Cobra 1986

1986 was really a big year for me with GIJOE, especially for Cobra. Sure, I had the cartoon exposure and some toys from '84/'85, but the '86 toys really added big to my collection.

I touched a little on how my 1986 GIJOE team looks now in an earlier post but really I was thinking about my Night Raven lately. That's why I thought I would look more at these 1986 Cobras now and think about my Raven some more here. So before I ramble on about my Night Raven, I'll point out some things with my 1986 Cobra's first.

This picture was taken in 2009, I wanted to see how each year looked as a whole with this easy project. Overall, this group has some of my favorite uniform/ costume colorings.
The 1986 Viper is a total favorite of mine. The old cartoon did its job: I'm sold! Not so much a standard "grunt," but to me these are the motivated bad guys looking for the power and money like Cobra Commander; the base of the Cobra force.

And this year also brought in the Motor-Viper. Now, in my world, I never had a 1986 Viper until about 2000, and the rest of these not really until almost just before the picture was taken. I did have Motor Vipers back in 1986 and they lasted in my collection longer than the 3 STUNs that have passed through my possession. The Motor Viper WAS my Viper back in 1986.
Sometimes the Strato-Viper would fight along side the Motor Viper back in 1986, too.

As far as my original Cobra '86 figures go, I had the Motor Viper, the Strato Viper, and one B.A.T., and Serpentor. I was missing a Cobra Commander figure for quite some time in my collection so Serpentor really did take on the role of the Cobra Emperor. With the huge physical build on this figure, very few dared oppose him or fight him (until Slaughter joined my collection ranks!). The B.A.T. did his work, too, and offered some assistance to the Motor and Strato Vipers. That B.A.T. full card package artwork makes a person think there might be a guy in this suit...

And of course, I did have Zandar, Zarana, and Thrasher, too, back in the day. All 1986, yes, but I sorted them straight into the Dreadnok pictures. Still, overall that's SEVEN of my first 12 Cobras that were 1986 figures.

Since back in the day, I've added a few more figures that you can see in the picture above. Dr. Mindbender was one I got from my old best buddy from back in the day. This figure may not be that very figure, but Mindbender really stood out to me from the cartoon. The advertising worked. Plus it was nice to have Mindbender and Serpentor, flash-forward to my modern playing and these guys are now relegated to my "coil" faction.


I've had two Strato-Vipers since about 1991, the first from my Night Raven and the 2nd from my best buds Night Raven. (although I didn't get that Raven... ?) I'm not sure where I got the 3rd Strato-Viper now that I think about it, perhaps from a trade, or even from when I "traded-in" the bulk of my vehicles. Either way, I have a full crew for my Night Raven, which is really a nice thing for me. Not so much since it was a specific goal, but in some ways, didn't we all want fully crewed vehicles with their respective drivers?

Now when it comes to my "big vehicles," I was trying to limit myself to one of each; land/sea/air. The so-called big vehicles were the ones that individual Cobra characters were going to take ownership of.
And this is how that ended up looking. And yes, the Rattler (stinger) is small to mid-size, but with the price on that thing being so high I felt it would have to be a unique one-of-a-kind vehicle. So, Scrap iron gets it, and perhaps in some imaginative unseen way he upgraded the anti-armor capability on this one. The Hurricane is a one-of a kind vehicle, as is that Moray, each owned and operated by the world-renowned agents Wild Weasel and Copperhead.

Now, the Night Raven is a big vehicle, and you may be thinking, hold on... shouldn't that Hurricane be gone, or the Night Raven be gone? If only one....?

And you're right, here's a picture of the big vehicles in 1991, that Raven is pretty big, it really only comes in second to the WHALE in my opinion here in size. The Mamba and the Tomahawk just slightly under that size.

It's a big plane, but also, one of my originals. So there is some sentiment or nostalgia factor perhaps, but those terms are something I'm going to explore in a post to come. But I think these to play a big factor into why I'm keeping it.
On the other hand, the Hurricane is much more an advanced VTOL fighter which is more the even match to, say, an X-30. The Night Raven is a high and fast flyer, and with most of the weapons pointed backwards, not much of a fighter in itself. So, there's another reason why it doesn't or may not get much use in these modern days.

But, straight down to it, sentiment, nostalgia, and actual practical collection use aside: it is one AWESOME airplane. It looks goods, plain and simple.

This plane is a vehicle that technically by my own goals and such, should be on the chopping block. It really should. It's big and has its own unique fit in the overall scheme of things. I just don't want to give it up, though.

Perhaps it will be a plane that I hang from the ceiling, that's about all I'll get out of it. Back in the day, this plane and my buddies Night Raven were flying around the basement, but perhaps it is destined to simply looking cool dangling from the ceiling?

