Ghoststriker X16 Curiosity Thread

[Shin Densetsu]

The last time I handled a Ghoststriker was way back in 1994. That's a long time ago. Thus I have questions.
Were there any fragile parts to watch out for?
Are the stickers really paper based? If so blech.
Are any parts like the hinges prone to looseness?
What's the highest price this thing goes for loose/compleste or MISB?
Do the missles fall off easily?Back in Xmas 94 I remember this thing went for $30+ @TRU.

[Nictus]

only the missiles were fragile if memory serves...that and the landing gear strut (the front one)
yes the stickers were paper
the canopy hinge was prone to being loose but i think that's just given it's size
price? no idea...but i traded a near complete one for a lowlight and poc snowcat
and the wingtip missiles for mine were notorious for falling off

[Shin Densetsu]

Ewwww I hate paper stickers! If I ever get one it's getting a cobrastickers.com makeover.

[jogunwarrior]

I've not noticed any fragile parts on the two I have and I've had them since 93/94. However the stickers are paper.
Not sure on price, I've seen complete ones sell anywhere between 30.00 to 60.00.

The Ace figure it came with is one of my favorite joe figures!

[DaveViper]

The paperstickers are fragile! I haven't had any issues with the missles falling off. I have a good time shooting my cat with the spring loaded missles.

I got mine complete of ebay for $24.00 a couple months ago.

[Shin Densetsu]

I've not noticed any fragile parts on the two I have and I've had them since 93/94. However the stickers are paper.
Not sure on price, I've seen complete ones sell anywhere between 30.00 to 60.00.

The Ace figure it came with is one of my favorite joe figures!

Good to hear! I remember it being fairly durable when I last handled it 18 years ago. One of the last best vehicles of the ARAH line and very overlooked!

I have that Ace, the repainted one from the 97 A-10 Thunderbolt III release. Excellent figure and the best ARAH pilot figure.

The paperstickers are fragile! I haven't had any issues with the missles falling off. I have a good time shooting my cat with the spring loaded missles.

I got mine complete of ebay for $24.00 a couple months ago.

I was never a fan of paper stickers. Papers with clear backing look and adhere substantially better. Was yours MISB or loose?

[firefox91]

One of these just sold on eBay MISB for $50. But prices seem to be a little erratic as others sell for much more at times. One thing is for sure, the people with BINs on eBay have delusions that this thing is worth over $100. It isn't. I have been trying to get one myself, but not that hard.

[jogunwarrior]

Both of the ones I have are from my childhood, and one was my brothers. He didn't nearly as good of care of his as I did mine, and ended up losing his nosecone. For the longest time I had trouble finding a nose cone, finally one day a friend of mine randomly found a shell of one with the nose cone at a good will, and he gave it to me.
If anyone does consider buying one I would recommend they get a complete one as finding the parts on their own can be a pain in the ass.

Also be careful of battery erosion on the handle. I've seen a few other loose ones that were all terribly eroded from batteries being left in them over the last 18-19 years.

[PinewoodCobra]

I had this one too back then. It was actually pretty hardy from what I remember. The missiles did have a tendency to pop off. This was one of my favorite Joe jets, mostly because I'm an f16 fan, having grown up near an f16 training base.

[DaveViper]

Good to hear! I remember it being fairly durable when I last handled it 18 years ago. One of the last best vehicles of the ARAH line and very overlooked!

I have that Ace, the repainted one from the 97 A-10 Thunderbolt III release. Excellent figure and the best ARAH pilot figure.



I was never a fan of paper stickers. Papers with clear backing look and adhere substantially better. Was yours MISB or loose?

Mine is loose no box. The best way I can describe it, it's as a nice chunk of durable plastic. I could drop the plane a couple times and it would have no affect on it. I have no problems with the canopy, it has a nice good hinge. The Ace that comes with it is my favorite one. Had it not been for the stickers I would have given it a A+

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/6883837368_0bff56baea.jpg

[Shin Densetsu]

One of these just sold on eBay MISB for $50. But prices seem to be a little erratic as others sell for much more at times. One thing is for sure, the people with BINs on eBay have delusions that this thing is worth over $100. It isn't. I have been trying to get one myself, but not that hard.

