[Katana78]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscott991

Apparently O-Ring-scaled Retro vehicles will be $200+, despite the fact that the Retro HISS and Awe Striker were $25.

Vehicles seem to be a dead end in both scales.

I’m guessing you’re talking about the Haslab Skystriker? I don’t think you can compare the Haslab Skystriker with the typical small vehicle plus 1 figure mass retail release though. Besides the fact that the Skystriker is larger and comes with a ton of extras and customizable options, it also involved a lot more new tooling and are made to order, both of which greatly increases costs. I imagine a typical mass retail release for the o-ring line would be a lot more paired down like the “retro” line vehicle, which would be cheaper. The Haslab Skystriker and the “retro” line vehicles are apples and oranges.

[xasonnex]

I don't think that the Skystriker is an indicator of how much new large-scale vehicles will cost. I wouldn't count out a few preexisting molds coming back into service, IF Hasbro thinks it's worth the cost to refurbish and ship to Vietnam. I think the Skystriker is a case where yes, they had an anniversary mold, but it was a)possibly used enough times (7 releases) that the mold was near end-of-life anyway and/or b)going to need a retool for it to be "retro" and fit 2 figures. The fact that there WAS a 30th Anniversary version might be why this is a HasLab...they honestly don't know how well a mass-produced version would do at retail, so they are checking with collectors.

[Katana78]

I've copy and pasted a post from forum member "Books" from the Skystriker topic, because he outlines everything that he learned to be different about the Haslab Skystriker compared to the old mass retail versions. I think it's worth reposting, because some people have complained about the price point of the Haslab, saying that the old and the new are essentially the same, when if one takes the time to notice the differences, there are many. Here are the differences Books has outlined:

"General structure

* new sculpt overall
* closer to F-14 but still with distinctive XP-14F aspects
* according to the presentation, far more panel lines
* sturdier structure and tight “dog bone” weapon fit
* landing gear and VG wings now move independently of one another
* the beaver tail empennage is more detailed
* prominent turbofan engine fan blades visible in nacelles
* decal options: classic, (Northrop) Grumman tribute, Tomcat logo or “Anytime, Baby” motto variant , & more
* tail fin (vertical stab) options: black or white
* extra canopy for different crew name stickers
* what looks like a working tailhook

Cockpit

* new ejection seats (with covers for ‘chutes) with + shaped figure attachment peg
* soft goods parachutes, I think they said detachable from the seats too
* moving joystick
* back of pilot’s seat finally includes screens and controls for the RIO backseater

Weapons

* the original gun is repositioned to a much more correct location and has a much better grill vent
* there is an additional gun on the starboard side (so, one per side now)
* the guns have barrels that project forward out of the housings, making them look like an earlier generation of cannon and also serving as mounting interfaces for blast effects
* removable twin TCS/IRST chin pod, as seen on the F-14D and D(R).
* the missile pylons under the wing glove housing are removable, and offer an alternative between 1) a single-missile-per-side dogbone mount as the OG Skystriker offered, 2) a two-missile-per-side option as the Tomcat was standardly equipped for (it too was flexible), or 3) a “clean”, pylon-less look for airshows or recon missions where speed is more important than munitions
* there are now 4 Phoenix, 4 Sparrow, and 4 Sidewinder missiles, increasing loadout options. the central, slightly offset fuel/gun/TARPS pod is retained
* EDIT: in one picture, it looks like there might be two drop tanks for extra fuel, like the Tomcat virtually always carried. But the shape is very similar to the large offcenter pod the Skystriker has always had, which is also pictured in the same image. So I’m confused!?!

Play features, ground mode

* there is a fuel port (starboard side near the roundel?) with a removable cover, so you can actually connect the refueling hose into the jet
* the set appears to come with a boarding ladder, carried on the munitions cart
* the classic wing glove pylon maintenance panels are preserved
* munitions cart (and ladder carrier!)
* fuel cart
* did they say the munitions cart can tow the fuel cart?
* unlockable ground personnel with signaling torches/wands

Play features, in flight

* blast effects for the 2 cannon
* exhaust effects the missiles
* stand with beaucoup posing options
* stand can display missiles in just-launched position
* engine exhaust effects"

I will add that something else that's different is the cockpit canopy on the new one is split at the front, so when you open it, the front section is attached to the plane, where as the older canopy opens entirely.

[Trigue]

I'm so glad you shared his post, far too many of the Skystriker detractors lack any and all reading comprehension. They can't seem to understand what is so very clearly laid out by Hasbro right there in clear view on the Haslab page for the Skystriker.

The Skystriker is going to be a very small run compared those HISS tanks and AWE Strikers or most any other vehicles that Hasbro has released. The Skystriker is being set up to make possible for a O-Ring Joe line what Jabba's Sail Barge Haslab has done for the Star Wars The Vintage Collection line.

Steve, at the time when he was still assigned to the Star Wars brand, said that the success of the Sail Barge Haslab enabled them to increase the budget for TVC. That success carried the line until The Mandalorian show came out and was followed by the Razor Crest Haslab, which paved the way for everything coming out this past year and next year for TVC.

So there is alot riding on the success of the Skystriker Haslab. Want to see a USS Flagg or Terror Drome in the near future. Then back the Skystriker today, or start saving up a few thousands dollars to buy one on ebay. If the Skystriker fails, it'll be a long time before they take a risk on any scale GIJoe Haslab project.