This is really the last time the Night Raven had any "play time." It must have been about 2005 in this picture, and it the adventures were pretty much limited to everything getting posed and set, a picture taken, and everything packed up right after.

Look at that profile! Is it just me or do those Strato Vipers look like they have some attitude?

Clutch

Some figures just don't live up to how I envision the character. For example, I'm still waiting for a perfect Stalker and Scarlett that fits in my classic styled ARAH collection. My imagination of the perfect figure rendition for these and others will probably never happen, so I'll make do with the best options out there of course.

For Clutch as if late, it's been that perfect personality capturing figure issue for me (is there one?). As an almost complete old-mold classic ARAH collector, I always have the option of the original classic Clutch. In green, tan, or straight-arm, for that matter. Fine figures, don't get me wrong, but, kind of boring. I kind of want a driver that really says he's ready for battle, and if it wasn't for the orange, the Mega Marine Clutch would have fit the bill; a real driver and mechanic looking figure. But that figure also really misses on the rough, unshaven feel that the Clutch character really needs, in my opinion.

I've made some custom attempts to capture the personality I've built up in my head for Clutch. One from a few years back uses the ARAH comic pack head, and I was going for a sort of "Road warrior" approach for Clutch. A little armor, fairly muscular. Thinking back this wasn't too bad... I almost want Clutch in all black, though...something I'll have to maybe play with later with the few parts I have laying around maybe.


I didn't "hate" the orange on the M.M. Clutch, but, there really was a lot. I was thinking of leaving the pants alone for awhile on here, too, as they would have made for a nice contrast. Sometimes, all dark is just too serious for my toys to be fun, ya know? But I ended up painting these, too. I thought the all olive drab underneath the armor would make a nice visual connection to the original "green" figure after all.

My Badger custom is here, I was thinking of how Clutch as a figure could advance the character by making him some sort of advanced cavalry scout driver, or something that would have added upon his previous figures imaginary biographies. The Badger being a one-man 4WD fast assault vehicle, souped up by Clutch himself, perhaps?



I painted this guy assembled, hoping it wouldn't all flake or rub off. But some did. And some spots, like the joints, obviously would be worn off with movement. I guess on a technical note, I could shave some areas down to avoid this, but I probably won't right now.

No matter how many times I rechecked for spots I missed on the painting, it always seemed like I missed some small spot. That's why I don't do too many customs, let along figure customs. And the camera helps reveal even more flaws that I don't see under the basement light bulb.

Now that I'm doing this little paint job, I almost like my simple "Road warrior" assembly at the top more.

What's the alternative to making a perfect Clutch? Buying one, right?

Now the Tanks for the Memories Clutch is kind of nice looking, and the street racing vest is really a nice touch. I still see Pathfinder in the torso, though. Even though it's a nice green, and the head really has a nice personification to it, I'm not sure if I would have this my main Clutch. And it might be more expensive for me to get? Personally, I was hoping the GIJOE Club would have re-colored the Mega Marine version like they did with the Steel Brigade 2005 "Dragonsky" or Gung-ho. I suppose all those guys are playing with the modern era Joes these days, too, so that might be a hope long gone for now.

Or there is the Double Clutch figure, which don't look too bad...maybe if the arms and shoulders were toned down a little...? Or the other Double Clutch which fits better with my classic ARAH collection, but at the same time is really on the light side of green and with the yellow makes a nice comic figure, but not one I really want to make my main Clutch. Besides that's Mace's body and the Clutch head feels out of place on it to me.

With the modern era Clutch, well, I had him with my 25th VAMP, but, still just a "green" guy in the end. Nothing on the figure said much about personality, as much as the head sculpt does look nice. And the 2010 VAMP version of Clutch makes this modern figure so much more interesting to me, that's a great looking shade of green, and the gear is pretty decent (but since he's so much taller than my classic ARAH guys, he'd stand out, literally). I may still acquire that VAMP, but I'm waiting for a real sale price on it.

With all those options, none of them really capture a good personality for what I want Clutch to be. I've tried those couple custom and paint attempts.

What do you think is the best personality characterizing representation of Clutch?

Sea operations extra

I wrote briefly about my WHALE and the Sea Squad not too long ago. That's about my GIJoe team sea arm capacity as it is now, those Joes listed and that WHALE. Not too long ago, vehicles were more abundant.

Here below is a picture I wanted to share in the previous post, it is essentially the bulk of the GIJOE navy in about late-2005 or early 2006.




If you know your Joe, you already know these. Nothing is rare or out of the ordinary. In this time-frame-picture, I had already traded off my Tiger Shark and Shark 9000, and that newer GIJOE Piranha boat. Those were among those vehicles traded in 2005 early on in my endeavor to reduce my amount of toys.

