It’s been a while since I posted an update and we’ve been getting a lot news from Hasbro about new figures that are coming or are in the pipeline. This time however, I’m here to talk about the 2004 Thunderwing jet. Yes, I finally added something new to my 3.75” Joe collection.
Thunderwing
The 2008 G.I. Joe Thunderwing vehicle was released as part of the Valor vs. Venom. It’s a jet, based on the F-22 Raptor, that has a control handle that you can pull out.
Landing gear and handle
The Thunderwing Jet features 10 top-loading missiles that can be launched from a button on the handle, firing the missiles from behind the canopy. It also has 4 trigger-activated dropping bombs that are released with the push off a button on the underside of the plane.
Missile Launcher
The sound system – yes, a lot of sounds can be produced – makes engine noises and simulates the firing of a Gatling gun, which is molded on the side of the cockpit. There are also more than 10 phrases that can be activated from a button on the top (“Switching to bombs,” “Bombs away,” “Target destroyed,” “Switching to missiles,” “Missile away,” “Cobra goin’ down”, “Break right”, “Break left”, …).
Gatling close-up
The rear exhaust ports of the jet doubled as targeting sensors and could be switched from bomb to missile mode. This is achieved by some clever system of angled mirrors hidden in the frame of the plane. You might call it a gimmick, but it really is very cool.
The targeting sensor jetsSlip Stream in a action
The Thunderwing was originally released with the v3 of Slip Stream, later a version with Ace (v6) was released as a Toys ‘R Us exclusive. The Slip Stream figure came with a removable helmet with hose attached to it. He does lack his signature mustache though. This time, the figure also sports a more grey look, rather than the tan original.
Even though the focus of most of the interwebs has shifted towards the Classified Line, it does feel good to have a new “vintage” Joe toy to add to my collection.
See you next time, until then… Happy Collecting and YoJoe!
If they were walking into a bar, that would probably make one hell of a joke. Or a painful experience. Whatever the case may be, they didn’t wonder into some shady establishment, but arrived here in my collection.
First of, I received the 2003 figure set consisting of Duke, Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes. This set comes with the Spy Troops movie on DVD.
3 figures, 1 dvd.
Let’s start with Duke. This appears to be the v13 of the figure, but on YoJoe.com, it only shows him being released as a single carded figure or in a set with Cobra Commander. I know that YoJoe.com is currently not the most reliable source, but these figures are almost 20 years old (just let that sink in…), so I do think it should be on the site. Maybe this was an international released pack and that’s why it’s not picked up on the site? I don’t really know. Information on this pack is very limited to people selling it online and even then, the intel is limited. If you know more about this, let me know. As you can see below, the backside of the card is aimed for the international market, not showing any file cards, but lot’s of information in many different languages.
No filecards 😥
The same goes for Storm Shadow (clearly v11) and Snake Eyes (v17). They are listed as being part of a 2-pack, but not in this weird threesome pack.
Storm v11
Snake Eyes v17
The other weird thing about this pack is the Duke figure. He’s given the ninja treatment by not having an O-ring, but being fitted with an nunchuck swinging action feature. So looking at the accessories, Duke should come with a gun and communicator device, but also with the nunchucks. Storm Shadow then gets a sword and dagger and Snake Eyes is equipped with an uzi, sword and communicator device. In short, Duke doesn’t fit in here. Put in Scarlett or Zartan and you’d get a pack that actually makes sense. It’s like trying to make Roadblock into a ninja, nobody in their right mind would try that, right?
It really is a little mystery if you ask me. What won’t be a mystery for long is the math you’re doing in your head right now. The title talks about 4 ninja’s and we only have seen two. Who could the other 2 be… Well, let’s find out. They came in a mystery box…
Any guesses?
If you know, you’ll know the code on the box. For everyone still trying to guess, look at this next picture.
Indemandtoys.co.uk 👍👍👍
Yes, this package was ordered through In Demand Toys yet again. As with all my previous orders there, everything went smoothly and the package was delivered fast and undamaged on my doorstep. If you haven’t shopped with them, what are you waiting for? Seriously, they have everything from Star Wars to Power Rangers and from the TMNT to G.I.Joe. Check them out, buy something and tell them I sent you 😁
Now back to the actual delivery. The box contains the 2021 O-ring figures of Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes!
Nice looking art
Similar art on the back and a lot of languages.
Now, inside the box, for now we have Schrodinger’s ninjas. I haven’t opened the box yet. All my Joes are still in storage and I’m holding off on opening this set until I can display them properly. I won’t leave you hanging though, here’s a picture I found online.
Brothers on cards.
From what I’ve read online, the card backs are quite flimsy. Not the quality we remember from the original O-ring figures. The art is still the same. The plastic bubbles are also much deeper than the original ones, giving them a better display look. The file cards are on the back, but they are more of a multi-language name card rather than the classic file cards we all know and love. The figures are about the same size as the original ones, maybe just a teeny-tiny bit shorter, but I don’t have the exact measurements so I’m going by pictures I’ve seen online.
It’s great to see these vintage figures back. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 3 3/4 inch Joes and it really is a nice tribute to the line by releasing these 2 figures (and the Cobra pack coming later this year). Did we need another set of Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes figures in the smaller scale? Probably not. I never had the original Snake Eyes figure, so this is most likely as close as I can get to the original figure without spending to much money. Also, the Classified versions of the figures do look great and closely resemble these figures. I have to say that I’m really surprised by the quality of the Classified line figures, the details on the figures and the box art. For both display value and playability, 6 inch is looking to be the new 3 3/4 inch. Bigger is better they say. I like them both and will continue to get both sizes of figures for my collection.
That’s all for now. I’ll be back soon with more updates to the collection, until then… Happy Collecting and YoJoe!
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