hypothetical boxset idea

[Space Commander]

I like an articulated figure, but some of them might function better as toys with less of it.

Ah! Yes! My thoughts exactly. Perfect!

Maybe it's because my childhood happened in the late 1970s and all the 1980s, but I've never thought that for an action figure to be cool, it needed more than five points of articulation. I've never felt that way! For me, it was all about that template set by Kenner / Palitoy when they made the original Star Wars toys, a range which was followed-up by Action Force! It was all about the four limbs and the head.

I know a lot of the younger guys, (and some of the older ones, too; Jonathan Ross, for example!), prefer to have far more points of articulation than the main five, and I can understand why and respect that. But for me, a lot of them no longer look like what they're supposed to be anymore. They're no longer good toys.

A few years ago, a range of action figures was produced based on Marvel Comics characters, (not to be confused with more recent releases which are far cooler, in my opinion), but I couldn't bring myself to buy any of them. To me, they had so many points of articulation, that their limbs looked like a collection of spherical, rivetted joints, all metallic and unnatural in appearence. What should have been sleak, muscular super-heroes instead looked like a bunch of robots impersonating super-heroes.

I bought the DC Comics figures instead.

But here we are, many years later, and the newest range of Marvel's Avengers figures once again follow that original template..., and they look so much cooler as a result! In my opinion, at least.

You can see what I mean in DSN1014's pictures; the sculpting on each figures' trousers and sleeves looks incredible!

And I'm not motivated just by my own preferences; I want my young nephews to have action figures to play with that are first and foremost good toys, not just multi-articulated to keep the collectors market happy.

The article that Shaunyboy has linked us to is well written and very interesting. However, on a purely personal note, I couldn't disagree more with the author; this isn't a step backwards, it's a step back on track!

Wow, I hope we can squeeze some " Goodness" out of these new moulds!


SPACE COMMANDER

[The Baron]

If we can't persuade the PTB to create us an awesome boxset, what's to stop us organising a BFTB customisers challenge?

[dsn1014]

After the universal panning that these figures took from fans after their release I wouldn't expect to see Hasbro put these out again under the GI Joe name, unless they go to the discount retailers. But they have the tooling and could do a 7 pack for less than a 7 pack of ultra articulated Joes. Or maybe it could be a club thing and release one figure every year. They're moving towards 5POA for a lot of their properties, so there's a definite interest from them on their part to manufacture toys of this kind.

Thanks for the ideas Baron, I've no objection to new characters at all, but I'd love that CC as Red Laser though. Red Condor is a great idea as well.

Agree with you very much Space Commander, the reduced articulation makes for very nicely detailed sculpts and I appreciate the fun of them. I've quite enjoyed DCs 3 3/4" offerings over the past year or two, they're simple but fun, as a toy should be.

I will add that all of these heads are on ball joints as well, so I guess there's combos one could try to get even more out of them.

For presentation something along the lines of the Dreadnok or Slaughters Renegades boxsets would be sweet in Action Force themed box. Perhaps not with a window, maybe a box with a diorama portraying Action Force versus the Red Shadows that are in the box.

For a bit of a bad comparison here are old Red Shadows with the new moulds, they're a small bit taller than the originals, but I'm completely fine with that.

[The Baron]

And they have play-value? Unlike GI Joes?

Action Force figures are indestructible.

[The Baron]

http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/fanfic/ ... index.html

[dsn1014]

If we can't persuade the PTB to create us an awesome boxset, what's to stop us organising a BFTB customisers challenge?

Absolutely nothing, but the thing about factory packed box sets is lovely factory paint that doesn't wear as easy.

I do want to try and nab some more of these figures online to make customising a possibility.

Another reason for wanting factory painted figures, so I can bash them together and not have to worry about paint falling off. Bash! Bash!

[Space Commander]

Another reason for wanting factory painted figures, so I can bash them together and not have to worry about paint falling off. Bash! Bash!

Ah! So it's not just my nephews who do that, then?

So, do you think we'd have a shot of getting these manufactured in an official capacity as -Figures? That'd be sweeeeeeet....

Simple but fun, as a toy should be.

Perfection!


SPACE COMMANDER

[dsn1014]

So, do you think we'd have a shot of getting these manufactured in an official capacity as -Figures? That'd be sweeeeeeet....

I wouldn't have the foggiest idea of what would be involved unfortunately, but I'd look forward to that more than a lot of stuff in recent years. These things start by being talked about though

[The Baron]

I e-mailed the Collector's Club with the idea. No reply yet...

[Double-Tap]

I don't think the club will bite.
Their prices are already extortionate and with the numbers we'd be after it wouldn't be financially viable for them.
Really think we should do this ourselves.
Maybe a themed 5poa cotm with a winner from each separate force??
We could be allowed to enter in each or all categories.
Set a deadline, maybe even prizes?