PTC*

Oh, for crying out loud

24  02 2009

Action Man

I was rummaging around at my folks house at the weekend and I think I may have found the source of my obsession with orange kit.
It was subliminal suggestion by the evil Palitoy mega corporation.

He’s got ten point crampons, a frighteningly long ice axe (or railway track laying/agricultural tool), a Whillans Alpiniste pack with helmet and goggles inside and ice hammer attached.
The polo necked jumper does away with the need for a Buff, and possibly makes a beard obsolete as well. I’m sure only the navy Action Man had a beard, but I’m sure sailors wore polo necks as well, at least in black and white days…

He’s pre eagle eyes and gripping hands which shows my age as much as his.

I actually have a smock that looks just like this, a Karrimor Alpiniste from the late 90′s. Same colour, same pocket, same glaikit look from the face sticking out the top of it.

He now stands proudly on the dressing table surveying the mighty unconquered peaks of the Duvetlaya across the Carpet Pass.
Until Joycee notices or Holly gets her hands on him of course.


Items Various

23 Responses to “Action Man”

  1. Bigbananafeet, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 07:56


    You didnt wear breeches though did you? At least his socks arent red…..

  2. moggy, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 08:37


    nice one!

    you should buy him some spares off ebay, they is quite a good range ;o)

  3. mattc, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 10:16


    Hmmm, I’m sure I had the one with the white ‘polar explorer’ suit with fur-trimmed hood, and skis and snow-shoes….

    You may be on to something here!! ;O)

  4. DavidG, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 14:28


    I once receoved the ‘Red Devil’ parachutest for my birthday.

    Said Red Devil was thrown upwards from first floor bedroom window, the canopy opened (sort of), and the action man hurtled surprisingly quickly towards the concrete path below, apparantly unaffected by the parachute that has half openened above him.

    A cats cradle of parachute ‘webbing’, a pair of cracked plastic goggles and a tangible feeling of disappointment were the result.

    Much happier after I got a uniform or two, a selection of plastic weaponry and an armoured car!

  5. Del, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 18:43


    That brings back great memories. Being of a similar vintage as yourself and having two brothers, my house was full of action man gear as a boy.

    We once went up the Yoker high-flats to ‘test’ parachute action man descending from 14 storeys up. Brilliant fun.

    My wee boy has a modern one but its crap in comparison.

  6. PTC*, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 18:47


    Aye, the modern ones look like Jean Claude Van Damme.

    I’ve been on ebay, curse you Moggy!

    The models you guys are mentioning are bringing back memories, I loved the Panzer Commander, cool black uniform.

    BBF, I may well have had breeches in my day…

  7. Bigbananafeet, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 19:30


    Go on…..stick a photie up ;o)

  8. PTC*, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 19:55


    I’d need to find, scan it, photoshop it…the joy of humiliation just isn’t worth it :o)

  9. Metric Kate, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 20:38


    I made friends with the boy next door but one because he had an Action Man. I’m a military historian. Perhaps there is something in it…

  10. adi, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 21:39


    I had to go to a mates house to abuse his action men stuff. My dad said ‘dolls are for girls tha knows’. Deprived childhood,we were poor but we were happy. (I resisted the urge of the action man deserter ‘joke’)

  11. PTC*, Said:
    on February 24th, 2009 at 22:28


    I feel for the boy next door Kate, he watched the top of your head pass his window every day (I’m assuming you were shorter then) and yet his doorbell never rang…

    Ah yes adi, the mirth of the empty box indeed.

  12. Bigbananafeet, Said:
    on February 25th, 2009 at 07:50


    I never had an action man either, being this young it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the first time around) for me!!

  13. DavidG, Said:
    on February 25th, 2009 at 10:48


    The two lads across the road from me had at least three action men (all with grippy hands), backed up by a tank , helicopter, jeep and artillary gun.

    My honest rigid-handed Tommy with his sten gun and armoured car never stood a chance.

    Thay also had a massive Scalextrix.

    Not that I was jealous or anything.

  14. sbrt, Said:
    on February 25th, 2009 at 12:35


    Action man should get out more. His kit looks too clean.

    The working parachute was my favourite but the stormtrooper had an uber cool, slightly sinister look.

  15. PTC*, Said:
    on February 25th, 2009 at 23:41


    Junior up there with his Ninja Turtles :o)

    Ulysses 31, Battle of the Planets, those were the last ones I watched before the balance of my concentration swung entirely to girls and the guitar.

    Also, I have bought this book from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1872727999

    I’m doomed…

  16. Das, Said:
    on February 25th, 2009 at 23:55


    Yer man there does look like he’s fresh out the box.

    My younger brother not only had the army jeep, but the motorcycle & sidecar combo – now that was cool!

  17. PTC*, Said:
    on February 26th, 2009 at 10:48


    It’s odd, any of my toys or books that are still at my folks are all pristine, regardless of how much I played with them. I wonder what that says about me?

    Photobucket

  18. Metric Kate, Said:
    on February 26th, 2009 at 20:26


    Are you sure that’s not Stuart’s Action Man? His had exactly the same scar on his face!!

  19. PTC*, Said:
    on February 26th, 2009 at 22:02


    It’s a birthmark, and all the siblings have it.
    It’s a big family.

  20. R MacE, Said:
    on February 27th, 2009 at 20:56


    Yer Man here wants to know if you need these in case you hit a Rock Band (Rolling Stones perhaps) on Duvetlaya?

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3314946898_93c53ec9c0.jpg

  21. PTC*, Said:
    on February 27th, 2009 at 22:57


    Ah, I did have pitons, I should look in his pack…if they’re not there I’m one step closer to a pointless ebay purchase…

    He’s quite likely to struggle on the Black Sabbath t-shirt boulder field next to the washing basket.

  22. R MacE, Said:
    on February 28th, 2009 at 17:18


    A pointless ebay purchase? how quaint, can’t say I’ve ever experienced that ;-)

  23. PTC*, Said:
    on March 1st, 2009 at 12:08


    Aye, you don’t get buyers remorse wso easliy when shopping online :o)

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

« »