[Bac]

I'd like to see the Skystriker reach 20k backers minimum. That sounds like a long ways off from where we are, but we're pacing with Starsaber and that topped 20k. The potential exists.

Agree with everything above. This campaign mirrors the Barge in that it's launching/re-launching a line. If you want more "big" items in the future then buy as many Skystrikers as your wallet/circumstances will allow.

[BOBthebuilder]

i was in love with the retro line at first. then i got duke, he was a huge let down. then i got most of the others and my love grew again. They are really stiff to play with though and no where near as fun as original o-ring joes. sadly my cobra officer and trooper came in and i'll be damned if right out of the box both of their right arms broke off instantly. forgot to mention i also got grunt with the officer and trooper. he's amazing and to me the best in the line.

[McBennett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOBthebuilder

i was in love with the retro line at first. then i got duke, he was a huge let down. then i got most of the others and my love grew again. They are really stiff to play with though and no where near as fun as original o-ring joes. sadly my cobra officer and trooper came in and i'll be damned if right out of the box both of their right arms broke off instantly. forgot to mention i also got grunt with the officer and trooper. he's amazing and to me the best in the line.

I specifically avoided Duke when I was on the Walmart site because I could tell he was gonna be crappy..the wrists and face sculpt were a giveaway, for me. These figures loosen up the more you pose them, but the quality is kinda crap. I've had to pop legs back on a Cobra trooper I opened multiple times, and I'm too afraid to bend forearms that give me too much resistance. By far, they biggest offense for me is how poorly weapons fit and stay in their hands. It's disappointing and although I love displaying and posing them it's hard to do much else with them and kinda turned me off from the Modern figures in general..though I did commit to some late night impulse buys on eBay for some 25th figs.

I agree with you on Grunt..they use the same body sculpt for Stalker, too.
So much detail and great proportions. It makes me feel like they will definitely churn out some more "Green Shirt" style 'Joes for this line before its through.

[tt8l]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trigue

The Skystriker is being set up to make possible for a O-Ring Joe line what Jabba's Sail Barge Haslab has done for the Star Wars The Vintage Collection line.

Steve, at the time when he was still assigned to the Star Wars brand, said that the success of the Sail Barge Haslab enabled them to increase the budget for TVC. That success carried the line until The Mandalorian show came out and was followed by the Razor Crest Haslab, which paved the way for everything coming out this past year and next year for TVC.

So there is alot riding on the success of the Skystriker Haslab. Want to see a USS Flagg or Terror Drome in the near future. Then back the Skystriker today, or start saving up a few thousands dollars to buy one on ebay. If the Skystriker fails, it'll be a long time before they take a risk on any scale GIJoe Haslab project.

This is a great point. For me - I already know I will back the Skystriker, but if I continue to collect the "retro" line in whatever form it takes comes down to quality.

They current Retro Walmart figures have been a step down. Build quality is poor, I've had two legs just pop off. The cards are flimsy and placement of the figure and gear in the cards make the nice artwork pointless because the contents look bad and haphazard.

If the O-ring figures are made of good quality I'm 100% onboard. I remember being so disappointing at the Toys R' Us O-rings back in the day. They were very similar to Black Major O-rings today in terms of quality. The plastic was slightly translucent and the paint apps were ok but not great and the build construction was just noticeably inferior.

I think that like you say the Haslab will be an important moment. I'll be happy just to get the Skystriker but I'll be thrilled if it goes through all the stretch goals knowing it could signal more and better product.

[Steevy Maximus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWOL

Hasbro could license out the rights to make 4-inch Joes, or just release them on Hasbro Pulse.

And then you lose all the price benefits a retail line would net you. Y’know how Super7 and HiYa Toys 4” figures tend to run $15-25? That’s what would happen with GI Joe, including the FAR more limited release schedule due to tooling cost concerns.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscott991

Vehicles seem to be a dead end .

Fixed that for you :p
Vehicles aren’t a line driver anymore. The most successful brand are character driven. About the only action figure vehicle you are apt to see on a regular basis is a Batmobile.


My HOPE is that Hasbro is retooling the presentation for ME going forward. The newer batch of figures showed some solid potential for their new manufacturing elements and origins. But I think “Retro Collection” has largely left a sour taste for many long time collectors by the first 3 waves being reruns of figures not only already produced, but generally inferior to their prior release (with the exception of Roadblock, who utilized tooling we never actually got in a release and the improved deco on Lady Jaye) or inaccurate to the iterations being referenced to begin with.

As is, I only think Retro lasted this long was because Hasbro had Walmart locked into the line while Snake Eyes was a significant marketing concern. I feel it’s very telling of the line’s intentions that the last two waves are basically tooling variations of the same two figures.

I feel ME still has a future with GI Joe, but I don’t think being the “Vintage Collection for GI Joe” is the path forward. As I said before, Hasbro NEEDS to be looking at their own brands (ie, Transformers) rather than try to copy Star Wars…which didn’t work the LAST time they tried it in 2009!

[AWOL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steevy Maximus

And then you lose all the price benefits a retail line would net you. Y’know how Super7 and HiYa Toys 4” figures tend to run $15-25?

I'd be fine with that.