the_pauley's men

Testing

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3... we read you, over?

the_pauley wrote:

Testing

all sorted then?

Another Volgan cyber attack foiled!

All sorted! Thanks guys!

Emergency!

My Action Man Emergency guys.

The Emergency series came near the end of Action Man's life when Palitoy were really involved in cost cutting measures. Consequently, a lot of the equipment in these sets was recycled from existing GI Joe Adventure Team sets.

First off here is the Highway Hazard set. At this point, those that get the vapours when they see vintage kit de-carded might wish to avert their eyes.

I also de-carded the Medic and Underground Rescue sets from vintage cards, but can't seem to locate the photos.





Off the card and on a figure as nature intended.



The yellow vest was originally from the Adventures of GI Joe Fantastic Freefall set.



This is how the vest is supposed to be worn...



...and not as some doofus displayed it in the 1978 equipment manual!



I decided to kit him out with the Action Man toolkit.



I used the tools from the box to fill the empty pockets on the vest.





Next up is the Medic , another set that I took mint from card, hence the pristine condition of the uniform..







The medical scanner is the hardest piece to find intact...



...particularly the power block from the rear which is often missing



The medical scanner was originally this Adventure Team piece of equipment.



The Underground Rescue set was another item i was lucky enough to find mint on card. Note that the orange jumpsuit is not the more familiar zip up version but a popper fastening version unique to this set.



I originally had him displayed on a clean shaven figure, but eventually settled on a beardy.



The rope ladder with grappling hook was another Adventure team piece...



...from this set.



The High Rescue set was the set that borrowed most heavily from Adventure Team sets (the clue is in the colour yellow).



Initially I acquired this set with one part of the chest winch missing. I was very surprised to find the missing part on US eBay, which is how I became aware of its Adventure Team origins.



It originally came on this accessory card...



...and as part of the Smoke Jumper set. Note however that the Smoke Jumper overalls are zip up, whereas the High Rescue version is popper fastening, again unique to this set.



The Fireman uniform came in two versions; a nylon jacket and a "leather" look jacket. I gave the leather jacket fella a t-shirt for bit of variation between the two figures.



The extinguisher gizmo that can actually shoot water from the hose.



Finally the Crash Crew set which actually came on a very nice vintage Eagle Eye chap, both figure and uniform in superb condition.







A strange looking set that looks even more bizarre when the gas mask is worn.



The set came complete with the highly elusive gold pliers.



Indeed both of the firemen also had this hard to find item as well.



And the inevitible gang-bang shot!

That is an amazing collection of complete vintage accessory sets... displayed on some very nice figures! Your research and your dedication to the hunt are impressive and inspiring!

I had not thought about the "water shooting" fire-fighter backpack in decades! One of us as kids had that piece, I don't remember now if it was my brother or myself. I do not recall any other pieces of the fire-fighter uniform (other than the hatchet, I know we had the hatchet), so perhaps the water-shooting pack was available as a stand-alone piece without the uniform here in the States.

Fantastic mate!

SCU_HQ wrote:

That is an amazing collection of complete vintage accessory sets... displayed on some very nice figures! Your research and your dedication to the hunt are impressive and inspiring!

I had not thought about the "water shooting" fire-fighter backpack in decades! One of us as kids had that piece, I don't remember now if it was my brother or myself. I do not recall any other pieces of the fire-fighter uniform (other than the hatchet, I know we had the hatchet), so perhaps the water-shooting pack was available as a stand-alone piece without the uniform here in the States.

It was.

the_pauley wrote:

It was.

Wow! I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you know that, or that you have an example!

If I remember correctly, the unit was underwhelming from a functional standpoint. In short, it leaked, badly.

I am really impressed by your extensive knowledge with regards to so many of those obscure pieces. And your expertise in displaying them.
Not only informative, but a great show too!

SCU_HQ wrote:

the_pauley wrote:

It was.

Wow! I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you know that, or that you have an example!

If I remember correctly, the unit was underwhelming from a functional standpoint. In short, it leaked, badly.

The example isn't mine unfortunately. Just a photo from the internet.

I've never filled the unit with water to try it. Probably just as well if, as you say, it leaks!

Can I ask how you display your figures? Do you have them all out, or just some and change them every now and then? You seem to have a lot and they all look so good, with what looks like pristine examples of so many accessories that must have nearly all disappeared from circulation now.
In fact what you have is a museum worthy collection of VAM releases that I'm betting is probably unique.

