G.I. Joe Classified Series (1:12)

[nacho]

Word of warning about the places that could be fragile...

- On the right, the tiny little antenna on top next to the hatch... it's easy to forget it's there and snag something on it. I broke mine on the white version, but I doubt anyone would ever notice.

- The sensor at the top... I haven't broken those side flaps on any of my prints, but I imagine that it could happen.

- The headlight protection bars on the left... there is a 70% chance one or both of them will break in transit, no matter how I try to protect them. Yours is actually the only one that I haven't broken them just removing the print supports. They're just printed in the wrong direction for strength. I have printed new bars in a better/stronger orientation that I'll send along in the event these do not survive the trip. You'd just have to clip/sand the old ones flush and glue the new ones in place.

 

[ThunderDan19]

I know you are trying to share important info, but dang if the details all across the top of that thing aren't amazing!

 

[nacho]

It's a well done model, expertly printed

The original designer did a solid job, and the detail is really accentuated by the two-color printing.



I designed and added the three circled panels from scratch (yeah! new CAD skills!) to try to mimic the OG toy more closely. The two in the front just weren't there, and it felt a little bare, and the big vent in the back didn't have the angled section, so I added that cutout and the corresponding small vent to give it a little more visual interest than being a big blocky rear end. But most of the credit goes to the designer who did a bang-up job on the whole thing.

I redesigned the entire wheel/tread system, using the Armadillo parts as a starting point b/c the Mauler CAD files had documented structural issues, and I didn't even want to wade into that.

-----

BUT the big question now becomes... shipping. I assume you still want to use UPS? And if I ship tomorrow, delivery might be saturday, might be monday... I can't say... or should I hold off to guarantee weekday delivery? Preference?

I'll bundle up all of the removable panels and parts for safety... and I'm not gluing the front panel with the headlights in place even though it should be stationary. In case it needs work or replacement, it'll be easier to deal with solo.

I'm also intentionally not gluing the barrel in place, as my history of mailing you things says it's certain that something inexplicable would happen to snap it, and replacement would be a chore on your end. I feel confident you can figure out where it goes

 

[ThunderDan19]

I would definitely want to go with UPS, but as for ship date, don't go out of your way. Just whatever works best for your schedule. I would love to be home to receive it, but I'm also not overly concerned if I'm not.

If it makes it before next Wednesday, I should at least be able to get it as soon as I get home in the evening, at the latest. After that it may be an extra day until I'm back home to open it. But it will be brought inside and safe either way (no porch or river pirates out our way ), so whenever works for you, works for me.

Thanks again for all your efforts on this! It looks amazing!

 

[nacho]

I'll likely get it out tomorrow, no worries. I just have to take my time and pack it right. I have plastic wrap and bubble wrap ready to go.

 

[nacho]

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?! I placed THREE orders for Joes at WM this morning. Sneak-Peek... only because of '87 completionist compulsion... he looks pretty derpy. Then I ordered W2 of the 'Murica 250 ReAction+ figures... because exclusive.... and then I ordered Iceberg b/c they said he'd be delivered tomorrow, while AMZ is still saying November.

I look forward to all of the cancellations and completely ignored POs.

The extra irony of NF SP's estimated delivery date being April Fools Day. That's a little too on-the-nose when you know there's a 70% chance they are going to cancel your order for no reason.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Lol, hopefully these ones will go smoothly for you. So far I have received Flash with no issue. DS is due today and Duke tomorrow. I have gotten the "your order has shipped" notices on the remaining ones so hopefully I'm out of the woods for anything cancellation related, barring some issue with *checks box from yesterday* ...FedEx apparently. As I have mentioned, I don't think I have had any major cancellation issues with WM, but it seems to be a regular (meme worthy) thing on their POs.

Sneak-Peek seems like he could almost be cool if not for a couple things. First off, is he a recon guy or a bomb tech? His accessories say recon, but his kit is way overdone for that role. Paranoid much about taking shrapnel while spying on Cobra from long range? Then there's the derpy face and hair, and the apparent dad-bod. Ok, not great.

