Equipment Profile: XMH-1 Helmet

For many years, the tell-tale sign of a GI Joe Greenshirt was the distinctive helmet they wore.  It is the XMH-1 helmet, an advanced prototype military helmet that never made it into the mainstream army.  Nevertheless, the helmet was way ahead of its time and just may have been to expensive to deploy with the entire U.S. Army.

History

The M-1 "Steel Pot" helmet of World War II and Vietnam was starting to show its age by the early 80s. The Army wanted something more advanced, with greater ballistics and shrapnel protection.  Trakker Industries, headed by Matt and Andy Trakker, designed the XMH-1.  The Army brass were impressed by the design, but did not like the cost per unit.  General Austin decided that the new GI Joe team would employ the helmet.

Description:

The helmet provides excellent protection to the head of the soldier.  It has a dense layer of Kevlar that can stop small rounds like a .38 Special or a 9mm.  The design and shape give excellent protection to the wearer's ears.  A unique hole on the side of the helmet allows for a modular system of equipment for different duties.  A variety of visors and riot shields can be worn with it.  An advanced comm system for vehicle crews works with the helmet as well.  

Service Life:

The helmet was the standard battle helmet from 1982-1988, when it was replaced by the PASGT helmet that was Army standard at the time.  GI Joes always have the option of choosing what gear they want to equip themselves with on any given mission.  Some still choose to use the XMH-1 helmet, even though it is heavier than current models, due to its excellent protection.  The helmet is still being produced in limited numbers by Trakker Industries.

The VAMP: A History

Background:

In 1977, a number of vehicles competed for a government contract to replace the aging M-151 MUTT Jeep the army had been using since the late 1950s.  One of the entries, the Lamborghini Cheetah did not make the cut, the contract instead going to AM General for the Humvee.  The Cheetah caught the interest of General Austin, who wanted something faster, lighter, and more manueverable than the new Humvee and the old M-151 MUTT Jeep.  He got together with MTI Technologies (who was building the cheetah for Lambo) and asked them to build a 2 seater prototype with a larger, more powerful engine mounted in the front.  The result was satisfactory and the VAMP was born!

VAMP Mk. I

The original VAMP was meant to be a multi-purpose vehicle.  It was to perform recon, anti-aircraft, towing, infantry support and general transportation duties.  Its engine was a beefy turbocharged V-12 that could propel the VAMP to nearly 140 MPH.  It was lightly armed with twin 7.62mm machine guns that were remote controlled by the passenger or driver.  Mounted under the hood was another simple 7.62mm machine gun.  It only pointed forward and its usefulness was minimal.  The VAMP was very popular with GI Joe and served on many missions.  Clutch swore by the VAMP and remained a driver of the vehicle for over 30 years.  Of all the Joes, he could push the VAMP to the limits of its capabilities, and had destroyed quite a few in his time!

VAMP Mk. II "Desert Vamp"

After the success of the original VAMP, a new version was created.  The cooling system of the Mk. I was found to be a little inadequate in warmer climates.  The Mk. II improved on this with a larger radiator and improved hoses.  More firepower was added in the form of a box missile launcher with 4 surface-to-surface missiles.  Gone was the hood mounted 7.62mm machine gun and the twin guns mounted on the rear.  To protect the occupants from the elements a soft top and doors were added.  The additional weight of the missile launchers slowed the top speed down some, but the popularity of the added firepower made up for it.  Although meant for desert climates, the VAMP Mk. II ended up being used in all sorts of weather and terrains.  

Cobra Stinger

The Cobra brass were impressed with the VAMP on the battlefield and made several attempts to get the plans.  Finally, they managed to capture one.  The vehicle was transferred to MARS Industries and they engineered a virtual copy of the VAMP.  The Stinger had a few differences from the VAMP it copied.  The turbocharger and air cleaner were enlarged and protruded into the hood.  The missile system was a gargantuan thing on the rear deck of the Stinger.  It was more advanced than the box style on the VAMP Mk. II.  A rear bumper deck and hand rail was added to allow additional troops to ride along.  The doors were a gull wing type design that allowed the easy ingress/egress of the occupants.  Despite the improvements, the Stinger and VAMP Mk. II were equally matched, due to the inexperience and poor training of the Stinger drivers.  

