Cobra Tele-Viper (Communications Specialist)

A few months ago, I started reading G.I. Joe comics again (Thanks, Joel). Needless to say, a lot has happened since I stopped reading (around Marvel #90 or so) and I have been pulling lots of ideas for new custom figures from them. This was directly inspired by a scene in Frontline #18 where the Crimson Twins have a group of female Tele-Vipers working for them...

Parts: Helmet (25th Anniversary Tele-Viper), Head (Juno Eclipse), Body (RoC Cover Girl), Vest (25th Anniversary Tele-Viper), Submachine Pistol (RoC Baroness), Backpack (RoC Gung-Ho).

Supplies: Dremel, Super glue, X-Acto knife, Testors paints, Folk Art paint, Paintbrushes, Testors Dull-Cote.

Reference: G.I. Joe Frontline #18.

I have been getting a lot of mileage out of this Cover Girl body. But honestly, what's not to like about it? It's a reasonably proportioned female figure wearing standard-looking military fatigues, that can be posed quite realistically. Anyway, for this custom, I popped off the Cover Girl head and tossed it in my parts box. I used the X-acto knife to trim away the part of the collar on the back of her neck so that it did not interfere with the helmet later on. The helmet was hollowed out using the Dremel. The helmet fit easily over the Juno Eclipse head and could be removed, if desired. However, the amount of modification needed to make the head fit the neck post required the helmet being glued on a bit later. The entire uniform was painted with Testors #1172 (Sea Blue). The cargo pockets on the legs were painted with Folk Art #440 (Violet Pansy). I mixed a little bit of black paint with the Folk Art stuff because it was just a bit too vibrant. I wanted the colors to match the male Tele-Viper that I have. When adding the vest, I trimmed it just a bit, so that it fit her more like the male Tele-Viper's vest fit him. I gave her the small backpack from an RoC Gung-Ho and a submachine pistol from the first RoC release of The Baroness (which my male Tele-Viper also carries). Finally, the entire figure was given a light coat of Testors Dull-Cote to seal the paint and reduce shine.

Gung Ho (G.I. Joe Marine)

I really like Hasbro's recent RoC version of Gung Ho, but in my mind he's Resolute Gung Ho. I wanted to make a GH with the same RoC camo scheme as many of my other figures, so he he is...

Parts: Head (25th Anniversary Gung Ho), Body (RoC Hawk), Tactical Vest (RoC Pit Commando), SAW pouch (bbi Elite Force Marine), M4 Rifle (Marauder, Inc.), Tactical Pistol (Marauder, Inc.), Holster & Belt (RoC Hawk), Machete (RoC Crimson NeoViper).

Supplies: X-acto knife, super glue, paintbrushes, Polly Scale paints, Testors paints and Testors Dull-Cote.

Reference: None.

This was another very simple custom. The base figure was not really modified in any significant way. I popped off the head and replaced it with the new one. I repainted the trousers and cover to match the uniform I painted on my Leatherneck figure. The mustache was repainted dark brown. The vest was added and I trimmed off the holstered pistol, replacing it with a SAW pouch from a bbi Elite Force Marine figure. I also cut a rectangular shaped slot in the back of the vest, so that the machete could be easily slid into the vest. It was positioned so that he could reach over his shoulder and pull it out, if needed. I gave him a modular M4 from Marauder, Inc. The appropriate parts of the weapon were painted gunmetal and flat black. Finally, the entire figure was given a light coating of Testors Dull-Cote.

Bombstrike (G.I. Joe Forward Air Controller)

I've always thought that Bombstrike had one of the better sculpts as far as female heads were concerned, so it was no huge leap for me to decide to put one of my many Bombstrike heads on a ROC female body.

Parts: Head (Bombstrike), Body (ROC Cover Girl), Rifle (25A Baroness).

Supplies: Dremel, X-acto knife, paintbrushes, Polly Scale paints and Testors Dull-Cote.

Reference: None.

Like many of my recent customs, this was was ridiculously simple, but I was very pleased with the final product. I popped off the Cover Girl head. Then I used the Dremel to hollow out the Bombstrike head. The skin tone was not an exact match, but it was better than I was likely to get trying to paint-match, so I left it alone. After adding the new head, I decided to get rid of the photo ID pinned to the figures shirt pocket. I simply trimmed it off with the X-acto knife and sanded the area smooth. I painted over the area with the same camo pattern as the rest of the shirt. I gave her the same rifle (I think) that originally came with Bombstrike. Finally, the entire figure was given a light coating of Testors Dull-Cote.

Leatherneck (G.I. Joe Marine)

This version of Leatherneck was done for an upcoming desert diorama. Since I already had the desert AWE Striker version of Leatherneck, he was an obvious choice to be included in it.