He does come with some pretty good kit though. His set up for running a very current FPV drone is not bad. An Xbox controller would have been slightly more accurate, but they already pushed their luck with the Gameboy recently, and I doubt Microsoft is quite as friendly to use of current IP as Nintendo is of their old tech. It's also nice that they finally made a proper modern M16A4 for the line. It would have been better had that dropped with Footloose, but better late than never.

For me SP falls in the same category as Psych-Out. If the price falls into the $1X.XX range (like where both together gets me just past the $35 cutoff for free shipping), I might consider it, but not for current retail. Oh, and at least he's still at $28 instead of the apparently soon to be retail of $30 per, so that's good news... for now.

 

[nacho]

Apparently SP is supposed to be related to Crystal Ball (nephew?). Stephen King famously helped create CB (or his file card or some such), and SP was basically a figure of King's son. And SP has the same hometown as King. I remembered King's involvement with CB back in the day, but I had no recollection of the SP connection. Just more evidence that by '87, there were signs of shark-jumping.

SP's padding is inexplicable, always was. But he's an odd figure all around.

When I see SP's cardback, all I can think of is a young Jon Lovitz.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Yeah, I had heard about the Stephen King/son connections to both CB and SP. I believe it is pointed out again in the AoG Omnibus, but I had heard about it prior as well. I wonder if his kid has stayed connected enough to the folks at Hasbro that the new version still bears a resemblance. It's actually a little funny/sad that Lovitz actually looks trimmer than ol' Sneaky Peaky there.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Dark Horse Comics G.I. Joe: The Definitive Visual Guide To The G.I. Joe Classified Series 2020?2025

Yo JOE! The official guide to the toys of G.I. JOE Classified Series and an essential addition to any G.I. JOE fan?s collection.This deluxe hardcover is an in

toynewsi.com

This might be worth picking up and adding to the Omnibus. My OCD is really hoping they end it on a nice even number as a volume one or something like that.

In other news, I was finally able to find/purchase the new Jinx head along with the better accessories from that pack without having to overpay for the entire "wardrobe malfunction imminent" fig that I have no use for. Fingers crossed that her purple ends don't clash too much with regular Jinx's dominant red. If so, I hope a good sharpie is enough to tame them down.

Stay tuned for an "ultimate" Jinx in the not too distant future.

 

[nacho]

That's wild that DH is coming out with yet another visual guide to Joe. I think I have 2-3 different versions I've picked up over the years, and I have this 2-volume slipcase set coming from kickstarter in the next couple of months:







But I think I'll hold off on a Classified guide. Five years from now, they can release one that covers the whole line start to finish. Right now, it feels like writing a biography for a 40yo... there's still too much left.

 

[ThunderDan19]

That's a very good point. I guess I will see what I'm thinking at the time when it actually becomes available - whether I want to hope it will just continue with additional volumes or just wait and get the whole shebang like you said and like with the Omnibus.

 

[nacho]

Even if they come out with a second volume, they'll certainly re-release the first volume at that time to catch all the people that missed it and wouldn't buy the second book without the first.... and if history is any indicator, they'll probably update it, correct it, and make it the deluxe definitive edition, making the original volume outdated and inferior. That would be my luck if I bought the original.

 

[nacho]

Joe panel at NYCC...

renders for '27 w1: Hardball, HEAT Viper, Daina, Shipwreck
renders for '27 retro W1: Chuckles, Tunnel Rat, and Zarana (all '87 movie decos)
deluxe: Ambush
2-pack: Ninja Force Storm Shadow & Billy

Couldn't care less about Ambush, but the rest are solid buys.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Dang, I like all of the CS figs in this wave (particularly Shippy and HV) as well as Chuckles from the retro. I have no need for another TR or Zarana.

I honestly don’t remember Ambush - will have to go look him up. I highly doubt I’ll have any use for NF SS and Billy.

Oh, and of course since I was too complimentary of WM earlier, first speed bump - DS got delayed . Hopefully, he’ll arrive with Duke tomorrow.

