MARX 1960s PLAYSET AIRPLANES

[grwebster]

Here are some of the soft plastic toys Marx included in their various 1960-62 Airport playsets. There are others and in some playsets tin aircraft were added.
I believe the hardest to find is the B-52. I have yet to find one, in any case.



This AA Lockheed Electra is a very large.

[Tone]

I have the Twin-prop in blue - please see my more recent photo, below:

[Tone]

Marx Plastic Twin Bonanza

[Tone]

There appears to be American Airlines Convair 990s in some of the sets as well. This is notable, as the Convair 990 is harder to find as an old toy than is a 707:

http://www.marxwildwest.com/airports.html

Electras and other airliners often had decals applied in unusual places not only by their original owners but also for promotional photos! One such photo appeared in the 1960 Sears Christmas catalogue. Note that the aircraft are arrayed higgledy-piggledy on the aprons, taxiways and runways, just as a young kid (or a severe windstorm) might have done it. They are "jumbled jets."

Note especially the baggage train crossing the runway in front of the F-102, not the safest procedure.



The Electra on the ground at left has cheat lines applied above the cabin windows rather than below. The Electra at upper center has what appears to be four of the blaze decorations for the nacelles applied to the upper fuselage. Finally, the 707 jet at right has decals for a Capital Viscount including the registration, an odd feature to include with an "American Airline" jetport.

It is interesting that the advert touts the rocket launcher as a key feature, as several of the set's other components appear to be more interesting.

[MichaelB]

What a nice set! I wish I had one! Those Electras are expensive!