TOMK HQ's Collection

I have decided to create a collection thread, to introduce each of my figures...

This is my one and only vintage PH Joe and the pride of my collection, he is an all original circa '67 Joe, apart from eyebrow repaint that I did and occasionally I swap out the arms and hard hands for a WalMart set with KFGs.

I found these great looking 21st Century basics and Hasbro cloth cap for him.



Seven as an American Green Beret... again! This time with a vintage M16 and the ammo box that looks great with this figure... I think...

Stunning figures Ralph! always superbly presented mate, thanks for sharing. I am so pleased that you decided to start a collection thread

Seven really is a quality figure!,,,and dressed as a GB, he's a winner!

TheOneManKid wrote:

and the pride of my collection

...but has Tom K sanctioned this title??

somekindajoe wrote:

Seven really is a quality figure!,,,and dressed as a GB, he's a winner!

TheOneManKid wrote:

and the pride of my collection

...but has Tom K sanctioned this title??

Tom K is the pride of his own collection!

Very nice Ralph, but paintheads with grippers don't settle with me, it's my nostalgic side seeping through, but everyone to their own  

That beige fabric cap is reminiscent of the first GI Joe basic soldier caps in 64 (the rubber boots era), they were made of fabric too, and as we all know the molded plastic ones followed. You've done well on the eyebrow repaint, most folks bottle out doing eyebrows (shaky hands and old age lol), I go even further and touch in better eyelid and pupil paint on AM 40ths to give them a more original 60's/70's look... I'm not a fan of the uniform Tampo/pad printed/painted Eyes of the 40ths, I say bring back hand painting for that orginal AM look.

I look forward to seeing some more of your figures  

clivvers wrote:

Very nice Ralph, but paintheads with grippers don't settle with me, it's my nostalgic side seeping through, but everyone to their own  

That beige fabric cap is reminiscent of the first GI Joe basic soldier caps in 64 (the rubber boots era), they were made of fabric too, and as we all know the molded plastic ones followed. You've done well on the eyebrow repaint, most folks bottle out doing eyebrows (shaky hands and old age lol), I go even further and touch in better eyelid and pupil paint on AM 40ths to give them a more original 60's/70's look... I'm not a fan of the uniform Tampo/pad printed/painted Eyes of the 40ths, I say bring back hand painting for that original AM look.

I look forward to seeing some more of your figures  

The top photo is with hard hands, although you can see that of course, and the bottom photo is with his grippers. The WalMart KFGs work well as they are small in scale like the hards hands, I wouldn't put any other grippers on him. You have to remember that some of these figure come out to play sometimes, they don't just spend their time wall gazing from a shelf, so the grippers work much better. And also, I think if I were 10 years old again, then grippers would definitely be in and hard hands out, so that is why I don't get anxious over that too much.

Yeah, the cap is cool, it is similar, but not identical to the caps that came with some of the GI Joe 40th soldiers, this one is much better made, but not sure of its origin... maybe just a 40th variant.

My hands shake and my eyesight is shot as well, but with an LED lamp, magnifying glass, reading glasses, perseverance and the smallest brush I could find, I get them done!

I don't like AM 40th figures, so I haven't tried reworking the eyes!

Next up, is going to be my VAM British Infantryman.

It's good to chat on forums, so here comes a friendly nostalgic sermon..

I didn't have too many problems with Action Man's hard hands back in the day, I could get his hands to hold nearly all of the weapons ok, the only problems I encountered was trying to get the figure to hold the tiny revolver and canteen utensils properly, I found a way around this niggle by using tiny bits of sticky Plasticine, these days I use Blue-Tac. I think even today the grippers still struggle to hold these small items, especially the Canteen utensils.

I vaguely remember when the first issue-1 grippers came out, it was an exciting moment seeing them on a TV advert for the first time, I wanted them badly but never got round to getting them because model trains were starting to take a foothold in my life back then. The first issued grippers had problems with fingers breaking off too easily, so a new tougher version was designed. I also used to tie my Action Man figures to mini rope swings via their waist and placing the hard hands to look like the figure was holding onto the rope.

