Once again, not a lot of new stuff coming into the HQ, but I wanted to check out an Acid Rain figure, as well as getting a hold on Sightline. That was my main reason for wanting to purchase the Silent Strike set here, not only a new character/ figure, but I really think the background on this figure is really cool.
And yes, there are TWO Silent Strike sets here. Through my current employment, for Christmas there is a more local gifts for kids type of program. One of these sets will be donated into that program, and it's early for Christmas as of now, but I'm excited to get this thing into some little persons hands, who I'll never meet anyway. But, that's not unlike the work of many, many, awesome G.I.Joe fans and collectors who have definitely showed and shared some really cool things on the internet that I never would have imagined seeing. I'll likely never meet many of them, but I I'll just take this time to be grateful either way.
I had to save Roadblock from the slowly disappearing vintage department, too. Although the grading was not accurate, this is still one of my favorite figure molds from the classic run.
I took a look at the Acid Rain King figure first. This is my first Acid Rain product. It's a nice package, it really has a model or collectible (ornamental?) feel with this type of packaging. But, this is not a toy, it states on the box.
Padded in with foam....
Well packed and ready to go...
As I check this figure out more, more things will stand out to me. I really haven't strayed out of the G.I.Joe figure aisle. The more rubber-y feel of the figure feature stands out to me at first, and there are a lot of points of articulation. A lot. The rifle was really interesting, as that gun barrel really looks like a barrel at the tip (not a flat sealed off end) and the real fabric wrap on the end is a neat detail. The vest parts feel snug, too. I'm going to have to play with this guy and the Marauder Task Force figure more to get a real feel on them both....
With the Silent Strike set, this is what slides out of the box. This is my first Skystriker jet of any kind, and I really cannot ever recall seeing a Skystriker in person, save for maybe my one attended Convention in 2005 (But memory doesn't recall....). If it had been a separate purchase, I would have left the HISS on the shelf, but as it is, this is a cool "battle in the box." A one sided battle in the G.I.Joe teams favor, in my opinion, but a battle none-the-less.
This graphic on the box stood out to me, not so much what it says, but more the way there is the 1985 group and 1986 group of characters flanking the text.
The HISS has a new armament, I guess I was kind of excited for that when I first saw the images, but...., I don't know, it still has the similar range of motion on the turret as a classic HISS. For me with my older growing imagination, I guess I could see this being a test bed weapon system, but past that, I would have paid much more for this entire set if the DTC HISS had been included. With no changes, that DTC HISS would have had a more anti-aircraft capable feel to it.
This is the first time I've had a Skystriker of any kind in my hands without any doubt in memory. I've had X-30's, an A-10, the X-19, a few Night Ravens, even a Hurricane at one point, but this 1983 reworked classic really feels more beefy in comparison. Another reason I chose to buy this Silent Strike set was that the Skystriker is here in black. Sure, there is the old Night Force versions, or some special event version, but for me, this is better than the "faithful homage" white re-do from a few years ago for me. For me, this jet is something old...., but very new.
I am still not a fan of wheels that are not "full" wheels. Real rubber wheels were something I really liked on G.I.Joe vehicles, too, but that fun and realistic little detail must be too cost prohibitive?
I knew it wasn't going to be a two seater, the figure fits in just fine and this is G.I.Joe's aircraft, in my mind, not an ordinary everyday F-14.
I am not sure if I want to put stickers on at all. I really like the all black of the aircraft, but this is a very nice amount of stickers.
I have to question if these are flow lines from the manufacturing process that I see in the plastic? I'm by no means a plastics engineer, but is this a quality control issue?
Either way, still one impressive jet!
A little warp to the helmet.
Sightline!
Here comes the battle.... right out of the box!
Even King is getting in on this...
Objective: remove HISS gunner....
Roadblock was still a lot more fun to play with than the others...
I love this Roadblock.
This battle, in my opinion, is no contest.... Cobra bails out!
