1986 Beach Head - Random Photos of the Day

Beach Head is who he is.  The original figure is a classic with a super fragile crotch.  Hasbro made a few repaints of him in the 2000's.  Now, there's factory customs featuring the mold.  And, they proved there was a lot of life in the Beach Head mold.  The real version of Beach Head, though, is the lime green Funskool version.  To this day, this 1986 figure seems bland to me because I view the Funskool figure as the default version of the character.

This doesn't take away from the original paint job's quality.  Beach Head remains one of the line's better overall figures.  The different aqua green color that is offset by the black vest and brown, camo pants works way better than the words describing it would indicate.  And, the figure's intricate details and perfect accessory complement complete the package for one of the highlights of the class of 1986.

Due to the ubiquity of the Funskool version in my collection, though, I rarely get this original figure out for photos.  When I want Beach Head, I'll go with the brighter version.  So, my usage of the Hasbro figure is deliberate.  And, you'll see that in the photos below where Beach Head is paired with his contemporaries for a specific look.

1993 Beach Head - Around The Web

I really like the 1993 Beach Head.  I find the design fun and the colors work.  Despite this, I find it difficult to use the figure all that often.  This is mainly due to the heavy use of blue in  the coloring.  It makes him Cobra adjacent and prevents him from meshing well with many other figures.  I've long liked him as a crew member on the 1984 Whale hovercraft.  But, I haven't had mine out in more than a decade.  So, I'm left trying to match up the figure with some of the vehicles that I do have available.  And, the results never live up to the idea of this Beach Head that I have in my head.  

The figure could use one more paint mask.  A little silver would to a long way towards bringing out the details on the mold.  Even a paint mask on his goggles would add a lot to the head.  But, I still like the figure as it is.  I long used him as an army builder.  But, those days are passed and I mostly just pose him as Beach Head among some of his contemporary figures.  

1993 Beach Head Profile

1993 Beach Head at Nekoman's Viper Pit

1993 Beach Head by purple_cobra75

1993 Beach Head by 1990s_gi_joes

1993 Beach Head by HCC788

1993 Beach Head by evilface

1993 Beach head by viper_space

1993 Beach Head by ptytoys2021

1993 Beach Head by Nekoman

1993 Beach Head by Dok Sewage

1993 Beach Head by thedustinmccoy

1993 Beach Head by fun_time_at_serpentorslair

1994 Beach Head

One of the reasons I maintain this site and write voluminous amounts of words about G.I. Joe is that it also serves as a means to preserve memories.  When I first started doing this, it had only been three years since I had last bought vintage Joes at retail.  My childhood playing days were only slightly more than a decade removed.  Memories were fresh and vibrant.  So, I started to write them down.  In the twenty years since, many of those memories have faded away.  But, since I had recorded some of them, my recollections of earlier days proved a mnemonic device to help keep some things recallable.  But, some details are now lost to time forever.  I can tell you for sure that I picked up a 1994 Beach Head at retail sometime after 1994.  I am no longer certain, though, if I also found the 1993.  I know that the color differences on Snow Storm were enough for me to realize that two figures were different versions.  But, I no longer remember if I found the 1993 Beach Head at retail.  Even my review of that figure from 21 years ago makes no mention of my first acquisition.  I am certain of my 1994 figure, though.  But, we'll get to that detail later.

One oddball relic of my 1990's collecting days is that I never really got around to properly sorting all the boxes, cardbacks and paperwork that were included in various retail purchases.  As I was still in school at the time, I didn't have room for everything and only kept the boxes from the Shark 9000 and the Cobra Parasite.  Into these boxes, though, I stashed the full cardback of every figure I bought at retail.  I had kept filecards as a kid and still had them around.  But, but the mid 1990's, I realized that I missed out on the full cardbacks.  (There was one, random, full Torpedo cardback that was in a cabinet behind the bar in our basement.  I don't know why.  It was probably there for more than a decade before I got around to rescuing it.)  It was not a mistake I'd make a second time and I kept all of my 1990's era figure cardbacks fully intact and stored them in the Parasite box.  At various points, I took them out of that box and put them into another.  But, the stack of those cardbacks was maintained and not co-mingled with other, later acquisitions.  This has given me a decent record of which figures I bought at retail during that time.  (Though, not all of them as several cardbacks from 1992 and 1993 did disappear: likely as inadvertent additions to a trash pile.)  These figures are complete with price tags which help me place them into various acquisition spaces.

It is here that I am assured of my 1994 Beach Head.  First, I recall the yellow vest.  It was something difficult to reconcile at the time. (As were the yellow weapons.)  But, once I found a niche for the figure, he then worked.  I also have the cardback for the figure stashed among my other acquisitions of that era.  And, it is the 1994 cardback.  I'm pretty sure I found him at a Toys R Us near Cincinnati, OH back when I frequented a couple of stores in the northern suburbs.  Regardless, though, the yellow vested version of this figure was my first exposure to the mold and became a player in my small collection of the mid 1990's.  

The centerpiece of my 1990's collection was the Shark 9000.  For some reason, I was interested in both maritime combat as well as underwater adventures.  Finding the boat at a local K-Mart for 1/2 price certainly helped that, though.  My initial crew for the Shark 9000 was standardized.  The included Cutter was at the helm.  The 1993 Keel Haul was in the command seat and controlled the on board combat operations.  The 1994 Shipwreck took the third seat and was the onboard combat diver.  (He might also hide away in the torpedo hold if the 1993 Duke needed to be aboard for any reason.)  The 1994 Dial Tone manned the gunner's position in the turret.  I needed my gunners to be able to communicate and I really liked removable helmets for them.  The crew was completed by the two side gunners.  One, on the helm's side, was Ice Cream Soldier.  The other side was home to this Beach Head.  I didn't like how shallow the gunner's stations were, so I always bent the figure's knees to get them closer to the weapons they operated.

