[46 Zone]

Great work again!!!

[AF80sFAN]

Great work as always

My only complaint is that I have sold most of my 25th figures and you keep making me want to re-buy them to tweak them!

[Mr Hebime]

That’s a great looking Snowjob!

[shakka85]

Well, well, well... what do we have here? A vastly improved Snow Job, I'd say! That looks so much better! The lower arms and legs make a big difference, as does the head, but the paint job you gave the whole figure is what really sells it! The hood also looks amazing with this; cutting it off the SE parka was a great idea in this case! Great work, once again!

-Todd
Shakka85

[Matt82]

Great improvements to that 25th Snow Job! You're customs are always home runs!

[jlw515]

Dude! That Snow Job is perfect!! If you have it, you should do a pic of Snow Job and Doc on the Polar Battle Bear like the cover of G.I. Joe issue 11 "Pipeline Ploy"

Jason

[HissHissFangFan]

CLASS OF 1983 [25th Classic Style 2020 Edition]


2020-08-27_06-36-50 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Class of 1983, final group shot for 2020 modifications. The only big new thing I did was give Tripwire a new vest. My figure (from the Comic Two-Pack) had a weird chest joint, that left a larger vertical gap between the two torso pieces that also appears to be warped, not allowing a good looking straight up pose. Ten years I had this figure, and only now does this joint bother me. Other figures that use this Flash torso aren’t so bad (Grand Slam, HISS Driver), and I also wonder if the cardback version is better (or even if my figure is a one-off issue). Regardless, I went ahead and threw on a modified Renegades Duke vest, cutting off the neck piece.

After starting this group with Doc, which is almost entirely 30th parts, for the remainder I really limited myself at tried to use as many original build or 25th parts as possible—to show my appreciation for the early stuff. This was also done to help blend in original build figures on the main shelf that I may not necessarily want to rebuild. Maintaining a consistent figure height among this class was also a big factor in parts and builds.

Comparison: HHFF 2015 vs HHFF 2020:

2020-08-27_06-38-16 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

My original group photo taken in 2015 was taken before making any tweaks to any of the figures (except Cover Girl because she was built from scratch). Back then I only took the photo for study and inspiration for my Cobra 1983 collection, and hadn’t retaken it in 2017 when I started first posting my groups here on HissTank. Though I liked the original vintage figures and characters and also appreciated the 25th releases, I didn’t think they were that great (maybe only Torpedo, then Airborne if he wasn’t’ so short), and didn’t have the ideas, paint collection, fodder, skills, and drive to improve them. But after messing with these guys for the last few months, I am really digging this class so much—and love how many of the photos came out.

I may visit these guys next year as I find stuff I can improve (really just an excuse to mess with this awesome class again). Maybe more action stuff or dioramas. But next I’ll think I will jump to 1984--Right now, I only picked three that I wanted to mess with and am still finishing out the third.


2020-08-27_06-37-31 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

[46 Zone]

Awesome line up dude!!! Really like the simple change for Tripwire.

Hey man, is there any chance you have a mustache, and like to treat your live-streaming anxiety with a little pre-show weed? If so, please put your Scarlett, and Duke in the next waves of the WM Retro line!!!

If not then, "Hey Mustache. Are you seeing this? Put this stuff in the retro line!!!"

[HissHissFangFan]

DUKE & ROADBLOCK REVISIT [prior to Wal-Mart Retro Series reveals]

Finished with 1983, and before I jump to some new tweaks on some 1984 class figures, I thought I’d revisit Roadblock and Duke—some of my first tweaks to Joes beyond the OG13 that kicked off this thread. Intrigued by conversations had about the upcoming Wal-Mart retro line at the end of July, and potential builds for these two, I wanted to take some study photos of some alternate body parts that may or may not be desirable. Some pics are in black in white b/c I changes were only temporary for study and I don’t have Photoshop to change colors very well. Also, thanks to 46 Zone for the segue way.

ROADBLOCK


2020-07-26_04-58-04 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

My 2018 version(s)--which are basically unchanged as of now—consists of mainly of the Retaliation Roadblock with cast of the FSS Tiger Force RB head, 50th Gung-Ho lower legs (but not knees), and a modified 25th Roadblock webgear. Now with the unveiling of the updated HISS Driver with newly tooled parts (head, webgear, legs), I would hope that there is enough tooling budget for new webgear, because the 25th webgear is way too short for this massive torso. Second, if budget is available, some new lower legs with exposed boots would be nice. The 50th Gung-Ho legs are pretty good, if not a little on the short side when compared to all the other Retaliation Roadblock parts. Also, staying with the lower legs of Ret RB won’t be the worst thing in the world. Many customs use this recipe and look good.