Tiger Sting

A few of the first generation of VAMPs were converted for use by the Tiger Force.  The box style missile launcher was used and the 7.62mm hood mounted machine gun was retained.  A tiger style paint job was applied to denote its affiliation with Tiger Force.  

Desert Striker

Some VAMP Mk. IIs were heavily modified with a new rollcage and a reinforced front end.  Added was an M-60 GPMG mounted on the passenger side.  An unusual feature was the mine deployment system on the rear bumper.  It was a simple mechanical device that used 55 gallon drums that contained simple anti-tank mines.  The lever would tip the drums and dump the mines over the ground.  

VAMP Mk. I & II, 2nd Generation

The second generation VAMP was a complete departure from the original VAMP from 1982.  It was sourced from the chassis of a Ford Expedition and based on the Humvee.  It was slower, with a top speed of 90 MPH.  It was built for utility and not speed.  It could carry an additional 2 passengers in the passenger compartment, and a few extra could tag along in the rear cargo box.  

Yes, it featured a cargo box, where a pedestal mounted mini-gun provided fire support.  This mini-gun plus a single rocket launcher could be mounted on a number of hard-points on the roof.  The new generation of VAMP was everything the older VAMP was not.  Still the 1st generation VAMP remains in service.

NINJA Combat Cruiser (Night INfiltration Jeep, All-Terrain)

Up-armored and equipped with a missile launcher, this all new version of the 2nd generation of the VAMP is equipped for night fighting in urban and suburban environments.  The entire passenger compartment and cargo box are covered with a kevlar reinforced micro-Chobham armor.  2 inch thick gull-wing steel doors with hydraulic open assist allow entry and exit into the vehicle.  The missiles can be configured for both surface-to-air and surface-to-surface capabilities.  The NINJA Combat Cruiser is being tested as to its usefulness in battlefield environments.  

In The Future:

After 30 years of service, the original VAMP shows no signs of slowing down.  A parts recycling program keeps certain units on the road, well after their initial service life has expired.  In 2007, new VAMP Mk. 1 units rolled off the assembly line, nearly identical to their 30 year old counterparts in the motor pool.  The 1st generation VAMP was built to last 20 years in a normal environment, but the fact that they have lasted this long, is a testament to their quality.

A Guide To The F.A.N.G.

Early on, Cobra had a need for an inexpensive, light weight, easily transportable attack helicopter.  Destro's MARS Industries came up with the FANG chopper.  It was first fielded in 1983 and was found to be effective on the battlefield.  In an urban setting they are usually deployed one at a time to perform terrorism operations.  In a theater or war, they are deployed in large numbers to overwhelm opposing forces.  The early FANGs were armed with 4 air-to-air missiles, one 500 pound "dumb" bomb and a chin mounted cannon.  The FANG was easy to fly and required a bare minimum of training.  One downside of the FANG was the open cockpit design, which exposed the pilot to small arms fire.  You could theoretically knock a FANG out of the sky with one well placed shot with a .22 rifle.  Pilot safety was of no concern to Cobra Commander though, and he ordered thousands of the aircraft over the years.  The original design remains in service.

FANG II

The FANG II was conceived to compliment the original FANG, not to replace it.  It was designed as a missile platform to provide air cover for swarms of FANG helicopters.  Its design was a departure from the original FANG in that it abandoned traditional helicopter design and went with the more experimental tilt-rotor function.  The tilt-rotors gave the FANG II extra speed and the ability to carry additional weapons.  Bristling with extra missiles and twin chin cannons, the FANG II was formidable.  Again, the downfall was its open cockpit design.  

