Marx Battleground and Training Center Playset Pieces - Marx Exploding Machine Gun Nest REDUX

Just a little over a month ago I posted one of these exploding machine gun nests, but it was missing the metal trigger and the plastic pieces were mis-matched colors. (SIDE NOTE: Even though these are referred to as 'machine gun nests' they were also included in Blue & Gray sets as a "bunker that actually explodes").  The cobbled together piece previously posted was an expedient way of trying to get as complete a piece as I could back in the day. The last time I was actively trying to search for and buy one of these many years ago, the bloody things were going for well over $200-$300 per! Fortunately, I was able to acquire one recently for far less than that, but was still a bit pricey at just under $100. The trigger's and spring loaded firing mechanism's tend to get lost, and the plastic pieces are often broken from use, so finding an intact assembly can be a bear. And no, I did not try to test this! Why? Plastics get brittle and are easily broken and I'm not chancing breaking this!!!

Ed

The trigger is inserted into the base at a 90° angle, then twisted around and locked into place

Metal Trigger

Marx Battleground and Training Center Playset Pieces - Marx Exploding Machine Gun Nest HP

Here's yet another Marx Battleground sandbag emplacement, but this one is action packed. When a heavy enough object hits the trigger mechanism (missing from my sample), it releases the spring activated 'exploding' mechanism, causing the two top pieces to fly upward and scatter whatever was sitting on them. My sample is a hybrid consisting of two same-colored marbled pieces, a caramel brown piece bought separately, and the spring mechanism (also bought separately). These things are very HTF complete and without any broken pieces. As a result, they command premium prices and that's why mine is a hybrid - having pieced it together over the course of several years for a reasonable amount of dinero! It measures: 5.5" (13.97cm) W x 4.75" (20.06cm) D x 1.5" (3.81cm) Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed H

In this photo from Toy Soldier HQ, you can see the trigger piece. It's the piece that looks like a ping-pong paddle with a 'starburst' sticker on it.