V.A.M.P. 2011 VAMP

I'm glad I waited to buy the VAMP. Sometimes I find that I wish I would have bought something when I had the chance as often I over think the purchases, and miss out.

Such is not the case with the VAMP for me. I think this 2011 VAMP in green is much more interesting than the 2010 VAMP, just for the color alone. (and the no red suspension)

I came across a sale price on the Thanksgiving weekend on this truck, and while it was just a few bucks off, I thought the price was right. And being more a "classic" figure collector, I wasn't sure if this VAMP would fit well in my own GIJOE motor pool. And at worst I figured the "junior joe" of the house would have fun with it.


I think comparison and contrasting pictures help the best when it comes to vehicles. And here the 25th Anniversary VAMP is simply dwarfed by the new VAMP. Where I felt "ok" calling the original VAMP a "jeep," this new VAMP is much more in the solid "truck" category for me.


But, unlike the Hammer or GvC Brawler, it doesn't overpower the "bigger" vehicle with its size. The Equalizer is my main armor in my Joeverse now, and I want it to literally be the "big dog" when it comes to the motor pool.
The new VAMP has a nice sized foot print, considering it is a large all-terrain 4-seater of a vehicle.

And you know what? EVERY color on the 2011 VAMP is GREAT, in my opinion.



The "junior joe" seems to be having some fun with the VAMP. (yes, "firefighters" reign supreme...) I omitted the armaments for now, as the truck itself is the most fun aspect. (even I was having a not-fun time with that turret stand in the back...)

The best part that I knew the "junior joe" would have fun with is the vehicle interactivity aspect: changing the tires!!! I really like that the post holder can be taken off the back so the spare could totally be absent. What would have been perfect is if that post holder would have fit on the roof holes so a spare could go up top.

Either way, the spare is one aspect that makes me like the VAMP more. If this thing had a small engine compartment to open up on the front, that would have knocked this truck up a notch for me.


The dash and interior has some nice interior, even a floor shifter and a cup holder. The only weapon that I like is that front passenger gun. I kind of wish that was mountable on the back roll bar.

But for me, "my" GIJOE team is sort of on the fence about adopting the VAMP into "my" motor pool right now. For my classic-collecting self, the new VAMP comes pretty close to getting in. Blocker would most likely inherit ownership of this vehicle, although Wild card could jump on board, too. The extra diesel cans are an awesome addition and they fit very well in their holder. (the back tools are nice, but I kind want a "snap-on" point for those..., but still nice that they are there!)
The suspension is excellent, too. The base truck itself seems extremely sturdy, and the truck is kind of fun to "bounce" over obstacles. Right now, I think this new VAMP sill last as a toy very well. It's a solid vehicle.

There are little details on it that make me think there was going to be more to the overall design of the vehicle, like that little indentation at the front end of the 'door.'
And just what is that little bar on floor? An "oh #$%!" bar?
If I put an official "my" VAMP into "my" motor pool, the running boards would be totally useless with the modern pegs, though. And I would have little use for the backpack gear holes to hang on the side.
There is quite a lot of leftover room between the seats and the outer edge of the vehicle, too. Some empty space that I really see as wasted. The top holes would just be holes, as I really don't care for the vehicle accessories weapons that the VAMP has. (the Gatling gun alone looks like it would chew up my Equalizer!)

It is nice to see a foot board, though. It's barely noticed detail, but it keeps figures from sliding into the engine compartment! (yes, this has been an issue, we have a 1/18 scale BassPro Ford pick up where figures disappear under the hood....)
Overall, as a classic-GIJOE-figure collector, this modern VAMP gets an easy 3.5 out of 5 stars for me. And that's very good, considering "my" Joes can't make use of some features on this (pegs). If it had more refined weapons, too, like that front-dash mounted gun, it could have moved up to a 4.

My top 5 favorite features on this new VAMP:

* easy removable tires and a spare!
* sturdy and fun suspension!
* Extra figure equipment (sledge, shovel, fuel canisters)!
* Tow hook!!!!!
* Fuel tank spot (fuel-up!) !



Generalsjoes.com 2010 VAMP

Generalsjoes.com 2011 VAMP

Polar Battle Bear and Rockslide: Past and present

I bought this set just recently, the 2009 Past and Present set for the Polar Battle Bear and Rockslide ATAV.

I wasn't planning on doing it, but it was more for the "junior joe" in the house. We had a pretty good time last winter taking "the guy with the skis" out into the snow. (actual "ski" activity was not as much fun in the snow as I would have thought...)

But either way, I opened this thing up early, as I decided to split the pack up, and true to my own self-imposed "no-swivel head" rule, I must trade the re-molded original Snow Job out the door. And since I don't have any other of my own arctic forces left, the newly-minted Polar Battle Bear here will join the figure on the way out.

It's not that I don't like the PBB, the only other one I had ever was the "Rock Slide," but that figure bugged me, and the launcher immediately came off. It was an earlier trade-out around 2004, or even late 2005. But, really, I figure if I am not maintaining a solid winter operation "sub-team," why should I keep it? (although it would have been fun to play with it, and even army build it, to go along with what I did have...)

Anyway, the modern Rock Slide is here with modern Snow job. (Whiteout is still in the house, as he stayed with the few other modern figures I have, for the eventuality that the "junior joe" will most likely want to play with some Joes.)

