Rat Patrol prototype figure on card

[Captain]

In 1967 Marx released a RAT PATROL playset based on the tv series. It came with two 7 1/2 action figures, a ton of gear (including two very un-WWII era M-16 rifles??) and a jeep. the figures, and jeep were tan.

While browsing around the interweeb tonight I ran across this picture:



Clearly a prototype, the figure is roughly painted and cast in green--which is wrong for a desert fighter! The backer card appears to be hand painted as well.
For whatever reason Marx decided to just throw everything into one set for this products retail release, but its cool to see they were looking at selling individual figures too. Makes a guy wonder if the other characters, including Eric Braeden's (or Hans ?????--whatever his real name was?) German commander character were due for eventual release?


Heres a link with pics of the set as it was released:

http://www.users.vance.net/grayarea/...ratpatrol.html

[AAAAA]

It not a prototype they made in mexico in green.
I have the jeep It is a cool item.

[Mikey]

Are these made just like the American Character Bonanza figures ?

[AAAAA]

Are these made just like the American Character Bonanza figures ?

Yeah or scaled down versions of the 12 inch figures.
there 7 1/2 inches tall.

[Bionic Joe]

Odd they didn't use the 12 inch body from JOHNNY WEST or the 10 inch body used on JAY WEST as the factories were all ready geared up to make em only a resulped body would have been needed

[AAAAA]

Odd they didn't use the 12 inch body from JOHNNY WEST or the 10 inch body used on JAY WEST as the factories were all ready geared up to make em only a resulped body would have been needed

They did do 2 series of 12 inch soldiers stoney smith (molded on uniform) and the Buddy Charlie (Fabric uniforms)
Jay is dress in a western outfit with cowboy boots like Johnny west.
they did do 71/2 cowboy figures in the style as the best of the west series.
there VERY rare espeically the carmel color figures like 12 inch figure of the same color they. disingrate over time.
They did the 1/9 scale so the can offer 2 figures , the jeep and accessories as a set, at a cheaper cost.
the could not compete with hasbro in the 12 inch military lines.

[supes]

didn't they also do the Lone Ranger and Tonto in that scale? I am pretty sure I saw them at a toy show back in the 90's.

[AAAAA]

didn't they also do the Lone Ranger and Tonto in that scale? I am pretty sure I saw them at a toy show back in the 90's.

Yes ! They did several Test Market Prototypes.
Very Sought after!!

[Captain]

It not a prototype they made in mexico in green.
I have the jeep It is a cool item.

This is a prototype. the Mexican ones came out later, and were in different packaging. The guy that has this apparently worked for Marx.
I believe the Mexican ones (which are still cranked out every so often) came out in an oddball red color as well back in the nineties.

[johnnystorm]

I got that Rat Patrol playset for Christmas ...remember taking it to school for show & tell.
Sadly, it got trashed and lost along the way. Although they show up on Ebay from time to time, it's now way out of my price range to buy. Last one I saw anywhere in the wild was at Atlantique City Show about 7 years ago and the dealer then was asking $650 for it.

Curious, anyone know what the original retail on the playset was in 1967?

[generic]

I just checked out the link to the Rat Patrol playset that was released and those head sculpts are pretty damn impressive for the 60s!

[Captain]

Yeah, Marx had some of the best sculptors in the business. Interesting to note that Marx used all in house design teams, and almost all of them were trained to sculpt in the factory at GlenDale.

I know Mego and Kenner get a lot of credit for introducing licensing into the toy industry, but Marx did it on a larger scale than any of them, starting in the 1920's and 30's. By the fifties and sixties I think Marx held a license to just about everything.

[Riffster]

I love that show, bought the dvd's wehen they hit the shelves, heck I may have pre ordered them

[Zemo]

Man I want those! I have never seen any Rat Patrol figures on ebay, not that I look all the time. I was convinced they didn't make them.

[jasonmego1277]

Yup , That looks really cool. But sadly another wishlist item.