Zuludelta's GI Joe-related art

[zuludelta]

Hey all, long-time lurker, first-time poster. Thought I'd display some of my GI Joe-related work here:

A couple of mouse-drawn pics (this was from around 3 years ago, before I saved up enough to buy a decent tablet):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/snakeeyes02copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/stormshadowcopy-1.jpg

Some photomanipulation work, mostly to serve as concept art for some planned custom figures that are based on my idea of a "more realistic" (or at least more adherent to current military uniforms and equipment) GI Joe team (most of the original photos were taken from various action figure hobby sites and online stores):

Duke concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/duke.jpg

Snake-Eyes concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/snakeeyes.jpg

All manner of comments welcome!

[zuludelta]

Some more photomanipulation work:

Scarlett concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/scarlett.jpg

Beach Head concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/beachhead.jpg

Gung-Ho concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/gungho.jpg

Stalker concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/stalker.jpg

[zuludelta]

and 4 more photoshopped images:

Flint concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/flint.jpg

Lady Jaye concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/ladyjaye.jpg

Roadblock concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/roadblock.jpg

Torpedo concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/torpedo.jpg

[MLos1]

Interesting. These would make great designs for the actual movie pre-production character development phase.

[zuludelta]

And a couple more to round out today's bulk posting:

Snow-Job concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/snowjob.jpg

Alpine concept image:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/alpine.jpg

[zuludelta]

Interesting. These would make great designs for the actual movie pre-production character development phase.

Thanks.

I've seen the stills and the trailer for the upcoming film... I honestly don't know how to feel about it all. Part of me is pretty annoyed at the design choices (FN F2000s as the standard assault rifle? Accelerator Suits? A Snake-Eyes costume reminiscent of Batman & Robin's be-nippled rubber suit abomination?) but there's also a part of me (the eternal 10 year old part) that's thrilled that we're finally getting a live-action GI Joe film... I remember when talk of a live-action Joe film first surfaced back in the mid-1980s... Larry Hama was talking about the possibility of casting Louis Gossett Jr. (who's probably in his late 60s or early 70s by now) as Roadblock. Man that was a long time ago.

[zuludelta]

A couple more photoshopped custom figure concept designs:

Tunnel Rat
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/tunnelrat-1.jpg

notes: Decided to update his look a bit and go with more realistic/reasonable gear. He's got an EOD chest rig (it's basically a standard military chest harness that has a small fold-down work platform that also hides a tool compartment), an M14 Stand-Off Munitions Disruptor (basically a fancy name for a standard M14 rifle fitted with a scope, used by Army and USMC EODs and Combat Engineers to blow up unexploded ordnance, anti-personnel mines, and IEDs), and a stripped down bomb-suit. Of course, I used a pic of a young-ish Larry Hama for his face.

Rock & Roll
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/rocknroll.jpg

notes: Since I'd already designed Roadblock as a "light/medium" machine gunner (armed with an M60E4/MK 43 Mod 1), I figured it should logically follow that my Rock & Roll design would go down one level in terms of weapon weight, so here I've re-imagined him as a SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) Gunner.

[Bamphalas]

Glad you started posting, Zulu. Long time no see.

[Sho Nuff]

Some very cool ideas.

[Troynos]

Nice work on the images. My one complaint is that they have way too much gear on, they all look overloaded (especially Stalker).

[zuludelta]

Glad you started posting, Zulu. Long time no see.
Hey! Haven't seen you around FR in a while. Strangely enough, the old movie-inspired pic-bashes you posted over there pretty much gave me the idea to take this route when coming up with prospective designs for customs.

Some very cool ideas
Thanks!

Nice work on the images. My one complaint is that they have way too much gear on, they all look overloaded (especially Stalker).

Hmmm... I see what you mean. It's probably because of most of their gear being frontloaded on chest and belly harnesses. It's a trick SOCOM operators picked up from the Viet Cong and the Viet Minh (it's a lot handier to have all your essential gear within sight and arm's reach). You're right in that I probably overdid it with Stalker, though. Now that I look at it, throwing on the keffiyeh on top of everything else makes the image look over-busy.

[twatson4_95]

I like 'em. Let's see Law & Order, or Mutt & Junkyard. Maybe Shipwreck, an updated Cutter would look cool. But the best would be Blowtorch!

[zuludelta]

I like 'em. Let's see Law & Order, or Mutt & Junkyard. Maybe Shipwreck, an updated Cutter would look cool. But the best would be Blowtorch!

Thanks!

