Customizer Wayne Faucher provided two possible answers to our “What-If” question with these outstanding custom Adventure Team figures. Would YOU have purchased this pair at retail if Hasbro had offered them? Abso-fricken YES. These guys are hardcore A-Teamers! (Photo: Wayne Faucher)

The Answer? It would’a been AWESOME!

Don’t turn your back on this Joe. Wayne’s use of Adventure Team colors are spot on. Check out this figure’s yellow backpack! (Photo: Wayne Faucher)

In the first of our new series of “What If” articles, we ask the intriguing question, “What if the Adventure Team had remained closer to GIjOE’s military roots?” Indeed! What if Hasbro, instead of promoting Joe in his second iteration as a “peaceful adventurer,” had chosen instead to develop his new adventuresome persona more militarily?

Looking back, fans will recall that rising anti-war sentiment in the 1960s-70s prompted Hasbro to refocus GIjOE marketing strategy into non-violent themes and adventures. But for the purposes of this article, we’re not interested in rehashing the past; we’d rather investigate the essence of this “What-If” scenario: an alternate military Adventure Team timeline.

Fortunately, readers of The Joe Report LOVE a good challenge, and renowned collector/customizer, Wayne Faucher (see previous profile HERE) clearly felt that this one was too fun to pass up. Although he had never customized a GIjOE before, Faucher put his extremely creative mind to work on the problem, and in no time, had kitbashed two exciting solutions. According to Wayne:

“First, I came up with the guy in yellow. I used yellow, black and red as my only rules and just had fun with it. I tried to incorporate as many vintage style pieces as I could while supplementing with more modern bits. The grease guns, .45′s, knuckle-knives and uniforms are all from the 40th Anniversary line. Both figures also sport standard shoulder holsters.”

This closeup of Faucher’s custom “AT Black Ops” figure reveals he’s armed to the teeth. Looks like the guy to call for a really hairy Aliens-style “bug hunt.” (Photo: Wayne Faucher)

“As things progressed, I wondered what the most ‘dangerous’ division of the Adventure Team might look like.  You know, the AT guys you don’t want to mess with. Maybe they’re ‘Black Ops,’ or something even deeper than that. Not ‘bad guys,’  just A-Teamers the regular guys don’t talk much about.”

Faucher’s goldenrod-suited Joe is an absolute “badass.” Great choice to go with a vintage foreign headsculpt. And every other detail is PERFECT as well. Hello, Hasbro? (Photo: Wayne Faucher)

“If anyone’s interested in creating one of these goldenrod guys for themselves, here’s the ‘recipe’ for this dude: Starting at the top, that’s a vintage Action Man black beret I got for less than $5 off of Ebay. His glasses, boots and hands are from an old Dragon Thunderbird pilot. The figure itself is a Timeless Collection Australian Jungle Fighter redressed in a 40th goldenrod jumpsuit. 

The knee and elbow pads were all found on ebay as well. The walkie-talkie is from a 21st Century Fireman and the backpack is from a 21st Century Brush Fireman. The web belt is the (mysteriously) black belt from the Timeless Green Beret set. All in all, a pretty simple bash and it doesn’t look half bad. Enjoy!” —Wayne

Bottom Line: As alternative AT timelines go, this one holds a lot of potential. Of course, Hasbro eventually returned Joe to his military roots in the 1980s with the introduction of the 3.75″ RAH figures. But imagine if Hasbro possessed just HALF the creative genius and imagination of a Wayne Faucher; imagine what COULD be done in the name of 12″ GIjOE. <sigh> Oh well, thanks again to Wayne for all of his input and submissions. You go, Wayne!

Dealers of GIjOE and other toys will be selling their wares at the Eternal Con 2013 Pop Culture Expo, this Saturday, June 15th, in Garden City, NY. How could ANYONE pass this up? (Photo: Eternal Con 2013)

Talk about Ambitious!

The mammoth Eternal Con 2013 (EC13), taking place this Saturday in Garden City, NY, has clearly been modeled after its more famous West Coast cousin, the San Diego Comic Con. “Inspired” is more like it. For complete information on the extensive list of EC13′s events, guests, contests, toy dealers, etc., we highly recommend you visit their excellent pre-show website found HERE. Bottom Line: Be there! Be there! Be there!

