Secret Coded Messages

[OllyOrc]

More interesting snippets

14/4/84 - No Code - Printed in plain
Advance Warning
Action Force Intelligence has discovered that Baron Ironblood and the Black Major will the tour the UK during 1984 to recruit Red Shadows. We will be asking for volunteers from the ranks of Action Force to join the Red Shadows as spies. More details soon. Potential volunteers should contact Action Force HQ - Department 94 - all messages in code for security reasons.

14/4/84 - Same message repeated.

This is new! A UK tour?

Great reading all the codes - thanks



This is new! A UK tour? maybe this was what Bob was referring to when asked about a signature on a RoboSkull blueprint ->

"I produced the Roboskull blueprint for Marketing to use in promotions. I believe at some promotions they had Baron or Red Shadow characters signing various things."

viewtopic.php?f=108&t=12817&hilit=BOB#p158106

[Hopper]

That's a great catch.
Palitoy were really ahead of the game here. Taking your toys on tour!
God, I'd love to see a photo of Baron Ironblood!
Somebody out there in the world must have gone to one of these signings... please get in touch!

[action-figure-supplies]

Brilliant. Completely forgot about that... there was a thread about it, pre-crash.
What happened to the Aqualaser I wonder? It is clearly all set to go. Promotional stuff in place, competition set and published... then nothing.
I wonder if anyone went for the contest

I'm surprised it didn't turn up in one of the Vectis auctions tbh.

[action-figure-supplies]

That's a great catch.
Palitoy were really ahead of the game here. Taking your toys on tour!
God, I'd love to see a photo of Baron Ironblood!
Somebody out there in the world must have gone to one of these signings... please get in touch!

I never knew about the Baron Ironblood tour but I did meet "Darth Vader" outside a toy shop in Cleethorpes on a similar sort of thing. He was stood on a box to look taller and his boots were halfway up his thighs I think I got his signature.

[Hopper]

12/5/84 - Code 3
Three newly developed field weapons for Z Force will be in service from May. Code names are Lance, Dart, and Shaft. Send us code name ideas for the next six. Best 10 win one the new weapons. Entries to AF HQ by June 17th.

I can only imagine they were 'pretending' about the six new Z Force weapons...

26/5/84 - Code 6
New recruits are needed for Q Force. please send details of past military experience and suggested code name. 10 T Shirts for best entries.

I wonder if they mean design a new character, or just present yourself?



4/8/84 - Code 7
Suggest a motto for Action Force. Maximum five words. Best 10 will get Action Force T Shirt.

This last message is written using the more common sense way of using the decoder - you find the letter at the top and read down, rather than reading around all the jumbled up letters and reading up. I don't know why AF used that method!

[Hopper]

18/8/84 - Code 7 - Same message as 4/8/84

1/9/84 - Code 7 - Same message as 4/8/84

15/9/84 - Code 7 - Same message as 4/8/84

29/9/84 - Code 7 - Same message as 4/8/84

Back to the usual, long and difficult method of decoding...
It's interesting that details of the winning motto, and indeed any of the other competitions, were released... hmmm!


From 13 October, there as a 'new look' , with the comic now split into two - one half Battle, the other, Action Force. There is a revamped member's page, each week presented by the leader of one of the teams.

13/10/84 - Code 5 - Eagle
Enter next weeks competition. Prizewinners who are AF members will get an extra prize.

I don't know wether they got a YTS person to write this message, but the spelling is terrible! (I have translated)


27/10/84 - Code 5 - Same message as 13/10/84 - Leviathan

10/11/84 - Code 10 - Skip
First 10 recruits to send in name and address to Action Force HQ will receive Roboskull blueprint from Baron Ironblood's Laboratory. Mark envelopes LUE

I guess the Roboskull blueprints were for the tour and as prizes. Where did the one in the archive come from?

[Quickfire]

That's a great catch.
Palitoy were really ahead of the game here. Taking your toys on tour!
God, I'd love to see a photo of Baron Ironblood!
Somebody out there in the world must have gone to one of these signings... please get in touch!

