Retro 3-3/4" O-Ring Action Figures embattled in the 80s Cold War!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - September 2025
6 months ago
– Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 07:58:49 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
Fall is here, and we're back to update you on progress for the month of September.
Production Update
The factory team provided us with a video update on the sculpt revisions they have been working on. They've made the necessary adjustments at the model shop to Lancer and Kransy-Ninja to fully achieve the desired range of motion and are moving forward in the process.
Screen capture of factory articulation test, courtesy of Dave Proctor
Progress on the VOLK, UPTOWN, GRU SPETSNAZ, and OUTLAW is ongoing. These figures also required some additional revision at the model shop.
Screen capture of factory articulation test, courtesy of Dave Proctor
Given the rate of progress, we no longer expect these figures to ship before the end of the year. We're sorry to report that we are not further along in the process, and please know that we are pushing to complete these figures as soon as possible, and will continue to share all progress as it occurs. We recognize that this project is taking significantly longer than originally estimated, and we thank you for your continued patience!
Upcoming Shows
Once again, the LONGBOW® team will be in attendance at the 14th Annual ASSEMBLY REQUIRED presented by Code Name: Iowa. Please join us on November 14th and 15th in Des Moines at the HyVee Hall!
Thank you again for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - August 2025
7 months ago
– Sun, Aug 31, 2025 at 06:45:57 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
This update is dropping on Labor Day weekend for backers in the USA, and we hope you're all enjoying it. This month, we have production and comic updates to share.
Production Update
Our factory partners are still working on the revision notes we sent them in the previous months. The figures have had an issue with the legs spreading apart. The factory thought they had a fix, and it worked well on LANCER and KRASNY-NINJA, but it continues to be an issue on the other figures. They are working to adjust the tooling as needed for proper articulation. This is a normal part of the process, but it is taking longer than they originally anticipated. We continue to push them forward to completion and will keep you all updated on the process.
Some figures still have fit and finish issues.
Our team also worked with the factory to finalize the bubble layouts for these first 6 figures: LANCER, VOLK, UPTOWN, OUTLAW, GRU SPTESNAZ, and KRASNY-NINJA. We hope to have more to share on that front soon.
LONGBOW Comic Issue #2
The team at Broken Icon Comics is still hard at work on CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Issue #2. Nick Wentmore has been working on the colored pages and is using a half-tone style to give things an even more retro feel.
Colored panels from CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Issue #2
If you are interested in running an advertisement in Longbow Issue #2, please reach out to [email protected] for more information. We still have a couple of half-page spots left.
O-ring Day at the Track!
Our friend at SKELETRON are sponsoring the Garage 66 entry for MBM motorsports, drivenby Timmy Hill in tonights Cookout Southern 500 at Darlington. We got to hang out with the crew this weekend and brought along a little o-ring awesomeness.
Watch the race tonight on USA Network!
Upcoming Shows
Once again this year, the LONGBOW® team will be in attendance at the 14th annual ASSEMBLY REQUIRED presented by Code Name: Iowa! This year, join us on November 14th and 15th in Des Moines at the HyVee Hall.
Thank you again for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - July 2025
8 months ago
– Thu, Jul 31, 2025 at 07:02:59 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
The summer is in full swing, and progress continues as the weather heats up. We hope all of our American backers had a great 4th of July celebration this month.
New Production Samples
As we shared in last month's abbreviated update, we received new samples from the factory just before Joefest. This month, we would like to share some better images of these figures.
LANCER, KRASNY-NINJA, and UPTOWN samples
New samples of the Krasny-Ninja got the biggest reaction at both JOEFEST and the DFW JOW SHOW. But all the figures are looking good and making solid progress.
OUTLAW and GRU SPETSNAZ samples with production GHOST
Note that these sample figures have black rivets. The production figures will have rivets painted to match the plastic color, like you see on "GHOST".
GRU SPETSNAZ, OUTLAW, VOLK, and UPTOWN samples without their headgear
This image shows what the figures look like without their headgear. Something we asked for here was to beef up VOLK's facial scar, so it's thicker.
Upcoming Shows
Once again this year, the LONGBOW® team will be in attendance at the 14th annual ASSEMBLY REQUIRED presented by Code Name: Iowa! This year, join us on November 14th and 15th in Des Moines at the HyVee Hall.
Thank you again for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - June 2025 Convention Update!