Parts: Head (Leatherneck), Body (Leatherneck), Hands (bbi Elite Force), Load Bearing Equipment (UBP Short-Fuze), Ammunition Pouches (bbi Elite Force), M16/M203 (Leatherneck), Rifle Magazine (Marauder, Inc.).

Supplies: X-acto knife, Super Sculpey, super glue, paintbrushes, Polly Scale paints and Testors Dull-Cote.

Reference: None.

Just like the last two figures, this is an "improvement" of Leatherneck so that he'd fit in with the other team members in the diorama. First, I removed the stupid Dreadnok belt he came with. Then, I dremelled off the idiotic shoulder armor (this is NOT Thunderdome!). I decided to use a bit of Super Sculpey to actually sculpt him some decent body armor. I have always hated the wrists on these arms, so I replaced the hands with the gloved hands from a bbi Elite Force Marine. To keep the articulation, I actually trimmed the studs from the old hands and glued them on the new ones. Then, I repainted all of the brown areas (straps, boots, holster, gloves, etc) using a slightly different color than his uniform. I cut the existing Vietnam-era magazine off the rifle and replaced it with a modern 30-round magazine. Finally, the entire figure was given a light coating of Testors Dull-Cote

Steeler (G.I. Joe Tank Commander)

This version of Steeler was done for an upcoming desert diorama. Since I already had Steeler and his tank from the Target Ultimate Battle Pack, I decided to include them in it.

Parts: Head (UBP Steeler), Body (UBP Steeler), Helmet (UBP Steeler), Visor (UBP Steeler), Knife (UBP Steeler), Holster rig (UBP Steeler).

Supplies: X-acto knife, paintbrushes, Polly Scale paints and Testors Dull-Cote.

Reference: None.

This is a simple "improvement" of Steeler, so that he'd fit in with the other team members in the diorama. First, I trimmed off the ridiculous second strap on the holster rig. That strap, if work properly, actually goes under his right arm. Because it wouldn't fit properly in that position, I chose to remove it. Then, I repainted all of the black areas (straps, boots, holster, gloves, etc) using a slightly different color than his uniform. The face was painted a darker flesh color, to appear lightly sun and windburned. Finally, the entire figure was given a light coating of Testors Dull-Cote.

Short-Fuze (G.I. Joe Mortarman)

Although he was never one of my favorites as a child, I eventually came to appreciate Short-Fuze after the USMC decided to make me a mortarman. This version was done for an upcoming desert diorama (hopefully, by the time the entire diorama is finished, I'll have come up with a better background than the one I used for this picture).

















Parts: Head (UBP Short-Fuze), Body (UBP Steeler), Body Armor (ROC Pit Commando), Helmet (UBP Short-Fuze), Visor (Comic Pack G.I. Joe Hawk), Knife (UBP Short-Fuze), M9 Pistol (UBP Steeler), Holster (UBP Steeler), Thigh Pouch (bbi Elite Force), M224 Mortar (UBP Short-Fuze).

Supplies: X-acto knife, super glue, Dremel, paintbrushes, Polly Scale paints, Testors paints and Testors Dull-Cote.

Reference: None.

The base figure was not really modified in any significant way. I popped off the Steeler head and replaced it with the Short-Fuze head. Then, I repainted all of the black areas (straps, boots, holster, gloves, etc) using a slightly different color than his uniform. The body armor was trimmed to fit better and then the side flaps were glued shut so that they appeared as if they were fastened with velcro. The face was painted a darker flesh color, to appear lightly sun and windburned. I painted the appropriate parts of his pistol gunmetal. Finally, the entire figure was given a light coating of Testors Dull-Cote.

The mortar was a project all in itself. The version that has come with Short-Fuze since 1982 is weirdly inaccurate for reasons that I won't bore you with (remember, this was my primary weapon system in the Corps and even 10 years after getting out, I can still talk all day about it). I cut the barrel off about midpoint, flipped it around and glued it back on. This way, the bipod (called an M170, for those keeping track) extends from the midpoint of the tube, allowing for higher-angled fire. The baseplate (which is called an M8) was bent to sit flat on the ground and then painted OD green. The cannon (M225) was painted gunmetal. The appropriate parts of the bipod was then painted gunmetal, flat black and OD green. I created discarded ammunition tubes by cutting some wooden dowel and then painting them black (these simulate the cardboard tubes that the rounds are packed into for shipping). Once Short-Fuze and his mortar were placed into the diorama, these ammo tubes were scattered around as if they'd been discarded during firing. The cleaning staff (commonly referred to as a "donkey dick") was made from a small piece of metal rod with tape wrapped around the end. The bristles on these brushes were copper colored, so I painted them that color and then applied a lot of back to simulate the carbon that Short-Fuze is trying to swab out of the barrel.