Missing Figures: What can be made of what we already have?

[Evan Ryan]

So I've been studying my joes pretty close over the last few days - to notice that a lot of figures that I hadn't paid much attention to use the same molds in extremely effective ways. I never would have guessed that Snow Job and Wild Weasel had the same torso, until I put them next to eachother. A lot of molds are getting some pretty good mileage.

That being said - what's possible to make with what is already out there? I've seen a lot of amazing customs, and I can't help but wonder why Hasbro wouldn't take notice of some really cost effective ways to make great new figures.

I think it's not that unrealistic to think that a good portion of the figures made between 82 and 88 are currently make-able, with a few mods and some new head sculpts.

Here's a few I can think of:

Airtight - Firefly body, flash arms, new chest accessory and head
Footloose - Shipwreck torso and arms, rock'n'roll legs, new head
Frostbite - white general hawk with new head sculpt and hat
Heavy Metal - Shipwreck torso, maybe gen hawk sleeved arms, rock'n'roll legs, new head
Keel-Haul - - Shipwreck torso, maybe gen hawk sleeved arms, rock'n'roll legs, new head and vest/jacket
Sgt. Slaughter - already a billion customs out there
Dial-Tone - shipwreck torso, gung-ho legs, sleeved arms, new head
Lifeline - Duke body, new head and webgear accessory
Wet Suit - torpedo with new helmet and chest accessory
Outback - Bazooka Body with new headsculpt
Steel Brigade - duke + scrap iron and new head, just like in the old days
Dr. Mindbender - Gung ho torso (crotch mod), copperhead arms, new legs
Monkeywrench - Gung ho with new head and bandolier
Thrasher - same as any dreadnok with a new head

And here are the rest of the characters from the line up to 88:

Recondo
Rip Cord
Thunder
The Fridge
Chuckles
Crazylegs
Fast Draw
Law&Order
Psyche-Out
Sneak Peak
Backstop
Hardtop
Payload
Rumbler
Steam Roller
Mercer
Red Dog
Taurus
Zandar
Motor-Viper
Strato-Viper
Avalanche
Blaster
Blocker
Dodger
Knockdown
Maverick
Big Boa
Crystal Ball
Raptor
Techno-Viper
Gyro Viper
Ice Viper
Sea Slug
W.O.R.M.S.
Zanzibar
Golobulous
Royal Guard
Blizzard
Budo
Charbroil
Hardball
Hit & Run
Lightfoot
Muskrat
Repeater
Spearhead and Max
Armadillo
Ghost Rider
Skidmark
WildCard
Windmill
Skystriker
Astro-Viper
Hydro-Viper
Road Pig
Toxo-Viper
Voltar
Ferret
Nullifier
Secto-Viper
Star-Viper
Cover Girl
Tollbooth
Iceberg
Low-Light
Sci-Fi
Claymore
Cross Country
Jinx
Zarana

[Magick]

BBQ also has the same body as Wild Weasel and Snow Job. Hasbro uses the same molds over and over just adding new heads and some accessories (basically like they did in the 80's) some hide it better than others.. Like BBQ. Nemesis shares Serpentors body.. etc..etc.. Almost all the joes share Dukes body... the list is endless, thus why it's so easy for some of us customizers to make half the figures they haven't made. All the parts are already there. LOL

[Evan Ryan]

That's what I was getting at. I've seen dozens of awesome customs using existing, unmodified parts and making great new figures. With the addition of some heads, helmets, hats, and chest accessories/webgear, the possibility for new figures is RIGHT THERE!

But instead of using a Snake Eyes body for a new Night Viper, HEAT Viper, or anything like that, Hasbro just keeps repainting the same figures and giving them the same names.

They could easily replace any spot that Duke holds with another joe, just add a different head, hat, and color scheme.

I don't know. Maybe people are more apt to buy five 'different' Duke's staring them in the face than they are to buy five unique figures using Duke's body and a new head.

[Magick]

Well depends on if the people are completest or just buy what they like. I am a completest.. i have to have at least one of every figure they make. Plus I am an army builder.. so the more viper types the better. I agree we can do without another Duke, CC, SE, SS..etc..etc.. But as long as they have people buying them, they will keep making them.. Hopefully with all these new revision packs they will take notice at the number of Flag Dukes and Wild Bills there are sitting on pegs. and not make anymore for awhile.

Hasbro being Hasbro though.. expect to see more variations of those figures and maybe one or two new figures thrown in the mix.. Hell Wave 10 and 11 have the most new figures I have seen in awhile...then comes 12 with all new repaints.

[CobraVirus]

Maybe we need a a figure recipe thread???

[daremo]

Maybe we need a a figure recipe thread???
Here you go:

Hasbro No-Brainers: Why Haven't We Seen These? (http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-real-american-hero-modern-toys/17020-hasbro-no-brainers-why-havent-we-seen-these.html)

[B.A.T.]

Every time I look at my Iron Grenadier all I see is a black armored Cobra Commander. Annoys the crap out of me. I wish we could get all new molds.

[CrimsonGuard101]

Tools, dies, casts, molds, plastics, paints, R&D, art deparmtment, production line changes, equipment and manufactuering process changes, planned development schemes and changes, adverstising (which I have yet to see really lol) , Profit&Loss analysis and ultimatley funding all in the way of newer figures :(

What about Captain Ledger? I was watching Pyramid of Darkness last night from my new DVD packs and he was commanding the Flagg! LOL I really do not recall him, I thought Keel Haul ruled the Flagg....must have been later on before Cobra sunk it, or did that really happen? The Synthoids and Shipwrekcs nightmare is still foggy to me LOL