jettstorm

If we're talking army builders, I would be afraid to actually say the number of sets I'm probably buying. It's obscene though. For non army builder sets I always get 4 or more. 1 Mint on Card, 1 opened unchanged displayed, 2 to play with/custom/parts swap etc...

I hate that I feel like at this point any real chance of future sets are dead but I do. Too much time is passing and too little positive conversation towards how it might work. I am afraid they just don't see it as profitable. 

It just feels like such a shame because I feel like the biggest problem never was the property itself. People still dig GI Joe stuff enough to sell. Its the presentation. Repacking the same few characters slightly different hurt more than helped in the beginning and no troops hurts even more. The packaging also increased costs initially which didn't help either. I feel like they were adjusting the packaging but I don't think they have ever truly considered embracing the troop selection. Maybe I'm wrong but I just feel strongly that GI Joe needs those nameless faceless thugs just as much as TMNT needs Foot, Battlestar Galactica needs Cylons, Aliens needs, well, Aliens....I mean no one would feel great about their Marvel collections without some AIM, Hydra, SHIELD, Hellfire, etc..

Oh well, maybe after Luke starts knocking out the DC custom sticker sets he can consider some GI Joe ones. I think there might be some interest.

Oh, my heart.

Wishlisting is fun and it builds strong bones!

Justice League (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern [Hal])

Team Batman (Huntress, Alfred, Batgirl [Babs], Cassie, Gordon)

The Robins ( Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, Damian, Steph)

The Many Faces of Batman (AzBats [Jean-Paul], GraysonBat [Dick], Thomas Wayne, Future Damian, Zur-en-Arrh)

Batman's Rogues I (Joker, Harley, Two-Face, Scarecrow, Riddler)

Batman's Rogues II (Penguin, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Hush)

Batman's Rogues III (Bane, Ra's, Croc, Firefly, Hatter)

Classic Titans (Robin, Speedy, Wonder Girl, Aqualad, Kid Flash)

New Titans (Disco Nightwing, Starfire, Changeling, Raven, Cyborg)

Lantern Corps (Kyle, Simon Baz, Jade, Jessica Cruz, Tomar-Re)

JSA (Hourman, Dr. Mid-Nite, Sandman, Alan Scott, Hawkman)

The Supers (Earth 2 Supes, Superboy, Lois, Jimmy, Supergirl)

The Super Bads (Lex, Zod, Mongul, Eradicator, Metallo)

More Justice (Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Atom, Zatanna)

Hero Pack I (Metamorpho, Firestorm, Elongated Man, Captain Atom, Black Lightning)

Hero Pack II (Aquaman [Hook], Mister Terrific, Plastic Man, Phantom Stranger, The Question)

The Weird (Swamp Thing, Ragman, Frankenstein, Blue Devil, Detective Chimp)

Big Bads (Darkseid, Doomsday, Trigon, Grundy, Atrocitus)

Flash Rogues (Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, Captain Boomerang, Trickster)

Villain Pack I (Punchline, Maxwell Lord, Zoom, King Shark, Black Hand)

Villain Pack II (KGBeast, Talia, Psycho-Pirate, Deadshot, Black Manta)

Villain Pack III (Talon, Black Adam, Giganta, Catman, Parasite)

 

Ok I gotta stop.....so much more I could add...now I lay my head down and cry.

They are still selling the Eternia Battleground Set on Mattel Creations online and I believe there are rumors floating around about a few more sets but it has been a slow trickle the last year or two. Nothing new since I'd say middle of last year or so I believe.

MOTU Minimates would go so very well with my Thundercats, TMNT, GIJoe, Transformers, D&D and Real Ghostbusters mates and then I just need heroes and villains box sets from SilverHawks and we will be cooking with my childhood 80s cartoon classics.

Although Id also take Bravestarr, COPS, Tigersharks, Voltron, Robotech, DotE, G-Force, Super Friends (Return of DC Mates) and MASK. Though that last one really screams for vehicles. Oh well, they are my dreams so bring it all on DST!