In the picture, under the TTBP is My Night Shade and my original mail-in SHARC. They look good underneath I think, but, long-term collecting wise I didn't think I would be having many submersed battles.

On the TTBP deck is the TRU Navy SEAL assault raft. I maybe should have kept that, it was small enough and now that I think about it; it is almost like a battle field set. It has a bunch of tools for insertion and sneakiness, but unlike a battlefield tent, it's raft.
Also is one of the 2005 Convention Skyhawks. I thought three was terrific, but, with no guns on the front, I had to tear the ones off my old-buddies Skyhawk ('84). In the end, those Skyhawks didn't hold me much, and consider how that much more awesome 25th Anniversary Skyhawk looks compared to these, and well, I don't miss them.

The Joe Hydrofoil Moray and WHALE flank the sides of the TTBP. The WHALE is here, as you know, and I've mentioned it's my only Joe sea vehicle.
I've placed the Joe Hydrofoil Moray back under the control of Copperhead for use by Cobra. I did like that the Joes were getting essentially a true high-speed patrol boat in this TRU release, however, they would have been battling the EXACT same craft you can see on the shelf below the TTPB: real Cobra Morays.



Now, the Cobra Morays were in really good shape, with just a few minor flaws that did not detract from the fun at all. IN FACT, I've had FOUR hydrofoils in my possession over the last 10 years. I remember getting one on ebay and one at a local shop, but right now I can't remember where the other two came from. Not remembering things like this is a reason I felt I was just buying and accumulating too many things.

In the end with the Moray, I kept the '05 TRU release for use with Cobra as their big sea vehicle. Copperhead is technically the owner in my Joe-Verse, as this is the last of the Morays. (Cobra took a big loss in my Joe Verse, larger vehicles like the Morays were more easily targeted and destroyed (in reality, these two Morays were traded and sold). Copperhead was able to return to his smugglers ways; stealing the boat and hiding with his own cache of parts, enhancing the craft, etc., etc....)

Even the TTBP was sold, and it came down to that it did not really match up with the HQ. I thought that if I was going to have a smaller collection, yet somehow still be able to disPlay it all, the TTBP would have to "fit" with the HQ in a set up. And within that shelf set-up it would be something like the "dock-side" of the base layout....and longer story shorter, it would turn out to be a very large set up. So, I stuck with the HQ and battlefield station sets only for this aspect.

Convention 2005 GIJOE

The 2005 GIJOE convention in Minneapolis, MN, was my first and only convention thus far attended. I had read about the conventions online in the couple years previous, and even as early as 1994 received mailings for some of the earlier gatherings. I probably could have made previous conventions and perhaps another since then, but, either way, this convention was darn near in my back yard. I couldn't miss it.

I really didn't know what to expect, I was excited, though! I had a print out hanging on my wall with the date and location since the day it was announced.
I drove over Friday morning, and had the fortune of getting in on a group rate at a non-con hotel just a few blocks down the street with several YOJOE.COM forum posters. I thought that was awesome, and I got to meet most everyone in the lobby right when I walked in. That was very cool.


After getting settled in, I brought a wagon load of GIJOE stuff to trade up to the room. I think we walked over to the main convention hotel shortly after. I decided to stay in the registration line and missed the parachute drop. This was also my first "convention exclusive" purchase, so I was excited for that. Skyhawks, recolored Battle Corps Steel brigade guys, and a new take on one of my favorite aspects of GIJOE, the Iron Grenadiers.

Even in line I was able to meet a lot of other people that were posting on forums at that time, too. A lot from Joesightings, and a good number from JoeBattlelines. I had a JBL tag on my convention tag.

I think after getting all that convention stuff put in my backpack, I walked around the show floor taking in most of the surroundings. Being my first convention, and never seeing this much Joe stuff in one place was pretty cool. A few people made comments that this was much smaller compared to the previous conventions, but I was pretty happy. Was Minneapolis really THAT much of an out of the way place for the bulk of people?



This is where we got to see the new product coming up, the stuff that I was usually checking in my internet at home to see what was in the pipeline...but I was actually in the room to see it first.
The Sigma Six announcement was made here. I guess I can't remember much about the mood at that time on it, but we got to see a lot of the product and I particularly liked the sketch boards set up on display. I was hoping to be the guy doing this kind of work!

I can't remember how the "DTC" announcement was made, either. There was a lot of people and I definitely was able to stay occupied browsing the new products, customs, and the large amount (imo) of sellers with stuff for me to buy!

I do remember the mood on the "GIJOE" Moray. Some of the thoughts were that it was the better deal than the blue-top-only-and-more-expensive convention Moray. And some people were unwilling to allow this vehicle to become a "GIJOE" vehicle. Some people went out to the Toys R Us stores in the area to go get this, too, as I think it was just out at that time.