FANG III

Military experts say the third incarnation of the FANG was an upcycled version of the original FANG.  This couldn't have been farther from the truth.  The airframe was strengthened with composite materials.  An all new turbine engine was developed.  The rotors were a radical new forward-swept design which allowed for maximum speed.  The FANG III was faster, lighter and stronger than its predecessors.  Once again, Cobra sacrificed on pilot safety by going with the open cockpit design.  The chin cannon was upgraded to a 20mm dual vulcan type design that proved to be devastating in battle.  Missile armaments were reduced to just one under the belly and 2 optional on the fusilage.  

BLACK DRAGON VTOL / FANG IV

The fourth version of the FANG was radically different.  It was much larger than any of the previous FANG aircraft and utilized 2 large turbopop engines on nacelles to power the tilt-rotors.  Gone was the ubiquitious open canopy design and in its place was a reinforced opaque cockpit shell.  No longer could the average Cobra trooper pilot this thing... you needed an Air-Viper to do the task.  Since there was no clear canopy to view the outside, everything was done by instruments.  These differences caused the FANG IV to be re-named the Black Dragon.  It was an aircraft all its own, mainly used as an attack, bomber, or transport aircraft.  

The Future Of FANGs

Over 30 years after its conception, the original FANG remains one of Cobra's most numerous aircraft.  Current versions are still being manufactured to this day.  FANG IIs are still in limited service, but are being phased out through attrition (crashed FANG IIs are used for spare parts for flying models).  The FANG III is slowly replacing the original FANG, although some units prefer the older model for its missile configuration.  Only one squadron is equipped with the Black Dragon, due to its cost ($1.8 million per unit, compared to $118,000 for a FANG).  The 9th Air-Viper Squadron "Black Dragons" takes great pride in flying the aircraft and they are considered an elite unit in Cobra's Air Force.

*FANG is a registered trademark of MARS Industries.

Casting A Spell On Me

So, I have finally decided to enter the world of casting parts for my Joes.  Last Christmas, I got the Alumilite Super Casting Kit for Christmas.  I thought it would be too messy to use inside, so I waited until the weather got cooler to bust it out.  That way I could work out in the garage in case of nasty fumes.  I also procrastinated because it seemed like a huge thing to tackle.  Casting seemed like a huge complicated thing that only master craftsmen could do.  

Nothing could be farther from the truth.  The most complicated and time consuming part was using the silicone mold compound included with the kit.  It was a little hard to mix the 10 parts of silicone to the 1 part of setting up solution.   I decided to pick up their Quick Mold Putty kit to speed things up.  Once you mix the 2 parts of the putty together, you have a short amount of time to make a mold.  My first mold was a simple press mold of a fedora hat from Bob, the Joker's Goon, who was a minor character in 1989's Batman film (don't get me started on how much better that is than any other Batman movie since).  I mixed the A part and the B part of the casting resin and poured it into the mold.  The resin starts to harden up real fast!  You don't have much time to work with it.  It turned out good!  After it set up (about 10 minutes) I dremeled out a hole in the middle so it can fit on someone's head.  

I did end up using the silicone mold maker on a junk Super Trooper head I had lying around.  I had lots of difficulties casting the head.  Air bubbles tend to congregate around the chin and mouth parts of the mold, so I had to make about 8 bad heads before I got one useable one.  It helps to follow the instructions and warm up the mold in the microwave and dust the inside of the mold with baby powder.  

I made more press molds of Indiana Jones' fedora (I have a thing for fedoras) and an M1 helmet from a generic figure I bought years and years ago.  Both have worked great.  I spent most of last night making molds of other GI Joe hats.  Tonight, I plan on a mass casting fest, making tons of chappeaus.  I haven't quite decided on selling the extras, but maybe I will.  Next on the agenda will be vehicle parts.  I had much success casting a deck clip for the USS Flagg.  I'll post some pictures when I finish them up.

Here's a sampling of some of my work si far!

And Finally... Part III of my collector's autobiography

Here it is!  Part three, the final installment of my history collecting GI Joe.  After 1994, I had not paid much attention to the GI Joe brand.  There were other things to distract me at the time... like ska and punk music, chicks, college, and beer (not necessarily in that order).  Yes, being cool was the name of the game in the late high school and college era.  It looks like I missed a great deal of cool things during that time, like the Stars And Stripes Forever set and the 1997 re-issues that popped up.  Now, I kind of kick myself for missing out on all that cool stuff, when it was so affordable.  Anyway, hindsight is always 20/20.

