The Year of Joe Took a Slight Detour

As you know, 2020 was to be the Year of Joe - a focus on building my GI Joe collection from the years 1982-1987.  I went to a model train show near DC hoping to find some odds and ends. There are always a few toy dealers with non-train toys there as well. I did not find a single Joe, but I did find a box of Playmates Star Trek. In particular, I saw a LT Saavik from the Wrath of Khan.

I did purchase a collection of the Diamond Select Wrath of Khan 7 inch figures years ago.

I've never been a big Star Trek fan but picked up a few Playmates back in the day. Also, I loved the Wrath of Khan...one of the few I enjoyed.  And the packaged Playmates figures are so cheap. I have also grown to appreciate the sculpting and scale a lot as well.

Anyway, I didn't buy any of those - should have - but then starting surfing around Ebay. I found a packaged lot of 50 for relatively cheap. And then it started - I had to get the classic figures, then the movie figures, then the classic pilot figures, and then on and on. The coronavirus stopped me but I got to a good place which should give me plenty of material to do some cool dioramas.

So, to start - these are the figures from the pilot episode - The Cage - which did not have Captain Kirk. Rather it had Captain Pike. Spock was there. And of course Vina, the green girl. I would rather they had the human version of Vina.

There is at least nine points of articulation for most of these figures.  Vina's arms and legs don't bend. The Talosian's arms bend but his cloak covers the arms and doesn't really allow him the bend the arms. Oh well.  I always liked that Playmates added accessories and kept costs down by molding all the accessories in one color. Works for me.

Anyway - I present you with the four Classic figures from Playmates Star Trek - from the pilot episode - The Cage.

The Year of Joe - August Collection Update

 As I mentioned, August was pretty thin and I had prewritten several posts. I had intended to update the end of month Joe update but it was Monday. No excuse. I received these last Sunday - still August - from a fellow collector. So these should be included in the August update. I love the Joe File Cards. They are so much fun to read and look at. What a brilliant idea from Larry Hama. They are timeless.

Year of Joe - August Update

These are from a group of late 80s Cobra troopers. Love it.

The Year of Joe - May 2020

The year of Joe continues even during a pandemic. This month was a bit light (except for the Thunderbolt) but more on that in a bit.

New Year's Day
New Year's Day Addendum
January
February
March
April


I was out of work for three months and quarantined. So watched my budget. Thankfully started an awesome new job this week with a one mile commute. Well, once we go back to the office.

I managed to sneak out to Tosche Station yesterday to ensure I had some figures for May. Managed to grab Roadblock and then the original three Dreadnoks: Torch, Ripper and Buzzer. And the MOBAT tank.  I've had the MOBAT before. Love that tank. Remember getting it for my birthday in 1983?

And here is the Toys R Us exclusive A10 Thunderbolt with Hawk and Ace. While not a "vintage" plane from 82-87 that I am focused on, a real depiction of the A10 Thunderbolt/Warthog is pretty damn cool. Didn't know this existed until a month ago.

This still in a sealed box but I intend to open it soon.

And if you want to know what the A10 is really like, read these awesome articles from Ben Thompson's BadAssOfTheWeek site.

The A10 Warthog
Kim Campbell - "Killer Chick" A10 Pilot