What if... mission scale.

From a post asking the "what if..." question had the 25th Anniversary (hence "modern" line) never happened (and Sigma Six remained...), after thinking about it, I think the Mission Scale line might have been something I would have gotten into.

I had a few Sigma items a few years ago, as you can see I have since streamlined everything into my fairly personally focused little collection.  I've gone most of the last year with little hands on GIJoe stuff at all, hardly anything hobby/ fun related, and as that absence of stuff continues I find myself thinking more about the vehicle part of line.    It's a funny sounding statement, as you may well see I've got almost no vehicles supporting my made up little figure team.  But, I dunno..., I'm much more interested in the vehicles still.


But this "what if" post got me thinking, and I had to take a look back at the YoJoe.com archives and see what there was, and I'm finding the stuff I really glanced over at the time is really kind of fun looking to me now.  

What's appealing to me now as I look back is the interactivity between all the vehicles and sets.  I think Sigma Six Central is a great resource to learn more about what was available.   And here , I'm really taking in the 2.5" Mission Scale part of the line.  

There's a nice little line that looks like it really builds around the Dragonhawk, and as you can see from the package pictures  on that site, it can carry a lot of the other vehicles, even the mechs, and the winged fury.    It looks like there's a lot of play value when everything comes together.   The HISS tank looks fun, too, a transport and bunker all in one.

The figures are nowhere near articulated as a "modern" figure, but I'm thinking that could be okay for me.   Most of the figures I have stay in one position anyway, but these little mission scale figures sort of remind me of the Kenner M.A.S.K. figures.  Are they the same size?   Consider Matt Trakker  showing up, was there a possible related line being floated?  I kind of always wanted my M.A.S.K. and GIJoe toys to be able to work together back in the day.

What would it take to collect this entire small part of a retail time gone by now?    Are there any collection pictures with all of these loose and together out there online?

Character or vehicle line?

What do you think, with the very strong emphasis on character figures, do you think that GIJoe is stronger as a character figure line, or a vehicle line, or does a balanced blend lead to stronger success and fun?


Sure, from my experience, the old cartoon still resonates with fun animated characters.   All the voices lent to those cartoons really add some likeable character that did translate over to my toys.  Serpentor, would often yell, "this I command" in my battles, but his animated snake throwing move was hard to do with the toys slithering snake.   And even to this day, Wild Bill's cartoon persona is hootin' and hollerin' when I get that old helicopter pilot in a chopper.

But then, all these guys weren't just jumping into their generic jeeps to take on Cobra.  GIJoe was jumping into the AWE striker, or in my case back in the day, the Tiger Cat.    And they weren't attacking Cobra's planes and tanks, that was a Night Raven and a STUN.   Even the vehicles started to take on their own personalities of sorts, such as the iconic HISS.  

Without the human element, the figures, characters, we would just have little green army men.  But without unique figure-interacting unique vehicles, we would have almost have to have little super hero figures running around.   Maybe the enemy isn't bringing any armored HISS tanks any more, so, we're all on foot with figures that are all up-armed and armored themselves.   Slap on some little jet packs and get it done?  Perhaps that is why the spring fired missile launchers and other action accessories are back in style?    Does this mean that the makers of this stuff today know that the figures need "more" of something?


Perhaps that need is simply vehicles.  Vehicles for imagination.   Good designs that transport and inspire.


Is GIJoe an either or line, a character or vehicle line?   For success, I think it needs both equally.


In today's more electronic world, perhaps there is even another layer of all-encompassing interactivity that can really bring GIJoe to the forefront, rather than the property side burner.

What would you think about a new transportable battle base for your GIJoe team?

I think it would cool.  I think back to years ago on forums where a new '83 HQ-style base with modular components was floating around.  Even those random topics where a new or re-issued '85 TTBP would be welcomed.

I think something like this would be fun, but I would like it to be as all new as possible.   As much fun as it is seeing the past come back in some new shape in retail or exclusive on cycling basis, I think a new, transportable base would be very useable by all.

How would a new battle base look in your imagination?



How about one small polygon foot printed shape, perhaps a pentagon, to invoke that sense of military into the scheme.   In the center of that Pentagon, perhaps the HQ center is the high-tech satellite up link central communication intelligence (etc, etc. whatever...)  where there are five seats all surrounding this machine.  And then on top of it, to provide a little shelter is a roof over hang, which permits antennas and radar dishes, balls, cones, and other technical looking stuff.

And the from there, other pentagon shaped base parts with their core components, like a vehicle lift in the center, or a centered prison cell, or a centered medical bay, or a weapons storage locker in the center,  or even a raised platform with a ladder stemming from the center for a helipad.  Core parts, all with their own unique little fortified feature where figures are interacting within the space.  All the outer edges would have armor-emulation walls.   Surround an entire section by itself with its walls and doors, or combine components and mix and match doors and walls.  Or leave connected pentagon plates open with each other and only wall the outer edge.

