Rejoice! Volumes 2 and 3 of James Kavanaugh, Jr’s excellent Rank & File G.I. Joe guides are now LIVE on Kickstarter and ready for funding! Volume 2 has been sold out for a while and Volume 3 is dangerously close, so here is a perfect opportunity to get them both in production again.
Sitting at just over $1,500 already there’s a ton of great content crammed within these guides and you’re not going to want to miss out. Check out the press release below and help get these great guides funded!
Press Release
I am pleased to announce that, after a successful Rank & File volume 1 reprint campaign, the Kickstarter for volumes 2 and 3 is live! These resource guides are really picking up steam and now selling out inside of a year.
The Rank & File series archives the history of 4″ G.I. Joe and currently has three volumes produced with at least three more in the works. Volume 4 is coming this summer! This reprint was also updated to account for some carry forward action figures produced after the guide’s initial print run, as well as some additional information and error correction. Below is the description for Rank & File volumes 2 and 3:
After a brief hiatus in 2006, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero went in a new stylistic direction that is still predominately used today! Fans revisited some of their most cherished icons within the G.I. Joe mythos and were introduced to new characters that are now known and loved. Rank & File volume 1 captured these action figures in a resource guide and is currently on its second reprint. Rank & File volum3 2 is sold out and volume 3 is days away from selling out!
The Rank & File Guide volumes 2 and 3 archive the remaining mass produced G.I. Joe product by fully displaying every G.I. Joe action figure produced between theThe Rise of Cobra, The Pursuit of Cobra, 30th Anniversary/Renegades, Retaliation, 50, and G.I. Joe Basic Asst. series; complete with every accessory and variation produced. Not only are the accessories shown alongside the action figures, they have been carefully cataloged in an upcoming volume to guarantee the proper shade of accessory goes to the appropriate action figure. To top it off, every vehicle and play set released in the 4″ era has been documented and every easily removable piece has been individually photographed, ensuring collector completion. Theses full color, 52 page and 48 page (respectably) resource manuals beautifully illustrate the six series’ combined 328 action figures, 77 vehicles, and every accessory, including all known variations. Not only is every accessory present and accounted for, they have each been assigned a unique number and identified throughout the resource guides. Each action figure has been carefully examined between its initial run and further re-releases to ensure that an accurate sample is clearly and concisely presented; perfect for the collector who is identifying individual action figures or sorting through unorganized lots.
Whether you’re a seasoned or rejuvenated collector, enthusiast, or toy vendor; the Rank & File Guidebooks are the definitive compilation for G.I. Joe action figures, vehicles and play sets produced between 2007 to today. Let the Rank & File Guidebooks serve as a reference for completion or a scrapbook to the next big turning point of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
This Kickstarter not only allows you to be the first to have reprints of Rank & File volumes 2 and 3 in hand, it also provides a chance to obtain some rare and fun items, primarily some of the very action figures cataloged in these guidebooks. This particular Kickstarter even has a fans choice contest to potentially release the alternate cover I chose not to use for volume 2’s original run. You decide! The demand has been heard and the time is nigh, let’s bring back Rank & File volumes 2 and 3 for another round!
One final note, the supply of Rank & File volume 3 is available but dwindling. Order your copy at www.rahcguide.com or chose it from one of the great Kickstarter options in the link above! This Kickstarter’s immediate goal is to replenish stock for the 2018 International G.I. Joe Convention. These guides will only be available if this Kickstarter is successful.
First and foremost – this review was done with some early painted prototypes and the final product may vary slightly. That being said, these items are very close to production status… and a ton of fun to boot!
Ever since I first started making dio-stories like 16 years ago (good grief how old am I?) I’ve been dying for a modular diorama/base system to use with my G.I. Joe figures. Some things have come and gone over the years, and recently I’ve been drawn to the Chain Base model, but those can be complicated and usually have to be imported from Japan.
But now, Raginspoon toys is ramping up to start offering their own customizable base model, including swappable floor panels and wall panels with a ton of expandability and some great features for 1:18 action figure fanatics.
NOTE – The color of “Desert Tan” will be much more tan and much less yellow in the final version! The below color is a closer match:
Above is a Complex “Wall Panel” which comes in two separate colors, “Urban Gray” or “Desert Tan”, and as you can see above you can remove the two panels (or just one) to create a door or window. When you do remove just one of the panels to create a window, there is a hole in the lower panel that works with some of the connectors from one of your favorite 1:18 military toy lines…
As you can also see, the smaller holes here (and throughout the rest of the base parts) can accommodate backpacks (or other similarly sized peg items) from the same or similar toy lines.
Along with these wall panels are different types of floor panels, also available in “Urban Gray” or “Desert Tan”.
