I was given an empty shoe-box one Christmas, and my dad told me it was an Action Man Deserter

The year was 1968. I was 10 years old, coming home from school. My mum was dead worried because I arrived home like 40 mns late. All because I had been staring at a window of a shop where I saw action man for the first time. 51 years later I still remember the feeling and I still have all my action man. The toy of my childhood. Great series! Thank you! 👍🏻🙏🏻

Taking me right back! I was born in Feb 1966 so I'm as old as Action Man! Owned several in the mid-70s, with a whole box of equipment and uniforms! Along with my mates, we had hours of fun. One story was from RAF Gibraltar about 1975. We all had vehicles and were pulling them along on bits of string when an RAF Policeman stopped his Land Rover and got out. He then spent the next 15 minutes or so pretending to control traffic with us!

i love action-man ! I'm 35 years old and I'm still playing with it!

We moved to Coalville in the early 80s to look after my nan, my nan's neighbour mrs fletcher worked at the palitoy factory shop which was open to staff and trader, we use to get a shit load of rejects. Bent action man rifles which we had to place under heavy books to straighten, we had star wars figures by the bucket loads. Happy days

My dad was born in 1969 and he always would talk about how him and his mates traded action man accessories. I still miss him but I can still remember him talking about how he used a cannon to change the channel on the TV.

I'm an American, but this is an amazing and entertaining documentary. Thank you

I had the deep sea diver when i was ten in '66. That was a BIG present in my day. Amazing memories.

In the Seventies I got all the hand me downs from big brother from the sixties. Best toys for a young kid ever.

G.I. Joe! I had eleven, all branches of the services and foreign troops. And the best item, at that time, was the Mercury space capsule. Great memories!

I grew up in 1960's. In the U.S. they were called G.I. Joe. and had fun with them as a kid. Fun times with friends. No video games, laptops or cell phones. Just your imagination.

used to visit a relative in the summer hols in the 70's, his friends dad worked for Palitoy , he had stuff before it came out in the shops, ie helicopter and the submarine... have to add, when I was 24 I visited my parents and helped them with gardening. By the fish pond , in the overgrowth, was my commend radio... no shit.. new batteries and it WORKED.. in my loft now with various other bits..

My action man Red Devil parachutist had the experience of being deployed from the top of our church tower as my dad was the vicar. It was a bit of a heavy landing but he survived. The breeches bouy set was also used for a sermon illustration racing across the church on a long string.

Action Man was an iconic part of my childhood, this is one reason I glued to your channel. I can remember when Action Man disappeared from the toy shops in the 80s, it was like my first experience of bereavement and loss. I went on to collect Star Wars and the first UK Action Force range. While I grew to love them and have many fond memories of them, these figures were rigid and plastic. Many couldn't hold their gun properly and we're a poor substitute for the fully articulated Action Man range that I grew up with. It was not until the second wave of Action Force (GI Joe) figures were launched that an acceptable level of articulation was once more reintroduced boys into action figures. Keep up your great content. 👍

I HAVE WATCHED THIS A BILLION TIMES. BUT STILL NOT BORD OF IT

Just finished watching part 3. Wow! Such an amazing story. Sadly we will never see the day again of toys with that much detail. The clothing, the accessories. Just amazing. Glad you and others are preserving this awesome figure.

I just wish Palitoy (whom I always considered to be a subsidiary of Kenner/Hasbro - ghastly incorrect assumption on my part) and Hasbro could have shared more ideas between them. While GI Joe and Action Man had shared sets, Palitoy designers were just as creative as Hasbro, and it seems Palitoy was exploring a non-military aspect earlier than Hasbro. I need to watch part 2 to see if Adventure Team rebranding affected Palitoy. Thank you Tony. I am from the US, and am happy boys from the UK had such great toys to spark their imaginations!

