While this figure is, technically, listed as a 2000 release, the reality is that he didn't show up until about three days before Christmas in 2000. Most stores didn't see him until 2001 and I have always considered him a 2001 release for this reason. Sadly, when stores started getting him in 2001, they didn't stop. Wave II (which included this figure) was massively overshipped and you could find Rock Viper/Major Bludd packs for $5 each into 2002. It was a sad fate for this figure as it's a solid mold, repainted to mimic a 1986 Viper and includes all his original gear. Fortunately, lots of people used this figure back in the day when he was cheap and plentiful. So, there's some great content on the Rock Viper from around the web in the links below.
2001 Rock Viper at JoeADay.com
2001 Rock Viper by gen_liederkranz
2001 Rock Viper by Pit Viper V2
2001 Rock Viper by tonegunsrevisited
2001 Rock Viper at GeneralsJoesReborn
2001 Rock Viper by Cobra Freak
2001 Rock Viper by gen_liederkranz
2001 Rock Viper at Icebreaker's HQ
2001 Rock Viper by the plasticeyeball
To me, it's blatantly obvious that these are Range Vipers that attach to a squad of regular Vipers.
ReplyDeleteNot any kind of Rock Viper lol
None of these 2000's era figures are seen much for sale these days.
The army builders are all in rows on some guy's shelf, waiting for him to croak or quit the hobby and sell them off.
DeleteBut at least the opened them. The 2020 HISS tanks are MIB in stacks with hoarders and scalpers.
100% agree w the comment above.^ These Rocky-Rangey Vipers attach to a squad OG 86 Vipers. In my imagination, they provide heavy weapons support (grenade launchers and mortars) to the 86 Viper squad. If Hasboro had ever given Cobra a decent SAW weapon, I'd have used Rocky-Rangey Vipers for that function too, since they have those nice red ammo belts.
ReplyDeleteThe weakest part of the figure is the white face mask. The details in the mask aren't very visible in this light color. The paint wash looks good on the figure generally, except on the face, where it washes out the detail further. Finding one w few paint wipes on the face is key IMO.
The toothy mask reminds me of some old Peanuts comics where Charlie Brown gets it in his head that his baseball team will do better if they "grit their teeth" when at bat. It doesn't work of course.
ReplyDeleteIt's still funny the best release of Range Viper isn't technically one. It was also the bets ARAHC cobra troop, though I guess some like Ice Cream Shock Viper better.