Sonar Officers Gun and SAS Commando variants? Other thoughts

[Stanley Fernando]

Anyone else notice that ALL the gun barrels on the red AK-47 that came with Sonar Officers was always missing? Was this a production thing or do you think as I do the factory staff simply whilst cutting it off the sprues thought the barrel was part of the sprue?

Odd that, given 's rifle didn't have the barrel missing....

Now, S.A.S. Commandos, I've got 3 that have legs like Z-FORCE Sappers, also I've got a StakeOut with legs like Z-FORCE Sappers too...anyone else got types like these?

Finally, anyone else notice that later/last issue figures were made of a much harder plastic? I've even seen this sort when Palitoy was shifting just figures on any old card back i.e. you'd see a Red Shadow on a Firefly card in a single bubble....that would have been around 1987/88....Im sure I've seen a thread on the forums about 1st and 2nd issue Red Shads.....any thoughts or am I simply just bored typing out my A.F. musings?

[Andy1672]

I have never seen a red AK47 with the thin barrel, although I did have a black one with the barrel chewed off !

The SAS commando seems to have a few variants ....

Commando grey camoflage chunky legs
Commando Grey camoflage Normal legs
Stakeout all black
Stakeout grey camoflage
and then theres beaver too

I have a few of the later produced figures, their hands grip the weapons a lot better, and the newer style red shadow has a new head mold.

[Dave Tree]

Andy,

that sounds interesting, are there any comparison shots of the two Shadow heads?

Dave.

[Andy1672]

Andy,

that sounds interesting, are there any comparison shots of the two Shadow heads?

Dave.

Either Paul or the Baron posted some pics a while ago of the shadow variants,

I cant remember who or where tho !

I have both versions, so I can post some pics tomorrow if the others dont turn up.

[Andy1672]

Found it !!!!

Slightly shorter, bigger boots, different hands, different head !

[Dave Tree]

wow cool, I'll have to look into that, might have been a factory change. Has anything like this been spotted on other figures?

[Andy1672]

the only ones I have had would be ...

Z force Skip
Z force Sapper
Z force radio operator

Ive just checked my figs and SAS squad leader and commando are new sculpts too.

Ive possibly had more and never noticed but I think a lot of the figures were remolded towards the end of the line.

[Dave Tree]

oh talk about making my life a misery, that's another shed load of figuring out and listing, why are things never straightforward?

[The Baron]

I hate the new mould Shadows, the eyslits are all wrong. Whereas the old ones look menacing as hell, they look thick.

There have been many threads on this over the years.

[Dave Tree]

so just to clarify, which is which in that pic?

Dave.