This is exactly why I Love these old toys. Some of the accessories were just plain awesome. I had the GI-Joe jeep with the spotlight. It was really similar to this one. It even had the louvers on the front you could operate for flashing code. They just don't make toys like they used to, and if they did. People couldn't afford to buy them. Great job bringing it back to life Dave
Great work! You can actually buy LED flashlight style bulbs that are drop in replacements for those older bulbs. I upgraded my old US Army angle head flashlight that way.
I had the Action Man jeep and would've loved to have this mounted on the back. Keeping the old bulb was the right way to have toy and original as possible.
My pleasure. I always like tha challenge of something I've not fixed before. And it would be boring if I just did the same thing over and over. Lots more to come this year.
This brought back memories of getting one of these for Xmas 40 odd years ago, only worked for a short time as the battery cast a fortune for a ten year old !
Hello I am very happy to have found your site. I have bought a lot of Action Man lots recently. And with your tips and tricks on how to bring them back to a shining life without them fidgeting like Pinocio, I'm looking forward to restoring them. And also MANY THANKS for all the FREE stickers. Perfect. Best regards from Germany Thomas
Lovely job. Nice to see how similar yet how different it is from the G.I. Joe searchlight. The lense and ring holder and the button appear to be slightly different but then again we just had to slap a couple of D batteries under the hood of the jeep. And yeah, 60's lightbulbs always threw off dim light.
Dave, happy new year for you and all of the people that wrote their comments, first of all. I'm happy to see you work wonders on these vintage toys. Great way to start the year. 👍🏻 If I may make a suggestion my good friend Dave, for the bottom compartment door where the batteries are placed, you could with army green acrylic paint. That's the one I used when I was fixing the side missile launchers for the Gi.Joe hovercraft. 👍🏻🙏🏼
Awesome repair job Dave. If you just need a new bulb, they actually do led bulbs in the old torch bulb formfactor....you can even get them in 4.5v. Ideally you would want the bulb in warm white, but not sure if they all come in the more modern bluey white light. If that's all you can get you can paint the bulb with tamiya clear orange paint to get the right colour. If it's too bright, just add a 100 ohm resistor to either of the wires.
Happy New Year to you and Mrs Toy-Polloi, Dave! Great restoration on the AM Searchlight and nice mod for the battery issue. I bought one of these from eBay to repair it (cheap purchase under £5) so I am looking forward to using your ideas here. Best wishes.
You can actually buy replacement 4.5V batteries of the type originally intended for this toy. I just got one from eBay for my recently acquired searchlight, now working. These are zinc carbon, 3R12 4.5V (lamp) batteries. I got the Panasonic brand.
Given how feeble a yellow glow that lamp delivers, I suspect it's a 6V bulb. The reflector is as much a diffuser as it is a collimator due to its rough finish. A really neat project would involve taking from a suitable old slide projector the back reflector. It will be more properly reflective. Then the lamp is installed as it is in a real searchlight, reversed, facing the mirror. The lamp would be supported by three bars, and the lamp would be placed at the focal point of the mirror, resulting in a nicely collimated beam delivering a concentrated spot of much higher brightness.
I think you can still get equivalent batteries for the 1289 lantern battery if that is what it is? . There is a panasonic version on ebay . Have you ever considered moving into 3D printing? With your computer design skills, it would be easy for you to create and print toy parts.
i was planning on getting my first action man figure soon, how much should i look to be paying for a basic soldier, or even just the figure? also, where should i be looking to buy one?
I have been meaning to ask for a while now but is it a true story that you were kicked from forums because you can fix old toys no one thought could be fixed? Cause if that is a true story that is absolutely terrible and I'm glad you're doing amazing work and sharing it with us collectors. Sure most of the stuff you fix or customize I don't collect but I love just watching you fix or customize figures its always so fun. Keep up the killer work Dave! Though I have thought of collecting the Kenner line of Star Wars figures thought they are pricey these days.
Hi, sadly yes, some Star Wars collectors don't like to see things fixed up. Although in secret we all know they do and they use my videos 🤣 I just like to play with the toys I have and that includes repairing and customizing them. Cheers
@@toypolloi that’s insane. I know people including yourself at times prefer original parts but for those folks who can’t afford a “like new” Vintage figure it’s nice having these fixes and I think it brings a new life to these figures that otherwise would be tossed in the trash! So do keep up the great work Dave!
