Plastic Figure Showcase Part One July 2018 Marx, Cherilea Lone Star we have a look at some Marx figures. Then we will look again some old figures from my collection.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part One July 2018 Marx, Cherilea Lone Star Marx
It has been awhile that we look at Marx. Marx made so many interesting figures. Here we have two 60mm pioneers and one 60mm Indian. Marx did the figures first without the base, but must have realized that the figures needed a base.
Marx did some great 60mm army figures. Kent Sprecher stated on his website Toy Soldier Headquarters Marx did over 40 different 60mm army figures. The only foreign companies such as Starlux would matched or surpassed Marx. Some of figures are easy to find while others are are rare. 
Marx did some unique figures such as the World War One Americans. Marx did only five different figures. They were done in soft unpainted plastic and Warriors of the World style. The one weakness was not enough action poses. We had to wait until AIP did a standing firing pose.
One thing I found out when I started to collect seriously is how many companies around the world copied or adapt Marx figures. One of those companies was Cane of Italy. Cane copied the Marx 6 six inch knights. They did same poses in 70mm.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part One July 2018 Marx, Cherilea Lone Star Cherilea
The best place to get certain foreign figures is not in the country they came from. At the Plastic Warrior show I had some sticker shock on English figures especially Britains Deetail Napoleonics. This figure is from the Cherilea Executioner Set. Over in the UK he would cost 50 pounds or more ($66.00) I know I got him here for a few dollars.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part One July 2018 Marx, Cherilea Lone Star Knights
Lone Star under the Harvey Series did eight different foot knights. They are one of the few not to do mounted knights. Some of the figures were copied in France. They were reissued by Toyways.
The executioner pose is unique ,yet it resemble all but an executioners as in full very heavy armor and uncover head.Not typical of Executioner.The set sales x insane price every time i see.Having such figures is hard to get .
The knights from Marx poses are the one so call under Barabelli(sold under Rubenstein here!?) and other in 54 mm that are minor different of Marx in armor design and off CANE that are in fact copies of the 6″.The MARX WW ONE american were nice but half way set ,another rare situation not common in these WOW Marx series that happen same with 1812 sailors too w only 4 poses versus most rest in 8 poses not counting the General.
Yes there two french brand that copied few of LS poses ,one spaniard as well too and Argentina typical UK copiers did then in metal and plastic with minor head swap variation.HK copied then too .Thankfully were reissued and are one of my few UK old brand preferred knight poses.One pose has a very identical Jean Hoefler armor knight with out head that always intrigue me.
With respect please and in my opinion -thoughts
I disagree in years production of 60 mm makers coverage in plastic ,Spaniards such REAMSA and PH “Each” did way more sets than Marx in 60/65 mm SCALE from 1951-1965 as MARX are not quite 60mm but over it as well STARLUX too.
PH production that is less than REAMSA did 56 sets ;most with 12 poses each not counting horses.
Reamsa did much more …
The so call 60mm range -scale is if measuring figure till eyes approx in most MARX figures they are taller in this range .
Starlux problem is even their line is far larger in amount poses sets than Marx ,many were done after MARX stop their “60 mm ” range
Jecsan and COMANSI are in the 70 mm scale more taller ,ELASTOLIN and most italian ,so im not counting then of course .
Yes the price on the Executioner set is high. As I have told at one PW show a dealer had Executioner figure for 90 pounds ($118.80). Right below on the next shelf was Marx 1812 for a song.
Yes it annoying that Marx only did a few series of less than 8 poses.
You missed read my comments. I was saying that Marx did more poses of 60mm army figures. You would have to look to foreign companies to match or surpass number of poses.. I was not interested in the entire company’s production.
60mm is guide most companies were not rigid on their side.
It’s easy enough even in this country to get sticker shock on Britains Deetail Napoleonics. It’s been that way at the shows for years. Somehow I managed to get a set of each (4 different Napoleonic infantry sets, along with 4 different Napoleonic mounted sets) at a somewhat reasonable price. Every once in awhile I think about adding some additional figures, but everytime I run into them at a show, they’re always priced too high — at least, too high to suit me. So I’ve learned to be satisfied with what I’ve got.
I noticed Britain has devalued in US market considerable ,least in eBay ,i got most then off eBay years after the Gold rush at shows with insane prices .The famous eye right series were sold like antique figures and i got them eBay by tons in much less costly lots .Is true are not perfect ,some may have minor scratch and paint off ,but i don’t care ,I’m not purist in series with lots deals as far figures are complete and not damage considerable of course .
Napoleonic cover 40% of my collection and is the only with plenty repeated poses i have .
Only Britain i had not able get full sets are the second detail berets Paras in rare poses. Rest i got then all plus all western buildings and accessorize forts or castles as i considered then not realistic x my flavor .
my thoughts.
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The mounted Deetail Napoleonic were 12 pounds ($ 15.84) It might be cheap for a collector but look ing at resale it was not.
Yeah that price is way above I had get then in lots.
I ussualy get lots deals in mounted figures with out horse else to get the poses.
In fact Britain horses w metal mases are not my like.
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I prefer the Marx without bases as could either put in fort ramp,castle ladders or vehicle in more realistic way ,even as children i like that way versus others.Yet i understand that for better static balance playing as toy figures the base was a plus and eventually produced as that
In the others way around and opposite like..
Tim Mee pirates and RH/Knights,western series is annoying with odd poses and lack balance and not base I’m wonder who was the artist as complete different style from Marx,Auburn,Ideal and even LIDO artists.