From here, the Beach Head was a nameless, faceless gunner.  He's often die, hit by stray bullets from the more deft Moray gunners.  Sometimes, he'd be able to clear out the back of the Moray and prevent a cadre of Eels from going overboard to cause havoc.  But, more often than not, he was the anonymous casualty of a battle.  A guy who had a job and died doing it.  During the mid 1990's, angst was the word of the generation.  But, personally, I saw it more as futility.  You could work hard, be successful and still have it all not matter.  And, that's how I viewed most of the guys who fought Cobra.  They'd fight hard, die quickly and be forgotten and replaced by another person without the Joes giving it a thought.  I explored that expendable human life notion quite a bit in those days.  And, even today, I'm left with struggles about the the insignificance of a single person.  I even think about old Joe collectors who dominated some early forums and discussion places and have since passed on.  With one exception, I'm about the only one who remembers their names and contributions.  

Today, though, this figure isn't much used.  I prefer the 1993 paint job and will use it when I want a rendition of later figures to be the subject of a photo.  So, aside from photos specifically for this profile or a later photo feature, this 1994 Beach Head is rarely used.  Had my Shark 9000 held up to the heat better, I'd probably have it on display with this figure among the crew.  Instead, the multiples I have of this yellow vested figure sit in a drawer, awaiting the time when I need them.  At some point, I'm going to resuscitate my Hovercraft and that will, likely, open up more avenues for photos with this figure.  Until then, he sits tucked away in a closet with the rest of my collection that rarely sees the light of day.

The one upside to the 1994 Beach Head is that he includes the same weapons as the 1993.  The same was not true of the 1994 Alley Viper, the only other full repaint in the 1st wave of 1994 figures.  Sadly, though, Beach Head's weapons aren't great.  They are bright yellow and include an eclectic assortment of weapons.  There is a 1988 Spearhead rifle, sans the strap, as the centerpiece weapon.  Then, he includes the weird double pistol from the 1989 Recoil that simply never made any sense.  He has the requisite 1988 Shockwave Pistol along with a knife, spring loaded launcher, missiles and a stand.  With the yellow vest, this Beach Head is better matched to his weapons.  But, today, black versions of the 1986 Beach Head machine gun are cheap and easy to find.  And, this figure looks much better with that and a black V1 Beach Head backpack than he does any of his included gear.

Beach Head is a mostly new mold.  He features the legs from the 1988 Shockwave: just reversed.  This mold appeared in 1993 and then got this repaint in 1994.  Right after this, the mold was sent to Brazil.  There, Armadilha was released.  This was a new Cobra character that used the 1993 Beach Head mold.  The colors are similar to the Hasbro version from 1993.  But, they are different when compared.  (Check out my profile on Armadilha to see the difference.)  The figure probably works better as a Cobra.  But, the colors are so close to the Hasbro release that it's tough for me to see them as different characters.  For those who don't much care for the 1993 Beach Head figure, though, that may be less of an issue.  While it's a near certainty that Hasbro had the mold during the 2000's, it was never used.  Even the Convention Shockwave was given legs so Hasbro didn't have to look for this mold.  While there's a lot that could have been done to make this mold pop in terms of alternate color schemes, the reality is that it made no sense to force this as Beach Head when the superior 1986 mold was available.  While I'd have loved to have seen this figure repainted, I would have been about the only one and three uses for it are good enough...even if they are all very similar.

For many years, I considered this yellow vested Beach Head figure somewhat rare.  This was entirely driven by the fact that in 1999, I was corresponding with an influential collector and dealer.  He had been active through all of Joe's late retail years and possessed an amazing collection.  Yet, he did not have a yellow Beach Head.  I'm not sure why.  But, it was one of the final figures he needed.  At the time, carded 1994 figures could be somewhat difficult to track down.  So, I had my feelings of rarity reinforced by observation bias.  Even as the figure started to appear with frequency in later years, I held steadfast to the notion that this was a "rare" retail figure.

And, to be frank, he kind of is.  While not rare by any means, the 1994 repaints seem to be less prevalent than other 1994 figures.  And, 1994, in historical terms, probably saw the lowest retail production numbers of any Joe year.  Collectors, though, regarded the 1994 series with ranges of hatred to complete indifference.  So, the figures remained available and cheap (especially MOC) through the 2000's and into the 2010's.  But, in the last few years, supplies have started to dry up and collectors are finally seeing the downstream effects of the low production numbers.

That hasn't, though, translated to super high prices.  While it can still take a while to find a mint and complete 1994 Beach Head, you can buy them for under $15 when they do appear.  In fact, it seems the more common 1993 figure is the more desirable and commands a premium while the 1994 is relatively ignored.  Even carded versions, when you can find them, run under $40.  Considering the lower production runs of 1994, that's probably a pretty good deal.  But, with the market crumbling, it will be interesting to see if the skyrocketing prices of 1993 and 1994 figures are able to sustain themselves or if they will fall back into historical norms due to the fewer collectors who specialize in them.  

Funskool Beach Head

As my collection has grown, I find that my preferences for figures changes.  While I once held the figures from my childhood in the highest esteem, I am now more open to their flaws.  And, as such, I've discovered that some of my childhood favorites are simply no longer even considered as candidates for photos or profiles.  Many later acquisitions, though, have held up better.  But, even figures I first acquired in the 1990's have suffered from my expanding roster of figure options.  It doesn't mean these old favorites are bad.  I just like other options better.  This became very evident to me, though, when I recently commented on a photo of the Funskool Beach Head figure.  This figure has now been in my collection for so long that I consider him a staple who feels as if he's always been there.  And, in a fleeting moment as I typed, I realized that the Funskool Beach Head, in his lime green glory, has completely and utterly replaced the 1986 Beach Head as the de facto version of the character in my collection.  As my profile of that figure from 2014 is dated and sparse, it gave rise to an opportunity to revisit a figure that, truly, has become one of my favorites in the long and vast history of the Joe line.

