[Steel Brigade]

NEW RECRUITS!!!!!
*Going forward you will see a mix of NEW RECRUITS from MARAUDERGEDDON and the previous seasons as I still have many characters from all over my MTF Universe to complete!

#171/X6. EARTHQUAKE (DETROIT ROCK CITY VERSION) (based on GI Joe ARAH "DEF Shockwave '92")
Marauder Task Force
Detroit Rock City Version/Version 2
Origin: USA
Season 8

A running theme of today's batch is that all of the figures have been in planning stages for a loooooooooonnnnnggggg time. Take Shockwave here, this was the version I originally planned to recreate back in season 2-3, but when MGR put out their "Geared Up" version 1, followed by the blue bodies being out of stock for such a long time, I wasn't able to finally complete him until now! I used the dress legs to try and mimic the original figure but also provide him with a different build. First time using the sledge hammer as I didn't know MGR had one untill I typed it in, but I think it's a great nod to the original! I have made a few of the D.E.F. figures now in my MTF Universe, even if they are not related directly story-wise.

EARTHQUAKE is a former Detroit Police Officer that joined the MTF shortly after the world went to hell. Back in the day he worked as part of the SWAT team and as part of the Drug Elimination Force and still plans on keeping the ruined streets clean from weapons & drugs, now at a premium, his work is never done. Currently a part of the MTF's DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), EARTHQUAKE brings his prior skill set to a new team and has joined the offensive ground security team that includes PATRIOT & LOCK UP.






Nemophila "KISS/Detroit Rock City" cover...

[Steel Brigade]

#172. REAPER MAN (PHANTOM FORCE VERSION) (based on GI Joe ARAH "Night Force Repeater")
Marauder Task Force
Phantom Force Version
Origin: USA
Season 5

Back when MGR released there geared-up figure "Steady Cam Gunner" I knew the potential for a good Night Force Repeater was there but passed as I thought I could build one more to my liking for accuracy. But eventually had to put him on hold until I could get my grubby mitts on a black male t-shirt again. I started building him slowly by adding things like the Field Cover Cap to other orders & eventually finished him! I love how he turned out, so like many other MTF figures that I have WIP, patience is a virtue!

Despite his low rank, REAPER MAN is one of the oldest (age-wise) members of the MTF reserve. He has assisted both the U.S. Rangers & Marines on various missions while in semi-retirement, & was called into active duty again during the Phantom Force operation specially by ATHENA to lay waste to the heavily fortified fortress that was surrounded by WOLF TROOPERS & TIN MEN with his trade mark ground pounding. With so many important Gunrunners elite being in attendance, the on site security needed to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Extremely strong & with endless endurance, the other members of Phantom Force were glad he was there because his reliability to crush the opposition as a one man army is legendary!

[Steel Brigade]

#173. LOUIE LOUIE (based on Larry Hama's Fury Force "Louie Louie" )
Marauder Task Force
Origin: Hawaii
Season 2

Finally back on FURY FORCE characters lol! No I haven't forgot this team (or the others) that I need to complete. Louie Louie presented an interesting challenge, as a precursor to Tunnel Rat there needs to be resemblance but also separation, and the best way to do that is to build based on the concept art but also stray a bit from the color palette that is usually associated with T-Rat. So I parts bin build him with the remaining tan pants I have plenty of, & the torso I originally intended for Patriot that I changed, (using a darker more Hawaiian skin tone that I wouldn't for T-Rat) and give him the appropriate matching gear, & I think a successful homage (that is distant enough) has arrived!

Growing up in Hawaii LOUIE LOUIE (or "LL" to his teammates) got his code name from the popular 1957 song made by the Kingsmen. He got the nickname early as a child due to the unintelligible way he spoke and it stuck with him afterwards. When he as an adult he was rather big & imposing, so he moved to Tokyo Japan to look for work in action films. He found between the language barrier and his own way of speaking that it was difficult to keep a solid job despite his strength & abilities. So he ended up working as a bouncer in the Tokyo underworld, where he could use his size & strength but rarely had to speak. It was this experience that led him (as a part of FURY FORCE) to OPERATION TOKYO DARK, as he had plenty of dealings with the Yakuza underworld. In the past he had done odd secret military jobs with SGT. FURY, after the two befriended each other following a fight, & landed them both in a Roppongi prison for "unnecessary roughness."