This painting shows how a recently recovered Dornier Do-17 bomber would have appeared before being shot down by RAF fighters during WW2′s “Battle of Britain.” (Artwork: hyperscale)

Search for Last Dornier Do-17

Diving in the depths of the ocean and raising massive WW2 aircraft from the bottom is no easy task. It requires a strong, determined team of men, and serious high-tech diving gear. (Photo: RAF Museum)

Rugged, muscular crewmen wearing yellow reflective vests and hard hats work to assist deep-sea divers (clad in black rubber suits) with heavy compressed air tanks and bright yellow pressure helmets. To the eyes of any GIjOE, Action Man or Geyperman fan, this exciting scene seems VERY familiar. But no, this isn’t an action figure fantasy or 1:6 scale diorama. It’s a real-life adventure!

The daring men we’re referring to are not action figures, but an authentic, modern-day “Adventure Team,” comprised mostly of British deep-sea salvage divers and support crewmen. Their mission? To raise the sunken fuselage of a WW2 Dornier Do-17 bomber—the LAST one known to exist in the world—and return it England.

Welcome to the English Channel, aka “Göring’s Graveyard”

Originally loaded with thousands of pounds of high-explosives, the fearsome German warplane never managed to complete its deadly mission to destroy targets inside England. Instead, riddled with bullets by RAF fighters during the “Battle of Britain,” the bomber belly-landed onto a beach and then sank 50 ft to the bottom of the English Channel.

One of the divers rests for a moment before going back down to the wrecked bomber. His diving gear can weigh almost 200 pounds and standing on deck for long periods can be difficult. (Photo: RAF Museum)

Remains of the bomber’s fuselage arranged on the deck of the salvage ship. (Photo: RAF Museum)

After 73 years resting (and rusting) on the ocean floor, the world’s last-remaining Do-17 was gently raised with massive cranes, placed gingerly on the deck of the salvage ship and taken back to the very land it had once been sent to destroy.

Bottom Line: The Do-17′s air crew had been accounted for as POWs in Canada, so this particular plane was determined by the British government not to be “a war grave.” Permission was granted for its recovery, and what remains of the bomber will be displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum in London. For additional photos and information, we recommend you visit the RAF Museum website found HERE.

This is what $13,200 worth of GIjOE equipment looks like. The eye-popping auction price of this Magnum Power set shocked many fans, prompting such intellectual reaction as, “WTF?!” (Photo: jelibeli)

Final price stuns Experts

Saturday, June 8th, 2013, was a red-letter day for GIjOE and ebay. An unprecedented sale of a NRFB Magnum Power uniform set fetched a whopping total of $13,200 for its seller in one of the most noteworthy GIjOE sales EVER. The set in question is truly a beautiful piece. It is obviously in very nice condition and has somehow remained unopened and unused since its date of manufacture. Surprisingly, the seller kept his description very simple, almost blasé, saying only:

“For sale is a 1975 Hasbro GIjOE Magnum Power Adventure set. This set contains: jacket and pants, magnum rifle with 3 removable scopes, map and case, binoculars, bullet-proof vest and walkie-talkie. The contents are obviously in like-new condition. The packaging shows signs of wear. It would be considered fair to good condition.”

A fully dressed Magnum Power seems stunned by the final price of his distinctive camo outfit. “13 Gs? Really?. I knew I looked good, but WOW!” (Photo: Paul Nordstrom)

When the gavel came down on the final bid, fans over on the Trenches forum were shocked by the set’s ultimate selling price. Initial reactions were predictably short and swift:

“Freaking nuts!” —GIjOEBill

“Insane!” —Fishbulbs

Once the dust had settled, other fans jumped in and offered their own, more contemplative viewpoints:

“Like anything, it’s worth what a person is willing to pay for it. I have to assume a buyer willing to pay this kind of price must already have about everything else in his collection. I mean, I can’t imagine this being a ‘starter piece,’ y’know? Like the Air Security piece, I’m glad to see these things surface every once in a while. It’s good to know they’re still out there!” —Wayne

“This is the ONLY known packaged copy of this set in private hands. The repros that the Club put out were based on two sets found in the Hasbro archives. Before those were found, no one had seen a packaged Magnum Power set since the 1970s! Is it worth the money? Not to me. But if you’re a super-mega-high-end collector, this is one of those GIjOE Holy Grails. It will be interesting to see if this price brings any more sets out of hiding.” —Escapecar

“If I didn’t have 3 kids to put through college, I would have considered it myself. An amazing piece and an amazing price! Hope both the seller and buyer are happy.” —BarryK

This screenshot captures a moment in ebay and GIjOE history that fans will not soon forget.

