Big Ben

Big Ben
MOS: Infantry SMOS: Subversive operations

Right now, this is the newest figure in my collection. Sure, 20-some years later, but still the newest-to-me.

It seems like it was 2002..., a online discussion with Big Ben in it usually went something along the lines of, "hopefully not another Big Ben." Between Big Ben and Mirage it seemed like either of these two guys were easy to be found.

The first Big Ben I bought was the "arctic" Big Ben. The off-white, sort of battle-dirty look of this figure made him a great addition to my cold weather squad (all since traded away).

The next version that came into my collection was the 2002 "GIJOE vs COBRA" Big Ben. This version really became a more used Big Ben figure. I think I accumulated a total of 3 of these guys, if I remember right; I wanted to army build the Alley Viper that was packaged with him!

As the local two-pack supply of those started to run down, I grabbed one package of the Big Ben with the "red" Alley Viper, and that purchase was really more just on a whim it seems to me. This was really the weaker of the three different Big Ben figures that I had sitting in my collection. This one could have gone into the "arctic" category of figures, or even into some naval infantry role. I don't think this version of Big Ben got much farther than simply being opened.



As the years went on, Big Ben just didn't stand out to me as a character figure that strongly. The versions I had didn't have the face paint like the original, nor the bi-pod. Plus, with all the multi-packs and rather random figure accessory pack-in's from the last decade, I really kind of started to dislike the Big Ben Rifle.

However, when I started my little "department" dividing project, I found that Big Ben started to feel like a great fit to my "mountain patrol" squad. Some figures were had to find a spot for, but really, with the massive backpack (the original style re-issued from another figure) and lightweight-looking machine gun, that "mountain troop" feel started to come out.




More recently, as you may know, I've decided to trim WAY back on my collection size. When it came down to "who" was going to be on my small team of GIJOE, I wanted to not only retain certain aspects, or flavors, of my "big" collection, but also I wanted to have every figure be able to be a versatile figure.

As I went through my decision-making process, I discovered certain patterns, certain characteristics, and even right down to the number of figures from each year that were becoming my top choices. Really, when I ran the numbers, 1988 commonly came out on top.

1991 wasn't too far behind.

In some ways, some of the 1991 figures almost seemed to carry right over from 1990 with a nice accessory load and nice color schemes. This is about when Big Ben (1991) started to pop out at me with that nice green color combo.

And no spring-fire accessories, although 1991 is when those started to appear.


So, away went all the other Big Ben figures, and then started the wait for finding a good 1991 version. Which wasn't too long as I found this guy at an online store



Big Ben is a British SAS trooper and that international flavor is something I wanted in my collection, even with the smaller number of figures. Big Ben also has that LRRP training indicated on his file card and that little information really helps my imagination put this character right next to figures like Recoil to go out on missions and fit right in. The green color palette is simply simple, but fits right in with the rest, too.




Other international figures.

When it comes to international figures, I had considered Red Star quite heavily as an addition to my small force. Red Star is a great figure with excellent accessories, the only thing that decide against him was the officer rank. And I suppose I could have easily imagined that little file card aspect right out of my head, but the officers hat still retained that feel. But it came close, Red Star was almost my "2nd" in command of my GIJOE team!!!

Big Bear also came extremely close to joining my small force, as well. In some ways, as I'm reviewing what I chose, perhaps I may swap a figure out for Big Bear at some future point. Big Bear is a rather nice figure. But I wondered how many "anti-tank specialists" I needed. Essentially, I thought Heavy Duty could do what Big Bear could do. Plus, consider Big Bear as a 1992 figure where accessories started to become more action-based (spring-fire, etc.). I think I would prefer the actual "international action force" (IAF) Big Bear, too, but I am not too sure how much that figure would cost me.
Of course, there is always the "lt. Gorky" figure that "could" be Big Bear.

GIJOE Backblast

Backblast E-5

Anti-aircraft soldier
MOS: Air defense artillery SMOS: Signal Corps


Backblast is a character that I first got on 12-30-94 from Walmart in Superior, WI for $2.50.
That Backblast was the Battle Corps V.2. I know this because of my former pack-rat nature and previously more organized record-keeping (I still have the receipt). Gotta say, that $2.50 price was pretty good!

I used Backblast quite a bit. If you know your Joe, the Battle Corps figures often had accessory parts trees instead of the separate, somewhat unique to a figure accessories. Backblast came with black accessories. I really only removed one missile and the best gun that came with him from that tree.



Backblast fought alongside Duke for many years:



To try and have more fun, I started to divide up my figures into various departments and squads in an attempt to essentially have a kind of designated group of figures that go together for certain kinds of missions.


Backblast was in my own made up "heavy assault team." I figured with all the hardware these guys were carrying, they most likely wouldn't be out with the figures like Recoil on LRRP-style missions. These heavy weapons specialists would likely be coming in on some transportation and then disembarking to take on Cobra.




