Here is another unique 1 of 1 GI Joe Tiger Force prototype, the Tiger Cat! Notice that the “Tiger Force” stickers used are actually slightly different than those used on the released vehicles with the yellow outlining. 
Category Archives: New Joes
Complete Set of the Funskool/Complan Commando Force Figures
I was recently able to complete the Funskool/Complan Commando Force figure set! These figures free/promotional figures, that were given away on the purchase of ‘Complan Chocolate Health Drink.’ It appears that they were carded as one file card for each of the figures has surfaced (except for the Blue/Yellow Firefly/Short Fuse figure). The last figure that I needed to fill out the roster was the Blue/Yellow Firefly/Short Fuse. I believe this is the first complete set in collectors’ hands. However, I know that more sets will be completed as I have confirmed 4 Canary Ann figures now. 3 have sold, and one is still available, but it is way overpriced for the condition it is in.
Their names:
Emerald Gung Ho/Zap – “Striker”.
Red/Purple Scrap Iron/Zap – “Cross Country”
Blue/Yellow Firefly/Short Fuse – ??
Red Baroness – “Rednok”
Yellow Lady Jaye – “Canary Ann”
Funskool/Complan Commando Force Complete Set
Starting the New Year off Right!
Hunting down the 10 remaining MOC Chinese figures that I am missing has been pretty difficult. I went almost 6 months without finding one I did not have – apart from a seller in China that wants a king’s randsom for two figures. I was able to pick up Stretcher, Salvo, and Rock n Roll all MOC on Chinese cardbacks, bringing me down to 7 remaining figures. I also picked up another MOC Chinese Snowjob which I will use for trade bait for anyone out there that is interested in trading one that I do not have.
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- GI Joe Chinese Stretcher International Heros
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- Rock n Roll Snowjob Salvo
2003 Tiger Force 5 Pack Prototype Mock Up!
I first saw a picture of this set of figures in Ron Conner’s 1995-2003 Guidebook. What instantly caught my eye and became a grail find for me was the unreleased alternate figure – Outback. The 2003 set was released with Big Brawler, which had a red hair variant and a black hair variant. Big Brawler, especially with red hair screamed Outback – it was obvious that Hasbro initially planned to release the set with Outback, but for whatever unknown reason, decided against it.
I had been looking for this figure or set of figures for 5 years without finding one. I knew from Aire’s videos on Youtube that she had a loose set, I was very surprised and happy to learn she also had the mock up. This item was initially going to be the only thing I bought from Aire – but that didn’t last long 🙂
It is interesting to note that Jinx, Wreckage and Dial Tone are all also preproduction variants with different skin tones than what was actually released. The package is made from some Whinny The Poo box/cardboard.
Tiger Force 2003 Prototype Mock Up
2003 Unreleased Tiger Force Outback
Real Chinese Storm Shadow!
This figure is/was one of my grails, and acquiring this figure led me to set a goal of finding every single Chinese figure and vehicle MOC or MIB. While it may not seem all that remarkable, a real, legitimate Chinese Storm Shadow is quite rare. While it seems that they are very common on eBay, every single one sold for the past several years is a bootleg/fake. One easy way to tell is to look at the ‘Hasbro’ symbol next to the figure bubble. On all of the fake Storm Shadows it is misspelled as “HRSBRO.” In addition, the back of the cardback looks and feels different on the fake SS. The color is muted and looks like it was scanned/copied.
Tiger Force Packaging Photo Transparencies!
I am really excited about these pieces. These, along with the incredible alternate and unused Breaker head, surfaced this last week. A guy has an amazing collection of packaging insert photos as well as figures used for the packaging and inserts of our favorite toy. As soon as I knew that the guy was (1) selling and (2) had Tiger Force items that I had to get whatever I could. I ended up with 5 packaging photos/transparencies of the Tiger Rat, Tiger Paw, Tiger Shark, Tiger Fly, and Tiger CAT! These images were (or at least appear to be) the exact images used on the back of all the boxes! In some of the transparencies, you can see the mirrors and other tools that the photographers used.
Let’s Make That Two – Funskool Commando Force Canary Ann
This year will likely go down as the biggest collecting year ever for me! Not only have I been lucky enough to make multiple deals with Aire, win two lots from Shane Watson’s Vectis auctions (more later on that), but I just completed a deal for one of the most rare and desirable figures in the hobby – Canary Ann!!!! This deal fell into my lap and I pulled out all the stops to make it happen. I have to thank the seller for making this one of the easiest and best transactions I’ve ever had. It definitely made me nervous went I sent the payment – but the seller was AWESOME.