Thanks for the feedback on prices man, much appreciated. Bbts used to have 2 for $39 loose a few years back. Right now I've been seeing prices from close to $100-$200+ especially if it's MISB.

Both of the ones I have are from my childhood, and one was my brothers. He didn't nearly as good of care of his as I did mine, and ended up losing his nosecone. For the longest time I had trouble finding a nose cone, finally one day a friend of mine randomly found a shell of one with the nose cone at a good will, and he gave it to me.
If anyone does consider buying one I would recommend they get a complete one as finding the parts on their own can be a pain in the ass.

Also be careful of battery erosion on the handle. I've seen a few other loose ones that were all terribly eroded from batteries being left in them over the last 18-19 years.

Thanks for the feedback man was wondering about battery erosion. Honestly, though this plane is the precursor to the Thunderwing, I think it had slightly better gimmicks.

I had this one too back then. It was actually pretty hardy from what I remember. The missiles did have a tendency to pop off. This was one of my favorite Joe jets, mostly because I'm an f16 fan, having grown up near an f16 training base.

I did remember it being fairly tough back then I LOVED the fact that it was a 2 seater. Makes recreating Iron Eagle easier. I dug how Ace was flying it as it was like his career went full circle; he started out as a USAF pilot, flying F-16's and later F-5's as an Aggressor instructor.

Mine is loose no box. The best way I can describe it, it's as a nice chunk of durable plastic. I could drop the plane a couple times and it would have no affect on it. I have no problems with the canopy, it has a nice good hinge. The Ace that comes with it is my favorite one. Had it not been for the stickers I would have given it a A+

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/6883837368_0bff56baea.jpg

Another thing I dug is that though it was the last ARAH plane made, it still featured a wealth of detail, from the panel lines to the cockpit interior.

[kshelor]

I actually have one. One of hinges is broke on back landing gear and the plastic bars letting canopy slide open are broke. But I have the box and ghostrider with filecard. I like the plane myself, but the older planes are better if you ask me.

[kshelor]

Oops, totally read that thread wrong lol. But I also have the plane your talking about misb.

[sithlordsmart]

mine is a pretty stout plane. The only bitch is yes they are paper stickers, But the only ones that sucked on my were the thin white strip stickers. They always peeled up.

[CobraOfficer999]

I have the one I had as A kid. It's missing parts include a landing gear, the holographic projector, and a couple of missiles.

[Shin Densetsu]

One thing I hated on this plane aside from the paper stickers was the fact that it had neon weapons. Stuck out in a bad way. Don't mind the orange actually, but the green as just weird.

Funny enough, the new Ghost HAWK II actually has similar neon green and orange weapons.

[firefox91]

Looking at those stickers, I don't see anything that really defines it. I think you could just get a nice set of stickers from CobraStickers or JRuben and use those to really improve the overall look. If I ever get my hands on one, I will likely be doing just that. Hell, I could use all these leftover Skystriker stickers. :)

[DaveViper]

Looking at those stickers, I don't see anything that really defines it. I think you could just get a nice set of stickers from CobraStickers or JRuben and use those to really improve the overall look. If I ever get my hands on one, I will likely be doing just that. Hell, I could use all these leftover Skystriker stickers. :)

I wish someone made glow in the dark stickers for gi joe vehicles. I would put some on this and make it a real ghoststriker.

[MethaZord]

can moderns fit?

[Shin Densetsu]

Looking at those stickers, I don't see anything that really defines it. I think you could just get a nice set of stickers from CobraStickers or JRuben and use those to really improve the overall look. If I ever get my hands on one, I will likely be doing just that. Hell, I could use all these leftover Skystriker stickers. :)

True, the main stickers I would want are the Ghoststriker symbol/patch used on the vertical stabilizers and the low vis white stars/bars insignia.

Though I came up with an idea today using stickers from cobrastickers.com.

can moderns fit?

