Today, $20 doesn't even buy you a G.I. Joe figure. Super7 can be close. But, all the kickstarter figures are well over that amount. Hasbro sold figures for $20 and that was almost 5 years ago, now. But, back in 2004, $20 got you three figures, a Hiss Tank and an ASP. Such a set would be hovering close to $100 these days. But, back in '04, things were good. KB Toys had these stacked to the ceiling in some locations. Though, others got 1 case, if that. But, in general, if you were active during the Christmas season in 2004, you could have found an Operation Crimson Sabotage and added one of Hasbro's better sets to your collection.
The sheer notion of a classic vehicle, a towed set piece and three figures all in a box that was sold at regular retail with no collector tax is unfathomable. But, it was also 22 years ago. Which...also seems unfathomable. But, the Operation Crimson Sabotage has withstood the test of time. It was a good product in 2004 and remains a solid release, today. The colors were good. The figures were fine. The quality was in line with the era. And, the price was right. It's sad that those combos don't really exist in the toy world of today.
As a set, the Sabotage crew delivers. The ASP is the only alternate coloring of the mold. Red Hiss tanks have become passe. But, it was nice to get a cheap version at retail. Hasbro's reuse of the Crimson Guard mold in January of 2005 for a Toys R Us Crimson Guard Set also helped temper army builders since they knew they'd get their share of figures just a couple of months later. So, the set was good.
Today, you see it less often. In 2005, the Sabotage set was usually the centerpiece of the retail army builder's Cobra mobile legions. Now, you'll see the set from time to time. But, it's mostly faded into history: like a lot of the vehicle releases of the early to mid 2000's. I did find some content on it, though. So, click through the links below and let the creators know you appreciate their work.
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage Profile
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage by littlegreenmentoyz
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage by gen_liederkranz
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage at JoeBattleLines.com
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage by slipstream80
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage by gvilla74
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage by slipstream80
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage at Generals Joes Reborn
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage by atwooddan
2004 Operation Crimson Sabotage by littlegreenmentoyz
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