Bottom Line: NRFB vintage GIjOE sets are scarcer than hen’s teeth. Whenever one is found it’s news. Whenever one sells for this much dough, it’s BIGGER news. Congratulations to both the buyer and seller. You’re now a part of GIjOE history!

This is the playful photo that caught the eye of a Canadian TV producer of ABC’s TV show, Collectors; netting GIjOE fan Neil Uricoli an upcoming appearance on the show. (Screenshot: GIjOE Collections)

Mel Brooks presides over a meeting as the Governor in a scene from Blazing Saddles. (Photo: Warner Bros.) Click to enlarge.

“It’s Good to be the King!”

The quote above was originally uttered by legendary comedian, Mel Brooks, but it captures the feeling of serene contentment one gets when reaching the highest level of personal achievement and/or authority. As Louie XVI in “The History of the World,” Brooks was practically omnipotent; groping women and imbibing at will. As a goofy Governor in the film “Blazing Saddles,” he plotted against the citizens of Rock Ridge while fooling around with his bodaciously bosomed secretary. Whatever the role (for Mel), it was always good, “to be the King.”

Neil Uricoli’s collection also contains articles of NASA memorabilia. (Photo: Neil Uricoli)

How’s this for a Segue?

But what does Mel Brooks have to do with GIjOE? Well, in our own clumsy way, we’re trying to make an analogy about fame and power and how it all might co-exist in our odd little world of GIjOE collecting. After all, who wouldn’t like to be considered a collecting “King?” Of course the reality is, for most of us “lowly” GIjOE fans, the highest level of collecting achievement or authority we hope to aspire to is the creation (and presiding over) of our own “Joe Rooms.” Indeed, a well-appointed Joe Room, with its collection prominently on display, can be a great source of pride and accomplishment for any fan. In fact, until recently, possessing such a room was considered to be the height of successful GIjOE collecting. But wait! We’ve discovered that now…there’s MORE.

This closeup reveals Neil’s superb figures arranged in exciting poses. (Photo: Neil Uricoli)

Neil Uricoli’s Coup

coup: noun, 1.a highly successful, unexpected stroke, act, or move; a clever action or accomplishment.

That’s right. It turns out there is now an “ultimate” level of GIjOE collecting that’s even higher than possessing your own Joe Room; and that is…appearing on a major network television show…IN your Joe Room! While not the first fan to be heralded in such a way (James DeSimone, Derryl DePriest and John Michlig immediately come to mind), Neil Uricoli (NJ), is about to become the most recent one to achieve the lofty fame and status of: “Celebrity GIjOE Collector.”

The use of photographic backdrops provide more visual “punch.” (Photo: Neil Uricoli)

The longer you look, the more you see. It’s amazing how much is in this one photo. What a superb collection! Imagine seeing it in HD on your TV. You will—this Fall!  (Photo: Neil Uricoli)

Yes, they really DID exist. Neil Uricoli’s ultra-rare Tom Hanks GIjOE is still Mint-in-the-Box and enjoys an honored place amongst his collection. According to Neil: “I purchased this on eBay a few years back. I had heard of them, but never saw one before stumbling upon this one. It was produced back in 1999, but pulled from production after Dreamworks decided such a ‘for sale collectible’ was not in sync with the seriousness of their movie Saving Private Ryan. About a dozen prototypes (in boxes) were sent to Steven Spielberg and to Dreamworks. A couple a hundred more were handed out as a special gift to guests during a private screening of the film in 1999. That’s it! All of the others were destroyed. The Tom Hanks GIjOE was never available at retail. I’ve also heard that there were a few thousand produced where Hasbro switched out the head and used them as the GIjOE Collectors Club Normandy Invasion Ranger. I’m not sure of their value, but there is one on eBay for $15K right now. Besides that one, mine and the one I saw on the web with a Tom hanks autograph, that’s it…as far as I know.” (Photo: Neil Uricoli)

Becoming a “King of Collecting”

Playfully nicknamed “The Jersey Giant” on his GIjOE Collections webpage (found HERE), Neil’s superb collection caught the eye of an ABC Canadian television producer and the rest will soon be television history. According to Neil:

“In the years since I submitted my photos and bio to the GIjOE Collections website, my collection has grown by quite a bit. I now have several more figures and sets as well as the scarce and rare Tom Hanks “Saving Private Ryan” “Captain Miller” (see sidebar, ed.). I have enjoyed being part of the GIjOE Collections site and have shown it to many a friend.

