Welcome to the amazing collections of Neil Uricoli Owner: Neil Uricoli, Parsippany, New Jersey E-mail: nuricoli@optimum.net Greetings from New Jersey! My name is Neil Uricoli, and I have been a huge GIjOE fan my entire life. Today, my collection consists primarily of vintage GIjOEs, plus Timeless, 40th, Classic Collection, Action Man, Special Editions, Matchbox & Hot Wheels cars, and other odds and ends. Being the youngest of seven (six boys and one girl) and being born in 1966 meant that not only was I a surprise baby (I'm much younger than my siblings), it also meant that I inherited a large supply of GIjOEs and GIjOE paraphernalia. I had countless Joe items including 2 space capsules, 8 to 12 figures, plus every imaginable Joe accessory. At any given point in time I could suit up all of my guys in the same gear! As the 1970s arrived, AT accessories started showing up in stores and I received the yellow AT helicopter, the Headquarters, the yellow ATV, and a multitude of other great AT items. I also remember having the awesome IRWIN motorcycle w/sidecar, and the giant yellow AT hang glider set which really flew. As a matter of fact, when I rigged two Joes to the glider correctly (one with a parachute), I found that I could have a friend toss the giant aircraft out of a (third story) window...pull the string...and then watch the parachute equipped Joe float down safely as the other one glided in for a (so-so safe) landing. Cool! But, as spoiled as I was with all my Joe gear, there was one item that I desired but still didn't have--the venerable Five Star Jeep. I remember that my best friend and my brother David (he was the nearest in age to me, only six years apart) both had one. But since I wasn't allowed to touch my brother's jeep and so my desire only grew with time. Finally, on my seventh birthday, I did get my own Jeep! My mom must have picked up some old store stock because my cannon still fired the projectiles. Hoo-yeah! My brother and I immediately rounded up all of our friends and proceeded to have one of the biggest GIjOE "dirt bomb battles" that have ever occurred. When I turned 11, my family moved from Orange, NJ to Pine Brook, NJ. I suddenly felt that it was time to grow up and be a big boy. So...(take a big breath now)...I gave a REFRIGERATOR box full of toys to some little kids that lived up the street. I cringe now at the memory of what I gave away that day...hundreds of Matchbox, Hot Wheels, and Corgi cars, plus their accompanying race track and play sets, numerous Action Jacksons, Super Heroes figures, Planet of the Apes and much more. The list goes on and on. Fast forward to the late 1980s...my brother David came a cross a collection of old Joe stuff that a friend of his owned and gifted to him long ago. David surprised me with a gift of my favorite GIjOE--the Land Adventurer. That s all it took. Soon, I was searching every flea market and garage sale I could find. Later of course, there was eBay, and finding GIjOE was no longer a "needle in the haystack" venture. With GIjOE, Hasbro did more than create a blockbuster toy. I think they created the best action figure a boy could ever want. It sparked every kid's imagination,creativity and ingenuity. I hope I can provide my own sons with the same type of special memories I enjoy. Special thanks have to go out to my children for not touching anything as hard as that may be. Of course, a special thank you also to my wife Wendy for showing an interest in what I do, and for forcing me to finally give a much overdo "face-lift" to my JOE Room (see photo at right). I hope you enjoy the photos of my newly remodeled GIjOE Room. It's a 12' x 12' space, fully temperature controlled. The shelves are made of varnished pine and the curved corner shelves are of polished Plexiglas. There are also plenty of Briton pewter figures inserted throughout my collection, plus little green army men I've painted, and rare 1" 40th Hong Kong only 40th Anniversary pieces. Thanks for looking! ---Neil Uricoli Nice tribute shelf starts off Neil's collection, dedicated to America's REAL heroes--members of the NYPD and FDNY. Holy ADVENTURE TEAM! This is an impressive lineup, Neil. Now give these men a mission! How cool is this display? And there's even a rare yellow astronaut record saved "under glass." WOW! Zoom in on some of the A-Teamers and they look like they've just returned from capturing the pygmy gorilla and white tiger. Good job, men! Now, phone AT headquarters for your next assignment! Hey you! Yeah, you! Get a haircut, ya hippy! ;-) Look at the quality of these figures. FANTASTIC! "Quality is job one" when Neil collects GIjOE. These are all in superb condition. Super Spy Joe pulls up and asks, "Who requested a brief case full of top-secret information?" Pull waaaaaaay back and just "enjoy the view!" What a fantastic display room. Congrats, Neil! Here's a good closeup of the unique curved plexi shelves in Neil's Joe room. And there's Muhammad Ali too. Sharp! Miscellaneous heroes share this shelf including 007, Superman and members of the JLA, and of course, GIjOE! Here's a closeup of those curved corner shelves. Oh yeah, you're gettin' jealous now! Generals and Presidents share a shelf. But what's that nice GIjOE wooden box? Hmm... Deluxe sets, FAO Exclusives, what more could you want? Well? Semper Fi! What collection is complete without a shelf full of Marines? Go leathernecks! And don't forget the NAVY! These guys look GREAT together. Hey Neil, cross those DSD straps, swabbie! The USAF is well represented alongside pilots from other forces. Whooooooosh! Neil says... "On the pilot shelf, the X-1 fighter known as "Glamorous Glennis" is actually autographed by Chuck Yeager himself! What? You don't have a Joe Racer and a 1/6th race car? And you call yourself a collector? Get with it! DIVE! DIVE! DIVE! This is a cool way to display a sea sled. From the CEILING. Sgt. Rock is IN 'DA HOUSE! Yes, sir! Oh yes, there's more. Check out Neil's fantastic collection. It just goes on and on! What can we say? This is all soooooo sweet. There's even some POTA figures on the bottom shelf. Neil point out... "The soccer players include an Action Man convention piece, vintage Action Man and a Falcon from Brazil. Godzilla is a Takara rubber suit variant (circa 1990). This one is an 18" tall Rubber Suit with a Combat Joe figure as the actor playing Godzilla." Check out all the army guys. And that french freedom fighter, Canadian Mountie, Air Security guy. WOW (again)! Hey Joe, look out! That Yeti's gunna getcha! Rrrrrrrrr! Convention exclusives, a Sea Wolf sub, and much more. MAN OH MAN! OK, Hot Wheels fans...start drooling. Neil's collection isn't limited to GIjOE. Hey, remember that Hot Wheels cartoon from the 1960s? That was cool too! Hmm...me thinks someone likes Mustangs...Thanks for sharing your wonderful collections, Neil! And Don't Miss... Collections Indoor Dioramas Outdoor Photos Custom Figures Custom Vehicles Tips & Tricks Club Websites Feedback Submit Your Collection About GIjOE Collections Cool Links HOME Address any questions or comments to webmaster Mark Otnes, at 303 E. Sherwin Drive, Urbana, IL 61802, or Phone: 217-337-1706 or Email: sterling@shout.net