I've already got Mutt & Junkyard and Shipwreck in the works. Hopefully, I can post some images of a couple of actual custom figures I helped design and work on later this week (Chuckles and Mercer will be coming back from sculpt and paint this weekend).

Blowtorch is going to be interesting... The US military hasn't used anti-personnel flamethrowers in almost 3 decades (not officially, at least), so it's going to be a challenge imagining a modern and realistic combat role/design involving open flame. It's a lot harder, than say, imagining a more realistic "laser trooper"... I've already got Flash and Sci-Fi worked out as COLT (Combat Observation & Lasing Team) (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/6-20-50/Appj.htm) members, basically forward observers specially trained to use laser designators and rangefinders in combat conditions.

[zuludelta]

Some new images:

updated Stalker, taking into account Troynos comments:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/stalker-1.jpg

Mainframe:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/mainframe.jpg

Chuckles:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/chuckles-1.jpg
(I don't usually link to the source images I use for 'bashing photos since it ruins the illusion of seamlessness, but I'm particularly pleased with how the airbrushing on Chuckles came out... so here's the original image (http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NMMZ19872) I based the 'bash on)

[thunderdan19]

I like the concepts a lot. They are very creative and a pretty accurate representation of the modern equivalents of the Joes. Only recommendations I would make would be to make sure to match the correct camo types to their country of origin. You had Stalker in some Brit camo in the first concept.

Maybe also, since you are moving Joe into the 21st century, hit up Gung Ho with some Marine woodland marpat and some of the army Joes with the new ACU camo patterns. Maybe some white covers for some of Snow Job's gear. He's gonna stick out in the snow a bit with his current concept wear.

Overall though I love the direction you're going. Keep the great concepts coming!

[zuludelta]

I like the concepts a lot. They are very creative and a pretty accurate representation of the modern equivalents of the Joes. Only recommendations I would make would be to make sure to match the correct camo types to their country of origin. You had Stalker in some Brit camo in the first concept.

Maybe also, since you are moving Joe into the 21st century, hit up Gung Ho with some Marine woodland marpat and some of the army Joes with the new ACU camo patterns. Maybe some white covers for some of Snow Job's gear. He's gonna stick out in the snow a bit with his current concept wear.

Overall though I love the direction you're going. Keep the great concepts coming!

Thanks for the suggestions, really appreciate them.

Originally, I wanted to outfit all the Army Joes in ACU patterned clothing and the Marines in MARPAT, but I've had a devil of a time looking for the appropriate base pictures. I guess it's probably because those patterns are fairly new, and there aren't as many pics of them circulating as 1980s and 1990s style BDUs. I'll definitely update the pics as I come across better source images. Thanks again for the comments.

[zuludelta]

Well, it took a bit of google-fu, but I finally found some decent marpat images that line up with my original Gung-Ho pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/gungho-1.jpg
Thanks again to thunderdan19 for the suggestion.

And here's Quick-Kick:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/quickkick.jpg
notes: A sentimental favourite of mine, Quick-Kick was my first ever GI Joe figure. I got him when I was 8, I think. As much as I dig the figure for nostalgia reasons though, I can't escape the notion that he just looks horribly goofy and dated compared to his brethren (http://www.yojoe.com/action/85/quickkick.shtml) (and that's saying something, seeing as how by 1985, the Joes were well on their way to becoming the Village People (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_People)).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/village_people_1.jpg
G.I. Joe team, circa 1985

Anyway, I pretty much ditched everything from the original figure design but stuck him with some unzipped-cuff flight suit pants (to at least give off a similar aesthetic to his original gi pants). Kept the hachimaki ("under-helmet" samurai headband) just so he retains a link to his 1980s self. Added an MP5 submachine gun and some fast rope harnessing and Quick-Kick is now transformed from shameless Karate Kid cash-in to the team's premiere close-quarter combat specialist.

Also, I want to take this opportunity to air my disappointment over the DVD pack Quick-Kick figure. I've waited 22 years for a new Quick-Kick figure and when we finally get one, he can't even hold his freaking nunchucks properly. Ironically, he's missing the much vaunted "GI Joe Kung-Fu Grip" in his left hand. And those horrible nunchucks... they're more erect than nunchucks were ever meant to be. And to top it all off, my Quick-Kick came with two left upper arms(!). I can't even swap them around the same way I did when I got a Gung-Ho that had the left and right upper arms switched. My inner 8-year old broke down and cried after seeing that plastic abortion (upon which my outer 30 year old slapped my inner 8 year old and told him to man up). Damn you Hasbro. All I want is a decent plastic toy that will allow me to continue re-living my childhood, even as it becomes increasingly uncomfortable for friends and family to see a grown man spend a small fortune on acquiring little plastic people. Is that too much to ask?

