I loved my Action Man deep sea diver as a kid. He went on many a soapy adventure in the bath with me, grappling that pesky rubber shark. Did you have one readers?
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I particularly loved the helmet and this morning, when I noticed what the Missus was using for making crocheted Xmas tree decorations I had to look twice!
Golden baubles! I had an instant idea! Yikes!
Let's have a bash at scratch-biulding that deep sea helmet my steroid* - addled brain cried out!
* GP prescribed! For Asthma.
I started by getting the measure of Action Man's head using an egg cup. He loves like ROM!
I then used a similar sized cap to mark out where the head should enter the helmet on a golden ball donated by the Missus for the as yet untitled project.
I did the same for the face portal using this honey cap as the template.
The cap then became the portal! I put a different one on the honey.
Side portals were added and a top valve. The face portal was prepped.
Going fully Jules Verne I went mad at the rear adding a doll's house lamp stand as the main air pipe tap ( please don't look at the reflection! It was a hot day!)
I then moved onto the shoulder brace. A large vending flexi half-dome fit the bill.
I added a collar to get the right neck hole on the shoulder brace. Oh, and a front tap.
The shoulder brace hole was cut.
The correct shape was cut for the shoulders and tested on my headless man.
The honey bottle cap portal was glued in position. Its a bit chunky but it actually opens!
Rubber band trims were added to the collar and shoulder brace, little extras were glued to the front and brace trim and a first attempt at a visor grate was made.
More later. I need a banana first!
That's an ambitious project! I remember my GI Joe deep sea diver. It used to bother me that it didn't actually keep Joe dry....
ReplyDeleteI suppose the material was porous Baron. It may have been rubberised inside but still, water could get in through the helmet. Do you any photos?
DeleteI'm afraid not, sorry.
DeleteThat is an amazing collection of bits and bobs, adding up to another great project. I never had an Action Man, but I do remember seeing them in the shops.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul. You were no doubt too busy getting model kits! 😄
DeleteI want some of those steroids and whatever glue you use to stick all these random materials together! That reflection needs an X certification! Nude modelling! Bill
ReplyDeleteHa ha, 24 steroids so far out of forty! Glue' cheapo stuff from the Go Local. Runs out too quick. I've splashed out today at the boot sale and got a branded bottle for two squid!
DeleteThats very impressive... you're just showing off now, Woodsy :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha! Thanks. I just can't stop Tone! It must be the steroids! 🪖😆
DeleteAwesome work Woodsy! I take it the gold ornament was plastic, not glass? It's brilliant what you did with all those bits and pieces, it's hard for me to wrap my mind around!
ReplyDeleteOh Woodsy!
ReplyDeleteWe are fellow nostalgia scarred veterans of the 60's!
I didn't have a deep sea diver ( my friend did) but I had the orange Thunderball inspired skin diver outfit. I still remember the flesh coloured dummy body that came inside the diving suit package.
Anyway, I've had a diving suit shaped hole in my psyche just like you!
One of my Art Toy friends is going through the tortuous process of getting her own doll design manufactured in China and I've been thinking of outfits to make to help her promotional work.
First up will be an Action Man style diving suit and then a wacky Space version.
Needless to say, your current project is right up my alley!