We first have to look at the history of the Funskool Beach Head in general.  He is one of the earliest Funskool offerings, dating to at least 1995 and maybe even earlier.  From the beginning, though, the figure was not colored like the American release.  This is rather odd.  We know that Hasbro was very adamant in maintaining consistent looks for certain characters.  This is why the oddly colored Funskool releases in the early days were accompanied by other variants of the figure that were more in line with the original coloring.  Only characters that Hasbro no longer cared about were left to be fully "Funskooled" with bright colors.  Beach Head doesn't seem a candidate for this treatment since he was prominent in the early cartoon and was always a collector favorite.  But, you can also make an argument that his departure from the more muted greens of the Hasbro release are less a change than something like a bright yellow and blue Major Bludd.  Early Beach Heads had some darker green base colors.  But, they were offset with a bright yellow vest with matching blood red highlights and head.  These monsters are rare and expensive.  So, in contrast, the lime green variants that came later seem more in line with the U.S. figure.  

Once the lime green figure came to be, they were released for a long time.  During the years preceding 2001 or so, Funskool produced tons of minor variants of the figure.  There are brown eyebrows, black eyebrows, dark grey highlights, light grey highlights, black hands, green hands and various colors of vests, blue cammo and brown pants.  If that's not enough, there are black guns, light grey guns, dark grey guns, dark green backpacks, black backpacks, lime green backpacks and hard and soft satchels.  It's probably impossible to document all the combos any more.  But, there are dozens of variants.  But, when Funskool imports to the U.S. began at toy dealers in 2001, Beach Head had been out of production for a while.  A few lucky collectors were able to find old bagged samples as vehicle drivers in the influx of Funskool vehicles of the day.  But, generally, Beach Head was out of circulation and hard to find.  But, in 2002, Funskool brought back a few old favorites.  Along with Flint, Airtight, Scrap Iron, Zarana, Buzzer and Ripper, Beach Head returned to production.  Between 2002 and 2003, there are, again, many slight coloring variants.  In 2003, Hasbro got the mold back.  And, thus ended one of Funskool's most popular, enduring and iconic figures.  

So, now, we revert back to before all that happened: to 1986.  In this year, Hasbro released Beach Head.  The figure quickly became a favorite of all my Joe collecting friends.  He was kind of like Snake Eyes with the masked head.  But, he had very militaristic gear and definitely filled a different role than the Joe's silent icon ever would.  And, he became one of my favorite figures, too.  He and Leatherneck formed a team that lead many adventures in my room, my grandparents' backyard or the front steps of my grandfather's home in Buffalo.  He went everywhere and was a vital part of my collection.  Until he wasn't.  One reason is that I left a Leatherneck figure in the hemlock bushes next to those limestone steps in Buffalo.  I didn't get a new one for a year.  Another reason is that I broke Beach Head's ammo pack and I hated breaking accessories.  I then used the figure as pieces for new, custom characters.  Eventually, I replaced both Beach Head and Leatherneck and had solid versions to use.  But, by then, the 1987's were overtaking my collection and Beach Head kind of fell away.  As an adult, I was slow to take the figure back up.  He was a figure that looked cool.  But, I had lots of newer options that filled the same purpose when I went to take photos.

In very early 2002, long before Funskool announced the figure would return to production, I was able to trade for a bagged vehicle driver Funskool Beach Head.  He arrived in my mailbox one snowy Saturday and the figure immediately captured my attention.  The lime green was just as striking as I had imagined (there were few photos of the figure online in those days) and he was everything I wanted in a foreign repaint.  Suddenly, I found this figure appearing in some of my photos...photos that would never have included the American figure.  The brighter colors popped against dark backgrounds.  But, at the same time, the general overall hues worked.  He wasn't the Funskool Wild Bill, all decked out in orange.  He had the basics that allowed him to be useful along with more traditional Joe figures.  But, he had added visual appeal that garnered attention when he was showcased.  When the carded Beach Heads were released a few months later, I picked up a couple to get both his gear but also a carded sample of a classic character.  In the ensuing years, I acquired a few more and now have half a dozen samples here that remain a hallmark of my photo repertoire.  

Because of all that, I now view the Funskool lime green version as the default for Beach Head.  I rarely even consider the U.S. figure at all any more.  It's an interesting phenomenon as it speaks to the changing nature of being a collector.  I've owned this figure for nearly 20 years.  In that time, I've taken thousands of Joe photos.  And, I've easily spent more time on the hobby in that time than I did between 1986 and 1987: when the American Beach Head would have been at his apex.  But, the more exuberant green has turned the Funskool figure into my main vision of the Beach Head character.  When I see the Classified Beach Head as an homage figure, I first think that the color is wrong.  Then, I remember that the lime green I associate with the character is actually his foreign variant.  It's weird.  But, it also is normal.

My main interest in the figure is the striking visual he represents when placed in various photos or when combined with other figures.  But, also, the more vibrant Funskool colors allow for me to really appreciate all of the subtle details on Beach Head's mold.  His red shoulder really stands out.  And, the lighter browns and blues that comprise his legs also seem to be better offset against the brighter color.  In short, he's just more fun to look at.  And, because of that, this Beach Head has found a very valuable place among my most used figures.  He drives vehicles, sits in the background or dominates a photo.  I have a couple just so I can display in different locations all at once.  While he may not hold this presence over other collectors, he does to me.  And, so, for that reason, he is Beach Head in my collection.

The upside to Funskool was that they included all of Beach Head's original gear.  The Russian figures and the 2002/2003 re-releases all include a dark green backpack.  It's tough to see at times.  But, it's definitely green and also allows you to better see the details of Beach Head's pack.  The rifle included with the Funskool figure is lighter in color than the Hasbro release.  There are versions that can be darker and tougher to differentiate.  But, the later releases are visually distinctive and can be flimsy at times.  Beach Head's ammo pack is also brittle.  It will snap if you toss it over the figure's chest too many times.  And, it's not unheard of to find dried out ones that have already snapped while still on the card.  So, the Funskool accessories really aren't better than the 1986 Hasbro versions.  But, they are easier and cheaper to acquire...kind of.