9 months ago
– Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 06:59:52 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
June is over, and the CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® team has completed our round trip of Summer Joe Shows. Between two carloads, the team drove over 6,000 miles to attend both Joefest in Augusta, Georgia, and the DFW G.I. Joe and Action Figure show in Irving, Texas.
We would like to thank everyone who came out to the shows and talked with us. It's great to talk with Backers and to meet new people.
A special thanks to Ed Schumacher and his team for putting on another great Joefest!
And another Special thanks to Greg Brown and his team for a great show and a big Texas welcome at Dallas-Fort Worth.
Thank you to Doug Hart and Kirk Bozigian for being our guests.
We could not have done it without support from our families as well as Ben, Mark, and Sam from Skeletron and the Marauder "Gun-Runners" of Marauder John fame and his whole crew (in Dino Hunters gear no less!).
Congratulations to everyone who found or received Reinforcement Coins! This was a lot of fun, and we look forward to continuing this tradition in the future. Thank you to the special guests and vendors who made it possible.
Congratulations to Chris Scott at Grindhouse Toys (no relation) on funding World War Hell during his panel!
And a particular shout-out to the ROMA collectibles crew. We love you guys!
There are so many people we are excited to see at these shows, many who have been friends of ours for years. Thank you, everyone, for coming out and making this community special.
Production Update
The Friday of Joefest, we received a new round of production samples on the figures. It was exciting to share these with folks immediately. Since we were on the road, we don't have any good pictures of them yet. But we will share more in the next update.
New painted samples for review
We'll be back next month with more information.
Thank you again for making this project a reality. We can only do this because of your support!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - May 2025
10 months ago
– Sat, May 31, 2025 at 08:09:02 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
May is coming to a close, and the CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® team is preparing for the Summer convention season. We hope to see as many of you as possible in June!
Factory Update
Our production partners have shared new images of the samples being prepared for review. This is a major milestone in development and gets us another step closer to production and delivery.
These samples are fully painted, which means paint masks have been cut!
At this stage, the factory will run a small number of each figure and send them to us for final approval or revisions, as needed.
Note: the rivets on these sample figures are not final and will not be this color.
Scott “Lancer” McMasters painted samples
Keith “Outlaw” Overby parts
Alberto “Uptown” Chapman parts
We are continuing to push the production team to complete this project as soon as possible, while also ensuring that you will receive the best product possible.
Announcing LONGBOW® Reinforcement Coins!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Reinforcement coins
LONGBOW Reinforcement Coins are a new, fun way for us to interact with convention attendees. Be on the lookout, as these coins could be hidden around the show, or in placed vendor booths, or we might hand you one ourselves, or special guests might have some to hand out. Stay alert, as you just never know!
If you are eagle-eyed or just lucky and encounter a Reinforcement Coin, simply bring it back to the LONGBOW® booth, and you can redeem it for a FREE FIGURE!
You will be able to redeem the coin instantly for an in-stock "GHOST" or a Retro "WOLF TROOPER/SKELETRON" from our collaboration with SKELETRON!
Kickstarter or BackerKit backers with outstanding orders may instead choose to redeem a coin for any pre-order figure of your choice. We will add it to your existing unfulfilled/partially fulfilled order at no charge.
Keep your eyes peeled!
Summer Show Schedule
This year, the GRINDSTONE TOYS will be in attendance at both JoeFest and the DFW Joe Show. We'll have more details in the coming months about what we have planned for the show.
Doug Hart CALLSIGN: LONGBOW prints available at JoeFest!
Once again, Doug Hart (Callsign:Longbow, Skeletron, Operation: Recall, G.I. Joe) will be in attendance at the show! Doug paints the packaging art on all CALLSIGN: LONGBOW figures and is a legend in G.I. Joe history. Come by and meet him!
We will have 11" x 17" art prints available for sale and Doug will be ready to sign!
DFW GI Joe and Action Figure Show
The following week, we will be at DFW GI Joe and Action Figure Show, June 27-29, 2025. This year, the show is in a new location, the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott in Irving, Texas.
This year we're proud to once again present Special Guest Kirk Bozigian at the DFW Show. Kirk was a Product Manager on G.I. Joe from 1982-1984 and returned as the Vice President of Boys Toys at Hasbro in 1989.
At the DFW show this year, we will also be showcasing SKELETRON product with an inventory of the incredible ROBOSKULL® MKII and RED SHADOWS® action figures!
Thank you again for making this project a reality!
