NF Spearhead and other new toys

 I got some new toys.  I got a helicopter that I'll talk about completely separate another time.  I also got 3 more Rock "Range" Vipers, a Wild Bill (2000), and Night Force Spearhead.

Spearhead is a figure that is on my small GIJoe team, already.  You can read some of my original thoughts on Spearhead here.  Of course, keeping my small team small is a goal of mine, as tempting, and easy as it would be, to add more of anything at this point.  Night Force Spearhead will be replacing Spearhead (1988), an easy choice.

Spearhead is still a mostly blank slate character, but still hasn't gotten a lot of use.  That's why I wanted to hunt down this Night Force version.   The figure you see above may very well be the MOST expensive figure I've ever bought.  Easily in the top five, and I can only think of two other figures that are even within $10 from what I paid for this (Skymate and Ambush) right now.  Of course, it was with the funds that come from selling off a huge portion of ones collection, so not as painful, but still it feels like trading 20 figures for 1.

Only thing I can really complain about is that there is some loose wobble on the figures head (is this possibly a normal thing on this figure?).   Otherwise, I'm really happy to add the more subdued colors of Night Force Spearhead to my small team.  With his new uniform, Spearhead will really fit in next to my teams other members like Low Light and Beachhead.

The accessory compliment is the same as his original 1988 version, except all in black mostly.  The helmet surprised me in hand for the Night Force version as it has the camo paint still present instead of all one gray solid color, something that I was not expecting.   The Night Force machete also feels a little more thin, more flexible than the 1988 machete.

There is just a slight difference in the hair color from each figure, too.  The Night Force helmet doesn't feel like it has as tight of a snap-on fit as the 1988 helmet, and I also really dig the darker brown vest, and the black detail on the ammo belt.  This detail really stands out.

I never disliked the 1988 figures orange, but I am glad that there is some green-ish color on the Night Force Spearhead.  The belt detail really stands out, where it rather blended into the overall figure on the 1988 version.

Coming soon.

 

Repeater

I must have bought my Repeater back in 1990, because as I think about it now, I had to look at the picture of my old '83 HQ weapons tray.  On it the weapons tray, for whatever reason back in the day, I decided to label slots for my figures gear.

On the tray is just one Iron Grenadier, as well as Bullhorn.   Bullhorn, being a 1990 figure, leads me to believe I bought Bullhorn in early 1990, therefore labeling of the weapons tray I did sometime in the first half of 1990.

Then, I know I also bought my 2nd Iron Grenadier at the same time as Repeater from the old Amery  mall hardware store.  This was most likely done in the summer, or late summer of 1990 before school started back up again.

And to make my guess at my estimated time frame of purchasing Repeater (and the Iron Grenadier), I know that when we moved to a new town in the summer of 1991, I had Repeater in my "original" team picture from the early fall of 1991.

All of this information means nothing to most of you reading this, though.  But when and where a figure came from, essentially the origin of a toy, became a bit of a factor in deciding which figures to keep on my small team of 28 GIJOE figures.   While for many years I denied sentimental feelings had anything to do with figures or vehicles as a collector, well, in some cases they do.  To an extent.

With Repeater, it isn't so much where the figure was purchased that kicks in an emotional connection, but rather it is who I was with at that time.  And from there where I opened up the figure and set it up for the first time.   (versus my 2nd Iron Grenadier, at that!)   There were actually many toys that I purchased, or were purchased for me, over those years long ago in the same very same area that Repeater came from.  I think Repeater is the last actual figure that's left of all those toys, though, the others all gone away now.

So essentially, Repeater got the "sentimental emotion boost" when all other factors were in my decision process of figure elimination.

Other than that, Repeater really hasn't stood out that much to me strongly over the years , and I had heavily debated if having three machine gunners on my small team was overkill.  If it came to simple preference, my Roadblock and Rock & Roll I find much more fun.

I think some of my lesser use of Repeater over the years was due to his waist tab (I think "tab" fits, not sure what else to call it.)   Now, I like the concept of the machine gun snapping onto the figure, at the same time it kind of detracts from the figure for me.   Another Joe that was a possible pick for my team, but got the cut, was Pathfinder ('90).  Pathfinder has two tabs for his guns, and those guns seem like they would pack more of a punch for that matter.  Pathfinder also came from the same small town that Repeater came from and had been purchased with the same people.  It kind of came down to that versatility factor of a figure here, where one had one tab, the other two.   It was a lot of really close decisions where it was just little things that at the time, I made myself make the call.

