I first got a 1984 Skyhawk (upper left corner of the group of vehicles above) from my best bud way back in the day. The upper rudder wing was super glued the jet engines were loose to the point where they could hardly stay in any position except straight vertical. These things were used pretty heavily on the cartoon when I was watching it back then, too.
I guess I didn't use it a whole lot. In some ways, being that most of my collection was (and is) from 1986-forward, some figures didn't fit the easiest in the 1984 craft. I may have used the Razorblade more than this thing now that I think about it. I guess I don't remember using a whole lot.
Perhaps I used mostly to fight off the Cobra Flight Pod? I can't help to wonder if that's what my best bud back in the day was doing at times when he had both of these...
Either way, I was able to acquire the 3-piece collectors convention Skyhawks when I was at the 2005 convention. I thought it was a great deal at the time. And with 3 figures in that bonus attendee purchase pack (Gung-ho, Dragonsky, Steel Brigade Commander) it was really nice as that little sub-set of figures ended up with instant transportation. Of course these Skyhawks did not have the twin-chin cannon, which really took away some fun. Not to mention the plastic itself on the craft was a little unrefined, each swirl pattern was different, but so were the angles of the landing gear, excess flash in certain spots, etc. Still, for the price, these were pretty decent.
I actually took the guns off my old '84 Skyhawk and added to one of them. I can't find a picture of that one, but either way, it was traded away.
Just a short couple years later, Hasbro put out the 25th Skyhawk which simply made me not want any previous production Skyhawk. Seriously, when I saw the pictures, I wanted THAT and not what I had.
I don't think I saw more than one of these 25th-style "Ghosthawks" and between that point and the time I considered snagging it, it was already sold. Of course, I traded off all my convention Skyhawks and parted out my old 1984 Skyhawk since the 25th release was just so much cooler looking. Still haven't gotten the anniversary edition, but, that's ok... there's still a better (?) option right now.
(Check out this Youtube.com review on the 25th Ghosthawk.)
In the Pursuit of Cobra line-up, there's an even more refined (modern?) Ghosthawk now, and I have had several chances to snag this one. And I guess I still do as of this writing.
I just can't decide if I really "need." I mean, it looks cool, but will I actually use it?
Check out GeneralsJoes.com review for more information!
In my old age, I found that the best spot for a Skyhawk (or Ghosthawk) would be on the Transportable Tactical Battle Platform. Of course, I do not have a TTBP anymore, so the "need" for a VTOL craft for that landing pad is no longer there...
That's about where this little VTOL pod ended up sitting in my world.
And it's that little pod-thing about it that is what is holding me back from thinking I "need" the POC-Ghosthawk now.
It looks cool, don't get me wrong. But, I also think back to old Devilsdue.com board discussions where a lot of people were debating if the thing would even fly. And looking at the visual-weight balance of the toy..., well, I don't think it would!
But with the Ghosthawk POC "vectored thrust" engines, I think there very much might be a strong possibility of it seeming to work. Really, add in that third thruster on the back end, and the twin vectored engines would really only have to get it up, while that 3rd nozzle would give it the push. And it is nice that the engines are angle up a little higher and away from where the old engines were. It seems a little more complex of a craft, and a little more realistic to me this way.
I also think with the rear bomb (or rocket) attachment points on the back wing (bombs not included, however), the visual weight shifts back. It helps the Ghosthawk not seem so front heavy, which was one of the main argument points for this thing NOT being able to fly back on the old Devilsdue.com discussions.
Add in I have no use for the figure that is included, and it bumps the purchase up as too much expense for what I want out of the box. If figure is really $6, $7, or $8 a piece now, I would gladly pay the $7, $8, or $9 for JUST the vehicle. I don't want to get stuck with more stuff I most likely will just toss in a baggie to sit with other baggies in a Rubbermaid container.
With no Dragonfly in my motor pool now, I could use a little gunship to escort my Tomahawk, though, and a Ghosthawk would be pretty useful out in the field for some quick and compact air support for my (planned) field support team/ ground vehicle team.
Anyone get this and now not like it, or did you get one and can't imagine Joe-life without it?