Marx A-Wing Hard Plastic Repro/Copy (?)

[space.trucks]

Don't think I did so good on this one. Would it be another interesting copy, or just a copy? I did leaf through "Blast Off" and see no reference to other 50s era companies producing the Marx ships. Bargain bin price, obtained for art use in some manner. If it's a boring post-1990 repro a paint job might also be in order so all opinions requested!

 

 

 

And now the bad news.

 

Am presuming the logo mark would be in the circle. Were other 50s companies copying these? The plastic does seem to be the real vintage clinky hard plastic rather than the stiffer variety used for my known Car of the Future recast. This plastic is more like the two original CotF's I have as well.

 

I taped the broken post to the bottom to make sure they stay together. No plans for it at this time & for what I have in mind it won't matter. And if anyone could make use of that surviving wheel we can talk.

 

 

A full set of the Marx ships is on the Bucket List for when I have the means to speak for such an investment so, don't get me wrong here. Even if marked this would never do with the wheel posts cracked off. Obtained for artistic purposes only! will decide how far to go with it after understanding what it isn't.

[Brian..]

The Marx original A-Wing in hard plastic and with a high gloss is a truly magnificent piece. It's one of the finest 1950s hard plastic ships. 

 

I know there's an English version in a high gloss, very thin hard plastic. It feels so fragile that I guess most soon broke. 

 

I don't know about the origins of your unmarked example. It doesn't look as though Marx moulds have been used - or at least changes have been made to them. 

As for the colour, the Marx space cars were reproduced in a similar low-gloss grey plastic. I'm sure other Dromers will know if there are decent repros out there. The worst examples are those horrendous Mexican versions made in bendy fluorescent plastic. My God, they're truly gross. I bought a set to examine them and keep them in a dark place in the cellar. (I'm sure others love them. Therapy should be sought.)

 

It's often a question of trading off condition and price. and it looks good, doesn't it? Well worth restoring. 

 

 

 

[space.trucks]

47 minutes ago, Brian.. said:

 

It's often a question of trading off condition and price. and it looks good, doesn't it? Well worth restoring.

Thanks Brian! Definitely much more dignified in presence than my chiffon yellow neon disco soft plastic USAF marked bootleg! and I promise nothing will happen to it for now other then a gentle cleaning in warm soapy water. Someday I'll get to paint one. I should also have noted that the vendor did have a Double Gun ship in red which was intact ($170) and some other vintage Marx gear including figures. Will take care of it whatever the story.

[Brian..]

Looking through the database and old posts, it's clear that there's not been much research into the various incarnations of these Marx spaceships. It might be worth trying to pull the information together.

 

I see that there is a very good Mexican hard plastic copy of at least one of the four Marx spaceships; #1 the Double Gun. It's likely the other three were also made there. I don't think it has any markings on it.   In addition Marx had an official Mexican producer, Plastimarx, who probably made versions - but they should be marked.

 

There are  Australian versions of at least two of the ships, marked MiP.

 

I'd lay odds that there are Argentine and Canadian versions lurking out there. 

 

 

 

 

[tinluver2]

Had these a while back. All were Marx but the blue double hull that was UK or Australia. Can't remember much anymore?:) Thank goodness for pics!  Enjoy yours for whatever it is.!

[ANZinSpace]

Based on this photo, I suspect it is Australian. Like the Moldex Spacemen the company appears to have numbered toys that were part of a set they were selling.

 

The two spaceships in the following photos show a similar number. One has the number and the Moldex name, the other just has the number. I suspect that some molds had restrictions on what could be engraved into them and others didn't.

 

This then raises additional questions of, if we have the 2nd, 3rd and 4th spaceships in the set what was the first and were there others in the set.

[space.trucks]

Hey good thinking! I hadn't thought to compare that detail of the chiffon yellow neon disco soft plastic bootleg with this new specimen. Though it looks like the number 4 is present on both, in the same location and imprinted backwards. Is it forwards on the Marx made originals? I had presumed the number referred to the four space ship designs each having a spot in the same mold. Since you'd be casting all four of them at once in batches of color variants numbering would help those sorting for packaging keep track of whether they had all four when boxing up the color assortments.

 

 

I had thought about clipping off the soft plastic copy's wheel hubs to fix onto the silver but nahh. It'd reject it like a bad kidney transplant.

[space.trucks]

Found pix of a logo stamped control specimen and the backwards 4 is the same.

 

 

 

 

Image source: http://toyconnect.blogspot.com/2013/12/marx-spaceship-4.html

 

Always wondered - what's that patch of textured surface on the back of the wing by the hull meant to represent?