June 2015 Interview - wiscan

Name Rob Wisdom

Online name Wiscan

Location Tiptree (Colchester)

First Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 figure ?
Pretty sure it was a talking commander - blonde painted head round about 1970 so I would have been a rather impressionable five years old.

What was your favourite figure as a kid, and do you still own him?
Think my first one: the Talking Commander, but I recall playing a lot with a British Infantryman and Parachute Regiment a lot too. Tents in the garden overnight, playing with them down the brook. Sadly they went into that one-way box that only a Mums could contrive

Favourite figure now ?
That changes from month to month. I get figures like the 17/21st Lancer, and are amazed with them despite thinking my motivation was to plug gaps. Latest is Air Police although he’s very tired. A minty one of them would possibly be a new favourite. For a while!

Most desired item ?
Think I’d like a mint locker, complete, with my favourite Action Man safely smug in the bottom.

What will you do with your collection as you get older ?
Nothing - improve upon it. Hand it down.

What does your wife/girlfriend/partner think of your collection/hobby?
She is savvy and sees investments in whatever form they take. She does property. I do figures. I made the mistake of trusting bankers and pension advisers a long while back.

Do you set yourself a budget ?
No, The only provisos are, is it worth it, will it drop in value, and is it genuine. Buying something that’s a ‘lot of money’ can make good sense. It stops you frittering it away on life’s excesses, and it’s there to redeem should you hit hard times. I have had that scenario before and sold a few to survive.

Worst Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 figure ?
I have trouble liking the MAM stuff. I haven’t the emotional connection, the driver, to forgive all it’s fantasy nature and lack of play value and changeability in terms of clothing and accessories. But I know if I’d have been the age to receive these as Christmas and birthday presents, I’d be into them and fearcely protective of criticism. Horses for courses.


Views on 40th reproductions ?
I can appreciate the appetite, and commend the undertaking. I am disappointed to hear people have had problems with melt down of items that were basically intended for long-term collectors and indefinite careful storage. (Seems the Joe versions were better made). I abhor that fact that 40th items find their way into EBay listings passed off as vintage. Logic tells you that every item should have had stamps or tell-tale design differences to show genuine from copy.

Worst item of the Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 range ?
Pretty much all the last Palitoy cards with hastily paired together thin incomplete uniforms basically to get rid of redundant stock - It represents a sadness to me, of hard times.

Best thing about collecting Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 figures ?
The rare occasion someone contacts you with a well looked after collection in great condition. Those moments are priceless (to a point!)

Do you think your collection will be collectible in the future ?
I think it will have to be - how could it not? The places were it will be valued highly will be rarer - Auction Houses and specialist dealers.

If you did not collect Vam/Joe/Mam what would you collect ?
Real Military uniforms. I have a Coldstream Guards uniform (sans bearskin), Pilot Officer RAF battledress and RAF dress uniform. I can’t see that sideline going away soon either. Strange thing is quite often the real uniforms are cheaper than 1/6th! The travesty! I am very patriotic of Great Britain and for me the pageantry summarises the history and heart of a nation. Rule Britannia!

What AM/Joe outfit or set would you like to have seen released?
Think I have done two of the three glaring omissions to my mind. As members will probably have seen with my recent kit bashes, the Royal Flying Corp Officer makes a striking figure, as does the Royal Navy Commander. I think its a shame (especially now) that there wasn’t more WW1 (or the Great War as my father constantly corrects me) uniforms. A typical Tommy and his German foe (with the later dazzle pattern helmet) would have sold well I think.

Do you have a/What is your favourite section of AMMO?
How to pick a favourite? Can’t sorry. Hang on these interviews are pretty compelling - so maybe this area.

Why do you like AMMO ?
Its the members. Other than the ActionManHq forum (pop over sometime!)  , it’s the genuine warmth and richness of replies to my posts. I know its a home from home.

http://actionmanhq.co.uk/forum/index.php

Terrific interview Rob! , thanks so much for taking part

great interview thanks

Thank you for sharing your story.  If I might add one more question for you.  What was the best one that got away?  One you were just too late to buy or couldn't pull the trigger in time.

Rob great interview, enjoyed reading it, thanks for sharing

Great interview, and thanks for starting amhq

Well done for taking part in one of A.M.M.O's monthly interrogations, a very intresting read with some intresting points

Quote :

Worst Vam/Joe/Mam or 1/6 figure ?
I have trouble liking the MAM stuff. I haven’t the emotional connection, the driver, to forgive all it’s fantasy nature and lack of play value and changeability in terms of clothing and accessories

Everyone at some point has tried to dress a MAM in vam clothes, i did. At first i didn't have an intrest in MAM because it had no nostalgic connection with me, but that soon changed... I'm now a full time MAM fan, along with vam

Quote :

lack of play value:

There's no doubt about it, it was definitely there, ask any of the original 1990's/2000's MAM owners (now grown up) and they will tell you what fun they had with their Action man figures  

Best wishes,
Clive.

Great interview Rob

Great interview!

Good interview nice read

Great interview !

thanks Rob for this interview

Great interview Rob, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

A few of us were having the discussion about collections and will they be worth anything at AM Day 5. I agree, it will always be collectible to certain people and will always be of interest historically.

Quote :

lack of play value:

There's no doubt about it, it was definitely there, ask any of the original 1990's/2000's MAM owners (now grown up) and they will tell you what fun they had with their Action man figures  

Best wishes,
Clive.

I am one of the original 1990's/2000's MAM owners (now grown up a bit   j) and I had lots and lots of fun playing with my Action man and bad guy figures.