In 1968 I was six years old. I didn't want a "GI Joe". My Father was a WW2 veteran and would have nothing to do soldiers/war anymore. I wanted to be part of the NASA Space Program. I wish Action Man was marketed in the United States. I would've loved that toy! "Anything you want him to be" How Cool! Now I build Hot Rods, Airplanes, & Motorcycles & I want Action Man to go fast with me! Thanks for sharing, James.

Part 2 will be uploaded on Christmas Eve and finally Part 3 will be online on Christmas Day! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

I wish I could have an action man diver again. I'm almost crying with nostalgia seeing this. My poor action man was submerged so much in his diving suit that his insides rusted away and his legs fell off. My action man Red Devil was killed in a horrific skydiving accident when his canopy failed to deploy during a "jump" from the roof of a skyscraper. A tragic, tragic end for two such fearless men of action. This is a fantastic film. Kudos to the makers. (and where can I get an action man T-shirt like that?)

In the early 80s I had a few Action Man figures. But then one day a huge box, wrapped in brown paper, was delivered to the house. My Nan had sent me the Action Man collection once belonging to my Dads youngest brother, which included a few of the 60s figures. They were a bit of a shock, having gotten used to gripping hands, real-feel hair, eagle eyes and blue underpants! The box was also filled with clothes, weapons, helmets and a jeep. The 60s figures refused to stand up as their limbs were so loose. And those rigid hands just wouldn’t hold anything - I was very thankful to whoever it was that invented blu-tac! I wish I still had it all now.

Me and my Brother just discovered this channel and we are obsessed! Greetings from Ohio, USA! We will support every video and are gonna watch the whole back log!

Proud to have played, and served. 🇬🇧⚓️

I bet that if Action Man was still produced today, people would be making so many amazing stop motion videos detailing the adventures of these brave soldiers, they would have been up to the level of Lego stop motion videos you see today. I know that there are a few Action Man stop motion videos, but I think even Action Man collectors don't generally make videos out of these guys due to how valuable they are. Kinda makes me long for a real return of these guys, the second version of Action Man does NOT count...

BRING IT BACK AGAIN !👍

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. I've already watched the DVD version , but will happily watch it again!

wonderful to watch... many thanks...

Great series...thanks

The astronaut had both Mercury and Gemini influences. Essentially Ed White's 'Gemini' Space Walk....in a 'Mercury' silver pressure suit.👍 Bloody marvellous.

That pic of the fox and goose took my way back, I did my apprenticeship across the road from there on London road in the late 1980s. It was a great pub in the 1990s but rife with drugs, it was demolished some yrs ago. I can remember Geoffs toys in the precinct, he often got palitoy stuff a week before actual release, he had a great toy shop in loughborough too.

The Frogman suit and the Winter Cammo skiing ones were the BEST .

In France it was called Action Joe. I would have loved having the French and the German officer but it was not on sale anymore. I remember that their fingers were rather fragile. Very good memories.

Thank you so much. I loved my Action Man/Men The clothing was awesome. The different add-ons were brilliant. Thanks again

This is brilliant. Watching your stream last night was fascinating again. I was born same year as your brother so grew up with Action Man but just knew nothing of the origins. I so regret that I got rid of mine and my Action Force when I "grew up" (if any phrase was used very wrongly all too often it is that one). I had that taking commander.. oh man did I love it. And at some point got Eagle Eyes.. that was "the" Action man amongst my cohort. Man we were lucky. I'm getting very tempted to seek out some old stuff now. At least one or two and a couple of my fav AF figures (though I seem to have gone a bit mad for classified of late).

What a fantastic retrospective in every respect! I wasn't a big Action Man collector, but who can not acknowledge the pleasure it gave to many boys and later men. High quality toys. My friends were into Action Man and the tank, helicopter and orange pylon assault tower were landmarks of our combined play. I tended to opt for weird toys so my entry into Action Man was Bullet Man and the Space Ranger.

Great stuff! I was born in 1961 so just the right age for this. Alas my family was rather poor, and I did not have very much in the way of men and equipment. My cousin Matthew however, had wealthy parents and he had so so much stuff. I used to really look forward visits, and we would play for hours, using German stormtroopers and a mad scientist Action man, which I think his mum made the white coat for...the bad guys would kidnap his sisters Cindy dolls and then the good guys would come and take out the bad guys....

