The Final Exclusive— JoeCon 2018’s “Green Beret Machine Gun Outpost” 12″ Set Reviewed (Video)

Bottom Line: Mark at Patches of Pride spreads out the contents of the club’s final 12″ exclusive set for a close-up “look-see.” What does he find inside? Some good and some not-so-good. Enjoy!

All We Are Saying—is—Give Wayne Faucher a BIG Hand—His “Early ’70s John Lennon” Custom Figure Could be His Greatest 1:6 Scale Creation—EVER!

IMAGINE— having the talents required to be able to create custom figures as wonderful as this. So GREAT! Wayne Faucher’s “Early ’70s John Lennon” is an absolute SPOT-ON 1:6 masterpiece. Isn’t it great when all the individual parts of a project COME TOGETHER? (Photo: WEF) Click to enlarge.

Stunned. Shocked. THRILLED— Those are but a handful of the emotions that are undoubtedly racing through your mind—right now—as you gaze upon—in awe and wonder—this astonishing 1:6 scale “tribute figure” to one of our planet’s greatest-ever singer-songwriters—Mr. John Lennon. The miniature masterpiece in question is the latest handiwork of Marvel Comics’ inking maestro (and custom 1:6 scale figure creator extraordinaire), Wayne Faucher, of Rhode Island, USA.

Rockin’ Out in Central Park— If you think this is a photo of the REAL John Lennon, then look again. Faucher’s custom figure is SO realistic that it easily “fools the eye.” (Photo: WEF) Click to enlarge.

Wayne’s world of wonderful works has been well-documented here within the pages of The Joe Report, and we never tire of sharing his masterful creations with YOU—our beloved readers. This particular figure stands out among all of Faucher’s other amazing customs because it represents NOT a fanciful superhero, NOR a science-fiction character from some other world, but rather a REAL human being from right here on good ol’ planet Earth. And when a custom figure is made this well, it instantly becomes elevated from the nomenclature of an ordinary “action figure” to the honor of a starry realm reserved solely for handcrafted artwork known as “TRIBUTE” figures. And what a tribute this figure is! Wayne describes his stunning, one-of-a-kind creation thusly:

Wayne Faucher (Photo: WFT)

“I got tired of waiting for the Molecule 8 figure (HERE), so I just went ahead and did one myself, for about 1/3 of the price. I didn’t want to do a specific event or photo of John, I just wanted a general early 70’s version. So… I chose a couple of iconic period pieces; the fatigue shirt he wore at his 1972 NYC concert (and on the Dick Cavett show), as well as the ‘New York City’ t-shirt from his famous rooftop photo session. The fatigue patches were all provided by Patches of Pride (HERE), and are a dead-on match!”

Lennon on Cavett— John Lennon on The Dick Cavett Show, September 11, 1971. (Photo: ABC-TV)

ROCK ON! Wayne Faucher’s custom “Early ’70s John Lennon” sports OD fatigues adorned with custom 1:6 scale patches from Patches of Pride. OOH-yeah! (Photo: WEF) Click to enlarge.

“For the t-shirt, I got a plain white shirt from Cotswold Collectibles (HERE) and designed my own heat transfer for the type. The head is a stunning sculpt from Kumik (HERE), with a few alterations to the hair. The glasses came with the head, but are totally resized and reworked with a Dremel. I also added the tinted lenses.”

Details DO Make the Difference— Tweaks to the hair, eyeglasses, t-shirt, custom PoP patches—it all adds up to 1:6 scale PERFECTION. WOW! (Photo: WEF) Click to enlarge.

“The guitar came from Ebay. Like most professional guitar players, John had a LOT of guitars. His tastes evolved over the years, so I really don’t associate him with a particular model (unlike Paul McCartney’s famous Hofner bass). Anyway, I couldn’t have done this custom figure (at least not as effectively) without PoP’s fine patches. Thanks again, Mark!” —Wayne Faucher

On the FLIP SIDE— As this closeup of the other sleeve reveals, Faucher did a superb job installing the custom patches from Patches of Pride. This is a mini-masterpiece! (Photo: WEF) Click to enlarge.

