Speaking as a kid who's parents didn't have a ton of money back then, these miniature playsets offered a child the chance to get something more interesting than a figure and in some cases more affordable or size friendly than a vehicle. I wish modern toy lines had more of these smaller more price conscious choices in their lines.

@thomasdobbs4615

Жыл бұрын

You remind me of my brothers my brother. We came from a big family we didn't have much money and our parents thought it was crazy when we buy toys when we needed food. But we always had enough pocket change to buy the small mini sets of GI Joe or Transformers. Those were the days fun days! Keep up the great content enjoy all the memories of all those GI Joe toys.

@almitrahopkins1873

Жыл бұрын

I could never find them. Living in Europe in the '80s, you bought what you could find in the base exchange. I had a mixture of GI Joe and Action Force because of that.

@ZamboniZone

Жыл бұрын

Exactly

"I often wish I was still there". Man, that's hits me hard. I feel the same way. Sometimes I feel like that might have been the only time that I was truly happy.

@samanthaadams619

Жыл бұрын

I very much know that feeling!

"to create worlds that we could escape to during play time and I often wish that I was still there." That line got me, man do I agree with that sentiment. Well done Tony.

@jerryhernandez985

Жыл бұрын

That line got me too. I often wish I was still there too my friend. Very well done video. I love your channel. Way to keep the 80s G.I. Joe toy line alive!!

@Bemfactor98

Жыл бұрын

Great review and well said. That comment really landed with me.

These smaller playsets really add to the world building of a toyline. I just love these battle stations. Never judge a playset by its size.

My mother was a makeup artist and did the hair/Makeup and costumes for the kid's in the GI Joe commercials. She worked for Osmond Studios ( Hasbro ® subsidiaries) in Provo Utah, in the early 80's. After the commercials we're done she would bring home all the action figures and some of the set's and vehicle's. We had the original Doc, Gun-Ho, Duke, Scarlett, Ripcord, Blowtorch Snake Eyes, Etc. She was a beautiful woman born in England and went to the BBC Makeup/Film school in London. *RIP Mom XOXO* Great video!!! Thanks for the memories!!!🙏🇺🇸

I'm sure you get this a lot, but your commentary is unique in that you fundamentally understand and (most importantly) have retained the spirit of actually being a kid and playing with toys. Your ability to capture those long-lost thoughts and emotions in words (the crumpled up blankets is a great example; my action figures were always taken to the arctic that was my parent's white duvet) is what makes the points and critiques you make hit so much harder than collectors who only approach the hobby from an adult perspective.

I remember as a boy playing with my dad one night using my GiJoes. After I had fallen asleep my dad snuck back into my room and set up the Bivouac, LAW and the cobra rifle range along with several of my Joes and Cobra figures in a battle scene. When I woke up the next day I was happily surprised, my dad continued to play with me that morning and topped of our time by leaving my room and coming back flying the Cobra Rattler in his hands to strike at my Joe’s position. I had forgotten about that day, but watching this video triggered the memory, Thank you.

Love seeing the "Action Force" sticker on your Check Point Alpha. I was completely unaware of the Action Force line growing up in the US, but have watched all your AF videos. Thanks again for the great content.

Glad I am not the only one who many times wishes to be back at that age, playing GI Joe! Great stress reliever...

@VorpalSlade

Жыл бұрын

Well I'm 25 next month and still play with toys frequently. My housemates used to be concerned by the explosions and gunfire coming from my room, but one of them recently got jealous and asked if he could join in! A great afternoon playing out battles in my room ensued. You don't have to wish to be back in the past - make those memories again in the present!

The Battle Stations, Rifle Range, Ammo Dump, Weapon Transport, etc. really added another layer to G.I. Joe that's so underrated. It may not officially be one of the Battle Stations and it gets a ton of mockery, but the Coastal Defender carried on the same spirit in '87.

had all of these when i was a kid, i used to get some snow blankets from our local dime store and my mom would help me spray them to look like sand, i used them for my gi joes, star wars he-man and so on. i also used to use cardboard boxes and make buildings out of them. fun times when you are a young child cause your imagination runs wild. plus, it was stuff i used to do with my mom as well. good memories to always hang on to even when she is gone.

Play sets like these is something I’d really love to see in the Valaverse AF line. These were a lot of fun as a kid and would make great displays as an adult.

Another wonderful video, Tony. The "And there's a lot of GI Joe drivers that know that feeling" line with the shot of an open armed Slaughter was a classic. 😀

I love mini sets like this! I wouldn’t mind seeing anything like this in the Classified Series line.

