FIELD STATION 42: Like, Whateverz

I'm not quite sure in which category to post this topic, since the personnel at South Central Utah Headquarters (SCU-HQ) FIELD STATION 42 range across a variety of figure lines and eras. "Other 1/6 Figure Collections" seems like a sufficiently broad "catch-all" category, at least for the figures.

I'll use this topic to share pics from SCU-HQ: figures, vehicles, dioramas, and works in progress. Probably lots of works but not much progress, since my projects are always in the works and never seem to get finished.

I'll get things rolling with this pic from today:


This is actually a test pic of the "door" backdrop I've been working on. It's supposed to represent the way a run-down and neglected 1960s era "dive bar" might look twenty-odd years later, in the 1980s or '90s.

Okay, yeah, I know, a WWII era military figure isn't the right guy to have walking in the door of a 1960s hippie bar in the 1980s yuppie era. Like I said, it was a "test pic." You may have seen another "test pic" in another topic:



I'm dissatisfied with the results, of course, hence the relatively tight crop on the top pic and the conversion to black & white on the second one. (As an example: the Pan Am poster and the cat poster  both would benefit from some weathering on the edges.) It will need some further work, and then it will probably be okay for the scene I had in mind if I employ a lot of shadows and selective camera angles. This was supposed to be a "quick" project: an hour or two, cut a door out of cardboard, how hard can it be? Yeah, well, the door needed a wall, of course, and a frame, and then a side wall to offer additional photographic angles, so, many hours later, spread out over a couple of weeks... and I'm not happy with it.

Whine whine moan complain ...       ... Welcome to Marwen South Central Utah HQ!

This sounds like an interesting topic Dave! Really liking the new bar back drop, the closed sign pic I really like . The one thing I have learned with dio building (as you know) is adding small bits and bobs. maybe a hat and coat stand by the door would help?
I shall look forward too seeing what pops up next! Oh, btw, the General is a terrific figure!

I've never found Patton a very likeable character but as you say, it's wrong to judge historical figures by today's sensibilities. History paints the Duke of Wellington as a great general but he regarded his foot soldiers as the 'scum of the Earth' so maybe it comes with the territory.

I remember watching the 1970 'Patton' movie as a kid and bought two things away from it. I think it's quite plausable he was assassinated by the forrunner of the CIA because of his desire to start a war with the Soviets. I'd call that justifiable homicide as I think if the Soviets had continued to advance west in 1945 the allies wouldn't have been able to stop them and they wouldn't have stopped until they got to Ireland!

Also Patton himself must have had a short memory. In the movie he says something about 'We Americans have never lost a war', conveniently forgetting his Grandfather and Great uncle died fighting for the Confederacy!

SCU_HQ wrote:

I've never been able to shake the sense that almost all of the military leaders were "old fashioned" and "glory seeking" with absolutely ZERO value for human life. They looked at war as an academic exercise using real live bodies as pawns. Some were worse than others. The basic strategy seemed to be to throw more bodies at the enemy than they have bullets. Island-hopping in the Pacific? The carnage is beyond the scope of modern imagination.

I am in complete agreement with all you write here.
The War in the Pacific is of particular interest to me and I simply cannot believe the casual disregard for human life shown by some of the "top brass". If you haven't read it yet, I can VERY HIGHLY recommend "With the Old Breed" by E. B. Sledge. He was there! He freely admits he's no writer, but the book and his eye-witness account of what it was actually had a most profound effect on me. Probably the most moving book I have ever read. In fact there were times I literally had to force myself to pick up the book and read on because the report was so graphic and upsetting, but I am so very glad that I did. He does not spare his fellow countrymen from critical observation either.

I think your idea to re-purpose the figure itself is a great one. Steam-Punk would be an excellent fit for him too. Those telescopic/binocular sort of glasses seen often in that realm would go a long way to disguising his resemblance to Patton. Maybe even a little padding out in front to give him a different shaped body?

Of late the 1/6 scale genre has really taken a dramatic turn. It's no longer a "toy" field as it was when we all came to our VAM and MAM. They were first and foremost, toys! Meant to be played with, which most of us did, ...and many of us still do!

