Cutter GIJOE coastie

If I had to pick a favorite character, I might say Cutter. Of all the service branches represented in the GIJOE team over the years, Cutter is the only representative of the U.S.C.G. All respect to all services, always, but the Coast Guard gets left out it seems sometimes. In war, it's under the Navy, but in peace it has its civilian roles here at home. From navigation assistance, maritime law enforcement, S.A.R., patrolling for smugglers, or breaking ice on shipping channels (hence my code name!!!), or whatever. A very useful service that doesn't always get the acknowledgement. Cutter even had to fight to get U.S.C.G. presence on the GIJOE team.

I guess in many ways, as "my favorite," nostalgia really kicks in here, too. Above, I'm pretty sure that THAT Cutter is my original Cutter. And he is showing the wear. And as I think of it more, this might be the oldest figure in my collection from my very original figures from way back in the day.

I think it is interesting that in looking back that my old Cutter has that much play wear on him. The guy has no weapons, and has a life preserver on. Not a front line modern army action figure by any means. But, sure enough, back in the day I must have had more imagination with a much more limited selection of figures and vehicles. Cutter must have been kickin' it with 1986 Hawk, 1986 Low light, and 1986 Sci-fi pretty hard.

The 1992 D.E.F. cutter gave this character a little more muscle. And this 2nd version of the character became my default quite easily, and in thinking back, the 1984 figure just ended up floating around in whatever storage method I was using in the years since.

I did get the Shark 9000 around 1993 or 1994, most likely on clearance sale at that point. And most possibly at the Prange Way store that was shutting down in 1995 or so. Many good priced items bought at that place at that time. With the Shark 9000 came the recolored Cutter, and while I liked the green PFD and big gun, the white pants left me wanting something more.

And then I got the repainted ARAHC Cutter with the Night Landing Craft (N.L.C.), a vehicle which lost a lot of value to me when I learned that it (and the Cobra Mantis) were reused Johnny Quest vehicles. Even though they were decent vehicles, for me it was like picking out any old vehicle, putting a GIJOE label on it, and calling it a GIJOE vehicle. I might be a bit too picky or strange, too.

One of these days, I should bring up the topic of consistent hair color on Cutter, as well as other figures. A figure like Flint seemed to have no trouble staying consistent in various media and toy form. Cutter slides between a sandy blonde and extreme red head in figures, though. I suppose, it is possible depending on sun exposure, that the hair may take on a different tone..., perhaps a little more red in the summer?


I guess, while each Cutter figure has its own unique points that I like, I think the D.E.F. single version is just slightly my more favorite. Minimal white details aside, the guy has his ball cap, a not-so-obvious life vest, blue "coastie" pants, etc. He's also very buff, as a guy who would be boarding vessels at sea might have to get into some tight quarters for combat. Close combat. And he would possibly end up having to swim at some point.
The gun that this figure came with is kind of nice, too. It's not too big. The flashlight is kind of different, too, instead of the smaller ('87 style) flashlights, Cutters light pretty much could become a weapon in itself.
The grappling hook launcher (with lights!) isn't as important an accessory to me. It made me pass up some of these figures back in the day since their "gimmick" bumped the price up. The launcher is kind of interesting, though. I would expect to see something like this on a cutter or patrol ship.
And I could almost say I have a "Cutter Collection." Almost.

But, do I want Gungwreck? I shouldn't make bad humor like that, but really, some covers are unique looking, and that looks like Gung-ho to me still. Otherwise, had the head been a more Coast Guard looking ball cap, I think that figure would have sold me. Mostly for a removable life jacket. (I think of Marty McFly landing in 1955...)

If I trimmed all swivel heads out of my collection, having many Cutters would not be something I would have the, too.

Swivel head figures

When it comes to the "original 13," I still don't really have them. In the above picture is the extent of my classic o-ring style GIJOE figures from 1982 and 1983. The two straight arm figures up there, Breaker and Short fuze, were more purchases where I wanted to bring the original Marvel GIJOE characters into my GIJOE collection.
And for the "original 13," those comic characters were, and are, so much more interesting to me than the figures themselves. I didn't get into the comic, especially back-issues, until 1992 or 1993. So, with that in mind, the really classic 1982-1983 green team wasn't really a part of my collection from the beginning at all.

