I was recently chatting to Luke Toywalker who avidly collects knockoff [KO] Masters of the Universe [MOTU] plastic figures. Now, like many of you, I love KO SWORD and SpaceX toys, but that's a recent thing for me. Did I have any KO toys as a kid on the 60's/70's? Well, my memory being what it is [perforated!] I do seem to remember having quite a few 12 inch military dolls, which weren't actually Palitoy's Action Man. Chief among these was the wonderful Tommy Gun [which appears to have a Captain Scarlet link!], which I think was Zodiac Toys' answer to the man of action. There were even more cheapo carded sets of KO equipment and outfits like Kung Fu uniforms [I have the header card for my original one somewhere].
Most of my KO carded sets, will have been bought at Zodiac Toys or Thomas Mears Toy Shop in Preston's town centre. I've often considered collecting Action Man knockoffs and sets, as I really did love them [along with the real thing of course] so dipping my toe in the Ebay waters I had a little search tonight. I was flabbergasted how many I found especially in the US. I was so excited I've created this picassa slideshow of what I found, which includes some girlie stuff too, namely the female spy Honey West and some modern Mademoiselle Marie sets, which I simply thought looked great. Hope the slideshow works! Enjoy! Piccies of your own action figures/KO outfits welcomed!
I remember getting a cheap KO of Action Man from the local newsagents rather than a toy shop and don't think it was Tommy Gunn. I seem to recall you could buy equipment too. Not sure what it was called but it was the same size as Action Man but the plastic was very soft. You could easily squash his face, limbs and body. Any ideas what it was?
ReplyDeleteWas he bagged? And when was this, Yorkie? There were loads of cheap imitations of dolls in carded bags back in the sixties.
ReplyDeleteGood slideshow, Woodsy. I found Mademoiselle Marie particularly interesting. She's not one I know.
Oh, and (pssst) between you and me ... Honey West was a detective not a spy. Wish I had the ocelot set ... sigh.
Late 60s I expect. Think it was in a plastic bag with a cardboard header. I'm sure there were carded accessories packs for it. Probably some Hong Kong KO but not sure.
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK Action Man [and I imagine Sindy too] were to my mind the first mega-selling toys worthy of countless knockoffs. There were loads of cheap versions and outfits, which is why it appeals to me as a potential collecting area. Toad, I remember those soft headed cheapo figures too. You could push the face right in and make it gurney! They'll have been rack toys in the local corner shop. I got a kung fu doll in the same way and I know I've got the header card somewhere. Zodiac Toys produced there own Action Man figures and outfits [maybe there's some on their site?]. The next real mega toys endlessy knocked off were Star Wars and Masters of the Universe. Unsure if any toy line is that big these days? Maybe Harry Potter stuff during its heyday?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why every second image in the slideshow is on its side. Trying to fix it nut flummoxed at the mo! Sorry.
ReplyDelete