A Canadian TV producer was perusing the site and came across my page’s opening photo titled, “ATTACK OF THE JERSEY GIANT.” I was contacted by that person, interviewed, and am now to be featured on a CTV show called “Collectors.” They just finished filming the episode yesterday and I was told it will air sometime after September, 2013.”

This closeup reveals Neil Uricoli’s ultra-rare Tom Hanks figure is indeed NRFB. (Photo: Neil Uricoli)

Bottom Line: This is truly exciting news, not just for Neil, but for the entire GIjOE community. Whenever a Joehead receives such media recognition, we should all spread the word immediately. Congratulations, Neil! And it’s wonderful that you were “discovered” over on the GIjOE Collections website. We’ve been urging fans to post their collections there for years.

Editor’s note: If you haven’t done so already, we highly recommend you visit the GIjOE Collections website and submit your own collection. Adding it to the site is easy, FREE, and who knows? Someday you (or it) may end up on TV. Just ask Neil Uricoli…It’s GOOD to be the King!

Screenshot of a sample “Calendar Event Module” now offered as a free service by The Joe Report to all collector’s clubs and toy-related organizations.

We rarely talk about ourselves, but in this case…

Just a quick note to alert readers of The Joe Report that we’ve recently begun offering FREE “Calendar Event Modules” (see sample at right) in our popular TJR Calendar (located bottom of this page). In the past, we’ve listed whatever events happened to come across our desks, but after being prompted by a few readers to include more, we’ve decided to expand our calendar listings accordingly.

SO… Heads up, Joeheads, Captain Actioneers, etc! If you know of any upcoming meetings, shows, or other toy-related events, please notify us here at The Joe Report by EMAIL so that we can add them to the official TJR Calendar. Each module features an automatic “countdown” to your event, helping to build excitement and anticipation.

Bottom Line: One of our goals here at The Joe Report is to increase public awareness of all GIjOE and toy-related activities. It is our hope that these free calendar modules will provide fans with a quick “heads up” regarding all upcoming events. Let’s hear from you, your club, or your organization today. And… Start your Countdown!

GIjOE fan and collector, Glen Hettrick, has just released a new video in tribute to those who fought and died on the beaches of Normandy, France, exactly 69 years ago today. We couldn’t have put it any better than Glen, when he said:

“Thanks to all who have fought and continue to fight for this country.”

Airsoft, militaria, vehicles, toys, the WOH show has it all! (Photo: Doktor von Evil)
Click to enlarge.

Are you of the generation that can still remember playing “Cowboys and Indians” or “Army” as a kid? Running around the neighborhood, pointing plastic Marx and Mattel weapons at your friends, making your own gun sounds and yelling, “I got you, you’re dead!” Or replying, “No, I’m not! I got you! YOU’RE dead!”

Well, those innocent days may seem as if they’re gone forever, but the truth is, grown men, women and children STILL enjoy playing “Army” in forests and ranges across the country. Only now, it’s called “Airsoft,” and the weapons of choice are air-powered paintball guns.

Outstanding 1:6 scale British Tank displayed at a previous WOH show. (Photo: Doktor von Evil) Click to enlarge.

This weekend, fans of Airsoft will be flocking to the “Weekend of Heroes” (WOH) show in Monroeville, PA. All manner of airsoft weaponry and accessories will be offered for sale, and 1:6 scale dioramas, vehicles, and custom figures will also be displayed.

Bottom Line: The WOH show primarily serves the airsoft community, but action figure and militaria fans also participate. For a better idea of what to expect, watch the 3-minute video of last year’s event (shown above) and visit the official WOH website HERE.

