Not currently on display at the V&A

Action Man

Figure
1965-1978 (made)

1. rigid figure, dark resin hand painted in flesh colours. This consists of the body and limbs which are glued together and a pair of trunks also of resin painted red. The head is soft plastic with blond flock hair and painted facial features, glued to the neck. The lower arms, lower left leg and the right foot have been cut off.
2. figure, ©1978 body and limbs. The head and arms together with the upper chest and shoulders have been covered with a rubber substance and painted by hand in flesh tones. The left arm to the hand is rigid and the right has a large tack on the outside of the elbow but it bends. The hair is moulded and painted yellow as are the eyebrows; the eyes are painted blue. The figure is wearing blue trunks. Marks:-©CPG Products Corporation 1978.
3. Action Man head and figure, ©1978; standard model with all the joints but the neck and hips glued so that they do not move. It may be that the figure was used in filming and required to be stiff. Hair is dark brown flock and the eyes are moving eagle eyes. Marks as (2)
4,5. Chest/torso, dark blue moulded plastic. This may be designed for a different version of Action Man. Marks:-©CPG PRODUCTS CORPORATION/ PATENTS NOS GB 1513758 MEX 131464 ESP 448048 OTHER PATENTS PENDING MADE IN HONG KONG
6. Action Man head, soft plastic with partial moulding of the hair. The facial features are not painted, however, there are traces of dark brown paint around the hairline and cream or flesh tones on the face.
7. Action Man head which has had the back part cut away. The hair is moulded and painted dark brown, however, the facial features are not painted nor are there any eyes. Marks:- HONG KONG
8. Action Man head, the back part for (7)
9. Action Man head which has had the back part cut away. This is the same as (7), however, part of the `eagle eye' mechanism has been placed inside.
10. Action Man head, the back part for (9).
11. Action Man look alike copy, the plastic is paler and the eyes and brows smaller; the dark brown flock hair is thinner


Object details

Object type
Parts
This object consists of 11 parts.

  • Action Man Prototype Figure
  • Action Man Prototype Figure
  • Action Man Prototype Figure
  • Action Man Prototype Figure
  • Action Man Prototype Figure
  • Action Man Prototype Head
  • Action Man Prototype Head
  • Action Man Prototype Head
  • Action Man Prototype Head
  • Action Man Prototype Head
  • Action Man Prototype Head
TitleAction Man (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
plastic
Brief description
Prototype figures of Action Man; English; 1965-75.
Physical description
1. rigid figure, dark resin hand painted in flesh colours. This consists of the body and limbs which are glued together and a pair of trunks also of resin painted red. The head is soft plastic with blond flock hair and painted facial features, glued to the neck. The lower arms, lower left leg and the right foot have been cut off.
2. figure, ©1978 body and limbs. The head and arms together with the upper chest and shoulders have been covered with a rubber substance and painted by hand in flesh tones. The left arm to the hand is rigid and the right has a large tack on the outside of the elbow but it bends. The hair is moulded and painted yellow as are the eyebrows; the eyes are painted blue. The figure is wearing blue trunks. Marks:-©CPG Products Corporation 1978.
3. Action Man head and figure, ©1978; standard model with all the joints but the neck and hips glued so that they do not move. It may be that the figure was used in filming and required to be stiff. Hair is dark brown flock and the eyes are moving eagle eyes. Marks as (2)
4,5. Chest/torso, dark blue moulded plastic. This may be designed for a different version of Action Man. Marks:-©CPG PRODUCTS CORPORATION/ PATENTS NOS GB 1513758 MEX 131464 ESP 448048 OTHER PATENTS PENDING MADE IN HONG KONG
6. Action Man head, soft plastic with partial moulding of the hair. The facial features are not painted, however, there are traces of dark brown paint around the hairline and cream or flesh tones on the face.
7. Action Man head which has had the back part cut away. The hair is moulded and painted dark brown, however, the facial features are not painted nor are there any eyes. Marks:- HONG KONG
8. Action Man head, the back part for (7)
9. Action Man head which has had the back part cut away. This is the same as (7), however, part of the `eagle eye' mechanism has been placed inside.
10. Action Man head, the back part for (9).
11. Action Man look alike copy, the plastic is paler and the eyes and brows smaller; the dark brown flock hair is thinner
DimensionsHeight: 11¾in (29.8cm)
Production
Made by: Palitoy Company
England/ hong kong
Collection
Accession number
B.449:1-1996

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Record createdApril 18, 2000
Record URL
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