The Action Man Space Capsule is a classic toy from the era of the televised Space Race. Originally developed for GI Joe, the sales pitch claimed it was designed from the Mercury blueprints and was a close replica of Friendship 7 used by John Glenn in his historic orbit around the world. In Britain, the comic advert promised the Space Capsule could take Action Man to the Moon and beyond.
The 1/6 scale hard plastic Capsule was large to hold and simple to use. It only required a kid's imaginative mind to launch it into space.
There were no battery operated functions. The only moving component was a clear plastic canopy to give Action Man access to the craft. An orange plastic seat belt would strap down Britain's most successful action figure for Blast Off. The Space Capsule was a popular toy and according to Action Man HQ (link below), was sold from 1967-1970.
Today, it's still easy to find examples of the Action Man Space Capsule. There are plenty of cost-effective fixer-uppers around for those with the skills. Although finding an undamaged example is more of a challenge. The clear plastic sliding canopy was prone to scratches and fractures. The orange seat belt was easily ripped out. Delicate twin flight control handles were positioned either side of the seat and easily snapped off in the tight confines of the cockpit. The impressive instrument panel decal often suffered water damage from hot summer holiday Splashdowns in cool paddling pools and clear shallow duck ponds.
The Action Man Space Capsule has a special place in my memory. I had one as a kid!... well sort of... for a very short time. The location was the playground of Ragland Street Juniors. It was dinner time on one of those special end-of-term days when kids could bring in a favourite toy.
I noticed Derek, a gangly lad I knew, who everyone affectionately called Plug. People said he looked like one of the Bash Street Kids. Even his mom called him Plug, or so he said. He was holding court, surrounded by a crowd of curious kids looking at the large Space Capsule in his hands. I orbited around the crowd until they lost interest, then I seized my moment and asked about his dream toy.
Turned out Plug had an Action Man Space Capsule. I'd seen it in the Action Man catalogues, but never before in real life. Plug allowed me to hold what turned out to be his birthday present. Excitedly I slid the canopy open to find an Action Man Pilot wearing an orange flight, inside. In Britain, the Space Capsule and Astronaut outfit were sold separately. By contrast in the US, GI Joe's deluxe boxed set included a Space Capsule and an Astronaut outfit, plus 45rpm soundtrack. The Sears version also included a yellow flotation collar and raft for safe Splashdowns.
I tried to remove the Action Man from the Capsule, but couldn't. Plug lied and told me the Pilot couldn't be removed. As a result, throughout childhood I wrongly assumed the figure was somehow riveted into the Capsule. I hadn't spotted the orange seat belt which secured the Pilot into place.
Without realising it I used what would later be defined as a Jedi mind trick. I somehow talked Plug into swapping his birthday present for the small vinyl Airfix HO/OO APC I'd brought in for the day. Throughout life I've often wished I could remember the psychological persuasion method I used, as Plug happily agreed to a swap? I owned that Capsule of most of the dinner break. As the dinner bell rang, we were stopped at the door by Mrs. Hill, a stern, stout teacher who liked to shout. No doubt tipped-off by a dinner lady informer, she rhetorically asked where I was going with Plug's birthday present tucked under my arm. I naively tried to repeat my proto-Jedi mind trick, but the power of the Force was stronger in her. Her red face demanded I return the Capsule to the birthday boy, immediately!
Looking back I guess ethics and fair-trade probably wasn't a key consideration... I was just a small kid and I wanted this particular piece of the plastic Space Race for myself! After school I waited in vain by the railings for Plug to appear. He didn't. Next day when I saw him briefly in the corridor where he sincerely promised to complete our swap after half-term.
I never saw an Action Man Space Capsule again until I became an adult and had an epiphany of sorts, becoming a keen toy collector. It was one of the first toys I advertised for and acquired - alas it wasn't the one belonging to Plug. I occasionally wonder what happened to his original Space Capsule which I temporarily owned? It was a lifetime ago, during dinner break, in a playground surrounded by noisy and energetic little people who still had their whole lives ahead of them.
Tony K
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Go-Pro Footage Action Man Space Capsule Launched - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd4jFPXZv88
I like that, the toy, the story and your telling of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin. The toy will always be one of my all time favourites... and now, with the distance of time, I can finally smile at the playground episode :)
ReplyDeleteLovely work Mr K, as always. I was never a huge action man fan, slthough I did have various bits and pieces over the years, I found the figures a bit big and unwieldy, compared to Matt Mason. I bought a capsule loose at a car boot once for a pound. Stupidly sold it some years later on ebay.
ReplyDeleteHiya Bill, I never had my own Matt Mason as a kid, although I very nearly did get one, but that's another story for another day. That sounds like a cracking car boot bargain. I hope you find another capsule one day :)
ReplyDeleteMuch more than a nostalgic childhood short story on its own, a short toy story! A lovely story lovingly reminisced. A pleasure to read Tony, thanks for transporting me to that moment in your past. And photography is all extra.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're keeping well over there in Helskini Base, Arto. This particular memory, unlike many, was never lost or forgotten. I guess the experience was a small building block which helped to shape my interest in vintage toys further down the line as an adult collector. It's a pleasure to share it here with people like yourself. Thank you for your kind comment, I'm really pleased you enjoyed the piece :)
ReplyDeleteHi….I once swapped a Britains Roman catapult at school for an Action Man deep dive suit….like an idiot I took it back to school the next day to show it off to be greeted by the boy who said give it back or your dad’s address….I gave it back & felt like an idiot. My dad later asked me where the dive suit was & I told him. He then said he’d have told the boy’s dad to “sod off.”….I try to live & learn.
ReplyDeleteHi and I'm sorry for the delayed reply. I hear what you've saying and know how you felt. Hope you managed to get your hands on an Action Man Deep Sea Diver in the end :)
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