Should be plenty of room.

[firefox91]

I wish someone made glow in the dark stickers for gi joe vehicles. I would put some on this and make it a real ghoststriker.

Believe it or not, I found someone on the internet that had done some. He did some exact repros of the Night Boomer stickers. They were flawless and glowed. But they weren't cheap, we was asking something like $25 a sheet. But he did them on his own so it cost him a fair amount to just get them done in the first place. As far as I know, he only ever did that 1 run of them. Glad I got them when I did.

[Shin Densetsu]

Does anyone remember the msrp of this thing back in the day?

[Skipper]

No, but I sure wish I could stop looking for them on ebay, I have 6 and one incomplete one. Just cant seem to stop looking at them. If anybody has a canopy, give me a heads up, maybe do some horsetrading.

[tmbbanker]

I got a question about the Ghoststriker. I have one in great shape but missing the missiles and the launchers. Does anyone have them? Or, do any of the launchers from other vehicles of that period work on it? The missiles can be easily replaced with others I suppose but just not sure about the launchers.

[Shin Densetsu]

I got a question about the Ghoststriker. I have one in great shape but missing the missiles and the launchers. Does anyone have them? Or, do any of the launchers from other vehicles of that period work on it? The missiles can be easily replaced with others I suppose but just not sure about the launchers.

I don't think there are any other compatible launchers with the Ghoststriker's wings, at least, I never saw any.

[Zarana X]

I bougth mine new, I can't recall how much they were, but it was fairly reasonable at the time, considering the electronics. I don't care for the "GI JOE" molded into the fuselage, or the paper stickers. I painted the launchers grey, and the landing gear silver. The landing gear is too soft and the paint flakes off easily (maybe Fusion would stick better?), so I stripped the landing gear and found out I had the front one on backwards. It's a very solid jet, one of the few vehicles past '88 I like.
Here it is right before I stripped the landing gear.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Zarana-X/Virtual%20Toy%20Collection/Picture041.jpg

[Shin Densetsu]

I bougth mine new, I can't recall how much they were, but it was fairly reasonable at the time, considering the electronics. I don't care for the "GI JOE" molded into the fuselage, or the paper stickers. I painted the launchers grey, and the landing gear silver. The landing gear is too soft and the paint flakes off easily (maybe Fusion would stick better?), so I stripped the landing gear and found out I had the front one on backwards. It's a very solid jet, one of the few vehicles past '88 I like.
Here it is right before I stripped the landing gear.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Zarana-X/Virtual%20Toy%20Collection/Picture041.jpg

I remember the prices being pretty reasonable too, considering how big it is and its heft. I actually like it more than the Thundering.

Shocked that the gijoe logo was sculpted on! Wow! Forgot about that..

[jogunwarrior]

The Ghost Striker is number 4 on my list of favorite Joe Jets, behind the Sky Striker, Conquest, and Phantom. It's well ahead of the Thunderwing, Vector, Storm Eagle, and Mudfighter

[HueyCobra AH-1]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522958_10150727724024653_805134652_9287669_1442552 204_n.jpg

I agree the prices for these fluctuate. I bought mine about 2 1/2 years ago for $60- MISB.

I haven't had any issues with missiles popping off or any other fragile parts.
it's stiff, sturdy and well built.
Wish they made more like this.
the projector gimmick isn't something i care about, though.

but as a display piece i really like it.

[Shin Densetsu]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522958_10150727724024653_805134652_9287669_1442552 204_n.jpg

I agree the prices for these fluctuate. I bought mine about 2 1/2 years ago for $60- MISB.

I haven't had any issues with missiles popping off or any other fragile parts.
it's stiff, sturdy and well built.
Wish they made more like this.
the projector gimmick isn't something i care about, though.

but as a display piece i really like it.

Whoa forgot it was THAT big!

[jogunwarrior]

It is a good size, in fact I'd say that its nearly the perfect size for play. Not too underscaled like the VvsV SkySweeper, and not too large like the Phantom. Plus as others have mentioned its a solid construct. It's a great vehicle for both display and play.