[Joe Hunter]

impressive!!!...left me speechless

[zuludelta]

Thanks Joe Hunter. I've got more photoshop work displayed in this thread (http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-general-discussion/23636-what-secrets-lurk-filecards-438.html#post645324) (I'll be posting most of my future photoshop images to that thread, since it seems to be more appropriate, while I'll jsut use this thread to post more traditionally drawn images and/or photoshop images not related to pre-existing Joes).

[zuludelta]

I was going to let this thread die a quiet death but fellow tanker Spigou encouraged me to post some of my designs in this thread (so blame him for bumping down all the other art threads :D). Anyway, here's a collection of all the recent GI Joe re-designs I've made so far (I apologize for any repeats):

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10200-airtight.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9730-bazooka.jpg

Airtight, Bazooka

notes: I swapped Bazooka's original jersey colours (red and blue) for crimson and gold (the official team colours of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team).

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10201-budo.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10202-chuckles.jpg

Budo, Chuckles

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9741-leatherneck.jpg [http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10204-mainframe.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10205-mutt.jpg

Leatherneck, Mainframe, Mutt

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10206-roadblock.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10207-rock-n-roll.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10209-shipwreck.jpg

Roadblock, Rock 'n' Roll, Shipwreck

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10210-snow-job.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10211-stalker.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10213-tunnel-rat.jpg

Snow-Job, Tunnel Rat

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9834-cover-girl.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9835-jinx.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9836-lady-jaye.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10208-scarlett.jpg

Cover Girl, Jinx, Lady Jaye, Scarlett

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9885-zap.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9886-outback.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10203-gung-ho.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10053-mercer.jpg

Zap, Outback, Gung-Ho, Mercer

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10055-snake-eyes.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10051-ripcord.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9888-dusty.jpg

Snake-Eyes, Ripcord, Dusty

[Badgumbo]

You know...I would have been completely satisfied with the look of the movie had they gone in a direction similar to this. These are some really sweet looking designs and you have incorporated a real world look with elements from the original characters...Really cool.

[zuludelta]

Thanks badgumbo!

[zuludelta]

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10212-wild-bill.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10216-quick-kick.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture9731-beachhead.jpg

Wild-Bill, Quick-Kick, Beach Head

[meleeinabox]

Very cool... I like that you have Snow Job in a non-white uniform like it is his alt uniform for situations that don't call for white camo... I also like your Snow Job in his normal winter fatigues... great job as always

[Spigou]

That's one bad-ass Mercer concept, Zulu. Tunnel Rat RULES!

[VIPER 48]

I like that Snowjob...Welcome to the tank Zulu...

[zuludelta]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I wasn't too happy with how some of those came out, so I ended up changing them:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10081-alpine.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10082-blizzard.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10083-iceberg.jpg

Alpine, Blizzard, Iceberg

notes: This is probably the 4th or 5th Iceberg I've done. In the end, I just ended up putting the head (I don't even remember where I cobbled it from now) on an image of a McFarlane toys "ranger in arctic gear" statue. It was either that or pasting it on a killer whale body and calling it a "cartoon-inspired homage" :D.

I used actor Peter Weller's head for Blizzard... as a kid, for some reason, I always used my Blizzard toy as a stand-in for "Officer Alex J. Murphy" prior to getting himself all maimed and shot up. Of course, he would always come back as Robocop (ably played by my 1986 Sci-Fi toy... somebody out there tell me i'm not the only one who used Sci-Fi as Robocop).

[zuludelta]

New stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10117-barbecue.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10118-spirit.jpg

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10119-frostbite.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10197-shockwave.jpg

Barbecue, Spirit, Frostbite, Shockwave

Notes:

- I could never figure out why the Joe team would need a firefighter, so I've redesigned Barbecue as a Navy Damage Controlman cross-trained as a VBSS team sweeper/tactical breacher.
- Tried to make Spirit look less like an ethnic stereotype with an updated uniform/costume, although I did keep the long hair.
- It's no accident that Shockwave, Barbecue, and Budo (posted on the previous page) all have the same basic uniform... I imagine that they serve on the same "team" (I think of them as CQB/SWAT style guys)

[zuludelta]

And here's Breaker:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10198-breaker.jpg

[Spigou]

nice Barbecue

[zuludelta]

Thanks!

[jignacio_2k]

Thats pretty cool how you incorporated 1:1, 1/6 even joe size..
You a 1/6 collector as well?