Of the new products shown here, that we could order from the new Hasbro Toy Shop (AKA DTC), I had to get that HISS. I wasn't really sold on the rest. I also ordered the Night Ops Humvee at this time. I did eventually order the RHINO at a later time, but the HISS was really my favorite thing to see here. I liked the lines, and really felt like it captured the essence of the HISS I. I was a little let down that there was a Night Creeper driving, it felt, uninspired. Somewhat cheap. JBL's LeoTDragon was snapping a picture of the HISS as I was getting this one.



I think after getting the initial look around the sales floor and picking up the convention stuff, I headed back over in the early afternoon to my hotel with some of the JBL'ers and did some trading. I think we headed right back over to the convention hotel for some of the Hasbro round tables and other presentations.
I got to meet even more Joe fans during those, and I particularly liked Mark Bellomo's presentations. Getting to see the original works of art on the wall was quite a treat. Once again, this kind of work was something I wanted to be doing.
Maybe it was in a round table that they introduced the "hiatus" on the 3-3/4". I can't remember exactly. I should have kept a journal over the weekend.

This is where I saw my first U.S.S. Flagg, too (in person). That's what's pictured below. It was great seeing a lot of the different vehicles that I hadn't seen in person over the weekend.


This all leads only into Friday night. I had dinner with some Smalljoes.com guys, which was really awesome that they invited me to join them. That was a blast getting to hang in person with guys that I've sort of conversed with for a few years prior online. They went up to the auction, I went back to the hotel and eventually met up with a bunch of awesome Yojoe-er's for some in room trading and chatting.

Saturday I was up before most of Minneapolis and was able to check out the downtown area a little bit on foot. Although this location is really very close to where I live, I don't think I had ever been here. I had breakfast up in the convention hotel, and it seemed like almost afternoon before anything started going.

I think there was a seminar, and I did get in on the one-and-only (that I know of) GIJOE TCG live tournament at some point. I had to let one younger kid win, though, but not without some effort on his part... I didn't advance that far, but still had fun playing this game.

Saturday night was the convention dinner, which was at an airfield with a big band. It was kind of fun, I got to hang with the Yojoe-er's on a runway. There was a WW2 PBY under works in the hanger, and we were allowed an up close look at a B-24 (If I recall correctly). This shindig did get a little long, but that pretty much brought the night to a close.

Sunday seemed like everyone was already heading out in the morning. Seemed like the sales floor was opened for closing. I snagged some last-minute items and decided to get out of town myself. There was a parade that was about to start and potentially hinder my travels out of that area.

All-in-all, a good time. I hope to make it to a convention again.

Arctic Blast

Arctic Blast!



I've written out a little bit on my WINTER OPERATIONS previously a little while back, not too long after I bought the new Wolf hound. (we still call it a Snow Cat here.) I made mention of my interest in the Arctic Blast at that time. I was checking out YoJoe.com and the Joe Index, and was hoping to see it featured in a custom form or used in a winter battle scene. I didn't see much, there is a YouTube review and the original commercial for the toy on YouTube that added to what I was looking for, but ultimately, I just wanted one in hand. I had never seen one in person, and I find that pictures don't give a good impression of what a vehicle can really offer.

I checked the ebay, but those were a bit pricier than I wanted to put out. I did find someone who was selling one just before Christmas, and the price was simply unbeatable. And in the end, the whole deal was simply great. The Arctic Blast is finally here, and that's what I'm going to share with you here.

The Arctic Blast obviously doesn't have that much of a body. In fact, with just two wheels powering it, it reminds me more of a side-paddle-wheel boat. It really does. Just like a boat, this arctic sled with its light weight really almost floats across the frozen terrain as the giant (yet weight spreading) wheels tear it up with rather large knobby tires.
It takes up about the same amount of space as the "Snow Cat," too.


The "Snow Cat" is simply a half-track truck, heavily "Joe-ified," but a truck none-the-less. The "Snow Cat" brings us 4 artillery rockets and two Ski-pedoes. The Arctic Blast brings us two smaller Ski-pedoes, but compliments them with a pair of multi-barrel machine guns. The "Snow Cat" offers the ability to carry a few more Joes on the sides and back stands, but the Arctic Blast offers up two gun mounts for its riders. Although, with two figures riding on the back of the Arctic Blast, it does tip backwards. Perhaps some more ammo was needed for the front guns?