Make Art, Not Crap—Just IMAGINE all of the fantastic photos you could take with custom figures like this. We can almost hear Lennon’s music playing, too! (Photo: WEF) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Regardless of what you thought of Lennon’s music, politics, or the man himself personally, you have to admit that Faucher’s custom tribute figure is an amazing artistic achievement. Mr. Faucher is a multi-talented individual who continues to surprise and impress legions of comic book fans as well as all of the diverse individuals who populate the 1:6 scale collecting universe. I think it is safe to say that we are ALL blown away by the quality of your work, sir! And—once again—you have clearly “raised the bar” of figure customizing beyond any levels we could have imagined. (Our sincerest thanks to Wayne for all of his help in the creation in this article.) 

Beware!— Dead-Eyed “Zombie Joe” Has Arrived

The Walking Dead— Right out of the box, this new “black & white” 12″ club exclusive figure from the GIjOE Collector’s Club strikes many as, well, “DEAD” looking. It may be hard to see from this photo, but in person, our newly nicknamed, “Zombie Joe,” has a gray body that also (inexplicably) has a greenish hue to it, adding to its already moribund effect. Combined with EXTREMELY droopy eyes, ol’ “ZJ” appears destined to “haunt” collector’s shelves—or parts bins. (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Is this REALLY the FINAL “membership exclusive” figure for fans of 12-Inch GIJOEs?

It’s rare that a package containing a brand-new GIjOE shows up, unannounced, in our company’s mailroom; but today was just such an occasion. Typically, such unplanned, “surprise” events have been met with grand celebrations among the overworked staffers here at The Joe Report, but sadly, today, that was not to be the case. When the receptionist dropped the morning mail onto my desk—I literally JUMPED out of my chair. I saw the box from the GIjOE club and immediately buzzed everyone’s intercom, calling for an urgent “all hands on deck” meeting in the conference room.

Ol’ “Dead Eyes”— Without a doubt, “Zombie Joe” wins the prize for having the DEADEST-looking eyes of ANY GIjOE brand action figure ever made. Depending on the steadiness of your hand and the fine point of your paintbrush, corrections CAN be made. But if you’re one of those fans who are “artistically-challenged,” you may just have to LIVE with it. CREEPY! (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Standing elbow to elbow, we happily ringed around the massive, oblong conference table, our hands wringing and our breath held “in toto” in silent, anxious anticipation. As we all knew, first glimpses and first impressions were EVERYTHING whenever a new Joe joined our ranks, and this unusual figure would prove to be no exception. The room fell DEATHLY quiet (a term that would prove to be quite apropos) and as the plain, “coffin-style” mailing box was finally opened, the first, HONEST reactions from those present plunged wildly from eager, ecstatic anticipation—to stunned, silent SHOCK. A “temp” from the upstairs steno pool audibly gasped. A copywriter, unsure of exactly how she might describe or “spin” what she seeing, simply giggled. One of our “street-wise” freelance photographers actually seemed to recoil—but in what? Fear? HORROR? It wasn’t exactly clear. Finally, someone managed to speak up and blurted out, “What IS that thing?”

Super Surfer Shorts— The BEST thing about the new 12-inch exclusive figure from the GIJOE Collector’s Club is—without a doubt—his classic GIjOE logo boxer shorts. The vintage logo imprinted on them looks FANTASTIC and these nifty new “jams” will undoubtedly become highly-prized collectibles on their own, despite the “less-than-lively” figure they adorn. (Photo: Mark Otnes) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: Hello there, Zombie Joe! What stared up at us from that cardboard coffin box was indeed a shocking sight to many. It can only be described as some sort of gray/greenish “corpse-like” figure. Comparisons to zombies and TV’s “The Walking Dead” quickly come to mind, but the most common appellation that came up among our group was “lifeless.” Of all the GIjOEs we’ve ever seen, and believe me, we’ve seen a LOT of them, this is the most… DEAD looking. Oh well, a “dead” GIjOE will certainly find a place in many sci-fi or other such 1:6 scale custom dioramas. If you can think of a good use for this figure, please let us know. Without his “black & white” uniform, he’s quite literally, “lifeless.” But heck, a Joe is a Joe—is a JOE. We’ll take ’em ALL!

 

The Future of Toymaking?—Hasbro’s New “HasLab” Crowdsourcing Initiative Attempts to Raise Funds For Production of Star Wars’ “Jabba’s Sail Barge”

Will They Succeed?— This computer-rendering of HasLab’s (first-ever) crowdsourced toy project, “Jabba’s Sail Barge,” reveals the incredible potential for similar collector-driven toy projects in the future. But questions remain: Will HasLab succeed? Is crowdsourcing the future of toy production? Will fans be able to sustain “toys” that costs them $500 a pop? (Photo: HasLab) Click to enlarge.