Vehicle interaction can become less fun with waist tabs sticking out on a figure, especially in earlier "arah" vehicles.

Like a few of my picks for my small team, I think Repeater has that one figure aspect going for him, with a strong touch of "blank slate" for characterization.  Not a "star" character at all.   Read through his file card, and you'll find he has many years in the army with his MOS of Infantry and SMOS of Heavy Weapons.

My figure literally has many years in my collection and like the file cards highest rank indication, Repeater has never stood out to rise above other figures.  But it has been a solid figure, and I hope to make good use of it as a part of my small collections GIJOE team.  Aside from the unique gun, Repeater has a fairly versatile style in cammies with a tactical vest and cap.


With the modern Iron Grenadier and the smart gun being placed on many of the modern customs of Repeater, I take a look at the old classic figure here and really don't see the Aliens smart gun connection.   I think it definitely works for the modern figure, though.  On this old guy, I'm thinking something like an ammo-conserving-make-your-cover-fire-count sort of gun.   The steadi-cam could be more like the camera rig, where Repeater could be on the run and still have effective cover fire.

What do you think:  too many "machine gunners?"

How have you used Repeater?

Repeater in action in the mid-'90's. 

Repeater in my old "department" assignment on the desert patrol:

Desert Fox 6 W.D.

The GIJoe Desert Fox is a vehicle that I first had possibly as far back as 1998 initially (an early eBay auction win, actually, that came with a complete Hydrofoil, and the price was great.). This first one was in great shape, and somewhere along the years I picked up a second one which had no antenna and a snapped steering axle.

Before either of those I had the Dinohunter set, though. Did you know despite the turret change with the Flak Viper back pack launcher weapon, you could still put a Desert Fox gun on it? (I think I picked up that Dinohunter set on clearance way back in the day, once again, the price was great!)

Back in 2005 all three of these six-wheeled vehicles were traded or sold away. I'm not a huge fan of desert tan, and favored the AWE Striker and VAMP-style "jeeps" more at that time. (Not to mention the Jungle Strike Humvee)

With my small team of 28 figures, though, I got to thinking I could use something other than another AWE Striker in my motor pool. In fact, I even got to thinking that I only needed one AWE Striker. And then as I thought about it, I really like GIJoe vehicles that have actual steering wheels.

Well, the Desert Fox has returned to my motor pool after years of absence. I'm starting to remember some of the things I didn't like about the vehicle now, but I'm also discovering the potential to have this vehicle become a huge staple of collection in the future (which is why I brought it back in).

The rear of the Fox has a technical station of some sorts. I like it, but at the same time, I don't. It kind of blocks out the rear deck and reduces the versatility of a potential payload. At the same time, though, it really gives the Fox the ability to be a long-range operating vehicle with its own technical/ communication station. This is something that my GIJoe team can use.


I've wondered if the turret is supposed to be a rear-ward facing armament that is only used when the vehicle is stationary? I've spent some time trying to find some real life vehicles that may have served as inspiration for the Desert Fox. But either way, the turret doesn't have any ammo on it, and it has a huge surface under the handle that seems like of empty. And around the turret there seems to be a lot of extra space that kind of goes to waste, like that rear inner fender where you can see the rear wheel through that space. I mean, why not a small rack to place some rifles? With the range of the gun, I can see why so many antennas get a bend to them, though.


The thing that bugged me about the Fox was the towing ability, and I just reminded myself of that when I put the 2004 Whirlwind on the hitch.



Or, I should say how I didn't put it on there. I think it was the Night Rhino that had a low rear hitch, too. I had this Whirlwind when I had my first Desert Fox many years ago, and I forgot about this.

It's an interestingly shaped rear bumper, too. I almost kind of wish there was a rear troop deck (like an '84 Stinger) on here.


There's also an interesting amount of details all across this vehicle that match up with that rear inner fender detail. I guess I would call them unfinished (?) details on this vehicle.