 

[nacho]

And so it begins... the WM spiral of cancellation. (insert evil laugh here)

I'll get a single zarana to keep on the cardback, but the TR has much improved pants... they gave him his bell bottoms. My only gripe is that he didn't get his ARAH cowboy boots in favor of some clompy shit-kickers.

I don't care about NF SS.... but Billy... I feel like Billy is a must.

Ambush looks like a stereotype of some british/aussie big game hunter with the 19th century mustache. I hate him purely due to the facial hair, and the fact that his few existing fans like him due to his DiC appearances... which automatically negates their opinions.




EDIT: WM claims they shipped my Icebergs... to arrive tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

 

[nacho]

Two more deluxe "Pet" releases next year, and one more in the Fanmazon/Fan Channel releases. I figure one has to be Spearhead and Max... but I'm out of ideas on the others. Maybe one is the highly requested SE v2 with a new Timber? I would guess Voltar, but so far none of the birds qualified for the "Deluxe w/ pet" designation. And as far as I can tell, every other ARAH pet has been done besides Max... unless you count Undertow's fish, but I assume that would be like Hydro-Vipers rubber stingray.

And two more "Legacy" somethings... I'm still waiting on the cop and fireman to go on sale. I'm feeling like it's not happening.

EDIT: It's been pointed out that the new Shipwreck appears to use the Tunnel Rat / Mainframe legs. So he'll be a head shorter than the first Shipwreck. Even when hasbro does something right, they find a way to shoot themselves in the junk.

MORE EDIT: Insider says they're the TR/Mainframe legs... upscaled. So he shouldn't be a short-king. Crisis averted.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Loving the deep cuts in the insider info! Here's hoping for good Legacy figs. What I mean is more like the SF and less like the popo, fireman and snow patrol - not that those were bad ideas, just the execution wasn't great, and certainly not helping justify the price tag. Examples are the fireman's short coat, the popo's arm tights and snow patrol's colors.

I'm also pulling for a proper SE v.2 with Timber. Heck, I'd settle for a reissue of the retro to add to my OG section, but the iconic v.2 is surprisingly way overdue. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get another dumb dino instead though.

Got my "check your address and payment method" message from Pulse this morning for the VAMP II. Wow, it's suddenly an embarrassment of riches of Joe product on the way time again, and I like it!

 

[nacho]

Agreed, it's like hasbro let the 'Nam folks hold everything to be shipped on the same slow boat... like some asian factory Pile-o-Loot, so that everything shows up at once.

That VAMP MkII will look good with the desert crew. The lack of tan vehicles is the main reason I got motivated to finish the desert armadillo and Mauler. Clutch can't do everything solo!

 

[ThunderDan19]

So Duke arrived this morning, only mildly smashed. Yay, FedEx. At least he made it here on schedule.

Still waiting on DS, who was supposed to arrive yesterday. Unsurprisingly, DS is being delivered by not UPS or Fedx, so no decent tracking. Tracking only shows shipping "by Walmart" and left NC yesterday at 4am. I'm guessing when it finally does show up, it will either be in my mailbox by USPS (based on the lack of actual tracking) or by some kind of DHS/LaserShip knockoff. I'm also guessing it will probably go past the weekend based on the radio silence since yesterday early morning, with the exception of the "sorry, your package has been delayed. we'll get back to you." text.

I had to open my fat mouth...

 

[nacho]

Pulse delivered Flash today... and WM claims that FedEx is delivering Iceberg to my house... fingers crossed.

Stepping back, this is all so hilarious. Imagine telling your 10yo self that there would be no more TRU, no more toy stores at the mall, no more Sears, no more K-Mart or other regional stores... and that WM would only carry Joes in some stores. Thus your only option will be ordering Joes with your pocket computer phone and praying that someone leaves them on your porch. Is this progress?!

 

[ThunderDan19]

Right? I do feel like time did kind of prepare us by taking them from us slowly. First we lost the majority of dedicated toy stores - Children’s Palace was our first to fall. We started losing all the competing department stores and catalog stores - Murphy’s, Hills, Ames, Service Merchandise, etc.