Now it's about static, and very expensive hyper realistic figures with superbly detailed outfits that no one would ever buy a child as a plaything.
I am of course in great admiration of such for the work involved, but I see them more as museum pieces rather than anything you'd want to stick in your toy jeep and place out in the mud for an atmospheric picture.
Personally speaking of course, I think the scene has lost a lot of the imagination component too, and I always liked that hands-on aspect. Now of course it's all done for you already. Yes, the figures are stunningly realistic in a lot of cases, as are the figures in Madame Tussaud's, but they are certainly not playthings. It's more glass-case stuff.

O.K. I must confess to having two or three figures that I don't "play with" but the majority of my men are all fully working guys, ready for whatever action is called for.

Bradley, Patton, Wood, Abrams


Bradley, Wood, Patton, Dager, Eddy



I had a crazy idea that a WWII era steampunk figure might be interesting, but that would probably be anachronistic, if steampunk wasn't anachronistic itself...

Sorry Dave lotta thread hi-jacking going on lately...

Of course it's completely different if you are actually trying to recreate an historical situation with your figures.
Steam-Punk is a fantasy, where the imagination is allowed to reign.
There are no rules other than a general sort of "look", but other than that anachronisms are virtually encouraged!

gibri wrote:

Sorry Dave lotta thread hi-jacking going on lately...

No problem! I enjoy the free-flowing discussions!

Are those your pics of the Big Brass? Very cool figs and settings.

Steampunk World War Two: I think Dave Stevens kind of did that with The Rocketeer. Although I suppose that was more like a stylized Art Modern World War Two, which was kinda-sorta semi historically accurate.

In fact, World War Two was rather steampunk in nature. Railroads were still steam-driven, most cargo and military ships were steam-driven. You had airships in the early days, although the Germans soon scrapped the large zeppelins. Barrage balloons played a major role in anti-aircraft defenses. The German Stukas were strafing horse-mounted cavalry in Ethiopia. The Finns were using horses to move artillery and supplies as they fought the Russians and later the Germans. It was a world in transition between the horse-drawn era and the air age thrown in to chaos by mechanized warfare on a global scale. Very steampunk, and very grim.

LeStryge wrote:

Of late the 1/6 scale genre has really taken a dramatic turn. It's no longer a "toy" field as it was when we all came to our VAM and MAM. They were first and foremost, toys! Meant to be played with, which most of us did, ...and many of us still do!

It is reassuring to see that I am not the only one who has noticed this. Really, the "playline dolls" in the department stores, even the "action figure" type, are more "dolls" than "action figures." Limited articulation, cheap manufacturing quality, few accessories... and not much available in 1:6 scale outside of Barbie and the Disney Princess lines.

If you are really interested in two movies that depict Steam-Punk well BEFORE it even became a "thing", then you should see the 1960 version of H.G Wells "The Time Machine with Aussie actor Rod Taylor.
(Forget the remake!)
And there's also a 1961 movie called "Master of the World" based on two novels by Jules Verne.
The latter is no great movie for sure, but if you like steam-punk you will certainly be interested in the incredible designs.

LeStryge wrote:

And there's also a 1961 movie called "Master of the World" based on two novels by Jules Verne.

Vincent Price and Charles Bronson! Yes, Charles Bronson!

Price's beard-mustache and eyebrows in that film are so cool! Now there's a style I'd like to see on a flocked Action Man!

You're right, not a great movie, or even a good movie, but the visual style is cool! Low budget, but cool! In fact, I have an original 1961 movie poster from this film, that I had custom framed. Not a repro. Found it on eBay just before the steampunk scene exploded and stuff like that became unaffordable.

There are other films from the early 1960s that used the same look, many of which piggybacked off Disney's 20,000 Leagues (the archetype of "modern steampunk" visual style, I would posit): The Mysterious Island, Captain Nemo and the Underwater City, and Five Weeks in a Balloon come to mind – all movies I enjoyed on television when I was a kid, long before "steampunk" as a term had been coined.

Thanks Dave, yes they are mine. All with face paints/repaints, Wood and Abrams are Tony Barton heads; Bradley and Patton are DML. DML must have made at least 3 different Pattons. Along with Hasbro, 21C/TUS and DiD (George C. Scott HS). Still a popular figure but I think still outdone by Rommel. (so there, Barry, I took a semi-premium figure(s) at the time at least and repainted them.  

Interesting take on WWII and Steampunk! Thanks, Dave!

Shameless self-plug  You can see more of my stuff in the "Non-VAM Kitbashes section.

