KREO GI Joe Collection

So I always liked the GI Joe: Real American Hero franchise as well as LEGOs. Recently, Hasbro started the LEGO-like KREO sets using the GI Joe theme.

The sets, ranging from small to large include:

Checkpoint Alpha with Firefly and Law & Order
Ninja Temple Battle with Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow and two red ninjas
Dragonly XH-1 Helicopeter with Wild Bill and Cobra Glider/Pilot
Serpent Armor Strike with Clutch and Cobra Robot Pilot
Cobra Armored Assault with Flint and two Cobra troopers.
Thunderwave Jet Boat with Cutter, Stalker, and Moray Eel
Battle Platform Attack with Duke, Roadblock, Cobra Commander

Individual blind packs can also be purchased which is how I got Scarlett, Rock N Roll, and GI Joe commander with actual fuzzy hair.

The sets are cheaper than LEGO. The mini-figures take some getting used to cause....well, they just aren't LEGO, but I've grown to appreciate them. The articulation is fantastic. They are a lot of fun.

Anyway, this set up includes the Dragonfly, Battle Platform, and Cobra Armored Assault vehicle.

Yo Joe!

Holy Grails - LOEB - 1/6 Scale Heat figures of Deniro and Kilmer

While I just discovered the League of Extraordinary Bloggers, there was one specific topic that caught my attention. What is the holy grail that I need for my collection. I would have to say it was something that I should have grabbed when they were on sale for $99, but then have never seen them again, even on Ebay. The 1/6 scale Dr. Figures "Heat" collection. Robert Deniro and Val Kilmer's characters were recreated by Dr. Figures. They came with a great assortment of equipment. The figures are dressed in their suits when they rob the bank in daylight in LA. I loved this movie. It was long and at times plodding, but the more I saw it, the more I grew to appreciate it. Another set was later released, with Deniro and Kilmer dressed in body armor when they use the ambulance and truck to rob an armored car. They also wore ski masks. Once again, no matter how often I look at Ebay, they never pop up. There are customers of Deniro but I want the box and accessories as well.

Apologies to Store-rooms.com for using the pictures. Can't find any other good photos.

Hake's Shopping Spree

My first entry for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers: Most of these are for sentimental reasons.

Go on a fictional shopping spree at Hake’s current auction #209 to make your collection a little more amazing.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK" BOXED MEGO ACTION FIGURE.

I had this as a kid after my godmother grabbed it for me while I was shopping with her. It was out of the package and thought we would be busted for stealing it. I tried to put it back. She diligently paid for it and I still remember to this day.

GI JOE 12" VINTAGE TRAINING CENTER IN BOX WITH BOXED MAN OF ACTION FIGURE.

My brother and I had this when we were kids. Hours and hours of entertainment.

STAR WARS EARLY BIRD PACKAGE WITH RARE LUKE SKYWALKER WITH DOUBLE-TELESCOPING LIGHTSABER.

Who wouldn't want this.

STAR WARS - IMPERIAL TROOP TRANSPORTER" BOXED BATTERY-OPERATED VEHICLE

One of my favorite Christmas presents of all time.

IDEAL KNIGHT OF DARKNESS ACTION FIGURE IN BOX

I remember getting this "cheap knock off" for a friend for his birthday. But to this day, I still remember it - it looked so cool.

Bonus - I set a limit of 5, but then couldn't resist.

STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - IG-88 LARGE SIZE ACTION FIGURE

Never had it.Always wanted it. Saw a friend get it for a birthday gift. Was sad to see the 12 inch line stop back in the day, but happy what has happened since with Kenner, Hasbro, and Sideshow.

MARX WYATT EARP PROTOTYPE FIGURE

I still collect some playsets and loved Tombstone with Kurt Russell...so a prototype Wyatt Earp would be pretty damn cool.

As for other League members.

Glad I saw someone else grab the Ideal Knight of Darkness.

http://aeiouwhy.blogspot.com/2013/07/league-post-return-to-hakes.html

"Awesome crap." I love it.

http://shezcrafti.com/a-bunch-of-awesome-crap-id-buy-from-hakes-if-i-wasnt-broke/

http://brandedinthe80s.com/11435/down-with-opp - Scout Walker rocks!

Basement Battlefield

Just a rainy day, and we decided to have a basement battlefield with a variety of toys and playsets. Obviously, the biggest one is the Marx Navarone playset. Also on the battlefield is the cave/mountains from Marx Dinosaur Playset, the Land of the Jawas base, legos, clay, styrofoam, and even Kenner Droid Factory parts.

Ah, the good old days.

First Toy Photo Ever

I've been scanning old photo albums lately, when I came across the first photo I ever took of my toys. I shot the photo of an old camera I bought at a garage sale for $1. It was about the same time as GI Joe: A Real American Hero figures came out in 1982.

It was just a simple photo of my first three figures - Short Fuze, Stalker, and Snake-Eyes. Short Fuze's head was cut off. The shadows are horrible.

But hey, it was the start of something fun.

Gentle Giant Yoda and Sideshow's Yoda Hut

I have been waiting for Gentle Giant to release their 12" vintage style Yoda for awhile now....why? Because the Sideshow Yoda's Hut has been sitting in my garage for almost three years. My daughter was playing with her dollhouse in the basement, I was reading, and she looked over and asked me. "Daddy, when are you going to open the big Yoda Hut?"

I said "why not right now!" Glad we did. That thing is impressive. Heavy, solid, expertly crafted. Lots of accessories...pots and pans, firewood, snakes and other assorted denizens of Dagobah. Also, a battery operated fireplace that glows. 

Some of the interior photos were taken by my daughter. She loved setting it up...even more than her Fisher Price house. She's been trained well in the Star Wars universe.

NECA Predator Series 8 - The Arrival of Dutch

While some have claimed that the NECA Predator line has jumped the shark (and I agree to an extent), NECA made true believers of us again by finally grabbing the likeness rights to Arnold Schwarzenegger so they could make his Dutch character from the first movie, 25 years later.

Series 8 includes the Jungle Extraction Dutch, in the long sleeve tan utility shirt/jacket, the Jungle Patrol Dutch with vest, and the Hunter Predator.

Great sculpting, including a cigar in the mouth for Ahnold!

Worth the wait? Wish it didn't take 25 years, but awesome!!!!! How about the rest of the squad? Mac, Blaine, Billy?