[HueyCobra AH-1]

I love the Ace figure that came with mine, but i never took him out of the bag- his O-ring had broken and i never got around to replacing it.

and i may buy my first cobrastickers just for this toy.

Edit: Cobrastickers didn't have anything for the GhostStriker- so i was thinking of getting one of the Skystriker sticker sets and using it instead.
any ones you particularly like? (am avoiding the transfomers sheets.)

[Jedi_Master_Ben]

Two questions:

1. Has anyone tried to fit any of the ME figures in the cockpit? If so, any pics?

2. Is Cobrastickers planning on making a set of new stickers for this that are not paper based?

[DaveViper]

Two questions:

1. Has anyone tried to fit any of the ME figures in the cockpit? If so, any pics?

2. Is Cobrastickers planning on making a set of new stickers for this that are not paper based?

Here you go. I used 30th Skystriker Ace in the copilot seat. The canopy closed fine with him in there.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/7049947853_dc366217ab.jpg

[HueyCobra AH-1]

^beat me to it!
But i took pics anyway. i did have a small problem with getting a figure in the front seat- there's a "hump in the area where the feet go and it takes a little effort but they can fit- but as you can see, they do all right.

I used the Wild Bill that came with my RoC D-Hawk and a Para-Viper (minus his gear he wore.)

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/558444_10150728650849653_805134652_9290520_1991080 169_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/532634_10150728650924653_805134652_9290521_3071770 57_n.jpg

[nighthawk]

Moderns fit really well.
Ace in the front seat of the Ghoststriker:
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1463.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1464.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1465.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1466.jpg

Ace in the back seat of the Ghoststriker:
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1467.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1468.jpg

One thing about the Ace that comes with the Ghoststriker is that I find the paint on his hair comes off very easily when the helmet it on. It seems the helmet is stickier than normal and it kinda melts onto his head if you leave it on too long. When you go to remove his helmet, a chunk of the red paint comes off. It's happened to all 3 of that Ace that I have had in the past.

[jogunwarrior]

I'll have to check my Ace for the receding hair. Also do you know if the Battle Copter Ace has the same issue?

[Shin Densetsu]

Wow I can't get 30th Ace into the front cockpit well. Gotta try 25th. Curiosity got the best of me and I got a Ghoststriker. Feels great to finally have one. It's a tank.

Really wish Cobrastickers.com made a set of stickers for it.

[DaveViper]

Wow I can't get 30th Ace into the front cockpit well. Gotta try 25th. Curiosity got the best of me and I got a Ghoststriker. Feels great to finally have one. It's a tank.

Really wish Cobrastickers.com made a set of stickers for it.

Congrats! Shin its a badass vehicle.

Hey Nighthawk what version of Ace is that in your pics?

[CG82]

Same problem with both this and the Cobra liquidator and GI JOE Storm Eagle, they were underscale and detail(neon colors included).

[nighthawk]

Hey Nighthawk what version of Ace is that in your pics?

It's an Ace I made using the comic pack one.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1771.jpg

I cut around the collar of the harness that connects to his astronaut helmet so the realistic BBI helmet and mask can fit nicer.

[Shin Densetsu]

Same problem with both this and the Cobra liquidator and GI JOE Storm Eagle, they were underscale and detail(neon colors included).

The Storm Eagle was worse in that regard. I do wish the Ghoststriker was slightly longer and had a wider wingspan though.

I do like how it scales to the Conquest and Sky Striker.

[jogunwarrior]

Yeah I don't think the ghost striker proportions are bad at all and especially not as bad as those tiny ATFs!

[DaveViper]

It's an Ace I made using the comic pack one.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l171/wing_woo/Joe%20Collection/Picture1771.jpg

I cut around the collar of the harness that connects to his astronaut helmet so the realistic BBI helmet and mask can fit nicer.

I like that helmet better then the one he comes with. Nice work.