It was about 1993 that a friend gave me that Zap, Flash, and Doc one day. While Doc was a nice unique addition to my force (helping Lifeline), Zap and Flash spent most of the time operating the APC I had; they just fit in that vehicle so much better than later '80's into the '90's figures.
And I traded more recently in the past few years for Cover Girl and Airborne, but as far as "action" goes on all these figures, they seen much.

And this non-use of figures kind of follows that pattern into 1984. Below, the only figure that is my original figure is Cutter. He came with my WHALE and shows the wear of a figure that has been around for awhile.
For the rest of the figures, I think I got them more within just the last few years. Thunder has been part field artilleryman, and Tollbooth was the engineer for my 1983 HQ.
Blowtorch has sort of melded into my environmental department, and hasn't seen much expanded use past that. Ripcord, looks pretty cool, and seems to have a big fan base, hasn't really gotten much use, either. And Recondo, who simply has not had a decent update that I like, is part of the Jungle squad, but really he hasn't seen a lot of use, either.

When it comes to the 1982-1983-1984 figures, right now anyway, they really seem to fit within their own time frame. And I say it in a good way, but these figures and the corresponding years vehicles really make a great stand-alone set in a lot of ways. Sure, 1985 fits in just as well, but the only difference is the neck joint. And that's about where the topic of swivel head figures begins, especially as you might know from previous posts that I am considering trimming my figure roster significantly.

I've already trimmed "sub teams," for the most part, as well as my dedicated arctic/ cold weather operations team. I'm now considering trimming ALL swivel head figures, as well.

One might think, why? I really only have a few figures compared to ball-jointed neck figures that area swivel head, but really, when I have a figure like Flash in the mix with even figures from 1985, the guy seems antique. Don't get me wrong, the figure is still cool, but in the mix with figures from 1989, or 1990, the detail level is more interesting to me in the later years.
So, ultimately, should I keep all these old swivel head figures when I prefer the later ball-joint neck figures, or even when there are more detailed "updated" versions of these figures?

I can't forget to chat about Cobra, here, too.
When it comes to iconic, these Cobras are right on top for me. I'm a fan that is more interested in the individual bad guys. The Enemy, with a name. And this is where I think if I made a "rule" to trim out all swivel head figures, I might lose quite a few iconic characters.
Cobra Commander and Major Bludd, I have newer versions of these guys that I like so much more, but from there, the rest are hard to find a nice newer version of.

My "default" Firefly is actually just a repaint of the 1984 figure (picture below). And Scrap Irons modern o-ring issues have left me wanting more, so I just used an original body with the modern head (the original was worn). So, would I "have" to get rid of these figures if I trimmed out all my swivel head figures?
As far as Copperhead and Wild Weasel go, I did buy the 25th versions of these guys, and the detail and articulation is really kind of nice.

And while I have the more modern comic pack o-ring figures and other re-issues sort of set aside as the "junior joes" toys that can be played with, without any fear from me as a 'collector,' would I have to discard these, too? I most likely wouldn't, but would I allow myself to put "my" swivel head figures into this area in a way to skirt around my own potential rule of no swivel heads? Perhaps I need to go through the "junior joes" collection as well, perhaps only allowing swivel heads of the modern years? Or perhaps only comic-pack styled figures?


And that's not a life-ending question at all, that of, what to trim out.

The ultimate goal for me would be to get nice sized GIJOE forces that make being a collector/ fan fun. It would all give me a way to interject my favorites, preferences, ... perhaps aesthetics, and essentially make my GIJOE a very used bunch of toys. I'm not a museum, as much as I would like to have it all, the reality is, I really should not have it all. Right now, anyway.

If the no swivel head rule is applied, and my collection weeded straight-through in this manner, I might lose all trace of some characters, and even later classic run figures would be discarded. Like Skystriker above, but I don't know if I trust him since he seems to have the same mission as Wild Weasel if one looks close enough at those maps...

So, what do you think? In the modern-era with the 2011 Joes out on the shelf, are swivel heads simply antique? Should I chuck all the o-rings and just get a handful of modern era things to make it all really simple?
Am I simply over thinking it all?

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.

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 :