New direction

[Malcolm Orr]

Hi guys

First of all I'm enthused about the site makeover very much!!

One of the difficulties I had with Joe sites in general is that the version I like the best - Marvel/Hasbro era Action Force - seems to be the black sheep of the Joe family. For example on BFTB, Palitoy AF has a much greater following, whilst on Hisstank it's mainly ARAH and to a degree the movie.

I found a lot of the stuff I posted on here often struggled to enthuse other people - for example I worked for ages on a diorama story and got 1 reply I think!!! Which did make me think a bit about whether this was the right site for me.

(Which brings me to another point, and that is that generally feedback is low-ish, yet one thing that will strengthen the site and continue it's popularity is to post more feedback and encourage more contribution)

However I don't think a week has gone by where I haven't logged on on my IPhone and checked the site out. I still like hearing what Chopper, Bill, SteveD and everyone are doing and thinking, and the site has a great vibe and cameraderie.

So the new direction might be just what the doctor ordered. If you look at the new forum categories, I think I have the lion's share of my posts in the Hasbro AF and Marvel AF sections - and they are mostly historical.

So, I'd like to dive back in now that the era I like is better represented! I'm working on a few things - more diorama stories, but Hasbro AF. However these will tie in Palitoy AF continuity into later AF continuity. Please give feedback!!

Secondly I am working on the AF reloaded stuff, this time from the beginning (I will revisit Death or Glory, but that was just a test). The first 3 pages of 'Coil' are already done and I think you guys will like the work so far.

I don't expect many of you to suddenly take a greater interest in the Marvel/Hasbro AF era, but I would like to think that everyone will see that it's an unmined area that should have broad appeal, and if we can tie it into previous AF continuity then it would act as a familiar launching pad for US Joe fans to get into the site. I have some plans that at the very least I think are exciting.

Here's some stuff I'm working on/planning...

- 'Movie/Modern' styling Red Shadows
- Colouring/Redux Marvel AF (to compliment the BAF stuff)
- Diorama story series
- Profile gaps
- Filecard project

[SteveD]

Good to hear Malcolm - and good to have you back around.

One thing I would say is that even though some of your stuff may not have received much in the way of feedback I have to say that the quality of your work absolutely astounds me each and every time you post. I may not have always commented (I too often log on by phone making it a pain to post - easier to just look) but your creations are some of the best I have seen on any site - not just here.

In a way it is your stuff (and others on here too) that prompted me to try my hand at customs a few months back. Up until then I was purely a Collector (with a Capital C) and didn't do customs. But now, as my Collection approaches completion and the few remaining bits I need to complete are harder to come by, I find myself more and more enjoying the creative side of things, and any spare hours I get (and those are few and far between at the moment) I find myself up to the eyes in moulding plastic, paint and dremmell filings! And that's because guys like you and other members here inspired me to explore that side of things. (consequently my Missus now hates you all, as there are always bits on the carpet near the Toy Room, but she'll get over it!)

So, even though I may not know much about the era that you prefer (I am learning), and most of my projects are based on, or inspired by the Pallitoy and early Hasbro era stuff, and can't wait to see any and all of your new creations. Just as I can't wait to share some of my long term projects with everyone as the Winter months descend upon us and I spend more time back at the customs desk, rather than outside.

Welcome back aboard BabyJelly!!

Steve

[Malcolm Orr]

Cheers Steve

I've been following your Shadow heads. The project is fantastic.

Lol - Babyjelly! I got hit on on a US site by someone who, afterwards, explained that 'babyjelly' is slang in some parts of the US for 'woman with nice curves'!!!! The Rihanna avatar probably didn't help!!!

[SteveD]

Thanks! I'm already pleased to see the Shadow heads project is leading to lots of Shadow customs where previously people were reluctant to butcher what are now approx £10 figures. At least with my heads if folks want to have a hack with a Dremmell and it goes wrong it's only a quid or so that's gone. And I'm personally excited by some of the projects it's enabled me to do (secrets, secrets - always secrets) that just wouldn't have been viable with out them.

Re BabyJelly - I hope you explained that in some parts of the UK it is slang for something a lot worse than that!!!

[jamarmiller]

the marvel era Action Force Comics are definately something that should be mined more, I cant believe IDW hasnt done anything with it to be honest they do it with Transformers already so why not joe / action Force I just dont know.

Its something that definately needs to be made more aware to the general GI JOE collecting community . Thank god the Baron has it all up here on the site to read.

Im missing a few issues to complete my collection but not giving up in hopes of getting them!

[Double-Tap]

great to have you back in the gang BJ

[Malcolm Orr]

Cheers Jamar and Bill

Well I never really left as such - though replying on the iPhone is laborious to say the least!

I said to the Baron a short while ago that I wanted to try and concentrate on the MAF era part of the site and he was very accomodating. One of the aims I have is to try and integrate the eras a bit more. For example the Baroness profile (MAF style) ties the BAF character with the Marvel one. The diorama series coming up explains the Ironblood-Cobra Commander link etc etc, and I hope that people will like the work on the MAF comics with more realistic colouring and highlighting. I'm hoping that the redone MAF stuff, if nothing else, will attract Joe fans to this site. Funnily enough if ever Flint comes up for discussion on Hisstank I always point them to our archives here to see the UK version of Joe.

I have a huge WIP Pit set that I'm abandoning in favour of my The Tower concept, and I'm approaching the dio series afresh too!

[Malcolm Orr]

New strip added. It's 11 pages from GI Joe 157, remastered and rebranded as a stand alone MAF tale. Up for about a week before I delete it (for obv reasons)

Whoops! Meant to add it's in the fanfic section!!!!