I believe Mega still has a MOTU license for 2" action figures that likely prevents this from happening right now. I would love it though if it could.

BuffaloDelorean, spot on! I even found some of the other parts in the assorted loose arms/legs etc to finish those figures. Thank you for the heads up.

Cylonchaney, that's a great observation. I too noticed the seemingly deliberate texturing to the paint...I can't find a version of a golem character that matches this custom but I feel like you're swimming in the right pool maybe. It's really a nice piece done on one of the oversized bucks. Just not sure where to put it in the collection.

Thanks guys! If anyone else has a clue on that custom let me know.

I recently bought a lot of loose minimates from a collector and customizer and I've been able to identify all of the customs except one and all the loose torso pieces except for two. I don't recognize the custom character and image searches aren't helping so does anyone know who it is?

Also the 2 torsos appear to be factory and not customs upon inspection but after hours on the database (Hail Ivan!) I can't find a match for either. 

Any help is appreciated.  Thanks guys!

Merry Christmas All and a Happy New Year real soon!

DC STICKER KIT!!! Take my money Luke just take it!

Quote

On 10/24/2023 at 9:48 AM, buttheadsmate said:

I'm no expert but I have had a good experience  (years ago) with a Lego Wehrmacht helmet ....it fitted a Minimate head no problem . Just a suggestion .

Google 'Lego cowboy hats' ,there seems to be plenty of choice. 

-cowboyhatsmate

 

I would love it if it were that easy but if Im not completely mistaken....I don't think Lego hats or hair fit on Minimate heads. I unfortunately don't have any lego figures sitting around right now to verify but just looking online even they appear to have different sized heads. I found some knockoff playmobileish styled western figures years ago that had hats that fit ok but they were not easy to find. I wonder if you could make cowboy hats for 1/18 figure heads fit? Dime Novel Legends makes a few styles of hats but not sure they would work. I kept looking for years and hoping someone would post a minimate sized/style cowboy hat on one of the 3d printing sites that I could purchase but never found one. I need to make more friends with 3d printing people hah.

Man, that is one of my biggest wants right now. Cowboy hats. Just a couple of different styles (Wide flat Tombstone style, Curved Lone Ranger Style). I've tried for years to find someone to 3d print minimate size cowboy hats that i could buy some bulk in for customs. The good existing hats are locked behind paywalls for the Dollar Trilogy sets mostly unless im missing some other good options. 

Great job elhonez! I'd buy that set or any western themed sets in a heartbeat like many others.

An initiative that involves a completely different approach to the line, utilizing some added elements that may broaden the appeal.

 

Helloooooo Vehicle sets!

 

I kid, I kid....though I'd buy a Vamp set with Clutch, Stinger w/Driver, HISS w/Driver, RAM w/Breaker, Ferret w/Firefly, etc..the only question is would they be like the Delorean, KITT, MAX style vehicles or a return to C3 building sets. Hasbro gave up on Kre-O sets so maybe you guys could do some vehicles and environment sets. GI Joe Headquarters!

I know it's not likely any of that but my mind sure does wander....I just want more GI Joe mates. Army Builders, New Characters, Old Characters, ARAH, Action Force, Sigma 6, Carded, Loose, Bagged, Crowdfunded...don't care how you do it, just do it!

I'm very similar in that it would be near impossible to separate my fandom of GI Joe from the product as it is the overwhelming reason I purchased them. I am also in the perfect sweet spot for this product. I grew up in the 80s watching the cartoon, reading the comic and collecting the toys. Its one of my top 3 fandoms along with DC Comics and Star Wars.

That being said if I try to be objective and merely judge the mates themselves I find that I am still extremely pleased with the product. Granted, I am not a hard one to please when it comes to the minimate realm as i have basically bought everything they've ever put out and loved almost all of it. Even if I knew nothing about it or had no attachment to it like the previously mentioned Plants vs. Zombies, which were fun figures from a property I know nothing about and have no nostalgia I was pleased with the product. Thief of Thieves, Desperately Seeking Susan, iZombie, Kingdom Hearts these were all properties I am not really familiar with but I enjoyed the unique designs and the variety each of these sets provided. I am a fanatical lazy customizer and usually buy 2 or more of every pack so I have parts to swap and make new characters.

