CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - September 2023
about 1 year ago – Sat, Sep 30, 2023 at 07:44:19 AM

Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!

It's time for our end-of-the-month update for September of 2023. Work is continuing on all things LONBGOW® as we move toward production. 

Shipping Continues for Select Items

"INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS and the CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Issue #1 Comic (by Broken Icon Comics) are still shipping! Once again, if you place an order that only contains Battle Stands or the Issue #1 comic, it will ship ASAP. Orders can be placed at: https://longbow.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

Sculpting Update

Our biggest sculpting update is that all of the parts for this first series of Longbow figures have either been completed or are now currently being worked on. To go along with that, this week we sent the finished files for about 2/3rds of the figures to the factory so they can begin the preparations for tooling. We expect the other figures to follow in the next month or so. 

This month we've got the STEEL WEB SHOCK-TROOPER to show off with most of his accessories. Mark O'Byrne (ROBOSKULL MKII) did a fantastic job on this sculpt and really captured what we were going for with the overall "Combat Samurai" look of the armor. 

Note: This figure render is missing additional parts that will slide over the forearms to make the sleeves look longer.

We also have a final revision on LANCER by the ever-talented Cory Cantelupe (G.I. Joe Classified, ROBOSKULL MKII, & many more). This figure needed some joint engineering and proportion corrections, while still preserving the surface sculpt details. This figure has been given to the factory for tooling.

Art Update  

This month we are going back to the beginning of the project to share with you the packaging art for  SCOTT “LANCER” MCMASTERS.  

Now you might be saying, "You already showed us that art", and that's true, except we decided we wanted a more dynamic pose for Lancer. So we worked with legendary Douglas Hart (G.I. Joe, Mortal Kombat, Air Raiders) to come up with a more action-oriented pose that better fits the character and still features his signature machete accessory.

(DIS)Assembly Required

The CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® team will once again be in attendance at ASSEMBLY REQUIRED 2023 presented by Code Name: Iowa. November 3rd & 4th in Des Moines, Iowa. This is a fun and intimate show that grows stronger every year. If you're planning to come to the show, please drop by the LONGBOW™ booth and say hello!

Our friends at ASSEMBLY REQUIRED will have an exclusive cover for LONGBOW™ #1. This cover is limited 150 copies and features a cover by Brian Sauer (Codename: Iowa, Assembly Required). These covers will be available first at ASSEMBLY REQUIRED 2023, and we understand that any remaining stock will be offered online after the show.

Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!

-GRINDSTONE TOYS!

CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - GHOST & KRASNY-NINJA
about 1 year ago – Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 07:03:27 AM

Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Backers!

It's time for our end-of-the-month update and August felt like it went by really fast! But we've got some great updates for you on the development process. 

Shipping has Commenced for Selected Items

"INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS and the CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® Issue #1 Comic (by Broken Icon Comics) have begun shipping! Once again, if you place an order that only contains Battle Stands or the Issue #1 comic, it will ship ASAP. Orders can be placed at: https://longbow.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

Revised GHOST Test Shots

Our production partners at Spartan Toys have sent us a newly revised test shot of "GHOST". This figure has all of the changes we asked for in the last round of revisions and is almost ready for production. All the accessories fit how they are supposed to, the figure moves correctly, and most of all feels right in your hand.

These shots also give you a feel for how "GHOST's" Stealth Shield"  helps him blend into any environment. 

Sculpting Update

We are very excited to be working with the extremely talented Cory Cantelupe (G.I. Joe Classified, ROBOSKULL MKII, & many more) on revisions for "LANCER". Corey will be helping us correct some final engineering issues and fine-tune some of the sculpted details on the figure to get everything just right.

While we're talking about sculpting, let's take a look at what Mark O'Byrne (ROBOSKULL MKII) has been working on. The ushanka-wearing martial arts troopers of the USSR, the infamous KRASNY-NINJA!

Art Update

While we're on the subject of the KRASNEY-NINJA, let's also take a look at the packaging art for this figure by legendary illustrator & painter Douglas Hart (G.I. Joe, Stargate, Visionaries).  You've never seen a ninja this red before.  

(DIS)Assembly Required

The CALLSIGN: LONGBOW® team will once again be in attendance at ASSEMBLY REQUIRED 2023 presented by Code Name: Iowa. November 3rd & 4th in Des Moines, Iowa. This is a fun and intimate show that grows stronger every year. If you're planning to come to the show, please drop by the LONGBOW™ booth and say hello!

Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!

-GRINDSTONE TOYS!

"INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS & COMICS now available on BackerKit!
over 1 year ago – Wed, Jul 26, 2023 at 07:21:49 AM

Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Backers!

STANDS & COMICS AVAILABLE!

"INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS have arrived stateside at Grindstone HQ and are now available on BackerKit!

We are also excited to tell you that printed copies of the CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Issue #1 comic have arrived and are ready to ship as well!

Battle Stands and Comics are AVAILABLE NOW on the BackerKit Pre-Order Store here: https://longbow.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

Starting mid-August, we will begin shipping orders that include ONLY "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS and/or Comics. If you add these items to an existing order or place an order with figures, they will not ship until all of the items in the order are available. 

Please let us know if you need help unlocking or modifying an existing BackerKit order.

 CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ COMICS

As we said, we have received the printed copies of the Issue #1 comic, published by our partners at BROKEN ICON COMICS! We are processing these comics and will have them ready to ship shortly (again for orders that contain only available items).

 ASSEMBLY REQUIRED EXCLUSIVE ISSUE #1 COVER 

Our friends at ASSEMBLY REQUIRED will have an exclusive cover for LONGBOW™ #1. This cover is very limited and features a cover by Brian Sauer (Codename: Iowa, Assembly Required). These covers will be available first at ASSEMBLY REQUIRED 2023, and we understand that any reaming stock will be offered online after the show. 

(DIS)Assembly Required

While we're on the subject of ASSEMBLY REQUIRED 2023, come see the LONGBOW™ team November 3rd & 4th in Des Moines, Iowa. This is a fun and intimate show that grows stronger every year!

More figure progress will be included in our August update, so keep your eyes peeled at the end of next month!

Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!

-GRINDSTONE TOYS!

LONGBOW™ Sit-Rep: June 2023
over 1 year ago – Fri, Jun 30, 2023 at 08:22:09 AM

Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Backers!

June is drawing to a close and we've covered a LOT of miles this month. Thank you to everyone that came out to see us at JoeFest, the DFW G.I. Joe and Action Figure Show, and everyone following along online. 

We shared some new paint master figures at these shows painted by the very talented Mikey Kukovich of (JMK Designs). The display box we use at the show has really bright lights that make the figures look great in person, but unfortunately, the lights make getting good pictures difficult. So please also enjoy this in-progress shot from Mikey's workbench that gives you a much better idea of the details on these prototypes.

Note: The elbow rivet alignment on these figures is incorrect, and the finished figures will have elbow rivets that match vintage figures. 

Art Update

This month we are featuring the invisible infiltrator 霞-死神 AKA "GHOST"! As with all CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™  figures, this art is done by legendary illustrator & painter Douglas Hart (G.I. Joe, Air Raiders, Street Fighter). "GHOST" is also our first offering of a deluxe figure with even more gear to dominate the battlefield. 

(DIS)Assembly Required

We are happy to announce that the CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ team will once again be in attendance at ASSEMBLY REQUIRED 2023 presented by Code Name: Iowa. November 3rd & 4th in Des Moines, Iowa. This is a fun and intimate show that grows stronger every year. If you're planning to come to the show, please drop by the LONGBOW™ booth and say hello!

Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!

-GRINDSTONE TOYS!

CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS
over 1 year ago – Fri, Jun 02, 2023 at 06:54:01 PM

Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Backers!

We've got big news to share for Joefest!

New Product - LONGBOW™ "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS

Grindstone Toys is pleased to announce a new product offering, CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS. These clear battle stands are designed to work with LONGBOW™ and other retro o-ring figures (like the upcoming Retro Wolf-Trooper/SKELETRON by Skeletron and Operation: Recall figures by 3Djoes). They are designed to be the same peg size as those used on most o-ring figures of 1980 and 1990. 

Note: Because vintage figures can shrink and warp as they get older, we can not guarantee that these stands will work with all vintage figures. Grindstone Toys is not responsible for any damage to figures. Use them at your own risk. 

These "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS come carded on a traditional 6" x 9" cardback in two bubbles. The packaging features a great new battle scene painted by Douglas Hart (G.I.Joe, Visionaries). This art features LANCER, VOLK, OUTLAW, UPTOWN, and a STEEL WEB SHOCK-TROOPER!

This isn't just a pre-order. We had a limited amount of these BATTLE STAND packs flown over from the factory to be available early at Joefest 2023.  Those at the show can purchase a pack of stands to take home!

If you aren't at the show don't worry.  In the coming weeks, once the rest of the packs come in, they will be added to the BackerKit pre-order store. If you purchase a pack of stands and only stands, your order will ship out ASAP. If you order the stands with something else or add it to an existing order, your stand pack will ship out with the rest of your order when it is available (early 2024). 

But wait, there's more!

We couldn't do any of this without our backers. You make it all possible. Our "ALL-IN" backers supported the project knowing that they would get one of every item in the campaign. Even though this BATTLE STANDS pack was not part of the Kickstarter, It would feel a little odd if you went all-in on the initial Kickstarter and didn't get the first LONGBOW™ item released right?  

We agree! So we will be adding one pack of "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS to every "ALL-IN" package, for FREE.  These stands will ship with the rest of your order when the figures are available (early 2024). 

JOEFEST 2023

We are focused on getting ready for Joefest and will have more information to share at the show (June 9-11, 2023). As you read this the Grindstone Team is already on the march to Augusta!

We'll have a limited supply of non-figure items for sale this year. We've got posters, stickers, patches, and "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS! 

If you are coming to the show you can find us in the same spot as last year lined up next to our friends from Marauder "Gun-Runners", Skeletron, and Raginspoon!

If you can't make the show, don't worry; everything we present will also be shared in future updates.

DFW G.I. Joe and Action Figure Show

Join John in Grapevine, Texas at the Dallas/Fort Worth G.I. Joe and Action Figure Show on June 24th! Find out more at:  https://www.dfwjoeshow.com/

Thank you again for all your Support! 

-GRINDSTONE TOYS!