These floor panels can also double as additional wall panels if you need to expand your base. The floor panels (like the walls) reversible to show a metal grate pattern or a more concrete pattern on the opposite side. Then, in order to combine the floor panels with the wall panels, connectors are available as well.
The gray connectors seen above slide into grooves within the walls and floors in order to assemble the bases into any number of different configurations. As you can see above, the connectors can have one tab, two tabs, three tabs, or a fully decked out four tab system in order to provide flexibility and aesthetics when connecting the pieces together.
The last two images above are a “Desert Tan” end connector with a step. The end connector is designed to go underneath one of the wall panels with the step plugging into it to create a “step up” look for a door.
Note: The end connector and step will be colored in the same “Urban Gray” as the other parts in the final version, NOT the yellowish/tan.
So, the real question – how does this all work?
Really, REALLY well. I was fortunate enough to get some of these ahead of release so I could play around with them, and I am having a blast. The walls and floors slide together via the gray connectors really smoothly and are easy to take apart and put together, yet also hold together amazingly well. You can design single level bases, or lift the walls up higher by stacking, which makes these things exceptionally flexible. The various holes throughout the bases provide any number of points for adding tech detail or other things, and with a little creativity you can totally ramp up the usability of all of these pieces.
These items are NOT cast items, they are factory produced overseas and currently available for pre-order at SmallJoes.com. The material is solid and durable for the walls, floors, and all connecting pieces as well. Trust me when I say I beat on these pretty hard while taking pictures for the review and suffered no breakages or even weakness in any of the connecting joints at all. They work remarkably well and are only hindered by your imagination.
As I mentioned, the floors are double-sided and can be used as either floor pieces or wall pieces. The walls themselves are also double-sided and provide some cool additional detail on the external facing side, so not only do these make for great interior dio’s, but there’s some good flexibility for outside appearance as well.
In my nearly two decades of looking for unique ways to put together dioramas and dio-stories, this has been one of the most user-friendly and flexible ways to put together excellent next generation bases for your favorite action figures, big or small. The folks at Raginspoon also have some BIG things in the works for a second wave and going forward, which will take these sets and ramp them up big time. If these move there are even more fantastic items in the works for the future, so get them while you can over at SmallJoes.com!
Also, make sure you are following the Raginspoon Facebook Page and Instagram for the latest information on these sets and potential future sets to come.
Complex Base Building System
Sculpt
Durability
Paint Deco
Flexibility
5
Summary
A brand new, factory produced system for building and enhancing bases and dioramas for your favorite action figures of any scale! Whether you’re a fan of 1:18 military figures, convertible robots, space battle figures, or any other manner of awesome mass produced toys, these Complex Base Systems will work for it all. Tons of options, a wealth of customizing and enhancement capacity, and the building blocks for what looks like a truly impressive line going forward. Get on the ground floor on this one, you won’t want to miss it!
For the final reveal by the Collectors Club we get Sgt. Slaughter… wait, nope it’s Sgt. Smasher. Sgt. Smasher is the Slaughter’s Marauders Sqaud Leader and will be leading the team into battle against the Python Patrol. Sgt. Smasher is a brand new character design that is inspired by “Mister C” from the Sunbow cartoon. I will be the first to admit I didn’t remember Mister C from the cartoon and had to look him up (picture below). Sgt. Smasher brings with him quite a lot of controversy thus far. I know a lot of fans were clamoring for Sgt. Slaughter to lead the team but it looks like the Club was not able to secure the rights. Putting all the controversy aside Sgt. Smasher looks pretty good. It’s not everyday that we get a new character and I for one will take it. It’s a nice addition to the GI Joe mythos and the figure looks nice with a new head sculpt and a new removable drill instructor hat. Take a look below and let us know what you think.
SLAUGHTER’S MARAUDERS SQUAD LEADER:
SGT. SMASHER
– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– NEW Modern Era Character in original SM design.
– Inspired by “Mister C” from the Sunbow: G.I. Joe Cartoon!
– Features exclusive NEW Head Sculpt with Mowak hairstyle,
and NEW removable Marine Drill Instructor hat.
– Includes removable vest, whistle, baton, pistol, Gatling gun,
backpack with ammo strip, and G.I. Joe Logo Stand.
The Python Patrol finally have their commander… Major Bludd. The figure is based off the 2003 release that was part of the the Toys R Us Exclusive Python Patrol six figure set. This version will include a new head sculpt with a removable helmet. The paint scheme matches the rest of the Python Patrol and comes with some great accessories. Bludd looks really good and is geared up to lead the Python Patrol into battle.
PYTHON PATROL INFANTRY COMMANDER:
MAJOR BLUDD
– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– Modern Era Update of Character based on 2003 design.
– Features NEW Head Sculpt with removable helmet.