Wowser all great sets!
All your guys look very sharp!

Laughed when you used the word doofus as I have not heard that word for a long while...

Since my last Green Beret thread I've added a few more GBs to my ranks so I thought it was time to bring my group shots of my platoon up to date.

First of the GI Joe and Action Man variations of the Soldiers of the World/Soldiers of the Century Green Beret set...



The Action Man set comes with a Silver Star medal and the GI Joe version does not...



Next up my kitbash of a GB Communications guy kitted out for jungle patrol...



The radio is from the GI Joe Marine Communications set...



Another 'bash this time of a GB with a flame thrower. This was also an attempt to make the standard GB uniform look more combat ready as it always struck me as being a very formal looking uniform...



If you're going to attempt this look with your GB, be warned - the sleeves were a total bee-atch to roll up. A real nightmare...



This is the Sears & Roebuck Green Beret Outpost store exclusive set that first put the Green Berets in jungle camouflage uniforms, a look that I actually prefer to the SOTW/SOTC version...



I think this was probably the best of the store exclusive sets of the 1960s...



I was so taken with the look of the above set that it was the inspiration for me to kitbash a whole platoon of GBs in camo fatigues. First up a GB with flame thrower...



The flame thrower comes from the Australian Jungle Fighter SOTW/SOTC set...



Next, a GB Sentry...



The poncho is from the Marine Communications set...



A Heavy Weapons GB using the flak vest from Heavy Weapons set...



Grenade launcher comes from the Rifle Rack card...



Another Communications GB, this time with a field telephone...



The field telephone, map case and binoculars come. once again from the GI Joe Command Post set...



Finally a GB Commanding Officer...



This is the only one of the camo 'bashes to use the GB scarf, which along with the modification I made to the collar/lapels of the shirt gives him that "officer" look...



The troops line up...











That makes twelve Green Berets to date. Ideas for future variations gratefully received!

UPDATE: I was never 100% happy with this guy...



At the time he was a way to use up the last remaining beret that I had in my spares box plus the Field Training Exercise "homage" seemed a bit too gimmicky on reflection.

So, a few days ago he sacrificed his beret and his M16 in order to create this latest recruit to the squad - an attempt to create a more realistic Green Beret uniform than the bright green original, using the shirt and pants from the 1970 Action Man Soldier basic figure.











Much happier with this guy than with the FTE attempt. In fact I think he's one of my favourites from all of my kitbashes.

With the original for comparison.

Following of from my Green Beret update, here is the current state of play with my Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Since my last postings I've made a few tweaks to a few of the guys.

The classic Action Man A&SH set and my first ever Argyll kitbash, a sergeant in tropical parade uniform...



Since the original 'bash I've replaced the tan belt with a white one and added the red sash...



Next, two uniforms inspired by this photo taken in Catterick, 1978...



For the guy in the Glengarry, I've since replaced the OD combat pants with the tartan trews the guy in the photo is wearing. These were one of two amazingly tailored, custom made pairs made for me by our very own Lui66...



The alternative A&SH Tam O'Shanter is a custom made beret...



From L to R, Gibraltar 1971, Aden 1967 and Germany 1969...



Since the original 'bashes I've added webbing from the Royal Engineers set to the Aden uniform and replaced the Dragon webbing on the Germany uniform with webbing from the late issue Royal Marine Combat set to give the figures a more Palitoy look...



From L to R, an officer, a sergeant in parade dress and another officer inspired by a photo of Lt Col "Mad Mitch" Mitchell...



Yet again, another fantastic pair of tartan trews by Lui66. I've also added the red ceremonial sash to this figure since the original 'bash...



L to R, Queens Guard at the Tower of London 1979, squaddy in field jacket and Belfast 1973...





The troops assembled...





So this is the current state of play with my regiment, with the exception of one variation (some might say aberration!) on the Argyll theme...

Inspired by this photo from the film The Last King of Scotland...



My kitbash of notorious Ugandan dictator, General Idi Amin Dada...

Revisions and tweaks to some of my Air Police/Security figures.

The main addition was some insignia included with the GI Joe Action Pilot basic figure (name tags and medal ribbons) and some Air Police armbands from One Sixth Scale King, a howling omission by Hasbro, considering they supplied armbands with their Shore Patrol and MP sets from the same era.

I also had a rethink of one of my kitbashed figures and revised what was an Air Security kitbash into an Air Police uniform.