The Arctic Blast is really simple as you probably already figured out. It's got some interesting stuff going on in the rear other than just the two platforms for the gun mounts. The engine is present, something I always like in a Joe vehicle. I am a huge fan of engine covers, but perhaps to save weight, the engine cover was simply omitted here? It's on a deck right behind the seat, and that arrangement is something that makes me think of a "go-cart." This must be meant as a pure battle vehicle, there's just no frills.
There is a mysterious hole in the center where one would expect to find, perhaps, a tow hook. I wonder if there was to be a tow-behind sled or some other item that would work with this? An engine cover on the rear platform would easily accommodate a figure standing on top of it for use on manning another gun mount directly overhead of the driver?

For driving, I suppose it is power one wheel or the other, or both, and simply, "go!" There are floor pedals, but flying/ sliding across rough terrain, well, does it call for brakes? I think of Florida Everglades air boats and how they just skim across that land. Those don't have brakes, think the operation of the Arctic Blast is one of no reverse option?
No matter how it would actually be driven by a figure, I still can make it go. I do like the seat belt. It's a nice 1988-1989 feature and I think the Evader, Rolling Thunder, Thunderclap, X-19 are some of the other vehicles I've had with these belts. Either way, it works just as well as a figure back-peg (see a 1983 FANG) or the 1990 seat clips. Actually I like the seat belt more than the seat clips.

If you're up on your Joe, you probably already know that Windchill came with the Arctic Blast. My first Windchill actually came with the Blockbuster, so I've really had this character in play some 15 years now. The '94 version of him, I should add. The 1989 version is a more recent addition from the last couple years and is not in as good of shape as my '94.
I actually think that with the Arctic Blast addition to my collection that I have finally found something for Snow Storm to do. For a cold weather/ arctic guy, with the gear he came with he kind of seemed more space/ Star Brigade like. I had the blue on white version since back in the day, but the figure is all bundled up and compared to the bulk of the other "arctic" Joes he seemed like the comfy-cozy odd-man-out. He's got no outside exposure in that suit, but I think in the Arctic Blast this is a HUGE plus. Who better to run this thing in possible wind chills of death? A more recent addition in the last couple years was the 1994 version of Snow Storm. He's actually got a similar shade of gray that the 1989 Windchill has, and it offsets him from the all (very) white vehicle. So, I may stick with the '94 version as my "main" Snow Storm at this time. Do you think the other version might be better or would choose this way, too?

The Artic Blast has a lower profile than the Snow Cat, an advantage in a battle vehicle as I see it. The rear gun mounts don't have the up and down pivot, but they can be used in an almost 360* swivel only being blocked by the massive floodlights.
The floodlights are kind of neat, they allow some excellent forward vision, but also could blind an enemy at night as the Arctic Blast makes its assault forward.


All-in-all so far, I really like this vehicle. Compared to all my vehicle purchases in 2010, this comes close to number one, but in some ways I like the new Water Moccasin from TRU (Sting Raider) a little bit more. And it really ties with the Wolf Hound, but it's a "truck" versus a special forces vehicle kind of thing for me here; hard to decide.


And it's been years since I've had a lot of my other arctic vehicles, but, I would like to have the Arctic Blast battle the Cobra Ice Snake. That's a battle that never happened that I wanted.


I still don't get an arctic vibe from the Blockbuster....

WHALE and the sea squad

Elusive steering vanes!






(Pic: Admiral Keel Haul and a custom Cutter with Topside and Deep Six)

All about my WHALE. Mostly, and my sea squad, too.

My WHALE hovercraft is one of my original vehicles from way back in the day. I can vaguely recall seeing the thing in a bag in a relatives closet while snooping around, eventually getting it for a Christmas present if I recall correctly.

It has survived through several residence moves and battles. Often used as an HQ or base in itself back in the day (even while having the '83 HQ), it made it through my younger days, although it made it without the rudders and steering vanes intact, and the recon. bike seemed to just disappear.

It has traveled across state lines and down streets, been boxed up, and out on display. And it really isn't a vehicle that I would rate as "essential" in my modern days with a focus on a lean motor pool. In fact, I almost did sell it off back in 2008. I'm glad I didn't right now. It's not that it's getting much use, it's been in a rubbermaid resting in bubble wrap and baggies since last April.

I technically don't really "need" any boat in my modern thinking, either. I'm more thinking air travel for adventures, and a Tomahawk could easily carry a Devilfish (which I have never had) if I "needed" a boat. I chose the WHALE over the Shark 9000, too, which despite its colors had some nice aspects to it.

So, what is it about the WHALE that makes me hang on to a large, potentially fragile, vehicle? I don't know. I mean, I can get just as many Joes across the water in my Night Rhino (9) if I needed to, and I did keep that vehicle in place of my A.P.C. I can get drop 5 Joes off the Tomahawk, but only 4 off the WHALE. And they disembark off the front of the WHALE (dangerous!!).

