Showing posts with label Recoil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recoil. Show all posts
Saturday, January 30, 2021
1989 Recoil - Random Photos Of The Day
Recoil is a great figure that suffers from poorly colored gear. With some different weapons, though, he takes on a whole new appearance. He's one of those figures who's a great background filler in dioramas and photos. He supports a wide variety of other figures. I've got lots of extra photos of him from the past few years for this reason. I really like the combo of him with Gnawgahyde's sniper rifle. It seems to fit with Recoil quite well. Let me know your thoughts, too!
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Diorama - Tomahawk
Another shot from a fall day in 2001. I was setting this up as a series of photos for some profiles. Few of those came to pass. But, I got this dio with the Tomahawk. I really liked the visual of Snake Eyes on the rope at the time.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
1989 Recoil - Around the Web
Recoil is a figure I like so much that I've profiled him twice. The baby blue weapons are the real negative to him. But, there are lots of black M-203's from the 2000's era Joes that outfit him nicely. And, if you can find a cheap Steel Brigade figure, you can get his gun in charcoal as well. (Good luck with that these days, though.) Here's the best of the character around the web.
Friday, March 21, 2014
1989 Recoil
The Joe line is littered with great figures. Even in the line's final years, it is possible to find a figure that truly stands among the classics. As the line progressed, though, Hasbro did allow imperfections to creep into many releases. Little things like a splash of neon, lack of accessories or unpainted details slowly started to erode the overall quality of the Joe line and made it so that when they did get everything right, those figures really stood apart. Of the figures, though, who have slight flaws, those who can be easily redeemed tend to still maintain some relevance in the collector world. One such figure is the 1989 Recoil.
Recoil was one of my best early discoveries when I first returned to Joe collecting in the late 1990's. I first acquired the figure in one of the various lots of 1988 and 1989 figures I tended to buy in those days. My initial impression of Recoil was that he was a great figure. The green base and sleek design were a perfect match for what I liked in a figure. The fact that he was not a character with which I was familiar and that his head was somewhat obscured made him an ideal figure for a Joe themed army builder. For the first few years, this was Recoil's role. Armed with a Python Patrol Copperhead rifle, Recoil was mostly a nameless army builder who would kill or be killed in skirmishes with the various Vipers I most liked at the time.
Eventually, though, Recoil grew out of this role. If you look at many of my early photos, you see that Recoil is a staple. While I never really concocted any sort of character for Recoil, I did want to use the figure since it worked so well in outdoor environments. Slowly, though, Recoil lost much of his luster. Most of the figures I acquired in the 1990's eventually did as I acquired more and more figures during the 2000's. When it was time for this profile, I thought I had actually sold all my Recoil figures and only found a complete one buried in a junk box full of other, forgotten, figures in the garage. It's doubtful that Recoil will even ascend to the previous heights of use he enjoyed a decade or more ago. But, he's still useful to have around and is a nice way to fill out a photo or diorama.
Recoil's success lies in his simplicity. The figure is, basically, just two shades of green with some brown thrown in on the extremities. Really, the mold would benefit greatly from additional paint masks that would bring out the details in the mold. The grenades and hooks on the figure's chest would look great in silver and they would add a realistic aspect to Recoil that would actually make him better. But, the base green is so strong that these missed details can be forgiven. The weakness of mold are some of the bizarre details that give Recoil his personality. First, he wears a very open zippered shirt. It's an odd look for 1989. But, was something that the Joe designers seemed to use from time to time to give figure's different appearances. The second odd aspect are Recoil's sunglasses. These bright green spectacles give Recoil a bug like appearance. They make you wonder what he has to hide. But, they also offer a degree of anonymity that helps to either establish Recoil's character or embrace the lack thereof.
