FSS 5.0 Announced at JoeCon!

Information originally appeared on GeneralsJoes.com. 

The 12 figures are as follows!

1. Ambush

2. Charbroil (classic deco, masked head not removable)

3. Darklon (a more current version, convention version is considered a “prequel” design)

4. General Flagg (based on the 2nd Battle Corps version from the 90s)

5. Battle Corps COBRA Viper (based on the Iron Anvil look – light infantry Viper)

6. Salvo (more of a Pursuit of Cobra version, not 100% vintage accurate)

7. Scoop (with the helmet from Sky Patrol Airborne)

8. Raptor!!!!!!11!

9. Sneak Peek (standard release, may end up changing the vest a little)

10. Steel Raven (based on the female SKAR Infantry Officer)

11. Shattered Glass Xamot (the Shattered Glass version is very reminiscent of the Sunbow business suit)

12. Action Force Z-Force Gaucho (based on the 50th Anniversary Gung Ho)

I find no fault with any of these choices. Count me in for FSS 5.0!

VAMP Mk2 Paint Upgrade Project

Just yesterday, I posted the results of a paint job on one of my Ninja Combat Cruisers and I thought that I would go through a few of the steps I did for the paint job.

The first step is to just disassemble the thing. There are about a dozen screws that need to be taken out in order to take the VAMP completely apart. I decided to not paint the dashboard, primarily because I didn't want to lose the stickers. I'm sure I could have stuck them to some wax paper or something, but I didn't want to risk losing any of the sticky-ness of the dash stickers.

Interesting observation about the two pieces of the roof section.

The pegs from the roof that insert into the body drop down into openings that have holes in them. See those green arrows? I'm thinking that small screws can drop down into each hole and the roof can be secured.

This picture shows one of the two holes for the front section of the roof.

Paint job done and everything is just pieced together; nothing screwed back together yet.

Looking around at Home Depot, I discovered this paint. The Satin Hunt Club Green doesn't sound real macho and military, but I thought it looked pretty good. I decided that I wanted a green, but that I would be content with what the vehicle might have looked like had Hasbro actually molded it in a shade of green. The key in painting a GI Joe vehicle is to make sure the paint can has something like "ALSO BONDS TO PLASTIC." Very important!

Here are the four screws installed in the back of the body to secure the back part of the roof. The screws are a little too big, but they did the trick.

Two front screws secure the front section.

I used a total of six screws to secure the roof to the body. Once those were finished, all that was left to do was to put the chassis and the bumpers back on and screw in all of the screws that came out of it. No screws left over, so it was successful!

I like the shade of green that I wound up with. It really dried nice and smooth and almost feels like it's the natural color of the vehicle. It doesn't really feel too much like a paint job. 

Once we finally get settled this fall and I find my other VAMP Mk2, I think I will paint it the same color as this one. I really don't think I need another for different environments. Sure, a desert one would be cool, but I'll be living in North Georgia, a bit far from any deserts. While the chances of snow will be greater, I don't think I need to make a winter ops version. I'll stick with another Satin Hunt Club Green VAMP Mk2.

What are your thoughts?

Got any custom vehicles that you are working on?

Spread the word with a comment!

Just because Helix is awesome

Okay, fine! She's a Mary Sue! I get it! And I don't care!

Like I've said countless times in the past, this figure ROCKS!

Zero complaints about the figure!

Helix with wings because why the hell not?

She wears them better than Nemesis Enforcer.

A couple Arashikage swords?

Why not?

Boom, boom!

Out go the lights!

Helix rocks!

If you disagree, defend yourself in the comments!

New Paint for a VAMP Mk2

I've got a few of the Ninja Combat Cruisers from Retaliation. I know for sure I have three, maybe one more. Most are all packed up right now, but I held one out for a new paint job.

The NCC or, as I prefer, the VAMP Mk2, is an excellent vehicle. an upgrade to the modern era VAMP, it has a new roof and doors. It turns out that the new VAMP appears to have quite a bit of customization potential.

But that color... Oh, that color... Most collectors aren't really thrilled with the color. I painted one of mine solid black and it makes for a great modern era update of the Cobra Stinger.

I decided to do a repaint in something more of a military green.

This is the result! I like it! I took a bunch of pictures and I'll post an in depth story about the paint I used and the process of painting it. But for now, I just really wanted to brag a bit about the paint job. The paint dried very smooth and it is almost factory quality. 

More later!

More Random Shite

I think I have some Irish heritage, so I can use the word "shite."

Snake Eyes (v54) in commando mode. Do you really need another version of Snake Eyes after this? Seriously. This figure kicks ass. Oh, wait, different web gear. Still a serious bad ass though.

 Snake Eyes (v54) in ninja bad ass mode. I prefer the commando version over this one. True, the original v2 Snake Eyes figure was better than v1, but that doesn't really count because all of the year one figures were "less than awesome" after subsequent years. With version 54, you get both ninja and commando. I prefer the commando.

 Using another Snake Eyes (v54) body, here is Covert Ops Duke. Works well enough. The helmet would be proper to wear on a mission, but it looks a bit dorky on him.

 This Airtight figure just always kicks butt.

Why not load him up with a flame projection unit?

Those zombie vipers aren't going to burn themselves!

 These guys. The Sci Fi update is another excellent figure. A bit wonky at the knees, but I can let that slide. Wait, you mean Hasbro doesn't produce 100% awesome figures all of the time? Whaaaa.....? Dang, suck it, Club bashers.

 Pythona with Nemesis Enforcer wings. I really like the look of these wings without the use of Nemmy. I sort of see the wings as a parasitic organism that attaches to your back, burrows in and interacts with your spine and nervous system, allowing you to use the wings as if they have always been a part of your body. Works for me and sort of aligns to the techno-organic feel of Cobra-La.

 Hell Boy because Hell Boy is awesome.

And when you find a 3 3/4" scale Hell Boy, he becomes even more awesome.

Mercer in Cobra Viper gear.

Mercer's story from the original Renegades 3-pack just really resonated with me. There was so much untold goodness within that brief file card.

Hot wiring a Cobra Moray and heading out across the Gulf of Mexico to escape Cobra. How bad as is that?

That's all for this post. 

Most of my stuff is packed up, so I'm limited to "portraits" and just writing about random shite. What the hell. Who else reads this silly dog and pony show?