Customizer Gary Stair utilized a wing from a 1970s Avenger Pursuit Craft to create this all-new “flying wing jet pack” for his GIjOE and Captain Action figures. Note the addition of a safety harness, fuel tanks, flight control joysticks and much more. Whoosh! (Photo: Gary Stair)

Dealing with “Toy Detritus”

Details matter! Gary’s new CA “mini-sub” even has a tilting, opening canopy. (Photo: Gary Stair)

For those who love GIjOE, it’s hard to let go of anything toy-related, even if it’s something we no longer care about. Why? Because Joeheads see kitbashing potential in practically everything. As a result, over the years, many fans of 1:6 and 1:18 scale Joes have amassed growing “sell and trade” piles at home, typically comprised of unwanted and broken parts, imperfect figures and busted-up vehicles.

Faced with disposing of such toy detritus, fans can either trade or sell it, donate it to a charity or thrift store (i.e. Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.) or…”reuse and recycle” (R&R) the items back into their collections by producing all-new custom creations. The R&R method of disposal is the one we’ll be discussing (most enthusiastically!) in today’s article.

Gary holds up his newly detailed flying wing. What a superb paint job! (Photo: Gary Stair)

Captain Action checks out the flying wing’s controls. “Hmm…not bad!” (Photo: Gary Stair)

Toy collector and customizer, Gary Stair, PA. (Photo: Gary Stair)

To demonstrate the sort of creative thinking behind R&R, we thought it best to seek out the expert counsel of well-known master-customizer, and regular TJR contributor, Gary Stair. Readers of The Joe Report (TJR) will recall Mr. Stair from previous articles showcasing his custom creations for Captain Action (CA); see HERE and HERE.

Ideas from an Expert

Most customizers work with existing vehicles, adding details such as custom paint jobs, extra parts, “weathering,” waterslide decals, etc. But Gary prefers to create all-new, original toys by mixing and combining parts from a variety of unrelated sources. He describes the process this way:

“Well, for example, what do you do when you have a severely burnt, bad-smelling GIjOE Adventure Team headquarters and a fairly decent one that you bought for cheap? By themselves, neither is much of a prize, but together…? After thinking it over, I realized that neither Hasbro nor Ideal had ever made a Moon Base for GIjOE or Captain Action. However, Action Man ( in the UK ) had created many of the components I needed to make a really cool base. So…I gathered a few more odds-n-ends and wa-LA! It was base-buildin’ time!”

Action Man checks out Gary Stair’s new custom-made “Moon Base,” an all-new and unique combination of cast-off parts from various GIjOE, CA and Action Man playsets. (Photo: Gary Stair)

“As you can see, I kept most of the old AT HQ structure intact (above), although I decided I didn’t really need the storage room area. So, I converted that section into a bedroom (see below), complete with a flat screen TV playing ‘My Favorite Martian’ HA.”

Gary’s Action Man is diggin’ the view of Earth through the portal in his bedroom on the lunar base. Look at all the custom details in this room! (Photo: Gary Stair)

“Next up was my conversion of the communications room. First, I updated all the photos. Then, I cut out some equipment panels and glued balsa wood behind them to give ‘em all a more 3-D look. Finally, I added some new shelves to hold testing equipment, rock samples and chemical containers.” (see closeup below)

Gary’s combination of new and old blend seamlessly together, creating an all-new Captain Action Lunar HQ. Sweet! (Photo: Gary Stair)

“My new moon station is also equipped with several vehicles for exploration including a one-man jet pack for short aerial trips, a Moonraker space buggy for long terrain trips and a ‘Space-Pod’ for long-range excursions of the lunar surface.” (see below)

Gary even repurposed a main section of one of the “burnt” ATHQs as a LEM. Note the incredible amount of added detail including landing legs, a sliding rear hatch, lights, etc. Absolutely AMAZING work. (Photo: Gary Stair)

But Wait! There’s More!

Just when we thought we had seen everything, Gary sent along some additional photos of a newly kitbashed custom ATV, a mini-submarine and even a Captain Action train! Here’s a peek at the pics:

Check out Gary Stair’s snappy little mini-sub! By taking parts from here, there and everywhere, Stair has created an all-new, “retro” submarine that looks right at home with his 1960s gear. (Photo: Gary Stair)

“In the photo above, my Captain Action is shown checking the controls of his new mini-sub as he prepares to hit the water in a new underwater adventure. In the photo below, you can see that the sub has a complete interior with an upholstered seat and a new set of gauge decals from Patches of Pride.”