– Includes removable grenade harness with pistol,
handgun with rocket, backpack with rockets x 3,
sonic bazooka, and Cobra Logo Stand.
Imagine my surprise last week when I opened a box from BossFightShop.com (I swear I’m getting one of these a week) and contained within were early samples from the upcoming Series 02 Wave 03 Fantasy figures!
After doing a few rounds of cartwheels around the house, I added them to the VitruvianFACTS Database, and then set to taking pictures for review, which I have to say was a pure and utter joy. As usual, these figures are fantastic and reviewing them is some of the best quality time I spent with my toy collection these days. The fact that folks I consider close friends are capable of this level of craftsmanship and design is something I still struggle to get my head around, and I’m someone with a creative streak myself.
These figures are still on pre-order, and initial orders should be arriving shortly, so if you want to make sure you get yours, hop over to BossFightShop.com and throw down a pre-order. Then while you wait, read my reviews at my Vitruvian HACKS review page, or click the direct links below.
I recently had the chance to talk with Marauder John, of Marauder “Gun Runners” about their exciting new World War II action figure Kickstarter. From their beginnings of producing high-quality 3-3/4” scaled weapons and accessories, through their first action figure Kickstarter that introduced the Marauder Task Force, to the recent addition of the Valkyries, collectors have discovered Marauder products can’t be beat when it comes to military action figures. In addition to their great product, Marauder’s unparalleled customer service has helped establish them as a leader in the action figure collectible business. The Kickstarter just went live, so if for some reason you’re on the fence about making your pledge, learn more below about the WWII endeavor from the man himself- Marauder John!
The Marauder Task Force WWII Kickstarter has launched and as of this writing is almost funded. The Kickstarter currently sits at $53,481 pledged of the $64,000goal with 29 days left. Marauder Gun Runners has already had many successful Kickstarter campaigns in the Marauder Task Force series. With the new Kickstarter they bring us some amazing WWII Action Figures. The campaign has levels for everyone to get involved. Jump in at $20 and choose from one of the following: US Rifleman, US Marine Bar Gunner, Japanese Army Rifleman, or a Japanese NCO Officer or go all in at $699 and and snag one of everything. Those two options don’t entice you? Then jump in at one of the many other levels of this amazing Kickstarter. You have 29 days to get involved but don’t wait till the last minute. You are going to want to be part of this.
The club keeps the reveals flowing and gives us a look at Slaughter’s Marauders Spirit Iron-Knife & Freedom. Spirit has an exclusive new head sculpt and it looks great. I really think this is my favorite figure in the set up to this point. The ponytail head sculpt on the figure gives this version of Spirit a unique look that I don’t believe we have had before with Spirit. Spirit will come in the standard Slaughter’s Marauders deco that we have seen with the rest of the team. Another great looking figure to go with the rest of the Marauders.
The Club previewed the Python Patrol Laser Trooper: Python Laser Viper today. The figure is based off the 2003 design and will have a retooled backpack and weapons system. The set will include three figures making this the third army builder of the set. It’s another fantastic looking figure that will have a removable helmet and the dual cannon laser backpack will look great on the figure especially being an army builder giving it a very menacing look on the battle field. With the three Army Builders revealed we are getting close to the final reveals on the set and things are starting to take shape. Keep watching the site and and we will keep you posted on the next reveals when we see them. Check below for a complete view of the figures previewed so far.
PYTHON PATROL LASER TROOPER:
PYTHON LASER VIPER
– 25th Anniversary Style/Fully Poseable Action Figure.
– Modern Era Update of Character based on 2003 design.
– Features RE-TOOL of Laser Backpack Weapons System
– THREE Army Builder action figures in this exclusive set.
– Includes removable helmet, dual cannon laser backpack,
connection hoses (not shown), adjustable control arm,
holster with pistol, and Cobra Logo Stand.
Here is an updated shot of the figures shown up to this point.
Marauder Gun-Runners announced today that their upcoming Kickstarter for Marauder Task Force WWII should launch this week. Marauder’s has been behind many successful Kickstarters such as the Marauder’s “Mark II”, the Marauder Task Force and the Marauder Task Force Valkyries to name a few. They have always delivered very high end, detailed and highly articulated action figures and this Kickstarter looks like it will not disappoint. The mock ups that Marauder’s have shown thus far are fantastic looking and the prototype that they showed off yesterday is amazing. Continue to check back for further details as they become available or check out Marauder “Gun-Runners” Facebook page.
Read Marauder Gun-Runners Facebook Post Below
Hey Folks!
Here is the prototype for the upcoming Marauder Task Force WWII US Army Soldier. The level of detail on the figure and gear is just AMAZING! Also, this one of a kind tooling prototype will be AVAILABLE for purchase in the Kickstarter event for one lucky backer! We are still on track to launch the event this week. We hope you like it!
MJ
