PALItoy ACtIoN MAN (1971)

40tH ANNIVERSARy (2006)

THE BLUES& ROYALSCOMPARISONNOTES

Pailtoy Original 40th AnniversaryPrepared to assist col lectors to establ ish the d i f ferences

between the or ig inal Act ion Man Blues & Royals uni form

of the 1970s (perhaps c .£200 in value) f rom the 40th

Anniversary re- issue of 2006 (value c .£40)

www.act ionmanhq.co.uk 2015.

‘Act ion Man’ , images and products are a registered

trademark of Hasbro.

Original Palitoy

Note lack of detail

on chip strap elastic

40th Anniversary

Intricate elastic

strap

HELMET STRAP

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Note lack of patina

and highly polished

surface.

40th Anniversary

Helmet seam a

little more obvious

than 40th

HELMET MOULDING

General remarks:

Both helmets have off center

Queens crown in relation to badge.

Externally only seam is cruder on

original.

General remarks:

40th helmet looks much newer

and not easy to dull it to look

original.

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Note large moulding

circles

More

pronounced

internal seam

join divot

40th Anniversary

Note dulled

reflective surfaces

INSIDE HELMET

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Less detail on boss

as if cast from

original

40th Anniversary

HELMET BOSS

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Cruder turns on

gloves could just be

this example

Yellow

discolouration

to gauntlet

40th Anniversary

GLOVES

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Smooth inner

Hessian type

backing to

material

40th Anniversary

GLOVES

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Moulding circle

Blade slightly

more curved

40th Anniversary

SWORD

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Smaller hole takes

straighter sword.

Note no chrome

paint to inside

Larger

rectangular

hole to allow

for entry or

greater radius

curved blade

40th Anniversary

SCABBARD INSIDE

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Pointed end to

‘delta’

rounded end

to ‘delta’

40th Anniversary

SWORD

General remarks:

Very close but detailing of delta

shape is more pointed on 40th

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Tidy glue joins

Press

soldered

joins

40th Anniversary

Large split ring

More

pronounced

raised margin

Note very small

split ring

BELT

General remarks:

Plastic more than likely to have

aged and be yellower and feel

harder to the touch

General remarks:

Brighter white and more supple

and shiny

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original 40th Anniversary

Smooth texture

Slightly more

warm

coloured gold

Leather

surface

texture

General remarks:

Plastic more than likely to have

aged and be yellower and feel

harder to touch

General remarks:

Brighter white and more supple

and shiny

BELT

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Golds have slightly

aged look - beware

Golds a

warmer

colour and

look newer

40th Anniversary

Thicker red threadThinner red

thread

POWDER BOX STRAP

General remarks:

Very similar

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Original has

circular

injection

moulding

mark (and

one further

up near

buckle

40th Anniversary

Shorter tip section

POWDER BOX STRAP END

General remarks:

Very similar

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original 40th Anniversary

POWDER BOX

General remarks:

Perhaps the closest match and

hardest to distinguish

General remarks:

Black plastic more consistent and

newer looking.

Golds have slightly

aged look - bewareGolds a

warmer

colour and

look newer

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Printed direct

onto surfaces

40th Anniversary

Original separate

badging detail

applied

TUNIC

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Printed direct

onto surfaces

40th Anniversary

Original separate

badging detail

applied

TUNIC

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Buttons stuck on

40th Anniversary

Buttons with

turned over spikes

(detail of inside of

tunic)

TUNIC

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original

Waterloo badge

stuck on

40th Anniversary

Left arm Waterloo

badge with turn

over spikes

Detail of inside of

tunic

WATERLOO SLEEVE BADGE

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original 40th Anniversary

RIDING BREECHES

General remarks:

Feels very stiff and nylon

General remarks:

Feels cotton and very soft to touch

More likely purer

white than original,

but still off white.

Yellow

discolouration

most likely

40th four-cord

elastic more

pronounced ribs

Original elastic

shown. However

may have had

‘new’ elastic like

the 40th type

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original 40th Anniversary

SPURS AND BOOTS

Buckle has no

tongueBuckle has

tongue detail

General remarks:

40th boot I studied had hole in boot top

from the cotton used to attach to

packing card.

General remarks:

Original boots feel supple and have

patina

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK

Pailtoy Original 40th Anniversary

SPURS

Boss has

spree snap off

damage like

an ‘eye’

Spur boss like

a ‘slot head

screw’

General remarks:

Spur gold strap similar to helmet

differences

THE BLUES& ROYALS

1971 2006

.CO.UK