Cobra Air Trooper w/Jet-glider & New Camo

[malcadon]

I had this figure for over a year now, but something always felt missing. As cool as jetpacks are, they are not that practical. Then one day, I saw Yves "Fusion-Man" Rossy in TV, and I was blown a way!!! I had to do the same for the Air Viper (on the other hand, I use to have a Starduster figure, but part of his jetpack was missing, so I replaced it with Devastator's chest-plate, and it looked so much cooler).

This glider was made from a cardboard box - two layers, with wedged struts (they keep the wings straight and aligned to the pack). The wingspan is 6" for the figure, and 9' by scale. The "tailcoats" under the jetpack is a heat-shield to protect the pilot's legs from the burning exhaust. The camouflage used - urban/night blues - is typical for Cobra Night Watch, but it looks good on any "blue-shirt."

I assume that Air Troopers are elite Viper Officers who use "blue-shirt" fatigues to cut-down on excess weight - when using jet-gliders, every little ounce counts.

I know Cobra already have gliders and the C.L.A.W. jet-glider, but they look so bulky and have too much junk (like the forward-facing guns) on them to be practical. I like this much better - its small and its simple!

(sorry for the shitty quality - I'm still figuring out the camera)

 

[lancelot]

That's an interesting paint scheme.

 

[Rick]

Awesome! I like thought put into being as realistic as possible

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Great concept Malcadon. It would make sense to have a smaller type glider instead of something so easy to shoot out of the sky. The paint scheme would work pretty good in the skies but the figure is more improved with not just having the basic blue.

 

[G.I.*EDDIE]

i dig it...especially the camo...very cool that you applied it to the troop also

 

[Monkeywrench]

Very cool! I like it much better

 

[malcadon]

Thanks guys.

When it comes to G.I.Joe - well, at least in my own Joeverce - I favor realism, and practicality. It come as a forethought with my customs.

It might sound like I'm critical over the C.L.A.W. jet-glider, but I like the design as it can also work as a remote-control drone (it was notes in the blueprint that come with the toy), and I like that sort of utility. I just dont like the guns.

As for the blue camo, it is based on Navy camouflage. This is the pattern I was trying to emulate (but kept simplistic):

I have been working on other forms of camouflage. With this old Snake-Eyes figure, I wanted something that marks him as a commando and a modern ninja. The pattern I gave him is something I call "streaker" camo. They are streaks of grays and black that dont so much hides him in the background, but distorts his profile as he runs around - much like zebra strips. I'm not finished with him yet (they are supposed to look like long, pointy sideways chevrons, but they make him look like he was run-over by a truck LOL).

 

[Fled74]

Nice repaint. It looks more believable now.

 

[MAJOR BLOOD]

Streaker camo? I've seen that pattern at one of the strip clubs going out towards Dayton!

 

[xhairs]

very cool man.

 

[xxxx]

slick!