Many of the dept stores that remained only stocked significant numbers of toys seasonally - Sears, JC Penney. Eventually KB lost its battle along with all those other mall stores. And finally the once unbeatable anchor stores followed - Sears, Kmart and JC Penney, at least for most.

For us at least, we got Target that replaced Kmart as the #2. And of course, how could we ever have guessed that a pioneering online used book and CD seller would grow to become a behemoth, much due to a “global pandemic?” And we do have the benefit of online toy stores that have stepped up in the wake of the loss of our last b&m, TRU - BBTS, EE, etc.

I don’t think we could possibly explain it all to our past selves. But have we progressed or regressed? I’d argue neither and both. Now we get new product quarterly vs annually. The detail has greatly improved. And, when all else fails, some of us can now print our own versions of whatever Hasbro hasn’t fulfilled.

Does that beat a kid’s trip to a dime, department or toy store to see what’s new on the peg or shelf that we could buy if we saved enough of our allowance or summer job money? No, but finally getting something delivered that we PO’ed months ago ain’t bad, especially if it’s early! And finding an online bargain on something you been holding out for, with free shipping? Yeah, that’s the stuff right there…

I’d say that’s mighty close to an even trade. But I still do think finding something new in the wild brings the biggest buzz, possibly because that’s the purest re-creation of those old glory days. Oh, and now I’m much more likely to have the money to actually buy it!

 

[ThunderDan19]

I‘m very happy with “Rugged“ Duke, easily the best/manliest version ever. I jocked him up a little more with the helmet, NODs and eye pro, as well as swapping out the LMG for a lighter carbine. The lighter primary meshes with his kit way better, as that was what it was designed for with the Legacy SF. The grenade launcher is a little much still, but I figure he could pack a couple in an extra pouch, for now. I am already thinking ahead to picking up an extra of the carbine that will come with the recently revealed VBSS Shippy.

This guy immediately displaced my original Duke that was an attempted jock up of version 2 (the subdued one). He’s now embarrassing compared to this one, and has been stripped of useful kit and relegated to the fodder bag in shame.

This Duke looks like he spent time with the Unit before coming over to join the Joe team.

 

[nacho]

I want to like this release... but I'm not a fan of the beard... he looks too much like RnR!

 

[ThunderDan19]

It's true. He could definitely be his brother or cousin. I kinda feel like they've always struggled making a Duke action figure that actually captures the look of the original card art, or even the cartoon for that matter. Getting that blonde yet masculine look w/o the beard seems to be the tough part. They definitely missed it with early CS, way too young looking for a MSgt, and a pretty boy. Retro is definitely better, but I had already stolen that head for a better Low-Light, since his was very... Falcony.

I think I like this Duke the best because he finally truly fits Duke's backstory now - tough, experienced, capable leader, and finally with some battle kit! He looks like "he knows a thing or two because he's seen a thing or two." Is it a departure from his clean cut California origins? Sure, but I think maybe that's why he is finally a standout and a favorite now for me.

Oh, and WM finally came through with DS yesterday. Only two days late with no way of knowing where on God's green earth it was while "delayed." At least it was surprisingly not smashed at all!

 

[nacho]

California origins?! Duke's from St Louis... RnR is the surfer-boi from Cali.

The first two classified versions both looks a little on the young side, I'll concede that, but giving him the giant eye scar and a RnR beard is just not the way to imply he's been around the block, IMO. They could have made him a little older, maybe given him a stubble wash, maybe even hair longer than a crew-cut... but the path they chose is far too much of a departure for me.

I think the S7 Ultimate perfectly captured the sunbow Duke sculpt. Not sure why hasbro can't/won't do something closer to that for Duke.