Someone once posted about a troupe doing signings (possible North East?) around Christmas 84...

10/11/84 - Code 10 - Skip
First 10 recruits to send in name and address to Action Force HQ will receive Roboskull blueprint from Baron Ironblood's Laboratory. Mark envelopes LUE

I guess the Roboskull blueprints were for the tour and as prizes. Where did the one in the archive come from?

.... Seems to be same or very similar provenance as the "signings" or "handout" troupe. All TBC of course.

[Quickfire]

Now this is really interesting...

31/3/84 - Code 8
New AF Aqualaser is due for general issue soon. Get yours by sending us your request now. First five opened will net one.

Ok, so what the hell is the Aqualaser? This comes during the start of the Second Wave (Phase 2D or Phase 2C). From the name alone, it doesn't match anything released then... Sealion maybe?

Any thoughts on this intriguing nugget?

Sealion.

Someone probably wanted the two missiles on the front to be amazeballs-lazery. Until they got a good kicking.

[Hopper]

17/11/84 - No messsage - Skyraider

24/11/84 - Code 10 - Eagle
First 10 recruits to send in name and address to Action Force HQ will receive Roboskull blueprint from Baron Ironblood's laboratory. Mark envelope ILUE.

1/12/84 - Code 1 - Leviathan
Ten Action Force figures for £5.
(not in code) Strictly members only.

Wow. So clearly here, the writing is on the wall, and Palitoy cleverly want to shift their old stock - shortly to become obsolete and unwanted - before Cobra et al arrive. 50p a figure. Blimey!

8/12/84 - Same message as 1/12/84 - Skip
15/12/84 - Same message as 1/12/84 - Skyraider
22/12/84 - Same message as 1/12/84 - Skip

They are very serious about clearing house to make way for Cobra.

29/12/84 - Code 3 - Skip
25 Action Force Video Games for Atari 2600 for the best drawings of Baron Ironblood without helmet. Send to HQ.

[Hopper]

5/1/85 - Same message as 29/12/84 - Leviathan
Interestingly, Leviathan, in the editorial, states "I can tell you now, 1985 is going to be a dramatic year, with big developments on the AF vs Baron Ironblood front - You'll be able to read about it inly in the pages of this comic. Be on your guard, this will be happening soon."
So, the first inkling that all was about to change so dramatically.

12/1/85 - Same message as 29/12/84 - Skyraider
19/1/85 - Same message as 29/12/84 - Eagle

26/1/85 - Code 8 - Skip
Baron Ironblood has a fierce German hound specially bred as a guard. Ten T Shirts for the best suggestions for a name. Tell us your size.

2/2/85 - Code 9 - Leviathan
Free poster for everyone who sends a stamped addressed envelope at least nine inches by seven inches.

Actually, this is kind of depressing - sending out message that few people will read as the golden age draws to a close. Also, trying to off-load anything and everything... I dread to think how much was thrown away...

9/2/85 - Code 1 - Skyraider
Ten Action Force figures for £5.
(not in code) Strictly members only. Apply to HQ.

16/2/85 - No Message - Eagle
In the editorial, he states:
"Only 2 weeks to go now, when you'll receive info of dramatic developments in Action Force comic. It's got to stay secret for the moment."

This is the last communiation from Action Force proper. From then on there was silence, and we knew all was lost.

23/2/85 - Same message as 9/2/85 - No leader.

2/3/85 - Same message as 9/2/85 - No leader.
This issue has "Big News Issue" on the front, and an advert for Battle's 10th Birthday, and for new Cobra based stories at the back.

9/3/85 - No message.
Duke introduces himself as the new 'Operational Leader' of Action Force, and introduces new members of his team and Cobra.

23/3/85 - Code 5
Get your Action Force shirt and poster for only two pounds and fifty pence. State your shirt size.

30/3/85 - Same message as 23/3/85 - Send to 'Action Force Team Special TSP Officer' (T-Shirt Poster Officer?)

6/4/85 - Same message as 23/3/85