When I decided to trim my collection of figures way back this past 2011, there were a couple of characters that I wanted to keep, but I really wanted to get a different version of them. Versions I had never had previously. My 1993 Backblast was sent away after many years of excellent service....

One of my newest figures to join my collection as of February 2012 is the 1989 Backblast. I just bought him from an online store and I am very happy with his overall condition.


Really, this figure is essentially the same figure as the 1993 version of Backblast, except he has his originally designed arms, and his original accessories. While I lost the more general "Topside" arms of the '93 Backblast, the original figure has a nice knife that is strapped right on his shoulder. Also, the original figure has the scribbling of information on his left leg pad, where on the '93 figure it is all white. I like the detail.

Also, I never really noticed the face sculpt on the '93 version as much as I do on the '89. Perhaps it is the original brown mustache that makes his intense facial expression more apparent?

Now, the original accessories are pretty cool, most notably that 3-rocket system! The monocle is a piece of equipment that I probably won't get much use out of, but it is a really unique accessory when one thinks about the gear like this. I mean, last monocular seen was included with 1984 Thunder?

Either way, the knife is a nice detail, too. Removable gear is definitely not a new concept on GIJOE figures. However, one piece of Backblasts gear that puzzles me is the large bandolier of ammo.
He has nothing to "shoot" the ammo.

However, Rampart needs some ammo for his gun. I'm totally guessing, but my imagination is accepting that Rampart has a 20mm auto-cannon. But no ammo.

Toss in that the Rampart and Backblast teamed up in the Marvel comic for (more or less) one panel in a supporting role for a GIJOE aircraft mission, well, these two characters have kind of stuck together in my mind. See YOJOE for more info on issue 115. A shoreline defender and an ant-aircraft trooper can make a great team.



Backblast is a big guy, too. Backblast beat out my '91 Zap and '90 Salvo for taking a spot on my small team of 28 figures.



Here you can see some height comparisons of figures, Backblast stands pretty tall!



Backblast in comics at JMM's!

Renegades Airtight

One "junior Joe" here naturally has had a great interest in firefighters. Barbecue was a natural and easy first choice of a modern figure to buy for the "junior Joe." Blowtorch had a nice selection of fire-oriented gear, too, and this figure more recently joined forces with Barbecue. (although the flamethrower angle has been downplayed...)


I thought Airtight would be a nice addition to our modern (somewhat of a fire/rescue) play force here. Hostile Environment Trooper really fits well with fire and rescue in my mind. The other two figures are alright, but Airtight is simply very cool. I am impressed!

Now that I have more backpacks and gear, I'm starting to really appreciate the little gear-holding peg holes on the modern VAMP.


Although, here's a major disappointment (Hasbro): The peg has already snapped on the mask part of the helmet for Blowtorch. And of course, we've already seemingly lost the flamethrower rifle and Barbecues little hose and nozzle.


Airtight is shining, though.
I haven't bought a lot of modern figures, mostly since you likely know I am a classic ARAH collector. But I must say I really like the wrist-articulation. A pose like this was really easy:

I really, really, really, like Airtight's helmet. And the figures boot tread is great. (it could have been left as flat feet, as most all have been for years..., a great detail!)

Let's grab the gear and go!


With all the praise, I would only give Airtight a 4 (out of 5) Star rating, though.

The waist and belt area still seem really flat in detail. I think the belt should have been more pronounced, perhaps even another separated plastic strap belt on top?
The vest and gear don't float off the figure anywhere near as bad as some figures I've looked at, but the "snap" peg allows the plastic to start floating off the figure. It's just me, but I would like the gear like this to be snug-looking on the guy.
So, those two points drop the figure a 1/2 star.

The other 1/2 star drop comes from the fact that he's yellow. Sitting in the new VAMP, the green helmet almost matches that vehicle perfect. And the yellow isn't bad, and I get the "homage" and Renegades Cartoon angle, but why not a more "army" looking suit? Maybe all black with a yellow "hazard" camo? For me, to be a 5 star figure, the figure needs to add that extra small detail that makes it even more unique standing alone amid a sea of plastic figures.

Heck, how about an all black suit with a special yellow glow in the dark camo? I mean, hey, they had the water activated color change on the 1991 Eco Warriors. ???


Either way, I highly recommend this figure. It's really a great straight modern version of our favorite old 1985 version. It has all the classic gear included (well, not the helmet hose, but I'm ok with that), but adds in an extra tank backpack, testing device, and shotgun. The lack of a weapon like a shotgun kept my old 1985 Airtight out of the action more often than not.





Check out GeneralsJoes.com review on Airtight!!!

