At this point in my collecting life, foreign exclusives have been part of my Joe experience for so long that I really don't have the appreciation for them that they probably warrant. It is amazing that the world has changed to a point where acquiring decades old toys that were exclusively released on other continents is commonplace. Figures like the Brazilian Gatilho were once nearly impossible find. Now, they are relatively common and most collectors have easy access to the figure, though they may be priced somewhat higher. We have knowledge of foreign releases and access to their home markets that allow anyone to add foreign figures like this to their collections. That expansion of the Joe world has been a heavy driver of the brand's momentum for over 20 years, now. Fan clubs, factory customs and licensed partners have all delved into the foreign Joe mythos. And, it's been only possible because there is so much information about non-Hasbro releases available.
Gatilho is pretty much what he's supposed to be. He's a weird villain wearing a Python Patrol uniform. His base is solidly military...a leftover from his Airborne roots. But, the colors are non-sensical in any form aside from membership in Python Patrol. The green, yellow and black is a visual treat, though. And, I'd have enjoyed this figure quite a bit had I owned him as a kid. As a collector, though, I appreciate that he brings the one element that was always missing from Python Patrol: named characters. Python Patrol was an army builder's panacea. But, a team with no leader didn't make sense. And, in the pre-factory custom world, Gatilho was the perfect choice to lead teams of Python army builders into action.
Gatilho has some limitations, too. His yellow waists makes him appear that he's wearing yellow underwear on the outside of his uniform. It's somewhat distracting. It does break up the figure's look. But, not in a good way. His kneepads are also unpainted. A quick application of black paint here would really help set the figure out. The busy camo pattern makes Gatilho's legs disappear. Black kneepads would help to break this up and give you a visual resting point on the figure. The rest of the colors are an odd mish-mash. But, they are true to the Python Patrol visuals. Really, it's amazing how well Gatilho and Relampago match up to the Hasbro Python Patrol figures. It's this consistency that makes the Brazilian duo so useful. They look like they are intended to match the Hasbro sub-team.
Gatilho has some limitations, too. His yellow waists makes him appear that he's wearing yellow underwear on the outside of his uniform. It's somewhat distracting. It does break up the figure's look. But, not in a good way. His kneepads are also unpainted. A quick application of black paint here would really help set the figure out. The busy camo pattern makes Gatilho's legs disappear. Black kneepads would help to break this up and give you a visual resting point on the figure. The rest of the colors are an odd mish-mash. But, they are true to the Python Patrol visuals. Really, it's amazing how well Gatilho and Relampago match up to the Hasbro Python Patrol figures. It's this consistency that makes the Brazilian duo so useful. They look like they are intended to match the Hasbro sub-team.
Back in 2003, I wrote up a whole backstory for this figure. And, had I not written it down, I'd have no recollection of it. I have less need for a complex and intricate origin for every character these days. Now, I just see Gatilho as a guy who leads some similarly dressed Cobras into battle. There's not much thought put into him beyond that. He might ride a motorcycle or a helicopter. But, those are just tools and not part of his character. I like the figure because he looks cool and is a perfect match for one of my favorite Cobra Trooper recolors. And, 20 years after his acquisition, that's enough. I like using him and I take advantage of that when I can.
Gatilho includes two accessories, but both are unique to this figure. The helmet is a yellow version of Airborne's original helmet, but with the molded goggles painted black. This additional splash of color helps to mute the bright yellow and gives the helmet far more character than was exhibited on the American Airborne. The figure also includes a charcoal colored version of Ripcord's rifle. This coloring is similar to the weapon included with the Tactical Battle Platform in the U.S. But, it has a glossier finish. Due to the figure's brittle thumbs and the rifle's large handle, though, I have never actually placed the weapon in the figure's hands. Instead, I use other, smaller handled weapons or have Gatilho posed like he appears in the photos below where he holds the rifle by the barrel or handle in a resting position rather than being ready to fire. The accessories fit the figure, but are not all that great. Having the helmet is worthwhile as the helmetless figure is a bit boring. But, there are other alternatives to Gatilho's weapon that allow for the budget conscious collector to skip that unique accessory and outfit him with something from the spare guns bin.
The Airborne mold was released several times. Hasbro released Airborne in 1983. He was available on a card and bagged as well. His torso and accessories were then used for the first version of the Steel Brigade figure. Then, the mold went to South America. (This is why the Steel Brigade was changed to the Duke torso and also why Starduster was switched to Duke's torso since Recondo was also sent away.) Airborne was released in colors based off his US figure in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. The final release of the mold appears to have been this Gatilho. But, foreign timelines are fuzzy. In the early 2000's, there were people in Argentina who claimed to have access to the Airborne mold and could make exclusive figures. No one took them up on the offer. (Which, was probably wise!) But, it implied that the Airborne mold existed at that time. It was just not in Hasbro's control. If this was true or if the mold might still exist are unknown. Factory Custom maker Black Major released an Airborne torso on his Steel Brigade figures in 2017. But, he never used the torso on another figure, despite the possibilities. Airborne remains an underrepresented figure in terms of untapped potential for repaints of the mold. But, it's unlikely to ever come to be.
While the Airborne mold was used quite a bit, I feel it was never really fully exploited. The Argentine, Mexican and Brazilian versions of the character all have nuances from the Hasbro figure. But, at their core, they are the same central theme based on the character's original appearance. The Steel Brigade usage of the torso was good. But, you have to find what is now one of the rarest Hasbro figures in the line's history to use on a custom to make use of the solid green color. Fail Safe brought back the Airborne helmet in 2023. And, it would have been awesome to have seen a drastic Airborne recolor to accompany Ripcord released some time after the Skystriker dropped. I feel there's a lot of potential left in the Airborne mold that could be used for a definitive version of the character. I don't think we'll ever see it, though.
In the grand scheme of things, this figure is rare. The brittle Brazilian plastic, lower overall production numbers and language barriers to its native release country all add up to a figure that does not exist in great quantities. But, despite all that, the figure is still very much available from South American Joe sellers and can even be found from American dealers with some frequency. Gatilho is still, though, a $80 - $100 figure if you want a mint, complete with filecard version. (You can get them cheaper if you can find an American seller with the figure, but that takes quite a bit of patience.) That's pricey for the Joe line. It is up to each collector to determine if this figure brings that kind of value to their collection. Personally, I find Gatilho and Relampago necessary members of my collection due to the holes they fill in the Python Patrol subset. But, if Python Patrol isn't a division of interest, then the value each figure brings to a collection diminishes.
In the grand scheme of things, this figure is rare. The brittle Brazilian plastic, lower overall production numbers and language barriers to its native release country all add up to a figure that does not exist in great quantities. But, despite all that, the figure is still very much available from South American Joe sellers and can even be found from American dealers with some frequency. Gatilho is still, though, a $80 - $100 figure if you want a mint, complete with filecard version. (You can get them cheaper if you can find an American seller with the figure, but that takes quite a bit of patience.) That's pricey for the Joe line. It is up to each collector to determine if this figure brings that kind of value to their collection. Personally, I find Gatilho and Relampago necessary members of my collection due to the holes they fill in the Python Patrol subset. But, if Python Patrol isn't a division of interest, then the value each figure brings to a collection diminishes.
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