4AAs, maybe a 100 ohm resistor (I'd say rechargeables, but that is more involved), a decent LED- and your Action Men will *swear* you gave them a nuclear powered searchlight. I can't buy something like that (don't ask. It's complicated)- but I have a way to make 90% of one.
This is exactly why I Love these old toys. Some of the accessories were just plain awesome. I had the GI-Joe jeep with the spotlight. It was really similar to this one. It even had the louvers on the front you could operate for flashing code. They just don't make toys like they used to, and if they did. People couldn't afford to buy them. Great job bringing it back to life Dave
Great work! You can actually buy LED flashlight style bulbs that are drop in replacements for those older bulbs. I upgraded my old US Army angle head flashlight that way.
Thanks for the tip. If this bulb blows I will see about getting one. For now it's still working well after 40 odd years. Built to last!
I had the Action Man jeep and would've loved to have this mounted on the back. Keeping the old bulb was the right way to have toy and original as possible.
Thanks for providing the widest variety of old toy fixes of any source I know. Please keep branching out.
My pleasure. I always like tha challenge of something I've not fixed before. And it would be boring if I just did the same thing over and over. Lots more to come this year.
Remember the days when we could buy 10 of those bulbs in a pack, for a pound note in the local tandy store? 🤣🤣
What an awesome gift from Nick! I knew you could bring it back to its former glory, Dave. Cheers!
Nice work! I think the brightness of that bulb fits the age of the toy very well.
This brought back memories of getting one of these for Xmas 40 odd years ago, only worked for a short time as the battery cast a fortune for a ten year old !
Great fix. As soon as I saw the battery box I thought, that'll fit perfectly on the back of the battery cover you made. Then you did it. Get in!
Nice work, Dave. You are lucky to have the plastic ring unbroken. Keep the good work!!!
Hello I am very happy to have found your site. I have bought a lot of Action Man lots recently. And with your tips and tricks on how to bring them back to a shining life without them fidgeting like Pinocio, I'm looking forward to restoring them.
And also MANY THANKS for all the FREE stickers. Perfect.
Best regards from Germany
Thomas
Torch battles are proper old school
A fun and almost therapeutic watch as always!
Brilliant work Dave. Great to see this back in action 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Well done! Always fun to watch you bring toys back to life!
I knew you wouldn't be able to resist painting the battery cover lol. I'd have been the same, but it was worth it - great modification 🙂
Thanks 👍
You can get a drop in replacement LED in warm white for that. It will be brighter but be the same color and won't take any modding.
Wow! Great work, Dave.
Excellent work Dave. Wow.
I love the simplicity of these old toys - so much beauty in them!
Yeah, the are simple, but do all they need. And they are easily fixed which is always good.
Great work dave as usual I'm going to restore my searchlight now you've inspired me.
Lovely job. Nice to see how similar yet how different it is from the G.I. Joe searchlight. The lense and ring holder and the button appear to be slightly different but then again we just had to slap a couple of D batteries under the hood of the jeep.
And yeah, 60's lightbulbs always threw off dim light.
Another fantastic repair tutorial! Turned out great!👍
Thanks 👍
Excellent repair, for a wonderful Action Man accessory, Dave.
Very nicely done. Thanks Dave.
Glad you enjoyed it
Dave, happy new year for you and all of the people that wrote their comments, first of all. I'm happy to see you work wonders on these vintage toys. Great way to start the year. 👍🏻
If I may make a suggestion my good friend Dave, for the bottom compartment door where the batteries are placed, you could with army green acrylic paint. That's the one I used when I was fixing the side missile launchers for the Gi.Joe hovercraft. 👍🏻🙏🏼
Thanks for the tip. I just used what paint I had to hand. As the cover will never be seen it probably didn't need painting at all.
Great Job Dave now that converted to normal
Battery you can replace them
Superb intro!
Awesome work as always man
Thanks again!
Awesome repair job Dave.
