Marx Toys Figure Update we look again some previous Marx figures we talked about. First up is Marx Napoleon figure. There has been debate of whether the face in Louie Marx or not. Next one we will return to are the Marx knights that were planned for Warriors of the World.
Marx Toys Figure Update Napoleon and Louis Marx
In my previous post on Marx Toys Historical Figures I showed the reissue Marx Napoleon I. In the comments Rahway had state that the face of Napoleon was suppose to be Louie Marx. I stated that I had mentioned it on Facebook and people disagree so I decided to pull my originals to make a comparison.
As you can see the faces of the two figures are different The first place you can see a difference is in the eyes. Napoleon’s eyes seem like slits. Also Napoleon’s face is more rounder than Louie Marx.
I tried do a closeup of the faces. Hopefully this will give you a better idea. Let us know your thoughts?
Marx Toys Figure Update Knights
Also in Marx Toys Historical Figures we looked at some knight originally done for Warriors of the World but never released. The figure mold ended up in Russia where it has been run by various companies. At the time I listed only six poses. There are actually eight poses. Two missing poses are standing firing long bow and knight standing with lance and shield. On the second pose the lance is separate. Both of these poses are copies of Britains figures. Three of the poses are from the Marx six Inch figures.
The two missing figures are getting very high prices on Ebay. The first figure Knight with lance and shield one person is asking $350.00. The piece is missing its lance. Also the knight firing longbow is being offered at only $300.00.
The Napoleon was part of a series of self-caricature figures Marx had made to gave to family and friends. Their existence and personal distribution by Louis Marx has been attested to by playset designer Frank Rice, Marx VP Sy Wane and Marx’s granddaughter Catherine Barnette.
Napoleon was 51 when he died so he would not be portrayed as a man in his sixties. He also would not have had a 20th century “fringe” haircut.
in my opinion wherever face Marx put in that figure it is neither Lois or Napoleon typical face.
there many different facial features that put very far from Lois Marx too.
so I think was some else he knew maybe??
my thought
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Too bad the technology is too advanced for this mold. The Bowman is the best figure of the eight. Maybe someone in Russia can acquire the mold and hand pour the plastic or something.
mold is gone.But some one could clone it x sure.Any bowman and other pose not in photo from admin and not the standing pose sold as rare are the one alike but not copied from Britain.
the HK HO scale knights are the one cloned of these 8 poses not the tall gold Marx poses.
ilbest
I mean mold was rework.and the two poses cut off it and eliminated.
the mold w 6 Poses is still active.
Correct. None of these Marx Warrior of the World unreleased poses match up to the Marx 6-inch figures. They are both totally different sculpts — not similar in the least.
But the Marx HO scale knights were modeled after them — or vice versa.
But the Warrior of the World unleased (by Marx) knight sculpts were pretty good figures. I got mine years ago from James Delson, I believe, when somebody ran the molds during the “Golden Age of Reissues” — ha ha ha.
Of course, they were plate-armored knights running around on foot, which seemed somewhat unrealistic. But the main reason I didn’t really care for them was that they were all run in black, which obscured the detail. Since I never was interested in painting my figures, these knight figures always looked like little black globs when I set them up on a battleboard, and then looked at them 3 – 4 feet away. In black, you just couldn’t see much detail.
If the Russians or Ukranians or whoever had the molds had released them in a nice metallic silver, bronze, or gold, they would all have looked quite good.
I see from Google that in the late Middle Ages/early Renaissance period, some knights on foot really did try to fight wearing full suits of plate armor (as in the popular conception of shining knights in full body armor charging on their steeds), but that trying to do so really did significantly impair movement & endurance. I guess that’s why great producers like Marx & Elastolin went ahead and sculpted some of their knights on foot wearing full suits of plate armor.
I personally would have just preferred fighting in chain mail, trusting in that plus my shield for protection. Or, as an alternative, just using a breast plate like the Conquistadors.
I agree that the foot knights in plate armor might have had some historical basis; at the same time – I think Louis was bowing to the general perceptions and imaginations of his target audience for the toys – kids. When we were kids and we thought of “knights” (how many of us realized that not all those who fought were really knights when we were kids?) we imagined guys in plate armor. It was the same with his Robin Hood figures who may have matched Errol Flynn and Richard Greene, but were really dressed centuries too late for the real Robin Hood. I remember my uncle, a World War Two Pacific UDT veteran laughing at my Marx German tanks with their huge barrels – well, at least they resembled German Panthers…
Now, as adults we are more demanding in accuracy. As kids did we really care?
For me, Louis was like Hollywood in that way – Even though there were errors in details like that, I did learn a lot about history from playing with his figures and they opened the door for my learning even more. I guess it’s like I say about Cecil B. DeMille’s “Ten Commandments” and John Wayne’s “The Alamo” (still my favorite version to watch) – it may not be the way it really happened – but it was the way it SHOULD have happened.
For me, at least, that is why Louis Marx – and his plastic guys will always hold a special place in my heart.
Late Medieval knights often fought on foot in plate armor – and could have a degree of mobility that is quite surprising to us. Here is a video showing a man going through the rather strenuous exercises of a famous French knight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-bnM5SuQkI
Here is one last video showing more on mobility in plate armor as well as some fighting techniques. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hlIUrd7d1Q
In my opinion .
I agree in mobility on heavy armour.Excalibur film was one of first showing it with simple actor using real made hard aluminum armour in full pieces a lot.The armour were made/designed by Terry English who copied or cloned exact models base in those at museums
The poses made by Marx are not that unrealistic but one pose looks far from medieval style sword fighting style and more as sport Renaissance style .
however there some poses made in knights that are either awkward ,funny or intentional made by artist.