Beach Head got the standard two year release by Hasbro.  He then disappeared.  A huge number of 1986 molds were released in Brazil.  But, Beach Head was not among them.  As he appeared early in the Funskool line, though, there's more than enough to collect.  You could probably find 100 Beach Head variants if you looked long enough.  And, much of his mold was also used on the Funskool Skydiver figure, offering you some additional parts colors to play with.  Funskool returned Beach Head to Hasbro in 2003, though.  Collectors wanted the figure, even though he was readily and cheaply available from US importers.  In 2004, the club released a Tiger Force Beach Head.  The figure is interesting and actually looks great next to the Funskool version.  Sadly, this figure didn't include Beach Head's original gear.  Which, was odd since the Dreadnoks who had also been recalled from India and were first used in this set did have their original weapon molds.  In 2004, Hasbro dropped Beach Head into the Toys R Us exclusive Night Force set.  Again, his original gear was gone.  And, that was the end.  A desert Beach Head would have been cool.  As would have an Arctic Beach Head.  So, there's still life in the mold since he's such a popular character.  Perhaps we'll see him from Pulse.  But, that will likely be either a 1986 homage or a cartoon appearance color scheme.  (Which, would be OK.)

Funskool Beach Head pricing is based on the variant.  Some bagged vehicle drivers just missing the gloves will fetch $300 or more.  But, the reality is that carded figures from the 2002 - 2004 production runs (including a widely available Russian exclusive) were heavily imported.  Collectors bought up the figure in droves due to the classic gear and the fact that, at the time, American Beach Heads were substantially more expensive than the $4 that a carded Funskool version would set you back.  Tons of collectors bought the Funskool figure just for the gear and used it on their American figures.  Now, that popularity has lead to a more common and easy to find Funskool offering.  Carded Beach Heads remain common.  But, they will run you between $30 and $50 depending upon various nuances or impatient buyers.  Loose figures are harder to find and still command a premium.  You'll probably spend $20 or more to get a mint and complete version.  But, seeing as how American Beach Heads appear to be $50 loose figures these days, even the carded price is a palatable option.  

2004 Night Force Beach Head - Around The Web

The Night Force set was pretty much ignored by collectors for years.  And, since this Beach Head figure got three different releases (in the TRU Night Force set, the TRU Moray and as a single card figure that was sold at discount stores) collectors of the mid 2000's were sick of him.  But, now, figures like this Beach Head have found a new interest.  Of course, he's now as old as a 1988 figure was when this Beach Head was released in 2004.  But, still, it's tough to see this figure now commanding a premium.  

It's not easy to find individual uses of this figure.  Most Beach Head photos are the 1986 or the Funskool version.  Both of which are nice.  And, both of which I prefer to this Night Force version.  But, after some digging, I found enough on him to showcase him from Around the Web.

2004 Night Force Beach Head Profile

2004 Night Force Review at Generals Joes Reborn

2004 Night Force Beach Head by Tituslester32

2004 Night Force Beach Head by 334inch_figures

2004 Night Force Review at JoeBattleLines

2004 Night Force Beach Head by Tituslester32

1986 Beach Head - Around the Web

Beach Head is a classic Joe from the line's glory days.  In some ways, he was a little too close to Snake Eyes's appearance with his covered head.  But, the rest of the figure more than made up for that similarity.  He's a perfect blend of mold, coloring and accessories.  Here's the best of him from around the web.

Beach Head Profile

Beach Head at JoeADay.com

Beach Head Dio 1

Beach Head at 3D Joes.com

Beach Head Video Review 1

Beach Head Dio 2

Beach Head Video Review 2

Beach Head Dio 3

Beach Head Dio 4

Funskool Beach Head - Around the Web

I got my first Funskool Beach Head 15 years ago.  The lime green was an excellent way to bring some color to the character and remains a visual treat.  The figure is very common now and most collectors have ample opportunity to acquire one.  He remains one of my favorite foreign figures.  Here is the best of him around the web.

Funskool Beach Head profile

Funskool Beach Head at JoeADay.com

Beach Head at Action Figure Adventures

OreoBuilder's Funskool Beach Head inspired customs

Funskool Beach Head at JoeCustoms.com

Funskool Beach Head at JoeDios.com

Diorama - Walk the Plank

Some Eels leading Beach Head to a watery doom.

This was the waterfall I had at one of my houses.  It wasn't very deep and had a side pool which hid the filter and pump.  It was OK for photos and you can see it often in my 2005 - 2012 photos.  It was a nice part of the yard.  But, the control box tended to leak a little bit of water and was always full of scorpions.  So, doing any work on it was a pain as you never knew what would crawl out when you started moving rocks around.

Funskool Beach Head

There are some figures in my collection that I hold in high esteem that, frankly, make no sense.  They are brightly colored oddities that really don't belong in a military themed line.  But, due to their striking colors and contrast, they hold my attention.  There is no reason to like a lime green repaint of a figure whose American version is one of the better figures from 1986.  But, the bright colors lured me in and have kept the Funskool Beach Head as one of the better liked foreign repaints in my collection.

The Beach Head figure is classic.  He was released at the height of the line and had appearances in the comic and cartoon.  The mold is full of detail and added much greater depth to the Ranger specialty than the original Stalker figure had.  The head is somewhat large and round, but that is forgivable due to the overall quality of the figure.  The colors of the American figure are a dark hunter green offset with black and brown.  Funskool took a similar approach, but replaced the dark camo on the pants with brighter blue and, more drastically, changed the hunter green to lime.