And here's my Patton figure: Sorry all you Patton haters...  

https://actionmanmobileops.forumotion.co.uk/t8104-lieutenant-general-george-smith-patton-jr


Barry: Rod Taylor, War of the Worlds. Totally loved that movie!!! Didn't know he was an Aussie, or forget if I did know.

Pretty obvious Wells and Verne were total Steampunk..Nemo and the Nautilus -- Steampunk!

Obviously a fan of WWII history, but I'm fine with fantasy senarios, love a good adventure.

Never mind about the "statue-haters"!
We have more than our fair share of those history revisors here in Oz, all eager to tear down anything they can shout the now universal go-to word to end any dissent, ...namely "racist".
I'm with you! History is history and that's what DID happen. And that includes all of it.
You just cannot judge people from the past by the PC attitudes of today.

Great re-paints there!
I have had to do a re-paint on a James Bond head where the original flesh tones had gone GREEN for some reason!

gibri wrote:

Barry: Rod Taylor, War of the Worlds. Totally loved that movie!!! Didn't know he was an Aussie, or forget if I did know.

Pretty obvious Wells and Verne were total Steampunk..Nemo and the Nautilus -- Steampunk!

I'm not entirely sure that Wells and Verne were Steam Punk per se.
Rather I think Steam Punk actually came out of those authors work as an extension and appropriation.

And of course Rod was a dinky-di Aussie!
I grew up very much a fan of his pre Bond series "HONG KONG" which was truly exciting. However it was cancelled after just one season due to studio execs thinking everybody wanted Westerns.....think "Bonanza", "Wagon Train" etc.
Not a pinch on "Hong Kong" even to my young eyes at the time.
Since the show was taped, the studio saved money by recording over it so now good copies are almost impossible to find. I live in hope!

gibri wrote:

Obviously a fan of WWII history, but I'm fine with fantasy senarios, love a good adventure.

As mentioned here before, I too am a great reader and fan...(if that's the word) of WWII history.
Besides, that's when most of the truly great and enduring pop music was written!
The mood was just so incredibly optimistic in a time of such horrors!
Now music is all so bloody pessimistic and most of the five-minute "composers" (and I'm using that word loosely here you understand) of today have never ever had to engage in combat or endure nightly bombings.

LeStryge wrote:

I have had to do a re-paint on a James Bond head where the original flesh tones had gone GREEN for some reason!

For some reason? Could it be that Bond is not really Bond, but actually... DOCTOR EVIL?!?



MWAH HA Ha ha haaaaa!!!!!

SCU_HQ wrote:

For some reason? Could it be that Bond is not really Bond, but actually... DOCTOR EVIL?!?



MWAH HA Ha ha haaaaa!!!!!

An interesting possibility there SCU_HQ! Didn't considered that!
Never heard him do THE laugh though.....

I have heard that some of the very earliest (and no doubt the most valuable) Barbies went green, but I think that was more to do with plastic degradation.
This seemed to be just the paint, but it did give me a chance to give him the five-o'clock shadow.
Connery always did have a heavy beard, and on him it looked great!

somekindajoe wrote:

I'd call that justifiable homicide as I think if the Soviets had continued to advance west in 1945 the allies wouldn't have been able to stop them and they wouldn't have stopped until they got to Ireland!

Well they wouldn't have taken Ireland!

I've been there, and after a few drinks the whole country seems VERY willing to fight!
Throw in some Uisce Beatha and those Commies just wouldn't have stood a chance!
That and all the diddly-diddly music would have driven 'em mad!

LeStryge wrote:

Never mind about the "statue-haters"!
We have more than our fair share of those history revisors here in Oz, all eager to tear down anything they can shout the now universal go-to word to end any dissent, ...namely "racist".
I'm with you! History is history and that's what DID happen. And that includes all of it.
You just cannot judge people from the past by the PC attitudes of today.

gibri wrote:

Obviously a fan of WWII history, but I'm fine with fantasy senarios, love a good adventure.

As mentioned here before, I too am a great reader and fan...(if that's the word) of WWII history.
Besides, that's when most of the truly great and enduring pop music was written!
The mood was just so incredibly optimistic in a time of such horrors!
Now music is all so bloody pessimistic and most of the five-minute "composers" (and I'm using that word loosely here you understand) of today have never ever had to engage in combat or endure nightly bombings.

Thanks Barry, so you saw my little rant. I ended up deleting it as I didn't think it was in keeping with the lighthearted nature of AMMO, especially for a moderator.

