Hang on, don’t Google “Quonset” — I will gladly explain for those that haven’t heard the term. All you need to know first is “Big playset hut that’s 1:18 but can be modified for 1:12!”
Okay, details first. Quonsets are prefabricated buildings made out of corrugated steel. They’ve been around since the First World War but became very ubiquitous during WW2. They are lightweight, quick to assemble, and offer better protection than your average tent from the elements — but not so much enemy fire. Occasionally they are referred to as “bivouac,” though that term usually refers to more lightweight temporary structures.
So, being of a military nature, and being made in dozens of shapes and sizes, getting a Quonset to go with some G.I. Joe-type figures is a major draw. I managed to get in touch with the very nice folks of M&C Toys in Hong Kong, and they were able to set me up with this amazing set for a pretty reasonable price, considering the size and shipping.
Factory fresh, I can think of nothing that would look cooler than a couple of these flanking a G.I. Joe HQ playset, with a couple lookout towers and a checkpoint alpha out front. They are appropriately large, come with a bunch of 1:18 tables and chairs, the usual assortment of barricades, crates, weapons and boxes, and real treat: a battlefield table with miniatures and charts!
While this set, like many, many others, makes me continually question my decade-and-a-half decision to leave 1:18 scale, I am married to my 6-inch collection, and, naturally, I picked this up hoping I could make it work for my bigger figures.
And all it took was some table legs, some folding chairs, and a bigger door.
At 8 inches tall, 14 inches wide, and 18 inches long, the Quonset can hold an impressive amount of figures and gear, and looks pretty impressive among other large-scale vehicles and accessories.
Something like this would have been amazing as a kid. It’s such a simple concept, but it just adds a certain realism that would have been right at home with early GI Joe, and much better than some of the odder playset concepts that came later.
Combined with the barriers and tank traps that it comes with, it really does convey a sense of being a command post without needing a lot of parts. Obviously, the more you can add to it, the cooler it gets.
Access to the interior is easy and well-designed. both curved “walls” are hinged to the top section, and can be opened up or removed for access. And can be replaced just as easily.
Other than the larger door and a little paint, the only changes I made were in furnishings. I moved the arms rack to the opposite door (that I didn’t change), replaced the 1:18 chairs with bigger ones, and put the main table up on some taller legs. I couldn’t help but notice the miniatures on the table are very similar to those from the Axis & Allies board game, so I added a few extra. But like any playset that is this open, the real fun is adding little details to the interior. The included pieces make for a great FOB Command post, but I’d love to get another and add some bunks for a barracks.
Another little addition that makes for a lot of personality is a little LED puck light I put on the center beam. That’s what makes getting sets this nice so great- you don’t need to add much to make it really stand out, or add functions.
For a time, sets like this, and many other World Peacekeepers figures and vehicles, were a mainstay of the Holiday toy aisles at Big Lots! stores all over. But, whether due to an anemic market, a lack of interest in stocking military toys, or just toys in general, the chain has been an increasingly wasted stop for a toy hunt. Where a couple years ago, the World Peacekeepers toys would fill an aisle to themselves, now they might share a sliver of the remaining one-or-two in the toy section.
It’s a shame, but not uncommon these days. Hopefully the folks at M&C can find a more eager domestic partner, or can really ramp up their online sales, because like Lanard and Chap Mei, they are doing things in 1:18 scale that continually make Hasbro look like rank amateurs.
Sadly, I suspect this set may be out of the price range of a lot of U.S. collectors, just due to shipping. But if you can lay hands on for $100 or less, I highly recommend it. If you ain’t afraid of some postage, head on over to their site and check it out.
