ACTION MAN

Action Pilot 1966

Period: Painted Head

Dates: 1966 until 1969

Cat No: 93831110 / 34002


Action Man Pilot

Action Man Action Pilot Contents:

Painted head figure with hard hands

Pilots overalls (orange zippered work clothes)

Black boots (tall)

Cap (blue)

Metal 'Action Man' ID Tag

Star card

Air Manual (Training Manual)

Equipment Manual

Action Pilot Description:

The basic Action Man Action Pilot figure from 1966, could be accessorised further by accessory cards (See Scramble Pilot). Also available were an Action Sailor and an Action Soldier. The three original figures came ready-dressed in a simple top-opening cardboard box adorned by artwork by American Sam Petrucci of the US design agency Thresher and Petrucci. Inside were one of three themed 'Training Manuals' (Army, Air, Navy), small fold-up 'Official Equipment Manual' (a two sided fold out poster) showing the full range, and a collector's star card (generally with two starter stars).

 

Price in 1966: £1 12s 11d

Notes:

Box art for the soldier, pilot and sailor originally featured misleading artist's impressions of a partly accessorised figures on the bottom right (93831110). This was later remedied after complaints by placement of a covering sticker showing photograph of actual contents (34002). This then progressed to a new Action Man box with the oversight corrected. Towards the end of production the hard heads were replaced by softer, squeezable material. Flock haired figures were launched in 1970 along with new boxes. A rare 'Golden Rod' version of the jumpsuit exists which is yellow as opposed to orange. The original GI Joe version had additional medal ribbon, name badge and arm badge stickers and decals (available here), strange that Palitoy's rendition did not include these basics. First Action Man bodies - some 'Canadian Joes' were imported from Canada to boost low stocks in the UK and are marked as such on the bottom cheeks. Different feet sizes appear over the first batches of Action Man - The GI Joe type 'big feet' with longer straight toes, and at least two sizes of 'baby feet'. Parts often have orientation (e.g. L and R) and batch numbers (e.g. 2,3) on the limbs to help hand workers differentiate parts as they look almost identical. Many figures got through with mismatches - such as two right calfs, or two left forearms and it should not always be assumed a collector has replaced them incorrectly when repairing a figure.

40th Range

Action Man Action Pilot (c1969 box and softer head figure) showing Air Manual

Action Man Action Pilot

Action Man Action Pilot
1966 earlier hard head (image courtesy of Vectis Auctions)

Action Man Action Pilot

Early 1966 box (left) and later corrected version c.1967 (right)

Action Man Action Pilot

The first Action Man boxes had three variants:
1st: 'The moveable fighting man' with illustration example
2nd: Oversized oversticker showing 'Action Man dressed like this'
3rd: Corrected box showing 'Action Man dressed like this'.

Action Man Action Soldier

The GI Joe figure, unlike Action Man, came with rank stickers (available here)

GI Joe Rank Stickers

Price when new £1 12s 11d

Old money

First Action Man of 1966 - distinguishing marks were flesh coloured painted rivets and 1964 text on back

Action Man 1966

First Action Man of 1966 - hair and eye colour combinations

Action Man 1966 hair colours

First Action Man body (and subsequent years until dynamic physique of 1978) maker's mark reads 'MADE IN ENGLAND BY PALITOY UNDER LICENCE FROM HASBRO ©1964'

Action Man Copyright on back

First Action Man body - some 'Canadian Joes' were imported from Canada to boost low stocks in the UK and have copyright information on their butt cheeks: 'G.I. JOE REG.T.M COPYRIGHT 1964 BY HASBRO ® PATENT PENDING MADE IN CANADA' See Action Soldier for more images

Made in Cnada Copyright on back

1966 Action Man Action Pilot Dog Tag


Action Man Equipment Manuals 1966 - 1969

 

1966-67 Action Man Official Equipment Manual

Action Man Official Equipment Manual 1966

1969 Action Man Official Equipment Manual

Action Man Official Equipment Manual 1969

1968 Action Man Official Equipment Manual

Action Man Official Equipment Manual 1968

Star Cards 1966 - 1969 (More information)

 

Action Man Star Card L51 (1966)

Action Man Star Card L51

Action Man Star Card L17 (1968)

Action Man Star Card L17

Action Man Star Card L100 (1967)

Action Man Star Card L100

Action Man Star Card L30 (1969)

Action Man Star Card L30


Action Pilot Air Manual 1966 - 1969

 

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual

Air Training Manual 1966

Action Man Air Training Manual