Recoil

Recoil

MOS: Infantry
SMOS: RTO (Radio Telephone Operator)
E-5

Here's a character that joined my collection back in late '04/ early '05. I don't remember using him all that much until recently, though. Recoil really started to stand out to me when I was making up my "departments" in my collection. Part of the goal of that project was to make a group of figures easy to grab for whatever imaginative battle I had in mind, the ultimate goal being to reduce the time it took to get figures out of their storage.
The infantry department, I guess I would call it, had a general infantry squad, and a general heavy weapons infantry squad, and then several special patrols for certain environmental climates; Desert, Jungle, Cold weather, Mountain, etc.

I put Recoil in my "mountain patrol." These would have been a group of figures that would have been pulled out in one bunch if Cobra was getting into something in a more mountainous terrain. (Rock-Vipers, beware!) They've all got some training, some gear, and as a team, I think this Mountain Patrol would have been very effective.

Of these five, only two remain. But one will soon be coming back but in a different version.

Recoil really looks straight forward, but his hat felt like a sort of hard-hat at that time. Compare and contrast it with Alpines helmet, and this is where I started to make a visual connection with a light-weight helmet. Possibly with a little headlamp on it. Recoil would have been the communications guy as the Mountain Patrol would have been way out there in the wilds.




As I started to trim back on the size and dynamics of my collection, I wanted to retain a little sense of my overall "big" collection within my small 28-man team. Recoil was my top pick from my "mountain patrol" group more often than not.

And since then, Recoil has really been growing on me. He's one of those figures that isn't overly heavy on special gear. One key criteria in my small team figure selections was finding figures I liked, but also had a "maximum" versatility potential for imaginary GIJOE adventures.



The gear on his back is really a nice touch, and it doesn't get in the way of vehicle inter-play. (He can sit down!) It doesn't stick out too much, and really emphasizes his "LRRP" role by packing on the gear.

On the front, his rifle is well-supplied by several clips.


As well as a couple other clips on the backpack. And his pack is looking full of the essentials, as well as a radio.


If not for the blue, Recoil's rifle would be darn-near perfect. I really like the rifle.
His secondary weapon, though, well..., I've stretched my imagination and still find that to be a fairly "out there" item. Do you have a good use of that gun?



Essentially for my small team, Recoil is one of the more straight-forward "army guys" when it comes right down to it.

Rifle. Pack. GO!




Here's what my 2009 "class of 1989" looked like:




Could Recoil have been a "Grunt V.2" at some point in the design process?

BF2K Eliminator steers?

I never really had a big interest in the Battle Force 2000 vehicles. Sure, I did (and kinda still do) want everything and anything, but when it came to priorities, BF2K was on the low end. I've never had anything but a partial Pulverizer when it comes to BF2K, either.

Now, everyone else might know this, but are there two steerable axles on the Eliminator?

Check it out at the index.

I can't find any pictures online showing them turning, anyone have any to share?

I want to check this out in person now :O !

An A.P.C. and other 6x6 thoughts

While I was searching for real world 6x6 military trucks, I came across THIS APC that is simply awesome looking. I like the old A.P.C. as is just fine, but this project looks like a lot of fun!!! Just imagine if the big H would just toss some springs and tires like this on their toys.

I was originally inspired by the Desert Fox on these searches, I was curious if there was a "jeep" or something that the 'Fox might have been based on. Not a truck, but I was looking for something more jeep-like. With some armor, of course.

There is this site with fascinating jeeps. The "T24 armored scout car" has a slightly similar 'Fox flavor, but I suppose, there are so many real-world vehicles that may have served as inspiration for the Desert Fox.

Other interesting real-world vehicles that came up in search results was the "M53/59 Praga" and "M8 light armored car." There are even "6x6 Landrovers."

Lots of cool stuff out there in the world!

perentie
btr-152
praga m53/59

Beachhead

I looked at Beachhead just a while ago. As I was deciding "who" was going to be on my small team in the collection, Beachhead (as a character) was sitting on my "B" team up until the last minute.

Beachhead is a good figure, and rather popular character. I don't think many would disagree with me on that. It was that very popularity where I was considering not keeping this figure, in some ways I was thinking I didn't want a limited collection that was going to look like just about every one other collection out there.

In the end, I kicked out Duke, though. And it wasn't because Duke was overly popular, but my Duke was at his core, a Ranger. So is Stalker, but, I don't/ didn't have a Stalker figure that I was happy with, and that left Beachhead as my team's Ranger.

I'm mostly happy with the decision, but, just now, I was thinking I should have kept that Night Force ('05) version. At the time of deciding, I didn't want to go all too dark and drab on my figures colors as a whole....

Either way, Beachhead makes a nice, fairly simply soldier looking figure-toy, but also brings a strong media essence of character to my small team.

I suppose in some ways, this figure also reminds me of my best bud a bit. Even though the figure I have might only be just parts of his original figure mixed into it. It is that very connection to the figure/ character that I have that helps to make my reasoning for it being in my collection so much more personal, too. A shared play experience, perhaps, is the best explanation?