Is it the details of the WHALE that are appealing? I do like the pair of turrets, missile boxes, and artillery-size cannons. None of which are overly detailed or anything, quite simple in form actually. The recon. sled and bike are nice, but, really not much more detail in those. And if ever an "action gimmick" there was, it's in those twin propulsion fans. The single button spinning those blades are interesting, but the "engine block" does take up a good amount of space.
Of course there are the engine covers, bridge station, depth charges, secret compartment underneath, etc., etc....

Maybe it's all of it? Maybe all these things and more that allow for a multitude of little action figure drama and adventure.... figure to vehicle interactivity.

Or maybe it's just a fun vehicle that is a able to go across land and water and really compliments a GIJOE invasion force? I'm glad I kept this vehicle, though.



Mostly for the "sea" Joes. Some Joes are really rather limited in their environment of action, especially a "deep sea diver."

Admiral Keel Haul (v2) doesn't have a U.S.S. Flagg to command here, so he's in charge of the WHALE. Cutter is still the "Lt." as on his file card, but he's taking a little more of an active role in my mind, much like the D.E.F. did. In the top picture on this post, one can see my more combat version of Cutter...essentially a head swap.

I don't have an '85 Shipwreck, yet. My first and only Shippy is the '94 SEAL version, another "diver" figure. And I like that figure quite a bit, it advanced Shipwreck as a character through the toy line. And "diver" Shipwreck joins Wet suit, Deep Six, and Torpedo, as the water troops.

I have the '89 Deep Six picked as my only Deep Six. As far as figures go, and as neat as the '84 Deep Six is, this was a pretty easy choice to make for me in that the one with the most action potential stayed. It's not been as easy for Wet Suit, though. I have the "wet down" version, the '86 original, and even the '91 version. Each has certain points I like, but thus far, I've kept them all.

My Torpedo is the "a real American hero collection" release of that particular mold. I did have the 2004 VAMPs "land" version of him...but I didn't like that Hasbro used the head of the '91 Wet Suit. I like twins, but these guys are not twins. And the body still says Muskrat to me, and I like Muskrat. So, Torpedo is looking a little dated in some ways, but, he works out ok on the '84 WHALE.

On deck is the obvious choice of Topside. A naval assault seaman just fits, and with the WHALE the only water craft left around, welcome aboard!

Rampart and Blaster round out my sea squad. Rampart as a shoreline defender makes sense to me, though, and he has some excellent gear for shoreline assaults. Blaster is a hovercraft tinkerer in my mind, and instead of trailing the rest of the old Battleforce 2000 guys, he is THE mechanic and often pilot on the WHALE.

In some ways with these figures "stationed" on my WHALE and their limited roles in play on it, the WHALE has almost become a force in itself. Storming beaches, artillery bombardments, covert insertions, high-speed high-seas battles, etc....

I do wish I had kept the NAVY SEAL mission raft from around '98/'97 sometimes, that actually looked kind of nice strapped onto the WHALE for a little extra added adventures.



Below is the final shot of the WHALE prior to heading into the trade zone :

Desert Striker

A desert mission sometime in 2004








These pictures make me want it all
back now, possibly my only desert
mission here, ever.






The raft was launched from the WHALE for a desert rescue mission.






DESERT STRIKER

I'm still pretty keen on vehicles, back when I made the decision to reduce my motor pool, I had to really sit down and decide what I liked. If I had 2, or 3, or 4, of something that had essentially the same base, I made myself choose one.

See the GeneralsJoes.Com Review of the Desert Striker!

The Desert Striker was one of those vehicles that was cut. Not so much because I had one VAMP too many, but more because I like "green" more. I'm talking the old woodland camo "green," or as close to olive drab as it gets. Cutting the desert tan out of the collection is ultimately what happened, even though I do still have the Mean Dog.

In a lot of ways I liked the Desert Striker, it switched up the original VAMP quite a bit, not as successfully as the 2004 VAMP, though, which is the one I picked to keep; for a while longer anyway, it's green!

No "top" kind of bugged me on the Desert Striker, too. It is the desert, the sun is hot and the nights are cold after all. So, I made a small custom fabric top. I wanted to sew it on, and do some canvas-looking side parts, as well, but my laziness and cheapness eventually led to me just hot-gluing the top on. It wasn't as refined looking as I wanted, but I did like it.




The front cargo boxes on the nice new big bumper was really kind of cool, too. Add in the passengers machine gun, which was kind of my favorite "update" on this model. The little gun and launcher was ok, but the back end is where the Desert Striker really failed for me. There's plenty of roll cage going over the back but not a lot there. The "mine dumping cans" were not horrible, but that really limited the play value in my mind. I would have had more fun with extra fuel cans, a troop deck, or at least a gun and backpack cage.

There could have been much more done with the Desert Striker, but it's still a pretty decent VAMP. Ultimately I chose to have NO VAMPs since Stingers are so obviously the same thing. But, the 25th Anniversary rolled in and the 25th VAMP was heavily suggested so I do have that now.

