3429 Land & Sea Copter question....

beware these copters  have been the subject of a lot of repro parts.

Original tail pieces were marked "Lionel" (or "built by Lionel".

I know, Alan. The tail has  'built by Lionel' and the front has yellowed. It's the USMC lettering that has me questioning the piece.

Yes, The USMC was heat stamped on. But the stamping does not look correct. Looks too heavy.

I have an original land sea an air gift pack set  with the US Marines engine. However, the helicopter on my marines 3429 car has “Navy” on it. It’s original (with the made by Lionel markings on the tail) and my family can vouch that it was New in the box when we got the set.  The “Navy” looks like it’s stamped on mine as well. Strange.

Chuck---That's what bothered me but should that be 'suspect?' Just a heavy hand as found with other HS cars? Some are deeply cratered/others very light. Would I be correct in assuming repro Copters USMC are NOT HS?

Repo's are heat stamped. The lettering on the one in the first pic is uneven, fuzzy, and the letters are spaced too close together. Compare to AlanRails close up. Does the helicopter have a square hole in the bottom?

I haven't paid for it yet and don't have a picture of the underside.  As mentioned, 30 years collecting and pretty much(with the exception of a couple of pieces) have avoided 60's military Lionel. I looked at the front plastic and tail piece. Both seemed to fit the criteria. Looks like it was made to deceive as the repros I've found have clear fronts and blank yellow rotors.  Thank you for the head's up..The lettering just didn't match any others I was able to find online. Red flag.   I appreciate it, Chuck. (I understand repros don't have the small hole. If this one does........?????) Doncha just love it.

dont beat yourself up

a decade ago some guy who supposedly owned the helicopter molds made a lot of these repros.

they were of course very close replicas

Thanks Alan(just frustrating).