In what may be the clearest view yet of toy-making’s future, Hasbro has just launched its new “HasLab” crowdsourcing initiative. The goal of this particular collector-funded toy project will be to locate and sign up at least 5,000 fans who are willing to pony up $500 each for an exclusive, 4-foot long (compatible w/3.75″ figures) “Jabba’s Sail Barge” from Star Wars. A prototype shown at Toy Fair and all of the computer renderings online look absolutely GORGEOUS. If Star Wars toys are your thing, you should watch HasLab’s customer recruitment video shown below.

Aiming High— HasLab’s new business model may reflect the future of “high-end” collectible toy production. The potential for such crowdsourced toys would seem to be sky-high. (Photo: JpM)

Bottom Line: If this approach to “high-end” toy production is successful for Hasbro, you can expect to see similar efforts forthcoming from other toy manufacturers in the future. Perhaps Hasbro would even consider creating something new, big and amazing for 12″ GIjOEs? How about an updated, more realistic version of a 1:6 scale USAF Crash Crew Truck? Joe fans can dream, too!

Customizers of 1:6 Scale Vehicles Now Utilizing “Shapeways” 3-D Printing Services to Recreate Lost, Broken or Missing Original Vintage Parts

Missing Parts be Damned— As the newly 3-D printed missile launchers of Gary Stair’s vintage 1960s “Silver Streak” vehicle clearly prove, the ability to recreate broken or missing parts of vintage toys has DEFINITELY arrived. Out-STANDING work, Shapeways! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge.

We’ve covered this topic before, and we’ll cover it again—because 3-D printing ROCKS! Wassamatta, Joe? Can’t you find that rare, missing, or broken piece of your classic GIjOE or other vintage toy? Well, fear NOT, my friend. Nowadays, thanks to the modern-day miracles of 3DP, you can simply MAKE ONE YOURSELF (see our previous article HERE). In further confirmation of the evolution of this exciting field of “amateur” toy creation, diehard customizer and revered TJR Field Reporter, Gary Stair, wrote in recently to describe a new 3DP project he had just completed for his beloved Captain Action “Silver Streak” vehicle. According to Mr. Stair:

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

 

“I bought the Captain Action Silver Streak vehicle many, many moons ago and have been searching for rockets and replacement launchers for it for some time. After reading about Wayne Faucher’s Bell jet pack / Shapeways article on the Joe Report HERE, it dawned on me one day—DUUHH—that I have the resources required to make all-new parts—with 3D printing!”

We can rebuild them— Will 3D printing become a panacea for collectors of vintage toys, allowing them to replace or recreate ANYTHING they need? We think YES! (Photo: Gary Stair)

“I began by interviewing several designers and finally found one over in Australia who was up for the challenge. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a vintage Silver Streak rocket anywhere—and believe me I hunted. I wanted the designer to have an exact replica to work from. But in lieu of that, I emailed him a TON of photographs, and he was able to use them to figure out the (close to) exact measurements required to recreate a “non-firing” version.”

99% Accurate, NON-FIRING— Gary’s new Silver Streak replacement parts do NOT come with a spring-loaded system that “fires” missiles off their launchers. but the shape, size and accuracy of these parts is—nonetheless—unbelievable. WOW! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge.

“Unlike the original versions, my new rockets do NOT fire. On the original vehicle, a spring came inserted in the rocket that would then lock onto the launcher. I wasn’t sure I wanted that level of liability yet—let me sell a few first—(LOL) so I went with a non-firing version. Regardless, overall, it is a near-perfect design and DOES fit PERFECTLY onto any original 1960s IDEAL Silver Streak Captain Action vehicle (as you can see in the photos).”

Things of BEAUTY— Gary’s new 3D printed parts simply snap into place, perfectly replacing the original missing launchers and rockets. WHOOSH!!! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge.

“As for the Silver Streak’s LAUNCHERS, I did manage to locate some (broken) vintage ones, and sent those off to my designer in Australia, communicating via email every step of the way. And while this was an expensive project, the new 3-D printed parts from Shapeways came out GREAT. After I sell a couple on eBay HERE, I may jump back in and work on a ‘firing version’ (with spring inserted), allowing the ‘2nd generation’ repro rockets to ‘hook’ onto their launchers.”

