Plastic Figure Showcase Catapult by Marx, I start this post with a look at the Marx catapult and how I solved a problem. Next, we will look at some Crescent figures. Finally. a look at the latest Barzso Collectibles release from LOD Enterprises.
Plastic Figure Showcase Catapult Marx
Crescent Figures
LOD Enterprises Latest Barzso Collectibles
I never understood why Marx made the catapult wheels in a different colour from the rest of the model, and especially bright red. On the real siege engines, everything would be made of timber, so I would make replacement wheels from those thin wooden strips that coffee shops now provide instead of plastic stirring sticks. The Britains balista illustrates how perfect they would be for the job, and indeed that entire machine could be replicated using the same material, stocks permitting.
To save money Marx used the mold for Freight Station equipment wheels for the catapults. The mold made two sizes of wheels and one was reserved for the Freight Station carts that they wanted in yellow. Marx did run it in black as well.
There is far cry from Britain,Timpo,Nardi ,Elstolin ,Jean Hoefler ,Lone Star and other versus MARX that is so unrealistic and simple crude made medieval catapult .
All chinese version made ,included Supreme brand sold recently are far more realistic that Marx .Same in siege machines .
Mark looks to me just like a very simple simple toy x play ,Yet many MARX accessories” medieval” made are very well done and more realistic .
My thought
Marx felt the playset needed Catapultandkept itsimple.
I loved the catapult when I was a kid. It actually fired!
Back then, Louis wasn’t really as concerned about making historically correct models as he was making fun toys for little boys to play with. I think he succeeded. Thinking about it, considering what came before Marx, he was a giant leap forward in correctness. I mean the “Panther” tank wasn’t scale, and I’d hate to be in that turret when it fired its main gun, but when I saw a real Panther I knew what it was from my toy.
For someone who didn’t grow up to the thrill of seeing a Marx playset under the Christmas tree I can understand why they don’t get the love many of us have for Marx figures and accessories. I’ve said many times the Marx Giant Blue and Gray Battleset was my “Red Ryder BB Gun” as a kid. That’s where my love of history that has been so important to me was formed – it became my livelihood. Was the “Fighting Knights” set accurate? Not really, but boy did I have fun playing with it.
For that, many of us “Boomers” owe Louis a great deal. Nowadays, we are a bit more picky and can argue over how many buttons were on a coat or whether this or that weapon was used in 43 or 44, but when we were kids Marx, MPC, and others put us into an entirely different world and he and his toys will always have a warm spot in our heart.
I bet they did.
Simplicity above quality was one Marx strongest to offer more x less.
Nostalgic memories will never been erased.
Same times- era other makers choose quality and more historical detail versus simplicity. But in many cases their prices were far high than Marx.
So Marx choose simplicity non historical x economic reason and to provide more affordable prices toys while others choose more detail and accuracy over lower prices.
US market had always been much larger .So to fulfill the dreams x so many Marx did sacrifice in some aspects .
I just point the fact that regardless the Marx catapult is way simple versus same era many other brands toys.
My thoughts.
Lookout Roy Munson !—https://www.google.com/search?q=cowboy+bowling&sxsrf=ALeKk02p_PQC1k6A2RMagZM2AP5QmyCkag:1597009489144&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_hLb6i4_rAhVpTt8KHeUOAIsQ_AUoAXoECBsQAw&biw=1323&bih=751#imgrc=z6ti3VOKom5dkM
Cowboy bowling ?
Mark, your link does not come through…
His posture looks just right for bowling, but the way his right hand is hovering over the revolver suggests he may be a bad loser, so I would advise his opponent, as C3PO nearly said, to let the cowboy win. Assuming he is a bank robber though, I had a cowboys set in that same era that included a similar baddie, and the bag of cash had a distinctive $ sign painted on it, to remove all doubt about what it contained. I don’t know what brand they were, and I’m still looking for them.
Yes, huge price difference from getting a Britains or Timpo catapult to the Marx. I remember the Remco Big Caesar catapult was a nicer wood brown color and although the wheels were non-moving, molded as part of the catapult, they looked very real. As a kid, I was happy to get the 2 to 4 catapults per set. My mother was not so happy to find the plastic rocks all over the place. The catapults were cool enough to actually get my father on the floor with me. He kept adjusting fire on a catapult until he slammed a rock right into my carry-all castle’s backdoor, where upon his Vikings stormed in.
What wonderful memories! Who said nostalgia isn’t what it used to be ?
There plenty cheap very well done to desent catapult,balista or siege machine in brands like Pressman 5 different models very nice done,Chinese many brands such Suprene,Sunjade.
Even Playmobil three models are nice done and 1/32 compatible plus cheap .
Marxt catapult been recast in 80s in dark brown and black too.
One of Timpo siege least were reissues and find around from $12 to 20 each easy
All above easy cheap to find still.
There even series easy built kit series and wood made deck decor with real action parts as well.
MPC was alike Marx and easy find too .
One of the Britain models was redone still till late 90s w last knights sets and very common low price still too.
One Britain and one Timpo been clined by HK and chinese and sale easy around .
Remco looks better than Marx ..
It is the cheapest piece from Remco sets to find around easy from 7 to 10.00 per piece still by many …
Best