One intriguing pose to me is elastolin knight made running in very athletic pose that not matter what super flexible armour you have can not be done possible.
The pose in particular was done in two poses scales and copied by BB Hong KONG.
I like to know what this artist got idea or why making such sporting figure pose
Reamsa too has two pose in very odd athletic pose on full armour.
So definitely fight in full armour on foot is plenty depiction in painting and tapestries as well and was done .But as usual some knights figures pass the realism and full armored bowman were exception not the rule at all.Crossbowman wore more heavy armor sections not full .
Any heavy armored knight figure serve the late XIV century period till early XVI century wars were many battles were fought by dismounted heavy armored knights,sargents and men at arms in massive armies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_armour
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/Elastolin-40mm-Armoured-Knight-Mediaeval-running-with-mace-I/360597272912
I don’t know if this is the right place to post this. Check out Armies in Plastics web site. Three new sets announced for Feb 1st incl. Mexican Revolution and Alamo+ and the War for Texas Independence. And Paragon’s ;attest Alamo Lancers set is now available.
That’s interesting info about AIP. I guess we will soon find out if these are entirely new sets, or rather simply new colors. I notice the announcement on AIP’s website also says there will be new WWI sets.
With the cancellation of the Texas and West Coaster shows this year, along with the loss of the East Coast show, I’m looking forward to the upcoming Midwest Toy Soldier Show in Indiana. I’m assuming we will see you & Mr. Borris there, even though your photos aren’t yet up on the show site’s photo gallery of confirmed dealers.
https://regaltoysoldiers.com/product-category/soldiers-of-the-world/alamo
I know AIP shares similar sets and poses with them. It is possible this could be the basis for their new Alamo line. After all, I can’t think of any current sets of AIP that could pass as Alamo defenders/texans if casted in a different color. (haha)
It’s quite possible that AIP could release a mix of new sets and old sets released in new colors. But since this is all speculation, we will find out all in due time.
I agree I can not see them using old stock for the Alamo either. We will have to sit back and wait until they reveal more information.
We should not speculate.
However if that the case the Landwehr Prussians are indeed very close to the US army 1936-1948 and the others regular Prussian Russian sets can pass as Mexican if like along with some British infantry
Spaniards as alamo defenders along with some Boers.
That is base in very simple the AIP figures are in uniform and poor detail weapons generic made.
In Russo Turkish war, it depends as were 10 main wars among both empires not counting WW one
The Egyptians could pass easy as Turks for the 1853-1978 wars and Russo Japanese war Russians set as Russian for same period
For Mexico revolution 1910-1920 The Japanese(Japanese Russo war set) have very alike Mexican uniform used by federal army in Mexico revolution and Spaniards from Spanish American war have alike Mexican revolutionary style mix with bores as well.
All above could be easy pass as those.
When Tony did the Spaniards for Spanish American war I was the one who supply the data, painting and photo of Spanish army .He copy then well .I also pass the Cubans rebels -Insurrects( call mambises ).He did not made those and used Spaniards for then -Wrong as not close at all .Would he had used Boers will be more close .But in understood his final decision.
Yet Tony has this smart simple way to provide armies in generic simple uniform to be use alike.
French, British, Austrians, English, Germans plus Russians XVIII century 7 years’ war all used tricorn hat in many units but different uniforms and some had big differences by far view. He used the one army be used as all rest same way in different color that had not same uniform but used tricorns of course.
For AIW he used one set x British, hessian, British, French American and Tories. None had same uniforms but many used Tricon of course
So that how simple he did serve us with simple sets to fill our ranks.
Historical, accuracy, detail was out question x him. Some basic main features were represented to make then looks obvious the era conflict at simple look, but not deep or diverse enough to be accurate and in some cases far from realistic
Diversity, amount poses per set, price and multiuse was his main achievement and goal -offer and still is.
I will think that the amount of sets mentions as new looks too much x just one big new release. But we may be surprise from a big giant he is
Tony did not stop producing till 2013 and he did over 100 different sets army’s era sets.
Only ever passing him in amount sets but at higher price is EXF since 2013 with CTS and TSSD closing in.
My thoughts.
Tony of AIP is one of my favorite toy soldier producers, and I have long felt that he has been under-appreciated for his efforts and the outstanding contributions he has made to the toy soldier hobby. Just to single out one example: AIP’s Sudan War Camel Corps, with all the variations and differing configurations, was absolutely brilliant, especially in the sculpting of the camels.
I am hoping, however, that Tony doesn’t just label his Boer sets as Alamo defenders. I already use his Napoleonic French Regulars as Mexicans, but I think that’s entirely defensible, since the uniforms of Santa Anna’s army took their inspiration from Napoleon’s French army.
I personally enjoy it when toy soldier producers run their figure sets in different colors, especially since I don’t paint, and I like the colorful variety when the same figures are later run in different colors of plastic.
AIP has done this before, and so did Louis Marx. Marx ran his 60mm Indians in yellow, tan, red, red-brown, and cream. Marx also ran his Fort Apache/Alamo defenders in tan, silver, light blue, medium blue, gray, and lime green. I like and collect them all.
Nevertheless, I’m hoping in this case that Tony’s announcement means something more than running the Napoleonic French in a different shade of blue, or running the Boers in a new shade of brown.
Yes! The faces look completely different ! Young Lois Marx ? Different sculptor’s impression of Lois Marx? Some other modern living person at the time ?