Retro 3-3/4" O-Ring Action Figures embattled in the 80s Cold War!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - October 2025
10 months ago
– Fri, Oct 31, 2025 at 07:45:53 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!
The end of October has arrived, and it's time for Halloween. We hope you all have fun and a safe evening!
Production Update
Last week, we met with the factory team to review the updates on the figures. We impressed upon the team the importance of promptly correcting any issues with these figures. We want to get them into production as soon as we can, but only once all lingering issues have been addressed.
In last month's update, we shared that the model shop had made some changes to the Lancer and Krasny-Ninja waist parts. The images below show these changes on Lancer (and are much clearer images than last month's screen caps).
Updated function sample courtesy of Dave Proctor.
You can see that the figure has a much better range of motion in the legs, and the legs are not forced apart anymore. The factory team has advised that we will need to retool the waist parts to achieve this. We've approved this plan once the model shop has verified the correct modifications. This revision also corrected the issue of the torso not closing completely above the arm.
Updated function sample courtesy of Dave Proctor.
In addition to the articulation and fit, we reviewed our revision notes on all the deco colors (note the green colors on the Lancer above are still too dark and will be lighter in production).
We also discussed the four remaining figures and what needed to be done to those to make sure these same issues did not affect them.
OUTLAW proof card sample courtesy of Dave Proctor.
While the team works through these corrections, progress continues on figure packaging so that part of the project will be ready to go as soon as production commences. The team has proof cards for this round of figures and is currently working on the blister trays. We'll have more proof cards to show next month.
Upcoming Shows
We will see you in Iowa in two weeks!
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 - September 2025
11 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
about 1 year 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
about 1 year 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!
about 1 year 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!
