[Steel Brigade]

I have been having a lot of fun creating with the Marauder Task Force line recently and have started making my own universe based on builds from obscure ARAH Joes, knock-off style figures, MTF customs shown, and my own ideas. I like using all MTF parts to push me creatively so there is no mix & match (and no added paint). Special thanks to Marauder Inc for this amazing action figure line!

#1. CODE NAME: ONE (based on the 80's toy line Military One "Beret" figure)
Marauder Task Force
Origin: United Kingdom

The first homage I made is based on a figure I still have from my childhood... say what you will about the M1 figures but they are sturdy. This character (CODE NAME: ONE) is the leader of my Marauder Task Force.

ONE and his NEW team of recommissioned soldiers from military around the world are tasked with taking out the growing illegal arms trafficking of contraband materials by the enemy known as the "Gunrunners." Across the world, ONE & his Marauder Task Force act in secret from the public & strike when casualties will be minimal. Calm and collected, ONE is the best man for the job!

[Steel Brigade]

#2. CODE NAME: CARDINAL
Gunrunners
Origin: Brazil
This figure was based on a figure build I saw in one of the main MTF threads here on the Tank and was called "Red Marauder!" I liked it so much I gave it my own spin.
"CARDINAL" leads the "Gunrunners," an illegal gun trafficking trade that the MTF is looking to stop. He deals in contraband weapons from all over the world. Here, shown heavily armored, he has an almost religious following with those who seek out his black market arms!

[Steel Brigade]

#3 CODE NAME: MEGA-CLUTCH (based on ARAH Mega Marines "Clutch")
Marauder Task Force
Origin: USA
I wanted to have a Hazard Ops orange colored figure on the team. I remembered liking the "Mega Marines Clutch" figure I still have from my childhood and decided to make an updated MTF figure based on him. I don't normally want to do popular Joe characters or characters that have the potential to be made... but I think this one is safe. lol...
Clutch to me will always be a bearded guy, so I opted for the light bearded head option on him. He's in charge of clean up after messy battles have occurred on civilized territory. Crass and often politically incorrect, Mega-Clutch is willing to do the dirty work!
*Updated Images

[Steel Brigade]

#4 CODE NAME: ALLEY CAT(S) (based on the ARAH '93 "Alley Viper")
Gunrunners
Origin: Various
When the "Shock Ops" were introduced I wanted to create a figure based on my 2nd favorite version of the Alley Viper, and thus a trooper for the enemy Gunrunners was born. Love that Marauder Inc had a shield for him! Most weapons are sold on the streets or through back doors, this is where you will find these deadly Assault Troopers when the good guys come knocking & the bullets start to fly!
*Updated Images

[Steel Brigade]

#5 CODE NAME: CHARLATAN (based on ARAH "Chameleon")
Marauder Task Force
Origin: Hong Kong
Chameleon is the Baroness' half sister of Euro (same father) & Asian (mother) background. I decided to go for a mix of both the original ARAH figure & the IDW look for this fully loaded double agent. I always liked the Chameleon concept, so my first Valkyrie got special treatment with a ton of Night Ops gear for her secret operations and her undercover kills within the Gunrunners elite ranks. The Gunrunners don't know that she is undercover and she takes care of any loose ends to keep it that way!

[Steel Brigade]

#6 CODE NAME: FRANKENSTEIN
Marauder Task Force
Origin: USA
Based on a childhood frankenjoe build I had made when some o-rings broke, I combined Torpedo's head on a Cobra Officer body, and Low-Light's limbs, and made a new character that I called "TRACKER"...
Well shortly after that, Hasbro had a GI Joe officially named Tracker and this guy needed a new name... and it is "FRANKENSTEIN."
It maybe my Deathrace 2000 influence, or the fact that he meets today's frankenjoe terminology for an ARAH custom... either way it fits. lol ... I found out that 1 of my younger brother's had loved my childhood frankenjoe build and thought he was an actual figure (like a mailaway), & used him as a Snake Eyes type character with a respiratory problem & minus the Ninja skills.
He said "no job was to tough." Gotta love that... lol ...and that's what this character represents today.
The toughest of the MTF, ready for the most difficult assignments, the Gunrunners murdered his loved ones and left him wounded, now he has nothing left to lose!
Here is a shot of my childhood figure build, and my new MTF version with the original black mask and an alternate gray mask, one of my favorite MTF customs I have done yet!

[Steel Brigade]

#7 CODENAME: HOTLINE (based on the female modern era "Dial Tone")
Marauder Task Force
Origin: USA
Based on an IDW meets Resolute meets the ME '09 figure of the female Dial Tone, HOTLINE is a communications officer for the MTF, usually assigned to the remote areas of the world. Young & brilliant she has become a real asset to the team.
The top half & sandy colored hair represent the more IDW & animation style look, while the bottom half, more of the '09 action figure's design. My first use of the Valkyrie t-shirt torso! I decided to give her the oldskool Joe laser rifle as a fun-gun when the Gunrunner's attacks start & the sun is not the only thing hot outside!
*Updated Images

[Steel Brigade]

#8 CODE NAME: SAPPER (based on ARAH '00 "Firefly")
Gunrunners
Origin: France
I bought the whole 2000 Joe collection one day when the figures were new at TRU... it was such a fun day that I have fond memories of the Joes from that year, so I made both the Chameleon and Firefly homages to help represent that era for me. Now even though Firefly is a frequently made character, the woodland camo vs. the urban camo seems to have been overlooked by both Hasbro and the Club for repaints for his ME figures... so this was the perfect opportunity to do a more obscure version of a classic character (like my "Clutch" homage.) I think it's a great use of the new bare armed torso, as this was the only version of Firefly to ever have bare hands. "Sapper" is of French descent and is a master combat engineer & demolitions expert. Like the "Chameleon" homage I gave him a heavy pack out... as he needs to sabotage and blow MTF operations up for the Gunrunners!

[Steel Brigade]

#9 CODE NAME: SENTINEL (based on ARAH '92 "Bulletproof")
Marauder Task Force
Origin: USA
Another homage from my brother's and I's ARAH vintage collection. Helping to keep the mean streets clean from illegal weapons and drugs, the re-code name (Sentinel) is from the MTF head used. I think MTF really made it easy to create a perfect modern update for an ARAH Bulletproof. The original featured more of a military look than most of the other figures within his year, and always reminded me a bit of another (earlier) Bulletproof character from the animated series/toyline C.O.P.S.
One of my favorite MTF custom builds, I think this guy turned out great!
*As an alternate color scheme, anyone could make a pretty cool '93 green/yellow version of him too with Marauder!

[shishi]

Cool characters and well put together.