We received two links today about the Timmee Reissues. The firs one is from our very good friend William and is about the Timmee tanks being reissued in tan and the release of the civilians.
http://toyriffic.blogspot.com/
The other link comes to us from our very good friend Brian Johnson. This one is dealing with the Timmee frontiersmen. we already spotlight the figures, but this link gives a nice overview of the history of these figures. The figures were first made in 1954 and were sold under many different names.
Question: Who design first the frontiersman poses Marx or Timmee?; as both large scale figures sets have a great similarity in poses and design!
I once heard a comment, at a show, from some dealer I can’t remember, who made the same observation about the Marx early 60mm 1st and 2nd version pioneers looking so similar to the Timmee pioneers. He stated that Timmee copied the Marx pioneers.
Unfortunately, I can’t document any of this, or even if it’s an accurate statement. But I’m betting it is. I know there’s got to be someone on this board can substantiate that the Timmee pioneers came after the ones by Marx —- someone like either Paul himself, or Toy Soldier HQ. If anything, the vinyl Marx used on it’s early pioneers would have preceded the plastic Timmee used, right?
Yes, Timmee issued its pioneers in plastic from the get-do, so it would be doubtful that Marx copied the Timmee figures, and then decided to release them in vinyl.
Besides, I can’t imagine Marx ever intentionally copying anybody. Louis Marx had the resources to originate everything from scratch, including the design and sculpting. Plus, his vision was always for Marx to be a one-of-a-kind original, always a step ahead of his competitors. That’s why he’s recognized as such even today, nearly 50 years after the company’s demise.
But it’s still an interesting question as to whether the Marx 60mm pioneer sculptor may have also worked on the Timmee 60mm pioneers, or whether Timmee simply used another sculptor to copy the pioneer figures from Marx, making a few improvements in the process.
Logic thought Don on material. Plastic type. I did not think of it.Good point.
Still the years on Tim mee are pretty close to Marx!?,and also like to know if any sculptor from Marx work for timmee or vise versa.
What scale are those Patton Tanks?
What a bummer! They had a chance to recast those tanks in a decent tan color instead of that ‘anemic flesh’ tone. The green recasts are a good color, if a bit shiny.
Tom – the scale on the M-48 is about 1/45. It’s roughly the same size as a Marx 41 tank.
The Timmee kneeling firing the rifle pose is very similar to the Marx 60mm kneeling firing a rifle pose. In this one case I think the Timmee guy is actually a much better figure.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the Marx first version vinyl pioneer figures preceded the Timmee plastic pioneer figures, which copied the earlier Marx style and poses. But Timmee undoubtedly made some improvements in the figures, just like CTS does when it re-releases such Marx products as the Civil War caisson/cannon and the Marx covered wagons —- beefing up some of the weaker, prone-to-break parts, and improving the fit in other areas.
A lot of American companies copied or imitated Marx, such as MPC, Lido, Payton. Timmee was probably the least guilty although they may have competed with Marx following their lead into certain areas they didn’t really copy their poses as blatantly as the other 3 I mentioned. In fact I can only recall the Timmee pioneer kneeling firing the rifle as a close copy, even then he was in a coonskin cap as opposed to the floppy hat worn in the Marx figure.
In my opinion I think there more than one pose if I’m not mistaken. The standing shooting and standing clubbing with rifle over head are very similar in both companies.
In the other hand Timmme made horse mounted poses that were very nice and Marx did not unless we use the early not base poses production to mount on horses. So there I give credit to Tim mee. May be I’m wrong …but I always look in to this as curiosity..
Did Timmee put out a 1/32 size military truck and if so, is that recast?
Tom
As I mention in my reply to Erwin the truck is still popular with collectors.
As far i know.Tim mee did two dierent 1:32 approx truck. both were Vietnam and post era.none has been recast presently. few cloned version had appear in south America and Mexico.Spain comansi firm copied it too.
Erwin
I am surprised that they have not reissued the 2 1/2 Truck as it one most popular things they did. I have sold everyone I have gotten.
Yes I’m wonder if the mold in US still exist or not. As it is still used by many armies in the world.The other truck (flat nose)is even more harder to find and when sale go for high price.
And also the early WW2 armored car(Staghound) would be another Hot item for reissue as it was done in 1:32 and very close to real one. Ironical US made but used(4000) by British and their troops from Africa till end of war.
I know I hunted a few down a couple years ago, IMHO they were the best vehicle Timmee did as the truck was pretty much in scale as opposed to the too-large jeep and the too-small tanks (which did match the small Marx tank in size, one could always do a Hollywood and use them as “German tanks” if you were out of Marx Panthers… (joking here)). I know of all the stuff Timmee did I would be interested most in the Deuce-and-half; of course I might snag one of their Herky Birds if the price was right for sentimental reasons.
Wayne;if you Google as tim mee 2 1/2 truck, some seller site offer it for $25-28.00 a piece original and great condition. If willing is a good price in my opinion.
The other usually run more higher but some sellers in eBay often list it with other in job lot and you can be lucky to get it cheap, I did it twice for a fraction of what should cost.
Thanks, Erwin. Yes, I’ve seen several 2 1/2s on ebay and some surprisingly attractive prices. As I said, I’ve been able to snag a couple – at least enough to satisfy me for now; but that doesn’t mean if the new Timmee comes out with “recasts” at a reasonable price I won’t snag some more; after all, I’d feel a lot more comfortable modifying a re-issue to make them more realistic than an original. I’ve been holding out in hopes – but it’s not like painting and weathering my Timmee trucks is at the top of my “to-do” list right now… 😉
Wayne
I agree if some reasonable priced trucks appear I would get a couple. I wonder if they have that mold.
Never mind the Timmee Trucks could some one find the moulds for the Marx Training Centre trucks and repro them?!?!I know they have reproded the Armoured Car,Half Track,Bulldozer Blade SP Gun so the truck moulds should hopefully be sitting in a wearhouse some where in the world.
I heard that the Marx truck(more like ww2 model) mold was damaged and no longer able, long ago; that was the reason out of all rest vehicles of same series was never reissue later .Now that was just an spoken information I got over 15 years ago. May be some one knows better on this.
Still in my personal opinion I did not like it much as way to out of scale proportion with 1: 32 armors I guess. I once owned two vintage and sold later, the one with air AA light and flat bed. They went out for very high price.
Also I’m wonder why when they recast the other they did all in so fragile plastic again,
Last:The odd Sherman-look more like a RAM ,SFPG-bad done and M8 type that look more as a Dutch(Overvalwagens) M39 -DAF-201.Reissues were in my collection.I sold then too long ago as I never have an old training center playset ,so they did not give me any nostalgic value and none in accuracy for my collection…
Yeah I guess those two are close too.