|
|
Thread Tools |
03-23-2019, 09:20 AM | #181 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,019
|
First up is the Saw-Viper
This update to my custom "Blue Shirt Legion" Project is a very simple parts swap. I think a project like this better compares to original O13 "green shirt" Joes and how the characters' uniforms only varied slightly based upon their Primary MOS. Since the Saw-Viper serves as the "anti-Rock-n-Roll," I wanted him to have the ammo bandolier like the ARAH Rock-n-Roll figure. I apologize for the brightness and saturation of the second picture, but given the dark blue plastic of the original Shocktrooper figure, this was the best I could do to show the slight change to the knee pads. Speaking of the knee pads, the only reason for the change in knee pads is because I had swapped them with the 50th 3pk (Wolf Pack) Outback figure for my Resolute Gung-Ho custom. I thought the smaller knee pads still looked good on the Shocktrooper figure and looked similar to the ARAH Cobra knees. I glued the MTF ammo bandolier to the shoulder and chest. I like how the Shocktrooper has the small Cobra logo on the left side of the chest so that even with the bandolier you can still see the Cobra logo. The bandolier is flexible enough that it doesn't hinder the arm articulation. Interestingly, there is actually a Cobra Machine Gunner, with an M60, in the Marvel animated commercial #19. Next up is the Night-Viper Once again, I like the whole concept of certain Cobra troopers being an "anti" counterpart to a particular GIJoe character. The Night-Viper represents the "anti-Low Light" of the Cobra Legion. The 50th Night-Viper action figures are good figures in and of themselves and they basically appear in a "blue shirt" design. I just felt for a "night" operations sniper a darker color than neon green or red was more appropriate. So, this is another simple parts swap, which a lot of Hasbro figures are simple kit-bashes from various parts and accessories. The base figure comes from a Dollar General black Cobra with the helmet, head, backpack and rifle from the green Night-Viper. I swapped out the grey "Cobra Officer" web gear for the black and green Jungle Ops Duke web gear since some of the green is the perfect match to the helmet and rifle. Ok, for fans old enough to have witnessed G.I. Joe the Movie on VHS back in 1987, how cool was that introduction?! Seeing all of those Cobra Paratroopers dropping onto the Statue of Liberty was uber cool! So, YUP, this is simply a POC Cobra figure with the parachute rig from the 50th DVD Battle Paratrooper. That Paratrooper in the DVD set was basically a 25th figure with a POC head/helmet (which looked awkward to me) and parachute rig. So, why not update the figure totally with a POC/50th style body? And if Hasbro released this as a single carded figure, I'd buy several of them! Jason |
03-23-2019, 09:21 AM | #182 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,019
|
This is more of the HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) variant of the Para-Viper. This guy represents the "anti-Ripcord" of the Cobra Legion.
The 2008/2009 Para-Vipers are some great figures with a ton of accessories. I just wanted a closer "blue shirt" style Para-Viper. The upper body is a Dollar General blue Cobra with legs from a Skydive v. 3 figure. I painted the legs Citadel Kantor Blue to match the upper body. The helmet fits the DG Cobra head just fine. his here is a super easy accessories parts swap. As a kid, I loved that the Techno-Viper came with all these cool accessories. I'm not sure that the Techno-Viper actually represents any "anti-Joe" character in particular. I can't really think of any G.I. Joe character that serves as a battlefield technician or mechanic. I didn't want to waste that nice purple "blue shirt" Shocktrooper/50th Saw-Viper body. The Techno-Viper head and accessories swapped over nicely to the Saw-Viper body without any modifications. I actually like the way the different tones of the purple look on this figure. However, I've never really been fond of that head sculpt. To me, it's kind of a cross between a Cylon Raider and Darth Vader. With all the various types of Viper (snakes) in the real world, you would think that Hasbro could have come up with a better code name than "Jungle-Viper" for the Cobra Jungle Trooper. Kind of redundant in my opinion. Bush vipers are actual "jungle" snakes who live in the tropical regions of Africa. So, I thought the code name "Bush-Viper" had a better ring to it. Thus, the Bush-Viper serves as the "anti-Recondo" of the Cobra Legion. Since the Steel Brigade Delta figure is simply a green version of the Cobra Shocktrooper, I felt this represented the perfect base for a Cobra Jungle Trooper. I painted the face mask grey and the helmet green. I gave him the web gear from a Senior Ranking Officer Cobra (I acquired in trade) since it has kind of cream look to it like the arm pockets on the SB Delta figure. The Cobra logo is a sticker from TFKingdom. Lastly, I slapped on the ghillie suit from the Jungle Viper, but I also have a cloth ghillie suite in a fodder box that would probably work better. Jason |
03-23-2019, 09:22 AM | #183 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,019
|
Hasbro introduced the Medi-Vipers way after I had originally stopped collecting G.I. Joe toys. I think my son, Caleb, was playing with Joe toys by this time. The Medi-Viper is a specialty that definitely makes sense on the battlefield. I love how Hasbro added the twist that these guys were almost like "chop-shop" mad scientists who were basically patching up the wounded and sending the rest off to Dr. Mindbender for experiments. The Medi-Viper represents either the "anti-Doc" or "anti-Lifeline" (or whichever Joe medic you prefer) of the Cobra Legion.