[HueyCobra AH-1]

How can you say the Storm Eagle is "underscaled"? LOL.
And yep, it has its landing gear deployed. it is indeed that low to the ground.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/542882_10150741128594653_805134652_9345238_1018378 081_n.jpg

[89PILOT]

I'm a big Ghoststriker fan,I've got a few of them. I'd love to see someone with skill turn it into a single seater. Come on skilled people,you know you want to and the Ghoststriker wants you to aswell!!!

[CG82]

It is still underscale and nobody said it was Storm Eagle was same exact size as the Ghost Striker, however it is still noticeably off. The Ghost Striker is a bigger than the Storm Eagle also because its a two seater. I remember that toy being very puny compared to the Skystriker and Conquest when I had it many years ago. Anyway, most GI Joe vehicles are often off in scale one way or the other, some are just worse than others.

[HueyCobra AH-1]

i just can't believe that they made the SE in
'92, then bounced back and made the GhostStriker the follwing year.

i like the SE design, but in hand, it is indeed small and feels...well, like a Dollar Store bargin bin item.

The GhostStriker on the other hand is a brick that dreams to fly.

[Shin Densetsu]

i just can't believe that they made the SE in
'92, then bounced back and made the GhostStriker the follwing year.

i like the SE design, but in hand, it is indeed small and feels...well, like a Dollar Store bargin bin item.

The GhostStriker on the other hand is a brick that dreams to fly.

The Storm Eagle could've been THEE GI Joe jet for the 90's, but at minimum, it would've had to have been at least the size of the Skystriker(a YF-23 is larger than an F-14 Tomcat), whereas the Draken(which the Liquidator is based on) and F-16(which the Ghoststriker is based on), are substantially smaller.

The Skystriker in Resolute was a 2 seat YF23 with winglets, would've been great to see that as a new mold.

I have both the Ghoststriker and Thunderwing, and I like the Ghoststriker a lot more. Less chunky, less fat.

[Lifeline 71]

Gotta agree with you on the X-16, Shin. I have that and the Thunderwing, but I'd get rid of the F-22 in a heartbeat. And in terms of detail, the X-16 is superior to the original SkyStriker. I customized my X-16 with some dark grey paint on the body, as well as re-painting those orange missiles white and black.

[CG82]

The Desert Apache AH-74 suffered from being underscale too, and man that really loooked cool and was hard to get even back in the early 90's. That really couldve been the new Dragonfly.

[nighthawk]

The Desert Apache AH-74 suffered from being underscale too, and man that really loooked cool and was hard to get even back in the early 90's. That really couldve been the new Dragonfly.

I don't think it was ever available in Canada. I saw it for the first time at Fred Meyer's in the US and really really wanted it. It looked so cool on the box. I'm glad I didn't get it after I saw pics of the actual item. I have owned one though in the past and it really is underscaled. The figure's arms don't even fit in the canopy and sticks out the side.

[HueyCobra AH-1]

I customized my X-16 with some dark grey paint on the body, as well as re-painting those orange missiles white and black.

You knew someone had to ask...
PIC?

i'd like to see how that turned out.

and gawd, i wept when i saw the AH-74...

[Lifeline 71]

You knew someone had to ask...
PIC?

i'd like to see how that turned out.

and gawd, i wept when i saw the AH-74...

Maybe sometime in the future. I'd have to dig it out-it's packed away right now. I don't think I painted over all the stickers; I dit it years after I bought it and assembled it. But, basically, the fuselage aft of the cockpit is dark grey, like most F-16 pics I've seen. I also painted details in the cockpit based on a refernce book I have of aircrew survival systems/gear.

[jogunwarrior]

The Desert Apache AH-74 suffered from being underscale too, and man that really loooked cool and was hard to get even back in the early 90's. That really couldve been the new Dragonfly.

I think that was originally a toy from a completely different line that they shoehorned into the joe line. I saw one once in the store back when it was released and was going to get it till I realized there was now canopy other than the cage like thing. While the lack of plastic windows didn't typically bother me other vehicles like the Skyhawk, it killed any wanting of the Apache.