2020-07-26_05-22-25 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

One idea I wanted try and show was swapping both upper and lower legs from Gung-Ho to the Ret RB, per DerStahlhelm’s version https://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-j...ml#post5312786. Looks good head on and at some other angles, and sizes him to match 50th Gung-Ho. When I first saw DerStahlhelm’s pics, I wondered why I didn’t do this in the first place back in 2018.


PhotoGrid_1597017305371 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Turns out that those upper those are way undersized for that torso/waist socket—at least front-to-back and looking at it from the sides. I guess I forgot that I DID try it back in 2018 and didn’t like it. In the pic above, I tried to highlight this size mismatch, but in the pic, it still doesn’t look as bad as in person. Darker colored pants like DerStahlhelm’s might help mitigate this, but classic RB don’t have dark pants. If Hasbro/Wal-Mart went with this build, it would probably be fine—it has its pros and cons—but I’d still probably rebuild him like my 2018 version for my own collection. Just really need new webgear, personally.

DUKE:

2020-04-11_01-49-37 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

My 2018 version uses the POC Duke head on the 50th DOTD Flint body. My version also has some small but IMO necessary tweaks with one that might be a “mold-buster”. First, the wings on his shirt were cut from the 25th Duke and glued on--probably not necessary if needing to reuse the mold. Second, the undershirt neck collar was cut lower to be less distracting (especially since the shirt is a darker color). I know that this collar was a big complaint with Flint and would also be less ideal for Duke. I wonder if the mold can be filled to shorten this collar? This torso is so nicely proportioned and sculpted, and a version with a shorter collar could have many uses down the line. At worst case, Hasbro/Wal-Mart uses this torso unchanged: it’s really not too difficult to custom cut the collar lower (but you’ll likely need to repaint the neck flesh).


2020-07-26_04-16-47 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Given the recent speculations and hopes for the new Duke release, I wanted to take a closer look at the builds by OreoBuilder and Pugsley—mostly interested in maybe getting more height and/or bulk to Duke. Whenever I flank him with my Roadblock and Gung-Ho (which is a lot), my Duke looks puny. Above, I tested out using the Pugsley’s leg build: 25th Gung-Ho upper leg with 25th Dusty lower legs (though Pugsley one used the 25th Gung-Ho upper on the right leg). Heightwise is mostly wash—the switched out upper is longer but the lower is shorter, though it has higher exposed boot. Also, the DOTD Flint has nicer sculpting, I think. Should note that this swapped leg combo is slightly taller.


20200726_160838~2 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Next try was to see how much height increase I would get using Kwinn torso, ala Oreobuilder. The photo shows a nice increase in height, but may some overall proportion issues. The torso feels wide and the arms too big and long. The neck is kinda skinny and the head socket will need to be remolded as it sits too high and off the torso peg. The figure shown above does have some minor dremeling and it is still way off. YET I’d still buy this build if this is the direction they went. And if later I’d want to swap parts, I definitely use these as fodder (I’m long outta extra Kwinns and the like).


2020-07-26_06-21-02 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

The last try would be to go full Oreobuilder and switch out the legs for 50th Gung-Ho legs. The results are a much better proportioned figure overall, and has the pistol holster and knife sheath all in the right places. Heightwise, we stands well with Gung-Ho. Shoulders are about close and not taller, and overall would be shorter if I did a permanent fix to the neck and head. Unfortunately, apart from Gung-Ho and Roadblock, standing him next to other normal height guys (Flint, Snake Eyes, Stalker) will make those normal height guys look like kids. This might be fine to some, who want a more imposing Top, but I prefer him more normal sized than oversized.


2020-08-09_01-01-40 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

In the end, for my shelf Duke, I ended up switching out the legs per Pugley’s build. Though the height increase is small, every millimeter counts at this scale. I’ve got my original 2018 Flint legs around in case I change my mind, but since I use the same ones for both Flint and now Doc, I felt a different sculpt was needed. Still, lack of crease sculpting on these new legs has be doubting.


2020-08-09_01-01-26 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

New sculpts for both these figures would definitely be welcome. But as I’ve stated elsewhere, I’m assuming new tooling for this line will be limited, and I’d rather take these two as mostly repainted kitbashes, and have Hasbro/Wal-Mart spend the tooling on small things as well as a full retool of Scarlett. Hoping that the designers did their homework. Waiting for this next wave of Retro series has be giddy with anticipation (and also dread and anxiety). And still haven’t opened up any of my 6” Classifieds…


2020-05-03_04-15-15 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

[46 Zone]

2020-04-11_01-49-37 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


I'm liking this line-up the best. I prefer Duke to be average size, and the 50th Flint legs have a lot better sculpting than the 25th legs. I really like the build for RB!!! Those lower legs with the Ret RB uppers and knees just kick ass!!!

If they cannot do new tooling for Scarlett, then I hope they use this build with the Helix legs. The resolute legs make her too tall.

I too have the excitement and fear of wave 2 and 3 of the Retro line. Please don't mess it up Hasbro.