Interesting thoughts about the music. I've often thought some of the post war Be-bop Jazz had a very happy and light vibe to it. But even before the war and during it we already had some of the best of the big bands, Glenn Miller in the ETO and Artie Shaw in the Pacific.

As what I thought was an interesting if sad side note, I've recently been introduced to a war era crooner, Al Bowley. I was curious about him so I was reading his wiki. He was performing at a London club and though he was invited to spend the night, he decided to go back to his flat and ended up killed in the blitz.

gibri wrote:

Thanks Barry, so you saw my little rant. I ended up deleting it as I didn't think it was in keeping with the lighthearted nature of AMMO, especially for a moderator.

Never, NEVER be afraid of expressing an opinion that's genuinely held. The revisionists depend on your silence and are experts at shouting down any dissent to their own SJW approved views.
I didn't see it as a rant at all. You expressed your view clearly and it's certainly one you are entitled to hold. I happen to fully agree with it too.

gibri wrote:

Interesting thoughts about the music. I've often thought some of the post war Be-bop Jazz had a very happy and light vibe to it. But even before the war and during it we already had some of the best of the big bands, Glenn Miller in the ETO and Artie Shaw in the Pacific.

I have a huge collection of what for want of a better term I call "War Music". I am constantly amazed at its optimism and verve. Specially as in the case you cite, during that time sudden and violent death could be so very close.

Thanks Barry, I think being that close to death really makes you appreciate life and live it. It well could be your last.

I've heard that physical intimacy often follows funerals.

gibri wrote:

I've heard that physical intimacy often follows funerals.

Hopefully not for the corpse?  
Although I did wonder why they called it a "stiff".

gibri wrote:

Thanks Barry, so you saw my little rant. I ended up deleting it as I didn't think it was in keeping with the lighthearted nature of AMMO, especially for a moderator.

That was a fine post... well, I thought so, anyway, because I agreed with it.

I am perfectly fine with whatever opinions people care to post that come up in conversations in this topic, whether it's about politics, society in general, culture, history, or, of course, action-figure specific comments.

In keeping with, as you say, the "lighthearted nature of AMMO," I would simply hope that even people who might have completely polar opposite views on a subject can keep a healthy sense of humor about the topic and about themselves. As long as we can all laugh... at each other without being cruel and especially at ourselves... I think we can all learn a lot and also do some occasional "venting" that can be necessary if we pay any attention whatsoever to news and current events, be it local, national, or international.

LeStryge wrote:

gibri wrote:

I've heard that physical intimacy often follows funerals.

Hopefully not for the corpse?
Although I did wonder why they called it a "stiff".

I guess that would explain this service:


(And bringing this topic slightly back to topic: that blog article used one of my Monster High coffin photos. )

And apropos your reference to Monster High, I THINK I might have scored a creepy looking 1/6 scale "Monster High" vehicle recently at a charity shop.
I bought it because my figures will fit in it (just) and thought it might come in handy for a funny Halloween pic, but now that you mention "Monster High" I'm thinking that's where it must have come from.
Were there cars like this?

LeStryge wrote:

And apropos your reference to Monster High... Were there cars like this?

Yes, that is the Monster High: Scaris, City of Frights car. I suspect it was modeled after a Citroen 2CV, the quintessential French automobile.

Keep an eye out for Draculaura's Sweet 1600 Roadster, based on a 1930s Delahaye:


It's one of the focal points here in the SCU-HQ motor pool:

Fright-fully stylish!

Great shots Dave!

LeStryge wrote:

Fright-fully stylish!

Take that little purple car apart and paint it black. It will look much more creepy-cool!


I repainted the glossy black plastic car body of the Roadster in flat black to reduce glare in photos. I de-pinkified the trim bits with red and gold.

I have a Barbie Jeep that I want to do the same thing with; it's currently half-disassembled... and has been for over a year now. Whenever I think about working on it I either have no paint or the weather is rainy and not conducive to painting.

Blondeactionman wrote:

Great shots Dave!

Thanks! Now that I have the mondo-expensivo (but highly realistic) 21st Century Jeep, most of the "playline" vehicles will likely be relegated to the mothball fleet. And I'll probably be looking for another Jeep or something in a similarly realistic scale. (Insert the standard phrase about whom to blame here!   )

Great job, Dave!!!

I'd prefer the jeep too, but I do think this car is very creepy/cool!