GI Joe offered me (so far...please keep em coming) four sets that while not robust in character selection, they were very satisfying in design for me. True to the subject matter of course but beyond that I find the designs interesting and unique amongst the rest of my collection. Minimates by their very nature are formulaic and somewhat cookie cutter but I found the new parts in these sets for customizing to be excellent and the weapons provided are perfect to share with other sets. Face and torso tampos were all very sharp in my sets and each figure just jumps out for me much like the Transformer sets with design and coloring. The packaging, while disparaged due to the cost increase and perceived negative affect to the lines success so far, is very well done and the individual carded presentation is miniature art to some of us. I wont try to convince anyone to buy these for the packaging but I assure you there are those of us that did.

At the end of the day though I expect many of us buy these toys from some subjective point of view based on nostalgia, our opinion of the quality of the toy, the presentations appeal or a need to complete a collection. If GI Joe isn't your jam then nothing anyone else could say would change your mind. For me, merging a childhood fandom with quality product makes these my favorite minimates I own (until I get my army builders ). Objectively I argue they are good if not great figures and sets but subjectively I say these are the best damn things DST has made and it would be a shame if it doesn't continue on.

13 hours ago, Navaan said:

We'll see. I think, if anything, troop builders will help the GI Joe line.

Preach, Brother Navaan, Preach!

1 hour ago, Navaan said:

You have Zarana in Series 4 and 6!

Hah, I do! Sorry about that. Hrmm...just replace the one in 6 with Copperhead. Yeah, I'd be good with that.

Bored so gonna throw out my dream thought of the day if I ran this line up to series 10 with trooper sets in between....

Next Release: Trooper Pack #1 (Cobra Trooper, Crimson Guard, Viper, BAT)

Series 3: Flint, Lady Jaye, Gung-Ho, Spirit

Series 4: Zartan, Firefly, Zaranna, Major Bludd

Trooper Pack #2 (Cobra Officer, Snow Serpent, Eel, Red Ninja)

Series 5: Hawk, Cover Girl, Beach Head, Stalker

Series 6: Tomax, Xamot, Zaranna, Scrap Iron

Trooper Pack #3 (Alley Viper, Stinger Driver, Tele-Viper, Techno-Viper)

Series 7: Falcon, Jinx, Shipwreck, Dusty

Series 8: Serpentor, Dr. Mindbender, Zandar, Wild Weasel

Trooper Pack #4 (Joe Greenshirts w/swappable parts to make OG13 members Grunt, Zap, Short Fuze, Breaker etc.)

Series 9: Sgt. Slaughter, Low Light, Dusty, Wet Suit

Series 10: Buzzer, Ripper, Torch, Road Pig

 

Oh to dream.....

I'm glad they kept Kingpin but sad we lost Echo. Wish Bullseye had been the odd mate out but I'm still buying the set.

The first one on the far left would technically be the correct one from a coloring perspective. The Thunder Fighter in Buck Rogers was all one color, basically a dirty white or gray, other than the engines being a darker gray and the logos and various markings of red and yellow that show up.

These look phenomenal and I hope you'll consider printing and selling a few when you're done.

Thanks Zach! No matter what does happen we all appreciate the work you do and I know you advocate for us when you can. Tell them if they release a troop builder pack and a mixed pack with Flint, Lady Jaye, Zartan and Firefly that we will buy them and everyone will see that the line is going to expand and be worth collecting.

I agree. I can't help but feel like if they would just put out a troop pack. ANY troop. Regular, Viper, Crimson Guard, BAT, Eel...I think they would first and foremost see the sales spike as these will sell. Also I think the collector's will be more engaged to collect more of the non troop builders once they can start to really flesh out a collection or shelf.