Like the "lightning" head lamps. Back in the day, before referencing the instructions, I thought these were air intakes. But this is one of those points of detail that I may be able to add to when I get the chance. Like some clear plastic to simulate the lens, like the AWE or VAMP. I just am undecided right now on angle of placement in there. I was hoping to find some real life off-road vehicles that had similar head light arrangement, but haven't yet.


The armored radiator makes me want to cut out each of those slots and put some wire grill detail behind them, too.


I've wondered about the high (armor) piece that essentially rises up and effectively blocks the front seat views of the road. There's a very tall dash inside, and cutting that down wouldn't make much sense. Should I install a periscope style feature for frontward viewing?
There is also an intriguing detail on that dashboard piece that makes me think there was originally some doors that were going to be on this vehicle, like those slots are where the hinge would have been.

I hope if someone has some declassified old prototype information on the Desert Fox, it will see the light of day at some point and some of these features might be explained.

As it is, I think the Desert Fox has the potential to be a great "Joe" version of a humvee in regards to versatility in configuration. Like, as is, we have an anti-aircraft version.

Hopefully I'll get around to tricking out this 6WD at some point, but right now with life, it's hard to say when that will happen for sure.

Wild card and Steamroller

Back in the first half of the 2000's, I had a lot of vehicles. Vehicles really captured my attention and interest over the figures. About the mid-2000's I found I wanted more vehicle drivers to man the vehicles.

It wasn't soon after that that I decided to draw down on some of my vehicles at the same time. And then the process of heavily gutting my entire forces began and you can see what is now gone here.

With my "department" project, I grouped figures into their own squads with other similar figures. I had squads made up for the jungle, desert, cold weather, and more.

Steamroller and Wild Card (along with Blocker and Dodger) were my "keeps" on my small team to represent my former "vehicle team." These two figures are representative of my "armored cav.," more or less. (the tank drivers, to an effect)

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Steamroller is a guy I got from an online store about 2008-2009. This was well after I had already traded away my 2003 Mobile Command Center. This is the first Steamroller figure I've had, too, so this character has been a blank slate for me, and really still is.

With his MOS of Heavy Equipment Operator and SMOS of Armor, I thought this muscular guy would be great to have to handle my small teams heavy equipment needs. Mainly, the Equalizer.

The character seems like that of a drifter or somewhat vagabond type of personality that is really out there with no "home-base" to speak of. What better person to have on my small nomadic team?

With a belt-buckle pistol, a knife, and a chain-wallet, as a figure, Steamroller gives me a no-nonsense attitude. Plus, he is from nearby Duluth, MN. This figure has a "local" connection that adds in that rather unimportant trivia to my small collection.

The only thing about keeping this figure over many of the others that are gone, is that he is going to be the main tanker on the team. The Equalizer is going to be his machine, for now. Of course, I have plenty of other figures still that can hop on board the Equalizer to help Steamroller out on missions that call for the tank.

I suppose, Steamroller as a figure has just as much versatility in overall use as Updraft. One is more apt to operating their part, but can easily pick up a rifle and jump in on just about any adventure.

Check out Steamroller at JoeADay.com.

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Wild Card is a guy I got about 2000 (not sure from where, though). This was before I got my Mean Dog (which is gone now).

Actually, the Wild Card I got in 2000 is gone as of not even 48 hours ago. I went to a local model train show, and well, here is one thing I saw:

Yep, that's Sci-fi, riding the rails! This particular train layout is a large scale and the guys that bring it do outdoor layouts (garden railroading, etc.). This show has been put on annually for almost a decade, and it's usually a very fun time.

I thought Sci-fi looked lonely on the handcart, so I brought my original Wild Card, as well as a rough Skidmark figure to donate to the layout. I hope to see them at the next show a year from now!


As for here at home, I bought a very nice condition Wild Card just a couple months ago. This figure doesn't have a Mean Dog to call his own now. With his MOS of Armored Vehicle Operator, I figured he could help out on the Equalizer.

Due to this figure coming out in 1988, as well as his Marvel comic appearance, I kind of paired him up with Skidmark in my mind as two armored vehicle team buddies. However, as nice as Skidmark is as a figure overall in design, the orange knocked him off my "a-team" in my decision process toward the end of it all.

