Here are some more Marx pirate pictures from Les Lessa. The images are a bit fuzzy and the figures a bit dusty from sitting on a display shelf. Except for the 60mm Captain Kidd figure, the pirates shown are white hard plastic 54mm which Les has photographed beside the 54mm white soft plastic ones. Neither of these are the later Hong Kong production figures. The hard plastic figures appear to be just slightly larger than the soft plastic ones, this may be due to the soft plastic having more shrinkage when cooling. The figures appear to have been cast from the same mold. For additional info please direct questions to Les.
More Marx Pirates Comparison
Admin notes I misread Les comments on the two different figures were soft and hard plastic sorry.
Pirate with knife and chest The Hard plastic figure is on the left.
Pirate crouching with knife The hard plastic figure is on the left.
Pirate Captain with sword overhead and with a hook left hand The hard plastic figure is on left. Other figure has been repainted.
More Marx Pirates Captain Kidd
The Marx Captain Kidd is the hardest square base of the Historical figures to find. I got mine at the one of the Marx auctions loose. I have not heard or seen if it was sold in a set or not. We showed an example of a prototype where it was used with painted pirates.
Nice ,same holes exact location in base indicate -same mold used=One mold done confirmation x soft and hard figures.
The small shrink happen because the plastic type reaction on cooling versus pressure-hard plastic required less pressure, softer plastic-vinyl type required more pressure per injection and time cool off is longer because Plasticizers amount is made of more amount of molecular component that required longer time to cool in order to acquired full attachment mixture. You can see it more clear on silver tinted figures with what appear a lot of darker lines like mini cracks. The introduction of PVC type plastic reduced it a lot.
Love the look, sculpting and color of these figures !
Ahoy there. I just wanted to say that the painted captain with sword over his head is one of the original hard plastic ones. I painted him my self.
Ahoy there, I forgot to mention that the soft plastic pirates are on the left and the hard plastic ones are on the left.At one time they were as white as the soft ones,but a lot of shelf time has put a layer of dust on them. Time for a bath.I did see the pirate ship in the same color as the accesseriores, brown.
Thanks Les now I will have to change the article again LOL
So did hard plastic were sold in non painted or these are just samples before being paint!?
They were painted I will have to see if someone has a photo.
I think there are 3 different versions of the Marx 54mm pirate figures. Les has both versions of the original prototype or test shots made in USA – White unpainted hard plastic and white unpainted soft plastic. These were for the proposed Treasure Cove play set. Not shown are the later Hong Kong made hard plastic ones which came factory painted and are much more common. My opinion is that the Hong Kong versions may be from a separate / second mold because they are skinnier and have a different imprint under the bottom.
Sorry but o disagree about two.molds.I posted painted of mine before.
The painted had the same hole in bases bellow and in same location.
Some are sold with paper glue bellow because store display or box window!?
The skinnier image is most perseption w paint factor.I have two unpainted soft and a fraction of high different as state above because plastic.No other difference.
The picture above here show both hard and soft next.not skinny difference is seen at all.
The hard above are same as mine painted and show same exact circle mold base mark.
Again if another mold it would be different base bellow circles and appear cloned,reissue or else by now or mentioned.
That one mold in HK and other else would exist and none reissue would be too much coincidence and them we can assume marx arabs and FFL plus WWI sets and sailors are two molds too and none appear.
I like to add one thing.Every body indicate soft first and much later painted.
So why stop soft and continue w hard when MARX sold unpainted sets such cowboys,indians and pirates(60)here wile still doing the WOW in HK?.In those sets is clearly we know because two molds run at same time from two places.
Wile pirates 54mm aperantly run first in 1962/63 here and in.1964/65=(no much later by the way) ,painted in hard in HK but never again in soft in US!!? 🙂 🙂
So Marx decide storage x ever a first mold and redo a complete new x WOW?.
I do not think MARX economy mentality will let that happen.Not sence.:-) 🙂
Best…
My views and opinion…:-) 🙂
The placement of ejector pin (pusher) holes found under the bases of figures will vary if a different type/brand of injector machine is used. So the Hong Kong Factory probably had different equipment than the US factory.
Kent.Not quite .
That is in individual pose mold most Or in case of mold created by attaching many different together.Not in block halves of multiples poses sets as most Marx were.
Mold designed in US as most from MARX were and ship after .A different machine do not create different push because it is designed in the halves insert block.It adapted and use the mold designed already .It is the block and mold pouring entrances that varied per factory.I had been in mold factory plenty time and most Chinese as off now are made in there base in Germany/Dutch tech with exception of OWN brand I carry and had then done.
HK machinery running MARX was from UK and US.Now is obsolete of course.
Marx 60mm figures one hole most time is in one leg wile other in other x vinyl or rubber because both material required fast strong push to cover detail fast before cooling and deep feel.
Wile hard plastic could use only one or two.
If base where figure stand has a third mold part,such a treasure chest or plant/else a 3er hole may be need.This could be observe in pirates 60 mm captain with wrope in base or wood leg vinyl.Wile plastic has only one but HK circle engraved too.
So both vinyl poses had 3 holes pushes and plastic version only one plus stamp circle from either HK,GERMANY,HOLLAND.
The amount and position do not varied because machine but because mold is other.
What could varied is the size(diameter of circle) below because type machine used.
Two different things.
Above pirates figures indicate exat mold.
Noticed Hobbybunker web site has a set of 10 in 7 poses 60 mm recast Marx pirates for $5.95. Not into pirates myself, but sounds reasonable for anyone interested?
THAT is more than reasonable !!
but they also ship priority all time or flat fee priority.
CTS has the 7 poses mold set and 8 poses same poses in 57/58 mm marx mold too x good price.
Erwin, or anyone else, looking for a recast Marx Capt. Gallant Foreign Legion accessories set with rifle rack, lanterns, wire spool, etc. recast in GRAY hard plastic. Have it in brown recast, but looking for GRAY. Any idea where to get it? Also original 2 lanterns, wire spool, and rack with 5 rifles.