Ideal 155mm Self-Propelled Gun - Olive Green SP

This M53 Self-Propelled Gun was produced from 1952 to 1955 and was used during the Vietnam war until 1969. I only know this is 'Ideal' because that's how everyone sells it. Other than that. I don't know diddley-squat about it. There are no markings on the thing to show it's Ideal and I don't know when the toy was made or which play set it came in. Although it appears to have a stowage rack for four projectiles, it is a non-firing toy. The turret swivels only a few degrees left and right and the gun elevates slightly. It measures  9.25" (23,49cm) L x 4.125" (10,47cm) W x 4.25" (10,79cm) H.

Ed

Lido 60mm figure shown for size comparison

This shot shows how big this rig is. Maybe the 60mm Lido figure is too big? Looks like 54mm figures might be best.

Courtesy Pinterest

Ideal Marine Base Playset

Around 1958 Ideal came out with a series of small forts which were packaged in header bags. The sets included a plastic main gate, flanked by two tin-litho walls. The two walls included in each bag were identical. As well, the bags held figures and accessories. Later, the sets were packaged on blister cards with no accessories.

Ed 

Courtesy Toy Soldier HQ

The following sets were offered: 

The Alamo

Dodge City

Fort Laramie

Fort Pitt

Knights and Castle

Marine Base

Valley Forge

Here's the ones in my collection:

The Alamo

Knights and Castle

Dodge City

Marine Base

 Gate: 6" (15.24cm) W x 1" (2.54cm) D x 5" (12.7cm) H   Walls: 10.125" (25.71cm) W x 2" (5.08cm) H

Gate front

Gate back

Walls

While I've acquired extra wall pieces, I have yet to get the figures and accessories. Something I'll need to work on this year.

No. I-1973 Army Bulldozer With Driver (Original) - OD HP

Back in 2016-17 I was posting Ideal military toys. Along the way several Ideal bulldozers had come my way, a couple of which were customized. An original bulldozer did come my way but, it came with a repo driver (first photo below) and that's how it was blogged back then. The repo driver looks far better than the original but is incorrect as an original piece.

At some point in 2017 I had acquired an original driver for this bulldozer and even took photos...

...but never posted them! 

WHY? Arrrrrrgh, I can kick myself sometimes. Oh well, it are what it is, soooo, today we're gonna take a look at what an original Ideal bulldozer looks like with the correct driver figure. To be honest, the figures for these are little more than featureless lumps of plastic, which may be why they're harder to find, having been replaced over the years by superior sculpts. 

As I go through my photo files I may have some more old, but as yet unposted military toy photos. Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed

Ideal Tin-Litho Fort Laramie Regimental HQ

Bought two years ago during the last spate of Western toy posts, this ended up not being blogged as I got distracted and moved on to other things. Ideal's Fort Laramie had always been on my bucket list but this was the only piece I ended up with - so far. As much as I'd love to get the whole set at once, being on a tight budget usually means that I have to acquire it piecemeal. It's sized for rather large 60mm-70mm figures, the type Ideal is known for and the remaining fort pieces are all tin-litho as well, I s'pose I'll have to work at getting those now huh? 

 The HQ measures: 20.875" (53.022cm) W overall at the roof line x 5" (12.7cm) D 

x 6.125" (15.55cm) H

Everyone carries on about how nice Marx graphics were, but Ideal (as well as T. Cohn) also did outstanding work.