We're channeling some more old photos today, this time of Ideal's Floating Mechanical Seaplane, the USMC version. These came in several color variants and markings and appears to be modeled after a Cessna 172 Skyhawk floatplane although I suppose there could be several other contenders. The plane measures 10" (25.4cm) long with a nearly 10" wingspan and has a robust propeller and wind-up mechanism although my toy's mechanism slips. I don't know if the thing would actually glide over the water when wound-up and released but it sure looks capable of it. The photos were taken back in 2010, months before I started the blog and back then I was toying (pun intended) with the idea of making a diorama using Marx soldiers. The plane was to sit on a jungle river next to a pier with medics bringing out the wounded on a stretcher. Like so many other projects on my 'to-do' list this one never saw the light of day, but a few proof-of-concept were taken. Enjoy! Opa Fritz and Oma Bettina
Late comment, but: Yes, the propeller was enough to move it across the water; I know because the grey and blue 'Navy Rescue' version of this toy was one of my first. Sadly, the propeller also had a tendency to kick up spray and, given the wide open canopy windows that meant water would get into the spring/gear mechanism, rust it, and render it immobile. *Sigh*.
ReplyDeleteCool! What kind of saddens me is all those really nice tin-litho toys made back in the day that were meant to go in the water! No wonder there's so few left of them in good condition. I imagine this would have been a really fun toy. My only water toys as a kid (other than pails, and balls, and rafts and stuff) was the original G.I. Joe Scuba Diving Sled. It was awesome!
DeleteI think I had one in 1968. Does anybody know what colors they came in? For some reason I think mine was red and white.
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