Corgi Tarzan Gift Set 36: The Origins

In 1976 Corgi released Gift Set 36 Tarzan, one of the most magnificent they ever produced. The Set re-used a number of existing Corgi models, but in new colour schemes.

Having already looked at the Tarzan Set on MC in February, I thought this time we would see where the various items came from. Most details are from The Great Book of Corgi, by Corgi Chief Designer Marcel R. Van Cleemput.

Corgi had first released a Long Wheel Base Land Rover in 1957 (the year after the range was launched), but this was to 1/46th scale. In 1976 a new model appeared, in 1/36th scale, which was much larger than before.

It came as part of Gift Set 31 Safari Land Rover and Animal Trailer (with lion) in April 1976. The model had an opening rear door; and a hardtop roof, with a hatch in it, and a Game Warden looking out.

It was painted white, with black zebra stripes, and red Game Warden labels on each side. The Tarzan model was metallic green with sand-yellow stripes, and a solid roof.

The two-wheeled trailer had a plastic ramp at the rear, and a white plastic cage top. It was painted to match the Land Rover.

A plastic lion, standing on a base, with one paw raised, was the load. All these items were included in the Tarzan set, except for the Game Warden figure.

The boat and trailer came from Gift Set 28, released in August 1975. This comprised a 1/36th scale Mazda B1600 pick-up truck (already available on its own), rubber dinghy in red and yellow, and a scuba-diver in full gear to pilot the boat.

The Tarzan set dropped the pick-up, changed the diver to a White Hunter, and moulded the dinghy in different colours. I am not sure if any other items were re-used, but the change-over in scales around this time would have made it difficult to use any existing Corgi models, since they would appear under-sized next to the newer 1/36th scale items.

Do you have any of these toys?

Four photographs from Worthpoint

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Our 'Lone Star' Tarzan Custom: Painted, Carded and Blistered

Here's our ' home made' version of the fabled Lone Star Tarzan set, the rare original a blog legend now.

From first seeing this set in black and white on a magazine cover nearly twenty years ago to making a custom, it's swung through the jungle and come full circle.

 Diarised here since starting this project, my re-modelled figures look better than I expected all painted up and Bill' terrific backing card really brings the whole thing to life.  

The sushi lunch box blister was the icing on the vines!

Not perfect but a decent go.

Happy days at Moonbase International Toys!

See what you think readers.

For fun, here's the the reference material, an original toy as seen on auction online.

Lone Star's 'White Hunter' Figure

Woodsy

Referring back to the 'White Hunter' figure by Lone Star in your Tarzan post last month, here is the figure as it first appeared as part of the ANZAC set of figures.

These have stood the test of time better than the paratroopers many of whom are now brittle and shatter easily.

The Lone Star diecasts as you see are in good form.

Terranova47

USA

It's a Jungle Out There!

 I've got all my Tarzan ducks in a row.

Just need to re-model them now.

Re-modelled and painted.  Just the finishing touches to do and then it'll swinging on the vines all the way to a backing card.

Watch this space.

Ed's Jungle Toys

Woodsy,

I never had that much by way of Jungle-themed toys. The first four photos show things I used to own but sold off years ago. 

The last photo shows a grouping of MPC 60mm ringhands that came to me in various job lots. MPC only made four poses for their jungle ringhands but had multiple accessories to go with them.

From The Vegas Jungle Trading Post

Ed

USA

Waiting for Tarzan

As I reported here last month, my current toy project is a mock knock-off of the rare Lone Star Tarzan set.

I missed out on this similar Hong Kong Jungle Set in Germany going for a song, which contained a whole four - that's most! - of the necessary parts and is a set I would be willing to open up.

[a Larami Phantom Jungle Play Set would do as well, but you wouldn't want to break into such a gorgeous and similarly rare set]

So, not wishing to wait for another Jungle Set to turn up, I've begun to try to get hold of individual parts, replacements and lookalikes.