I looked at buying the Rockslide when it was by itself a couple year back, but even in the clear view box, I just wasn't feeling the price was worth it. I found the Past and Present set here for $15.99. Originally, I was going to make it a "mine" and "junior joe" type of Christmas present, but I think we're just going to take the modern one out to play in the snow now.

The Rockslide is not nearly as bad as I originally thought.



The Rockslide has a nice round form, very sporty-looking. The front skids seem fairly durable with their non-removable molded mini-missiles on top of spring-fired rockets, all of which is the most unattractive looking part of the machine to me.


But then the PBB is more straight-lined looking, it has a more utilitarian form to it. Utilitarian says military to me. Plus, the PBB has the rear deck with foot pegs.
Foot pegs that are only good for the old classic ARAH Oring-style figures. So, kids that got, or get, this PBB, will have to shave the pegs down to get any use with their now-current modern GIJOE figures.
Oh, and there is a TOW HOOK. Utilitarian. Moves 3 classic GIJOE figures and tows stuff.



But, I suppose, it is apples to oranges. Even though modern Snow Job has pretty much the same accessories as his "past" counterpart. Only they are tweaked, such as the backpack peg being for the modern hole. The modern figure only ups the armament with a pistol that can go into the side holster.




The Rockslide has a very wide skid stance and much more aerodynamic body, too. The Rockslide really seems built for speed to me, just by looking at it.



One deterrent to the purchasing the Rockslide before was that I couldn't tell what was inside, or how a figure fit in there.
It seemed like the canopy didn't even lift in the pictures I was looking, and that the figure just slid into the back section somehow almost laying down.

But, the canopy does open and the interior is really pretty nice. That big solid gray painted area you see in the picture below is an area of opportunity that got missed to make this machine a good Joe vehicle, in my opinion. I mean, storage compartment? Engine hatch? Ski rack? Snow shoes?
As is, the main body of the Rockslide really ends up nicely contoured, but still just a big chunk plastic. A good looking chunk, but still...
The figure does go in all the way to sit, there is plenty of room to slide in lower into the Rockslides shell.
The Polar Battle Bear?




Sitting?


I did not know the Rockslide did this with its rear treads, though.


And the skids do steer!!! They really feel VERY sturdy, too. The Polar Battle Bear actually loses on the steering skid detail for me, here.

And ya know, I like the "sway" feature on the guns of the Polar Battle Bear, but do I really need that 30* extra range on those guns? The guns could have been fixed straight and I would have been just as happy as I think about. (I mean, just turn the machine a little?)
Rockslide wins me on the front-end skid operation, as well as the twin guns. Rockslides nose does look good...


I was surprised to find some detail on the bottom of the Rockslide, too. It could have been left smooth, but what it has really makes it more interesting. Plus, one "rolling tread wheel" is just as good as the "pair."







Overall, the Rockslide isn't too bad of a vehicle. It actually exceeded my expectations, which were not very high to begin with. Count me surprised!



See GeneralsJoes.com review!

Gone. Gijoes that have left the building. Part 5

Well, as I've looked back at what I had, there's a lot of good memories among all that stuff you see. I've shared the group photos of some of my big "bulk cuts" to my collection. From Part 1, I showed you my big figure cut from October 2011. In Part 2, I showed the "swivel head" articulated figures and others that I had cut in August 2011. And in Part 3, I showed what I cut in May 2011 from an already bare-bones motor pool and then-some. Part 4 shows a big chunk of vehicles and MIP figures and other items that left even before that back in Nov. 2008!

What you won't get to see in a single bunch of photos is the smattering of individually traded and sold GIJoe stuff. And I never did take any pictures of the boxes at a small Madison meet-up in late 2005, or the Ford Taurus wagon full of stuff that I ha with me at the 2005 convention.

So here on out will be a random bunch of GIJoe stuff that has left the building!
























Maybe more random photos to come as I find them. ?

Gone. GIJoes that have left the building Part 4

As I continue (from Part 3) my reverse look back at how my collection has slowly been dwindling in size, I'll have less cohesive photos to say more than I can in writing. So, I may have to simply sum it up on how things went down.

It was around the end of November 2008 when I made another good sized chop. An interesting note is that I pulled my WHALE out of the "bulk" deal at the last moment, but 3 years later I did end up selling it. It was perhaps the biggest one-time draw down I did in one fell-swoop. (I used this liquid value to buy more figures from 2009 into 2010...)

Prior to the 2008 "cut," I met up with some fellow fans down in Madison in late 2005 (shortly after the GIJOE convention in MN) and I was able to trade off some big vehicles and then some. I even got to trade with the now defunct "My generation toys" operator. I may have to make another post with random shots of what I traded there, like the 2003 MCC and my Rolling Thunder and Thunderclap, if I can find them. Or I might just find some old collection shots showing what it was like in my collection at home in 2005 and previous to this "Madison meet-up."

Between 2005 and 2009, I was also trading more online, as well as selling on the Ebay. I'll probably not be able to get a photo grouping of these for you to look at that, though. Perhaps I'll find some photos to randomly put up for something to look at in the next post. ?



Either way, here is what "left the building" in November of 2008 (I did pull my WHALE out just before the deal, so that is why you see it here):










Next up in Part 5 will be a random mix of photos showing what was in my collection around the house that was either traded or sold individually.