As a character, Wild Card has been driving vehicles here for many years, though. He's kind of a unique one-of-a-kind character, too.

And now that I'm examining my figures, here is another 1988 figure with a very cool machete. It's not an odd looking one, like Spearhead's. And it's not light blue in color, like Muskrat's. Plus, this one has a sheath! Awesome!

Considering the Mean Dog is 6WD, I think Wild Card may take ownership of my Desert Fox 6WD. Especially since I won't have Skidmark on my team. Blocker is handling the 4WD aspect of my VAMP, and the AWE is kind of open right now.

I have plans for my Desert Fox.....


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Below is most of my old heavy vehicle assault team when I was on that slim vehicle collection size just a short time ago. Most of what is below is gone, and my force is even smaller now!

I had a tank crew, my missile and artillery crew,


My light armored crew,

My IFV crew,
And more of the artillery crew with the howitzer....

Spearhead

Spearhead E-4
MOS: Infantry SMOS: Finance



Above is a picture from 2009 of my "desert squad." My "department" project around that time in 2009 consisted of dividing my team up into specific categories with a goal of being able to have an easier time grabbing certain figures for certain play missions. I wanted to make things more efficient so I could have more fun, essentially (versus my "cataloging" of figures by year, in plastic zip-bags).

But all that organizing still didn't make it much more fun for me. Plus, life in general takes up a lot of time, and that's simply less time to have fun with 'Joe. So, my collection is now a lot less at this point in 2012. (As of now, I can't say if it is proving to be as fun as I would like to it to be, though.)


I chose 28 as the number of GIJoe members to be my team limit on figures. If you read through most of my more recent posts, you've probably figured that out. I've also been taking a look at which GIJOE character/ figures I chose lately as you likely noticed, as well.




Spearhead is a figure that was SO close to not being kept. He was sitting on my "B team" (I had two 28-man teams made up for 56 total at one point in the decision process) for the longest time. Also, when it comes to GIJoe and my play imagination, I really prefer 1980's woodland camo over desert tan. However, since I kept three of my five 2009 "desert squad" figures, one would think that not to be the case.

But in the end, when it came to it on deciding which one or the other to keep, it was really one in one hand, and one in the other hand in many cases.

Spearhead was a figure that really felt really solid and fun. And the more I played with the figure in the final moments of deciding, the more interesting the figure became. Plus, this very figure is in excellent shape, where another figure was maybe just a little less in good shape; so that definitely factors in here, too.

Until that point, I think the most I used Spearhead was in some desert mission set-up or two, really. I got Spearhead in trade back in about 2004 or 2005 from possibly the closest collector I know of in these parts down in La Crosse.


One of my favorite things about Spearhead is his rifle.

The rifle holds well, I think it is appropriately sized, and with the two different sized ammo clips it makes a very interesting gun. But the best part of that rifle is the bayonet, the hand grip is great. If that knife was removable, I bet it would have been a more talked about accessory over the years.
The backpack is orange, as is the camo that is all over Spearhead, and while it's not my favorite part of the figure, I don't think it is too bad.

I think the machete is kind of odd, though. Compare it to the Muskrat (1988) machete and it looks like a ceremonial sword. (when I had the 2002 Serpentor and Shock Viper, I used the re-issue of the machete that came in that two-pack as a ceremonial sword)


Other than that, Spearhead has many pouches on the arms and legs, but everything else is pretty slim. From the lower arm guards to the trim boots.

Spearhead is kind of simple in form, almost a straight B.D.U. with a (armored?) vest on top. I like that style. Unlike a figure that's all armored up like Fast Draw, or has some heavy ammo strapped around the body, or is really environment-dedicated like a snow trooper or diver, Spearhead feels like he can be more versatile than some of these figures with his overall design form.


The helmet seems to stand a little high to me sometimes, and I've thought about trying to find a replacement for my play missions. When I was playing and considering on keeping Spearhead, it wasn't until I had the helmet off that the figure really started to stand out to me.


I was trying to avoid animals, too, in my small collection. I'm not sure if I'll use Max, but I don't want to break up the "set," you know? Max is the only animal on my 'Joe team right now.