Awesome video! Man, these Battle Stations let my take over of the living room be complete, much to my mom's consternation. The HQ fit perfectly on our couch, while these little stations took over chairs and side tables. Miss those days.

I absolutely loved that Cobra bunker. Used it all the time. These play sets were great because you could add them to a few shoeboxes or a nightstand to make a whole base. I really didn’t appreciate these as much as the bigger vehicles and sets but looking back they were incredible.

Excellent video covering these small playsets. Had so much fun with these and they are still favourites. Yo Joe.

@AnalogToys

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Thanks for taking us down memory lane Tony! Great video my friend!

That Cobra bunker fell victim to my Crossbows & Catapults far more than it really deserved.

In that commercial, I find it weird that they have Snake Eyes, a mute Ninja/Commando manning Checkpoint Alpha. That must be an awkward duty for him.

When I was 10 my sister helped me construct a Joe HQ and a Cobra temple out of her discarded Girl Scout cookie boxes using a larger box as the main body. Later came a small "crackhouse" for Headman to peddle his wares.

Cool video Tony! I remember at least one of my brothers had Checkpoint Alpha along with the Joes' Missile launcher. Then one of my brothers had that little blue cobra mini playset you could blow a part! That slightly bigger aquatic playset, you showed somewhere in the beginning of the video was one my brother had. I remember he did play with it once in the bathtub.

As some other people stated my family didn't have money for the larger playsets and vehicles so these smaller sets and smaller vehicles really helped to make my childhood as great as it was.

I remember when I was a kid and my parents didn't have a lot of money and, I had materials around the house and if I wanted to have a GI Joe base, I built my own base. Unlike some of the neighborhood kids had store bought bases, and lose their figure's accessories and parts for their battle stations. I went from building a laboratory for my B.A.T.S to General Hawk's office.I didn't have U.S.S. Flagg, why have that when my base had an amazing Airport for my Skystriker and my Dragonfly. I even built a motorpool for my Troop Convoy and my Tank.I had made myself a M.A.S.H. unit. I know it sounds kinda corny, but I even built my Joe's an outdoor toilet... I took time to design my base to have some newspapers for my Joe's to read, I took time even to have a boxing ring in my base, and I didn't even ask my parents for money for the materials, but I enjoyed playing with my GI Joe figures and even Cobra figures and now since then, I can say I used my vivid imagination and had fun as a child and I loved my figures and I hope kis today can be content with their own toys and build their own base and have fun with that. 😀

Hey, I remember having one with a large mortar and an army tent with some other accessories and also a friend of mine had a large wooden(plastic) crate full of ammo and probably extra rifles and missiles. I think the box art featured spirit on the mortar one I had. Growing up in Greece these would be of the Action Force variety.

Great video Tony! I love the battle stations. They add so much to the line. Something I really felt was lacking in the later half of the line.

That last bit you said, so true! I remember me digging holes on the ground to use as trenches or traps; and speaking of traps, I would go as far as using tiny twigs and small stones to craft some sort of traps. I would also use cinder blocks, boxes and whatever I had handy to create structures. Great memories.

@dennislogan6781

Жыл бұрын

I would do the same but I would also dig pit traps and place toothpicks as Punjab spikes.

These look great! The largest set I had was the Tactical Battle Platform, which became a frequent Cobra at-sea raiding site (from their base at the top of my couch). I would have loved these small sets too. My friend had the Cobra Terrordrome, which I was hugely jealous of, haha. It was a major feature of his bedroom floor.

Another great video Tony. I only had a few of these as a kid great memories.

There was no chance that I would get one of the large players so I treasured these bargain price sets. Checkpoint Alpha had the most room and play features, which made it my favourite. Great video Tony!

@VorpalSlade

Жыл бұрын

This is such an underrated point in a world where people are buying three Haslab HISS Tanks. As a kid I never felt like I deserved to ask for bigger playsets, so exactly as you say, the little ones were all the more special and I think a lot of adult collectors with thousands of dollars of disposable income have lost that sentiment.

Love these mini play sets. Great video!!!!

Great video catalog. I never had any Joe as a kid, so never played with these. Agreed, together these playsets make a great FOB, harkening to a Tour of Duty set. Maybe one day I will get a set or two, but until then I will be able to bask in the glory of this video and your collection. Thanks Analog Toys!

Great video as always Tony. Thanks for putting out the great content!

this was one of your best. Fantastic work. I feel the exact way about some of these, especially the outpost defender..Its freaking golden.

Excellent video. It's nice to see one that doesn't have agendas behind them. Sets like the battle stations are what made GIJoe the best line of the 80's.