[angrypandaink]

Dude use my head or my wife as the Baroness!!!!

LOL

[SnakeMoe]

Nice work can you do Shippy in Classic form in Navy Blues, or Cutter. Plus Bazooka was looking like Traker but awesome work.

[zuludelta]

Nice work can you do Shippy in Classic form in Navy Blues, or Cutter. Plus Bazooka was looking like Traker but awesome work.

I don't know if I'll ever do Shipwreck in his "sailor outfit." The whole idea of my doing these images is to recreate the Joe designs in a more contemporary and realistic fashion, and Shipwreck, being a Chief Petty Officer, isn't supposed to wear the "crackerjack" uniform.

I'll definitely make Cutter eventually, but I'm still researching images and references for how he could conceivably be outfitted in the real world.

Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate the feedback.

[zuludelta]

New images:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10302-dusty.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10304-steeler.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10267-short-fuze.jpg
Dusty, Steeler, Short-Fuze

Dusty was just a tweak of the old Dusty image I posted previously, but the filecard is pretty much the same. Steeler has been redesigned as a Fire Support Officer to make him more useful in a light infantry/special operations/direct action context (the original filecard listed Artillery as his secondary specialty, which makes it plausible for him to be a Fire Support Officer) and the funky visor he had originally has been "translated" into a monocular NVG/tactical goggle/headlamp combo. Short-Fuze is pretty much the same as the original, updated with ACU camo and an M224 mortar in carry configuration (with the much lighter limited traverse square baseplate instead of the heavier, circular full-traverse one).

[zuludelta]

Thats pretty cool how you incorporated 1:1, 1/6 even joe size..
You a 1/6 collector as well?

Thanks! I like looking at 1:6 scale figures, but they're not really my thing as far as collecting goes. I'm a 1:18 guy through and through when it comes to the toys.

Dude use my head or my wife as the Baroness!!!!

LOL

I don't think I've had anybody tell me to "use his head" before :D

[zuludelta]

New stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10244-hardball.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10324-tripwire.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10325-dial-tone.jpg
Hardball, Tripwire, Dial-Tone

Notes:

- Hardball was re-designed as a Marine (the USMC is the primary user of the multi-shot grenade launcher), and I gave him a Syracuse Chiefs baseball jersey to tie in with his original filecard... according to which he used to play in the minor leagues, and he is from Cooperstown in New York state, so I just picked the closest AAA team in the area and looked up their jersey design.

- Dial-Tone has been repurposed as an Air Force Tactical Air Command and Control Specialist/JTAC. In my mind, it gives more contextual depth to his being with a unit like GI Joe, and it also gives him a reason for the black beret (Air Force TACC Specialists were wearing black berets long before the Army adopted them). Also ties in neatly with the bit in his original filecard about him calling in airstrikes and such.

[Spigou]

Dusty's perfect. Nice work on Dial-Tone.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comments. I'm pleased with how Dusty eventually turned out as well.

Some new stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10417-muskrat.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10418-mainframe.jpg
Muskrat & Mainframe

notes: I've redesigned Muskrat as a Marine (hence the MARPAT camo pattern)... I always thought it would make more sense for him to be one given his look (the boonie hat in particular) and his specialty, and the Joes sorely need some more branch diversity.

[cobrabat]

I like them although some are overloaded as mentioned but there pretty good.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comments cobrabat, really appreciate you taking the time to post your thoughts regarding my work.

[zuludelta]

Some new stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10705-torpedo.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10820-deep-six-re-designed-navy-eod-specialist.jpg

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10819-quick-kick.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-cobra-re-imagined-picture10999-storm-shadow.jpg

Torpedo, Deep Six, Quick-Kick, and Storm-Shadow

Notes:

- I redesigned Deep Six as a Navy EOD Technician/EOD Diver. It was one way I could keep the bulky look of the original toy, while making him look more contemporary and still fit in with my idea of the GI Joe team as direct action unit. Obviously, he's now wearing a bomb disposal suit instead of the metal abomination he used to flail around in.

- This is probably the 5th or 6th Quick-Kick that I've made, and the first one that I'm mostly satisfied with. Swapped the Japanese flag hachimaki for one with the Ryukyu mitsudomoe instead (I don't think an American military unit, no matter how lax their grooming and uniform standards are, would take too kindly to one of their soldiers displaying the heraldry of another nation, even if it's from an ally like Japan)

[Dreadnoks-R-Go]

Very, very cool Zulu! You've got skills!! Any plans on doing Cobra? I bet the Dreadnoks would be a fun challenge...eh?! Keep up the great work!