Another aspect of Spearhead is the almost "blank slate" the character has. Here is a file card that could be interpreted in a couple ways; a natural, persuasive leader who gets results. Or a guy who maybe got too greedy with his insurance sales and is guilt-ridden?

Who knows?

Check out JMM's for more on comic appearances!

Muskrat 1988

I bought Muskrat online not all that long ago, maybe 2008 or even 2009. Still a rather new(er) to me figure.

When I bought the 2004 Vamp with Whirlwind, the Torpedo figure was the first time I shad the Muskrat body in person. I thought the Torpedo figure was great with that set, I just had it in my mind that THAT head belonged to Wet-suit (I had the 1992 Wet Suit already, side by side... didn't work for me...). It was a great figure otherwise, and being that other than the head, the rest was Muskrat, I had to get Muskrat. That's pretty much why I went after getting Muskrat.

It wasn't too long after getting Muskrat that I was working on my "department" project, where I was grouping certain figures into certain squads if they fit together.

Muskrat, being a swamp fighter, I placed into my "jungle squad." Looking back, I think it was a fairly good looking group of figures. Pathfinder and Recondo probably fit the best with Muskrat. Leatherneck could have gone just about anywhere, I suppose, but Tunnel Rat felt right to me on this squad due to the EOD specialty and his look.




Now that my large force is gone, though, a goal with my small team was to retain a sense of my former large force of a variety of specialists. I figured that character-wise, Muskrat was quite interesting, as his file card indicates that he felt that Ranger school and JWTC were like summer camp.

The character was born tough and seems like a guy that would be great on just about any mission, especially lrrp-style patrols. And especially in tough terrain.

And the figure is great, fairly basic soldier looking, with a great shotgun.

GIJoe and service branches, Rampart, Dogfight, and Slaughter

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.

Hit & Run

One would think Hit & Run would be a top pick for a GIJoe collection. I actually had Hit & Run on my "B team" of 28 figures, and he just barely beat out Hardball, Dial Tone, and Mutt for a spot on my "A team" of 28 figures.

In the end, Dial Tone was a little too techie-feeling, Hardball just not as versatile-feeling of a figure, and Mutt..., well, if Order was going, Junkyard was going, too. And that meant Mutt, too.

And while the all-camo helped Hit & Run slide onto the team, it was the fact that this was the last full figure that would be left from my best bud from way back in the day.

Beachhead was a figure I got from my best bud, way back over 20 years ago, but I swapped out parts on that figure for better parts in an attempt to upgrade him just a little.

Hit & Run is all original.

This figure and accessories have been owned by me and my best bud. Nostalgia gave this figure the big kick onto my small team. While there are other factors in deciding which figures, when the end of all comes and some person looks at my collection, knowing the figures history and why it is one that is being held onto more than others hopefully is an interesting trivia tidbit.

Other than that, Hit & Run is almost TOO "army." Some figures have some little flair, or really unique uniform that sets them apart from every other character figure. I think it is that army green that makes Hit & Run a little less interesting as a character.

I think it would have been so much better if the helmet was removable, too. But the guy has a rifle that was one of my favorites many years ago, it was shared by many other figures in adventure.

The winch-n-hook duffel bag got the most use from me on Christmas' in the mid-1990's. Hit & Run would commonly spend that season "hiding" on the tree.

In the later '90's, Hit & Run spent most of the time hanging from ceiling hook blending in along a very long vine I had growing from a tall shelf.


Past that, Hit & Run stayed fairly silent in my adventures. The figure was never really a "go-to" guy that I remember. The more generic "shooter" infantry rifleman feel of the figure did lead to me using him in some of my earlier "squad" concepts of organizing. I think below is a photo from late 2004 or early 2005, but it could have been later. Either way, Hit & Run did see some action.


The figure is also great as a "mountain trooper." It wasn't as obvious to me back in the day, but really is now.
When I made my "department" divisions in an attempt at better organizing, I found Hit & Run to be a great addition to my "mountain patrol."


From my "mountain patrol," I also started to mentally connect him to Recoil. I think they both have a light-infantry feel, a little mountain troop feel, and both have a sort of generic army adventure feel. If that makes sense.






In 2009, this is what the my collection had from the 1988 series: