OK, last week I stopped into Target and saw they had gotten some new toys to fill that one aisle they always seem to have.

This is the aisle with the various cheap toys in blue boxes for $5, $10, $15, etc.

This year they had a missile tank. It definitely looks like something that could be reworked as an Oktober Guard vehicle. I debated about waiting until they got marked down, but that might be later int he year.

Before work I picked one up and opened it when I got home. Here is my review.

It's about 16 inches long by 6 inches wide by 6 inches tall. There is a rotating missile launcher that can be positioned to simulate firing the eight sealed missiles (four per side). On the back is a rotating radar dish. Access to the two seat driving compartment is through a tilt-up frame.

There is no troop compartment per se, although there is an opening on the back to stuff whatever inside.

It has six tank wheels on each side, with two drive wheels at each end (eight wheels per side).

The entire vehicle is molded in OD Green, very similar to the early JOE vehicles in color actually.

The bad:

-The plastic is flimsy. Although thick as something from Hasbro, the plastic just isn't as rigid.

-The missile launcher gets hung up on the radar dish.

-The treads sag and don't look right when viewed from the front.

-Being a cheap production item, there are gaps in places that throw off the overall look.

-The treads are held on by six screws, which actually are positioned into the lower section so one can actually see the plastic stress through the side.

The good:

-After taking the treads off, I noticed there were 'wells' which appeared to indicate this mold was also available in wheeled form. There are three spaces formed on the underside for axles.

-With the treads off, the entire thing looks a heckuva lot better. It looks like like an APC, LAV, and a GIJOE APC rolled into one. It definitely has a neat enough design that could be modded to reflect a unique vehicle that can fit well into the GIJOE motor pool.

-Although the missile launcher could work for a new Oktober Guard vehicle, I'm wondering what other body shells I have that could better utilize the launcher.


I think I like it enough to get at least one more, but it will need some major work to look right.

1) I need to find seven wheels with rubber tires (one spare) and some axles, then strenghten the lower section to fit the axles.

2) Cut out the back of the cockpit so the driving crew can access the interior troop compartment. Might also add climbing/foothold points.

3) Add a deck in the back to make the floor of a troop compartment. Not sure on the back door, since the GIJOE APC didn't have one. I could build up styrene to form the armor designs.

4) Add 'glass' to the flip-up window frame.

5) Seal up the lines where the upper and lower decks meet.



This design has the potential to work for many different uses. It could be a larger arctic command vehicle (like an RV/APC hybrid); a more traditional heavy equipment transport truck (wheeled); a variation of the bigger 'land-train' vehicles like the JOEs were using to transport the Serpentor kids (DDP's return of Serpentor); heavy assault truck (armor plating over all the wheels); etc.

I think right now it's a C-, but given the possibilities of what it could be modded into I could see it as a solid B, maybe even an A.

I wish I had pics, but if anyone's interested check out the aisle at Target.

BTW-included are two knock-off type dollar store soldier figures and the usual over-sized weapons. There are: a Uzi with flashlight attached(?), rifle with scope, machine gun that sorta looks like a v1 Viper rifle if I squint, a gatling gun that has some customizing potential, a automatic handgun with flashlight, and a futuristic bullpup style gun (looks like a cross between a Calico, a G-36, and the back end of a caseless G-11).



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THATS hilarious!! I just bought this vehicle and the 15 Headquarters/ vechicle box set for my son at Target no more than 20 minutes ago.

I agree the set does have potential (Although I miss the Lanard sets in the same box for the same price)

as soon as I finish opening the box and the boxes from Ebay I picked up,... I
ll write a review of the Headquarters box set.

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Sounds worth a look, got pics?

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I've been eyeing the blue box construction set at Target, with the remote control crane... That thing looks sort of sweet.

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I don't have any pics-with the laptop down I can't post any anyway.

Maybe KOP would be gratious enough to take some pics and add them to this thread.


Oh, KOP? Before you let your son play with this missile tank, I would advise giving the entire vehicle a gentle washing. Mine seems to have a funny feeling to the plastic-I felt like I had to wash my hands after handling it.

Might just be the stuff they use to release the plastic from the mold (like the back sections of the RHINO). Anyway, wiping it down seems to take care of the issue.

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well, I still don't have a Digital Camera (yeah, I know, wake up and smell the technology)

and yeah, I did notice that when I opened the package. It was even worse on the Headquarters playset. I did give it a wipedown.

Oh,.. and did I mention the headquarters has a lights N sounds feature!!!!???

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I picked up one at K-Mart today. It's the same vehicle for $10, but it has a tank turret on top and the APC style wheels. It still needs work to be great, but it's a good start.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they had a new ship. It was an aircraft carrier. I couldn't tell if it was the same one that has been out before or a new one. It didn't look bad though either way.

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You don't mean in 3 3/4" scale do you? I've seen the matchbox (or thereabouts) size one but if there is a larger one out there I need to see if I can find it.

oh no, someone has to post pictures,

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Here's some shots of the K-Mart one I got. Note the sticker on the front. That's one from the sheet I made. I didn't bother to lay a ruler down and make it perfect since I will actually be making this APC an Oktober Guard vehicle. It was mentioned already how much it looks like it could go to the Russians and I agree. So the single G.I.Joe sticker is just there to show off the sticker.









I want to make a section of the back to be able to come off. I want an interior too for this thing. It is pretty nice, but lots of other things need to be done to make it really good. The back end is open about the same as the DTC HISS and there's nothing inside. I'll probably cut the whole back off and put a door on it.

Oh and yeah I threw the wrestlers in there just to show how good figures look in it. Plus I liked their facial expressions for the "test drive", hehe.

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I'm gonna have to check out the K-Mart version since it looks so much better with wheels.

I'd like to find some wheels similar to the ones the US military has on the latest heavy equipment transporters to replace the treads on the Target version. Might have to check some RC shops.

Anyway, I'll just have to keep checking Target in case these get marked down.

EDIT: Looking at the K-Mart version with the turret, I could easily see two elevating gatling guns (like a cross between the Mean Dog and a Phalanx CISW) instead of the tank cannon. It would give it some weaponry without being too top heavy.


If you do make the top removable, you could add a big mortar unit inside.

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Yeah they are pretty nice for what they are. They're basically either all out for a kid or a customizer. They're not items you'll want to display your favorite figures with right out of the box. I went ahead and shot a picture of the back for those that want to see it. The plastic is warped too. I dropped another one of my stickers on the back also and did a clean cut so it can be seen that they do cut clean.

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Never saw this one. Thanks for the pic. It's hard to tell with the glare off the cover but there appears to be a lot of useful parts.

Target had the wheeled/gun turret version last year. It was tan and green camo.

I picked one up before they got recalled.

Turning it into a Red Shadows vehicle.

I liked the look of the treaded version, but am still debating on picking it up.

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