Marx Beechcraft Bonanza - Red HP

Another recent acquisition, this red Bonanza came my way just a couple of weeks ago.

Ed

Marx Beechcraft Bonanza - Emerald Green HP

I found it interesting that the Beechcraft Bonanza, with its distinctive 'V' tail, has not only been in production since 1947, but has been in continuous production longer than any other airplane with production ceasing probably this year once all orders have been filled!  Marx made this small hard plastic version as most likely a bin toy as I could find no mention of it being in sets. Marx also made a soft plastic version for their iconic Jetport playset from 1961 and it's actually a much better rendition than this hard plastic version.  This one measures 3.75" (9,52cm) L x 4" (10,16cm) wingspan x 1" (2,54cm) H and is a relatively recent acquisition - no Cave find today folks.

Ed

Marx TBM-3W Avenger "Guppy" - Yellow HP

Researching toy planes to see if they match up with real life planes is fun, and I've been able to identify a lot of toys, but every now and then toy companies just do their own thing and throw me for a loop. This was one of those times. At first I was thinking this plane could be a Seversky P-35. Marx had done a stamped metal version of the plane which I posted here on Toys and Stuff back in 2016 but it didn't quite fit the bill.  After some time scouring the Internet, the only plane that came close was the TBM-3W Avenger which first appeared in 1946. The give-away was that gawky, awkward canopy but there appeared to be a couple of versions of the plane, neither of which was an exact match to the toy version. One of the real version's had mini-vertical stabilizers at the end of each rear horizontal stabilizer while the other had a normal horizontal stabilizer. Both versions have that bulbous radar housing under the fuselage not seen on the toy. The TBM-3W was nicknamed the "Guppy" and is also referred to as "The Ugly Avenger" but it was America's first foray into the airborne early warning system of which planes like the AWACS are descendants of.

Marx's version omits the large radar housing under the fuselage but is otherwise an okay rendition. I 'get' that Marx couldn't do the radar bump because nearly all of Marx's small airplanes were molded with a hollow fuselage's. Adding that bump in a way that allowed the plane to look prototypical would have been more work than was profitable. The toy measures 4.75" (12,06cm) L x 5.75" (14, 60cm) wingspan x 1.5" (3,81cm) H.

Ed

Seversky P-35

Culled from the Internet

Stamped Metal P-35

TBM-3W Avenger "Guppy" (The "Ugly" Avenger)

Culled from the Internet

Culled from the Internet

Culled from the Internet

Marx's Fantasy TBM-3W