Recoil is a great mold in realistic colors with excellent accessories. On the surface, he should be one of the more popular Joe characters from this year. But, he has one fatal flaw: baby blue accessories. Recoil's rifle is one of the best Hasbro ever produced. But, colored the way Recoil's is, the weapon becomes worthless. The combination of rifle, grenade launcher, bayonet and sight all make for a perfect sculpt. The colors just ruin it. (Fortunately, a black version of the rifle is available with the highly common Version D Steel Brigade figure.) Recoil's second blue weapon is just odd. A double handled weapon with a pistol on top and shotgun on bottom was silly. It's relatively useless, even before the color becomes an issue. The two decently colored Recoil accessories, his pack and case, though, are also exceptionally well done. The backpack is small, compact, detailed and has an antenna. Details like this helped make the figure more interesting and suggest that Recoil has a great many talents and would be an asset to pretty much any Joe team. The case is well sculpted but rather superfluous. But, is one of the little extras that made Joe so much fun. Recoil may not have used the case, but it was nice to have it if you ever needed it for an adventure.
Recoil was released in the U.S. the one time and not re-used again. The figure also saw release by Hasbro in Europe and China. The real life for the mold, though, was in Brazil. Estrela never actually released Recoil, but they did have the mold and used it for a variety of exclusive figures. His head, chest and arms appear on the brightly colored Tigor figure. His chest was also used for the amazing Cobra Flying Scorpion character. The mold saw more use in South America than it ever did by Hasbro. The mold seems to have perished in Brazil, though, as it never appeared after those releases. The figures released at the same time as the various Recoil inspired figures have also never appeared. So, there is no accounting for where the figure could be.
Recoil figures are typical of 1989 figures in terms of availability and pricing. They are not hard to find and can be had between $8 and $12. However, due to the plastic and rivets used in 1988 and 1989, finding a Recoil with uncracked elbows and no discoloration is getting harder and harder to do. Even well cared for figures are starting to deteriorate a bit and there is likely no stopping the process...only delaying it. Still, as you can see from the photos below, having elbow issues is not enough to render the figure useless. The overall quality of Recoil makes it easy to stop worrying about those small imperfections and allows the modern collector to enjoy the figure for the design that it is.
Recoil was one of my best early discoveries when I first returned to Joe collecting in the late 1990's. I first acquired the figure in one of the various lots of 1988 and 1989 figures I tended to buy in those days. My initial impression of Recoil was that he was a great figure. The green base and sleek design were a perfect match for what I liked in a figure. The fact that he was not a character with which I was familiar and that his head was somewhat obscured made him an ideal figure for a Joe themed army builder. For the first few years, this was Recoil's role. Armed with a Python Patrol Copperhead rifle, Recoil was mostly a nameless army builder who would kill or be killed in skirmishes with the various Vipers I most liked at the time.
Eventually, though, Recoil grew out of this role. If you look at many of my early photos, you see that Recoil is a staple. While I never really concocted any sort of character for Recoil, I did want to use the figure since it worked so well in outdoor environments. Slowly, though, Recoil lost much of his luster. Most of the figures I acquired in the 1990's eventually did as I acquired more and more figures during the 2000's. When it was time for this profile, I thought I had actually sold all my Recoil figures and only found a complete one buried in a junk box full of other, forgotten, figures in the garage. It's doubtful that Recoil will even ascend to the previous heights of use he enjoyed a decade or more ago. But, he's still useful to have around and is a nice way to fill out a photo or diorama.
Recoil's success lies in his simplicity. The figure is, basically, just two shades of green with some brown thrown in on the extremities. Really, the mold would benefit greatly from additional paint masks that would bring out the details in the mold. The grenades and hooks on the figure's chest would look great in silver and they would add a realistic aspect to Recoil that would actually make him better. But, the base green is so strong that these missed details can be forgiven. The weakness of mold are some of the bizarre details that give Recoil his personality. First, he wears a very open zippered shirt. It's an odd look for 1989. But, was something that the Joe designers seemed to use from time to time to give figure's different appearances. The second odd aspect are Recoil's sunglasses. These bright green spectacles give Recoil a bug like appearance. They make you wonder what he has to hide. But, they also offer a degree of anonymity that helps to either establish Recoil's character or embrace the lack thereof.
