, I wouldn’t have purchased the one with the missing gun barrel for ANY price (even $1.00), because I do not want to spend the rest of my life trying to find the missing piece. Talk about a frustrating, fruitless quest.
About like searching for the Holy Grail, back in King Arthur’s time — No one’s going to find it, no matter how long knights dedicate themselves to looking for it.
I thought so too when I saw the tanks. You are right the odds of finding that piece are just too high. I hardly ever see these tanks.
I had another wierd one which I will related again when I posted the photo. I was in Walmart and found 60mm DC Superhero figures by Figz. ese figures are sold blind bagged. Someone had slice opened all the bags to find the villians and the Chase figure (a gold figure of Superman). I was not upset as I had none of them and was able to pick out for I needed. I got four of the nine figures.
Depending on how you collect, that armored recon car is fine without the barrel, especially for the price of ‘nothing’. Replacing that barrel is EASY. I’ve done it on 4 of them.
Are those 81 tanks actually Marx? I thought they were Ideal, as they resemble the self propelled howitzer from the Anzio Invader set. I thought there was also another company (British?) that copied them.
These 81 TANK are indeed the Marx version.
Ideal differ a bit in some mold detail and has not number engraved in mold.
I have these, the IDEAL plus the Reliable verssion made in Canada and all show were made using different three dofferent molds.Not copy clones each other.
The made in MEXICO verssion I had sold is another mold that was made using the mix IDEAL and Marx parts of two molds .
I have all and made pictures compere for then as well to note the minor difference.
Exact same was done out the SF GUN M155 verssion .So far eith three verssion molds as well.
The big cannon Marx and Ideal differ as well.
Best….
hi again Erwin, if you get a chance and it is not an inconvenience, i would be very interested in seeing the comparison photos of the 81 tanks and SPGs.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.
I will give me few days, remain me please.
as I’m n Christmas and NY busy days now .
Wish you the same to you,family and all in this blog.
best…
Two comments: I, too, am confused on the Marx 81 tanks. I have acquired several of these over the years and assumed they were MPC and went with the 60mm GIs. Were and how were these sold? And why were the shells stored on the back of the tank? Could they actually fire the shells at one point?
In regards to Joe Saine’s show I do miss the old Michigan Toy Soldier shows. If he does move it to Monroe you can visit Custer’s home museum and the nearby River Raisin War of 1812 battlefield.
I can respond to tank questions only base in what I got and see .
The one M81(pershing!) a got has the Marx logo ,the spring is not inside barrel for some reason and shells are NOT included.
Wile the IDEAL orange and lime green version colors I got one does fire complete and has sheels.The barrel has an opening very alike MARX 88 mm cannon with small piece label, you push shell from front cannon till click, then just lift a bit level in back of barrel and fire.
However I have another silver and green IDEAL that was intentional sold with cannon barrel seal and not spring as the Marx 81 .
The Reliable Canadian version of the m55/53 SPC has a same fire mechanism but reliable complete change the case/box turret in this model wile leaving rest same as MARX and Ideal version.
MARX and RELIABLE version of the M26 TANK,M53 and big cannon does have mark with logo. Ideal not.
Ideal was sold along or as part of Anzio invader landing big craft set in large box.
The Ideal landing craft was sold with the M26 or the M53 +soldiers ,not both in same case as far I had seen.
Reliable come along in box x me.
The Marx I do not have idea how as I got then loose as both were from a show.
One IDEAL was sold as futurist cannon in odd orange and metallic blue colors.
Wile I do too have an odd orange marked MARX canon -155 mm from same series with Marx stamped in the side and it come in a box from England .stamp as Marx -England so most be from late 70’s!?
Best…
Jack: here in South Carolina, I remember buying the “81” tanks from a a very small discount store back in the mid to late 70’s, They were all stacked in an open bin along with the self-propelled guns. I’m guessing they were two, maybe three bucks each.
Clarence.Quick question
Are yours with Marx logo or with out?
Thanks
Erwin: I’ve searched them high and low and cannot find any sort of “makers marks” anywhere…
Then u got like me one un marked and other has the MARX circke insise hello front chassis corner.
So it tell me may had been sold as NON Marx as well.
I will put all my version and do a detail picture of then.