Armed and Ready to do Battle with Dr. Evil— Superb! (Photo: Gary Stair) Click to enlarge.

“Customizers can paint them silver (like the ZICA version) or blue (like the Ideal original) or ANY color to replace their missing launchers and rockets. It is amazing all of the things you can do with the 3D printing process. I’m not sure what I will create next (maybe the gear shifter?), but for now, it’s just great to know that we have the tools required to make replacement parts or create NEW parts for our 1:6 scale GI JOE, Action Man, Captain Action and other figures. What a great resource!”

Big, Bad, and BEAUTIFUL— Say, who stuck those .50 cals on the front? (Photo: Gary Stair)

“Thanks again (and hats off) to the pioneers of 1:6 scale 3DP, Wayne Faucher, Sean Huxter and David Pruitt (see HERE) for showing all the rest of us “the way.” And a great big thank you to you too, Mark Otnes, for helping us all keep our 1:6 scale dreams alive. Go, Joe Report and Go, Patches of Pride!” —Gary Stair, PA

Zoiks! It’s ZICA— The mini Silver Streak from ZICA Toys for 3.75″ figures. (Photo: ZICA)

Bottom Line: 3-D Printing is proving to be quite the boon for creative-thinking customizers and 1:6 scalers. A few years ago, “Super” Sean Huxter made some short videos demonstrating a couple of his new 3DP product ideas in prototype form (see below), proving that the potential for new GIjOE-related accessories appears to be practically limitless. Our sincerest thanks and best wishes go out to Gary Stair for all his generous help with this article and to the other “pioneers” of this new 1:6 scale field of expertise and endeavor. You guys are all the BEST!

Lock and Load! 12″ Exclusive Set For JoeCon 2018 Revealed As “Green Beret Machine Gun Outpost” Featuring All-New Box Artwork by Larry Selman

Spray some lead, Joe! This battered (but beautiful) GIjOE “Green Beret Machine Gun Outpost Set” dates from 1965, approximately around the middle of the Vietnam War. Surviving examples are now over 53 years old and typically look like this original (found today over on ebay). Fortunately for fans and collectors of 12-inch GIjOE action figures, an all-new version of this “holy grail” of GIjOE sets will soon be produced (in very limited quantities) for attendees of the GIjOE Collector’s Club JoeCon 2018 (June 21-24) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Will YOU be there? (Photo: ebay) Click to enlarge.

Gird your loins and grab your credit cards, Joeheads!

Larry Selman, renowned GIjOE packaging illustrator and artist of military history, will create artwork for JoeCon 2018’s 12″ exclusive figure set. (Photo: Larry Selman)

The GIjOE Collector’s Club (GIJCC) has just announced that the 12-inch exclusive figure set for their FINAL JoeCon EVER—will be a recreation of the famed 1965 “Green Beret Machine Gun Outpost.” And just like the original version, this recreation will include TWO GIjOE action figures and a TON of 1:6 scale military gear. The main difference between old and new will be that the new box’s artwork will be created by (the one and only) 12″ GIjOE package illustrator extraordinaire, Larry “Mr. Classic Collection” Selman (read more about the amazing Mr. Selman HERE). Will THIS be the last “official” 12-inch GIjOE product ever made? If so, it will hold a VERY special place in “Joehistory.” According to the GIJCC’s official press release, the new set is described thusly:

“This year, it’s back to the military for G.I. Joe. One of the favorite 12” figures of all time was the Green Beret. So, what could be better than two Green Berets in an updated ‘1960’s Sears Exclusive’ box adorned with art from Larry Selman?

This year’s 12-inch Convention Set is a recreation of the ‘Sears Exclusive’Green Beret Machine Gun Outpost Set. It comes with: 2 Painted Head Figures and each figure has a Camo Shirt and Pants; Green Beret; Tall Brown Boots; Dog Tag; Belt with 2 Cartridges.

In addition, the set comes with: 12 Grenades; Bazooka; 6 Bazooka Shells; Field Telephone; .30 Caliber Machine Gun and Tripod; M-16 Ri e; Ammo Box; Camouflage Netting; Plastic Foliage; Tent Poles; Tent Stakes; and 10 Sand Bags.