Recoil is a great mold in realistic colors with excellent accessories. On the surface, he should be one of the more popular Joe characters from this year. But, he has one fatal flaw: baby blue accessories. Recoil's rifle is one of the best Hasbro ever produced. But, colored the way Recoil's is, the weapon becomes worthless. The combination of rifle, grenade launcher, bayonet and sight all make for a perfect sculpt. The colors just ruin it. (Fortunately, a black version of the rifle is available with the highly common Version D Steel Brigade figure.) Recoil's second blue weapon is just odd. A double handled weapon with a pistol on top and shotgun on bottom was silly. It's relatively useless, even before the color becomes an issue. The two decently colored Recoil accessories, his pack and case, though, are also exceptionally well done. The backpack is small, compact, detailed and has an antenna. Details like this helped make the figure more interesting and suggest that Recoil has a great many talents and would be an asset to pretty much any Joe team. The case is well sculpted but rather superfluous. But, is one of the little extras that made Joe so much fun. Recoil may not have used the case, but it was nice to have it if you ever needed it for an adventure.
Recoil was released in the U.S. the one time and not re-used again. The figure also saw release by Hasbro in Europe and China. The real life for the mold, though, was in Brazil. Estrela never actually released Recoil, but they did have the mold and used it for a variety of exclusive figures. His head, chest and arms appear on the brightly colored Tigor figure. His chest was also used for the amazing Cobra Flying Scorpion character. The mold saw more use in South America than it ever did by Hasbro. The mold seems to have perished in Brazil, though, as it never appeared after those releases. The figures released at the same time as the various Recoil inspired figures have also never appeared. So, there is no accounting for where the figure could be.
Recoil figures are typical of 1989 figures in terms of availability and pricing. They are not hard to find and can be had between $8 and $12. However, due to the plastic and rivets used in 1988 and 1989, finding a Recoil with uncracked elbows and no discoloration is getting harder and harder to do. Even well cared for figures are starting to deteriorate a bit and there is likely no stopping the process...only delaying it. Still, as you can see from the photos below, having elbow issues is not enough to render the figure useless. The overall quality of Recoil makes it easy to stop worrying about those small imperfections and allows the modern collector to enjoy the figure for the design that it is.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tigor - Brazilian Exclusive
Collectors of Brazilian Joes have a few common favorites. These are figures that are relatively easy to find, have distinctive colors or parts combinations and have been in the collector conscience for more than 10 years. The names are easy for most collectors to spout off: Escorpiao Voador, Abutre Negro, Relampago, Gatilho, Marujo, Ar Puro, Cobra De Aco, etc, etc, etc. One of the figures that collectors have found favor with is a Frankenstein of 2 obscure Joe molds repainted into an orange and green medly. From that description, you would never think that collectors would care about the figure. But, Tigor has become a figure that many collectors enjoy.
Tigor includes 2 accessories: a crappy plastic tiger and a wonderfully colored version of Recoil's original rifle. In the US, Recoil's rifle was only available in baby blue with Recoil. In the '90's, though, it was finally offered in black with certain versions of the Steel Brigade mail in. Tigor features this same rifle, but in a bluish grey color. Again, the description doesn't do the actual item justice. The rifle is a perfect match for the figure and decent look for such an important accessory. Without it, Tigor is certainly lacking. The tiger, though, is less important. While it is Tigor's namesake, the tiger itself was not developed for the Joe line. Estrela produced a line of cheap plastic animals, the type of thing you would buy at a grocery store for $1 here in the US. The took the molds from these sets, recolored them, and packaged them with each of the Forca Fera figures. As an oddity, the tiger is neat. As a valued Joe accessory, it is relatively worthless. But, it is, technically, part of the figure and should be included with any complete figure.
In my collection, Tigor is a great scene filler. He works perfectly in the G.I. Joe HQ, or as crew on board a vehicle. But, beyond that, I have never characterized the figure. While I spent a great deal of time developing a back story for his sub set mate Urzor, I never did the same for Tigor. On the surface, I'd say Joe characters weren't as interesting to me. But, that's not true as I have developed very intricate back stories for many Joe characters. I think the truth is that I just didn't know what to do with the figure. I never counted on him being a great addition to a collection. But, I have owned him and known what a quality figure Tigor is for over a decade now. So, that theory doesn't hold. Really, I can think of no reason why Tigor hasn't been developed in my collection.