[SnakeMoe]

Some new stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10705-torpedo.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10820-deep-six-re-designed-navy-eod-specialist.jpg

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture10819-quick-kick.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-cobra-re-imagined-picture10827-storm-shadow.jpg

Torpedo, Deep Six, Quick-Kick, and Storm-Shadow

Notes:

- I redesigned Deep Six as a Navy EOD Technician/EOD Diver. It was one way I could keep the bulky look of the original toy, while making him look more contemporary and still fit in with my idea of the GI Joe team as direct action unit. Obviously, he's now wearing a bomb disposal suit instead of the metal abomination who used to flail around in.

- This is probably the 5th or 6th Quick-Kick that I've made, and the first one that I'm mostly satisfied with. Swapped the Japanese flag hachimaki for one with the Ryukyu mitsudomoe instead (I don't think an American military unit, no matter how lax their grooming and uniform standards are, would take too kindly to one of their soldiers displaying the heraldry of another nation, even if it's from an ally like Japan)


Yah the deep six I'm really not felling the EOD look. Now is there a Deep sea suit with the box helmet that look more real to me but still great work.

[zuludelta]

Very, very cool Zulu! You've got skills!! Any plans on doing Cobra? I bet the Dreadnoks would be a fun challenge...eh?! Keep up the great work!

Thanks!

I'm planning on doing Cobra eventually, and the Dreadnoks especially. Zartan and Buzzer are two of my favourite villains in any medium. Oh and the Storm-Shadow image on the previous page is my take on the "Cobra Storm-Shadow" (never really liked him as a good guy... I always prefered him in the role of the "reluctant villain").

Yah the deep six I'm really not felling the EOD look. Now is there a Deep sea suit with the box helmet that look more real to me but still great work.

I can understand you not digging the EOD look for Deep-Six (it's a bit of a drastic departure from the original), but for me, I've always been more interested in the demolitions expert aspect of the character (Hama re-wrote his filecard in 1989 to include demolitions/explosives expertise) than the whole deep-sea diver thing (which I've always considered superfluous on a team like GI Joe).

[Master Thespian]

zuludelta, I just wanted to stop in and say what a phenomenal job you're doing here. I've always been a fan of a more realistic bent on the Joes, so these designs are right up my alley. I've got some customs I'll be doing and I think I'm going to be cribbing a lot of ideas from you.

Fantastic work.

EDIT: I'd love to see your take on Hawk, Recondo, Low Light, Lifeline, Wet Suit and Doc.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comments Master Thespian. I'll eventually get to the guys you listed, jsut waiting on the right inspiration to strike me.

[Spigou]

Quick-Kick is perfect! How about an SS variant with a white face plate/mask?

[zuludelta]

Thanks! I'll probably make more than a couple of Storm-Shadow variants.

[zuludelta]

New stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-cobra-re-imagined-picture10999-storm-shadow.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-cobra-re-imagined-picture11109-zartan.jpg

notes: updated Storm-Shadow a bit (just fixed the colour balance). Zartan is pretty much an amalgamation of most of his major incarnations... he's got the composite bow as a nod to his comic book appearances, and the decision to arm him with a VSS Vintorez integrally silenced sniper rifle was influenced by the design of the 25th Anniversary Zartan figure. Of course, this being a more "realistic" take on the character, I changed his hood (or whatever it's supposed to be in the cartoon/comic book) into a military-style poncho, similar to what might be worn by a sniper or a marksman out on patrol. Also, the Alice Cooper/Blackie Lawless make-up was replaced with eyeblack (used by athletes and outdoorsmen to reduce glare).

[zuludelta]

And here's Zarana and Zandar:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-cobra-re-imagined-picture11111-zarana.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-cobra-re-imagined-picture11206-zandar.jpg

[tile_mcgillus]

Completely new to this thread. I just wanted to say how much I enjoy these. I think these concepts are fantastic. You really prove to me how easy it is to make the gi joe characters believable in a real military setting. Honestly the majority of the Joes you have posted feel like a cohesive unit but have their individual character defining features.

Really, it just goes to show how oddly ridiculous the movie costumes are...

[zuludelta]

Thanks tile, glad you like the images. If you're digging the concepts, you might want to check out the "What secrets lurk in the filecards?" thread over in the GI Joe General Discussion sub-forum, where I post the filecards I've written to go with the images I display here. I just might post links to the filecards in one post here, though, just for convenience's sake (although I wouldn't want this thread to become redundant).

[Spigou]

Really, it just goes to show how oddly ridiculous the movie costumes are...