I PO'd one scruffy duke, mostly in case they produce a bunch of other energon cast decos. I didn't want to have that hole, but for my basic shelf, he's definitely not-my-duke. If they don't do more energon figs, he'll end up in the fodder bin.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Sorry, yeah, I got turned around on the origin there. I think what I was awkwardly trying to communicate is that Duke was always too perfect and pretty in the art and cartoon (with the exception of the brief first introduction in the Marvel comic), but at the same time too plain and boring in the figs for me to ever really embrace as the gritty, seasoned top Sergeant in my Joeverse. So now that they flipped the script on the fig, I’m all in.

Trying not to spoil anything, but, that said, the EU version he is based on is kind of unhinged. Too far? Lol, maybe. But he definitely is not the pretty but boring goody two shoes we grew up with. Luckily for me, I wasn’t too attached to that one…

 

[ThunderDan19]

I am extremely happy to report that Operation: Mauler Labor and Delivery is a complete success! The box arrived in excellent condition (I think maybe you have discovered a new building system to replace concrete blocks! Rock solid.). With much patience and care, I was able to extract all the pieces and parts without breaking anything (closest I hope I ever come to performing a C-Section! BTW, were those Haslab corner braces? Nice!) and was also able assemble it fully without any damage at all.

First impressions: As good as your pictures were, they didn’t do it justice. Absolutely amazing! And your additions of features and textures have fully eliminated the “scaled up but now too plain looking” issue that a lot of up scaled 3D printed vehicles have. With that plus all the added features of the crew space and MG, it is a literally perfect mix of our beloved Mauler, scaled up and with real world tank texture. I’m speechless. It’s like a museum piece.

Bravo, Sir! Bravo!

I should have the stickers for this one plus the Armadillo in a few days and then will be able to finish it out and move it to its final home front and center atop my desk nook. I’ll enjoy it up close until then!

 

[nacho]

Looks great! I'm rather relieved that it all arrived unharmed. Third time's the charm?! Yes, the big corner protectors on the inside came from the Snowcat haslab, and the smaller ones on the outside were from something I ordered from ShowZ. Saved them for just such an occasion.

Isn't the tread sound so much fun? It gets me every time.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Absolutely! There’s nothing quite like that squeaky rattle.

And I didn’t realize just how roomy it is until I put Steeler in the hatch. It all but dwarfs him, while he’s standing up! I put rCG in the Armadillo and she all but disappears in it as well. No underscale vehicles this time around!

 

[nacho]

Right? They all look pretty normal Joe-scale until you start putting figs in them, then you realize they're massive.

Also, you may have figured this out already, but the Mauler cannon will ratchet down one more notch to dead-level, but it doesn't go perfectly smooth. On mine, I sometimes stick a small screwdriver or letter opener down into the spring to push it backwards just an extra smidge, and then the barrel will snap all the way down to level. I was afraid to adjust the spring much more for fear it wouldn't hold at higher angles. I was making that whole mechanism up as I went, trying to adapt the Armadillo ratchet concept for something much larger and heavier. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[nacho]

New wave is up for PO. Got everyone but Flatline... because, ewww.

 

[ThunderDan19]

I got back too late from a trip out of the office today to get them right at PO release, but I did go ahead and PO only Shippy and HV. I can wait for HB to drop a bit before buying him. I don't think I'll end up with Daina unless she drops below $20. Got to offset those $30 price tags somewhere. And yeah, FL can warm those pegs. I have no interest in that one at any price.

 

[ThunderDan19]

Speaking of eww, I forgot to mention (perhaps I was a little distracted) that I dropped by the one good WM in the general area that actually still carries some Joes yesterday while being over that way to vote. I got a first hand look at Psyche-Out, retro Crazy-Legs, the cyborg BAT guy (forgot his name) and Sundown for the first time, as well as a few other less ugly figs. I’m sorry, but I don’t regret not buying any of them. They oogly.

And I got to see that newish vehicle two pack as well. I didn’t even pick it up to take a closer look. $110 for absolute 100% repaints is an abomination. I hope they shelf warm enough to teach Hasbro to not to do that again. I literally wouldn’t pay half that price for them.