But, that doesn't mean the figure isn't visually striking. The orangish red jumpsuit actually works and the green highlights complement it perfectly. Tigor's blue sunglasses give him an air of mystery and the leather colored gloves and boots give the figure the depth that collectors enjoy. The figure could use some additional painted details on the chest to further highlight the quality of the mold. But, the overall paint job is on par with American figures and I find Tigor to be substantially superior to many of the late year American "neon" figures.
Tigor was released in the Forca Fera subset. This small group consisted of Tigor and Leontor (A Backblast repaint) as the Joes and Urzor (A Cobra Repeater) and Kangor (Big Boa) as the Cobras. All the figures featured unique card artwork (Kangor looks like he's boxing his kangaroo and is the most unintentionally funny cardart in the entire Joe line.) In Brazil, there were ads and marketing materials displaying these figures together. It was a poster with the 4 figures on it that initially sparked my interest in the entire set. There was just something about that simple marketing material that made me want the figures. There were only 4, which made the set attainable. The repaints were extremely well done. And, the overall notion of an animal patrol was different enough from anything in the US to pique my interest.
As a rarity, Tigor has gotten much harder to find than he was a few years ago. But, that has more to do with the increased popularity of South American figures than it does his availability. There are a lot more collectors vying for Brazilian Joes when they appear for sale than there used to be. The result is higher prices and more scarcity since people are buying the figures to hold rather than to flip. But, this doesn't mean that the figures are not attainable. There are still strong collecting ties in Brazil that continually offer Estrela's exclusives to American collectors. On top of that, many long time collectors have had occasion to acquire these figures and are out of the market for them. They are still pricey and can be more frustrating than most collectors would like. But, they are no where near as rare as some of the early Funskool exclusive figures.
In 2001, I bought a carded Tigor for $35. At the time, it seemed ridiculously expensive as I thought I could get for about $25. But, after a month of searching, I just went for it. I immediately opened that carded figure. Now, a decade later, loose Tigors will hit $100 if they are complete with the cardback. Carded versions will go as high as $175. For those prices, I would never have likely acquired the figure. But, that would have been a shame. Tigor is just one of those figures that should not work, but does. His look is unique and not something that most collectors would think they like. But, once you get Tigor into your collection, his quality is mesmerizing and he quickly becomes a figure that you never wish to part with.
Tigor includes 2 accessories: a crappy plastic tiger and a wonderfully colored version of Recoil's original rifle. In the US, Recoil's rifle was only available in baby blue with Recoil. In the '90's, though, it was finally offered in black with certain versions of the Steel Brigade mail in. Tigor features this same rifle, but in a bluish grey color. Again, the description doesn't do the actual item justice. The rifle is a perfect match for the figure and decent look for such an important accessory. Without it, Tigor is certainly lacking. The tiger, though, is less important. While it is Tigor's namesake, the tiger itself was not developed for the Joe line. Estrela produced a line of cheap plastic animals, the type of thing you would buy at a grocery store for $1 here in the US. The took the molds from these sets, recolored them, and packaged them with each of the Forca Fera figures. As an oddity, the tiger is neat. As a valued Joe accessory, it is relatively worthless. But, it is, technically, part of the figure and should be included with any complete figure.
In my collection, Tigor is a great scene filler. He works perfectly in the G.I. Joe HQ, or as crew on board a vehicle. But, beyond that, I have never characterized the figure. While I spent a great deal of time developing a back story for his sub set mate Urzor, I never did the same for Tigor. On the surface, I'd say Joe characters weren't as interesting to me. But, that's not true as I have developed very intricate back stories for many Joe characters. I think the truth is that I just didn't know what to do with the figure. I never counted on him being a great addition to a collection. But, I have owned him and known what a quality figure Tigor is for over a decade now. So, that theory doesn't hold. Really, I can think of no reason why Tigor hasn't been developed in my collection.
But, that doesn't mean the figure isn't visually striking. The orangish red jumpsuit actually works and the green highlights complement it perfectly. Tigor's blue sunglasses give him an air of mystery and the leather colored gloves and boots give the figure the depth that collectors enjoy. The figure could use some additional painted details on the chest to further highlight the quality of the mold. But, the overall paint job is on par with American figures and I find Tigor to be substantially superior to many of the late year American "neon" figures.