First up is the classic Hasbro Air Police set with the addition of a One Sixth Scale King armband...



Next is a variation on the GI Joe Air Police set using the binoculars, map case/map, clipboard, pencil and field telephone form the Air Communications card. The helmet is Cotswold's excellent repro of the original GI Joe piece...





This kitbash started out life as an Air Security guy (see inset), but I think he looks better as an Air Police officer with his beret and Sam Browne belt. Apart from the armband the 'bash is all "in house" with GI Joe, Action Man and Geyper Man pieces. This guy is definitely a contender for my favourite of all my kitbashes. He's at least in the Top 5 anyway...



My Air Security helmet and armband from the previous figure got recycled to this guy. Once again, as with the Air Police, Hasbro only produced an accessory card for this set and no clothing/uniform. Again as with the Air Police sets I have used the GI Joe Dress Pilot jacket and pants as the basis for the uniform. The only part missing from this set is the incredibly rare black AS field telephone, the only item from the original GI Joe military line that I am missing from my collection.

But the good news is Cotswold will be releasing a repro of it somewhere down the line. Spoke to them recently and they said that the hard plastic parts are ready and all they need is to find a manufacturer for the outer carrying case and strap...



The superb Dreams and Visions GI Joe "Crew Cut" Air Police figure. The excellent blue short sleeved shirt on my Air Police kitbashed figure was, believe it or not, actually hiding under the jacket of this uniform. It was only by chance that I stumbled on it and brought it into view...



And finally, another kitbash using all GI Joe/Action man pieces, with the addition of a white ascot and white holster from Cotswold. Cap insignia is home made. The jacket and trousers are from Action Man small accessory cards...



The inspiration for this uniform came from watching the Star Trek episode 'Tomorrow Is Yesterday'...



The boys in blue assembled...

My Afrika Korps guys.

My DAKs include three kitbashes. This first one is a mixture of DAK kit and shorts and shirt from the Long Range Desert Group set. The only pieces of non Action Man kit are the socks, or Sock-ettes to give them their correct name, which are by Project Are. They are literally sock tops without feet that fit into the tops of boots, so no tight squeeze fitting normal socks into the tight DAK boots. The excellent repro DAK stickers are by Gary from the old UAMHQ forums...











My next DAK 'bash. Pith helmet is the from the AM Jungle Explorer accessory card. Stickers on the helmet are customs and the brown jackboots are from Cotswold. Shirt dickey is by Cotswold and the tie is of unknown origin as it came in a job lot...











The basis for this DAK Mechanic is a tan Geyper Man jumpsuit. Cap and boots from Action Man Afrika Korps Internationals card. Toolbox from Action Man Star Scheme offer. Belt by Cotswold and neckerchief by Project Are...



Last tweak was to add insignia...



The troops assembled with both Palitoy variations on the DAK uniform...

My judo guys. Having taken part in the sport for some years, I wanted a full set of all the available belt colours displayed of figures.

My US army and US Marine Corps MPs.

Firstly the three official Hasbro variations, with one extra of the first issue thrown in because I love the uniform so much!



Next my kitbash/customs. From L to R, two WWII Field MPs, a US Marine Corps Field MP with the distinctive USMC red and yellow armband, a 1960s era MP and a WWII MP in a beautiful greatcoat. This figure is one of my favourite of all my customs...



More kitbash/customs. From L to R, Two 545th MPs from the Vietnam era, a 545th MP from the/WWII Korean War period and a 716th MP from the Vietnam era, wearing a painted helmet liner rather than the helmet itself, which was common practice in that era...



The family album shot...



A better look at the back row of the previous shot.



Finally, after I had done the photo session and packed the guys away, I realised I hadn't included this fella, another kitbash/custom.



He is based on the box art for the photo box packaging for the GI Joe Green Airborne MP, the uniform of which looked nothing like the real-life photo on the box.



The basis for the uniform is the green Parade Jacket and pants from the Action Man small cards range. Over the years this has entered into Action Man collectors' mythology as the "Green Air Police" uniform, when the packaging states nothing of the sort - no mention of Air Police or even Air Force and the green would suggest an Army or Marine corps uniform, not an Air Force one. I thought it was a perfect fit for the above 'bash.

Following on from my US army MPs and USAF Air Police, these are my British Royal Military Police guys. All but one are kitbashes.

