ACTION MAN

Mountaineer 1969

Period: Painted Head / Flock Head

Dates: 1969-c.71

Cat No: 35003

Description:

Action Man was becoming less military, and more adventurous by the late 1960s. The Polar Explorer, Jungle Explorer, and Mountaineer sets of 1969 were a new way of giving Action Man adventures without war at the forefront. The accessories could be bought separately and included:

Action Man Mountaineer Sets:

35003:

MOUNTAINEER: Anorak, jersey knee breeches, socks, boots, rucksack, ice hammer, ice axe, crampons, pitons, karabiners, rope, 4 x sucker cups, information leaflet. Equipment Manual.

35005: (1969-1970)

BASE CAMP: Tent, flag,storm lamp, primus stove, mug, knife, fork, spoon, mess tin, billy can, entrenching tool, information leaflet. Equipment Manual.

Action Man Mountaineer Equipment Cards:

35205:

MOUNTAINEER ACCESSORIES: Helmet, goggles, ice hammer, pitons, karabiners, rope. Equipment Manual.

35207:

HIGH ALTITUDE EQUIPMENT: Oxygen cylinders, frame, 2 x straps, airline bladder, face mask, tube. Equipment Manual.

35203:

SLEEPING BAG: Fleece lined sleeping bag. Equipment Manual.

35209:

MOUNTAINEER ANORAK: Blue Anorak. Equipment Manual.

Notes:

The Mountaineer first appeared in 1969 and is similar to the Mountain Rescue set. The separate High Altitude Equipment is rare and fragile. The ice pick should have a Union Jack and a tiny loop at the back which often breaks off. The Mountaineer's backpack is blue, in contrast to the Polar Explorer's grey denim effect rucksack. The Mountaineer's top would be more appropriately named 'cagoule', not Anorak. The orange Anorak has no fur edging to hood, unlike the separately available Mountaineer Anorak, which is blue (in turn similar to the Polar Explorer's red Anorak). There is a Khaki version of the Anorak, and moleskin knee breeches that were available subsequently on the 1970s 'Quartermaster' accessory cards. The boots are the brown lace-up type and the socks and jersey are a sage green. Main difference between this figure and the Mountain Rescue Mountaineer are white helmet over orange, Union Jack over Action Man logo on Anorak, green socks over dark brown, and brown boots over black.