The Story Of Action Man documentaries are essential viewing! Well researched, fantastic interviews and a production worthy of a classic BBC documentary. Thanks for making this. You did Action Man justice...

Wow! I'd forgotten about the British Infantryman's rubber boots with the real thread laces that actually fitted his feet. I remember my mum knitting a tiny pair of grey socks out of leftover school jumper wool to help the oversized plastic boots stay on properly.

This was so awesome... so many memories came flooding back! I got an action man in the early 80's. Looking forward to watching part 2.

Although the whole concept had its birth in the American GI Joe, Action Man proved his absolutely equal status by pioneering just about every new development on the figure: Life-like hair, Eagle Eyes, Kung-fu Grip, and the Muscle Body. He also had some sets that I'll always envy, like Escape from Colditz. 12"/30cm GI Joe/Action Man has always had my vote for Greatest Toy in the History of Toys. But I DO have to tip my hat to Tommy Gunn, who was possibly the best imitator, among many.

I’ve seriously watched this whole documentary over 50 times at this point. Absolutely incredible work Tony!

Wow. That bought back some memories. Whish I keeped mine. But when your a kid. I remember when I got my 1st action man in the 60s . I was well happy. I didn't get the sport collection. But lot gear. From before.. 👍😊. Can't wait to see part 2. 😊

Fantastic video documentary !! I have a vintage action man space ranger ... so many great childhood memories .

I always used to lose the rubber hands (and I chewed them). But if you wrote to Palitoy, they would send you a small envelope containing a pair of hands. My mum had to do this often.

very professional and informative, well done!!

As a kid I loved action man and everything to do with him, I had most vehicles but my favourite vehicle was the German Kattenkrad motorcycle half track, I can still remember the horror as a late teenager finding out my mother had given all my action man collection away, what a shame, lol! All the best to all for 2023, 😁👍👍👍👍👊✌️🇬🇧🌍. PS, I wonder how many great ideas and important decisions have been made over a humble pint in the pub on a lunch time?

still my huge collection is at my parents house . . .It was in the early seventieth when my grandma surprised my at chrismas eve. I remember riding with my small bicycle about 9 kms to the next big city with a toy shop where i could watch this stuff through the window. I was too shy to go inside because i had no money to buy anything. I only went there (a couple of times) for watching inside the window of the toy shop.

Loved Action man as a kid in Iceland in the 70's and me and my friends spent hours playing with them and creating scenes and we often went out with them and took photos using fires and such to create thrilling scenarios - Ha Ha.

I have been searching for this DVD for ages , without success. Many thanks for putting it up. Looking forward to Part 2.

Cool video, interesting & entertaining thnx.

These bring nostalgia

I remember having one in the mid 60s with the scuba diver, astronaut, soldier & ski patrol outfits pus skis. I had great fun with it.

Another brilliant review. From USA keep up the great work!

I’m 11 and I have some vintage action men as well

GREAT MEMORIES..AS A KID GROWING UP!❤

I just bought an action man pilot and it has honestly been better than most of my action figures in my childhood, he has an amazing place on top of my shelf.

This is fascinating and beautifully produced. Wonderful!

Brilliant! Thank You.

Just started watching and wow, so many memories. Loved the reference to Gamleys with the price ticket, as family connections with dad working for them for over three decades. Going to watch the series and a trip to the loft is indicated.

Thank you so much for sharing this great documentary. Looking forward to seeing part two.

I just got around to watching this documentary Tony, what a awesome historical ride through the creation of Action Man. Thank you for making this. Though I don’t have any Action Man, I would love to add at least one piece to the Yesterland Collection! Great documentary!

Excelente vídeo

I had Palitoy action man 'Action Soldier' purchased some time in '71 or '72. All my brothers had action men dolls so is ok I have one too. I remember orange frogman outfit, the skier outfit & Blues & Royals. Realistic Hair? Hell yes!

