[zuludelta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyroc

Awesome updates Z, is that James Marsters you used for Sky Striker? looks great

I had to look up who James Marsters is (don't follow episodic TV much). No, it's not him AFAIK (it was just some random face I got off the web), but I having seen what Marsters looks like, I can see the similarities. Glad you dig it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SP00K

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifeline_MD

I like what you did with all three, especially supertrooper

Thanks, seems like a lot of people like the updated look for the character. I didn't really expect much of a response to Super Trooper, to be honest. I thought most fans from back in the day hated the idea of the character (I was unaware of his existence until several years ago, I'd dropped out of the Joe hobby by the time he first appeared).

Some updated pics of the Joe team's anti-armor specialists:

Bazooka, Mirage, Zap

I originally outfitted Bazooka and Zap with reusable recoilless rifles, but decided to go with the single-shot, disposable AT-4, as I think it's more in keeping with the idea of the GI Joe team as a "high-speed, low-drag" unit that uses widely available equipment as much as possible. Still debating if I'll re-design Salvo with an AT-4 as well (instead of the M202A FLASH incendiary weapon I've given him). Also thinking of re-doing the Blowtorch design I posted several months back... while I like the continuity of visual design by having him be a combat engineer equipped with a tactical breaching torch, it doesn't exactly jibe with his original design as a "flamethrower." If I'm thinking of maintaining a continuity of function, then a modern flamethrower soldier would be equipped with an M202A FLASH (as it's the only man-portable dedicated flame weapon the US military still uses). Any ideas/suggestions?

[Master Thespian]

Looking good on these new images, z. Zap in particular looks really good. Dan Severn as Space Shot? I love it.

[zuludelta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master Thespian

Looking good on these new images, z. Zap in particular looks really good. Dan Severn as Space Shot? I love it.

Heh. I knew you'd catch the Dan Severn face on Space Shot (although I would not have been surprised if somebody would have said "Borat" or "Freddie Mercury" ha ha). I also used Don Frye for Bazooka's face above (although I used a different person's jawline and chin, so maybe the likeness isn't as obvious).

[zuludelta]

Anyway, still trying to come up with a modern and plausible update for GI Joe's primary flamethrower guys, Blowtorch and Charbroil. Since the US military doesn't use flamethrowers anymore per se, I've re-imagined Blowtorch as a US Army metal worker-cum-sapper-qualified combat engineer and Charbroil as a petroleum supply specialist. It still sort of ties in with the overall theme of "fire" but it just doesn't seem right.

As far as modern, dedicated, man-portable "flame weapons" go, the only one in use in the current US military is the M202A FLASH incendiary rocket launcher (in very limited use by Army elements in Afghanistan). I suppose a .50 caliber machine gun or anti-matériel rifle loaded with M8 high-explosive incendiary armour-piercing rounds sort of counts as a "flame weapon" (or at least an incendiary weapon) if you stretch the definition (a lot), but I can't picture Blowtorch or Charbroil holding an M2 Browning or an M82 Barrett. So unless somebody comes along with a better suggestion, I'll probably go the M202A FLASH route with Blowtorch and Charbroil.

[zuludelta]

Alternatively, I guess I could update the flamethrower guys with cutting-edge microwave less-than-lethal crowd control weapons (a.k.a. "heat ray" weapons).

[Lifeline_MD]

Somehow I've never seen your Mirage before (did you post him previously?) Looks great. I have a thing for post 87 characters being redesigned to be useable.

Did Zap take his inspiration from Tanks for the Memories Zap?

[Troynos]

Nice Z. Like the updates alot.

[Master Thespian]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zuludelta

Alternatively, I guess I could update the flamethrower guys with cutting-edge microwave less-than-lethal crowd control weapons (a.k.a. "heat ray" weapons).

I'm not so sure about that. I think these are two characters that will always kind of bug you because you can never really make them be flamethrowers. I always thought using them as armorers was the most practical and true to original filecard way to use them. It's not sexy, but it's a needed job and they can fill it.

[zuludelta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifeline_MD

Somehow I've never seen your Mirage before (did you post him previously?)

I posted a version of Mirage over a year ago when I first started the project, but back then I designed him as a SAW gunner (this was back when I built the Joe team around the idea of an infantry battalion).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifeline_MD

Did Zap take his inspiration from Tanks for the Memories Zap?

Not specifically, no. With the three single-carded, "generic sculpt," long-sleeved, green-shirted guys from the "Original 13" (Grunt, Zap, Short-Fuze) the common design theme I adopted is military green commando sweaters (as a nod to the original "greenshirt" design) and UCP or Multicam trousers and/or helmets to bring them into the 21st century looks-wise.

[Scroll142]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zuludelta

dee snider!?

Win!