Plastic Figure Showcase November 2016 we are going to look a model village our very good friend Peter Evans. Peter also sent us photo of a Blue Box set he had back in 1966. Next we will show Clarence Causey Desert Fox table he made. We will follow it up with some odds and ends.
Plastic Figure Showcase November 2016 Model Village
Peter sent us these photos of a Model Village in Wales. It is Bacombe Model Village located in Torquay United Kingdom. the figures are about six inches high. Peter sent us two photos. The first is of a castle with a dragon.
The other photo is a Superhero get together. See what how many heroes you can recognize.
Plastic Figure Showcase November 2016 Blue Box 90mm Soldiers
Plastic Figure Showcase November 2016 Desert Fox Table
Clarence Causey told us about the table he made for his Marx Desert Fox Playset. I am sure you will like it.
The table has a shelf underneath to store items . The table has wheels so it can be easily moved around.
Plastic Figure Showcase November 2016 Odds and Ends
Wesley Grath likes the Butternut and Blue figures. He decided to improve the figures by adding TSSD weapons. He also using weapons and arms from Expeditionary Forces. I like the tin cups he added to some figures.
The figures painted up.
Bill Nevins got these 54mm Green knights recently. Do you know what Marx playset they are from?
Green metallic knights were called for in sets #4700 & 4708 Medieval Castle Sets, both sets issued in 1959. However, Marx was known to make substitutions when out of stock of the ‘correct’ item and they could be found in other sets as well.
Metallic BLUE knights were called for in sets #4700, 4704 and 0630 [the “Dimestore” set]. The latter 2 sets were from 1964. Gold knights appeared in sets #4704 & 4734, also from 1964. Again other colors could be substituted on occasion.
Wow, the TSSD weapons do work, good job.
Thanks Ed,
I have a few painted up (not great but OK) and one of those is a flag bearer who looks great. I have more conversions I have yet to paint. I should send in some shots of those so that you guys can get some ideas……..
Billy These knights were found in a 4723 box set. This is the second 4723 I have that contains these metallic knights.
Thanks! Was this the 4723 series 500 sets or the 4723R series 750 sets? Were these in addition to silver knights or INSTEAD of silver knights?
If in addition to silver, these might have been add-on sets, purchased separately, as opposed to substitutions. Factory documents called for silver. Sears at least, sold extra sets of knights in their catalogs. These sets have been spotted in several colors of plastic.
http://s1295.photobucket.com/user/BillyHillRN/media/Sears%20Christmas%201956%202_zps6riuflqe.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
4723 was a Robin Hood set. Dom you have the set contents?
..have finished another round of sanding/painting on Desert Fox table, will send another pic tomorrow. The Germans troops are original Marx but American GIs are recasts made from Marx molds; nice, crisp detail. Need some sitting troops for armored cars and will have it almost complete..:)…
I like the table idea with easy way to storage and move around.
Too sad I had not the time and space x it.
Well done.
Thanks Erwin: my palm trees are non Marx types but I have ordered some re-issue Marx trees and that should enhance things nicely. One item I’m having a difficult time getting are the German motorcycles and side cars; rare and very expensive on Ebay. The American “51” tank I got for about 50 bucks……..
Yeah,those Marx sidecar are hard to get.Too bad the reissues molds
“despair”!!!!?
I did manage get one full reissues set ,then sold when I become historically accurate but now I miss it x collectible value.
The M51 is not bad x $50.00,usually go x more.
Any how ,it looks like you got a lot fun there and great work.!!!!
Thanks x sharing the true spirit of playing …
Thanks Erwin: yes, the “51” tank at around 50 bucks I thought was a good deal as I’ve seen some go for near 100 bucks; mine is missing the machine gun on top but otherwise intact. I am having a good time in my old age (53) putting this old play set together and building the table is/was fun also..:)…
Did you design/make the table yourself or is it available from a DIY style chain store?