I left coalville in 1993, zero prospects there at that time and crime was pretty bad. I think palitoy had become kenner tonka before Hasbro took over and shut the place down? My fave stuff that came out of that place was the mego stuff in the 1970s.

Utterly brilliant! ...on to part two

I just found this channel. I think it’s amazing, keep going!

Very good! I've heard of Action Man, but had never seen one until now!

Thank you for this video!!!

Just great and well produced documentary. Thank you very much.

Very well done!

I was born in 97’ my action mad had villains and everything! No face, the guy with blue and yellow spiky hair, red wolf... I miss being a kid

I loved Action man as a kid.

Great Series! Love Them! Thank You!

I was but a young Boy when i got My first action man figures, i for my birthday i got "No Face" along with two Dr. X robots as well as the good or in this case bad doctor himself, aswell as a VHS of Action man Robot attack, i later aquired more figures like dr gangreen and action man and his gorilla friend, as well as the dvd of action man: X missions, i remember always Thinking that action man was Barbie's boyfriend (this was before i found out about Ken) i became even more Convinced of this when a spy Barbie came out, good memories,

I love GI Joes and Action Man, and an avid collector!

What a wonderful documentary, brings back so many memories, thank you for making this

I ended up buying most of the uniforms in real life. I've got 80s DPM, Swedish Arctic whites and skis, diving equipment and the other week I bought a 70s diver's knife that looks like Action Man's own. And I use them all 😃

I wish these figures were still selling in the US when I was a kid in the late 70's into the 80's! I was huge into military type toys, but this line was finished by time I started getting action figures. I honestly never saw these as a kid. I would have loved these then, and would still like them now!

Great job on this video! I'm a new subscriber. Found your videos through Toy Polloi. The dioramas in this video are fantastic. I grew up with GI Joe and was not aware that Action Man existed until adulthood. It was interesting to see all the variations and different products Action Man had.

Thank you for these wonderful documentaries, I constantly watch them and your channel. Please keep up the phenomenal work 😊👏👏👏🙏

I had the American equivalent Gi Joe Freeman and deep sea divers. I had the blond and brunette basic figures with a ton of uniforms and weapons. Miss them so much.

An invaluable resource for collectors and great entertainment 👍

This Deserves More View’s And Recignition It’s Such A Good Series!

I Got my firs GI Joe in 1964. Still Have it and it still talks.

In some respects, I pity children today for being deprived of imagination through the instant gratification of toys and games. Everything has to have sounds or lights to entertain, when I was a child, we made our own sounds and had conversations with other friends as locums for the Action Men. Having worked for more than two decades in education, many children over the last 10-15 years appear to have lost the ability to imagine and create without resorting to internet images or direct guidance from staff. When they have to do things for themselves, they’re not equipped mentally to do that and struggle. Oh for life to be less complicated and for children to develop their imagination more.

These vids are so cool. Thanks dude. You are an inspiration. Im going to start my own Action Man collection.

Great Video 👌

great video

0:49 Best uniform ever😄 dang….

My dad was always taking the piss out of me for playing with my dolls . Wondering if you remember little big man smaller version of action man an more fragile but just as detailed equipment & uniforms .

Back then I didn't know what the dog tags were for and invariably mislaid them.

I wish i had this on DVD

Sure wish I kept my Action Men in good nick. Never mind, good memories.

Since im young, im ganna get that toy for my birthday

I have to say you have produced a excellent programme well done 😁😁

My opinion doesn’t matter but GI-Joe and action man are the best action figures ever

Very well done. Your passion for this range is evident. My brothers had dozens of Adventure Team Joes, along with vehicles, folding playsets, a tower, endless accessories, etc. I enjoyed some of their hand-me-downs, to be sure, but my main love was always monsters/aliens/fantasy/etc.

Cool

51st time watching lol!! 😎❤️❤️

That Deep Sea Diver triggered a memory of the tube in my mouth and the water on my hands and lips.