Action Man thumbnail 1
Action Man thumbnail 2
+23
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Design Gallery, The Factory, Case 1

This object consists of 33 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Action Man

Prototype Heads
1966-1984 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

1. matrix, cast in heavy, solid grey plastic material. It appears to be complete with a beard shape on the lower face. Ht. 3¾in (9.6cm)
2. head shots, moulded pink polypropylene on moulding stem. Comprises two faces and two backs, with the backs designed for the 'eagle eye' mechanism. Back of neck marked HONG KONG.
overall 59in x 4in x 2in. (149.9cm x 10.2cm x 5.1cm)
3. Sample Submission PS 733; sheet for the head shots; two page; one white and the other green. From G.M. PRODUCTS (HK) LIMITED to Palitoy, Bob Brechin/R.Morrison from K T Chu. Submitted for evaluation and comments and for immediate action. Probably 1981.
4. envelope containing the head shots; white label printed with G M PRODUCTS (HK) LIMITED, 10/F Peninsula Centre, 67 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Printed on the envelope itself
SMILE INDUSTRIES LIMITED, Shum Kee Paper & Carton Fty., Bldg 2-4 Floors, 43-47 Wang Lung St., Tsuen Wan, N T Kowloon.
5. head shot, plain but fitted with 'eagle' eyes mechanism. Marked Hong Kong on the back of the neck.
6. head shot, painted and fitted with 'eagle' eyes mechanism and with the hair of blond flock.
7. memo with heads (5 and 6) from David Wai (of G M Products) to Bob Brechin; dated 2/16/83 (Feb. 16). It is a note that (5) is yellow and sent
for approval and (6) is too red.
8. head shot, plain and fitted with the 'eagle' eyes but not the mechanism 9. memo with head (8) from David Wai to Bob Brechin dated 3/23 (March 23). Sent as a comparison with (6) which was said to be too yellow.
10. head shot, painted brows (black, mouth and scar (pink); fitted with
'eagle' eye mechanism which is wobbly.
11. Sample Submission sheet from David Wai of G M Products Limited to B Brechin dated 7/8/83 (July 8); numbered PS 557 (?).
*12-19. head shots in original plastic bags
12. numbered 24527-1. 13. head shot, face and neck, numbered in pencil 24527-1. 14. head shot; back with edge cut away, numbered in pencil 24527-1. 15. head shot; face and neck. 16. head shot, back
17. head shot, numbered 1. 18. head shot, numbered 2. 19. head shot, lettered A
*20-23. head shots in original plastic bags. These three are complete heads but the seam join has not been welded.
20. numbered 24527-2. 21. head shot, hand painted black over hair shape and brows, pink lips and scar. 22. head shot, with flock hair, black, painted brows, lips and scar.
23. head shot, with flock hair and beard, black, painted brows and scar. *24-26. head shots supplied for approval of flocking in white envelope marked '2 Eagle-Eye Heads - Action Man Flocking Approved 12/11/76'. 25. head shot with brown/black hair. 26. head shot with blond hair and beard.
*27-32. head shots with moulded and painted eyes; three with flock hair and two with additional facial paint.
27. 1966-72 casting with hair lines cast in, brown hair and brows, blue eyes, pink mouth - spray painted; reverse socket head
28. 1966-72 as (27) but over painted in cream with additional work on brown hair, on thickening the brows and creating a moustache as well as changing the eyes to brown

29. 1966-72 as (27) but over painted in cream and off white with additional work on brown hair, on thickening the brows and creating a beard as well as enhancing the blue eyes
30. c. 1972 with the head covered with blond flock, spray painted blue eyes, black brows and pink mouth and scar
31. head shot of polypropylene (harder than the others) with black flock hair, spray painted brown eyes and brows, pink mouth and scar
32. head shot of polypropylene, with black flock hair and beard, spray painted blue eyes, black brows, pink mouth and scar.


Object details

Object type
Parts
This object consists of 33 parts.

