Retro 3-3/4" O-Ring Action Figures embattled in the 80s Cold War!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - April 2025
11 months ago
– Wed, Apr 30, 2025 at 08:08:26 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
The end of April is here, so it's time for our end-of-the-month progress update.
Factory Update
Not long after the first of the month, we received an update from the factory that work had progressed on the tool revision we had asked for previously. They sent images of the updated tooling, which you can see here. These tools cover parts for Lancer, Volk, GRU Spetsnaz, Henchmen (Tracksuit), Outlaw, and Uptown.
Updated tooling images courtesy of Dave Proctor
Towards the end of the month, we were informed that the factory is working on painted samples for us to review. This is another important step in the process where we will inspect the deco on each figure. We check for color accuracy and ensure the paint masks are cut correctly to achieve the correct look. We have not received these samples yet, but we look forward to sharing them with you in next month's update.
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.
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 (Longbow, Skeletron, Operation: Recall, G.I. Joe) will be in attendance at the show! Doug paints the packaging art on all CALLSIGN: LONGBOW figures. Come by and meet him!
We will have 11" x 17" prints of his art available for sale that you can get signed.
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 to present 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.
Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - March 2025
12 months ago
– Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 08:00:23 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
Thank you to everyone who came out to ZOLOCON. The show was fantastic, and it was great to meet many of you. Thank you to SKELETRON and the ZOLOCON team for having us at the show!
Factory Update
The factory is currently working on the revisions we submitted last month based on our first shot reviews. Several of these revisions pertain to details that will better allow Callsign: Longbow figures to be cross-compatible with vintage o-ring figures.
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.
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Comic Issue #2
We've been continuing our work with Broken Icon Comics on CALLSIGN: LONGBOW issue #2. At this time, all of the line art for the book is done, and the pages have moved to the colorist.
A sneak preview of the КОМАНДА ОХОТА in CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Issue #2
Nicholas Wentland from Broken Icon is coloring this issue. He's gone to the extra detail of keeping the color palette consistent with what Marvel and DC artists used in the late 80s whenever possible. That's the kind of retro detail that we love and think will give this book the right feel.
Last month, we shared that the team at SKELETON was releasing their final cardback variant of the Retro Wolf Trooper/Skeletron O-ring figure at Zolocon. This 2-in-1 figure is from the same production run as their previous sold-out releases, but now featuring all-new packaging art by Tim Baron. This is a great opportunity if you are a MOC collector or just missed out on the earlier releases.
This figure is in stock and shipping NOW from SKELETRON.com. Click here to order!
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.
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.
Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - February 2025
about 1 year ago
– Fri, Feb 28, 2025 at 07:59:25 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
We're back with this month's progress update.
Back to Work
February is the shortest month of the year, so this update will be a little short too. A good portion of February is spent celebrating the Chinese New Year (CNY).
During this time, pretty much every factory in China takes a month off and very little progress is made. Anyone who has backed an action figure project on Kickstarter has encountered this or heard someone talking about it.
But the good news is, CNY has concluded, and our factory partners are back to work!
We don't have any exciting pictures to show, but here are some progress items that were completed this month.
The factory has received our notes from last month's first shots and we met with our rep to finalize revisions. These revisions have been sent to the factory production team to begin work on them.
Packaging files have been finalized, proofread, and submitted to the factory for production.
New plastic color samples are being produced based on our notes from last month.
ZOLOCON
Troy will be joining the team from SKELETRON® for ZOLOCON on March 1st and 2nd (this weekend!) at Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. If you're in the area, come to the show and say hello!
A limited amount of GHOST figures will be available at the show.
Come see Troy from GRINDSTONE TOYS and the SKELETRON® Crew at ZOLOCON!
SKELETRON will also have a new variant cardback on their Retro Wolf Trooper figure (also by Grindstone Toys)! Below is the information from their announcement:
"Debuting at ZOLOCON 2025 — a final, special variant cardback of our Retro Series 2-in-1 Wolf Trooper/Skeletron! Featuring the bold, nostalgic art of renowned artist, illustrator, and skateboarder Tim Baron, this new cardback will be a distinctive and badass piece in any SKELETRON collection!"
