Marx Air Force Rescue Battalion Helicopter - large

Last week on Toys & Stuff we featured the Haji tin-litho Vertol 107 helicopter. In 1955 Piasecki Helicopter became the Vertol Aircraft Corp. and the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter took flight in 1958.  The Haji version looks nothing like its real life counterpart, however this week Toys & Stuff features the Marx Air Force Rescue Battalion helicopter which more closely resembles the real thing. This is the second helicopter Marx made with the 'Air Force Rescue Battalion Helicopter' scheme, the other one being much smaller (see the 9 Nov 2010 Toys & Stuff post). Although the toy is done up in a U.S. Air Force scheme I could find no mention that the helicopters ever saw U.S. Air Force service. Also, the door on the prototype sits further forward than on the toy. But that brings us to a point which I make constantly, when all is said and done, these are just toys after all! This is a large toy measuring 17" (43.2cm) L x 7 3/4" (19.7cm) H (at rear) / 5" (12.7cm) H (at front) x 5 1/2" (14cm) W. The toy is battery operated and is supposed to have lights and an operating side door. My example, unfortunately, is inop. But, like they say - it displays well :-) I like it though and it makes a terrific visual impact alongside some of the smaller helicopters in the collection. Enjoy!

Haji US Army Vertol 107 Tin-Litho Helicopter

There's been no progress this week on the "Pfalz bei Kaub" diorama, so instead Toys & Stuff presents a really nice tin-litho helicopter from the 1960s - the Haji US Army Vertol 107 Tin-Litho Helicopter. The real Vertol 107 Helicopter was designated the CH-46 Sea Knight and was produced from Aug 1958 to 1971 and used by the Army, Navy, Marines, and Canadian Air Forces. The toy version is well, just a toy, and only loosely follows the prototype. The basic truncated banana shape is there but there are some glaring differences. The real Sea Knight had three fixed landing gear, one in front and two located on rear sponsons - a sort of nacelle - towards the rear of the plane. They stuck out from the fuselage a few feet and also acted as fuel tanks. These sponsons are missing from the tin-litho version. Also, the cockpit of the toy helicopter resembles a round Christmas ornament versus the decidedly flat nose of the original. In spite of the differences Haji's version is still a terrific toy. Measuring nearly 12" (30.5cm) L is equipped with a friction motor. This is a terrific toy from the Era of Tin. Enjoy!