Retro 3-3/4" O-Ring Action Figures embattled in the 80s Cold War!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
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.
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS
Note: Becausevintage figures can shrink and warp as they get older, we can not guarantee that thesestands 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!
"INVISIBLE" BATTLE STAND packaging art by Douglas Hart
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).
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ "INVISIBLE" BATTLE STANDS
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!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - OUTLAW
over 1 year ago
– Sun, Apr 30, 2023 at 08:24:50 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Backers!
Can you believe April is over? We've been busy making progress on all things LONGBOW™ and preparing for the trek to Joefest (June 9-11, 2023) in Augusta, Georgia. Come see us at the show: https://www.joefestusa.com/
Art Update
This month's art is KEITH “OUTLAW” OVERBY. This wise-cracking operator specializes in SWAT tactics and Close Quarters Battle (CQB). As with all CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ figures, this art is done by legendary illustrator & painter Douglas Hart (G.I. Joe, Visionaries, Stargate).
KEITH “OUTLAW” OVERBY by Douglas Hart
Sculpting Update
To go with this month's art preview, here is the digital sculpt for OUTLAW.
KEITH “OUTLAW” OVERBY comes with a removable gasmask, SMG, and satchel bag (not pictured)
"OUTLAW" Action Figure sculpt with Gasmask accessory.
First Shots
Our friends at SKELETRON shared an update last week, including First Shots of the Retro Wolf-Trooper/Skeletron( and GHOST) o-ring figure. The next part of the process is that we will review these first shots and ask the factory to make adjustments to fine-tune the fit and details of the figure. With each of these steps, these figures get closer to delivery!
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 to all of our backers for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
CALLSIGN: LONGBOW Update - UPTOWN
over 1 year ago
– Fri, Mar 31, 2023 at 07:28:46 AM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Backers!
It's time again for a progress update. February and March have been busy months for our team and we've been hard at work on everything CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™.
Art Update
This month's packaging art update is LONGBOW™ 2-2's newest member, ALBERTO “UPTOWN” CHAPMAN! Uptown may be the new guy, but he's already an accomplished soldier and keeps his cool in combat. As with all CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ figures, this art is done by legendary illustrator & painter Douglas Hart.
While we're on the subject of UPTOWN, let's take a look at his newly completed digital sculpt!
ALBERTO “UPTOWN” CHAPMAN comes with a helmet, backpack, rifle, and knife. The knife accessory can be stored on the side of the backpack.
"UPTOWN" Action Figure sculpt with accessory storage.
STEEL
And to the most exciting part of the update, CUT STEEL!
This tooling includes accessories for "GHOST" as well as the "RETRO WOLF TROOPER / SKELETRON" figure for the ROBOSKULL MKII by our friends at SKELETRON!
Steel Tooling for LONGBOW "GHOST" and SKELETRON "RETRO WOLF TROOPER" accessories.
JoeFest
We will once again be in attendance at JoeFest, June 9-11 in Augusta, GA. You can find out more about the show here: https://www.joefestusa.com/
Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
New Year, New Update
almost 2 years ago
– Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 06:11:55 PM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Backers!
The New Year is upon us, and we've hit the ground running at Grindstone Toys! Here's your update on what's going on:
Order Changes
We received BackerKit survey responses from almost everyone, (thank you) so we locked orders and charged credit cards. Orders were locked to ensure that we have correct counts for our Crowdfunding Exclusives, like the ADAPT Trooper and Exclusive Cover Comic. These items, reserved for early Backers, have now been removed from the pre-order store.
But what happens if you want to add items to your order and it's locked? Does that mean you have to put in a new order and pay for separateshipping?
You can always contact us or BackerKit support and we'll be happy to unlock your order for you to add items.
Troy will be at the RetroMania show this weekend at the Boulder County Fairgrounds in Longmont, Colorado. If you are in the area on Saturday or Sunday, please stop by, say hello, and check out some of our pre-production items!
ADAPT Tactical Figure
Unfortunately, we did not generate the funding required during the BackerKit to unlock the ADAPT Trooper (Tactical) figure. This means the figure will not be produced at this time, and the design will go into the "vault" for later consideration.
Art Update
What would an update be without another piece of fantastic packaging by Doug Hart? To start the New Year we have the formidable ALEXY “VOLK” REZNIKOV, leader of the КОМАНДА ОХОТА. Scarred by his encounter with LONGBOW™, VOLK will stop at nothing to find our heroes and exact his revenge!
ALEXY “VOLK” REZNIKOV art by Doug Hart.
Thank you again to all of our backers for making this project a reality!
-GRINDSTONE TOYS!
2022 Year-End Sit-Rep
almost 2 years ago
– Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 01:04:07 PM
Hello CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Backers!
As 2022 comes to a close, it's that time to take a moment to look back at everything the year held, and look forward to what's to come. This year was a huge year for GRINDSTONE TOYS. With your support, we successfully launched the CALLSIGN: LONGBOW™ Action Figures campaign on Kickstarter. Between the Kickstarter and BackerKit, you funded 11 all-new retro-style o-ring figures!
But you already know all that. You want to know what's happening now!
BackerKit Update
We'd like to thank everyone for filling out their BackerKit surveys. This is an important step for us. We still have a small number of surveys that have not been completed or are missing information. We are reaching out to those backers who still have not completed their survey or had issues with their payment. If you don't remember filling out your survey, please check your messages on Kickstarter. If you need to change your address or double-check your survey responses, you can sign in using your email at https://longbow.backerkit.com/
We'd also like to welcome the 110 people new backers who were able to join in on LONGBOW™ during the BackerKit!
The BackerKit Pre-Order Store will be reopening in early 2023 for anyone else who missed out.
Art Update
Legendary illustrator Doug Hart is still hard at work on the LONGBOW™ packaging art. The next character we have to share with you is the GRU SPETSNAZ! Pulled straight from the biggest action movies and news events of the 1980s, he is the enemy army builder you've been waiting for.
GRU SPETSNAZ art by Doug Hart.
Sculpting Update
Work continues on sculpting. The super-talented Mark O'Byrne from SKELETRON™ has been working on "GHOST". We showed some early 3D renders of this figure during the campaign, but Mark has been hard at work cleaning up the sculpt and refining some of the details. These renders are a more finalized design and are representative of the final figure and accessories. These shots show how the blade, mines, and shield will store on the figure's backpack. The shield (designed by our own John Kukovich) then fits over the top of all of it when stored on the figure's back.
"GHOST" Action Figure sculpt with accessory storage.
The Future of LONGBOW™
We've received a lot of questions about what will come next for LONGBOW™. Work on the next wave of products (and characters) has already begun, but we aren't quite ready to share any details yet. What we can say is that future product releases are planned to be smaller waves, to be released on a more regular schedule. We look forward to sharing more with you in the future!
2022 has been an amazing year for us, and it's all because of your support. We are hard at work to make sure 2033 and beyond are even better.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