All of these items are in a box adorned with an updated painting of the Green Beret Outpost, painted by Larry Selman. Watch on-line at GIJoeCon.com for product reveals.” —GIjOE Collector’s Club

Bottom Line: If this is indeed to be the FINAL set from the FINAL official GIjOE Collector’s Club JoeCon EVER, then those facts alone will undoubtedly make this exclusive a very hot commodity among 1:6 Joe fans and collectors. Stay tuned. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any further JoeCon 2018 intel and/or updates and pass them all along to you here ASAP—on The Joe Report!

Fan Builds Life-Size FALCON “Climber” Action Figure in Commemoration of Toy Line’s 40th Anniversary

Put ‘er There, Pal— A rather surprised looking 1:1 scale FALCON action figure (the one on the left) prepares to test his newfound “Kung-Fu Grip” on his creator, Mauricio Wendler, a VERY talented artisan residing in Brazil. Wendler created this stunning full-size replica of a vintage 1970s FALCON “Climber”—in just 4 days! That sir, is out-STANDING! (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to enlarge.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything—you haven’t!

Today we received some amazing international intel from our highly talented “Field Reporter” down in Brazil, Mauricio Wendler, who wrote in concerning his country’s recent 40th anniversary celebration of everything FALCON. Falcon, as you (hopefully) recall, was the extremely popular version of GIjOE produced in Brazil during the 1970s and ’80s. Well, 40+ years have passed since those heady days of yore, and it appears now that Mauricio has decided to “raise the bar” of modern Falcon fandom—a wee little bit—to 6-foot PLUS!

Who’s Got the POWER? Mauricio taunts Senhor Climber Falcon with his own formidable “Fists of Fury.” Notice too, that Wendler’s 1:1 creation is wearing a REAL jogging suit (with a handmade emblem) and a pair of REAL lace-up boots (to boot). (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to enlarge.

We kid you not—This isn’t facetious “fake news,” nor is it an egregious example of phony Photoshoppery. Rather, Field Reporter Wendler has actually created his own, FULL-SIZE, 1:1 scale action figure; specifically, a spot-on recreation of the (regionally) famous, “Climber” Falcon hero, complete with its iconic (Adidas inspired) red jogging suit, working “Eagle-Eyes,” fully flocked hair and beard, and even a solid pair of “Kung-Fu” gripping hands. WOWZA! After we had picked our jaws up off the floor, we asked Mauricio to describe his stunning new creation and he replied:

“I’m from Brazil, more specifically from the City of Curitiba, in the state of Paraná. My brother, Marcelo, had had an article published by The Joe Report about 3 years ago; the one about the 3 posters he had produced commemorating FALCON action figures (see  HERE). I have been a fan of the FALCON action figure (the GIjOEs of Brazil) for many years now. I do not know if you knew this, but they were recently (and resentfully) reissued in 3 commemorative versions, due to the manufacturer’s (Estrela) 80th birthday.”

Eye Can’t SEE You— The 1:1 head of Wendler’s custom is shown here prior to flocking and final paint. Note too, that he has upsized and recreated the interior “Eagle-Eyes” mechanism as well. Soon, this Falcon will SEE the world around him! (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to enlarge (and study).

“Well, it turns out that THIS year, their Falcon line is celebrating 40 years of its launch in my country and as a collector, photographer, and modeler of products (I make several parts for old Falcons), I also could not pass up this 40th anniversary without doing something really STRIKING by our beloved figure!”

Turn your head, Please— This profile side-view provides a good look at how Mauricio’s FALCON head is constructed out of two separate sections (rear skull piece not shown), plus those wonderful interior eagle-eye mechanisms. Pretty amazing! (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to enlarge.

“I made this figure by designing duct 6 times more piece by piece. It is all made of plastics material (PVC and resin without any fiber). I also do restoration and recovery work of Falcons in 1/6 scale for collectors. And yes, as with the smaller figures, this one also has the flocked hair.”

Franken FALCON— After each individual section had been molded, trimmed out, and tested for fit, the various pieces were carefully assembled together until soon—a towering (albeit still headless) action figure was born. It’s ALIVE! It’s ALIVE! (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to enlarge.

Welcome to the 1:1 Scale World, Mr. Falcon— This super-closeup pic of Wendler’s finished masterpiece shows the head’s final paint job, placement of its VERY blue eyes and a full head of flocked hair. Out-STANDING work, sir! (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to enlarge (and drool).