It is this lime color that gives this figures his cache.  For whatever reason, the bright green really resonated with me and this figure quickly joined the Tiger Force Outback as brightly colored foreign figures that got way more use in photos and dios than their color schemes deserved.  It is eye-catching and starkly different than most figures you see in the Joe line that aren't from 1993.  The fact that it is such a different paint job on an iconic mold, though, really adds to the fun.  It makes Beach Head a little less serious, but also a little more useful since there is now a different look for him when putting figures on display.

There are, literally, dozens of Funskool Beach Head variants.  They vary from the major variants with the red vest to subtle color changes in the paint on the figure's neck.  There were several variants made between 2002 and 2003 as well.  You will see figures with brown eyebrows and black eyebrows in the photos below.  Each figure has subtle differences in the greens, greys and blues on the figures as well.  There a few of these small variants that can fetch high prices.  But, the biggest price disparity is for the early Beach Head figures that have the major coloring differences.  But, if you want the standard lime green version, most are similar enough that one variant isn't particularly desirable over another.

The figure's accessories also have various variants over the years.  The more common figures have a black ammo pouch and a grey submachine gun that is similar to the American figure, but is somewhat lighter in color and of flimsier construction.  However, early Beach Head figures also came with black firearms.  So, that is one of the harder to find Funskool variants.  The modern Beach Head has a very dark green backpack.  So dark that it often appears black in photos.  But, it is green.  There are some Funskool figs with the black pack, but they are from production runs earlier than 2002.

The Beach Head mold has a short history.  After the figure's American release, it was not seen again until it popped up in India.  In 2003, Hasbro re-acquired 18 molds from Funskool.  Beach Head was one of them.  The figure was immediately used by Hasbro in the Toys R Us exclusive Night Force set in 2004.   Master Collector also jumped on the Funskool bandwagon for their 2004 Convention set and released Beach Head in a Tiger Force Color scheme.  It has not appeared since then.  While the mold is collector favorite, the reality is that the original figure was nearly perfectly colored the first time around.  The Night Force version was decent enough that it gave collectors something different and the Tiger Force version joins this Funskool figure as an oddball collectible.  While I would have like to see Beach Head in desert colors, that was not to be and we have likely seen the end of this mold's usages.

In 2002, Funskool started producing this figure again.  For the next year, American dealers were able to import large quantities of Funskool Beach Head figures and sell them for under $5 each.  After Hasbro re-acquired the mold in 2003, these cheap Funskool imports ended.  Now, a decade later, the collecting world still has not fully absorbed the quantity of figures imported.  Today, you can purchase a Funskool Beach Head for around $10 carded.  That's more than they were, but still a pretty good price for a figure that's been out of production since 2003.

Armadilha (Brazilian Exclusive Alley Viper Commander)

I've long had a soft spot for Brazilian figures. They simply offer so much to a collection. Due to the overall exotic allure of the figures, even mundane, poorly colored molds can take on new collecting importance. Such is the case with Armadilha. On the surface, this figure is a barely repainted 1993 Beach Head figure. But, this Brazilian release features just enough superficial differences for him to be a major player in my collection. Of course, the most important difference is that Armadilha is a Cobra. He is a Cobra that is unique to Brazil and he has no American counterpart. Frankly, there are a lot of Brazilian figures who were released as Cobras in South America even though they were Joes in the US. Of them, though, only Armadilha has really gained widespread notoriety.

Many collectors simply regard Armadilha as an Alley Viper commander. This likely came from the fact that Armadilha was released in the same wave as an Alley Viper (Mortifero) in Brazil and that Armadilha includes yellow versions of the Alley Viper's accessories. There is no indication on the figure's filecard, though, that he is associated with the Alley Vipers in any way. However, many modern collectors have simply accepted Armadilha in this role. As the Alley Vipers lacked a true commander, the ascension of Armadilha is a logical step in filling this void in the Cobra hierarchy. In the few instances where you will see Armadilha appear, it is almost always in this capacity as leader of the Alley Viper forces.

In my collection, Armadilha is still evolving. Years ago, I concocted my own leader of Cobra's urban forces when I acquired Relampago. I like Relampago in that role and am not willing to move him aside for Armadilha. I've always viewed this mold as more of a maritime character than anything. As such, I could see Armadilha becoming the leader of the Lampreys. Unfortunately, in that capacity, Armadilha's use would be limited. While the Lamprey is one of my favorite molds, it is tough to use in my desert environment. He could also become the land commander uniform for the leader of the Eels. In this role, though, his use would even more limited as it is rare when I use my Eels outside of water settings. And, it wouldn't make much sense for Armadilha to change out of his diving suit while those in him command did not.

However, as I spend more time looking at the figure, I do find myself linking him in with the 1997 Alley Vipers. Those figures are my favorite coloring of the Alley Viper character and are somewhat elite since they can be tough to track down. So, I could see Armadilha evolving into a lesser Cobra commander who's sole charge is an elite group of Alley Vipers. They would be the highly specialized division of the Alley Vipers, the guys called into an area first, or after it has gone so bad that standard troops no longer are sufficient. This would allow me to keep Armadilha as more of a combatant. I have enough politicians in my Cobra ranks and, every now and then, it's nice to find a Cobra character who is on par with the Joes. Cobra wouldn't be all troopers and leaders afraid to risk their necks in combat. They would have to have combat commanders. Ultimately, I think that is the role that will occupy Armadilha's time.

Quality-wise, Armadilha is right in line with his Brazilian contemporaries. His paint masking is not as tight as those on the American version of the mold, but it is still better than you would find from Funskool. (The last few waves of the Brazilian Joe line show signs of the paint masking quality slipping as the you will find slight over spray and inconsistent application of the paint on most samples of the figures.) The plastic is close to American figure quality, but is still a bit more brittle. It is much easier to break this figure's thumbs by simply using his accessories than it is to break those of an American figure. But, Armadilha isn't so fragile to render him useless. Like all Estrela figures, you simply have to handle this figure with a bit more care.