[Steel Brigade]

#174. BLOCKBUSTER (based on GI Joe ARAH "Battle Corps Bazooka '93")
Marauder Task Force
Origin: USA
Season 7

Years ago when I decided to start recreating Joes using MTF, I went in my classic Joes container and made a bag of "possibilities." Among the 1st (like DEF Shockwave) was Battle Corps Bazooka. But I could never decide on the build I wanted for him. As time passed & MGR offered things like the dress shirts & blue camo on the Contract-Ops pants, a plan started to form. But I kept going back & forth between oldskool accuracy & things like skin tone matching. Decisions were eventually made to recreate the best of everything available & I finally now have my Bazooka lol. I love how he turned out & think he was worth the wait! A new favorite!

When you ask a member of the MTF team about BLOCKBUSTER, they will probably tell you he's a slow-witted, lovable guy who likes to fish & blow things up. And it's true. Fishing & blowing things up is what keeps his bent up rage at ease. He likes to be calm in his down time so he can explode when the battle starts! BLOCKBUSTER is part of DUTCH'S WILD FORCE Team and he will be blowing things up and knocking things down as soon as the order is given, & if you're the enemy, I can assure you, that you don't want to be in his way...

[Steel Brigade]

#175/X7. TANK (based on S.T.O.P. VS. S.C.U.M. "Tank")
Marauder Task Force
Origin: USA
Season 8

Continuing with my SVS characters, next up as TANK! Initially, for some variety & looking at the card art, I was going to make Tank here African American, but after reading his file card (which I still have all of the SVS cards) I saw that he was actually Native American, which saw me change directions for both his skin tone & head, & I am glad I did, as I think the original would have looked too much like my version of Heavy Duty in all black, & now he stands on his own as a more unique character!

TANK (real name Tanaka Bear) saw extensive action in both the Cartel Narco Wars & the Armageddon War of the Middle East. Descending from a long line of Cheyenne Dog Soldiers, his Native American warrior blood runs strong in his veins. An incredible tracker, hunter, survivalist and master of guerrilla warfare, he wants to be the first to go in and the last to leave. Tank joined forces with the "South Paws", a trio of left handed soldiers that formed an alliance squad during the end of the Armageddon War, & has since been advanced as a member of the MTF, under immediate recruitment from his South Paws commanding officer RECO.

*2023 Update:





2020 comparison: (shoulder pads since added)

[Mr Hebime]

Excellent job SB, all 5 of them look great!

[Steel Brigade]

^^^ Thanks big guy! I appreciate it! Feels good to get some of these guys finally done, as I have about 20 figures either on order or that are still works in progress lol!

[Dod Ear]

I always look forward to seeing New Recruits in your thread - this particular batch has some fantastic editions!

Shockwave is an excellent MTF translation.

Fishing Trip Bazooka has only been a Joe I've laughed at - but your build is so good I'm tempted to make one myself.

I love how you're incorporating S.T.O.P. VS. S.C.U.M. line into your universe. The build for Tank is so great it would stand on it's own even without any connection.

It's probably not as strong a design as you've already created, but had you considered the black Shoulder/Knee pads for the upper arms like Marauder had done for Bug-Hunt (https://www.marauderinc.com/product-p/mtf-gear-92.htm)?

Again, it may take away from your already great build - but it was the first thing I thought of when I looked at the original figure.

[Steel Brigade]

Hey Dod Ear! Thanks as always for your continued enthusiasm! I hope you do make Bazooka!

I did consider both the knee pads and the armor shoulder pads that come with the body armor for Tank, but the knee pads do not hold in place well, and I wouldn't have been able to use the armored shoulder pads with the t-shirt torso (which I wanted to use to make him look more muscular). So I didn't end up use either...

**Heh, I just tried the knee pads again on Tank's shoulders & the hold is ok after all. I'll have to get him a black pair & update. Thanks! ;-)

[AxonRey]

Another great batch, but that Bazooka is a standout. Beautiful representation of the character/design. That’s one Battle Corps figure that made sense to me. Well done. And clever use of those pants.