Cobra Commander is awesome. Cobra Commander with Troops behind him and a Crimson Guard on each side is Amazeballs. I think some people are holding out on the individual characters because there are so few (less than 10 individual characters split between two factions) and maybe just maybe a troop set will give them the confidence to collect knowing there will be meat on the bone. So far the duplication of so many characters in sets and the lack of building out the rosters I think may make some people hesitant to jump in to a series that feels like it's not gonna give you much. I know its counterproductive for people to say I wont buy until I know they will give me a bunch of characters while DST is saying we wont give you a bunch of characters until we see you buy...but a troop pack gives us 1 "character" that those interested can turn in to as many troops as they wish to display. I would have a MINIMUM of 10 Cobra Troopers and easily could see more. My Cobra display could instantly with one release go from 5 characters to 15 or more. If they give us a 2pack of different troops or a 4pack then the shelf gets really full really fast and Im not complaining. The Joes may take longer to flesh out as they are individuals (Unless they want to release a greenshirt which I would take) but my Joes have Always been outnumbered by Cobra in every collection. Just seems right.

Long story short, give us troops DST!  If you make them, we will buy them.

Yeah, me too. I might just put in another order for each this weekend. I'm sure I can come up with some custom use for extras...anything to keep the ball rolling.

It's all good. I've actually been around since the days of yore it seems. Well before DC came and went and in the time of 3" giants like Bruce Lee. I just don't usually post a lot. More of a lurker all of these years but I have close to one of every minimate ever released. Even sets I had no real interest in have gotten purchases like Desperately Seeking Susan (never seen it), 24 (never watched an episode) and iZombie (never watched it)...but I have probably 3-4 sets of each of those properties and have used many for customs. I think other than some promo or convention exclusives I'm only missing Lt. Gorman from the Aliens APC set, the ELF box set, the Netflix Iron Fist box set and the Hawkins from the Predator wave 2 blind bags. Never found those or saw a good deal on any of those.

Anyway, I'm just trying to do my part to keep minimates and in this case particularly GI Joe minimates going. I'm a huge Joe fan so this just means a lot to me. I got three new people to buy sets just this last week, 2 co-workers and cousin. None had even heard about these and once I showed them they were interested...of course every one of them asked if there were Cobra Troops to back up the Commander yet. I told them buy a set and maybe soon. 

*ahem*

46 minutes ago, BuffaloDelorean said:

Grandmaster has silver hair that's appropriately poofy for 80's Atom. It's got pink ears, though.

Yup, I mentioned this in my breakdown above for Captain Atom. Just need a dab of silver on each ear and I think it makes the perfect hair piece for him.

Ok so round one...

Barry Allen Flash - The original DC and C3 mates were Wally. All we need are non angled lightning waist and cuff stickers.

Atom:

Head and Torso stickers

Walgreens Wv.10 Dr.Strange Arms w/forearm stickers

Wv31 Captain Marvel Legs

Wv43 Daredevil Hands/Waist

Metamorpho:

Head and Torso stickers on any head and torso

Wv75 Purple Man Left Arm/Hand

Any Thing Right Arm/Hand

Any Clear or Silver Left Leg/Foot

Muppets Fozzie Bear Right Leg/Foot (lines drawn on)

Plastic Man:

Head and Torso Stickers

DC Superman Hair Piece

DC Ma Hunkel Arms

Any Skin Color Hands

1,000,000BC Phoenix Legs

Street Fighter/Tekken Ken Waist

Firestorm:

Face and Torso Stickers

Walgreens10 Ghost Rider Hair

DC Deadman Arms w/forearm stickers

DC Deadman Legs w/shin stickers

DC Dr.Fate waist

Wv23 Spymaster Hands/Feet

Beast Boy:

Face and Torso Stickers

Marvel/Capcom Viewtiful Joe Torso and Arms/Legs (add sticker lines or paint for stripes)

White Tiger Waist

Wv79 Gamora Hair

Wonder Girl:

