BMC Toys Playset Planning: Spring 2024
Posted by Jeff Imel on
I'm working on some Civil War and WW2 playsets for the popular Classic Toy Soldier product line. We're trying to get at least some of these produced in time for the 2024 holidays, so I need to finalize contents ASAP. Please post your comments to let me know what you like and what could be better. I don't have projected prices at this stage and will aim to provide the best possible value for each set.
BMC Toys - Classic Toy Soldiers Collection:
These are the CTS boxed playsets I'm working on:
- BMC-67385 CTS Civil War Pickets Charge Shoebox Playset
- BMC-67386 CTS Civil War Battle of Atlanta Shoebox Playset
- BMC-67387 CTS Civil War Battle of Bull Run Shoebox Playset
- BMC-67377 CTS WW2 Battle of Saipan Shoebox Playset
- BMC-67375 CTS WW2 Battle of the Bulge Big Box Playset
A couple of notes on the playset flags:
- Merchandise that includes the Confederate Battle Flag is widely banned. I tried substituting the First National Banner flag in the BMC Toys ACW Battlefield accessory set as a less controversial yet historically accurate option, but it seems any flag relating to the confederacy gets caught up in the ban. The only solution I've come up with is including a white flag of surrender, which is both historically, and symbolically accurate.
- These projects are currently shown with the BMC American Hero flag and rock. The factory also has the CTS reproduction of the Louis Marx & Co. flag pole and square base. Lithographed tin was used for the flags originally, but this was discontinued in the 1970's due to safety concerns of sharp edges. Folded over paper or sticker flags have been used since then. I'll need to decide which option is best for this product line.
American Civil War - Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg
This configuration would be about 100 pieces:
American Civil War - Battle of Atlanta
This configuration would be about 70 pieces:
American Civil War - Battles of Bull Run
This configuration could be set up as 1st Battle of Bull Run with the round top wagons, or 2nd Battle of Bull Run with the square top ambulance wagons. The difficulties of transporting the wounded at the 1st Battle of Bull Run led to the design of the iconic Square Top Ambulance Wagon as part of major overhaul to battle medical care. One concern I have is this set could really use wagon drivers, but that mold is located in the US, so I may explore making a reproduction mold:
WW2 Battle of Saipan
This Pacific Theater set is around 75 pieces:
WW2 Battle of the Bulge
This is the 'everything and the kitchen sink' wish list, and may need to be downsized. The box would likely be the size of the BMC Toys San Juan Hill Playset:
BMC Toys - Classic Army Men Collection:
Here's pieces that could be included in a US made Pacific Theater playset. I'm considering both a large and medium set, or one set in between. I'm going to explore if we have any wagon wheels that work with the Tim Mee cannon. That might make better artillery for the Japanese and could also work for WW1:
Thanks for your help,
Jeff at BMC Toys
Why not re-release the original Marx Battleground and the pacific variant? The dinosaur set was pretty cool,too.
Hello, i am not from united states i’m from Centro America, i have bought almost all CTS X BMC collection (European teater), well i can say that have your playset
prototype right now with the exception of German an US artillery, the idea is great, when you put all set in a place to play, it looks something wonderful, the Bulge playset is pretty good for that guys who want to play or collection army men toys, well here are my ideas from my expirience building my own playset piece by piece…
1.You guys should remove the Churchill and add two Things You can add another sherman else or you can add US trucks (2.5 Ton M34 Cargo Trucks) Remember that During this battle They were who save the US logistic army. i tell you this because i have had plans to add trucks for my collection thinking in what the army guys need to transport themselves and the weapons that they need.
2. You should add some figures like paratroops of the US marx set, in representation of 101st airborne This could be the most crazy.
3. if you added the American Trucks, you could add a second panzer IV or a second halftrack. another option could be add more Germans troops to compensate it, (BMC CTS WW2 GERMAN INFANTRY)
i really hope you guys read my comment, maybe are not the best advises but i’m tellin’ you from what i want to buy to complete my collection…. i love you guys !!!!
For the Battle of the Buldge set, I’d replace the Churchill tank with another Sherman.
This is amazing, but I highly recommend a Vietnam war set now
The WWII stuff you guys are making is so much nicer than any other comparable competitor. Love it