My first ever BRMP kitbash on the left, a mixture of 40th and vintage Palitoy kit. I 'bashed this guy back in 2009 and to this day it remains one of my favourite kitbashes. Here displayed with the official Action Man BRMP release.








This photo was the inspiration for my next kitbash...



British Royal Military Police Dog Section in tropical issue uniform 'bashed using Hasbro and Palitoy kit including the dog, which was a GI Joe Classic Collection piece. I was never 100% happy with the shirt and pants which were from a GI Joe Collectors' Club British Desert Jeep Driver figure, so later I replaced these with the much better looking shirt and shorts from the Long Range Desert Group set (see final photo in the post).










The next guy was a bit of a departure in that I did not use 100% Hasbro/Palitoy kit. This '80s era BRMP was a combination of Palitoy kit and the beret, armband and gun/holster/lanyard are by Barrack Sergeant. As a result, he doesn't have that could-have-been-released-by-Palitoy look I like to get with the majority of my kitbashes.







This next guy wrapped up for cold weather duty on the sentry post is back to being an all Palitoy 'bash.







My final BRMP 'bash to date is this National Service era guy. Apart from the lanyard which is home-made, the pencil which is from Cotswold and the sergeant's stripes from One Sixth Scale King the 'bash is all Palitoy/Hasbro. The vintage jacket and tunic was a bit of a jammy find for me, as not only was it pretty minty, but whoever owned it had removed the corporal's rank insignia, which was ideal as I was going to replace them with sergeant's stripes for the 'bash.














And finally, the "monkeys" assembled. Here you can see the Dog Section guy looking a lot snazzier in his LRDG shirt and shorts...

My GI Joe Blackhawks.

Part of the Dreams and Visions GI Joe series based on DC Comics wartime characters. The figure, is based on the original 1964 GI Joe body, but with the addition of a custom head design of Blackhawk himself. The packaging for the kit and the "coffin box" for the figure also follow vintage Hasbro GI Joe style.

The box art.



The contents.



The set includes a reprint of Blackhawk's first ever appearance. Many of the sets that were available on eBay did not have the comic book included.



Blackhawk in the classic "Black Knight" uniform. A nice head sculpt on a classic Hasbro vintage Joe body. Holster and belt are real leather.



Classic vintage style box art by Don Stivers, the artist for the GI Joe Adventure Team. Note Action Pilot logo.



My Blackhawk squadron all dressed in the WWII era "Black Knights" uniform. The Blackhawk figure is the basic figure that comes with the set.

While I tend only to ever use vintage style GI Joe/Action Man figures, I made and exception in this case while the remaining three figures are all GI Joe Classic Collection era figures that all bore an excellent resemblance to Stanislau, Andre and Chuck from the Blackhawks. I also thought that they fitted in well as the Blackhawk figure does not have the vintage GI Joe "scarface" headsculpt.



All the variations of the uniforms in the set on Blackhawk figures...



The squadron assembled...



Blackhawk's Far East ally, Miss Fear, one of the very few female GI Joe figures ever produced. The boxed figure came in two variants, one with long hair and one with short hair.

The box art...



The contents...



A closer look at the tray containing two outfits and accessories...

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The rear view of the tray...



The basic figure in the Mandarin dress...



The fan conceals a hidden blade...



The knuckle duster hair pin...



The long haired version of the figure in the evening dress...



With the martial arts axe...



The garter dagger...



Cigarette and holder...



In the travelling outfit...



With the Colt 45...



The martial arts sword...



All variations of the lethal lady...



Miss Fear with the Blackhawks...

GI Joe Dreams & Visions Enemy Ace.

Another of D&V's DC Comics wartime character GI Joes, Enemy Ace was a WWI German air ace.



As usual the packaging echoes the 1964 GI Joe style.



The obligatory (but quite pointless) Certificate of Authenticity that these things feel the need to include. Yes, it's REAL! Thanks. Only useful purpose it serves is to tell you which number of the 2,000 sets you got.



The basic figure of Hans Von Hammer, the Enemy Ace, comes in a vintage style GI Joe coffin box. Notice the 1964 theme continued with the Action Pilot logo on the box.



The 'Prisoner of Zenda' inspired 'Duel With the Ace' card is a cracking set with a real metal sabre and rapier.



The 'Knight of the Sky' set contains a pretty flamboyant flying outfit (flying goggles from the Dame Edna range!) as well as the Ace's pet wolf.



Another terrific Dreams & Visions DC Comics set.