If you just need a new bulb, they actually do led bulbs in the old torch bulb formfactor....you can even get them in 4.5v. Ideally you would want the bulb in warm white, but not sure if they all come in the more modern bluey white light. If that's all you can get you can paint the bulb with tamiya clear orange paint to get the right colour. If it's too bright, just add a 100 ohm resistor to either of the wires.
Happy New Year to you and Mrs Toy-Polloi, Dave!
Great restoration on the AM Searchlight and nice mod for the battery issue.
I bought one of these from eBay to repair it (cheap purchase under £5) so I am looking forward to using your ideas here.
Best wishes.
Happy new year!
Hey Dave
Great fix. Perhaps slide the old battery contact back into the slot, just to keep it all together. Thanks for sharing and take care.
It goes in my box of spares. I don't throw things like that away as it may yet come in useful.
@@toypolloi
I get it🙂
You can actually buy replacement 4.5V batteries of the type originally intended for this toy. I just got one from eBay for my recently acquired searchlight, now working. These are zinc carbon, 3R12 4.5V (lamp) batteries. I got the Panasonic brand.
Thanks. Good to know for future.
WERE THERE ANY BANNED ACTION MAN TOYS 🚜🚜🚜🚜🚜
I don't think so.
Awesome video
LR12 Batteries are available on Amazon for less than £4
Nice!
Given how feeble a yellow glow that lamp delivers, I suspect it's a 6V bulb.
The reflector is as much a diffuser as it is a collimator due to its rough finish.
A really neat project would involve taking from a suitable old slide projector the back reflector. It will be more properly reflective. Then the lamp is installed as it is in a real searchlight, reversed, facing the mirror. The lamp would be supported by three bars, and the lamp would be placed at the focal point of the mirror, resulting in a nicely collimated beam delivering a concentrated spot of much higher brightness.
Is that torch battery similar to the ones used on camping lights? In the USA Dollar Generals sell those square batteries for around $10 USD.
It could be. In the UK that shape of battery is no longer available.
@@toypolloi Oh I see, I'll look around for a compatible one and can email you if I find one. :) Keep up the great work my friend!
I think you can still get equivalent batteries for the 1289 lantern battery if that is what it is? . There is a panasonic version on ebay . Have you ever considered moving into 3D printing? With your computer design skills, it would be easy for you to create and print toy parts.
A bicycle light or lightbulb could also work with fewer batteries
Toy Polloi - Toy restoration talent on loan from GAWD!
i was planning on getting my first action man figure soon, how much should i look to be paying for a basic soldier, or even just the figure? also, where should i be looking to buy one?
Check out the action man Facebook groups. There are a few and they will be able to help. Cheers
I have been meaning to ask for a while now but is it a true story that you were kicked from forums because you can fix old toys no one thought could be fixed? Cause if that is a true story that is absolutely terrible and I'm glad you're doing amazing work and sharing it with us collectors. Sure most of the stuff you fix or customize I don't collect but I love just watching you fix or customize figures its always so fun. Keep up the killer work Dave! Though I have thought of collecting the Kenner line of Star Wars figures thought they are pricey these days.
Hi, sadly yes, some Star Wars collectors don't like to see things fixed up. Although in secret we all know they do and they use my videos 🤣 I just like to play with the toys I have and that includes repairing and customizing them. Cheers
@@toypolloi that’s insane. I know people including yourself at times prefer original parts but for those folks who can’t afford a “like new” Vintage figure it’s nice having these fixes and I think it brings a new life to these figures that otherwise would be tossed in the trash! So do keep up the great work Dave!
What a cool piece. Pity Action Man didn't have an AA gun in the range. Would've made for a great display.
Th a ts a kool toy 🚜🚜🚜
4AAs, maybe a 100 ohm resistor (I'd say rechargeables, but that is more involved), a decent LED- and your Action Men will *swear* you gave them a nuclear powered searchlight.
I can't buy something like that (don't ask. It's complicated)- but I have a way to make 90% of one.
In all honesty, not being able to get the battery all these years may be what kept it from becoming a corroded mess.
Just one thing to say. Don't touch Plastic weld when it is humid, this liquid is dangerous for the skin.
Eyy