You can see a photo below that compares Armadilha to the American Beach Head figure. Armadilha has brighter green pants and the blue on his arms is slightly richer than Beach Head's. The true difference lies in the figure's under coloring on the chest and face. Beach Head is a much brighter green. Armadilha is quite dark and that more subtle base makes quite a difference in the appearance of the two figures. With the dark coat on his upper body, Armadilha's brighter green pants are actually a nicer offset than the more subdued green on Beach Head. That gives Armadilha some nice depth and allows him to be a figure that is more recognizable in photos and dioramas. The rest of the figure has the same black trappings as Beach Head and Armadilha does not feature any painted details that are not present on his American counterpart. (All Brazilian figures from Armadilha's era simply use the American paint masks, though the colors may be slightly different.)

Armadilha's accessories leave a lot to be desired. While he does include versions of the Alley Viper gun and shield, they are colored bright yellow. He also includes the standard spring loaded missile launcher and yellow missiles. This entire series of figures from Brazil basically mimicked their American counterparts in terms of accessory colors. So, Armadilha has yellow accessories to match Beach Head, Anjo De Guarda has blue accessories to match Keel-Haul, etc., etc. It's an unfortunate trend but one that is easily rectified. A simple swap of Armadilha's yellow accessories for the fairly easy to find black versions from American Alley Vipers simply makes all the difference in the world. (Much like the '93 Beachhead with the black backpack from the original and the black gun that was released in 2002 is an entirely different look than the same base figure with yellow accessories.) As such, a figure sans accessories isn't one to pass by should the price be right.

Loosely translated, Armadilha means "trap" in English. Now, a code name like "Trap" is fairly unimaginative and lame. But, in Portuguese, the name takes on a different dimension. Knowing the meaning behind Armadilha's name gives the character more depth. The commander of an elite unit of Cobras who is known as "Trap" connotes the type of missions that Armadilha and his men would undertake. It brings a bit of mystery and intrigue to a character who, were he named in English, would be somewhat forgettable. That's why I try to incorporate foreign names whenever possible. Many of these characters would blend into the background without a great name. And, their foreign moniker often provides the distinction that I crave in my collection ranks.

Armadilha marks the last appearance of this mold. It is probable that the mold died in Brazil and will never be available again. In a way, that's too bad as the mold is very high quality and someone with a vested interest in new figure design could easily turn this mold into something special with just a few new colors. Alas, that will likely never happen. In the meantime, though, the idea of the Armadilha character could easily be resurrected into a newly amalgamated figure. Armadilha has enough fame that he wouldn't be just a random homage to foreign figures and enough collectors know of him to make a new figure appealing enough to consider. I doubt it will happen any time in the next few years, but it is a possibility that, were it to come to fruition, I would like to see.

Armadilha is the hardest figure of his wave to find. Time was that all 8 of the figures from this wave and one immediately preceding it were equally easy to find. In time, though, collectors slowly absorbed the Armadilha and Mortifero figures. After that, Tiro Certo started to disappear. Now, Armadilha is rarely seen for sale with his contemporaries. But, when he is, the figure isn't pricey. Even MOC, Armadilha is still available in the $20-$25 range from American sellers. There were a lot of the later series of Brazilian Joes who were imported to the U.S. As such, there is stock out there that can be had. For my money, that's a fair price to pay for an exclusive Cobra character from Brazil. In fact, it's about the cheapest price you'll pay for an exclusive Cobra character from Brazil! But, Armadilha's similarity to the American Beach Head figure definitely keeps interest in the figure lower than it otherwise would be. The reality is that you can buy a MOC version of an exclusive Brazilian Cobra character for less than the going rate of several of the shorter run 25th Anniversary Joe figures that will still be shipping for months. But, that gives the savvy collector a great opportunity to add this figure to their collection without breaking their budget.

2004 Night Force Beach Head

Beach Head has always been a popular character. I think it mostly stems from the overall quality of his original figure. From there, the character was able to spawn a loyal fan following even in the wake of some less than familiar molds. Beach Head was one of the most requested Joe characters for inclusion in the new Joe line and has already had 3 figures and 2 distinct molds made for him. For many collectors, though, nothing really compared to the original Beach Head mold. Despite the hard-to-top quality of the original color scheme, most collectors wanted to see a repainted original Beach Head. Fortunately, when this finally happened, the figure was well done and a perfect addition to a Beach Head collection.

Much has been written about the Night Force. Some people hate it with a passion. Personally, I think it one of the best done repaint sets we've seen out of Hasbro since the original line. The figures feature intricate details, sharp colors and a mold selection that hasn't (at least to those who only collect American figures) been overused. The 6 figures on the team look like they belong together. However, unlike the Tiger Force set, these figures also work well on their own or mixed in with other, vintage figures. That is what makes the set so successful. The figures are Night Force, but they are not limited by that role. The original Night Force figures all blended together and got boring after you had three or four of them. This new set, while maintaining some consistency, doesn't portray that same similarity. That's not to say the set is perfect. The total lack of creativity on the part of the included accessories is almost enough to sink the entire concept.

Every theme pack released prior to Night Force featured at least a few of the figures with updates of their original accessories. Night Force did not. While the weapons were at least black, they were the same ones we've seen over and over again and they don't go with these figures. The characters in the Night Force set: Flint, Roadblock, Short Fuze, Tunnel Rat, Beach Head and Tracker (released as Action Man in the set) all featured unique accessories that were so well done that they became part of their characterizations. (OK, maybe not Tracker, but his raft does make the figure!) For Hasbro to completely skip even any of these accessories in this pack shows, in my opinion, a low regard for the collector market and a laziness that is really starting to appear in other areas of the line as well. Hopefully, the management over there will get someone in place who can right the ship before things sink too far. (Remember, the '94 Joe line was actually pretty good but the crap of '93 had made it impossible for the concept to be salvaged. I hope history is not repeating itself.)

