Through the file card information on classic GIJoe figures, one can reason out which service branch a 'Joe came from. It seems like it's mostly the Army that most GIJoe characters come from. This is the reasoning behind me choosing these three figures for my small team of 28 GIJoes. I've got a lot of 'Joes from the Army, and these guys pictured above bring in the Navy, Marines, and Air Force service branches. I wanted a mix of characters from different backgrounds to serve as a "snapshot" of my once larger roster of figures, but also to add to the potential variety of future imaginary adventures.
An "other agency" representation I chose is Shockwave--(S.W.A.T.) As much as I like Cutter, too, I just didn't feel like he was going to be strong in the sense of versatile use; mostly since he's in his personal floatation vest. Maybe someday, I may very well add him back in with a part-swap custom.
Rampart is a a figure I bought at the old Mariner Mall Kay Bee store in 1991. One of the first figures I bought when I started to call myself more a collector. I think Kay Bee had a buy-one-get-one-free deal upon my first visit to this store. I miss those deals...
A "shoreline defender" and "A.D.A. missile specialist," Rampart didn't stand out to me very strongly until I started focusing in my collections vehicle drivers and crews. Through his file card, I connected his naval record to the rest of my old sea squad. A rather nice figure in great gray and tan, with a touch of camo and with reasonable accessories.
My WHALE is gone now, but I think Rampart will work out just as great as a ground defense specialist on foot as well as a vehicle-mounted gunner. Particularly on the Tomahawk.
Sgt. Slaughter is representing the Marines on my team. I was heavily considering the 2005 convention Gung-Ho, but that figure (as great as it is) felt a little too armored. Sgt. Slaughter (1988) really had a bare-bones no-frill trooper feel that I like.
The figure is huge compared to the rest of the figures on the team, but it's that same over-the-top personality that makes this character so much more fun and interesting-- without getting too corny with humor.
Dogfight takes the slot for the Air Force. This pilot figure was the least "jet-jockey" looking figure with any Air Force connection that I had. I traded for this guy online on the old Sgt. Savage boards years ago.
As I thought about it, his aircraft the Mudfighter, really fit the feel of what I wanted with my small team of 28 figures. My team was going to be small, no "support" unit, no "greenshirt" anything. 28 GIJoe figures getting things done, usually on the low-tech end. And the Mudfighter really says low-tech to me. It is something that can operate on some dirt road the world over.
I don't have a Mudfighter. But the attitude of the craft I transposed onto its pilot.
In some ways, the figure gives me a sense of a CIA-type secret mission pilot, too. He's not too professional pilot-looking, nor is he obvious special forces-looking. But I can see this guy just wandering his craft into a back-country locale and fitting in. A lot like that James Bond GoldenEye CIA operative. A guy that just doesn't seem like the type, but gets it all done in the end.
Dogfight really has a similar look to Wild Bill in my mind, too. Mostly with the shades and the mustache. That's another reason why I chose Updraft over Wild Bill. I wanted to get a little bit of new character fun in on the action, as well.Dogfight also has a nice pistol. This little gun further makes me think Dogfight has that little more CIA-esque angle to him.
With "mudfighter pilot" and "electronics technician," I've got Dogfight serving as the co-pilot/ weapons operator on the Tomahawk with Updraft.