[l0neW0lf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by books

As an example:

https://topfunretrotoys3d.com/produc...2-scale-reboot

Note that the link (and most on that site) has several options per page, visible if you scroll through the images

That's it. I had only checked the Etsy seller. The Eel arah is very cool, perhaps the spear is too big for combat purposes. In the original the darts up top are definitely smaller.

The MP5 is great too. Chances are SEALS and other special forces really do have similar prototypes.

@ shlappyguy you?re welcome, man.

[l0neW0lf]

Another option would be a pneumatic speargun.

Compared to the arbalete, it's more powerful and offers better handling. The downsides are worse aiming - which is marginal since we're dealing with big, slow-moving targets - and, above all, reloading.

Reloading these at max power is difficult because you can't use your sternum for leverage as you would with a band-powered speargun.

The gun in the picture is a 70cm Cressi Saetta with multiple power settings. I'm trying to sell it due to these issues.

In a combat scenario, it would need smaller spears, no line, and a mechanism to simplify reloading

[BizCopperhead]

I think an important inference to keep in mind is that in the toy universe, Cobra Island continues to exist. It appears in the Bantam novels, the Kid Stuff books, and both NES games, all of which were or appear to have been created directly from the toys, file cards, and stock art. This infers that their primary toy-universe headquarters was always Cobra Island.

If you look at the whole of the ARAH line, Cobra has a large number of watercraft and other not-quite-watercraft things like the Bugg. To me, this paints the picture of Cobra gear not just being used in a military context, but pulling double or triple duty as exploratory or fishing craft, for example.

Cobra being the "bad guys" and not terribly concerned with marine ecology would also allow them to do things like use missiles and other military hardware in underwater digging or recovery operations.

Coming back to the subject, I think that the speargun is sort of the 'trademark' weapon of the Eels, but maybe not their primary. In the cartoon, they are shown using laser pistols and knives.

The speargun is likely used for fishing or recovery operations, or both, since Cobra isn't exactly getting food shipments in, they are likely having to live off the sea more than other paramilitary organizations.

This is just my two cents.

[CapBritain]

Looking at the thread on the guns in Classified over in GD suggests the toy designers don't know much about weapons and frequently make dumbass decisions but this goes back to ARAH and Breaker not having a firearm, Zap, Bazooka and Fast Draw not having a small arm with their launchers and Short Fuse not having a PDW as well as his mortar.

[BizCopperhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapBritain

Looking at the thread on the guns in Classified over in GD suggests the toy designers don't know much about weapons and frequently make dumbass decisions but this goes back to ARAH and Breaker not having a firearm, Zap, Bazooka and Fast Draw not having a small arm with their launchers and Short Fuse not having a PDW as well as his mortar.

I'm pretty sure all of the ones you just mentioned were cost related. 1982 figures came with very little equipment, as they were on a tight budget, and Fast Draw already had a giant contraption as an accessory, and both hands full.

These were cheap, fun toys for kids, nobody was worried about that. You're taking this way too seriously.

[Short]

This thread has the best title out of all of the currently active threads.

[Snakeeyesisposh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by l0neW0lf

Anyway, I did some research.
I could find three real life underwater weapons:
Russian APS (gas-operated), SPP1 (again Russian, cartridges with special propellant) and HK P11 (uses eletric ignition). They all fire smaller darts.

The APS seems the model of the original Eel gun although chances are the fictional version had laser capabilities as well (theoretically it is possible).

Modified versions of civilian spearguns used in combat do exist but the classified version is 100% a civilian version used only for spearfishing. I could not find any info on possible specs of modified versions. If someone lurking out there had info to share, that would be cool.

Almost all those weapons are experimental or never had wide release for
a reason. Frog man on Frog man combat is unrealistic because it's incredibly unlikely you'll meet each other. Most Water infiltrations either are unopposed or the enemy gives you physical lead poisoning from safety and you die.


Or you get punked by the local patrolling Dolphin or Seal. Getting attacked
by a Sea dog in water is even harder to defend as you need to defend your Head,
Legs, arms and Body in a 360 Sphere around you.


Your weapon is usually stored in a Water proof storage you bring with you to shore. You open it when you are on Dry land.

[l0neW0lf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizCopperhead

The speargun is likely used for fishing or recovery operations, or both, since Cobra isn't exactly getting food shipments in, they are likely having to live off the sea more than other paramilitary organizations.

I like this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapBritain

Looking at the thread on the guns in Classified over in GD suggests the toy designers don't know much about weapons

Yes for a toyline targeting adult collectors you would expect more effort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizCopperhead

These were cheap, fun toys for kids, nobody was worried about that. You're taking this way too seriously.

And yet the original Eel had realistic underwater weapons, while the classified divers (3 figures + incoming double pack) do not. This suggests there was more research done at the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakeeyesisposh

Almost all those weapons are experimental or never had wide release for
a reason. Frog man on Frog man combat is unrealistic because it's incredibly unlikely you'll meet each other. Most Water infiltrations either are unopposed or the enemy gives you physical lead poisoning from safety and you die.


Or you get punked by the local patrolling Dolphin or Seal. Getting attacked
by a Sea dog in water is even harder to defend as you need to defend your Head,
Legs, arms and Body in a 360 Sphere around you.


Your weapon is usually stored in a Water proof storage you bring with you to shore. You open it when you are on Dry land.

True, underwater combat is unlikely, but it's the kind of fantasy we indulge in, and these weapons were already used in the original arah toys.

If you don't stone the fish with your first - and last - shot with a speargun that doesn't even come with a reel like the classified one, you're in for a ride.

This is not a weapon; this is a fishing tool meant for small to medium-sized fish. I'd be surprised if this were actually part of the loadout for underwater operations.

[BizCopperhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BizCopperhead

I'm pretty sure all of the ones you just mentioned were cost related. 1982 figures came with very little equipment, as they were on a tight budget, and Fast Draw already had a giant contraption as an accessory, and both hands full.

These were cheap, fun toys for kids, nobody was worried about that. You're taking this way too seriously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by l0neW0lf

And yet the original Eel had realistic underwater weapons, while the classified divers (3 figures + incoming double pack) do not. This suggests there was more research done at the time.

I was referring to CapBritain talking about missing equipment. If you look at every one of his examples, the figures he chose were either low budget (1982) or already loaded with gear and couldn't hold one more piece (Fast Draw)

If you're selling toys to kids, even in that era, it was more important to get the key gear (Short Fuse's mortar, Breaker's radio backpack, Fast Draw's artillery system) in the package than any sidearm.

Also, later they did essentially bury the figure in accessories once we get to 1989 or 1990, but the price also went up. A lot. Joes went from being $2.50 in 1982 to almost $5 in 1994.