A few months back I invested in two boxed Sunny Smile Strike Force Action Man vehicles from 1994, which I found in a Charity shop for £15 each.
Sunny Smile were the Cherilea of the 1990's and like Cherilea did for me and my mates in the 1960's, they made big plastic vehicles, among other things, for a whole new generation of Action Man fans, the fans who will have been excited by Richard's photography in the Action Man comics and packaging at the time [maybe Richard took the shots on these boxes?]
I got a Strike Force US Jeep.
Today I checked over the boxes and toys in detail.
Disappointingly there were a few parts missing and non-functioning, so this afternoon I had a go at fixing them.
I glued down any lazy decals and cleaned up the things generally. Bits of blue tac were removed and attempted to clean the motor unit for the boat, but despite deploying WD40 nada. I just couldn't get that Marx propeller to turn.
I had more success with scratch-making a new gun stand - an emplacement? - for the boat's large machine gun. Made from two bits ....
I understand that Action Man was a licensed spin-off of Hasbro's GI Joe. Being in the US, I had several GI Joes. The first one I got was an early 1960s edition. I got a Jeep, but it was a no-name knock-off. I had a huge official footlocker. I think I eventually got my own space capsule, but I know I played with capsules owned by other, luckier kids first. I remember reading a description of GI Joe facing an "enemy pillbox," so I asked my mother for a pillbox. I dutifully placed it on the bed but couldn't really see it as a threat. Was Joe going to be eucalyptused to death?
ReplyDeleteThis is the one I had first, but with a ginger head: https://serpentorslair.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/original-gijoe.jpg
Yes Baron, Action Man was GI Joe in Britain. Joe had different names in different countries and that way took over the world! I remember a jeep too and a footlocker. I won a large tarp covered truck at school as well. The capsule was great I agree and the space suited man was one of the best outfits of the whole line. I adored that astronaut with his strange black three-pipe gizmo he held. Ha ha, I like the pillbox story, very comical. I wouldn't have known what it was either! I still see vintage vehicles now and then at car boot sales like the Kayak and the armoured car. I'd love to find the racing car at one and probably the best vehicle I never had was the amazing Fire Tender. it was huge!
DeleteI never had an Action Man, or any other large figures.
ReplyDeleteThe gun mount for the machine-gun looks good. The gun seems to be a bit of a mixture. There is a hint of the US Browning family in there, with the grip being from a .30 cal (7.62mm) gun. But the barrel, with the extra tube below, looks more like the M60 machine-gun.
Cheers for the toy gun info Paul. Action Man had them all!
DeleteThose boxed '90s Sunny Smile vehicles were a very good bag and well worth the money, Woodsy. The Patrol Boat certainly looks identical to the earlier Cherilea version. A cool design which guaranteed hours of aquatic adventure for kids favorite action figures. Cherilea produced a wide variety of imaginative craft to unofficially equip Action Man, including tanks, helicopters and a rocket firing fighter jet. Possibly the rarest 1/6 vehicle from Cherilea's transport division came in the unlikely form of a green military tractor. The tractor commands a high collectors price if you can find one.
ReplyDeleteGreat info Tone, you know your Cherilea. never heard of the military Tractor and certainly never seen one!
DeleteI still curse my foolishness at getting rid of all my AM vehicles in a bonfire 30 years ago - Bedford 3-tonner , Armoured Scout car , Land rover and probably others I've forgotten :-(
ReplyDeleteFenton
A bonfire? Why oh why Fenton? Had you fallen out with Action Man?
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