High Altitude set

mraction
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High Altitude set Apr 19, 2014 16:22:27 GMT colin161 likes this

Post by mraction on Apr 19, 2014 16:22:27 GMT

Originally posted on the old VAME site by millsd3.

OK, bought a vintage High Altitude set and to satisfy my curiosity compared it with 40th. I must say the 40th is a very good copy but, there are some easy things to spot.
Looking from the back of the facemask, the 40th mask has a hole right through where the vintage doesn't.
The vintage oxygen bladder (the bit under the mask) has a pronounced bump on the front wheras the 40th doesn't and is more shiny.
The 40th tanks are flat, light silver whereas the vintage have a darker, kind of speckled look.
The 40th frame looks chunkier and is duller. It is thicker in places and has different mould marks which hopefully the pics show. Thicker on the top rail, the segments that seperate the tanks and different marks where the fragile vertical bars meet the second horizontal bar from bottom. Hopefully the pics make it clear but all in all, should be easy to tell the two apart.
Hope this helps if you're looking for the high altitude kit (by the way, anyone got an unbroken frame ?

Dave

mickeyp
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High Altitude set Feb 9, 2016 21:47:58 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 21:47:58 GMT

Added post by mickeyp:

Thought I'd post some comparison pictures of vintage vs 40th taken during the day, I know this has been covered before, thought I'd expand slightly on what I found on here earlier. Forgive me if I am just re-inventing the wheel in terms of repeating information already posted...

In all photos the vintage item is shown on the right ('on the right, in the right'). I will fiddle around with this post as much as I need to to make sure that the piccies are the right way up so bear with me....

The vintage bladder had a much more rubbery/flexible feel compared to the slightly stiffer 40th version. Visually, the side grooves were more defined on the 40th. The mould marks on the flat face with the hose connector were in the form of a cross on the vintage as opposed to a single (vertical in the photo) line.

Last Edit: Mar 2, 2016 20:37:31 GMT by daz28

mickeyp
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Posts: 367

Favourite era: Painted head

High Altitude set Feb 9, 2016 21:53:13 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 21:53:13 GMT

The obvious giveaway for the mask is that the 40th has a hole all the way through the front where the bladder connects, as mentioned in a previous comparison post. Visually from the outside I found that the moulded strap detail seemed more defined on the 40th, with the moulded 'buckles' above and below being square as opposed to more rectangular on the vintage. I also felt that the moulded straps on the sides seemed to taper in thickness to the rear which they don't seem to on the vintage...

Not the easiest to show, hopefully you can see what I'm talking about.

mickeyp
Scramble Pilot

Posts: 367

Favourite era: Painted head

High Altitude set Feb 9, 2016 21:59:42 GMT daz28 likes this

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 21:59:42 GMT

Again as mentioned in a previous post, the vintage tanks are a much more silvery grey, with an almost speckled appearance with striations. The 40th are a much duller/flatter grey. Another giveaway I noticed for the first time is that on the small circular faces on the side of the tanks at the hose end, the 40th have a small 'pimple' which is missing on the vintage....

Here's another view, this time of a still sealed 40th set that I purchased specifically for comparison purposes...

mickeyp
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Posts: 367

Favourite era: Painted head

High Altitude set Feb 9, 2016 22:02:55 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 22:02:55 GMT

There are a multitude of different mould marks on the Frame between vintage and 40th, this shot I took shows some on the inner back piece...

Also, as per previous advice, the moulding of the 40th Frame in general to me appeared slightly crisper, and more defined/

mickeyp
Scramble Pilot

Posts: 367

Favourite era: Painted head

High Altitude set Feb 9, 2016 22:07:46 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 22:07:46 GMT

Finally the should straps. Another difference noticed for the first time is that the 40th seem to have a distinctive mould mark in the form of a small circular mark, absent from the vintage straps....

And again, very clearly displayed on the sealed set...

That's it, hope this is of some use. Please let me know if you disagree or if you think I've got everything arse about face (which would mean that I have two vintage and one 40th!).

Vintage Action Man Enthusiasts

Post by mraction on Apr 19, 2014 16:22:27 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 21:47:58 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 21:53:13 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 21:59:42 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 22:02:55 GMT

Post by mickeyp on Feb 9, 2016 22:07:46 GMT

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