I am sure that more Canary Anns will be found (I know there is at least a 3rd, maybe a 4th), this is definitely the first, but hopefully not the last to be shared publicly. Now that it is hands on I can get some great pictures of it to share with everyone. It is complete and in absolutely great shape, tight joints and just some minor paint wear on the gloves and one boot. The first order of business when I get home will be to switch out the screws (they aren’t rusted, but I’d like new ones in anyway) and then to place her right next to my other Commando Force figures!
Before I get to the pictures, here is the background info on the Funskool Commando Force figures:
They were the free figures, that were given away on the purchase of ‘Complan Chocolate Health Drink’.
Their names:
Emerald Gung Ho/Zap – “Striker”.
Red/Purple Scrap Iron/Zap – “Cross Country”
Blue/Yellow Firefly/Short Fuse – ??
Red Baroness – “Rednok”
Yellow Lady Jaye – “Canary Ann”
Enjoy the pictures!
3 AWESOME Figures I just Picked Up! 2 Super Rare Commando Force Figures and One Brazilian Figure
Posts haven’t been as frequent as there hasn’t been too much going on. I am very late on my xmas gifts (coming soon TM), but those can wait because in the last week, I finally pulled the trigger on one figure that has been available for awhile and also picked up two others that just came on the market. First up, we have the Funskool Commando Force Cross Country. This figure comes from the same set as the Canary Ann and Rednok (Red Baroness) that were giveaways with a Complan chocolate drink in India. I had my eyes on this figure for a while now and the price and timing were perfect to pick this up. All of these are birthday presents to myself; I celebrated my 28th yesterday. Second, is a Funskool Commando Force Striker! It has a broken hand, but I am think about switching it out with a Funskool Gung Ho hand seeing as they are identical. With these picks ups, I only need a Canary Ann (but with only 1 known and a 3K price tag – I may be waiting awhile) and the Firefly/Short Fuze to complete the Commando Force set. So, if any of you out there have the Firefly/Short Fuze, I am interested. But I’d like some time to recover from buying these first! Third, I picked up a mint/complete Brazilian Maligno (aka the Toxo-Viper). This was a must buy for me, I had been looking for one for a long time and this one was in great shape and came with all its accessories including the electronic backpack!
Commando Force Striker
Brazil Maligno – Toxo-Viper
Commando Force Cross Country
Prototype Week Day 4 – 3 for 1 Special! Arctic Edition!!!
Well, I decided to change things up once again, and post 3 recent buys (two of which are still in the mail). These prototypes are all modern, Rise of Cobra cancelled/prototype figures and they all happen to be arctic themed! First, we have the ROC cancelled Snowjob; it is the same as the POC release except for the ROC insignia on his jacket and skiis. Second, is the ROC cancelled/prototype Elite Ice Viper in the unreleased alternate paint scheme. This figure also comes with the “HM” mark on it. Third, we have the unreleased/cancelled/prototype Arctic Assult Duke! Sadly, I wasn’t able to find one with the vest, but the POC Snowjob vest makes a suitable replacement. I actually bought the Arctic Duke and Ice Viper today (lunchtime and eBay are a dangerous proposition), because the Snow Job came in and I liked it so much I thought I should get a few more from that same era. These were all pretty affordable – not like the Arctic Alpine, or Arctic Snake Eyes (the blue unreleased version) which are $250-500+.
Rise of Cobra Unreleased Snowjob
Rise of Cobra Unreleased Arctic Assault Duke
Unreleased Rise of Cobra Elite Ice Viper
Prototype Week – Day 3!
Instead of another test shot today, I wanted to show you guys that is actually not a GI Joe product, but I think it is related. Today’s reveal is a Hasbro Flying Fighters A-10 Warthog sample box print.
Flying Fighters Logo
As a background on the Flying Fighters, I will borrow from YoJoe: “In the early 1990’s, Hasbro produced a line of realistic fighter jets and helicopters called “Flying Fighters.” These jets and copters had removable joysticks with electronics inside. Buttons on the joystick produced sound effects of machine guns or missiles. Moving the joystick in different directions produced different soaring sounds. Thus, when attached to their respective vehicles, the jets and copters came alive. Typically, the vehicles of this line were undersized compared to their G.I. Joe counterparts. However, the AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter “1-101st Aviation Regiment” was close enough that Hasbro repainted it and released it as the AH-74 Desert Apache in 1992.”
I also think that either GI Joe or the Flying Fighters also borrowed from one or another for the Ghoststriker X-16 as they seem to share very similar tooling. But I may be wrong. As a little bit more information, I was unable to find any A-10 Warthog that was actually produced. So this seems to be package art for an unproduced vehicle (I could be wrong though). For some further speculation, I think, and the reason that I picked this piece up, is because it would have shared tooling with the Cobra Rattler. Anyways, enough talk, enjoy the art!
Flying Fighters A-10 Warthog Box Sample Print
Leaky Suit Brigade 