Brian: I made it myself (plywood, 2 x 4s and 1 x 6s mostly). I looked at some images of play tables I found on the internet and tried to model it after one of those. I used a measurement close to what the play mat was that came in the original Desert Fox playset, although I had to make it a little smaller to get it to fit through the doors in my house (33 inches wide I think it was)…
That’s an outstanding table idea Clarence came up with. I like the storage underneath and the idea of putting it on rolling casters. And it displays the Desert Fox Playset in all its glory.
And that English Village from Peter Evans is truly stupendous. It may be the most interesting castle set-up I’ve ever seen, because it includes all the normal day to day activities both in and around the castle so well.
It’s amazing how the Desert Fox Playset is so big, with so many vehicles, that the playmat can’t quite accomodate the whole set.
Peter Evans modern English Village model, showing a modern town being built up around an historical English castle, with the castle itself being used as a “living history” exhibit, is very interesting. I’m assuming it’s on display in some museum or town hall visitor’s center. Where is it exactly? Did Mr. Evans himself either create it or have a hand in creating it?
No Peter did not have a hand in it. Here is a link to the village. http://www.model-village.co.uk/
Don: according to an original ad from JC Penny circa 1972, the set included over 200 pieces….and for a grand total of 13 bucks….
About WW2 playset.
Unfurtunately were I lived never saw any of it.
Sad era x my US toys.
However great era for Spaniard,Italians.HK and east German y toys as child.
Only my US DAD toys pre 1958 all are the one from my childhood.
Now this is my qustion about knights.
The only full playset Marx complete from my Dad I got was the mefieval with cannon s lower walls.
The way my father has it with instruction and box.
(I could not bring those w me).
The figures knights were in silver with not ,but one pointing pose was metallic knight and another set of poses was
In the less detailed grey w bases.All I know are pre 1958.
Could any bary make out something out that to.tell me possible set number or why two differen mold sets inside?
I have full castle ,knights and charters w it.
I have to flat all tin parts to bring it in lugage in 1995.
The base ,box and instruction were left and lost x ever.
Sorry that went bad.
The knights I got are a full set in silver w out bases.
With a double repeated in poses foot set of not silver but grey less details plastic w bases.
Plus one pointing pose in green metallic color.
All mounted are silver.
Charters are silver w base
I got a set of the Butternut and Blue figures when they first came out years ago. They were made by the owners of a large, classic & history bookstore, both used and new, in Maryland. I ordered them from a full-page advertisement in Tom Terry’s PFPC. I always like them, but the addition of TSSD weapons is a 100% improvement.
I’m thinking (but I could be wrong) that the name of the bookstore may have itself been “Butternut and Blue Bookstore”. In any event, the owner also released 4 additional not very impressive Confederates to go along with the Union set (calling them ‘Confederate Skirmishers’). This was all at the height of the plastic toy soldier revival in the mid to late 80s or very early 90s. But he never released anything after that. I suspect he found out, like the owner of Black Cat Miniatures with their excellent first release of Russian Napoleonics — followed by nothing — that even then the manufacture of toy soldiers could be a long hard row to hoe in terms of making a decent profit.
Well, I almost got it right. “Butternut and Blue Books”, confirmed by a check on the internet, is a Baltimore, Maryland history book store exclusively devoted to — get this — books and publications about the American Civil War. It deals in both new and used, out of print Civil War books, and extensively publishes and republishes Civil War memoirs and regimental histories. Their websites says they also sell painted Civil War miniatures. It sounds like a very nice place to visit if you’re in the Baltimore area.
WOW .Don;You beat me today talking here.LOL!!!
I was kidding…
Ok interesting about owner of Butternut and I will add to my data now. Thanks x sharing…
I remember when they made their ACW set box they made 11 new Union and 4 Confederate poses but when you larger case set(I think the box was white with some red and blue-grey décor painting outside Marx type and a words) .It included the two prototype poses ,Officer firing pistol (more better designed than others) and soldier with separated arm weapon o holding bayoneted rifle up near his neck ,again better designed.
I have the early set that I manage to get x a bargain few years back out of box with out fence and nothing but the 4 rebel poses and these two prototype that I got loose too.
So in total they did 13 union poses and the 4 sharpshooter rebels .
