I by no means had Airborne rising up, nevertheless it appeared like all of my buddies did. I distinctly keep in mind pretending that his backpack was a parachute, however that’s about all I keep in mind so he was by no means tremendous excessive on my most wished record. Typically that actually works in a determine’s favor that I’ve no preconceived notions. Let’s check out Franklin “Airborne” Talltree!
I’m nonetheless getting used to this new field model, however I believe I prefer it. The portrait on the aspect captures the character really feel properly and the scene render on the again is a pleasant reference to his Sunbow episode, Operation Thoughts Menace, the place Airborne assaults a secret Cobra Base on Easter Island. It’s one of many extra outlandish episodes as Cobra is experimenting on folks with psychic talents, considered one of whom occurs to be Airborne’s brother.
Airborne comes with a very good chunk of stuff together with a helmet, two completely different goggles, an evening imaginative and prescient attachment, a pistol, a rifle with removeable clip and silencer, a knife, and a backpack.
The pack is re-use from Duke which is the way it was again within the classic line. Whereas I just like the look of it high-quality, it doesn’t wish to keep on in any respect. The ratchets on the knees are so tight and the pack so free, each time I reposed the knees the legs, however vibration from the ratchet within the joint would pop the pack. I will need to have dropped this factor 20 instances whereas taking images.
The pistol and rifle are solid in grey plastic with no paint element and whereas not rubbery, they aren’t as stiff as I’d like (ahem) because the inventory on the rifle will bend when posed below the determine’s arm. They’re re-use from Firefly and might swap silencers and use blast results on the silencer barrel. The pistol and silencer match into the thigh holster securely. I’ve seen a whole lot of consternation on-line about Airborne not coming along with his authentic rifle. The road has made that gun already because it got here with the Crimson Guard, so whereas I’ve no connection or requirement for the inclusion of the unique gun, I may see the place folks would count on it.
The knife is similar grey plastic because the weapons and shops securely in a sheath on the chest overlay. Airborne’s helmet has a few goggle choices and I seen the match varies a bit. The helmet simply by itself is pretty free and the little straps will work together with the neck of his vest to knock the factor askew, so it’s important to fiddle with it a bit to get it centered and down round his eyebrows.
There are goggles which are wrapped up in inexperienced and I seen the helmet sits somewhat bit tighter with these on because it form of squeezes the form a bit. I’m curious as to why the goggles are lined on this means, I believe it’s one thing accomplished within the army, I simply don’t know why. Let me know within the feedback if you happen to do. It does have the impact of matching the one-colored helmet with goggles look from the unique toy.
He additionally comes with goggles that can match over his eyes. These are too brief to go over the helmet, however when he’s carrying each, the helmet stays on finest. You are able to do the trick from Dusty and put these goggles on backwards to have the helmet keep on extra securely however appear to be he’s not carrying them, nevertheless you may see them peeking out from the underside of the helmet behind if you happen to accomplish that. As with all goggles, I do want they have been translucent on the lenses so I may see the eyes beneath.
Lastly there’s a tiny night time imaginative and prescient goggle piece that attaches to the socket in his helmet in considered one of two positions. That is one thing the Valaverse figures have had for some time, so it’s good to see the Joe staff add it right here. It positively offers him a extra fashionable army really feel.
I just like the sculpting quite a bit right here. The portrait is square-jawed and good-looking and he form of jogs my memory of the Clones from the Clone Wars, however I believe the portrait works to convey his Native American heritage. The physique has some good refined fabric texture and reasonable folds. I particularly like all of the strap element on his overlay and the sharp strains on the helmet ear coverings.
I can’t establish if the legs are re-use as they give the impression of being new to me, however the arms seem like from Scrap-Iron and the the torso overlay is new. I used to be somewhat involved that for the reason that torso overlay is one piece with the belt and leg straps there wouldn’t be a lot torso motion, nevertheless it doesn’t hinder that too badly as he nonetheless will get some crunch and waist and full leg motion. He has normal Categorized articulation and all of it strikes nicely other than the insanely tight knee detents I discussed earlier.
Paint is nice, however fairly minimal and the face print is good and flawless. The physique is solid in that very gentle tan shade that I may use some matte spray or a light-weight wash as a result of it’s somewhat plain. There are some good element hits on the torso overlay, however there are some strap and buttons and buckles that might use somewhat element paint. The vest is fascinating as a result of within the Hasbro fanstreams they talked about how they toned it down a lot from the classic, nevertheless it nonetheless feels tremendous vivid to me. Not in a nasty means, I like that pop of blue a gap lot, however he virtually seems like they took the nice and cozy tan and aqua of the unique determine and dialed them to cooler colours.
General Airborne is a good army determine and whereas I’ve some nitpicks I like him fairly a bit. The Categorized line has a means of creating me love characters that I used to be by no means all that invested in earlier than shopping for the toy. Probably the most annoying factor is that backpack not staying on and this is likely to be the worst instance of that I’ve skilled on this line. Since he’s an airborne infantry-man it will be cool to get a parachute accent to make use of with him some day, however I’m closely influenced by the cardboard artwork in my G.I. Joe amassing so he’ll in all probability go along with my Dragonfly Helicopter when that arrives.
