EPIC Conte & Marx Ben Hur Play Set Unbelievably Jampacked with Extras Start Price USD 1,995.00 Current Price USD 1,995.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 03, 2008 Location Raleigh, NC See more about 'EPIC Conte & Marx Ben Hur Play Set ' Description  Well,  the  "once in a lifetime" opportunity of  the world's ultimate Ben Hur Playset which we listed before on Ebay never made it to final auction to the dismay and disappointment of over 100 ebay members who were actively 'watching' the item's progress--and presumably many of whom were considering a bid.  We received all sorts of emails complaining that we should have let the first ultimate set  proceed to its logical & exciting sale.........unfortunately the soothsayers advised us to heed the Ides of June and to dispose of the set differently.....Just when  you might have thought the combined "Ben Hur"  talents of Louis Marx, MGM, and Conte Collectibles  would never be seen again, we've decided to come up with with this second 'ultimate' Ben Hur package..   This is truly (to paraphrase the movie's adverts) the playset and entertainment opportunity of a lifetime. The perfect early August celebration for the winner of this auction(what better way to celebrate the month named after Rome's first emperor!)Ok, so the Marx set offered this time may not be quite as rare and quite as complete as the set offered a  month or so ago(with the beautiful white marbled stadium) ,  but this one is jampacked with extras as it really is two Marx Playsets combined into one!!  There is so much stuff here that we cannot fit everything into the play set box...in fact, we can fit only about 1/2 of the contents into the box..which make sense since we are dealing with 2 playsets worth of most parts but only 1 box.......We have brought together  beautiful items from three different companies from the 1960's to 2008  to tell this classic tale as it's never been told before. At last, Charlton Heston and Judah Ben Hur & Lew Wallace & William Wyler get the collective respect  which is so richly deserved. The most honored movie of all time now merges with perhaps the most honored playset of all time and the best model Roman War Galley ever manufactured...all for one lucky bidder.One of the most popular and well done of all  Marx Playsets joins together with a limited edition  and almost 'sold out' Conte Collectibles Play Set of its Roman War Galley and a Collector's 4 disc DVD set which has both the 1925 silent film version as well as the epic 1959 masterpiece  plus all sorts of extras.  We've responded to collector requests.to put this combined set up for auction....the three components of this epic offering are:A) The rare Marx playset #4702 ,  or make that, almost 2 play sets worth of some parts....... Rather than sell one set with the box and then be 'left with' all sorts of extra 'parts", we decided that we should combine the  parts we had into one colossal set as befits the grandeur of Rome. In describing the set it is difficult to decide whether to discuss what has been added or what is missing...........so its probably best to just say what is here .....This set has three rich purple colored character figures of Ben Hur, the Emperor and the Empress.While this set probably had 4 chariots and drivers originally, we have added  3 more original chariots plus 2 reissued chariots 4 just seems wrong to us!! (Any chariot race that Chuck is gonna take part in must have 4 chariots minimum.(Conte Law)). There are also 2 extra white horses. 5 of the 7 original chariots and teams are in good condition, 2 are broken and of these 1 is best used for a 'wreck" as it is separated  where the limber meets the chariot itself and there is also a loose axle and a missing wheel.........the 2 reissued chariots are ok  except one has a small piece of the side hand grips broken off--this was seen loose in the box.The stadium is a big attraction here as there are 2 complete stadiums as supplied in the playsets by Marx. The large central building with columns is here times 2 as are the 2 straight galleries(there are 4 instead of 2) and the curved seating sections are here in doubles as well(there are 4 instead of the usual 2). The curved sections have the animal'gates" and while all 4 are here, the 'rings" at the top of two of these gates are broken and loosely attached. (you may be able to glue them)The box has some dents, tears and dings and small holes but seems in really great shape considering its almost 50 years old!! This set has just about everything we think should be here for set # 4702   and MORE with the following very exceptions: (1)there are 3 small white tent posts instead of 10 . Interestingly, only 7 are needed according to articles written about these sets.... (2) only 10 out of 24 catapult rocks are here ....which we think is pretty darn good.   (3) we can only find 5 out of the 8  gray 'clips' listed which" hold" the arena sections together.  All of these missing items seem inconsequential.(4) the tiger is missing, (5) no poles  are here to support the awning of either the slave market or the market (there is only 1 set  here and you'd need 2).(6) There is one catapult and it has one yellow wheel broken off.Original bags and interior cardboard are here along with  two (2) original instruction sheets. There are 3 character figures, 89 non character figures with multiples of all 16 poses, 9 chariots with 38 horses, a lion,  all arena sections including the often missing or broken 'doors' to let animals into the arena, donkey, donkey cart, broken chariot wheels, slave market, tent and accessories such as hookah and pillows, the food market, 2 fountains, and 2 sets of various urns, braziers, baskets,  chaise/bed , chair,; only 3 columns with busts on the top,  one catapult and rocks, 22 red or yellow pennants, etc. The  poles/supports for the awnings and or tent may need to be glued  Posts/supports for awnings may need to be glued as some of the insert pegs are either broken or will break. Maybe  1/3 or more of the figures have some ink markings in the ejector pin holes on the underside of their bases, but cannot be seen when the figures are standing. Otherwise these figures look good and  generally very clean.In short,  this set 'or sets" is a great opportunity as  there is twice the stadium giving you 1/2 of a full ampitheatre instead of the 1/4 that Marx supplied, , twice most of the accessories, an abundance of chariots and figures and great character figures and a great box and there are only minor issues as mentioned above and which are fairly typical  of Ben Hur play sets......with a little effort one ought to be able to find the odd tent roof peg or  tent support pole and such to make these sets close to perfect. All sorts of original Marx bags are here...more than you need for 1 playset and slightly less than you'd need for 2 setsSold AS IS No Refunds.. YES we will try to ship worldwide if we can.....and NO this set cannot be combined with other auction items..... The Play set will be shipped from North Carolina and the Roman Galley will ship from Nevada. Please do not try to negotiate shipping costs with us..these sets are big and shipping is expensive.**************B) Conte Collectibles Limited Edition Roman War GalleyThe one item which was missing from the Marx set was the need for a Roman ship....we think that Judah's service in the navy as a galley slave  was one of the key events in the book and the film. Conte have filled the void with this monumental play set which retails new on its own for $400.00  to $500.00 plus shipping--which has a complete below decks area filled with rowers!!!!!!!!!!This beautiful hand painted treasure is the most amazing  Roman war ship ever unleashed upon the toy soldier world. Approximately  33" long this dreadnought has 58 unpainted resin figures including 48 rowers, a drum beater, a whip master, 2 climbing the rigging, 2 helmsmen, General and slave serving frosty beverage, guard etc.........The cold cast resin ship is hand painted and really remarkable and is the perfect counterpart to the Marx set. NOTE that one of the pictures of the warship shows the lower deck with top deck removed..... in answer to the common question: the rowers are always at 'ramming speed at Conte Collectibles ! The crew included are UNpainted as stated previously; some photos show Conte's painted crew.......Together, the 2 most exciting events in the story can be played out..the sea battle and the chariot race!Loads of additional photos and descriptions of this ship and crew can be found at www.conteco.com.C)  Sealed MGM 4 Disc Collectors Edition DVD Ben HurBoth the 1925 and the 1959 flicks are here as well as tons of special features, commentaries including those by Mr . Heston, documentaries on the making of ths epic and much much more. The ultimate dvd tribute .All three items combine to make one masterpiece of a collectible.Payment must be received within 5 days. Sold AS IS NO REFUNDS.....YES we will ship worldwide. NO we will NOT combine shipping on these items with other auction bids...the various components will be sent from different locations...the Roman Galley from Nevada..the Marx Play set from North Carolina.  Place a Bid!