When I was a kid, I actually had a mountain almost exactly like that. My Dad picked it up somewhere second hand and it came with a ton of German Marx soldiers. The thing is that I remember it being grey. The mountain I had, however didn't have the big yellow guns. Whoever had it before me had taken them out, filed off the round nub and was using the Marx German 88s guns in those spots. I never knew until now that the original guns were yellow. I could sort of see you painting and using the smaller one if you ever make another battleship though. I can;t wait to see how all this works out!
Remember, it just so happens that the playset I have is a 1980 Re-issue made by MEGO, so they probably used whatever plastics they had on hand in abundance. I wonder if the MARX original had a Grey mountain and dark grey guns? No matter, Change is Coming!!
I wanted one so bad when I was a kid but we just didn't have the money. A couple years later we were at a garage sale and I saw it sitting on a table still in the box and the lady selling it said she thought it was pretty complete. I think it was maybe missing about five of the guys and one of the elevator rails but other than that it was all there. Five bucks was the cost and I had to beg my dad for the money and promise to mow lawns for a month. This became a focal point of my army men battles and then action figure battles growing up. I still have it. Love that set.
I really like your plans for the doll...er, I mean, playset, Christian, and we can't wait to see Part 2 of your rebuild of the "GUNS OF NAVARONE PLAYSET!!!"
@@ThePlasticGeneral The mission in the movie and some of the action seemed kinda unrealistic. I still appreciated it, because I like a lot of the old actors that were in it, and it was kind of a fun story still. I want to watch some more of the the older WW2 movies that I haven't seen now, there's a lot of classics I haven't seen. This was really a great video too, I love the way you combine history/movies with information on building and collecting with the fun of showing it all in action.
Historical note; the whole "Guns Of Navarone" thing is complete fiction as you probably know, but the Germans did of course have coastal gun emplacements of various kinds, just like we did. Difference is, under our system it was the Army that crewed the big guns, whereas under the German system it was the Navy (the "Marine Artillery" branch). But anyway it was a stroke of genius for Marx to come out with this toy when they did, to cash in on the big blockbuster movie. Too bad the mold used to produce the mountain seems to be lost (or lost in somebody's attic). I've been trying to figure out a way to home-brew a replica using wood and plywood, but so far nothing definite.
You have an authentic piece of plastic history here. I'm agree with you, most of this toys are made in a silly way, that yellow canons are hilarious. Anyway, that fortress are the golden dream for any kid from our generation. Greetings from another place in the beautiful South America.
Personally I love yellow plastic and don't mind a toyish look, as opposed to getting into all the model stuff with paints and tools and sprayguns and all that nerdy stuff, but I like what you do anyway. Looking forward to seeing how your mountain turns out!
If I remember the movie correctly (been about 40 years since I watched it) the Allies had to take out the fortress because it mounted battleship caliber guns that would have red complicated a planned amphibious landing. Seems like an 88 is a little small for the purpose. Even as a hiding place for Nazi gold, it would be under-armed. I think I would incorporate some of the MPC (or even Conte Longest Day) beach bunkers as ground level defenses in front of the mountain. Give the attackers a real run for their money. I'd seed the area liberally with machine gun nests, and smaller caliber guns. The cool thing about a post like this is everyone would do something a little different and it provides tons of fun planning it all out. I'm sitting here sick at home with Covid (pretty mild) so this gives me a little amusement on a day isolated from everyone.
As big as the playset is, it's actually quite small. Even an 88 is too big for the gun emplacement. As I stated, it's a little boys military doll house! It'll ROCK when I'm done with it, you'll see!
FOOLS!!! Do Not doubt the General!!!!I'm building an Empire right now!!! You just wait, in 2O23 I launch my 1:32 figure line! and Plastic general the MOVIE!!! I swear to God, it's a real movie! We start casting this Sunday! Sneak peek at some prototypes coming Today at the end of the episode that will come out later today.