About Black Kat set of very well done Russian I got a lot of mint set direct from then long ago x a very low price to mass my armies and resold about 2 dozen packs after.
I think as you said they took years to recover the thousand of sets done and went back to metal as other had done.
I agree plastic long run is not at all fast or any where good enough profit unless you have extra money to spend and wait.
Future once again is in short run production in this hobby.
Yes, I got the Butternut & Blue boxed Civil War playset, with the fence pieces, the Confederates, the Union set, and the 2 prototype Union figures. It actually was a sturdy, well-lithographed box, if I remember correctly.
Back then, I thought I was a really intelligent toy soldier purist to refuse to worry about or to save boxes. And regretfully, I didn’t save it. Now, of course, I realize my mistake. It was a mistake even for me to not save the nice sturdy cardboard boxes that StoneCastle’s Gregg Hahn packaged all his Marx reissues in when they first came out.
Yes.U right it was very sturdy case low and almost square I think.
I still keep two of original STONE CASTLE white small case,one is a Dulcop knights 50 pcs(label outside).The cases I think are from Uline company but are very hard and great x toy soldiers.
I end reusing then long ago x shipping.
I love STC as I remember maling orders and wating to see figures in hand back when not computer internet and only the catalog with some blurry pictures.
I order more from then than no other dealer,till start buying from abroad and shows more direct from other countries .
Good times ….
G’day Erwin,
The Box I got had the Union poses (with the stabbing guy, but not the additional officer), the four rebel skirmishers (two of which were/are usable and two of which are not), a post and rail fence in pieces and two rock walls. Not a bad set overall but I always thought the weapons were the weakest part, hence the TSSD additions.
Interesting you only got one of two last poses done add on.
Yes ,I agree figures and plastic weapon material plus detail not great, still much better than many others I think…
The last two poses, officer and stabbing were done a bit better, the separated rifle on last pose was better than others I think.
Best
The Butternut & Blue figures were modeled somewhat with Airfix multi-pose kits. So they are on the small side of 1/32 scale. Great figures on terrible bases.
One of my favorite ACW figures is the Butternut & Blue prototype figure with separate rifle overhead.
I heard you can still get the Butternut and Blue sets, Nick of TSSD has his phone number I may too, but if you call him he’ll sell them to you. Reasonable prices too from what I have heard.
http://butternutandblue.com/
Erwin, Was that a Medieval Castle set or a Robin Hood set?
“Charters are silver w base”
Is that supposed to be character figures?
Silver characters are usually Prince Valiant figures.
Bill.
No Robin Hood.
Prince Valiant and other 4 charater minus lady have base and in same dark silver as the knights with out base and mounted.
Horses are flat not gloss black and cream color.
Castle has the red plastic part w two red turret still firing cannons.
The second group of repeat poses are two each of all foot poses in pale grey/silver but on base and a bit blurry detail than others …
Plus one single metallic green pointing finger pose.(I ussulay use him as captain)
And it most had been from 1955 or before base on my father age .
But I can not confirm any else as box lost x ever.
I had a castle Prince Valinat I think, however I did not have those red plastic firing cannons. I had the character figures and two sets of knights, Low walls, red parapets, but no cannons.
Ed.So did yours had the place were cannon suppose to go not open hole in tin?Interesting.
Mine is exact as the one show in Kent site now.I can take pictures too but just easy look at Kents.
I was alway not happy w Prince Valiant sword.
As I expect like in movie a big nice sword ,in figure looks like a stick or toy bat.The German Heimo varitaion pose has it better done I guess.
No, no hole either, the gate peice was one solid piece with a space for the long slim parapet that fit on it. It had six parapets the four little squares, the big square and the long rectangle. The keep came with a red piece that fit in the opening in front.
WOW!.
Never see as that.Mine has all u described plus the two holes plus cannons.I still have one mint belt of cannon shells attached .
I barreley shot it.Since children I never like much,even they look nice but I knew after learning.. were anachronism.
Billy, Both sets are 4723 series 500. Both have a set of silver knights and a set of metallic knights.
Bill this is news, but explains some baseless metallic green knights that have been found.