Or, utilize the steel beam parts and stack the base plate units on top of each other!

And then, with that same pentagon shaped base, one needs the offensive and defensive components to augment those utilitarian pads.    These would be like individual bunker battle stations, unlike the utilitarian sections, with the little overhangs and somewhat open tops (mostly for play purposes) would disappear and armored shells and forms would support such things as a double barreled "double devastation cannon."  And a flip up auto radar controlled missile launcher, perhaps a tank turret style anti-aircraft gun, and others.




And I wouldn't stop it there, much like the '83 HQ, I think tow-able weapons could be made so that they not only serve as individual field weapons towed by other vehicles, but they all interact with the base to enhance a users set up.  

Not unlike the BF2K concept, and not too unrelated to the interchangeable "DTC" weapons (such as the humvees, Rhino, etc. weapons.).

Almost a year later...

Almost a year later and not much has changed.   On the 'Joe front, I've succeed in moving stuff around like I have for years.  I'm kind of digging what I have happening in the picture above.   I think this set up is somewhat of a interesting space, where the surrounding steel shelves can be loaded up with figure and vehicles, and then whatever can be spread out on the board.

Likely no Terrordrome in the future, but lots of space for hanging stuff as the background, as well as more storage space below.  Somewhere nearby this set up, I hope to start working in some art/ artsy stuff to kind of make the whole corner a sort of workshop and fun, toy-inspirational space. 

Everything is very low-tech here, no finished look to it.  I'm thinking some speakers might be good in those outer corners, get some music playing, and then something for lighting to warm the space more.

No 'Joes in Fleet Farm Toyland, again.

If I had to put a bet that there would have been 'Joes in Fleet Farms Seasonal Toyland this 2013, I would have bet at there being none.   I still had to go check out Toyland, though, and for the first time on opening day before the store opened at 7AM.   I waited until the (for this size town) large line of people at both doors were all in before getting out of the car, too.

I was hoping to see some GIJoe at Fleet Farm, still.   A week ago I was in the bigger city 35 minutes down the road from here, hoping to see some GIJoe on the shelf, but my old hunting grounds (various big box stores, etc.) there from a few years ago were all bone dry.  

Here in town, the GIJoe hotspots are the Walgreens, with one Renegades Snake Eyes and one wave 1 Retaliation Snake Eyes.    And Walmart with THREE earlier wave figures in the clearance aisle at $6.50 each now.

I was hoping Fleet Farm would come through, 2010 had some Joes,  2011 was even pretty good.  2012 was a bust.  2013 gets added to the bust list.


On a positive note, there were some interesting looking Apache style 1/18 Helicopters and F-22 style jets from the company called Motor Max.   They were higher priced, had some less than good looking figures, but without being able to hold the plastic, actually looked pretty darn cool.  The Motor Max website doesn't have these pictured, but this is the same company that makes the way under-scaled mini copter and jeep with sort-of-3.74" limited articulated figures.  There was also a big military transport set with a dual trailer hauling two armored vehicles.

I almost bit at that Apache chopper, but with the Motor Max company name on the less desirable products on the shelves next to it, for the price it was hard to tell if the plastic quality was going to be good.   Or if it would have any "rugged" play value to it, ya know?  Anyone ever get one of these?

Edit:  Fleet Farms flyer (which wasn't delivered in our local paper) online (page 34-35) has these pictured, has anyone bought these?  The following photos are from Fleet Farm advertisement, not used with permission.

 $24.89 each.

Either way, the Fleet Farm Toyland was fun to check out.   There wasn't much in the way of deals, though, that I could find.   There must be some kind of rural cultural thing ingrained around here where Fleet Farm Toyland has the best things for the kiddies at Christmas, at the best prices around.

Well, I hope Fleet Farm keeps counting on these locals to NOT price compare at the Walmart next door.  The way some people were loading up carts like they got the hot deals of the year, I mean, I wanted to tell them that the prices were actually lower at Walmart at that very moment on what they were buying.   Mostly since I had just been in Walmart checking everything out before going to Fleet Farm.  I was under the impression that the SEASONAL Fleet Farm Toyland was geared at big deals?

Maybe saving money isn't part of it, maybe it's not the hot deals, the coolest toys..., maybe it is more just the tradition in late October to bulk up on Christmas toy gifts around here?


Well, I am not a true local, after all....







Random Trivia
A non toy product comparison of an exact same thatching rake:  Fleet Farm $28.98 vs. Menards $14.96. 

Wish lists

Back in the day, wish lists were made for what was in the old JC Penney and Sears catalogs.  I'll have to see if I can find any that might be hoarded away and scan them.  That was even some of the fun, though, just the wishing.