I've bought an old Hong Kong Tarzan - the linchpin of the set in terms of character and sizing - and he's en route from Germany. He was the cheapest one on Ebay at the time but as is always the way a much cheaper one swung by in the UK a week later! The law of the jungle! ha ha

I've a plastic Hong Kong Zulu Warrior en route to Moonbase too, but he will need remodelling.

Safe arrivals already are a Lego seated monkey, which I fear will be far too small and two cheap Hong Kong Lions, which may need remodelling and repainting to look right.

Still missing is the elusive running Jungle boy [who is he?], which I will have to think out of the box about as its the hardest replacement to find anything similar for. He does look like a little Wonder Woman though!

I've currently spent more dosh on this project than any other I've made so far, but its nothing to what you could spend on the actual items itself or indeed the individual parts, either original plastic or metal like these truly gorgeous and original cast metal Lone Star pieces from the amazing Herald Toys and Models [images borrowed from their site]:

an fabulous and original Lone Star cast lion

and an original and terrific Lone Star cast running boy, here a native American Indian.

or there are modern recasts of the lion and lioness to be had for a tenner each like these beautiful examples from Ebay seller Winchesterdave23.

Anyhows, I'm waiting for Tarzan, the yardstick for the project and I'll keep you posted when he swings by!

In the meantime, have you any Lone Star toys readers?

The Tarzan Corgi Gift Set

Further to the recent Tarzan posts, here is a quick look at Corgi Gift Set 36, available 1976-78. One of the most magnificent in Corgi history.

It contained 22 pieces (not sure how that figure was arrived at ?), and came in a large window box. Jungle Land Rover; Animal Trailer with white plastic cage top; "Inflatable" Dinghy on Trailer; Tree House (in brown plastic); Tarzan (two figures, in different poses, both wearing a leopard-skin loincloth), Jane, Boy, and Cheetah figures; White Hunter (seated, driving the Land Rover); Elephant, Lion, Crocodile and Snake; 3 Swinging Vines (green cord); PLUS JUNGLE PANORAMA.

The Land Rover and Animal Trailer were a curious metallic green (metallics were very popular in the 1970s), with sand-yellow zebra stripes. The boat was brown and tan.

There was a large, full-colour diorama fold-out with trees, a river, road, and huge rocks – wow ! The vines could be attached to this, and the Tarzan figure with his arms above his head could slide along the vines.

This set is mentioned in The Great Book of Corgi, which states that 79,000 were sold. I bet they was expensive.

Paul Adams from NZ

TERRANOVA'S TARZANS

I have two Tarzan figures made by Disjorsa. 

I've attached a shot for size comparison with a 54mm Crescent soldier.

I would really love to see Tarzan meet Planet of the Apes. Would he be on their side? or the human side?

Terranova47

NYC

SWINGING FOR TARZANS

 Passing the village of Greystoke last week as we wended across Cumbria to Keswick, I had yet to settle on my latest project.

Having decided, its to try to recreate a blog legend I first saw years ago on the cover of a Plastic Warrior Magazine, the fabled Lone Star Tarzan set, with its waving Tarzan figure.

I'll update the blog about this specific project as it swings into action.

Meanwhile here are some further sightings of vintage waving and other Tarzans hiding in the cyber jungle, all of which I would have loved as a young chimp back in the 60's!

*

Jungle Set

Dschungel

Zoo animal set

Wentoys Safaratiere

Dulcop Tarzan

Dulcop Zoo

Fleetwood Tarzan Safari

Blue Box Safari Set - is that the same as the Fleetwood Landrover above?

Tarzan in the Valley of the Dinosaurs [image: Plaidstallions.com]

Original Tarzan Figuren with monkey alphabets by Bildschriftenverlag or BSV.

see also https://www.bsv-archiv.de/pages/sonstige-publikationen/tarzan-figurenset-blister.php

Ador Arte Tarzan bag from Argentina

Primitivos by JC of Spain

African Hunting for Wild Animals bags

The waving Tarzan repainted as The Phantom in his Jungle Play Set by Larami

and finally, a 12 inch Tarzan cheapo, which may well be a future knockoff chest beater of mine.

Which set do you like?

Do you like Tarzan in any of his media?

Has Tarzan had his day?

Have you any collectables?