Classic review Tony, good informative and well put together

While not related to the GI Joe Battle Stations, a split second during the opening explanation (00:18) bought back a massive memory from my childhood. I remember being a very young child and getting a second hand 'Starmax Bomber' (Missing the bomb bay) for Christmas. I spent hours playing with it, never knowing what range it came from.

I really love the battle station concept. I think the howitzer would make more sense if it came with a sandbag barrier to place in front of the weapon.

Great video Tony! Those were great play sets.

Most of the time, it was a few joes on a couch or bed. Taking cover in the creases and folds. These playsets added that extra touch. 👍

Awesome rundown of these small but awesome play sets!

Awesome as always Tony! As a kid, I loved these, I could throw one or two in a backpack along with a handful of Joes, rations in the form of a PB&J sandwich, then on the bike to my friend's house for for our Saturday shenanigans.

"And I often wish I was still there." Me too, Tony.

Thank you for the trip down nostalgia lane, sir!!!

Great Review Tony! I really enjoyed this comprehensive walk down memory lane! Well Done Sir😎👍

"Stands out like dog's balls!" That is my new Australian colloquialism for the day! Awesome! I too wish I could stay in the 80s world of wonderment with these toys.

Didn't get any of these as a kid, but I always wanted Check Point Alpha and the Cobra Bunker. Something I rectified when the Internet came along... I just wish I was young enough to truly appreciate them and enjoy them the way I would have as a child...

I still have my outpost Defender. Man the fun I had with it outside on a hill of dirt and small gravel...

Great video Tony, brought back alot of memories. I miss alot of that stuff. The carpet monster devoured some of it, and some of it didnt survive the other half of the battle.

As a kid I only had a few vehicles and 1 base. I had a Cobra WOLF, an Adder, the SLAM a devilfish and the outpost. A few additional small motorized vehicles as well. Including the gyrocopter the ATV, the earthbore, the machinegun nest and the most goofy one I had the twin missile radar. It was a neat collection but limited to a lot of the smaller ones that I got as gifts for birthdays etc.

Another great video! I have many memories of this battle stations, as I got the Check Point Alpha and my brother the Cobra bunker almost together with our first GiJoes. I remember don't liking the Check Point at first (I preferred a vehicle), but playing with it a lot after we got more figures and vehicles.

3:17 I had Recondo as a kid, but I always called him Geraldo Rivera and Cobra always kicked the crap out of him. I was a weird kid. Even now when I see him I’m like, oh it’s Geraldo, quick throw a chair at him.

Great video Tony! This took me way back. I remember taking shoe boxes and cutting a hole to either fit the Cobra bunker or the Outpost Defender. The box served as the cinder block building .

Love these. Never scored all of them but the ones I did/do have I enjoyed equally. Well, the transforming crate was my favorite to play with.

I had a couple of those battle stations, added so much more to do with military operations in my mind, I did have the rocket pack launch pad and that bivouac, parked the motor cycle around the back for quick getaway if the fighting became a lost cause.. awesome vid tony, thank you for all your hard work.

These mini playsets helped create this wonderful world of imagination that took us to this amazing place. Thanks for sharing this content.

omg I owned so much of this! My dad chucked it all in a skip along with he-man, thunder cats, mask, transformers, star wars etc in the 90's :(

The mini play sets look so good when they are all combined!

This was awesome! I was a kid collecting Joe’s from the beginning of the 3.75 launch, and yet somehow I completely missed these altogether! If not for this video, I wouldn’t know they existed. 😳😂 Great video, I appreciate it. 👏👏👍

Battle stations were so darn cool... I'm missing the mountain howizer and the watchtower! A true must have for all collectors

Great video tony, I had the outpost defence and the Howitzer and watch tower. I made so many jungle camps with mine and I agree the sets are great. Anyway great video yojoe

I never had any of these play sets. Instead I built barracks from shoe boxes and towers from popsicle sticks glued together. They were cheap and fun to make.

these were great toys.. GI Joe was the best as a kid.. i still love them today.

Awesome video Tony! Perhaps a future video on Accessory packs for Star Wars, GI Joe, etc.? Keep up the great work Tony!

So well done

My trusty little Outpost Defender was home to a ton of dramatic battlefield heroics and tragedies.

Bravo 👏 thank you for this video. I’m a huge collector and this takes me back to my youth!

I have always loved the idea of the mini playset. Really surprised it wasn't utilized more. It was a great option for those who's parents could not afford full sized playsets.