Tigor was released in the Forca Fera subset. This small group consisted of Tigor and Leontor (A Backblast repaint) as the Joes and Urzor (A Cobra Repeater) and Kangor (Big Boa) as the Cobras. All the figures featured unique card artwork (Kangor looks like he's boxing his kangaroo and is the most unintentionally funny cardart in the entire Joe line.) In Brazil, there were ads and marketing materials displaying these figures together. It was a poster with the 4 figures on it that initially sparked my interest in the entire set. There was just something about that simple marketing material that made me want the figures. There were only 4, which made the set attainable. The repaints were extremely well done. And, the overall notion of an animal patrol was different enough from anything in the US to pique my interest.
As a rarity, Tigor has gotten much harder to find than he was a few years ago. But, that has more to do with the increased popularity of South American figures than it does his availability. There are a lot more collectors vying for Brazilian Joes when they appear for sale than there used to be. The result is higher prices and more scarcity since people are buying the figures to hold rather than to flip. But, this doesn't mean that the figures are not attainable. There are still strong collecting ties in Brazil that continually offer Estrela's exclusives to American collectors. On top of that, many long time collectors have had occasion to acquire these figures and are out of the market for them. They are still pricey and can be more frustrating than most collectors would like. But, they are no where near as rare as some of the early Funskool exclusive figures.
In 2001, I bought a carded Tigor for $35. At the time, it seemed ridiculously expensive as I thought I could get for about $25. But, after a month of searching, I just went for it. I immediately opened that carded figure. Now, a decade later, loose Tigors will hit $100 if they are complete with the cardback. Carded versions will go as high as $175. For those prices, I would never have likely acquired the figure. But, that would have been a shame. Tigor is just one of those figures that should not work, but does. His look is unique and not something that most collectors would think they like. But, once you get Tigor into your collection, his quality is mesmerizing and he quickly becomes a figure that you never wish to part with.
Monday, March 13, 2000
1989 Recoil
The Joe figures I like come in two camps; crazy neon figures that no one else could ever like and the basic military figures whose molds are very realistic. Of these two, Recoil falls into the latter. Of course, this group is also the group that most Joe collectors enjoy the most. (Aside from accumulating Cobras, that is.) This guy is a good, basic army figure. It's a shame he was given sky blue accessories. Those alone are enough to sink this guy off most collectors' radar. With a little creative outfitting from your weapon reserves, though, this figure becomes highly usable very fast. The gun you see with the figure below is from a Python Patrol Copperhead. This weapon works excellently with this figure. Also, the most common version of the Steel Brigade figure came with a black version of Recoil's gun. These can be somewhat of a problem to track down loose, but also work wonderfully with this figure.
In 1990 or 1991, I was babysitting for some kids down the street. I was out of toys at the time, but G.I. Joe was their favorite toy line. We had a great time playing with all their new figures. The two that stick out in my mind are Big Ben and Recoil. I thought they were both very cool, realistic figures. I almost broke out of the high school stigma and went looking for a Big Ben. With much regret, I now must admit that I never did. At least I have been able to get a couple of each of those figures in the last few years. Recoil was just a lot of fun to play with. He has an excellent color scheme, the cool pack with a antenna, and a awesome gun mold, if the color is terrible. Since we were out in their mother's flower gardens, we had a great time with the figures that were at least loosely based on military personnel. For this reason, when I had the opportunity to acquire a Recoil in my later years, I jumped at the chance.
My ultimate goal is to have about 6 of these guys. Three will be armed with the weapons you see below, one will have the recolored version of his original accessory from the Steel Brigade figure, one will have a grenade launcher and shotgun, and the leader will have Frostbite's gun. This will then act as my first response team. Unfortunately, I'm only about 1/3 of the way there. I've changed my collecting focus this year and am no longer after acquisition. Now, I'm trying to diversify my collection. As of today, I have 724 figures with only 377 being unique. That's about 52%. Once that ratio climbs back to around 60%-65%, then I will readjust and start building armies again. (Of course, I will still build Cobra armies now. My Joes of whom I want multiples will have to wait unless they are part of a big purchase that includes several figures I don't have.)