Dreams and Visions GI Joe Sgt Rock & Easy Company.

Quite a while ago I customised my Dreams and Visions Sgt. Rock figure, so that he more closely resembled the comic book character displayed on the box art.

The figures as supplied look much too generic and far too tidy for the Sgt Rock we know and love from the comic books, so following on from my customisation of the Sarge, I've followed suit with the rest of Easy Company.

As the Dreams and Visions Joes come with more realistic looking kit than standard, so I decided not to use Hasbro/Palitoy kit to supplement the figures. I picked up some more "realistic" looking gear (belts, canteens, bayonets, Thomson SMGs, etc) from Cotswold.

Sgt Rock and Easy Company as they come supplied out of the box...











Here they are after they've been "grunged up"...











This is Sgt Rock in the 'Breakout at Normandie' uniform set, with some additional kit from his 'Ground Combat' set.



For my money, this is one of the greatest sets released for GI Joe. Notice the bloodstains on the uniform from the blood filled waters of the Normandy beach...



The map of Normandy, the entrenching tool and the field telephone all come from the Sgt Rock ' Ground Combat' set...



The machine gun comes from the Sgt Rock basic figure...





Easily one of my all time favourite Joe sets...



The troops assembled...



Of course the Sgt Rock lineup wouldn't be complete without his French Resistance ally, Mademoiselle Marie...

The gift set packaging and contents...







The only other card released 'Recon at Moulin Rouge', complete with secret pocket in her underwear to hold her pistol...





I love how some of Marie's kit is her variation on classic GI Joe kit, in this instance the set contains her version of the GI Joe Command Post cape. ..



The three basic figures released. These were released in very limited numbers with three variants. The most common was the short dark haired figure, then the long haired variant of which there were only 1,000 made and, rarest of all, the blonde haired version of which there were only 320 manufactured...



The basic figure. This figure differs from the three individually boxed figures shown above in that she has blue eyes looking to the side, whereas the three boxed variants have front facing green eyes. Comes complete with a nicely detailed Thompson SMG...





First outfit from the tray is the Peasant Resistance Fighter. I have kitted her out with an additional Tommy Gun...





The Undercover outfit. This comes complete with a blonde wig as a disguise that needs to be pinned in place, but I much preferred the look with the short black hair so left the wig off.





Her shoulder bag contains another homage to the original GI Joe line, the French Resistance Fighter morse code radio set, but with a red phone instead of the headset...





The third outfit from the tray is the Underground Demolition outfit. This features a darker red beret closer to the colour of a Parachute Regiment beret...





The Recon at Moulin Rouge set...





Finally one of the boxed figures. This is the most obvious homage to the original GI Joe Line in that (with the exception of the red scarf) she is kitted out in the same gear as the Soldiers of the World French Resistance Fighter, right down to the brown shoulder holster...





Les dames de la Résistance assembled...



An unusual addition to the ranks of my French GI Joes and Action Men... and, of course, they are not dolls - they are fully articulated action figures.

Here are some of Marie's Frech resistance allies.

Firstly, the classic Action Man SOTC/GI Joe SOTW French Resistance Fighter...











With his favourite mademoiselle...



Next, two of my French Resistance kitbashes.

I was looking for another buddy for my Action Man French Resistance fighter but didn't want to go down the well worn path of beret, polo neck sweater and shoulder holster. So, I came up with this guy which also used up one of several bearded 40th Action Man figures I have lying around waiting for a suitable 'bash.



The 'bash is made up entirely from Hasbro/Palitoy pieces. The jacket was a rather disappointing attempt at a jacket for a US 3 Star General, originally on a pretty poor '90s GI Joe figure. It had rather tacky looking stick on stars on the shoulders which I covered up by cutting some excess "leather" from the seams on the inside of the jacket where the cuts wouldn't show. I also did a bit of stretching, reshaping and fixing in place with fabric glue to get rid of the wide, military looking lapels on the jacket, and "Hey Presto!" a natty looking civilian number.

A couple of finishing touches of a Lebel pistol tucked in the belt and brown boots to co-ordinate with the jacket (well he is French after all!) and he was ready to join his amis. Vive la resistance!



The inspiration for the next 'bash was the spare leather-look fireman's jacket I had in one of my footlockers. I slightly modified the collar of the jacket to create lapels...



The scarf is from Cotswold and all other pieces are Hasbro/Palitoy...





The maquis assembled. Time to kill some Nazis!