I also thanks Kent Spretcher x suply me early info on then over two years ago when i start my research on it.
……”tanks” for the info, Erwin, look forward to seeing your pics…:)….
That’s the kind of bin we would die for today.
ummmmm, Billy HILL
Sorry about that I look at your email. It has been corrected.
hi Erwin, thanks for all of the info. i did not realize Marx also used that mold along with Ideal and Reliable. i think i have an 81 tank around that had been listed as MPC. i will have to check it for the Marx logo. at the time i remember noting the “81” was in line with the Marx numbering system of the “41” and “51” tanks. wonder if there are any “61” and “71” tanks out there?
No .As far I know there not other numbers.
The HO Marx is #1market as that but not in the later Giant verssion playset.
The MARX 41 and 51 follow with big MARX daddy 81.
I had also made a family series photo comp and will send w compere of IDEAL and Reliable as well.
Once again only MARX 81 in big verssion has numbers in turret.The others not at all.
Now if the 81 was used by MPC as some time I had seen Marx and MPC mix set from late 60 and early 70 I do not know.If any other MARX 81 is not mark with Marx logo bellow I do not know either..
I often see then listed wrong w incorrect name brand too.
Specially IDEAL as not marked.
I will do and send all photos to show what I had so far.
I start investigation about teo years ago after noticing some differences and got the odd MEXICAN reissues.
They clearly show mold differences between all.
Reliable being the most drastically different.
Best…
The above tank posted is indeed the more accurate WW2 armor made by Tim Mee-
The two version made I know so far,hard plastic and soft. One with chassis MG other with out(soft)
Are base and very close to real T-17E1 armored scout car ,call (Staghound) and used from 1943 till end of war,also few in Korea war.
The scale was to match the 60/65 mm true WW2 Gi’s they made as most Tim Mee early soldiers were more accurate representing WW2 than most Marx 60 mm and 54 mm. Not only in weapons but uniforms too.
So the vehicle is about 1.30 scale .
The one made with cannon is accurate representing the British designation MI model with 37 mm cannon used and with or with out front bow MG. Wile you can cut it off and easy convert in to the M- II with the 3” howitzer used during war. The British made the most use of it during war and it was in Italy were it proved very good for it.
After the war was used/sold by many countries and Australian forces in the British post 1945 colonial conflicts. The vehicle was exported to China nationalist army in 1947 and used /captured during civil war by Reds;then transfer and used by N-Koreans during initial 1950 war .Some recaptured and used by ROK and NATO forces .
Some countries still have then operational.
http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=621
I have 8 of then,two platoon approx and converted 4 to MII
Best regards.
Processed Plastic made the armored car about 1950/51 and sold it made in hard plastic with the machine gun glued to the body. These will be marked Processed Plastic under the body. In 1952 they sold it made in a combination of bright colors (yellow, blue, red). Other makers also put out their toy vehicles in these bright colors during the same time. A few years later PPCo made and wholesaled it to Tim-Mee Toys. This version was made in soft plastic with no makers name under the body and as there was no glue then available that worked on polyethylene the machine gun was not included. Tim-Mee sold it in header card bags marked ARMY TANK which caused some confusion as what to call it in the collecting community.
Thank you Kent. Yes I had seen original Tim Mee catalog/add listing it as Tank too instead armored car
I had seen the colors one but in hard plastic only.
Did they produce it in soft in those colors as well!?
Best…
The multi colored examples were only made in hard plastic. This was an industry fad in the early 1950s to make counter/bagged pieces seem more exciting to small children. My mom learned to avoid the aisle at the grocery where there was a small section of colorful headercard bagged toys including; Ideal, MPC, Giant and Lido figures. If I begged nicely I might get a 29 set of figures. The soft plastic scout was only made in army green to my knowledge.
If anyone got an extra $70+ in a Christmas card, there is a set of 2 Timmee or Marx 51 tanks on ebay right now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Lot-of-2-Tim-Mee-Marx-Army-Toy-6-Tanks-1970s-Great-Condition-/252695715869?hash=item3ad5d6a01d:g:n48AAOSwJ7RYXyIf
Those will go much higher.
M51 in that condition could go easy x over 60 each.
The seller doesn’t know what he has, obviously: they are M51 Marx tanks.