[Shin Densetsu]

I think that was originally a toy from a completely different line that they shoehorned into the joe line. I saw one once in the store back when it was released and was going to get it till I realized there was now canopy other than the cage like thing. While the lack of plastic windows didn't typically bother me other vehicles like the Skyhawk, it killed any wanting of the Apache.

It was a retooled release from the Flying Fighters line by Hasbro. Scale may have been 1/48(that was the primary scale for the line).

To be completely honest, the ROC Dragonhawk was so small yet Apache based, so it works better as a follow up to the Sonic Apache than it does as a Dragonfly upgrade. The Dragonfly imo still blows away the ROC Dragonhawk not just in size, but playability.

It's been a few days since I've put my Ghoststriker together. I dig it a lot, the proportions don't look too bad when looking from the top. The visibility for the aircrew is excellent.

Had it not been developed around its gimmick, and had removable detail panels instead, chances are it would've looked more realistic. My main issues with it are the neon colors and paper stickers. Though I suppose the neon adds charm to it since it from the end of the ARAH era where it didn't look too out of place.

[firefox91]

It's been a few days since I've put my Ghoststriker together. I dig it a lot, the proportions don't look too bad when looking from the top. The visibility for the aircrew is excellent.

Had it not been developed around its gimmick, and had removable detail panels instead, chances are it would've looked more realistic. My main issues with it are the neon colors and paper stickers. Though I suppose the neon adds charm to it since it from the end of the ARAH era where it didn't look too out of place.

I just got one in from ebay today. This assesment is spot on. Overall i like it more than i thought i would. I got a deal on mine. The seller said shipping would be $25 so people bid lower. After I won, he charged me only $13. It was loose and assembled but dead mint. Stickers perfect.

So i had to put batteries in and test it out. I started having flashbacks as i heard the terrible 90s electronics. I do dig the gijoe logo molded in the body, just a neat feature.

Originally i said i would strip the paper stickers and redo it with leftover skystriker stickers. But it is so mint, i dont know if i still want to do that. Have to think about it.

[HueyCobra AH-1]

the stickers aren't that bad.
sometimes i want a flashier deco (tail insignia, etc) to make it stand out more.

[firefox91]

the stickers aren't that bad.
sometimes i want a flashier deco (tail insignia, etc) to make it stand out more.

Actually, the tail fin stickers were the one thing I knew I would keep for sure. I like the Ghoststrikers logo.

[cobralegion]

Finally got a Ghoststriker off ebay last month and love it! I agree not having the sound and lights gimmick would have been nice but still one of the few Joe items form the 90s that looks like an actual military piece. Its 4th behind the Mudbuster, Armor-Bot and Monster Blaster APC for 90s vehicles.

[HueyCobra AH-1]

thanks for that comparison pic with the Skystriker.
looks like a good team!

[cobralegion]

thanks for that comparison pic with the Skystriker.
looks like a good team!

NP and yeah they are a good team! Just need to add an original Conquest now.

[Shin Densetsu]

I just got one in from ebay today. This assesment is spot on. Overall i like it more than i thought i would. I got a deal on mine. The seller said shipping would be $25 so people bid lower. After I won, he charged me only $13. It was loose and assembled but dead mint. Stickers perfect.

So i had to put batteries in and test it out. I started having flashbacks as i heard the terrible 90s electronics. I do dig the gijoe logo molded in the body, just a neat feature.

Originally i said i would strip the paper stickers and redo it with leftover skystriker stickers. But it is so mint, i dont know if i still want to do that. Have to think about it.

I was going to use repro stickers but couldn't help but use the stock stickers. I still hate that they're paper stickers. If cobrastickers.com ever makes a set for this, I'm stripping all those paper ones off mine and replacing them.

I got mine MISB this month and tore that sucker open. Nothing, NOTHING replaces the feeling of opening a toy that has never been opened before, especially since it was something I always regretted passing on back in the day. I panel lined mine to bring out more detail.

It's a solid chunk of GI Joe history and imo the best Battle Corps vehicle. Unique missle launcher design too, very impressive.