20th Anniversary Present

HI Wolf-soldier

What a great story …and what a brilliant anniversary present . I must work on my supreme commander,Mrs Gunner

Nothing as spectacular as the contents of your box , but you've inspired me about a package that arrived at Gunner HQ

So here is what happened…. I hope you enjoy it .

Lt Tim Gunn of 14 Platoon inspects LJ's - Gunners recent 50th anniversary recruit  new 70's Action Soldier look.

"Pvt LJ , what do you think ? of the look ? - SMG needs replacing with a Sten, but I think that looks much better."

LJ " Sir, I like it . We can form a section from the 50th Brigade !"



Just at that Moment Action Commander of the CO11 roars up on one of the MT pools M/C & Sidecar.



AC : " Lt Gunn ! Stop what you are doing we have an urgent mission ! .
Who is that ?"
Lt Gunn " is Action Solider LJ Sir- a recent recruit from the 50th Brigade "
AC : " 50Th Brigade ? Never heard of 'em - no time Jump on ! - An unidentified package has arrived . Its got to get checked out before Gunners Supreme Commander notices it !! "



The search party roar into the holding area ( the garage  )



LJ - "Blimey Sir - that looks  huge ! "
AC " Pvt LJ - this will be your first mission on deployment at Munrovia !"

The Team take up cover position as AC takes a closer look.



AC " This looks like a pukka package men - lets get it open - here could be some key equipment to beat back the Dragonian scum !"

LJ "Dragonians ? "

Lt Gunn " Our deadly enemy Pvt LJ - keep your wits about you !"


Ac and LJ pise open the lid and atke a first look.

LJ "What do make of it Sir ?"
AC "By golly I think it looks like an equipment drop "



AC "Lt Gunn- take a look at this a M/C & side car"
Lt Gunn " I don't recognise its make AC .
AC : What have you got Pvt LJ ?"
LJ "looks like some servicible M16's sir "

AC & Lt Gunn take a closer look at the new find.



Lt Gunn " recognise it AC ?"
AC : " never seen one of these before. It has Strike Force on the decals - could ne  Action Man knock off - lets see how it rides ."

AC takes the new M/C for a spin.



LT Gunn and LJ check out a typical equipment drop .



A rustling is heard in the box and a gasping VAM struggles out



LT Gunn  & LJ help the newcomer down



Simon Ormskirk ".... and thats it Sir , I was a solo  Action Man , but loved that M/c and side car. "
LT Gunn " And what units ?"
Ormskirk "mainly British , I had an explorer phase along with a Jerry SOTW "
LJ " whats that stuff on your face ?
Ormskirk " bad case of Loft scum I'm afraid . I've not been down since 1979"



AC roars up on the Strike Force  M/C .

AC " She is a runner - who i this ?
O "Ormskirk sir ... and thats my bike ! "
AC " We'll she is part of the Munrovians now . Report to sick bay for de-scumming and hand regeneration. I like your spirit Ormskirk - report to me when  fit and we will get ypu bak on the bike !
O : "Brilliant "



With the M/C's put back in the motor pool for fine tuning , AC , Lt Gunn and LJ make their way back to base.



LT Gunn " Well LJ , thats juts a taste of what some of us have gone through..
- shot with darts , blown up with fireworks then forgotten , shut in lofts, cold  in cupboards . "
AC " But now we are back in active service with the Munrovians . You are factory fresh- we expect you and other 50th Brigader's to give us a powerful shot in the arm in our battle with the Dragonians "

LJ " Well I'm up for that Sir .. Lead the way "

Fantastic stuff Steve! a great emergency drop and a new vam to the ranks too! I am sure he will be ready for action very soon

Great stuff gunner

How did I miss this great thread?? What a fantastic anniversary present too! Love the story and pic, these two are my favourites..

A horse arrives in the post....surreal!


...and someone tell the Imperial soldier that WW2 is over!  


Excellent work Mark!

