Built To Rule - COBRA Raven
Whether or not to review these items was a pretty tough question for me to answer. Technically, these things are not really part of the GI Joe line, and in some ways do not fit at all. However, in other ways, these vehicles are not only pretty neat building blocks, but in design, some of them are actually BETTER than the regular stuff.
But how to tackle these things? Review them as Joe vehicles/figures? Or review them as something completely different? Well, all I know is GI Joe, so that's the focus I'm going to use. I couldn't even begin to try to compare these to actual building block sets, since I don't have a lot of experience with those, but how do these function as Joe vehicles, or as toys in general? That's an issue I'll attempt to cover.
When I first heard that the Raven was coming with Wild Weasel, I was somewhat hesitent. After all, the previous version included with the Toys R Us Rattler was just plain bad, what hope did this one have? Then I heard that it was a repainted non-Oring figure. Still not a good sign. But what we ended up with actually isn't too bad.
Granted with an O-ring this figure would be improved a hundred-fold, but considered they used one of the poorer of the Wave 1 figure molds (Destro) Hasbro actually turned it into something somewhat cool. They took the mold, which really did not say "Destro" to me (or anyone else on the planet, now that you mention it...) and it became Wild Weasel pretty nicely. That bulky black vest and combined sleek flight suit look really neat in red and black, and combine that with the head from the CLAWS figure from the FANG III and you have a pretty interesting specimin, and something that's kinda cool, especially for a Wave 1 repaint. It actually resembles Wild Weasel and is something I'm not ashamed to use as the infamous COBRA pilot (unlike the version that came with the TRU Rattler).
Not a bad start, although a new mold would have been welcome for this popular and classic character.
All in all, I think the figure works on certain levels. Can't promise I'll use him a whole lot because of the lack of an O-Ring, but for what Hasbro had to work with, it's a pretty cool result.
And the figure really matches my feelings on the vehicle as well. There are some appealing things...some things that don't really work, but overall it a nice piece and something that may see some use in my COBRA army, strange circular pegs or not.
First of all, the overall shape. It's very, very cool and a pretty different, COBRA-esque design. The forward swept wings and sleek, angular features really make this appear as a COBRA vehicle, yet it still keeps a foothold in reality (although a shaky one) and is really a pretty neat small, fast attack aircraft. Something that really strikes me, whether it's the color or the shape, is the resemblance here to the popular COBRA Firebat. I can almost see a fast attack air assault with the Firebat, the earler vehicle being the central attacker with two Ravens in support, spiralling down towards their targets. A pretty neat image, and one that the sleekness of this vehile inspires.
The construction was not too difficult, about average as the $12.99 price point vehicles seem to be. As with the other BTR sets I get a great feeling of satisfaction and wonder as I assemble these things from practically nothing into something that could actually be used in a Joe environment. It almost makes up for the new regular vehicles all being pre-assembled. Almost. The armament is pretty solid with twin rocket launchers on the wings and the mini-gatlings in abundance. One thing that bothers me, though is the landing gear. Or, rather the lack thereof. Those strange skids really seem to serve no purpose as I can't see a fast attack aircraft landing smoothly on those things. I have a feeling it would get...messy. However, it does bring a cool thing to mind that perhaps this is meant to be a seaplane of a sort. Screams in through the air, launches it's attack, and then lands in the nearest body of water. It's front is shaped like that of a boat, and those skids would support that opinion as well. Then, once it's in the water, it transforms into it's hydrofoil mode and attacks from the sea. A somewhat cool theory...one I could see working on some levels.
Speaking of the hydrofoil mode...
Quite a departure from the aircraft, changing from a slim and sleek fast attack vehicle to an oddly shaped strike watercraft. Still, it's a pretty neat, differently shaped boat and it's okay as it is. The "V" shaped hydrofoils make for a very interesting design scheme, and even with the odd shape it does appear that it could be quite fast and quite deadly. Construction on the second mode, however, was a serious pain. Pieces repeatedly fell apart as I was assembling them (particularly the cockpit/canopy area and rear skids) and I could not get the guns to fit on the back as they were meant to. As a result I moved them, and actually like where they are now better any way.
So, all in all, the Raven is not a bad vehicle at all. For Built to Rule, it's pretty neat, and like all of the other BTR items if you can get past the odd surface of the vehicle you may end up with something that would serve a decent purpose in your COBRA arsenal, especially if you keep it in plane mode.
