These 1998 figures are so old that they are, technically, vintage. (At least in antique terms....) But, to me, they are still relatively "new". Mostly, that's because they entered my collection when I was an adult. So, they have always seemed more like a collectible than a toy.
The 1998 Cobra Infantry Team is the single best army builder set that Hasbro ever produced. You got three nearly perfect army building figures for $10. The figures featured classic colors, plenty of paint masks and a cadre of well placed accessories. No other set that Hasbro ever did could live up to all those amenities and be offered at a price point that was actually conducive to multiple purchases.
And, purchase multiples, I did. There were at least three separate production runs of these figures: in the fall of 1998, the summer of 1999 and the holidays of 1999, again. So, there were several chances to acquire some sets. And, I bought a couple in each round. At the time, I thought I had bought too many because I didn't see a way to ever get 18 or 20 of any other figure. But, it turns out I didn't buy enough. Between late 2002 and mid 2004, I traded several carded sets of these to collectors based in Brazil and Europe. In exchange, I got many of my earliest international exclusive Joes.
Now, I don't get these guys out as often as I should. Not really sure why, though. I still think these are great figures and they are conducive to photos with a great many post 1984 figures. Maybe this will get me to break these guys out more often. They work so well with classic vehicles and figures. It's just too bad Hasbro wasn't able to capture this magic more often during the repaint era.
100% agree w what youveyouve2
ReplyDelete^ my kid jumped on me while I was typing lol. The publish got hit accidentally in the jumble lol
Delete100% agree w what you've written here. These guys are great. And as a bonus: Their crotches don't explode upon the slightest movement, like the 2006 Viper Pit set. These gus are quite durable, actually.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison to the 86 Viper, the 98 version does not have a Cobroa sigil. However, Toyhax has filled the void. It sells small gold Cobra sigils that fit perfectly on the figure's upper chest.
I love these guys so much. I use them as various upper ranks of my Viper Corps. The silver and gold paint masks help my imagination in that regard.
"But, to me, they are still relatively "new". Mostly, that's because they entered my collection when I was an adult."
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting point that I tend to agree with. No matter how old a toy gets, I'll always mentally categorize it as being among "that new stuff" if it came out from my late teens or onward. Glad I'm not the only one who has that habit. :)
More on-topic...this is definitely a solid set. It's not flashy, but it does exactly what it needs to do. It's amazing how much Hasbro upped the quality of the 1998 figures when compared to the majority of the 1997 offerings. A lot of good stuff among that 1998 bunch.
These troopers have come and gone out of my collection over the years. I reacquired the set of all 3 a few weeks back and have to saw they are great figures. A compliment to the classic 86 viper and fits in well with all the early 2000s Viper releases as well.
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