Face and Torso Stickers

Any Flesh Arms

Wv80 Spider-Woman Hair

Wv74 Surtur Torso/Waist and legs w/stickers for belt and boot tops

Any black feet

Wv72 Silver Samurai Bracers

Aqualad:

Face and Torso Stickers

Wv58 Mystique Hands/Feet/Waist w/sticker for belt

1,000,000BC Phoenix Legs w/stickers for boot tops

Walgreens Wv7 Red Hulk Torso and Arms w/stickers for glove tops

Any Aliens Ripley Hair piece

Arsenal:

Face and Torso Stickers

Best of/Greatest Hits Daredevil Torso/Waist/Legs/Feet/Hands

Expendables Barney Ross Arms w/stickers for glove tops

Aliens Sgt. Apone Hat

Walgreens Wv1.5 Hawkeye Quiver (painted red)

Wv38 Hand Ninja Bow

Alfred:

Face Sticker

IM2 Mk1 Iron Man Alternate suit w/bowtie

Commissioner Gordon:

Face Sticker

Wv31 Multiple Man Arms/Hands/Coat

Walgreens Everett Ross Hair, Shirt and Tie

DC Gotham Harvey Bullock Waist, Legs, Feet 

Kyle Rayner:

Face and Torso Stickers

Expendables Barney Ross Hair

Wv76 Cloak Chest/Arms/Waist/Legs

DC Ambush Bug Hands/Feet w/stickers for boot and glove tops

Alan Scott:

Face and Torso Stickers

DC Deadman Arms/Torso

Walgreens Wv3 Captain America Hair

Walgreens Wv10 Dr. Strange Cape (painted purple and green)

Walgreens Ultimate Spider-Man Feet

Any Skin Hands

DC Ambush Bug legs w/boot top stickers

Hourman:

Face and Torso Stickers

Wv76 Cloak Chest/Arms/Waist/Feet

Any Skin Color Hands

Walgreens Spider-Gwen Hood (painted yellow)

Walgreens Hyperion Cape

Wv60 Pyro Legs w/stickers for boot tops

Dr. Mid-Nite:

Face and Torso Stickers

DC Robin Lower Tunic

Wv76 Cloak Arms/legs

DC Spectre Cape

Pathfinder Ranger or Calico Jacks Tom Brown/Robert Deal Boots

Playstation Ratchet Gloves

Sandman:

Face and Torso Stickers

Wv48 Puppet Master Green Suit Body

Watchmen Rorschach Hands/Feet/Hat

Walgreens Wv2 Dark Avengers Thor Cape

Captain Atom:

Face and Torso Stickers

Any Silver Surfer Body w/stickers for boot and glove tops

Walgreens Wv7 Spider-Man Hands

Walgreens Wv4 Doctor Spectrum Feet

Walgreens Thor Ragnarock Grandmaster Hair (Dab of silver over ears)

 

That's all for now and these are just heroes....more to come I was working on parts lists for Red Hood, Damien, Rocket Red, Zan and Jayna, Black Lightning and more. Then I will look at the villains...Zod, Eradicator, Parasite, Metallo, Scarecrow, Hush, Firefly, Professor Pyg, Trickster, Black Adam, Deadshot etc..

Wow, awesome that you would consider looking in to it Luke. I know I'll buy anything you put out for DC and Star Trek. I'll buy extra of any Trek sets if it gets me torso stickers for Gold and Blue uniforms especially. I've made some simple head swap customs with the Picards, Siskos and Janeway they released but they are all Red uniforms...I can make a ton of background characters with all the extra heads I have laying around if I only had some non red uniforms dang it heh. 

I looked in to it and I personally think the Predator series 2 Rescue Mission Dutch could be a good base for the Gold uniform arms and hes not a rare figure. The blue is more difficult as its usually a teal or greenish blue in some imagery and then light blue or dark blue depending. I would probably use the Winter Coat Dale arms for it though as I think its a nice matte not too dark or shiny blue and hes not a rare mate either I dont think.