One of the more unusual pieces of M*A*S*H memorabilia is the Bachmann HO scale train set. I’m not a model train person so read this Wikipedia page for some information about the “HO scale.” I’m not exactly sure when this set was released but according to Tony Cook’s HO-Scale Trains Resource was featured in Bachmann’s 1983 catalog, meaning it was likely available in 1983-1984. It features a 45″ x 36″ oval track and 89 pieces, including five train cars, a plastic jeep, a plastic helicopter, a water tower, 10 cardboard buildings, 48 plastic figurines and paper to be used as a mountain backdrop. According to Toy Soldier HQ Inc, the figurines were not special army people but the regular Bachmann train figurine set made up of 24 men, women and children, in both white and green.

Bachmann M*A*S*H Train Set

One of these sets sold on eBay a few weeks ago for $296.01. It seems that the train cars themselves were released separately and can often be found for sale on eBay. If there are any model train enthusiasts reading this know anything about the Bachmann HO scale train set for M*A*S*H, please add your thoughts in the comments.

Peter Kurch, who volunteered back in 2008 to write about the 1982 line of action figures, vehicles and a playset from Tristar International, has finally been able to get his hands on the 4077th Medical Unit Helicopter, the one vehicle he needed to complete his collection. He has rewritten his article, adding new details about the articulation of the figures, and has also taken brand new photographs of his incredible collection. You can find the article here; a gallery of his photographs can be found here. A huge thank you to Peter for taking the time to put this all together.

(For the record, this was originally a feature but I decided it fit better as an article.)

People.com makes almost 50,000 stories dating back to its 1974 debut available in its online archive. You can even download some issues in their entirety. M*A*S*H cast members or the show itself have graced the cover of People several times over the past 36 years. The earliest cover I am aware of is the March 17th, 1975 issue, which featured Alan Alda on the cover, while the most recent was the October 24th, 1983 issue, which featured the cast of AfterMASH. Some of these issues are available online, as are articles from issues that didn’t have M*A*S*H on the cover. Here’s an incomplete list of People covers and articles with links to the online version when available:

March 17th, 1975 – Cover, Alan Alda
March 13th, 1979 – Cover, Loretta Swit (Unavailable)
April 9th, 1979 – Article, Mike Farrell
November 17th, 1980 – Article, Filming 200th episode (Unavailable)
June 15th, 1981 – Cover, Alan Alda
August 21st, 1981 – Article, David Ogden Stiers
March 7th, 1983 – Article, End of M*A*S*H (Unavailable)
May 16th, 1983 – Article, Jamie Farr
October 24th, 1983 – Cover, Cast of AfterMASH
August 9th, 1999 – Article, Gary Burghoff
April 24th, 2000 – Obituary, Larry Linville

Note: All images taken from completed eBay auctions.

Yesterday I wrote about the two M*A*S*H action figures released by Durham Industries Inc. in 1975. Today I’ll tackle the remainder of Durham’s M*A*S*H toy line: a helicopter and a motorcycle, both also released in 1975. Or at least these are the only other additional toys I’m aware of. But until recently I didn’t know the motorcycle existed. First up is the 6″ long M*A*S*H Copter, which looks nothing like the helicopters used in the series.

Durham M*A*S*H Copter, Circa 1975

As the box advertises, the toy is friction powered and needs no batteries. Grasping the white plastic piece on the bottom of the copter’s tail and squeezing it makes the propeller twirl. At least that’s my best guess at what the toy does. The white “ski” at the front is likely only included to keep the copter level when on the ground. I assume the wheels also spin but it doesn’t look like the green plastic windshield opens. There’s also what looks like a white knob on the back of the toy that may or may not do something. The copter was sold boxed/carded, safely secured by wires behind a plastic bubble. A black and white picture of Alan Alda as Hawkeye adorns the card. One of these copters sold for $38 on eBay in December of 2009 (from Australia of all places).

This next toy was a complete mystery to me when I stumbled upon it on eBay last month. It’s called a Freewheeler Cycle and Rider and comes in an open package with no plastic bubble to protect the toy. A hole on the back of the box suggests that the toy was once wired to the box to keep it from moving around. The rider is obviously supposed to be Hawkeye and can be removed from the cycle (although whether it is supposed to come off is another question). A sticker on the back of the cycle, perhaps intended as a sort of license plate, says M*A*S*H 4077.

Durham M*A*S*H Freewheeler Cycle and Rider

I don’t know exactly what the cycle does. The back wheel seems to be quite a bit thicker than the front wheel, which might allow it to stand upright on the ground. Does the cycle move if pulled back? Or is it human powered? If anyone has information about the cycle (or the copter) please let me know. The only cycle I have seen sold for $23 on eBay last month, but the auction also included a Durham Hot Lips action figure.

Durham M*A*S*H Freewheeler Cycle and Rider

Durham Industries Inc. also produced cast metal miniatures, wind-up toys (including a Spider-Man one), bendable toys, cars, trains, squirt guns (Batman and Superman) and generic action figures (safari hunter, kung fu fighter, cowboy, robot, etc.). The company was sold to View-Master International in 1985.

Note: All images taken from completed eBay auctions.

Back in 2008, Peter Kurch wrote a wonderful analysis of the 1982 Tristar line of M*A*S*H collectibles (action figures, vehicles and a huge playset). But Tristar wasn’t the first company to release M*A*S*H action figures. That distinction falls to Durham Industries Inc., which released a pair of roughly 9″ figures in 1975. The two figures were obviously meant to represent Hawkeye and Hot Lips but there were no names mentioned on the packaging. However, black and white photographs from the series, focusing heavily of Alan Alda and Loretta Swit, make it clear who these figures are supposed to be.

Durham M*A*S*H Action Figures, Circa 1975

From what I’ve seen, the sculpting on the faces is quite well done. The likenesses to Alda and Swit isn’t terrific but the paint is applied nicely, especially the white around the eyes and on the teeth. The hair on Hot Lips is a very bright shade of yellow and her eyes are bright blue. I’ve never seen a Hawkeye figure up close so I can’t say what color his eyes are but his hair appears to be dark brown. Both figures are seemingly solid plastic painted to look like olive drab green Army uniforms, complete with brown boots. Included are white cloth surgical gowns and green plastic hats. The Hawkeye figure comes with a golf club (or potentially two) while the Hot Lips figure has a white suitcase emblazoned with the Red Cross logo.

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The collection of 38 scripts from M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D. that I wrote about back in October sold last week for $310.70 (with a buyer’s premium) as part of Heritage Auction Galleries’ 2009 November Signature Music & Entertainment Auction #7011. A separate M*A*S*H script, a revised draft of “Sometimes You Hear the Bullet,” sold for $79 (again, with a buyer’s premium).