If the “buy it now” price was $70.00 for the pair, many of us would already have acquired them.
But with 6 days to go before the auction ends, Erwin is right: the price will go much higher. If the bidding stopped at $100.00, it would still be a pretty good bargain.
Sorry. I know is not right place to post it Admin.
For long I been looking information in these IDEAL series made of plug in or not quite multy parts sets. I had seem they are several forces .Often sold very high. I red many years ago small work at PFPC magazine but not much after.
Does any body have more to share about.
I will appreciate it.
I use and eBay sale link as sample.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/250402856279?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Erwin,
This listing has been on EBAY for several years. I don’t think the seller knows the actual market price.
I have a mint sent I purchased from PFPC’s Tom Terry. It included all of the helmets, guns, etc. These figures are 60-65mm hard plastic. These are the rich man’s version of MPC ring hands. They were sold as add-ones to the Ideal Battle Action sets from the mid 60s. I can’t remember if they were mad in Hong Kong.
I have seen these advertised in old toy catalogs as the set I have. I don’t think they were
sold as individual figures.
Thank you so much Jack.
Yes I had seen then mark as HK too .But others seen go for high valuie too x some reason. I had not seen then cheap any were .
Appreciate all info.
best…
I think this is other set/link too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/262736371248?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
With 6 days still to go on this auction, the current high bid for the pair surpassed $70.00 and is now up to $80.99 — all on Christmas Day.
I realize that when I got my tan M51 from Rick Keller two years ago for $50.00, I was getting a fairly good price, based on what I had been observing. I think at OTSN, many would think that $120.00 for this pair in excellent condition would still be a pretty good buy. And some might view $140.00 for the pair as being reasonable.
I’ve put his on my watch list, because I think that in the last 30 minutes of the auction next Saturday, that bids are going to rapidly escalate.
I have a fellow toy collector friend here in Michigan who collects Marx Playsets whose philosophy is that it’s OK to overpay for select Marx items because then, even if you had to overpay, at least you now have the item. At that point, he figures, it doesn’t matter that you had to pay beyond the going rate, because that’s what you sometimes have to do to get what you want.
I can see some collectors out there adopting that philosophy when it comes to acquiring two excellent-condition M51 tanks like these in a nice flat tan color.
I think I paid 50 bucks for my Desert Fox “51” tank a few months ago; not a bad price all things considered…
That is my top x then but rarely seen gone x it.
I got one long ago in a mix lot listed as army set under non vintage. Minor scratches but all plus few Tim Mee repeated I got x 25.00.So I got lucky.
After that I had try with out luck …even with eBay warning look bid automatic set x me.
..another difficult item to come by on ebay, and when one does it’s expensive, are the Marx German motorcycles w/side carts and riders. I think I need two of them to fill out my Desert Fox playset….
Yes too bad those “reissues” and origin mold were “rob” or “gone”!?
I thing whoever did it was to keep the high old prices in market!!??.
Not first time I notice it on collectibles.
Please excuse the interruption gentlemen.
I’m searching for some information and y’all sound like you have the answers. I collect 54mm figures in ACW, Alamo and WW2. I’m not a big collector just several hundred from my old 50’s and 60’s play sets and new figures. I spend hours of relaxation painting them and setting up dioramas for my enjoyment and grand kids.
I am searching for what I call “Action Casualties”.
I can find sets with dead figures, very few figures that are being shot in “action”. There are no riding soldiers or Indians, field soldiers of any period, gunfighters etc. getting shot in the line of “action”. Maybe I’m looking for too much or in the wrong places.
If anybody could help me, I would be very thankful.
Joe
Welcome Joe
Weston Toys has a line of dead figures under Death Production you might want to look at.
Joe,
I convert a lot of figures to Alamo casualties, I have quite a few on hand now. I have had a lot of them pictured on this site in the past. If you click on the link above titled Ed Borris Alamo Conversions I believe you will see some samples. If interested I’m sure Stad will forward you my e-mail address.
And Ed conversion are fast , verty well done and great price.
He observers very well anstomy versus pose and real gesture of body.
One mistake I often see in death poses figures is the legs, one short than other .
Ed figures do not have it as far I had see.
Shot moment impact is other better observed by Ed as far I compere with many others.
Why thank you Erwin.