Odds and Ends April
Odds and Ends April starts with a look at a recent Playset Magazine. It was noted on the passing of Charles “Chuck” Rastelli. Chuck had passed away in 2015 and they were just reporting it now as they had received information of Chuck’s death. I had know Chuck for years from my lists. We had gotten together several times. Once we were in the same motel in Phoenix, Arizona he was there for a football game, while I had taken my aunt and uncle to see Las Vegas and Phoenix. We had done some deals on plastic figures including one where we met in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which was half way between where we lived. I still remembered he tried to sell me the glass negative to the Marx Robin Hood playset. I refuse as I was worried how fragile it would be and I had no place for it.
The times we talk were great as Chuck was into the pulse of the hobby and knew what was going on. Chuck was one of the big contributors to the Toy A Day Auctions. I lost contact with Chuck because of my human job. When Laurie and I went to the Wheeling shows I had hoped that we would meet him. We did see him twice at the show and I was glad Laurie got to meet him. The hobby has lost another good guy.
I picked up this castle front in a junk lot does anyone recognize it? If you do was just a front or part of a castle set up.
Also found in this junk lot were two figures made in China that are flanking the 3 inch figure. The figures look like they are based on the Processed Plastic army figures. I have no idea who made the figure in the middle.
With the Vietnam War going to be a major subject this year, toy soldier collectors will be looking for figures to enhance their displays. One place to look is at some of the Chinese figures that have been produced over the years. I found these two in a junk box. The one on the right is a green beret while the other is a pilot. I feel they will fit in with the Mars figures with little problems. Best of all these figures will be inexpensive.
Finally I will close with a photo taken by Bill Lango . This time it me with Steve Savino of Toy Hunter. As most of you know I dislike the show Toy Hunter, but I respect Steve as he is a true hunter. Steve know that sales are not just made by the big ticket items but also the smalls. I have had many pleasant conversations with Steve. He has a great stand with many interesting items.
If the castle front does not have a ledge on which to place figures, but instead a notch to insert their bases – then this was sold in bags with Chinese-made Timpo knight clones. I picked up some of these sets for a couple bucks at a Deals some years back.
The castle is from the fantasy playset boxed from late 80’s and recasted used in other in late 90’s too.(ORIGINAL MOLD HK) if was reused in others I do not know,if was copied from older American toy I do not know either.
I have the entire playset.I will have to dig it out x build/pictures later. OH boy, another !!
The tim mee green cloned figure in left is from Easter basket army sets, right (JARU) cloned abused Chinese 2000′ $1.00 else bags.Part of revised poses that come in the ealy 2004/6
mid pose is part of action figure Gi’joe Futurist set I think that come with vehicles ,look bellow one foot.I will get rest poses, one is other pose I recall is kneeling with radio.
The figure w weapon up is post Vietnam era in modern 21 century gear from TMX -china army set bags. They are around on ebay in large bags.
Pilot I see but do not recall.
I think the pilot came in later Fishel sets sold in ToysRUs in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. These sets came in tubs with modern style soldiers, Humvees etc.
The kneeling soldier with the M-16 is in the current Bucket of Toy Soldiers you can still find in some of the big box stores. The pilot is a Fishel figure.