Model Products Corporation, otherwise known as MPC, produced
a line of army men in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s…maybe the 90’s…I wasn’t into it then
so I really can’t recall. Nevertheless,
I know I had some…the little buggers were always hanging out by the checkout
line at Fedco (now I’m dating myself), or Gemco (now I’ve really dated
myself!). If I recall, you got a tank, a
jeep and a landing craft in that clear plastic bag with a cool, “comic book
like” battle scene stapled to the top. That
was then…now I just kind of look upon these tragic little blobs of soft green
vinyl with disdain.
The MPC U.S. Army men are diminutive…they stand roughly 45mm
high, and are scrawny. The helmets,
weapons and gear are clunky and barely recognizable (but hey, they have helmet
nets!). Look at the SMG…it looks like
some kind of Martian raygun! I think the
best description for these would be “weird little runts”. The poses are limited as well…and are far
from exciting…they remind me of a bunch of bored Boy Scouts on “dress-up army”
day.
Probably the most redeeming factor here is cost. Originals are cheap…about the same price as modern recasts. With that in mind, you can pour the coals on them and sacrifice a bucketful to the “God of Fire” and still walk away happy. To be frank, the MPCs are just as bad as Barclay “stay puff marshmallow” men with the pod foot, looking like they’re on their way to “Babes in Warland”. If you want to bring these little guys to the sandbox, we’ll play, but for Christ’s sake, give them a Japanese flag, or dump them out of a saucer and call them Space Invaders or whatever…but don’t call them GI’s. I’m nostalgic, but I have limits.