Westward Ho!

June 1856 - 500 Mormons leave Iowa City, Iowa and head west for Salt Lake City, Utah carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts. Click to Enlarge.

There she be!

June 7th 1767   Daniel Boone sights present-day Kentucky...............
I thought I would try a black and white shot.
 

Click to Enlarge

1767   Daniel Boone sights present-day Kentucky.

1767   Daniel Boone sights present-day Kentucky.

Out of the Weather

Crude shelters by BMC and Marx.
Please click to enlarge
 

Horsing around

Here is a photo of some of the 54mm Indian Horses out there.  My Fav are Marx and BMC.  The worst in the world to me is the CTS one.   The CTS riders do fit the TSSD "ponies". While I like the TSSD one he is just soooooo big.

Blankets optional on the CTS and TSSD ponies.

Click to Enlarge

Bear Hunting gone wrong!!!

Click to enlarge

Again ?

The Apache and their prisoners

The Sioux  have cornered their pursers!!!
(click to enlarge)

TGIF!!

Let's go Clubbin'!!!!

Click to Enlarge!!!

Some left over Pictures

Here are some leftovers...........Click to enlarge

Oh Holy Night

If you serve the Long Knives you must die!!!

Happy New Year!!

Down at the Post Sutler........(click to enlarge)

More Christmas....Marx style.

1. .............................Click to enlarge

Christmas

Buildings

I am not a big fan of foam.  Not sure why.  Perhaps I just do not feel it will hold up well.  I don't know.  In any case I do like plastic buildings and they are few and far between.  The Cabin below from the Marx Yogi Bear Playset is a great piece.  Works well in many areas such as Fort Quarters, Pony Express/Western, and more.  Lately it seems to be available again and in a new color.   My friend purchased a dozen of these years ago in a nice brown that matches the Fort Apache stand alone Blockhouse.

Random Indian Photos

On the Plains and in Arizona. (Click on Photos to enlarge)

 Apache Raid on a small town..............Paragon Scouts work well as enemy Apaches too.........

 Guard the Mule Train....................... (Marx  and Replicant Pack Mules)

The Wheels go round and round......finaly

Hobby Bunker was continually amazing me with their Marx releases they issued from the molds they purchased.   One thing they did was issue some items in also the exact same color Marx had originally used. The German 88 with missing barrel,  Bomar Missile Launcher with no missile, the revered Marx Stage Coach with no wheels, axles, driver, horses and without the proper hitch.

Now it seems after a reported deal with CTS the Stage has been issued with wheels, axles, Buckboard hitch, two horse hitch, two horses and a driver.   Ah but they still don't have it right......the Driver is a MARX ACW Limber rider (as per the picture on the HB site).

More Scale Wars

A company in the Far East called Expeditionary Force, a maker to date of 40mm war game figures has entered the 54mm arena with some ACW and Ancients.  One dealer/manufacturer we see loosely quoted as stating they are more in scale with MARX, Imex, Accurate and Cunnyngham.  The are not in scale with TSSD and Conte ACW.  From the photos we have seen we have to agree in fact we will even go as far to say they look a bit smaller the Marx, Imex, etc.   However TSSD makes IMHO what I consider a confusing statement.  The say these figures are "A true 54mm" ? ? ? ? ?

This is a bit frustrating as I find the ACW one of my favorite eras.  Took me awhile to finally come to terms with the new larger 54mm.  They are all in storage LOL.  So do we need a "third" 54mm scale ? 

Injuns

Back in the day the only Indians I could find were MARX re-issues and some Airfix.  We are talking unpainted here so although Britains were around they were not for me.  Actually I wasn't all the interested in the Plains War era.  I figured I had plenty of US Cavalry figures from my huge ACW armies to press into service if I ever got the bug.  Over the years I picked up some Reisler, Reamsa and Dulcop Indians that weren't all that bad.  Then CTS released their Mtd Sioux.  Great Indians but so-so ponies.  The years passed while these guys all gathered dust and then TSSD released their Plains Indian sets.  WOW.  Foot and Mounted.  Except for a pose or two of my other Indians nothing really compared to these.  None that is except the Timpo Plains Indians.  A bit smaller overall and not as highly detailed, they still to me at least made the grade and joined the ranks of my Plains War Indians.  Check them out as they appear on EBAY from time to time.  As for the Plains War....the bug has bitten me.  Forward....Ho!!!!  (Photo from ATS TOYS EBAY Auctions of Timpo Indians)

Re-Issue Update

The MARX Superman and Reclining Nude re-issues are available from Hobby Bunker.

New..Old ? Marx

I note that the MARX reclining nude woman (re-issue)seems to be available again. This is good news to me as I can place him in one of my dioramas. We also see that reportedly someone is/has released the Marx Superman figure. Again we can think of a diorama to use him in. While a dealer is known for the "Nakid" lady none seems to have been named for the Superman.

Marx Madness ?

OK you remember we mentioned that MARX Custer set that was on EBAY for that obscene price. Well it seems the seller (MARXTOYMUSEUM) now selling a set on a piece by piece basis on EBAY. What little I know of this seller comes from a few friends and an issue of Playset Mag. IMHO most do not like the "owner" at all. Real or imagined he has one heck of a reputation in the MARX hobby. If it is true didnt Louis Marx Jr do his homework ? I am also confused that he is selling items yet he enjoys a non-profit status again thanks to Louis Marx JR we are told, and he sells/offers different degrees of Museum Memberships on an annual basis. And did we mention that he also operates a web site called the Marx Connection where, you guessed it, he also sells Marx items. Are these excess property of the Museum ? Part of his personal collection ? oh well. Nice job if ya can get it. More to come no doubt.

Another MARX Auction

Good Lord now EBAY has a Wagon Train set at $2,000.00! This one we are told is up for sale by a noted collector in New England.