The upper torso is from the green Night-Viper figure since it utilizes the "blue shirt" style torso. The head, medical gear, skirt piece, and knee pads all come from a DTC Medi-Viper figure. I trimmed off the ball-socket neck from the head and Dremeled it out to fit the neck post of the Night-Viper torso. I also Dremeled down the chest-piece, apron thing and knee pads from the DTC Medi-Viper figure. I carefully sliced off the chop-saw attachment and glued it to the Night-Viper right hand. For the legs, I went with the Dollar General green Shipwreck since the thighs are similar to the POC/50th Cobra figure, and (to me) they look similar to medical scrubs pants. Instead of a holster on the right thigh, I added another pocket. I figure this guy needs all the medical supplies he can carry. Jason |
03-23-2019, 09:27 AM | #184 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,019
|
This is an update to a custom I made a few years back - the VAMP Mark II
I never owned the VAMP or VAMP Mark II as a kid. I didn't know anyone who had the Vamp Mark II, but always thought it was just the coolest looking vehicle. The vintage ARAH & 25th Aniv. VAMPs are a little cramped for the modern figure sculpts, but the POC VAMP Mk 2 and Retaliation Ninja Combat Cruiser provide the perfect updates. This is a basic repaint of the Retaliation Ninja Combat Cruiser. This design screams, "VAMP Mark II" update. I repainted the body and parts of the roll bar/camper "Satin Nutmeg." Then painted the remaining area of the roll bar/camper black. I also gave the vehicle an over spray of black to dirty it up just a bit. I cut out the windshield from the plastic of a GIJoe 3pk window box. The .50 cal heavy machine gun is a resin cast from one of the online customizing stores. I can't remember who I bought it from, either Vortious Customs or Avac's Lab (couldn't find it listed in any store anymore though). I didn't like the idea of the missile launcher being the only weapons. The original VAMP Mark II had that little machine gun molded just above the hood. This is a simple custom that many customizers have produced, which, I think, illustrates just how well this would sell if Hasbro were offer a VAMP Mark II using the Combat Cruiser as the base. As usual, all comments, critiques and questions are encouraged and appreciated. Thanks for stopping by and y'all come back, now, ya hear. Jason
__________________
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...-feedback.html https://gijoerevisited2.blogspot.com/ Last edited by jlw515; 03-23-2019 at 09:38 AM.. |
03-23-2019, 03:24 PM | #185 |
Extensive Enterprises Rep
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Alabama
Posts: 3,976
|
Damn man, you’ve been busy!
Great looking updates and I’d buy all of these at retail. I like how you changed the Frag Viper to follow a more uniform look as the other Cobra troopers.
__________________
FB link: https://m.facebook.com/KR-Customs-10...?ref=bookmarks |
03-23-2019, 05:16 PM | #186 |
LNC Commander
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sbartek's Guest Room
Posts: 24,535
|
Great updates my friend. Love the jungle Cobra!
__________________
|
03-23-2019, 05:27 PM | #187 |
.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: .
Posts: 1,784
|
Your Cobra forces are fantastic, and that VAMP Mk2 is SO cool!!
|
03-23-2019, 09:30 PM | #188 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Georgia
Posts: 14,780
|
Nice Vamp!!!
__________________
Feedback Thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...-feedback.html B/T Thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...-b-t-list.html |
03-23-2019, 10:08 PM | #189 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 3,019
|
Thanks guys for all the comments! I'm really trying to work on taking pictures of the custom vehicles that I have completed.
Speaking of custom vehicles - here's ANOTHER!! The RAM was the first G.I. Joe vehicle I ever owned. Whereas I think Hasbro intended the ARAH RAM to be more of a front line, battlefield vehicle, I see the RAM more as an infiltration vehicle with minor anti-personnel weaponry, very similar to the MASS Device scene with Stalker infiltrating the Army base. I think Firefly's motorcycle in the Retaliation movie was a nice Ram-like motorcycle update I acquired a couple of die 1:18 scale Die Cast Kawasaki Ninja motorcycles in a parts lot. The weapons for this are resin casts of War Machine's mini-gun and grenade launcher I purchased from Vortious Customs. I simply glued the parts to the motorcycle fairing, and then glued an MTF ammo drum under the mini-gun. I figure in real life, the grenade launcher would either need to be at a fixed angle or have the ability to pivot. So, even though it is simply glued to the fairing, I indicate on the blueprint that it can pivot up to 45 degrees. I could also see a motorcycle like this having a H.U.D. targeting display in the windshield screen. Again, thanks for the comments! I really appreciate them. Jason |
03-24-2019, 04:18 AM | #190 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Denmark
Posts: 687
|
I really like all your Cobra troopers, especially the desert and bush vipers. Great inspiration for sure.
|
Thread Tools | |
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
jlw515 feedback | Slaymaker | Buy/Sell/Trade Feedback | 12 | 03-16-2021 01:14 PM |
Figures JLW515's Lady Jaye | jlw515 | G.I. Joe Customs Finished Projects | 11 | 05-23-2013 07:35 PM |
Figures JLW515's G.I. Jane | jlw515 | G.I. Joe Customs Finished Projects | 7 | 05-23-2013 08:08 AM |
Figures JLW515's Scarlett | jlw515 | G.I. Joe Customs Finished Projects | 1 | 05-22-2013 11:55 PM |
Figures JLW515's Baroness | jlw515 | G.I. Joe Customs Finished Projects | 4 | 05-22-2013 11:54 PM |
|
|
Recent Off Topic Threads |
What song are you listening to? |
Hisstank Late Night thread... |
Last Movie You Watched? |
2024 Toy Hauls |
G.I. Joe March Madness 2024 Round 1 Blowtorch vs Short... |