And… stupid USPS has yet again claimed to have delivered something they haven’t. They reported my sticker packs for the Mauler and Armadillo as delivered today, so I was pretty excited to get home tonight and get them in hand. Well, joke’s on me, while my other deliveries of the day have all arrived just fine from AMZ and Mercari, my ebay package/envelope(?) is nowhere to be found.

Dang I despise their lack of accuracy, accountability and actual trackability. Every time they suck like this makes all the others - AMZ, UPS and FedEx - look that much better.

Here’s hoping that it’s just their crappy “tracking” system and it shows up tomorrow. With my luck, they delivered it to the wrong house instead. Hopefully, if they did, my neighbors will put it back in circulation or leave it in my mailbox.

 

[Videoviper]

Hey if anybody bought the SNAKE armor, please take a size picture next to a 4” figure.
-I need to be talked out of it

 

[nacho]

I have some partial spares for both, as the sets I bought for the arctic versions of both tanks required me to remake some decals sans white. So I have the stars for both, the Mauler Joe logos, the mauler crests, and a few others... if yours don't show up, I can pass those along.

I can take a pic of the snake armor tomorrow when I get back in the office. It will be massive next to a 4" figure.

And HP just charged my card for the VAMP mkii...

 

[ThunderDan19]

As promised, here’s a pic of my upgraded Jinx with the new head and gear. I like this version a lot better. She looks way less butch, way more feminine and better represents my preferred portrayals from various media over the years. Not sure yet whether or not I will try to dull down the purple. It currently isn’t bothering me enough to change it. This version also doesn’t chronically look to the right, unlike the other head.

All in all, I’m very pleased with the upgrade.

Re: The stickers. I‘m really hoping to not have to fall back to it, because that would mean I got shafted by the USPS and eBay for the first time in a long time, but thank you for the offer of a bail out option! I’ll let you know how it goes.

 

[nacho]

I wonder if the unmasked Dawn head would look ok on the basic Jinx body? Zero chance I'm buying "wardrobe malfunction" Jinx. Neither unmasked head looks remotely asian to me, but... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

If I have to stick to the original masked jinx head, I'm ok with that, as her OG figure was masked anyway. But I halfway suspect we'll be getting a retro Jinx, as it's been floated by "sources" that all retros in '27 will be characters that appeared in the movie (40th anniversary). We got Falcon this year, and the first three revealed (Chuckles, TR, and Zarana) seem to back up that claim. So with six more to get revealed, it's hard to imagine she won't be among them.

 

[ThunderDan19]

I think Dawn's head would definitely work also, and would still be a more attractive look than the short haired version. In fairness, the short haired Jinx head is nicely detailed and does have a more Asian, "just after pulling off the balaclava" vibe. But it has some issues I couldn't get past.

The main problem I've had is that it just hasn't grown on me like I hoped it would. It kinda screams butch, but is also somehow not very threatening. I found myself constantly adjusting it, trying to get it to appear like she was even looking in the direction her head was pointed. I'm truly not being raycist here, but she always looked like she was staring off to her right instead of toward the threat. It's hard to explain, but the new one doesn't seem to have the same issue.

As for a retro Jinx, it seems like she should be a no-brainer for the movie 40th batch, as she was pretty prominent there. I wonder if they will just pack the short haired head or if they will go to the effort of creating another one with the 80's spike. It seems like they basically have her (less puffy) long sleeved outfit if they just do a red version of Akiko's.

I was a little surprised they went with TR in the movie retro set. Was he that prominent in the movie? I honestly don't even remember seeing him in it.

Oh, and I finally got a new expected date for LC from AMZ. Hopefully arriving on Sunday!

 

[ThunderDan19]

Looks like my stickers came today. My wife sent me a pic of the envelope. I won't get to open them up until I get home tomorrow, but the seller and state address line up and the envelope doesn't appear to be mangled at all.

I really wish stupid USPS would just get their act together on their tracking all around. Leave it to the one gubment run shipping company to remain so annoyingly feckless when it comes to their one job.

Anyway, crisis averted apparently.