Marx Toys "Lunar Exploration" Miniature Playset, 1969 (?) Made In Hong Kong Space Toy Masterpiece

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Check earlier blog posts for a more detailed photo examination of the piece. A total instant game-changer in terms of acquisitions: It has been all vintage pieces since this came out of the shipping crate, and learning about it resulted in my "Operation Moon Base" addiction.

Rosevelt Dime to the right for scale, and I placed the Marx "Disneyland Playset" astronaut next to the miniaturized "Operation Moon Base" astronaut in the same pose to demonstrate the difference in scale. Space Tank derived from a white cast M-47 (or M-48) Patton tank with a dome canopy + silver cast antennae stuck on instead of gun turret. Fairly certain that the terrain forms are hand painted as well as the figures.

... Kind of a cool shot ... Huh.

Anyway, a point of pride! and a wish would be to find a second example specifically so I can deconstruct the lesser conditioned of the two and learn how the folded diorama stage was made. Am already working on my own terrain forms, 3d printer access awaits in the fall, and am researching Space Tanks for ideas on how to arrive at my own designs. Which fire off rockets. And have a spinning antenna dish. And FLOAT. Whoa ...

Marx Toys Operation Moon Base "Prime Mover" ATV Space Tank + "Car of the Future" Rocket Sedan + Small Plastic Tank

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My video is incorrect in one aspect: The blue shaded Moon Base vehicles were also issued in the 1968 "Apollo Moon Landing" and 1972 "Giant Martian Landing" playsets. So I've included one of the white castings first introduced in "Giant Martian Landing" on the outside chance the vehicle was from either of those later sets. The 1977 "Galaxy Command" and 1978 "Star Base Seven" sets had the white vehicles.

"QUICK! GRAB ON ..."

Now for the forensic study of the three vehicles from the video.

Unlike the other two vehicles below there are no markings on the tank which I can discern.

A look at the interesting variable axles.

Totally badass and the new gem of my space vehicle collection. Now to find the trailer & one of the rockets it hauled ...

Unknown smaller tank, very hard plastic, year and make/model unknown.

Absolutely love this thing and have already used it in some of my art. I am fairly certain it is one of the "Cars of the Future" range of mid 50s Marx vehicles, sold both as individual units from countertop boxes and in collected sets. Mine came from a vendor specializing in estate sales.

;]

Definitely original as its wheels are outside of the axle braces. The 4 also suggests it may have been part of a boxed collection of vehicles, though sadly the vendor was unable to supply any information other than it came from an estate sale.

I'm puzzled by the odd pattern to the roof and have wondered if it might be evidence of restoration work. One would think that if the car had been crunched (stepped on would be the likely story) an effort would have been made to use the broken pieces to rebuild it, but they look to be of a different color. Any insights are welcome in comments below.

Missile Launching Space Tank, Made In Japan, Inexpensive "Vanguard Space Tank" Copy