The Recoil mold didn't stop with Hasbro. After this figure was discontinued in 1990, the mold went down to Brazil. There, the chest, head and arms was released in the Force Fera subset as a figure named Tigor. Tigor is bright red, but actually works because of the way his colors are blended. He is a more popular Brazilian exclusive but isn't too hard to find since he's fairly common among American collectors. After that, there is no sign of the Recoil mold. It is likely that it died in Brazil. That's a shame as the figure could be well done in desert, night or another forest motif.
Recoils aren't too hard to find. He was released in 1989 when Hasbro was still pumping out figures. Since the Cobras from that year steal most of the thunder, the Joes have remained cheap. The problem is that you often get the terrible blue accessories. Still, this guy is good to have. If you get his pack, you can re-equip him with a more aptly colored weapon and have an awesome figure. I like him as an army builder. He also makes for good custom fodder. Like most of the late '80's and early '90's Joe figures, this guy is still very plentiful and inexpensive. If you are into army building, now is the best time to begin. Even if you only want one of each figure, Recoil is fun to have and looks good in many situations. Take advantage of his availability now, before people like me start scooping them up and they disappear from the second hand market.
I've got a couple of these guys. I use them as special forces soldiers. I'd like a few more, but they're something I want as a throw in, not a main trade. After I build up a few more unique figures, then I'll go back and buy up some duplicates.
What's your collecting strategy? Email me.
In 1990 or 1991, I was babysitting for some kids down the street. I was out of toys at the time, but G.I. Joe was their favorite toy line. We had a great time playing with all their new figures. The two that stick out in my mind are Big Ben and Recoil. I thought they were both very cool, realistic figures. I almost broke out of the high school stigma and went looking for a Big Ben. With much regret, I now must admit that I never did. At least I have been able to get a couple of each of those figures in the last few years. Recoil was just a lot of fun to play with. He has an excellent color scheme, the cool pack with a antenna, and a awesome gun mold, if the color is terrible. Since we were out in their mother's flower gardens, we had a great time with the figures that were at least loosely based on military personnel. For this reason, when I had the opportunity to acquire a Recoil in my later years, I jumped at the chance.
My ultimate goal is to have about 6 of these guys. Three will be armed with the weapons you see below, one will have the recolored version of his original accessory from the Steel Brigade figure, one will have a grenade launcher and shotgun, and the leader will have Frostbite's gun. This will then act as my first response team. Unfortunately, I'm only about 1/3 of the way there. I've changed my collecting focus this year and am no longer after acquisition. Now, I'm trying to diversify my collection. As of today, I have 724 figures with only 377 being unique. That's about 52%. Once that ratio climbs back to around 60%-65%, then I will readjust and start building armies again. (Of course, I will still build Cobra armies now. My Joes of whom I want multiples will have to wait unless they are part of a big purchase that includes several figures I don't have.)
The Recoil mold didn't stop with Hasbro. After this figure was discontinued in 1990, the mold went down to Brazil. There, the chest, head and arms was released in the Force Fera subset as a figure named Tigor. Tigor is bright red, but actually works because of the way his colors are blended. He is a more popular Brazilian exclusive but isn't too hard to find since he's fairly common among American collectors. After that, there is no sign of the Recoil mold. It is likely that it died in Brazil. That's a shame as the figure could be well done in desert, night or another forest motif.
Recoils aren't too hard to find. He was released in 1989 when Hasbro was still pumping out figures. Since the Cobras from that year steal most of the thunder, the Joes have remained cheap. The problem is that you often get the terrible blue accessories. Still, this guy is good to have. If you get his pack, you can re-equip him with a more aptly colored weapon and have an awesome figure. I like him as an army builder. He also makes for good custom fodder. Like most of the late '80's and early '90's Joe figures, this guy is still very plentiful and inexpensive. If you are into army building, now is the best time to begin. Even if you only want one of each figure, Recoil is fun to have and looks good in many situations. Take advantage of his availability now, before people like me start scooping them up and they disappear from the second hand market.
I've got a couple of these guys. I use them as special forces soldiers. I'd like a few more, but they're something I want as a throw in, not a main trade. After I build up a few more unique figures, then I'll go back and buy up some duplicates.
What's your collecting strategy? Email me.
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