You know someone LOVES toys when they create a detailed interior like this for a mini-submarine that hardly anyone else will ever see. Superb job, Gary! (Photo: Gary Stair)

Clearly inspired by James Bond’s “Little Nellie”, Gary’s “Big Nellie” custom helicopter combines parts from many unrelated sources. Some toy company should sell these RIGHT NOW! (Photo: Gary Stair)

Stair’s “Big Nellie” was inspired by “Little Nellie,” the REAL star of the 1960s 007 film, “You Only Live Twice.” (Artwork: Talbot)

“I call my custom Captain Action attack ‘copter (above), ‘Big Nellie’ in honor of the similar-looking one made famous by 007. GIjOE fans will recognize that a lot of the parts came from an Avenger Pursuit Craft. But I added many things to make the scale and mechanics more accurate. I also think I may have improved on Bond’s ‘Little Nellie’ (see artwork above) somewhat by adding gadgets such as smoke-screen projectors, rear and forward-firing missiles, laser turrets, front air-to-ground missiles and an easy to access control panel. Whoosh!”

Gary’s newly customized Kid Action ATV is light years beyond its humble origins. Everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink seems to have been added to this superb adventure toy! (Photo: Gary Stair)

“Originally, my old ATV was in really bad shape. But after giving it a thorough cleaning, I repaired and restored it to like-new condition. Then, I added a pair of hydraulic arms and a trailer hitch (shown above) that I had taken from an old Kenner ‘Aliens’ power loader.”

Kid Action clearly enjoys the fit and finish of his newly restored, custom ATV. (Photo: Gary Stair)

“To complete my ATV’s restoration and customization (see above), I installed an interior conversion kit from Patches of Pride (PoP), cargo cans from Lowes hardware, and a pair of PoP bungee tie-downs.”

Never seen one of these? That’s because it’s Gary’s unique combination of a Power Team helicopter, Pursuit Craft pontoons, Littlebird machineguns, and “spinning” plexi rotors. Clever! (Photo: Gary Stair)

This Captain Action Train deserves a future article all its own. WOW. (Photo: Gary Stair)

Gary recently added on another expansion module to his Moon Base, proving that the “reuse and recycling” of old toys need only end with the limit of our imagination. (Photo: Gary Stair)

Bottom Line: What ISN’T possible with a little imagination and creativity? We’d like to thank Gary Stair once again for his generous contributions to The Joe Report and to this article. His creative customs never cease to amaze and undoubtedly serve as a continued inspiration to other fans around the world. Go, Joe! Go, GARY!

Tony’s persistence and tenacity often pays off big time. Here, he sets a GIjOE doctor figure inside the garage sale Barbie van he found (just $10) and then customized into an Adventure Team Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV). Outstanding! And cheap. (Photo: Mark Otnes)

Tony said he found this perfect, 1:6 scale “Thor’s Hammer” keychain ($6) at a local grocery store coinciding with the release of The Avengers movie. Wow! (Photo: Mark Otnes)

“He who spends less, can buy MORE!”

At first reading, the quote above may seem contradictory or counter-intuitive. But as many fans of 1:6 scale are finding out, it’s actually true. While Hasbro’s offerings dwindle and higher-end alternatives from Sideshow and Hot Toys continue to climb higher in price, a growing number of collectors have begun looking for inexpensive ways to satisfy their 1:6 appetites. That means spending less on each individual item to get MORE.

And let’s face it. Joeheads love everything in 1:6 scale. It’s almost like an addiction. We’re always on the lookout for new figures, uniforms or accessories. Every so often, we pick up a new vehicle; maybe even an extra one just for customizing. But no matter what the size or scope of a collection, the “thrill of the hunt” for 1:6 scale never seems to go away.

“I would NEVER pay that much!”

Over the years, a 1:6 “sticker shock rebellion” had begun to squeeze its way into the 1:6 hobby. To illustrate the effects of this “rebellion,” we interviewed a leading proponent of the growing “Spend less to get MORE” crowd; big-time Adventure Team fan, Tony Carducci, of Colona, Illinois. After a long day repairing electric guitars and providing music lessons to wannabe rockers, Tony enjoys nothing more than relaxing at home with his extensive 1:6 scale action figure collection.