A shopping day adventure

I've scaled back my pursuit of Cobra, and GIJoe in these modern days, actually finding that in most cases shopping online is a lot easier. Plus, someone else out there in the Joe realm finds new things and shares opinions on them, so that makes shopping for new things even better

Being a short time after Christmas, I was hoping to find some clearance goodie for the Joes. There really isn't anything out there that I've been burning to have, and I've only really casually been hunting in stores while accompanying the "junior" Joe of house doing some browsing, too.
Of course, I went right to Target. Target is THE hotbed of GIJOE activity for this area, and it remains the most ample supply source of GIJOE until one starts to drive all the way over to the Twin Cities of MN.

Surprisingly, GIJOE was really sold out it seemed on the usual side aisle location. I saw the new Cobra Deviant mech and about 15 Arctic Threat Destro figures. I was glad to see the 2009 Cobra Night Raven finally NOT present in the store, the $14.99 price finally sold those.

On the way out of Target, my "junior" partner found the new Joes of 2010 on their own little display box on the bottom shelf of an end cap. If it weren't for his height advantage, I would have missed these completely. I had my pick of that whole wave, and I even could have grabbed SIX of those Shock Vipers. I was really tempted, these are almost the Cobra version of that Pit Trooper, loaded with gear and they could be anyone. But I just couldn't see me doing much with these, so I left it all.

Next Stop was the Toys R Us Express. I've posted about my initial thoughts on the store, which it is nice to have the store on site as the nearest Toys R Us is a 2 hour drive. But, still not impressed. It really didn't look like they stocked much more stuff since the last visit, and as the store was much more visibly empty, the prices were still WAY too high (compare $1.19 Hot Wheels car to Target's $.77!!!). But, mostly there wasn't really that much interesting stuff to begin with, and the little Joe that was there was sold (to my surprise). So nothing here at the mall.

BIG LOTS is a store I started to hit up around 2004/5 at the height of my brick and mortar Joe hunting, never finding anything here, though. On this trip there were some of those little combat heroes, and one Comic pack with Wild Bill and and Scrap Iron. It was nice to see, but, not something I wanted. I can't recall the price now, but I do remember it didn't seem that good.

TJ MAXX was the next and final stop. The shelves were in a somewhat disarray, but this was the most fun stop because of this. I could pass by the shelves on different angles and found different single packaged Joes sort of hiding behind things. The bulk of what was there was under the Rise of Cobra packaging. Night Adder and Red Fang Ninja were there with a few Storm Shadow variations and a couple of The Doctor and a couple different Snake eyes figures. Some of these were tempting, as they were price at $4.

As I hunted a little more, though, I found a single Wraith ($3), Python Crimson Guard ($3), and a Tripwire ($2), as well as one comic pack set of the Iron grenadier and Viper. There was one $7 Sky sweeper jet, that I'll probably be kicking myself for not getting someday. (I have to wonder if the guy who thought the Mole Pod would be a big seller wasn't getting picked on for all of 2010?) There were more Mold Pods than figures here, and at $7 I know I wasn't going to by any. Oh, and a Sharc Tooth at $12, that was neat to see.

What did I buy? The Tripwire and Wraith figures.






For a 1983 Figure, the original Tripwire is still pretty decent. Here is the 2000 release of Tripwire, which I have no reason to want a 1983 figure with this very nice release. He's got just as much detail as that 1983 Flash figure, and really fits in with the "original 13." I originally had a Tiger Force Tripwire growing up, and he didn't get much use.

The new 25th Tripwire isn't doing much more for me, but for $2 I thought I would try. If I weren't a semi-collector I wouldn't even know what that yellow element was. The figures belt is a little sideways, the joints are a little more unconcealed than I would expect, and the darn detector got curved in the package. For $2 I'm not too let down though.

Wraith is a guy I kinda wanted to add, especially in variant form. I did see the figure at retail at full price previously, but with the somewhat dismay of slight articulation problems pointed out online, I wasn't too interested in taking him on. At the $3 price I couldn't pass this guy up now.
I see how the wrist guns were a little bit of a let down, though, I already broke one hose!
Oh well, kind of a neat figure still and I'll have to think about how to integrate the figure into my Cobra verse.

That's a shopping day for me.

Renegades

Not THE Renegades, but

GIJOE Renegades (the HUB).

I very much am enjoying this show. While it is really a much farther departure from the '80's style A Real American Hero GIJOE, I'm finding the story overall just fun.

When I think about how many different takes on GIJOE adventures there have been over the last 15 years, Renegades is farther out there, yet in some ways very familiar.