TRUE DAT! It's like from ARMY RANGERS to POWER RANGERS.

[Spigou]

YO ZULU! Zartan and the siblings are perfect! The green on the sniper scope echoes the classic Zartan peepers :)
Thanks for teaming up with me in updating our NO-VISOR SNAKE EYES (http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-customs/39078-snake-eyes-zuludelta-spigou.html#post697250) Custom pics. The new photos are definitely more dynamic. Lighter gear = better poses :)

[zuludelta]

Thanks!

For those of you who want to see/read more into some of the design changes, here's a list of links to the filecards I've made to go with all of the pictures I've been showing so far (these pics and the filecards are part of a massive GI Joe reference bible personal project):

Airborne (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_airborne.jpg)
Airtight (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_airtight.jpg)
Alpine (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_alpine-1.jpg)
Barbecue (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_barbecue.jpg)
Bazooka (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_bazooka.jpg)
Beach-Head (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_beachhead-1.jpg)
Blowtorch (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_blowtorch.jpg)
Breaker (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_breaker.jpg)
Budo (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_budo-1.jpg)
Cover Girl (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_cover_girl.jpg)
Chuckles (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_chuckles-1.jpg)
Deep-Six (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_deepsix.jpg)
Dial-Tone (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_dialtone.jpg)
Duke (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_duke.jpg)
Dusty (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_dusty.jpg)
Flint (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_flint-3.jpg)
Frostbite (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_frostbite.jpg)
Gung-Ho (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_gungho.jpg)
Hardball (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_hardball.jpg)
Hawk (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_hawk.jpg)
Iceberg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_iceberg.jpg)
Jinx (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_jinx.jpg)
Lady Jaye (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_lady_jaye.jpg)
Leatherneck (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_leatherneck-1.jpg)
Mainframe (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_mainframe-1.jpg)
Mercer (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_mercer.jpg)
Muskrat (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_muskrat.jpg)
Mutt (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_mutt.jpg)
Outback (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_outback-1.jpg)
Quick-Kick (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_quickkick-1.jpg)
Ripcord (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_ripcord.jpg)
Roadblock (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_roadblock.jpg)
Rock 'n' Roll (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_rocknroll.jpg)
Scarlett (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_scarlett.jpg)
Shipwreck (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_shipwreck.jpg)
Shockwave (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_shockwave.jpg)
Short-Fuze (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_shortfuze.jpg)
Snake-Eyes (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_snakeeyes-1.jpg)
Snow-Job (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_snowjob.jpg)
Spirit (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_spirit.jpg)
Stalker (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_stalker.jpg)
Steeler (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_steeler.jpg)
Storm-Shadow (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/filecard_stormshadow.jpg)
Torpedo (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_torpedo.jpg)
Tripwire (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_tripwire.jpg)
Tunnel Rat (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_tunnelrat.jpg)
Wild Bill (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_wildbill.jpg)
Zandar (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_zandar-2.jpg)
Zap (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_zap.jpg)
Zarana (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_zarana.jpg)
Zartan (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/dltesterzfd/file_card_zartan.jpg)

[zuludelta]

An updated take on Snake-Eyes, heavily inspired by his original costume:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11304-snake-eyes-v1.jpg

[Spigou]

Dang! Great job, Zulu. Looks like another SE is in the works :)

[monkeywrench1988]

I love Zarana, Bazooka, and Zartan

[zuludelta]

Thanks guys!

[zuludelta]

Updated images of Flint and Stalker:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11418-flint.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11374-stalker.jpg

[zuludelta]

New images of Hawk, Airborne, and Blowtorch:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11373-hawk.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11390-airborne.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11419-blowtorch.jpg

I've also added their filecards to the list here (http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-fan-art/34444-zuludeltas-gi-joe-related-art-7.html#post713465)

[Spigou]

Awesome Hawk, Zulu! Nice direction on him - minimal yet heavily iconic. He looks like Robert Redford - I think he'd play that character well.
Nice "rusty" hair color - sort of a play on "is he blond or brunette?"
Blowtorch rocks! I might list him down as one of our custom projects. Feels like it could be a fun one.

[Master Thespian]

Continuing the awesomesauce. I really like how you take a lot of the Joe characters I'm not a fan of (Budo, Hardball, Blowtorch, etc.) and make them have a concrete and believable purpose with your excellently researched filecards. It's nice to see you beef up the Air Force and Marine Corps ranks as well.

Oh, and much <3 for making Hawk a COL and Stalker a 1SG. Nice work.

One question: What's ISR stand for?

[jgasbo1]

Awesome work - I really enjoyed these.

