NewsFlash!

[Dave Tree]

First off, I would like to point out that my girlfriend walked up behind me when I first started reading the article and she started laughing. Now, she thinks I like playing with red rockets and I swear I never touched that dog that way. LOL

I know where you're coming from

Anyway, I am not that familar with the Action Force toy line. So I was wondering when Palitoy/Hasbro stopped useing the star wars style body and only used the american gi joe style body. The article about Palitoy action force, to me anyway, makes it sound like they stopped using the Star Wars type body construction in 1984.

Yes and no
Yes they did stop using the Star Wars style body after 1984 and moved into repackaged JOE figures 85, but this was more indicative of the fact that there was no longer any New Product Design & Development in the UK. However through 83 & 84 repainted JOE figures were included in the vechicles (which were predominatley all JOE repaints too), so during those two years, there were recoloured Cobra Commander, Cobra Officer, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Steeler, Stalker, Gung Ho, Destro and Tripwire. Palitoy had an agreement to use these under license within the line, just as they did with the 12" GI JOE in creating Action Man.

If that is the case, then why would they have been experimenting with it for a 1986 release. I am not doubting that these figures are F Force.

No, for two reasons, first being the one mentioned above that General Mills, the holding company of Palitoy had disbanded any non-US toy development and second Palitoy was no more by this point. There was never actually any Action Force toy releases for 86, the line took a hiatus before coming back in 87 under Hasbro and more in line with the GI JOE branding. Hasbro chose to release only their own product, and not re-issue anything devloped by Palitoy.

Other items contained within the collection, which is not covered by the article incliude many first shot parts and figures for the original 1982 line, given the use of a pre-swivel Flash, no Ground Assault figure moulds were used in 83 and all of them are labeled F-Force matches that this would have been a 5th team considered pre 1983. The MMS was issued under SAS and it's unlikey they would have two vehicles the same in the line when you have plenty to choose from.

I was wondering if you found any documentation to support that date in the box they were in. Could this have been a canceled line from 1983 or 1984?

Thanks again for sharing this information and new figures with us.
Chris

If you mean office paperwork and files, then no, not as such. However all items contained within the collection came straight from The Palitoy Company in Coalville, Leicester, donated after the collapse of the company. It is not just Action Force contained within, it cover all their toylines that they were working at that point, including Tiny Tears, Star Wars, Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake etc. All of this has been stored for over 20 years and in most cases would never be called to display in exhibits as unassembled, unpainted or pre-production pieces make for a dull exhibition to the general public.

I can understand that there would be some sckeptisim after some 25 odd years, however until recently the JOE community as a whole have been largely oblivious of the diversity of Action Force. Given that the owners are specialists and caretakers of ALL toys right back through the centuries and the meticulous cataloging they do, they would not accept an outside donation from someone and chuck it in the Action Force box, infact quite the opposite, all donations are held together and separated away so not to cofuse pieces. Everything within the section I was looking was from Palitoy at point of their collapse.


Hope that helps

Dave.

[Dave Tree]

Very very interesting. I really like the colour scheme of F Force. Paul, they're screaming for the cardbacks to be produced!!

I'd give my right testicle for a glimpse of the basement.

Nice one Dave.

Thanks Jonesy

You are under supervision at all times, I don't think they'd allow photography down there of the site as there are items that are priceless like rocking horses, dolls houses etc and they might think the motives are leading to something suspect. It's not like some old toy shop either, if anything it looks like a warhouse with nothing but cardboard boxes, crates with reference numbers, racking and dust sheets.

Dave.

[Dave Tree]

that's because they canned it to Spam, they didn't think it was anything relevant, which I find really quite funny

[tintinlostsnowy]

F troop? Could be as simple as "Future".

I am more or less thinking along the same lines as chopper on this but it being "Futuristic"

I suppose I will have to change the name of my S.A.S. Bombadier now which is in the pic with the whirlwind.

[farseer1138]

Thanks for the great reporting!! I have wondered about the Bombardier figure for a long time and it is great to have some confirmation as to what it is. Thank you again Dave Tree, I look forward to possible future unveilings from you. now to go work on a Boffin custom.

[Dave Tree]

F troop? Could be as simple as "Future".

I am more or less thinking along the same lines as chopper on this but it being "Futuristic"

I suppose I will have to change the name of my S.A.S. Bombadier now which is in the pic with the whirlwind.

I actually laughed a couple of weeks back when I saw that and thought how coincidental it was

If anything, just stick him with the SAS MMS, there, job done

[jamarmiller]

Thanks for the great reporting!! I have wondered about the Bombardier figure for a long time and it is great to have some confirmation as to what it is. Thank you again Dave Tree, I look forward to possible future unveilings from you. now to go work on a Boffin custom.

wait to you see his next one and for any doubters out there you going to have to apologize very soon