“During the course of this year, I produced the complete and functional Falcon figure you see, giving ‘life’ to a full-size figure in 1:1 scale. Everything happened as a challenging project that took me about 4 full days total to complete successfully. This Falcon, as you can see, with its fully articulated body, is indeed, our well-known and REAL hero. Oh! I also have a blog where I show some of my restoration works HERE. And Mark, thanks again for all the work you do on The Joe Report!” —Mauricio Wendler, Brazil

Hold up Yer Skivvies—With a Belt? This closeup reveals the weave and fibers of actual fabric, used to create the realistic pattern you see impressed into (or glued over) the waist section of Wendler’s 1:1 scale Falcon figure. (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to ENLARGE (the crotch). Schwing!

Wendler’s  “Climber” assumes a defensive stance as he looks askance at the viewer. Is that a pitchfork in his hand, or is he just glad to see you? HA. (Photo: Mauricio Wendler) Click to enlarge.

Whom will she choose? Sure, Mauricio’s handsome and all, but there’s something really HOT about this new Falcon dude. Hmm… (Photo: Maurico Wendler) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: This 1:1 scale custom FALCON action figure is a monumental achievement AND an undeniable work of art, earning it an immediate place of TOP honor amongst the thousands of other such creations produced by fans and customizers of GIjOE, Falcon and related action figures. This MASTERPIECE breaks ALL of the known barriers of “working large” and Mauricio’s proficiency with plastics proves that his fabricating skills know few, if any limitations. Finally, our most heartfelt congratulations go out to Mr. Wendler for all of his SUPERB Falcon-related achievements and for his very generous contributions to this article. Magnífico, senhor!

Get Your Pepperoni Pizza Slice and a Cup of Coke Ready—1:6 Scale Arcade Games Are Coming Soon For Use In All Of G.I. Joe’s “Man Cave” Dioramas

Get your roller disco skates on and head over to your local 1:6 arcade. 2018 will see the arrival of an entire line of GIjOE/Barbie-scale standup video games. (Photo; Replicade Amusements)

Bottom Line: If you collect GIjOEs and 1:6 scale props, grew up in the 1970s, and remember whiling away your teenage years in dark, video game arcades, then THIS story is definitely for you. Thankfully, it’s already been written for us by “Mighty” Mike Fahey, who lays out all the details on a new, exciting (and expensive) 1:6 scale product line—miniature standup arcade games. So… crack Joe’s tiny knuckles, line up some quarters, and prepare for all-night arcade game action HERE!!!

G.I. Joe Club Announces Plans To Release “Really Limited” Set of 4 “Black and White TV Edition” 12-Inch Figures As Their New 2018 Club Exclusives

Remember watching all of those great color TV shows back in 1964? Probably not. While “test programs” had been broadcast in color as far back as 1953, few people living at that time (outside of those working for one of the “Big 3” networks) ever had an opportunity to view them that way. Why? The reason was primarily financial. There were countless hours of content being produced, and at the time, it was simply too cost-prohibitive to film and/or air all of that new programming (or commercials) in full color. As a result, cheaper black-n-white (B&W) television broadcasting (and B&W television sets) remained the industry standard until the mid-1960s, and the first images children ever saw of Hasbro’s new “Movable Fighting Man,” were aired solely—in black and white.

As First Seen on TV!— The 4 new GijOEs coming from the GIJCC in 2018 will have NO colors (other than black, white and related gray tones) in their figures, uniforms, or coffin box packaging. This final “colorless” effect will either result in drab, dull and boring figures…or it will look absolutely STUNNING (we’re betting on the latter). Final judgement, as always, will rest “within the (color-blind) eyes of the beholder.” (Photo: GIJCC)

Indeed, while Hasbro’s initial run of GIjOE TV commercials in 1964 provided viewers with tantalizing glimpses of its new line of figures, uniforms, equipment and packaging, fans had to use their imaginations to envision all of the colors that were NOT being shown on their monochromatic B&W television screens. It wasn’t until all those children were able to visit their local toy stores in person, that they were finally able to SEE the panoply of COLORS comprising Hasbro’s wonderful new world—of GIjOE.

