When I was a teenager, I sold off my entire Action Man collection. 15 figures plus a box full of outfits and accessories. I really regret getting rid of all of them now. I had several permanently dressed up in my favourite sets. One of these was the Mountie outfit from the exclusive mail-in Star scheme. When I decided to make the Grenadier Guard, I started on a Mountie at the same time, part based on the Action Man outfit, part on the character of Sgt. Dave King from the Republic serials in the early 1940s. This is probably the most Franken-Joed figure I have ever made.











Hat: ARAH Sgt Slaughter (modified and cast)
Head: GI Joe Spy Troops Cross Hairs
Torso/Arms: SW Legacy Bail Organa
Belt/Top Pockets: Trimline
Hands: Indiana Jones (Arab Horse Figure)
Strap: Indiana Jones satchel
Holster: Indiana Jones Cairo Marketplace
Belt Buckle/Pouches: 25th Quick Kick
Waist/Groin: 25th Snowjob
Bottom pockets: IJ KotCS Colonel Dovchenko
Legs: RoC Destro
Pistol: Indiana Jones
Horse: Indiana Jones Arab Stallion
Shabrack (Saddle Blanket): Printed inkjet cotton
German Shepherd: Papo
Sentry Box: Inkjet vinyl/card

In the end, I decided to make the full set of Star mail-ins:



I already had the sentry box. Unfortunately, I could not find a bull mastiff that was anywhere near close to 1:18, so I settled for a German Shepherd; the dog used by the K-9 units of the RCMP. I found an image of an actual RCMP shabrack (saddle blanket) online and just sized it and printed it straight onto inkjet cotton. I painted the horse dark brown as they are in every picture of the RCMP on horseback that I could find.
To make the gun, I just put a link from a fine chain into the butt of the pistol and tied a piece of white cord around it.

_________________

"LASER BLAST", Kambei, that is STUNNING!!

I ditto that, really nice job on him and the box, that dog seems kinda big though.

_________________

Very nice

Fantastic work.You're really exercising your reds lately.

Khakis, brown, orange and blue up fairly soon

Interested to hear what our Canuck members think.

_________________

A dead ringer for the original. How did you do it?

Of course mounties don't look like that unless they're guarding parliament. And they don't guard the border any more than the FBI guards the American border. You know...

But the custom is awesome.

edit: Holy crap, I read the parts list - this is 1:18. I could have sworn it was 12 inch. Very well done indeed. That yellow stripe must have been an absolute nightmare to pull off.

- R

_________________

Thanks. The stripes on the legs are white vinyl trimline painted yellow. I sanded down the Destro upper legs just enough so that it would sit flush against the plastic withoutsticking out anywhere. Couldn't get it to stick on the knees properly, so I had to paint those bits.

Oh, I know that this uniform is largely ceremonial these days. It would be like expecting my Grenadier Guard custom to march across the battlefield in his red coat and bearskin hat.

_________________

He looks good. Great set.

_________________