This new theme of the guys having little adventures around the house is cool. I suppose we have Gunner Monroe to blame for it but I wonder in what direction it's going.....horror maybe judging by this pic!

i really like Ormskirk's bike wish i had 1

Excellent photos Gunner, love the story specially with the new 50th recruit

Hi Steve

I know - What brilliant "unboxing " by Wolf … and some really brilliant items inside.

I love the Imperial trooper too - must get me one of those!

Ormskirk's loft scum actually looks like some kind of 'glue' or packing tape residue- proving a hard job to remove. patience and elbow grease !

Jim if you would like the bike let me know . I'll take some better photo's for you

This Action Man below appears to be one of the first year issue flockies, the flock is the giveaway (1969 - 70). The flocking was improved a year later to look more realistic, with a more uniform spiky flocked covering.

The early ones seem to have a bit of flock chaos going on, a bit like a 'bad hair day' , I have a few of those types and i like them because they are rarer than the later issued flockies. You will get a better indicator of what i'm on about if you stand an early one next to a later issued one and compare the flock covering.


That one will clean up nicely, don't forget those eyebrows need restoring, reading glasses and a desk lamp will help, also steady your right hand with your left hand when painting them in. I always keep a wet rag handy to wipe off any mistakes when i'm painting eybrows. I sometimes use a sharpend cocktail stick to rub away any 'over-paint' after the paint is dry, this is to tidy up, also very fine wet and dry rubbing paper is also useful for this (1000 grit) it can remove brown staining bleed around the painted areas. I mix brown earth acrylic paint with a tiny touch of white paint to lighten it slightly, Citadel paints are what i use, never use acrylic paints that contain ethers, they can react with the vinyl of vam's head.



clivvers @ character rebranding @ A.M.W.I.C 2016.

What a great box to get as an anniversary present Mark , love the Jap too
Possibly two of my favourite figures: the life guard and the Japanese fighter

clivvers wrote:

This Action Man below appears to be one of the first year issue flockies, the flock is the giveaway (1969 - 70). The flocking was improved a year later to look more realistic, with a more uniform spiky flocked covering.

The early ones seem to have a bit of flock chaos going on, a bit like a 'bad hair day' , I have a few of those types and i like them because they are rarer than the later issued flockies. You will get a better indicator of what i'm on about if you stand an early one next to a later issued one and compare the flock covering.


That one will clean up nicely, don't forget those eyebrows need restoring, reading glasses and a desk lamp will help, also steady your right hand with your left hand when painting them in. I always keep a wet rag handy to wipe off any mistakes when i'm painting eybrows. I sometimes use a sharpend cocktail stick to rub away any 'over-paint' after the paint is dry, this is to tidy up, also very fine wet and dry rubbing paper is also useful for this (1000 grit) it can remove brown staining bleed around the painted areas. I mix brown earth acrylic paint with a tiny touch of white paint to lighten it slightly, Citadel paints are what i use, never use acrylic paints that contain ethers, they can react with the vinyl of vam's head.



clivvers @ character rebranding @ A.M.W.I.C 2016.

Nice bit of info on the early flocking Clive, I've a few guys like this full of character.

Great stuff!

Jet- wrote:

What a great box to get as an anniversary present Mark , love the Jap too
Possibly two of my favourite figures: the life guard and the Japanese fighter

Many thanks James, it was a lovely Anniversary present, wasn't allowed to have it until, the day

Hope to see you on the 13th of November James,

Wolfie I really really liked the short story by using pictures and words to show off your anniversary presents, it was very well put together.

Gunner Munro I also enjoyed reading and looking though your short story of showing off your new bits and bobs that you've got.

ACKIE88 wrote:

Wolfie I really really liked the short story by using pictures and words to show off your anniversary presents, it was very well put together.

Gunner Munro I also enjoyed reading and looking though your short story of showing off your new bits and bobs that you've got.

Many thanks Alex my friend, hope you had a fantastic Birthday