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Some of the 70mm Timmee pirates and Robin Hood Merrymen lack bases, but they stand up OK because Timmee creatively made them with 3 points of contact to the ground.
For the poses where Timmee couldn’t get three points of contact, it went ahead and added a base.
This is in contrast to Lido, which made nice FFL, Arab, American Revolution, Civil War, and Knight figures, but didn’t make them with bases, OR 3 points of contact. The result was that often setting them up in a battle scene became an excercise in frustration.
To his credit, Louis Marx, after seeing how some of his early figures without bases lacked stability, ordered that henceforth Marx figures would have bases, even if the same poses in subsequent sets had to be revised.
Even then, some of the Marx bases are a little too narrow or skimpy, and on a rug or carpet have difficulty standingf, although on a completely flat surface like a woonden floor or table top they are just fine. But since then, many of today’s modern makers seem to make their bases in a wider, more generous size. I think it’s a big improvement in the art of the toy soldier.
The “3 point contact creativity” of TM poses make then looks so funny looking and awkward poses in anatomical comic design in my view that I dislike a lot more-Many of TM pirates ,RB and knights looks as if were drunk clowns .Most TM Pirates ,RH and knights were without base -not some as far i had seen plenty around in many years.
The bases were added after and to some poses not all only and in the army,western/pioneers series more bases added as they did more series poses. Every single lot of TM pirates knights i see are without base minus very few.
I agree Lido issue but also as LIDO are more in 2D that make /add then less stable in figure style.
MPC 45/54 mm have very bad skinny bases and make then fall too easy as well. From Medieval to ARW and to WW2 same issue pretty much .
Again I’m looking with adult eye not as these figures were intended for (For children to play in first place).
Yet in Marx. I since child and still own and got most 60/65 mm without base as they stand fine because made in many cases of rubber heavy material and as child I use- depicted in fort poses and can be put climbing forts,ladder ,ramparts without base that won’t let be position if had bases.
Marx 1952 10 poses so nice US soldiers/marines have the balance so well done even with open legs and no need create 3 point balance minus the one caring the 50 m ammo case .The need of bases on those was none to the point never add bases to then as far i see or know with exception of the painted WOW some poses for mark brand purpose as done in HK and Germany under Heimo and others.
54 MM knights were done x long without base and stand well ,again the main idea as to be use climbing ladders probably or in castle walls else .The ones with base added later apparently were cast very poor as Armour looks blurry .I don’t know why this happen ..
The Marx 45mm camp Gi’s 2nd series were done without bases too
I understand Marx adding bases x play better and as I say was i business decision to accommodate to play-need x children of course as they did with rest ,a good logic …
Bases x me are not interesting as i can removed and not much use in my scenes .For adult nice scenes you either adapt terrain to base or cover it if want then look more realistic ,if want display in table and or shelf the bases are OK of course.
my thoughts.
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Paul, sorry but the Cherilea figure you have here isn’t from the execution set, this is “The Prince” from the medieval knights set, as you can see he is wearing full plate armour. The execution set is based on figures from the 16th century, you can see some of them here: http://www.toysoldier.freeuk.com/16to17ce.htm The executioner figure (which is missing from this lineup) is holding an axe above his head about to strike his victim.
Brain freeze time, I think you told me before on what the figure was. The figure was mixed in with Exectioner set on the stand.
Narrow or non-existent bases were always a problem to me – even as a child. As has been mentioned carpet or rugs were a problem – even on a hard surface it seemed like you would be setting up a formation or firing line and one guy would tip and before you knew it you were no longer playing toy soldiers but dominoes.
I kind of like the IDEAL pirates not having bases; with their poses it kind of lends them to hanging in the rigging. If I can ever get around to fully painting my pirates and decking out my two pirate ships I hope to put them to full use.
Thanks to new glues though I can now solve the problem by broadening the bases with thin plastic sheets so that they stand nicely without adding too much to the height of the figures. I’ve managed this with some of my Marx ACW reb recasts (leave the originals alone) and CTS Mexicans. I’m a much happier camper.
Talking about bases ,interesting how Marx early in Unpainted pirates took the time to do some of pirates in large scale(65 mm ) with wood plank type depicted bases as if in a ship while others in terrain sand type .I think are one of the best intended sample made to accommodate poses to each environment in same set ..
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PLAYSET MAGAZINE has documented that Louis Marx made fun of the Ideal pirates because they kept falling down. Most of the early Marx 45mm & 60mm figure ranges were first made without bases. Due to customer complaints Marx underwent an extensive re-engineering of the molds to add bases. Often first a small thin base or pod feet was added which was deemed insufficient so the mold went through the process again. Some of the 45mm GI mold cavities may have been worked on as many as four times. The 40/45mm Rodeo cowboys & “standard” cowboy molds each got small bases added. The Rodeo mold was then shipped to the UK factory. While it was gone the “standard” 45mm cowboy mold went through another revision and the figures got bigger bases. This mold made two sets of ten different poses. When the four mounted figures (2 each shooting rifle & with lasso) were removed as they did not fit onto the standard 45mm western horses they were replaced with four figures from the rodeo mold which has returned to the states. You can tell which figures came from the rodeo mold as they never got the final bigger bases. I like the odd animation of the Tim-Mee pirates and knights. Their large size meant they usually did not get mixed in with my smaller figures.