ACTION MAN

105MM Light Gun 1975

Period: Flock and Eagle Eyes

Dates: 1975 until c.1977

Cat No: 34720

105mm Light Gun Description:

An authentic model of the British Army's latest L118 field gun (still in use today and saw service in the Falkland's War and Afghanistan) must have been quite a hit with boys and their Action Men in 1975. The Palitoy 105mm (4.1 inch) Light Gun for Action Man was a rather timely release - even before that of the British Army's official launch in 1976. It was expertly re-designed in 1/6th scale by Ivor Edmunds and Bob Brechin of the Palitoy Toy Division after requesting the blueprints from Woolwich.

The dark green field gun could be folded as shown and, by means of a supplied 'S' hook, could be towed behind most Action Man Transport Command vehicles of the time. It came with five black 'harmless' tipped shells with light grey nylon type waistband. The Field Gun first appears in the 1975 Equipment Manual and lastly appears in the 1977 Equipment Manual.

Contents:

Outer box

Inner tray

Field gun

Royal Artillery Sticker

Gold coloured breech cylinder / plug

5 plastic shells

105MM Light Gun Manual 'Top Secret' (Instruction Leaflet L555)

Notes:

The Light Gun was not particularly resilient to any degree of hard pay. As it was made from a hard, brittle plastic - many are broken. The gun can be raised and lowered on a ratcheted sprung loaded bar - the hoops through which these pass are often broken. There is a tow hook hoop to the rear and a small hook at the front. The ratchet rod arms going through the shall hoops to elevate the gun is one such weak point. The metal parts can tend to oxidize and rust. The wheels are the same as other vehicles from the time. The V&A Museum website has details here. The gold plastic breech cylinder has a spring inside - this component is often missing and is rare and stops the gun firing if missing. A royal Artillery badge is part of this set.

Action Man 105mm Light Gun Action Man Light Gun