Retro Wolf Trooper/Skeletron Final Cardback Variant | Debuting at ZOLOCON 2025!
"The figure is from the same production run as our Sold-Out Retro Wolf Trooper/Skeletron, so this variant cardback will appeal to those who missed out, want more, or simply enjoy another carded version with a killer Tim Baron cardback design. Can’t make it to the show? Don’t worry! This Tim Baron variant will become available online sometime after Zolocon at www.SKELETRON.com, shipping worldwide at the same price as our previously sold-out Doug Hart Retro Wolf Trooper version cardbacks. We hope to see you at Zolocon!"
We'll be back next month with another update at the end of the month!
Thank you again to all our backers for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - New First Shots!
about 1 year ago
– Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 06:59:13 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
This month we've been working with our factory partners to complete as many things as possible before the start of the Chinese New Year when the factory will close for the holiday break.
New First Shot Samples
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® test shot images courtesy of Dave Proctor
About a week ago we received new first shots from the tooling for our next batch of figures. This is the same tooling we mentioned was being cut and tested in our November 2024 update.
The factory provides these first shots so we can identify adjustments that are needed. Most of these figures have minor fit issues like small gaps between parts (this is normal and expected for this stage in the process). We've already inspected these parts and sent back our revisions. Now the factory will make the corrections and get us another step closer to production.
The factory also sent us some plastic color samples that we've also returned revisions on.
Note: these first shots are NOT final colors.
First shot images courtesy of Dave Proctor.
KRASNY-NINJA and LANCER first shots
LANCER and UPTOWN first shots
GRU SPETSNAZ first shot
UPTOWN and KRASNY-NINJA first shots
OUTLAW first shot
KRASNY-NINJA first shot
LANCER and GRU SPETSNAZ first shots comparison with SKELETRON® RETRO WOLF TROOPER
We will continue to update you on production as we have more information. Remember to check back here on the last day of every month for the latest Intel.
ZOLOCON
Troy will be joining the team from SKELETRON® for ZOLOCON on March 1st and 2nd at Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. If you're in the area, come to the show and say hello!
A limited amount of GHOST figures will be available at the show.
Come see Troy from GRINDSTONE TOYS and the SKELETRON® Crew at ZOLOCON!
Passing of a Freind
As many of you probably know, the Longbow team lost a close friend this month when Aaron Detrick passed away after an eight-month battle with cancer. Aaron was a mainstay of the G.I. Joe collecting community, and the life of the party wherever he went. It will be hard to attend shows and not see him there. He will be missed dearly.
Aaron at the infamous Longbow "Hecklers Panel" - Joefest 2021
We'll be back at our regularly scheduled time next month.
Thank you again to all our backers for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS
2024 CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Year-End Update
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Dec 31, 2024 at 07:15:25 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
We hope you all had a merry and joyous Christmas.
December is a busy month for us at Grindstone with family obligations, so the end of the year goes so quickly. But it's also a good time to reflect on the year behind us while also looking forward to the year ahead.
GHOST Surprise
This past week on social media, we shared a secret detail about the GHOST figure we delivered in October. We haven't seen anyone post that they found it, so we thought it would be a nice holiday surprise!
We've got one more surprise for anyone who bought "GHOST".
He GLOWS-IN-THE-DARK!
This CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Deluxe figure features green GITD paint that reacts to UV light. For the best results, expose the figure to direct sunlight for a few minutes and then take it to a dark room.
The figure really pops under blacklight too.
Best of all, "GHOST" is still available and in stock at SKELETRON.com. If you haven't gotten this great retro o-ring figure yet, you can order yours at SKELETRON.com
Production Update
This month we have some more accessories from tooling to show you. This time the the rifle for MTF: RETRO-OPS and the Hammer for the KRASNY-NINJA!
Weapon accessories for MTF: RETRO-OPS and KRASNY-NINJA
We hope your 2025 gets off to an amazing start. We'll be back next month with your regularly scheduled update!
Thank you again to all our backers for making this project a reality!
