ACTION MAN
Field Commander and Field Radio 1974
Period: Flocked Head
Dates: 1974 until c.1976
Cat No: 34154
Field Commander Description:
The (non-talking) Action Man Field Commander came complete with a working battery (HP7) operated field radio pack and looked similar to the Talking Commander of the previous year. The Action Man figure included was the flock haired gripping hands type. It was available as a complete set shown here, or the Field Radio Pack was available separately (with additional red, blue and yellow discs). The pack was redesigned and so there are two versions. The later molding was used for the white Astronaut Radio Pack. The flesh coloured record player unit was also used within the Mobile Operations HQ and Team Control Centre sets of 1974-77 the later of which added the Astronauts' black record disc to the set. The battery operated Action Man Field Radio, upon the press of a button on the front, broadcast one at random, of a set of eight 'simulated radio transmissions' per record side. In total there were 5 different records across the two sets.
Action Man Field Commander Sets:
34154:
ACTION MAN FIELD COMMANDER AND FIELD RADIO (boxed set with figure):
Flock haired gripping hands figure (with or without plastic dog tag), cap, jersey, trousers, muffler, pistol belt, holster with red cord, .45 Colt pistol, boots, headset with lead wire, working field radio, radio cover, green and clear discs (see below), 'Crowns and Pips' rank stickers, information leaflet, Equipment Manual.
34155 and 34156:
ACTION MAN FIELD RADIO PACK (boxed):
Working field radio with fold up aerial, sliding back cover, material radio cover, red, yellow and blue discs (see below), information leaflet, Equipment Manual.
Buy replacement Field Radio stickers here.
Notes:
The Action Man Field Commander shared a few items with the 'new' Tank Commander in 1974 - the headset, trousers, pistol belt and side-arm and boots. The woolen jersey and muffler was the same as found on the 1973 Talking Commander (of similar appearance) and the 1973 Soldier - the type that did not keep their shape very well. (later versions of the Action Man jersey were a synthetic type with a pronounced bottom elastic seam). The working field radio played plastic double sided records with eight phrases on each side. The two included in the set were clear and green. The separate Field Radio Pack (34115 - without the Action Man Commander) featured red, yellow and blue records. A battery powered a motor with an elastic band drove a turntable. The sound was amplified by a primitive stylus and sound cone. The cover on the radio is often missing, as is the fold up aerial. Many of these do not work. It is possible quite often to replace the simple elastic band, and clean up the battery contacts with some wire wool. The dial stickers can sometime be damaged with age (if they have been exposed to rain) but replacements are available. An internal slider bar in the player section underneath the battery, governs the speed of the voice using friction, and to some degree it can be sped up or slowed down. The Field Commander should have gripping hands that were already newly introduced the year earlier. We show a hard hands figure in some of the images. A separately available Team Control Centre also featured the a record player set up and 5 additional discs of green, yellow, blue red and black.
Action Man Field Commander 1974
Action Man Field Commander pistol belt
Field Radio front dials - replacement stickers available here
Rank stickers (as with Army Officer)
Action Man Field Commander Instructions Leaflet
Click to hear Action Man Voices
Action Man Field Commander Instructions Radio Set
Action Man Field Commander and leaflet
Action Man Field Commander cap as per Talking Commander of 1973
Action Man Field Radio record player - note speed slider under battery
Action Man Field Radio back door
Action Man Field Commander Instructions Leaflet
Action Man Field Commander Instructions Leaflet
Replacement scarf available:
Action Man Field Radio Records - Voice Sounds
Field Radio GREEN record disc:
SIDE ONE
Aim for the tracks
Direct hit
Head for cover
Close hatches
Enemy tanks sited
Commence firing
We’ve been hit
Check all controls
SIDE TWO
Enemy destroyed
Armoured car ahead
Bazooka attack
Maintain speed
Pursue and destroy
Report position
Camouflage all vehicles
Watch for tank traps
Field Radio YELLOW record disc:
SIDE ONE:
OK come in
Request air support
Right on target!
Enemy pulling out
All units report
Mission complete
Regroup, regroup!
There go the Paras
SIDE TWO
Take the ridge
Stand by taskforce
Pursuit craft ready
Come in helicopters
Alert all frogmen
Signal for supply drop
Scale the cliff
Equipment on, winch up!
Field Radio RED record disc:
SIDE ONE
The bridge is the target
Board dingy now
Signal for assistance
Synchronise your watches
We’ve been observed
Fix demolition charges
Watch out for guards
Maintain radio silence
SIDE TWO
Use the call sign
Open fire now
Return to base
Cease firing
Stay close together
Helicopter coming
Keep your head down
Detonate, detonate!
Action Man Field Radio Set Instructions
Field Radio CLEAR record disc:
SIDE ONE
Enemy in sight
Good shooting
Range 5,2,5
Tanks approaching
Prepare to attack
Hold your fire
Watch out for snipers
Stand by all units
SIDE TWO
Air attack, air attack!
Take Hill 90
Silence those mortars
Use your grenades
Advance in single file
Wait for my signal
Look out for mines
Move in from the right
Field Radio BLUE record disc:
SIDE ONE
Rescue team ready
Use the life-lines
Avalanche, Avalanche
Make for the ledge
Watch your step
Everyone safe
There he is
Load the Landrover
SIDE TWO
Supplies are low
What is your position
Head due north
Check the maps
We're nearly there
Visibility nil
Keep a lookout
Pitch the tent here
Astronaut BLACK record disc:
SIDE ONE
S.O.S in Morse Code Beeps
Charlie One to Control
Rescue calling Control
Negative no power
Situation Critical
Can't last much longer
Position not known - Over
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday
SIDE TWO
Whooping Tone
Come in Charlie One
Rescue to Charlie One - Over
Prepare to Move
We have you on Radar
Affirmative - Proceeding
All Safe - Message Ends
Roger we see your light
Action Man US Patent on mechanism -
Thanks to Samantha Wood for research.
Action Man Field Commander and Field Radio Pack Sets
ACTION MAN FIELD COMMANDER AND FIELD RADIO 34154
(image courtesy of Vectis Auctions)
ACTION MAN FIELD RADIO - later type
(image courtesy of The-Saleroom.com)
ACTION MAN FIELD RADIO - later type
(image courtesy of vectis.co.uk)
ACTION MAN FIELD RADIO PACK 34155 (image courtesy of Vectis Auctions)
1974 Action Man Official Equipment Manual
Buy Action Man Replacement Field Radio Stickers