The fold-in inserts that came with vehicles were another source of making up wishlists for me.  Seeing the whole product line up and being able to study them all was fun.


These days, I haven't heard the term of "wish list."  Maybe I just don't get out enough.   Or maybe it is all done online through a shopping web site, which is convenient now that I think about it.   Maybe the kids are even on the smartphones and everything is virtually connected?


Every once in a while, seems less frequent these days, us collectors and fans get a forum thread or online discussion going on a wish list.   It is kind of like more in the vein of re-issues now, like vehicles.    Or a modern style figure emulating a classic generation 1 or 2 figure.


In some ways, the Tomahawk came close to a modern wish list vehicle for me.  So far it has pretty much sat on a shelf, but hey, it looks good doing even just that.

Christmas seems to get pushed out on the retail side of things earlier every year, though, so that's what kind of made me think of the wish list.  But, September....., that's early, I mean just seeing Christmas department merchandise rolling in late June when I was working "big box" retail was one thing, but on TV and circular ads....., that's early.


For a GIJoe wish list this year?   What would you put down?  I can't think of anything, well, I don't even know if there will be any GIJoe stuff in the market to put down.


So, beyond the retail wish list I have to go, into that realm of stuff that will never happen but I can wish for it anyway, right?



Classic generation 1 style oring Viper Fire team 13 pack.
Cobra Stinger with swappable weapons turrets and extra armor, etc.
Cobra Ferret twin pack.



.....  wait a minute... this could get long.....

The Super Trooper, Rapid Fire, and the new school.

It was sometime, back in the day, I first bought Rapid Fire.  It was something bought my Grandparents, I think, when we were in a small town drug store.   Back in those days, even in a small town of a population of less than 2000, one could find GIJoe stuff in multiple locations in town, such as that very drug store, or the Ben Franklin, or one of the hardware stores.  I think even the grocery store had some at one point.  But that is neither then or now, just a random point of information.


Rapid Fire came with a video cassette.  At this time in my history, despite the DIC G.I.Joe cartoon still being broadcast, this was huge.   I had never really seen the DIC series, in fact, the only time I would see it was when I was visiting my Grandparents, and it was on early so I often would only catch the very last bit of the show by the time I got up.   And back home, even considering home was a nice sized metropolitan area (combined, well over 100,000 people), no stations were carrying the cartoon.   Revenge of the Pharaohs is my only really long term familiarity with that cartoon series.

And the tape quality was just as fuzzy as the open-air broadcast signal I would see at my Grandparents.

Rapid Fire is a guy who came with what would become one of my favorite GIJoe weapons, the Dial Tone (1986) sub-machine gun.  Despite the neon green, this weapon got passed around.

Rapid Fire was never really a major player in any play or disPlay adventures.  Maybe it was the armor that detracted from me using this figure, I remember wanting to remove it quite a bit.  Or perhaps it was the obvious "franken-joe" aspect that made the figure less appealing..., I mean, I had 1986 Wet-Suit and it was immediately obvious who's arms they were.  And they looked a little...goofy, in some ways.  Zandar's legs weren't as obvious to me, though, even though Zandar was a major player in my play days.

As the days, years, decades went on, Rapid Fire never became a stand-out character or figure.  When I was on a figure/ character kick a few years back, I was heavily considering hunting down the Super Trooper.  But it would have been essentially the same figure, only coloring would be different.  And if you know from reading here, I'm not a huge fan of "twin" figures unless they were meant to be twins.  (Wild card vs. Major Altitude, for example.)


One aspect of both Rapid Fire and Super Trooper that still has me intrigued is the possibility of "other" aspects of a large GIJoe universe.   And these aspects of these characters are totally contained in the file cards, despite each one being something that should be taken with a grain of salt, no doubt.

The "new school" mentioned as these guys origins is what helps launch my imagination.  Super Trooper comes from secret school with no name, a school with an extremely low profile and no chance for advancement.  And he's a West Point officer, as well.  Rapid Fire, while most likely just a re-edit to make a "new character," contains a very similar profile.   The edit makes the secret no-name school a "new school for fast attack maneuvers," however, along with Congressional Medal of Honor recipient requirement.  Of course, he ranks as an officer, too.

Overall I never really found a good fit for Rapid Fire when I had my larger character/ figure collection going on.

I still find the secret  "new school" aspect something that could make for some good fan-made fiction.  Could they be some sort of Rapid Deployment Force?

Perhaps an off-shoot of the Steel Brigade, of the Steel Brigade itself?

How does Super Trooper or Rapid Fire or both fit in your collection?




I'd like to give a shout out here to Joe A Day, too, without them I would have never had known Rapid Fire was available in 1993!