Odds Ends Jim Hardy Mold Found? I start off this section with a mystery. As you see shortly I am holding a mold containing Jim Hardy. question is Marx or someone else. Next, I will help Frank Derr with a question and request. I go back to my trip to London and show you a charity shop that is nothing but toys.
Odds Ends Jim Hardy Mold Found?
One of the many surprises of my trip to London was being shown and holding a mold containing the Jim Hardy character figure. This mold came in an auction with two other 54mm Marx 54mm Cowboys. The poses were bandit firing a pistol with a strong box and sheriff. Also, in the lot were two mounted Indians from a small company. Somewhere in the future, the figures will be run.
The question, for now, is is this a copy or an original mold I have a Marx 54mm Tonto mold in the collection which I have to find so we can do some comparisons.
Frank Derr’s Question
Frank Derr saw the above vehicle in a playset that CTS is selling. It is part of a set that CTS is selling which contains the above tank plus Airfix copies and Timmee tank copies. Frank would like to know more about the vehicle and where he can buy it separately.
Odds Ends Jim Hardy Toy Project
One item on my list to do was The Toy Project. This is a charity shop exclusive to toys. You never know what you will find. Figures do turn up. Peter Evans got some Timpo Foreign Legion in a previous trip. Here Is Michael Smith, Jane the head of the shop, and myself.
Michael is holding in hand my basket with some of the items I purchased. I will show you in the future. the only exception is the guardsman teddy bear I got for Sherry.
This is looking out the window where they have a lovely display of Lego buildings. I will show my treasures in a future posting. As mentioned the shop was invaded by Keith Lemon and Vivian the drag queen who then did a show on ITV. when it plays Peter will let you know if I did a cameo. LOL
The German self propelled gun or tank destroyer in the picture you shared is from a Hong Kong company called M-toys. That one vehicle is kind of like a Marder or Marder II, but is apparently an original piece by them. The other vehicles they sold are obvious copies of 70s and 80s diecast pieces by Solido, Crescent, Dinky and others. These combined with”swoppetized” copies of Airfix WWII figures in a window box type set.
Paul, we first met at OTSN sometime in the 90s. I was a subscriber to your sales lists and regularly bought Foreign Legion and Arabs. No reason you would remember me and it was only that one time that we met face to face. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that you have never looked better. I know you’ve suffered tragedies and health problems, but you look like you’re in the best shape you’ve ever been. Stay healthy and enjoy life.
— Mark Weitz, Minnesota
Hi Mark
I remember your name. Hope things are good for you. It has been a rough four years being a caregiver for Laurie then the health issues. I feel good just can’t get over how I aged over those four years. right now it is cleaning this house which is a major project. Thanks for the kind words.
WOW- original or not that Jim Hardie mold is quite a find . Good for you Paul & you are looking good ! Glad to see you out on the hunt again.
The small scale (about 1/40 scale soft plastic track armored vehicle was made generic bu unknown maker factory in HK in late 70 /early 80s ,often sold and distributed under several trade mark Such M toys ,Star toy ,imperial ,Kresge and others .Often come in small rectangular window box with either the rare swapped version Airfix copies made in HK of other swapped or non swappet copies figures made in HKas well .It resemble a hybrid German WW2 tank killer but with “anacronic” variation i should say .The plastic with time become very fragile if was stored for long .The vehicle is not an accurate representation of a real war era model.Long ago here in this blog a post was done with several of them being used in a nice scene battle lay out .The barrel rice up all the way and MG swivel or rotate .It has two wheel bellow as typical tank/armor toy to play with .It is about right in scale with the CTS produced “1/38 scale approx “armor and not very common to find around .
Here is Greg Liska nice conversion scene using several of these HK vehicles to create other more historical models with very well done easy conversion .
https://www.stadsstuff.com/?p=3062
Looks like a great charity shop just for toys. I have got some great stuff myself out of charity shops here in the UK. I got a complete CTS bunker hill playset out of a charity shop for just £15.00. Another shop I got a big box of mixed figures it had Timpo and Airfix also Matchbox and also timpo Indian tents all for £10.00. I also got a box of siege items catapults and ballista’s and trebuchets all for £5.00. I got a boxed Britains sword castle and dragon marked up as £10.00 but because they were having a half price day. I actually got it for £5.00. Years ago when I was a kid my brother and I got a great big box of mixed soldiers for £10.00 out of a Barnardo’s charity shop.
Michael and I did a few shops on Thursday got a few bits. The shops here are unexciting and heavily picked over. Best deal was at Portobello RD on Friday.
Thanks to Stad for publishing my question and to Kirk and Erwin for the information. I now have a place to start searching. Dave Payne of CTS also confirmed that the vehicle was made in China and that it has no manufacturer marks. Frank Derr
The Jim Hardie and other molds are interesting, I would wonder if the mold base plate has the Marx character identity info, or if it is just a generic mold. It seems odd that Marx would have to crank out character figures one at a time. If that mold is 3” tall or less it would easily fit in the one ounce bench top injection molder I have.