[zuludelta]

Blowtorch rocks! I might list him down as one of our custom projects. Feels like it could be a fun one.

Blowtorch's re-design as an armorer/steelworker/master welder was really an afterthought... I couldn't think of a reason for the team to have a flamethrower specialist (flamethrowers have been more or less banned in combat since the early 1980s... using them against people, even enemy soldiers, is probably sufficient grounds for a war crimes charge to be leveled against a soldier). But I'm glad with how he turned out.

Continuing the awesomesauce. I really like how you take a lot of the Joe characters I'm not a fan of (Budo, Hardball, Blowtorch, etc.) and make them have a concrete and believable purpose with your excellently researched filecards. It's nice to see you beef up the Air Force and Marine Corps ranks as well.

Glad you appreciate the research that goes into the filecards. I'm actually overhauling the rank system later this week... up til now, I've been trying to fit the GI Joe concept (and the 1982-1988 characters... the only ones I'm really interested in recreating) into a company-sized unit, but there's really no way to make a team with its own organic aircraft assets plausible and still keep it company-sized (~ 250 personnel). I'm bumping up the team's structure to be more akin to a small battalion (~ 300 to 500 personnel) to accomodate the aviation assets (I'll post the command structure diagrams later, when I'm finally satisfied with them). That means that I'll probably have to bump up Duke from a First Sergeant to Sergeant Major, just so he'll have the authority to hold overall jurisdiction over the enlisted personnel of three company-sized units... the headquarters element, the ground combat element (comprised of a main direct action platoon and a covering platoon) and the aviation element.

One question: What's ISR stand for?

ISR is another one of those obscure and obtuse acronyms the US Department of Defense seems to be so fond of. It stands for Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance. I've actually decided to discard the idea of a dedicated ISR element altogether. A company or battalion-sized unit can't really afford to have direct action/light infantry troops re-purposed solely for ISR actions. Instead, I'll be taking the non-combatant intelligence assets and moving them to the headquarter/command element and I'll be re-designating the special reconnaissance combatants as a more utilitarian "covering force."

Here's the official DoD/NATO definition, in case you're wondering what a "covering force" does:

"1. A force operating apart from the main force for the purpose of intercepting, engaging, delaying, disorganizing, and deceiving the enemy before he can attack the force covered. 2. Any body or detachment of troops which provides security for a larger force by observation, reconnaissance, attack, or defense, or by any combination of these methods."

The way I'm thinking about it... the main force would primarily consist of Ranger-qualified Army personnel, while the smaller covering force would be where your SEALs, Reconnaissance Marines, and Army Special Forces guys go.

Awesome work - I really enjoyed these.

Glad you liked them. Thanks for commenting :)

[Master Thespian]

When you get done with this, I'd love to see some kind of organizational chart from you, ZD.

[zuludelta]

I've got about 120 pages of assorted articles, filecards, images, diagrams, and vehicle blueprints all heavily-researched (and as far as I know, all based on unclassified DoD material meant for the public) and in various stages of completion revolving around my idea of a "reality-based" GI Joe team. My plan is to eventually compile everything into a handy PDF document when I'm done, and I don't know, maybe contribute it as a fan resource or something (maybe it'll catch the attention of some guys over at IDW comics or Hasbro... hint hint, Human Resources guys/gals reading this :D).

[cobrabat]

WOW thats freaking awesome!

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comment cobrabat :)

[DoubleS]

LOVE the snow job, you added a personality to him. I have to ask if he was one of you favorites. I like your takes on all of them.

(NOT BASHING...I SWEAR!) Tunnel Rat looks great but missing that little flair, I don't know. Maybe more New York vibe to him. East coast folks just have this vibe. I know as an artist you understand what I mean by understanding your concepts.

Flint and Lady Jay look the part PERFECTLY. If I didn't know better you created my dad's old army buddies. You really got concept of them of not people but solders, and that works for them.

Scarlet is just gorgeous, like she should be. Scarlet I don't think ever knew just how pretty she was, which was ironic because of her outfit. You captured that. Almost like her was getting on her nerves so she pulled it back so she could shoot.

Great job man!

(Sorry if you felt like I was bashing or picking, I met NO HARM)

[zuludelta]

LOVE the snow job, you added a personality to him. I have to ask if he was one of you favorites.

Well, he's not explicitly a favourite, but the Devlin Winchell-Borovia storyline starring Outback, Snow Job, Quick-Kick, and Stalker is my favourite comic book storyline.