The only one I had was the Cobra Surveillance Port. It was a nice surprise when I pulled out my old Joes for my kids to play with as I forgot I had it. Unfortunately, some of the stands are broken. These are good to give the guys cover or something to play around.

The GI Joe Hovercraft and that blue Cobra plane with all the bombs on the wings were my favorites! I must say, I was fortunate to have been born in '72. As an 80's kid, the music, the toys, movies, video games, cartoons. Star Wars and GI Joe action figures? Legos? C'mon! :)

2:28 I'll never forget the maths teacher who used to refer to bipods as 'two-legged tripods'

@AnalogToys

Жыл бұрын

The person who taught you about binomials and trinomials referred to bipods as _two-legged tripods?_

Recently revisiting your channel. Bought Checkpoint alpha, at least the Argentinian version, on an antiques fair years ago to match with my Joes and Corps. Still got it, very nice playset.

The LAW and Air Defense were my introduction to these sets as a kid, but I’ve made up for lost time having snagged all of them now. Im blown away by the MIB prices these sets command now!

Funny but true story. When I was a 10-ish year old kid, my best friend gave me the G.I. Joe checkpoint for my birthday. The only thing was, the box had been opened, and ironically, the one thing that was missing was the clipboard (along with the decal accessory from the sticker sheet). My friend said the box was like that when he bought it but I knew better. He just had to have the clipboard for his own collection. When you mentioned the clipboard, I popped.

Fantastic overview of these battle stations - Yo Joe!

Micro Machines was an excellent line for this sort of thing, they had countless smaller sets (lots connected together in some way too) to go along with the larger van cities and the giant unfolding tank base for the military line.

@AnalogToys

Жыл бұрын

Micro Machines didn't have action figures ya numpty

A bit like the mini rigs for SW. I never really had any of these for GI Joe - they didn't really pique my interest, but my dad built a house from wood scraps to use as a base for them - I loved that thing and it was huge!

Don't remember if we had access to buying battle stations here in Sweden growing up, but I used to build bases and battle stations with lego for my Joes . Using lego we could build cool modular stuff with secret doors and passages. For sleeping cots i used a deck of playing cards and stick to lego bricks with sticky-puddy(?)

Remember Dreaming looking at GI JOE SECTIONS At old school BEST STORES In my Day that had almost everything.

Great video....makes me want to go to my attic bring down the joes...but Cobra my wife, well...I just going to do it anyway...thank you for making feel a kid again...

Check point alpha was the third gi joe item I got as a kid.. right behind the snow serpent and mutt & junkyard. I loved that thing.

7:07 😂 great video!

Great video 👏👏

I remember getting the cobra bunker after sending in X amount of proof of purchase tags and a little cash for shipping. It was awesome how it could be blown apart.

I had the mortar defense accessory. I always wished there were more sets like that. I liked the idea of building sandbag forts for the Joes.

I always liked the outpost defender. That fun was fun to play outside.

God I remember the check point. Used EVERY SINGLE TIME by my mates and me as kids when playing Action Force. Same with the dugout and cobra bunker, such great play value!

As a detail, why is it that the canvas molding was so damn satisfying?

Those we're great years to be a child. ❤️

These would be perfect sets to upgrade to classified size! Love these classic small sets!

The individual sets grouped together look superb as a base scene. We never seemed to have the Joe stuff here in the UK, so I was never familiar with these toys. They do look pretty sweet though. Thanks mate.

I LOVED these as a kid. And man Id love to see these in the classified line, at an affordable price point like these were too. Diorama pieces aren't exactly cheap these days.

Me and my brother had all the Joe playsets. Good times!

Brilliant! Checkpoint Alpha was my favourite too. Probably because I didn't own any of the others.

I completely forgot about owning the Check Point Alpha playset. I had an AWE Striker which paired nicely and of course Mutt and Junkyard to operate the gate and check for contraband. 😂

the difference between the howitzer and the previous weapons sets is the howitzer wasn’t considered a vehicle since it has no seat and isn’t meant to be hauled around despite being mobile…yes it can be towed, but it’s meant to be used as a base and not as an add-on to the vehicles or a larger set. you’re supposed to use the laser or missiles or flak against incoming rattlers and fangs attacking headquarters while the howitzer is on its own protecting and battling from a distance

Great Video Tony i wasnt aware of these sets. It would be great if valaverse or classified could do 6 inch mini playsets like these

GO JOE! That was a blast.

I just noticed the outpost defender was bullet holes sculpted in. I think It's the only one with battle damage. It really adds a nice touch.

I had several of these and forgot all about them until now...