Each shelf in Tony Carducci’s Joe Room is filled to capacity with a wide variety of 1:6 scale action figures. And dig that Adventure Team Yellow wall paint. Cool! (Photo: Mark Otnes)

Tony found these 1:6 scale refrigerator magnets at his local Jewel-Osco grocery store. Each is a superb miniature sack (made of real paper) full of a variety of items. Get this: They were only $1 each! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

But, as with many collectors, adequate display space for his growing collection quickly became a problem. Undeterred, the “hands-on” and cost-conscious Carducci decided to add on to his home. Predictably, he chose to forgo hiring expensive contractors and in little over a year, with the able assistance of his family, he had completed a new master bedroom, bathroom and (best of all) expanded his basement area for an all-new “Joe Room!”

“Guess How Much I Paid For THIS?”

Tony readily admits he doesn’t like spending money. And the “fiscally responsible” (or restrictive) attitude he and other fans share carries over into his GIjOE-collecting hobby as well. According to Carducci:

“I’m always keeping my eyes open for 1:6 scale stuff. And no, I don’t like to spend any more money on it than I have to. That’s why I regularly haunt places like Goodwill and local thrift stores, garage sales and even ebay. Fortunately (for me), for some reason, here in Colona there’s always a lot of great GIjOE-related stuff to be found. You just have to get out and look for it!”

Happily ensconced in his new Joe Room, Tony Carducci enjoys working with a variety of 1:6 scale miniatures to create custom figures for use in his “Bob Diablo” photo-comics. (Photo: Mark Otnes)

Here’s a nice closeup of one of Tony’s “City Survival” backpacks that come filled with chewing gum and are still sold at most supermarkets for just $2. What a great value! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

All of that time scrounging for 1:6 deals has clearly paid off for Carducci, who’s become the pride of his local division: The Central Illinois GIjOE Collector’s Club (CIGCC), At each club meeting, Tony simultaneously amazes and inspires with reports of recent low-cost acquisitions, and then advises others how they can do the same. According to one CIGCC member:

“Every…single…time…we see Tony at a GIjOE club meeting, he’ll have a story to tell of some fantastic ‘find’ he picked up at a garage sale or thrift store. 1:6 scale vehicles for $1. A dozen Joes for $10. I mean, the guy hardly spends ANYTHING and yet he has more in his collection than 2 or 3 of us put together. On his days off, Tony’s always out there, looking for Joes and anything else he can find in 1:6 scale. Just look at his amazing collection. The guy is a Class-A, hardcore SCROUNGER!”

Shelves groan under the weight of Tony’s superb collection. But don’t ask how LITTLE he spent on it all. You wouldn’t believe it if he told you. (Photo: Mark Otnes)

Here are some more “Tips from Tony” regarding recent 1:6 scale bargains:

How about some cool, miniature boxes for your Joe’s “Joe Room?” These 1:6 scale superhero boxes were sold in bulk during Halloween and filled with candy. Dump out the candy and you have some killer props for a diorama. (Photo: Mark Otnes)

How about a 1:6 scale Monopoly game wit 3-D dice, card piles, houses and hotels? Just $2 at Walmart in their scrap-booking section. Superb “bang for the buck!” (Photo: Mark Otnes)

Your Joes don’t like Monopoly? How about LIFE? Same price. Same place. (Photo: Mark Otnes)

There’s also Scrabble ($2, Walmart), complete with tiny tiles and racks. (Photo: Mark Otnes)

One of Tony’s greatest “on the cheap” achievements is a Barbie van that he customized and converted to a Mobile Adventure Team Satellite Tracking Station Vehicle (or MATSTSV), complete with backlit radar screens, flip down laptop console, computers and professional waterslide decal graphics provided by Patches of Pride. Carducci found the vehicle at a garage sale and traded for the PoP decals, keeping his final total cost for this amazing custom to only about $15. WOW. Fantastic job, Tony! (Photo: Mark Otnes)

Don’t forget to look for these tiny erasers at Target and Walmart ($1). This milk jug is spot-on PERFECT at 1:6 scale. (Photo: Mark Otnes)

Bottom Line: To look at his collection, one would think Tony had spent a fortune amassing it all. But in reality, the truth is quite the opposite. His tenacity and dogged determination to save a buck has clearly paid off for him BIG time as a GIjOE collector and provides a shining example for the rest of us on how to go forward during these tough economic times. Remember: “Collecting on the Cheap” doesn’t mean collecting poor quality items. It means saving on each and every purchase—to buy MORE tomorrow!

(Editor’s Note: Inspired by Tony’s success, we recently discovered even MORE 1:6 scale bargain items which we’ll share with you in an upcoming article soon.)