Since the toy line ended way back in 1994, most new approaches still retained a "good guy" team fighting the forces of the "bad guy" team. Sgt. Savage and his screaming eagles could have very much stayed in the A Real American Hero realm story-wise, but then for toy company reasons the story line shot into GIJOE: EXTREME. Very little ARAH story from the '80's left with this, but still... "bad guys" vs. "good guys" team.

Since 2000 the comics have taken some different approaches to the story's, some re-imagining the whole she-bang. "Updating" the familiar story with current events. Giving certain aspects a new spin, digging deep into character backgrounds. I'm going to stick with thinking about the cartoons, though.

2005's Sigma Six was the toy company's "update." Again. I wasn't huge on that cartoon until they Lt. Stone was introduced. That's when it started getting good, and I was tuning in on a regular basis. Sure, Firefly was extremely different, but essentially, it was all GIJOE vs. COBRA. Er....GIJOE: S6 vs. Cobra. A lot of redress, re-purpose.

The Resolute cartoon was the next thing up since the end of S6, wasn't it? Or should the LIVE movie get in on this.
Either way, a lot of somewhat familiar characters, in action, still "good" vs. "bad."

And while I'm really simplifying a 15-year span of licensed stories, what I remember is GIJOE vs. Cobra. And that's good, that's what I've been playing with since forever.

With Renegades, though, the story is what's capturing my interest. It's moving without getting bogged down with obvious cameos, unnecessary-slow-down-the-action-"props" to the "past." I can watch this cartoon and I'm feeling connected. From episode one we get introduced to characters and the action starts.

It really feels familiar, though. A lot of it is obviously inspired by a lot of different "other" shows. The "A-Team" is the obvious show that it reminds me of. Maybe that's why I like it, the "A-Team" is one of my favorite shows. We all know the fugitives are good, and they are doing good while hounded by the good side. Also, perhaps it is the small "core" team that is being developed. Almost like a Star Trek show where there's a thousand crew members on the 1701-D, but we really only "hang" with a handful of it. But we really got to know those few characters.

On the "bad guy" side, Cobra has taken on the corporate status. This actually makes sense to me. As an adult (hard to believe, huh?), I've found myself looking at my own takes on my GIJOE collection. How does Cobra exist without incurring the wrath of, well, every armed force in the world? How does Cobra move? Why do they exist? Things like this have led me to think of Cobra as a PMC of sorts, with a huge global company ( think ARBCO or Extensive Enterprises) that is fully legit bringing in some money. So the top and bottom end is controlled by Cobra, not only a "ruthless, terrorist organization determined to rule the world...," but an organization is in it for the power and money. Anyone that wants some of that, grab a rifle, and get in line (see my VIPER post).
With Renegades, Cobra seems like the Resident Evil Umbrella company somewhat. I'm not as familiar with Resident Evil past the movies, but I do see that connection. Or any evil-but-legit company in most movies for that matter. OCP in "RoboCop," for example.
Similarities and borrowing aside, Cobra is "good" here. Well, they are perceived that way and are well respected in the Renegades universe it seems. Perhaps this is a reflection of real or fictional culture at present? I know I do not feel like major companies in the real world are looking out for my best interests, rather they want my cash. (Has Hasbro gotten my cash?!? ;) )
I guess, GIJOE has really borrowed from popular culture in quite a few ways since 1982. Lasers. Pro-wrestling. Dinosaurs. Etc. Now, seemingly a "good" company is really "bad," and the major menace to global society is the small, seemingly rogue-ish, "Joes."

That might be why I like Renegades. It's almost like the writers or whoever are having fun.

Sort of like how the 2010-2011 GIJOE figures seem very inspired by the movies "Aliens" and "Predator." In my view, it's obvious. And it's good, good action, good fun, good product.

I'm looking forward to more Renegades. I prefer watching it on YOUTUBE here.


Would I buy Renegade figures? That's something I'll cover in another rambling.


I hope that Renegades does its thing, and does come to a close, though. As much as I would NOT like to have to "start over" with another rendition of GIJOE, there has been more than enough variations on a theme that it would seem logical. And I almost expect it.

Variation and change is good, and I can take what I like and leave the rest. Like Venom vs. Valor, still "good" vs. "bad," but I got a nice Overkill figure, and would like to introduce Venomous Maximus into "my Coil." The rest of it, I'm leaving for now.


What do you think of Renegades? Is it better than Resolute? Spytroops? Extreme?

The Bio Viper is a bit much, I'll say that, but I suppose "real" people can't be hacked to pieces in a cartoon, can they? Would a B.A.T. have worked better than a Bio Viper?
Renegades Mindbender is another I'd leave, and Storm Shadow, while his new arashikage background I like, the costume is not very interesting.

Can Snake eyes do no wrong in any form?