Name?
Tony Loizou
Online name?
Zulu-1 . A nickname I picked up when competitive clay pigeon shooting. My wife was (and still is) Zulu-2
Location
Now in West Wales after 20 years in London
First Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 figure?
First was a brown fuzzy gripper, circa 1974 or 75. He was followed by Steve Austin and the two of them were made to crawl through yards of trenches I dug in an earth bank at the side of our garden. I then had a Red Devils outfit ( launched out of my bedroom window many times) , the Special Ops Kit Bag and a muscle-bodied beardy Joe from my uncle in the States.
What was your favourite figure as a kid and do you still own him?
We moved houses every few years and there was always a big cull before the move. I think my fellas disappeared about 1979.
However, a few years ago, in one of my many boxes, I found these - the last of my childhood VAM:
I started collecting toys of all sorts again in my late teens, and whilst at college I found these at a jumble sale, about 1985. I have left them as they were found 30 years ago, but I will try and complete them in due course:
In the same year, a toyshop was closing and I bought this fellow for the princely sum of £4. He has been on a shelf or in a cabinet of some sort wherever I have been since 1985:
My favourite back then, though, was the Amoured Car Commander. My mate next door had one and I loved his sheepskin jacket. He also had the Scout Car, I think it was the Cherilea one. I remember thinking "He's cool, but thats just a green blob with wheels".
I probably still do, which is why I have no problem chopping them up and sticking bits on them.
Favourite figure now?
I tend to favour the military outfits, and amongst them, the basic SAS figure is probably the one. I visited Acme toys in Birmingham with Dal recently and impulse-bought another one, making about 9 in total.
Most desired item?
If I was prepared to spend the large amount of money on something so small I would get a Silver Star for the Green Beret above. Also, after seeing some recent posts on here, I am really fancying a boxed Tom Stone.
What will you do with your collection as you get older?
First things first, I need to get them out of their moving boxes and back on display! Hopefully by the end of the summer I will have built a display case with a Slack-style diorama box to keep things interesting. In the long term I don't know. We should all club together, get some premises and open a massive VAM/Joe museum.
What does your wife/girlfriend/partner think of your collection/hobby?
At first she was amused, then confused and then decided to get involved. She had Sindy as a girl, fell back in love with her and now has a great collection of vintage Sindys from the 60's to the 90's - all correctly dressed and cataloged. She is also a great seamstress, and does all the sewing on my customs ( my own "sewing kit" consists consists of UHU and a stapler )
Do you set yourself a budget?
Not really, I buy in fits and starts. The last thing I bought was this BOB figure ( also from Acme Toys) which cost me £80 delivered along with some other bits. That's the most I have spent on a single figure, but all his kit is pristine and he cut such a dashing pose I could not resist:
Worst Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 figure
I don't really have one - everything has its merits
Views on 40th reproductions
I missed the whole 40th thing when they were first released, but seeing them now and finding out more, I realise what an enormous undertaking it was. The sheer logistics of collecting all that kit and having it reproduced, as a private undertaking, is just phenomenal. Also, the fact that often you have to compare mould marks and stitch widths to sort repro from original shows just how well it was done.
Best thing about collecting Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 figures
I am not sentimental or nostalgic about much at all, but a Vintage Action Man speaks to me, visually and emotionally, quite deep down - in the same way that Roy Cross' Airfix box artwork or a battered and chipped metallic blue Thunderbird 2 does. As for collecting generally, the buzz of an ebay win, hoovering up MAMs for 50p each at a car boot, posting pictures of customs or vehicles and getting feedback, meeting fellow enthusiasts on-line or in real life - all of that does it for me.
Do you think your collection will be collectable in the future?
For a few more years yet I should think, until the remainder of us 60's/70's kids get put out to pasture. Perhaps stocking up on MAM is the way forward - Ackie has got it right!
If you did not collect Vam/Joe/Mam what would you collect?
I already collect all sorts from militaria to fishing lures, Airfix kits, records and books. Too much stuff.
What AM/Joe outfit or set would you like to have seen released?
Not really sure, but after a cup of tea and a some head-scratching and after seeing the Dave Barnacle drawings and Vaughan's superb interpretation I would have to say the Arab outfit.
Do you have a/what is your favourite section of AMMO?
It would have to be the Custom Figures & Vehicles sections. It's what got me into the hobby again, and making things gives me great pleasure. I think the creativity of customs, along with dedication of purer collecting, makes this a more vibrant activity for me. There is a wealth of talent to be found here and across other fora and I have seen some amazing and inspirational custom work, but even pictures of really simple bashes - just changing a weapon or headgear or a lick of paint just adds that creative and playful dimension to the hobby, and everyone can do it.
Why do you like AMMO
I will have to echo Sparkys comments in that I am also a member of lots of fora and they do all offer something different. I have chatted, traded and met in 1/1 life many of you here. After a recent chat with Dal, and also knowing how much work Cappy put in to setting up the yuku site after HQ went down, and similar chats with Deeyem at VAME and Kracka at Actioncommand I realise just how much work and dedication is necessary to run a successful forum. I think this site is a great credit to Dal and his team who have just knuckled down and got on with it and have pushed on through. I think AMMO has settled and matured into a great site, and as the various sections and categories have filled out over time ( like the GAJ, AT and Geyper sections etc.) this has become a great visual resource. Also, after a couple of nudges, I have logged into the chat room once or twice, and that is a great idea!
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Subject: April's Interview (2014) - zulu1 
Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:28 am
way to go! LOL