(NOT BASHING...I SWEAR!) Tunnel Rat looks great but missing that little flair, I don't know. Maybe more New York vibe to him. East coast folks just have this vibe. I know as an artist you understand what I mean by understanding your concepts

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts DoubleS, I really appreciate it when people give feedback, negative and positive, as it can only help expand my perspective on what I may be doing right and wrong with the images.

[zuludelta]

Here's my take on Lifeline, and updates to Zap, Hawk:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11613-lifeline.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11654-zap.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11638-hawk.jpg

[Spigou]

Zulu Dude - Very good call on using the green "commando" sweaters when it comes to the original joes :) It's very classic JOE yet believable. Props on that.

[zuludelta]

Thanks.

Here are some more updated images:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11755-steeler.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11754-short-fuze.jpg

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11752-mainframe.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11753-rock-n-roll.jpg
Steeler, Short-Fuze, Mainframe, Rock 'n' Roll

[zuludelta]

More updated images:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11809-budo.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11871-tunnel-rat.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11872-airtight.jpg

Budo, Tunnel Rat, Airtight

[zuludelta]

New stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12156-doc.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12334-chuckles.jpg

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12060-recondo.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture11969-topside.jpg

Doc, Chuckles, Recondo, Topside

notes: The Topside image was done as a request. For the face, I used pictures supplied by HISS Tank member Topside (http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/topside.html) of his own manly mug.

[zuludelta]

My take on three of the lesser known members of the "original 13":


http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12454-zap.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12494-flash.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12495-grand-slam.jpg

Zap, Flash, Grand Slam

[Dominic Marco]

Man, those are amazing :D And I prefer your Snake Eyes design to the movie version...well, I prefer all of yours to the movie.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for taking the time to post your comments, I really appreciate them.

[zuludelta]

New Stuff:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12643-clutch.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12588-keel-haul.jpg

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12562-cutter.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-picture12637-lift-ticket.jpg


Clutch, Keel Haul, Cutter, Lift-Ticket

[SnakeMoe]

awesome

[zuludelta]

thanks!

[Wry1]

Even though Budos left arm is all....weird, I'm really diggin that design. Not sure what it is, maybe just the simplicity, enough gear to do the job but not enough to weigh him down too much.

[zuludelta]

Thanks for the comments Wry1.

Here's a quick doodle of Raptor... I was trying to come up with a way to make him look menacing instead of, you know, stupid:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-miscellaneous-gi-joe-related-images-picture12654-raptor-concept-art.jpg

I don't think it's possible to translate that menace into a "realistic" digitally airbrushed image though. A grown man in a bird suit just looks ridiculous (to me, at least) any way you cut it.

[zuludelta]

Four pilots:

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-set-2-picture12711-ace.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-set-2-picture12708-ghostrider.jpg

http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-set-2-picture12710-slipstream.jpg http://www.hisstank.com/forum/members/zuludelta-albums-gi-joe-re-imagined-set-2-picture12709-payload.jpg
Ace, Ghostrider, Slipstream, Payload

Design notes:

- Ace's head/face is based on a headshot of Jason Gedrick, star of the 1980s jet fighter action film Iron Eagle, which had the misfortune of being released in the same year as the massively successful Top Gun starring Tom Cruise. I actually prefer Iron Eagle to Top Gun (although I'd rather not re-watch either film to be honest... I can think of better things to waste ~2 hours of my life on), just because it's got 100% more Louis Gossett, Jr., 100% less Tom Cruise, and maybe 50% less homoerotic subtext disguised as "alpha dog" macho posturing (ha ha... not that there's anything wrong with that).

- Here's a list of the barely visible right shoulder unit patches on Ace's, Slipstream's, and Payload's flight suits:

Ace -- 7th Special Operations Squadron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_Special_Operations_Squadron)
Slipstream -- 18th Flight Test Squadron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Flight_Test_Squadron) (gives me an excuse to outfit him in a g-suit despite being a special operations pilot... the 18th FTS is the Air Force Special Operations Command's primary tactics development unit so its conceivable that their pilots might occasionally wear g-suits during the course of their duties)
Payload -- 15th Special Operations Squadron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Special_Operations_Squadron)

[Spigou]

Slipstream rocks! That's him alright. Great job on Golf Romeo's helmet :)
How bout goin Alice Cooper on Raptor? Bird + Rock Star? Feather Boa + Evil Accountant? lol

[zuludelta]

Neat suggestion. Having Raptor as a flamboyantly dressed crooked corporate accountant is definitely in line with the aesthetic I'm going for, and makes hima perfect viillain "in these troubled economic times"

[samantha]

Very nice artwork.

[zuludelta]

Thanks samantha!