The Beach Head mold hasn't had quite the history of some of the other members of the Night Force set, but it has been around. Aside from his American release, the figure saw a long production life in India. There, Beach Head was produced in a few different paint schemes, the most common being the lime green version that was re-offered in 2002 and 2003. Beach Head, though, was among the original 18 molds that Hasbro re-acquired from Funskool. This NF Beach Head is the Funksool mold with updated date stamps and copyright information. Going forward, my guess is that this figure is going to end up being overused. It is a fan favorite and has appeared in the Night Force set and is slated to appear in the upcoming Convention set (probably in Tiger Force colors) as well. Hasbro has a very bad habit of overusing good molds rather than trying to find something new. They did it with the Viper, Alley Viper, Roadblock, Mirage, Firefly and a variety of other figures. Rather than leaving well enough alone, I would expect that Beach Head's legacy will be tarnished by the sheer multitude of times that Hasbro will produce this mold. It's sad as figures that should remain collector favorites are done to death and is another reason why I think Hasbro's reacquiring of molds from Funskool will, eventually, be regretted by collectors.

In my collection, figures of this mold serve multiple purposes. I'm a notorious Joe army builder and I do like to have a few extra Beach Head figures around for use as S.W.A.T. troopers or a tactical commando unit. Mostly, though, I use this mold as Beach Head and have him part of a small team of Joes who are mostly used for the dirtiest and nastiest missions. This figure looks like someone who would mostly work on highly dangerous and secretive projects so I add him to any missions that would require something like that. This figure works in whatever regard I choose. I just have to re-accessorize him so that he has equipment fitting his mold.

In the long run, I think that this Night Force set will prove popular. The combination of excellent molds, great colors and the Night Force name will definitely make this set one that future collectors will want to track down. (Even if it is all Joe themed!) While I don't think these sets will sell out before the end of the year, I do think that they will move more quickly than the Tiger Force sets did and could rival the Python Patrol in terms of popularity. As always, if you want a set, I recommend getting one now. They are shipping all over the country and can still be purchased online for $20. Night Force is a theme that always sits well with collectors and this set only continues that tradition. If all the future repainted ARAH-style Joe offerings from Hasbro continue to exhibit this type of quality in design, then I will gladly put up with delays in production. (The accessory problem, though, definitely needs to be addressed!) I think that collectors are going to consider this set one of the key pieces of any post-original line Joe collection. It is an honor well deserved.

1993 Battle Corps Beach Head

Back in the summer of 1996 I was a Joe buying fool. As the line had been cancelled, I was on a mission to find every different figure I could before all the toys disappeared from retail. As such, I often did not discriminate as to the figures I bought as I simply followed the mantra that if I didn't have them, I needed them. Of course, the strategy landed a number of less than stellar figures in my collection. However, it also gave me a keener appreciation for many of the figures that were released at the end of line. These figures that I bought at retail became the backbone of my collection as my older stuff was all buried away in a closet at my parents' house. As such, I used these later figures in a variety of capacities and really expanded their characterizations as they had to fill many roles in my collection. Among these figures is one that I have long thought a decent mold and excellent colors, but never really used beyond a niche capacity: the 1993 Beach Head.

1993 is generally considered one of the worst years ever for Joe figures. Though there were nearly 100 original figures released, most were horribly colored or utilized lame gimmicks that really had no place in the Joe line. In my opinion, it was the '93 figures that really killed the line. The '94 lineup was very solid and showed a return to what made Joe great. However, by that time, it was too late. The aftertaste of the '93 assortment was just too great and there was no saving Joe from its original cancellation.

However, while '93 as a whole had its problems, it did give us some very nice figures. The recent Mirage repaint has shown there were some decent molds released in 1993. They were just poorly colored. There were a few places, though, where the figures were done right. Cutter, Duke, Spirit, Cobra Commander, Snow Serpent and this version of Beach Head all utilized decent color schemes on solid molds. The fact that they were all known characters should have helped them. Unfortunately, though, Beach Head's look was so ingrained that this figure has become a point of collector scorn. If you look at the mold itself, though, it is a nice update the Beach Head character. He retains the face covering while adding a protective helmet. The chest is a bit bulkier than earlier figures, but has detailed web gear that suggest the character's abilities. (My one major beef with '93 and '94 figures is that the molds were well detailed, but those details were left unpainted. As such, a cursory glance at the simple paint jobs leaves many people with the impression that the later molds don't have as much to offer as their predecessors. This is simply not the case. The detail is there but is obscured in simple paint schemes.)

As with most of the '93 and '94 figure molds that were well done, Beach Head suffers from one fatal flaw: his accessories. He includes a tree of bright, neon yellow guns that ruin what could have been a great figure. However, as accessories are easily replaced, this slight drawback can be easily remedied. Personally, I like outfitting this figure in the same manner as the original mold. This used to be fairly difficult as the original Beach Head is a highly sought after figure that many collectors consider to be a key component of any Joe collection. However, there is currently a Beach Head figure available in the Wave 3 new sculpt figure wave. He comes with the Beach Head pack and and a nice, black version of the gun that looks even better with this figure. As we move away from Wave 3's retail availability, though, there is another option. For about $4 and change you can get a Funskool Beach Head figure that comes with excellent accessories that fit this figure perfectly. (Plus, you get the ammo pack that is missing in the newest American release.) With these new accessories in place, this figure's value quickly rises and he can become a welcome addition to any collection.

For me, this figure has had a myriad of uses. First and foremost, I used him as a maritime Joe army builder. He represented random troopers who specialized in harbour, shoreline, and ship to ship combat. They weren't divers, but soldiers who were trained to repel boarders, operate aquatic vehicle mounted gun stations, patrol harbours and docks, and just keep maritime operations flowing. In this capacity, the figure served the longest. In fact, his first duty was manning the side gun stations on the Shark 9000. He later branched off onto the Whale gun stations. From there, though, the figure stagnated. However, the recent interest in Beach Head gave me occasion to revisit this figure. When I pulled him out of the '93 drawer, I was amazed at the level of detail the mold was given. At that point, I decided to re-classify this figure as a new, original character. (Topside has also replaced this guy as my maritime Joe army builder.)

