What's your current project?

[Myles_Falworth]

Today I've been working on decluttering my study. I still haven't found the older slotted shoulder Joe, however I did find the Joe I posted about on 1/21/23 . I could not remove to marks from his face. So today I replaced his head with a redhead and I restrung his arms. He's in better shape now, and ready for a uniform. Here he is as of today.

[Myles_Falworth]

The next project I will tackle is going to be a broken Joe I bought back in 2021. I posted these photos (from the Ebay ad) back then. I just secured the parts I need (I think) and can restore the upper arms. Wish me luck!

[Myles_Falworth]

He's now ready to rejoin the Adventure Team.

He hit the showers and washed his face and got a fresh shave. His boots are on his feet, and his left elbow was fixed at the surgeon's office. He now has Geyperman Action Hands (type 2) which are my favorite hands. Ready for action once again.

[Myles_Falworth]

Yesterday I fixed his floppy left arm by putting it on the "anvil" and hammering the rivet in a little tighter. It worked! I put a set of boots from the same owner on him last night, and today he'll get new Geyperman Action hands to replace the old KFG hands. I also washed his face yesterday. It's much nicer now. Pics to follow later today/tonight.

[Myles_Falworth]

Cotswold and a couple other sites have kept me in business for sure. So have the generous collectors on the Trenches. So much has been given to me, and so much advice has come from Trenchers. I am truly grateful for them and this wonderful hobby I enjoy so much.

[Myles_Falworth]

I've done all I can with my Talking Man of Action. He's in a minty MOA uni now just waiting for his boots and head. My next project is easy. The blonde MOA i just bought a few days ago. He has Kung fu grip, and perfect flocking, but his uniform is very faded from many outdoor adventures. I may let him keep that uni just to show the years on the Adventure Team. Here are some closer photos.

[GeekDragon]

What would we ever do without Cotswold? He's looking good so far.

[Myles_Falworth]

I cleaned the tape - which really didn't have much dirt, and I got rid of all the residue of the old sponge padding. I replaced it with new sponge and permanent tape - which didn't hold much at all. And I've reassembled the figure now. He speaks in a high pitched voice which is much louder now, and only part of the first phrase so far. "Gi Joe US Army Reporting for duty!" So he is a Talking Man of Action and not a Commander as I had thought. I do have a head being reflocked as a MOA, and it should be here in a week or two. Then I'll find a uniform for him. I need to look at the instructions for talkers and see what to do about a high pitched voice. I'll post pics once the head arrives and he's suited up in a uniform.

[Myles_Falworth]

I replaced the hardware on both arms with the Cotswold kit. The rivets fit perfectly and the arms are ready to reattach. First I'll try cleaning the talking mechanism and see if I cam improve the sound. I tried a new speaker but that didn't help. Here is a photo of the arms with the new hardware installed. Enjoy!

[Myles_Falworth]

I mailed the head off for reflocking today. I'll try to have a go at cleaning the audio tape inside the talker unit today too. I have Q-tips and alcohol, and a vise, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

I have a talker kit from Cotswold which will supply the hardware for the arms. I feel more confident about doing this now after my installation of the Cotswold thigh. I had to drive the rivet in place for the repro thigh just like I would need to for an original. I know how to secure it now. I'm very glad to have the same tools the Toy Tinker Tim uses. The ball peen hammer was especially effective.

I'll post an update after one or both of these tasks are complete. Then I'll post some more pictures of the figure in progress. I'm wondering whether he's not actually a commander. The phrases sound different, and he was sporting a metal dog tag like a Talking Man of Action or Astronaut would wear. We'll find out

[Myles_Falworth]

I never heard back from the guy on the Trenches. So this evening I used the Cotswold thigh, and finished the assembly of the Land Adventurer I have been working on for so long. I put him in a nice LA uniform and issued him some "new" boots. He'll get a sidearm after he requalfies at the range tomorrow. Here he is at long last! Next up is the headless AT Commander figure I bought with my Capture Copter from the English website (no longer active). He talks, but the voice is high pitched, but steady. I'll try cleaning the tape tomorrow, and then work on refitting the shoulders with new pieces from Cots. I also have a head which needs reflocking which I'll send off soon. I have a uniform waiting for him too. This one came from none other than Derryl DePriest. Super nice guy, author and former Hasbro employee.

[GeekDragon]

Looking good!!!!

[ATC]

Well done!
Keep up the good work!!!
- ATC

[Myles_Falworth]

did some more work on the Joe in Post #237 and following. I've now replaced the pelvis, the entire right leg and foot, and the hip joints on both sites. I've also restrung him, and he still needs a replacement left upper leg and a better left foot. I found both in my parts bin today. I'll post some photos of him now and show the parts replaced already. To put in the new thigh, I need to remove the knee peg and replace it. I've had some practice over the past few months. I broke my nicest one by using too much force. So this will be a more delicate operation. Once the thigh and foot are in, I'll post a few shots of this Joe in uniform and restored to duty.

[Myles_Falworth]

Drquest is a great Joe! I got the Mike Power body (and extra goodies) today and am using most of it. I'll use the pelvis. ball joints and the entire right leg and foot. The left thigh was the focus of my work today. I hammered out the knee pin and removed the Mike Power silver knee peg. I'll probably use a cots knee peg but I salvaged a vintage peg from a broken thigh I had. So thanks to Drquest this Joe will be good as new! Pics to follow!