What's your current project?

[ATC]

I suspect lots of Joe heads are working on projects. What's yours?

I'm currently working on:
- M5 kangaroo (Stuart that I can easily convert into a kangaroo recon vehicle, and back again),
- Joe Rocketship (4 decks, retro 50s sci fi type) 22" in diameter and 6' tall. Planning is done, now I need to execute. Been waiting for warm enough weather to work on it in my pole barn. I was stymied for years, looking for a nose cone. Finally found the solution! If I get the shell done this summer, I can work on the interior next winter. No rush. It's a hobby!

What are YOU working on?

[Myles_Falworth]

Yesterday I continued clearing off the desk late at night. I found the screen printed rudder for the sub, and a new looking long orange hose and face mask for it. I also found the rudder decals. And lastly I discovered the decals for the whole sub which I bought some time ago from Cotswold. So I'm getting a little more organized at last.

Also, I purchased a box for the Adventure Team Mobile Support Vehicle. It's in bad shape but was only $50. I think I overpaid. I'll try to restore it some. It has paper hanging off of one flap, and some others are peeling too. There's a video by Toy Tinker Tim showing how to restore a small box, and it has some insights I'll use to at least keep this one from falling apart any further. I'll post pics when I have time.

[Myles_Falworth]

Friday I took another step in decluttering my study. I put all of the Mego figures in a plastic bin, and got them off of my desk. Then I moved my remaining helicopter parts into a bin in the basement, and brought up the other Seawolf sub which I had in that container. Turns out it is cracked as I had thought. It's stickers are in bad shape and it came with almost none of the pieces it's supposed to have. So it will get sold before long. Maybe as part of a lot. The other Seawolf which arrived yesterday was missing one fin. I popped one off of the Sub from the container, and put it on the nicer sub, so now it is complete, and my nicest Seawolf is also whole.

I have only one periscope and one rudder between the two nicer subs. They have all the other hardware except for the floating mirror and pump. I have a few pumps but only one mirror, and it's missing one of the floats. I also think I need a plastic hose and also an orange breathing hose to plug into my best sub. I think I have one long one in my parts boxes. I'll have to look. Between all of them I have one complete Seawolf, minus the orange hose, the clear hose and the white float. Soon this set will be complete. I will restore the stickers on my nicest Seawolf, and use the ones I got from Cotswold. I'm looking forward to starting on the sticker removal. It's a big job. Maybe my shipyard workers will handle it.

As the weather is improving, I will start work on the talker figure from last year. I will begin with cutting the felt pads it needs, and then find a way to apply silicone and lubricate it and clean it. Then I'll reassemble and hope it works. Then I'll know what kind of talker it is. Very exciting. My first talker rebuild.

[GeekDragon]

Nice

[Myles_Falworth]

Today a "new" Seawolf sub surfaced at my dock. It's a project sub. I bought it for parts but it has a lot of possibilities. The main issue is that the plastic has yellowed. It's also missing one of the diving planes. But it has a periscope and a rudder both intact, and also has nice stickers mostly in the right places. The dome is very cloudy, so I started by washing it with a soft toothbrush and some Dawn detergent. It took away the cloudiness, but it's still tinted yellow.

Here's a shot of the dome at the beginning of restoration. It's cleared a lot since washing. I may stick with this sub, or scavenge it for the parts I was missing, it even has the gripper that goes on the prow. Mine is warped and can't be used.

[GeekDragon]

Sounds like a plan. I also have a incomplete Seawolf. I don't remember exactly what I need, been focusing on RAH and Classified.

[Myles_Falworth]

Last night I bought a junk Seawolf sub, which has the last two parts I'm missing. So once it arrives, my nice Seawolf will be complete, except for the box and the comic. I'll find replicas someday I'm sure. I'll post photos once the parts are on. They are the periscope, and the rudder, the two most frequently lost pieces. I'm happy to have found them on a junky sub. I'll put it and another junk sub on Ebay soon, and see whether any fish bite. Then maybe I'll list my extra Adventure Team HQ, and some other extras that are taking up space in my study. Maybe then I'll be able to afford some more purchases.

[ATC]

After reading that, I'm vicariously pooped! I'll have to go take a nap!

Well done, Myles!
HUZZAH!!!
- ATC

[Myles_Falworth]

It's been several months, and no progress so far. I haven't made it to any shows lately. I'm really hoping for Joelanta 2026. We'll see. It all depends on my budget. But I got notice of a part time job at the American Legion post. They need an Accountant. And an accountant I am! So I applied yesterday and we'll see. If I get it some of the money will hopefully buy my ticket and hotel at Joelanta. Fingers crossed!

I still intend to work on the talker next. I have all the parts. When the weather warms up I'll try removing the paint from the head with the brake fluid too. I've been feeling much better lately after losing 30 pounds since November of 2024. I didn't use semi-glutides either. Just cut out almost all my sugar. I've been working on projects around the house. Most have been waiting for months or years. I unclogged the kitchen sink, and one of the bathroom sinks.

Tomorrow I plan to fix the kitchen faucet. It's become loose and wobbly. So I bought a socket wrench and it should fit. Tomorrow I hope to tighten the nut and get it back tight and sturdy again. I have another project also ready to do, but I'll leave that out. After those two are done, I'll try my hand and the felt pads for the talker, and also disassembly and cleaning, and lubricating with the silicone spray. I'll post my results once I've tried. Hopefully sometime in February or March. Cheers!

[ATC]

Great job, Myles!
I always enjoy reading your Joe rebuilding project reports!
Great stuff!
Keep it up!
- ATC

[Aiwaloki]

Great job.

[GeekDragon]

Looking good!

[Myles_Falworth]

I found a Cots peg, and the KFG hands from Geyperman. The new Joe is complete and ready to join the Team. Here he is in a uniform I got in the last big lot I purchased.

[Myles_Falworth]

Today I am working on a "Franken- Joe" but with all vintage parts. I'm out of cash for the month, and so I rummaged through my parts boxes and found enough to make 1 complete Kung Fu Grip Gi Joe. Right now I have him all together, and he has mismatched feet, and also a painted rivet neck post. He's reflocked by flockconcepts very nicely. And today if I can find a peg for the right hand I'll install his Geyperman KFG (type 2) hands. I love those hands. All my KFG figures have them except for one Land Adventurer whose KFG hands were not in terrible shape.

[Myles_Falworth]

I worked on the talker unit a bit yesterday. I managed to get a string attached, with a lot of fiddling. And I got it rewound. However now the string won't pull all the way out. Not unless you move the "flywheel" or whatever the whitish wheel visible in the photo above is called. I'm thinking it may be necessary to give it a good cleaning, and oiling, or silicon - which is what some guides say. I'll find some silicone and then try that. I also sent a Facebook message to Toy Tinker Tim yesterday asking where to get the felt pads which go around the fly wheel ( the green housing with the grayish metal pieces inside). He said to call Cotswold and they may have them or know where to get them. If that doesn't work he suggested going to Hobby Lobby and bringing an old talking until to use as a comparison.