Most of my vam have been outside and put through their poses, the only ones I keep boxed are the ones that I have loose a few times over.. My loose ones are the ones that get slung about in the mud and ponds in my man-playtime sorties lol! MAM are especially good at being able to take this type of punishment, they can be plonked into a tub of soapy warm water afterwards, then rinsed off and left to dry in the airing cupboard overnight. I think MAM grippers are the most robust there is on the market, they are chunky and big for a perfectly good reason, they should never be compared to DID type scale model figures, which wouldn't last 5 miniutes in the hands of the younger crowd when played with like MAM get played with in the mud and rivers. I like both hand styles, hard molded and soft grippers (KFG). I've yet to see a MAM hand with broken-off fingers through normal play use, they are that tough!

I look forward to seeing your British Infantryman.

clivvers @ Action Man The Greatest Hero Of Them All (2017).

I like that cap & outfit!
Seven makes a sharp Green Beret!

Great looking men and photos.
The cap looks very smart, a good fit too .I've got a couple of dragon ones on my guys, which are a bit tight even on a painted head.

Great figures Ralph, nice start to your collection thread.

Jet- wrote:

Great looking men and photos.
The cap looks very smart, a good fit too .I've got a couple of dragon ones on my guys, which are a bit tight even on a painted head.

That cap is a tad tight, hence it pulls the peak out of shape, but I thought that looked kinda cool! I just dug out a 40th Joe cloth cap and this one is definitely better made, but as I say, I have no idea what figure it is from, but it fits perfect on a Timeless PH, so maybe it is from that range.

Loving the thread Ralph and the chat.

As you may have seen Black and Dreadnought part of my original Chlidhood Originals have now been nagging the QM so long , N01 their commander gave out and authorised grippers !!

Fantastic stuff!

Nice shots GM!

Gunner Munro wrote:

Loving the thread Ralph and the chat.

As you may have seen Black and Dreadnought part of my original Chlidhood Originals have now been nagging the QM so long , N01 their commander gave out and authorised grippers !!

Grippers for all!

Well most... I have a few display only fellas that I am keeping as original...

This'll be a great thread, Ralph!

A couple of great figures to start it off! That cap does look great. I have no idea what it is from. I kinda think it's not a hasbro product. (is it marked?) Seven as a Green Beret should be in the dictionary under "Green Beret"

and I think TomK stands alone, by definition.

So, up here in Northants, I have these two figures out most of the time when I am at home. They spend their time posing on my bedside table.

Hawke on the left came to Tom K HQ as a bashed up Action Man Second Issue Action Soldier and got himself fixed up with new hair, body and g-g-g-grippers!

Sergio - Big Bear came to Tom K HQ as a worn out Air Adventurer head and also got new hair and beard, body and grippers. These two I call the 'Northants Gorilla Hand Crew' because SKJ says the Gung Ho Grippers look like gorilla hands, which I think looks great...

Two very smart fellas Ralph! always very well turned out my friend . You have given them a great selection of kit that really works well

I'm really liking the flocked hair, it's kind of similar to a velvet finish, I especially like the bearded one

Fantastic figures Ralph, what make are those jackets? They look the nuts!

TheOneManKid wrote:

. These two I call the 'Northants Gorilla Hand Crew' because SKJ says the Gung Ho Grippers look like gorilla hands, which I think looks great...

you make one simple, harmless remark.....




Your guys always look so smart and well turned out!

Sharp looking fellows!

Beatlefan wrote:

Fantastic figures Ralph, what make are those jackets? They look the nuts!

21 Century woodland camo, you can find them reasonably priced if you search around eBay, try QQ Models in China. Tough old uniforms, good for playtime...

omg they look the bees knees TOMK absolutely amazing personally my favourite is the non bearded

TheOneManKid wrote:

Beatlefan wrote:

Fantastic figures Ralph, what make are those jackets? They look the nuts!

21 Century woodland camo, you can find them reasonably priced if you search around eBay, try QQ Models in China. Tough old uniforms, good for playtime...

Thanks Ralph, I'll have a look