WHOA. This is a COLOR photo?!— The GIJCC swears that this photo is in FULL COLOR. It’s the heads that are in B&W. What the..? AMAZING! (Photo: GIJCC)

To commemorate GIjOE’s first TV appearance, some 53+ years later, the GIjOE Collector’s Club (GIJCC) has announced that they will be releasing (4) new vintage-style 12″ GIjOE action figures—wholly devoid of color. Their skin tones, painted hair and eyes, uniforms and equipment, even all of their boxes, will be produced and “toned” in simple shades of black, gray and white. No other colors will be utilized at all. According to an official club post on the GIJCC website:

“Just a couple of notes: Yes, everything will be in gray tones. This is a set of figures, not just a one-off, so they will display well together. In addition to the Action Soldier, there will be an Action Sailor, Action Pilot, and Action Marine as well in this series. You will get the 12″ gray-tone figure wearing shorts and the accessories and box are the add-ons that complete the set. These will be REALLY limited. Yes, it’s a novelty, but something that harkens back to the ORIGINAL days of Joe as he was first seen. The box images came off of the original commercials. The box is the width of the talker boxes to accommodate the accessories.” —GIJOE Collector’s Club

In the past, the GIJOE Collector’s Club has produced 12″ GIjOE exclusive figures with NO colors in (or on) them at all (i.e. clear, see-through plastic), with a green head (HERE) and even one that glows-in-the-dark (HERE), but this new idea for 2018 is something truly unique—a full line of 4 vintage-style figures completely devoid of color save for tones that were visible on an old black-n-white television in 1964. WOW.

B&W Uniform Sneak Peak Pic—According to a quote from the club, “A ‘black and white’ G.I. Joe Action Soldier will need a ‘black and white’ field jacket!” Hey guys, you can throw away that Pantone book. You won’t need it for this job! (Photo: GIJCC)

This teaser ad from the GIJCC newsletter provides a mock-up of what the final Action Soldier should look like. We look forward to seeing the real thing! (Photo: Paul Michel)

Bottom Line: Our sincerest thanks go out to taphatt2012 for the video clip shown above, and to the GIjOE Collector’s Club for their continued efforts to bring new and exciting 12″ GIjOE products to an ever-eager market of collectors. Some fans will quickly peg these upcoming figures as “must have” collectibles, while others may view them another way altogether. So far, WE like what we see VERY much. Stand by for more intel as it becomes available!

Blimey! New UK Royal Mail Stamps To Commemorate 1960s-70s Vintage Toys Including (Yes!) Action Man

Geronimo! This new 2017 stamp from the UK Royal Mail commemorates vintage toys, specifically the 1960s Action Man “Red Devil” paratrooper figure. (Image: UK Royal Mail)

HOT OFF THE WIRES: According to an article posted today over on the Sun.co.uk:

“The series of ten toys – all made in the UK – will be released on August 22. They are available to buy from 7,000 post offices across the UK and on the Royal Mail website.

Royal Mail spokesman Philip Parker said ahead of the launch:

“British toymakers enjoyed a reputation for quality and innovation. These nostalgic stamps celebrate 10 wonderful toys that have endured through the decades.”

Characters in the set feature the nation’s favourite toys from the past 100 years. These include Sindy dolls, which were launched in Britain in 1963, and Action Man, which first appeared on the market in 1966. The iconic Red Devil Action Man figure will feature in the stamps.

Which of these vintage toys do YOU remember? (Photo: UK Royal Mail)

The Royal Mail website is offering a selection of products ranging from £4.50 to £29.99. Sets available include postcards, just the stamp set and and a framed version. Some enthusiasts can pick up a Classic Toys Edenbridge First Day Cover for £8.22 , which is personalised with the recipient’s name and address and cancelled with a Toys Hill, Edenbridge postmark. There’s also an Edinburgh First Day Cover – but both are only available until August 22.”

Holy, Ephemera! Sometimes, the brochures and “press packs” that accompany the release of new postage stamps can be more exciting to own than the stamps themselves. (Photo: UK Royal Mail)

Return to Sender? NO WAY! These “First Day of Issue” envelopes feature all 10 vintage toy stamps and will ROCK your ephemera and philatelic collections’ world. Crikey! (Photo: UK Royal Mail)

Action Man’s Been Framed! Perhaps the most displayable and desirable collectible of this set would be the 10 FRAMED stamps. Yes, they’ll mail them to you already professionally matted and framed. All you have to do is hang them up—and ENJOY! (Photo: UK Royal Mail)

Bottom Line: These are tiny but VERY desirable collectibles for all fans of GIjOE and Action Man. Fans in the U.S. and elsewhere may have to order their stamps online, but that’s a no-brainer in this day and age. Simply go HERE now, mate. Go, ACTION MAN!