Going forward, I see this figure in a role closer to what was Beach Head's originally intended specialty. He will be more of a self sufficient commando and soldier who is utilized in self supporting missions. I haven't come up with a name for him, yet, but will probably match him up with a characterization in my database in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I'm still determining just how important a role he will play. This figure has long intrigued me, but was never able to really grab my attention. Now that he has, it will be interesting to see how long he holds it. Keep checking the dioramas and profile pictures on the site for the next few months. If you see this guy lurking among them, then you know that his popularity has survived beyond the proverbial 15 minutes.

This figure mold has a bit of an interesting history. First off, he utilized the legs of the highly popular 1988 Shockwave figure, only they are reversed. Second, this figure was repainted in 1994 and released with a bright yellow vest. Third, the figure appears to have been planned for a 1995 release. There exists box art for a planned set of "Arctic Commandos". It was intended to be a retailer exclusive product that was to be offered as part of the 1995 line. The box art shows silhouettes of two figures that appear to be the Sub Zero mold and this Beach Head figure. The intended color scheme is not shown, but I think this figure could have been quite nice were he done right in an arctic scheme. Finally, this mold was also released in Brazil as Armadilha. This figure is nearly identical to the American release, but has one important difference: the figure was released as a Cobra. However, the figure itself has no markings indicating the change in affiliation for the mold.

As far as availability goes, the 1993 Beach Head is pretty easy to find. Over my Joe buying years, I've picked up about 5 of them. Even mint and complete, you can get them without too much effort. Even carded, the figure should barely cost over $12. For that price, this guy is a great addition to any collection. Sure, the accessories suck, but what you save in the cost of the figure can be applied to any of the options listed above to properly accessorize this figure. While I know that many people simply will not be able to associate this figure with the Beach Head character, the figure itself is simply a great addition to a collection. I use this figure as a new character, faceless maritime soldier, or aquatic gunner. The lack of distinguishing facial features allows for more leeway in play and has made this figure one that has seen a lot of use in my collection when you consider that it's only been recently that he's become a true, original character. I think, given a chance, this version of Beach Head can prove a nice member of any collection, regardless of his use.

Funskool Exclusive Sky Diver

Some time ago, during one of the frequent flare ups in the Joe newsgroup, a noted collector of foreign Joes made a statement along of the lines of, "when you grow up and get grown up tastes, foreign Joes will be of the most appeal to you as a collector". At the time, I figured no way. I hated foreign Joes and found absolutely no interest in them. At that time, though, I had about 250 unique figures and about 500 overall. Now that I've got over 450 unique figures, the few that are left in the line hold little appeal to me. That's why I have yet to acquire them. As such, there is very little out there that I really want. In my attempt to continue the expansion of my Joe collection, I've had to find new avenues in which to do so. Earlier this year, I picked up a Chinese Major Bludd. Shortly thereafter, I acquired a Tiger Force Outback. The bug had bitten me. Now, I've found myself seeking out foreign Joes. Not too long ago, I found a source for several Funskool Joes from India. Of these, Skydiver is the most unique.

Skydiver represents everything that is so wrong about non-U.S. Joes as well as everything that is right about them. His color scheme is terrible. This figure is as bad as they come. Had he been a U.S. release, this guy would knock Crystal Ball and Big Boa out of the worst action figure ever perch. Because he was only available in India, though, this guy has a mystique about him that makes the figure very cool. They would never have released this guy in the U.S. The color scheme is just too whacked. This is what makes non-U.S. figures so much fun. They use the same molds with which we are familiar, in this case it is Crazylegs and Beach Head, but color them in different ways that makes them dramatically different from their U.S. counterparts. This is what is so fun about non-U.S. Joes. They aren't in realistic military colors, but do reflect the fact that they are toys. While collectors may gripe and moan about how they don't like unrealistic figures, we have to remember that we are collecting a children's toy and that is for whom it is designed. Since that is still the case in many other countries, foreign Joes have a sort of innocence about them that makes them that more appealing.

One thing about Funskool Joes is the flimsy cardbacks upon which they come. I had heard about how flimsy the cardbacks were, but I was not prepared for when I first held a Funskool figure in my hands. I have resume paper with more tension that those cardbacks have! They are not much stronger than normal, run of the mill printer paper. I don't know how these things could ever hang on a shelf without tearing under their own weight. Because of this, finding mint cards on Funskool figures is nearly impossible. For me, though, I'm after the figure on the card. I like figures that are differently colored than their U.S. counterparts. Some of the Funskool figures have unique card art that was not available in the U.S. (The General Flagg comes to mind.) I also like these figures as they offer the Joe collector something different that not everyone is used to seeing.

Funskool Joes aren't too tough to find. There are some that are considered among the rarest Joes ever produced. As Funskool was still manufacturing Joes at least until February of 2000, though, there are others that are very easy to find. I paid $8.00 for this figure, as well as 8 other Indian exclusive figures. You do have to look, but you can find many of the Indian Joes for a very reasonable price. For this reason, I've found the Funskool Joes to be a new, interesting way to grow my Joe collection without dropping hundreds of dollars for some of the South American figures. As I've exhausted the possibilities for my American Joe collection, there are thousands of variations of those figures and molds from other countries that help keep the hobby interesting and challenging. Some of you who know me know that this stance is dramatically different from the position I held only a few months ago. I see myself maturing as a Joe collector and moving on past things like army building and searching for some Shadow Ninja. Foreign Joes are an excellent avenue to grow my collection. Being a completist of foreign Joes would be impossible, but it's that vastness that creates such exciting opportunities. As we head into 2001, we'll see if I continue to search for non-U.S. Joes. I have a feeling that I certainly will.

I'm getting into non-U.S. Joes. If you have some Funskool, Estrela, Plastirama, or European exclusive figures with which you are willing to part for not too much money, email me.