  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
  • Action Man Prototypes
TitleAction Man (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
injection moulded plastic
Brief description
Action Man Prototypes; English/Hong Kong; 1966-84
Physical description
1. matrix, cast in heavy, solid grey plastic material. It appears to be complete with a beard shape on the lower face. Ht. 3¾in (9.6cm)
2. head shots, moulded pink polypropylene on moulding stem. Comprises two faces and two backs, with the backs designed for the 'eagle eye' mechanism. Back of neck marked HONG KONG.
overall 59in x 4in x 2in. (149.9cm x 10.2cm x 5.1cm)
3. Sample Submission PS 733; sheet for the head shots; two page; one white and the other green. From G.M. PRODUCTS (HK) LIMITED to Palitoy, Bob Brechin/R.Morrison from K T Chu. Submitted for evaluation and comments and for immediate action. Probably 1981.
4. envelope containing the head shots; white label printed with G M PRODUCTS (HK) LIMITED, 10/F Peninsula Centre, 67 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Printed on the envelope itself
SMILE INDUSTRIES LIMITED, Shum Kee Paper & Carton Fty., Bldg 2-4 Floors, 43-47 Wang Lung St., Tsuen Wan, N T Kowloon.
5. head shot, plain but fitted with 'eagle' eyes mechanism. Marked Hong Kong on the back of the neck.
6. head shot, painted and fitted with 'eagle' eyes mechanism and with the hair of blond flock.
7. memo with heads (5 and 6) from David Wai (of G M Products) to Bob Brechin; dated 2/16/83 (Feb. 16). It is a note that (5) is yellow and sent
for approval and (6) is too red.
8. head shot, plain and fitted with the 'eagle' eyes but not the mechanism 9. memo with head (8) from David Wai to Bob Brechin dated 3/23 (March 23). Sent as a comparison with (6) which was said to be too yellow.
10. head shot, painted brows (black, mouth and scar (pink); fitted with
'eagle' eye mechanism which is wobbly.
11. Sample Submission sheet from David Wai of G M Products Limited to B Brechin dated 7/8/83 (July 8); numbered PS 557 (?).
*12-19. head shots in original plastic bags
12. numbered 24527-1. 13. head shot, face and neck, numbered in pencil 24527-1. 14. head shot; back with edge cut away, numbered in pencil 24527-1. 15. head shot; face and neck. 16. head shot, back
17. head shot, numbered 1. 18. head shot, numbered 2. 19. head shot, lettered A
*20-23. head shots in original plastic bags. These three are complete heads but the seam join has not been welded.
20. numbered 24527-2. 21. head shot, hand painted black over hair shape and brows, pink lips and scar. 22. head shot, with flock hair, black, painted brows, lips and scar.
23. head shot, with flock hair and beard, black, painted brows and scar. *24-26. head shots supplied for approval of flocking in white envelope marked '2 Eagle-Eye Heads - Action Man Flocking Approved 12/11/76'. 25. head shot with brown/black hair. 26. head shot with blond hair and beard.
*27-32. head shots with moulded and painted eyes; three with flock hair and two with additional facial paint.
27. 1966-72 casting with hair lines cast in, brown hair and brows, blue eyes, pink mouth - spray painted; reverse socket head
28. 1966-72 as (27) but over painted in cream with additional work on brown hair, on thickening the brows and creating a moustache as well as changing the eyes to brown

29. 1966-72 as (27) but over painted in cream and off white with additional work on brown hair, on thickening the brows and creating a beard as well as enhancing the blue eyes
30. c. 1972 with the head covered with blond flock, spray painted blue eyes, black brows and pink mouth and scar
31. head shot of polypropylene (harder than the others) with black flock hair, spray painted brown eyes and brows, pink mouth and scar
32. head shot of polypropylene, with black flock hair and beard, spray painted blue eyes, black brows, pink mouth and scar.
DimensionsOther: see each
Marks and inscriptions
see each
Object history
References: Bob Brechin and R Morrison; Palitoy; K T Chu; G M Products (HK) Ltd; Smile Industries Ltd.
Collection
Accession number
B.1126:1-1993

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Record createdApril 17, 2000
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