Fast forward a few years to 2001.  The hectic life of college was over and I was just into my television career.  I was living in a little house in north central phoenix (CenPho to all the hipsters).  There was a Toys R Us on Camelback and 7th Street that I liked to check out when I was bored.  GI Joe managed to find a way back in once again!

It all started back up again with the Real American Hero Collection.  They were a bunch of re-molds of older figures and some cobbled together parts of other figures made into new characters.  I ended up buying a couple of these, even though I was slightly less than impressed with the copyright friendly name changes.  They were nostalgic to say the least.  I even bought my first new vehicle in many years, Destro's Dominator.  I had always wanted the strange Heli-tank vehicle and this was my opportunity to own one.  The Destro figure included was lame and I was very disappointed with the bright yellow weapons and rotor blades.  

So I stopped collecting again for a few more years, until about 2004 rolled around.  I stumbled across my old boxes of Joes in the spare bedroom closet and once again I was bitten by the collecting bug.  I remember scouring all the Toys R Us stores around, picking up the remnants of the Valor vs Venom line and some of the DTC figures I could get my hands on.  The DTC figures I thought were awesome, and I was disappointed when they disappeared from the store shelves.  Luckily It wouldn't be much longer unitl...

The 25th Anniversary Pack!   I saw it at one of our seemingly daily runs to Target.  I had to have it.  The new articulation blew me away.  No more O-rings to change!  Only thing missing were the vehicles.  In a few months those started to appear... and it was on and hasn't stopped since!  

A few years ago, I kept having dreams of getting the USS Flagg again.  I never thought I would end up owning one again.  Well, I finally did manage to get one.  I used up my Father's Day cash and bought one up in a collection.  It wasn't a smooth transaction either... the guy totally ripped me off on shipping, charging me $200 to just drive it across town and drop it off in front of my house.  But... I had to pay it, it was eBay.  I sold off the rest of the stuff and kept the aircraft carrier and now it is the centerpiece of my collection, its deck is overloaded with Skystrikers, Tiger Rat, Dragonfly, Sky Hawk, Sky Sweeper, Night Attack Chopper and anything else I could cram on there.  

As of this writing, us Joe fans are facing an uncertain future.  The stores are no longer carrying the Retaliation figures and we are still waiting on word as to when the Figure Subscription Service 2.0 will ship.  These pauses are frustrating to us collectors, but I find them a good time to re-evaluate my collection and to fill in those gaps.  Believe it or not, I do not have a V1 Dr. Mindbender figure!  Hopefully, I can pick up one for a good price.  I look forward to GI Joe III when it comes to theaters and the line of figures and vehicles that will accompany it.

Part 2 of My Long, Long history of collecting!

August 1990.  I was with my Grandma and Grandpa in the back seat of their car.  The smell of Viceroy cigarettes was wafting through the air and the sounds of KTAR talk radio was blaring.  We were coming back from Payson during the waning days of summer.  The announcer came on with some breaking news.  Saddam Hussein's forces had invaded Kuwait.  War was on.  In the following months, the TV would be filled with images of soldiers streaming into the middle east.  It was the first war I remember watching live on TV as it happened.  The war was what rekindled my interest in GI Joe.  It wasn't too long after Operation Desert Shield turned into Operation Desert Storm that I was combing everywhere I could to find those Joes I had lost from a few years earlier.  

This was a great time to collect GI Joe.  Just about every comic book shop had a rumpled box behind the counter that was filled with Joes and their weapons.  The storekeepers were more than happy to get rid of them for next to nothing.  I remember buying them for about a buck a piece at certain places.  Joe vehicles were equally as irritating for comic book retailers.  They were selling them off to me for usually under 10 bucks a pop!  I scored some good deals through the regular retailers as well.  Lionel Playworld in its dying days kept the older Joes on their shelves and I managed to pick up the Mobile Command Center on clearance.  The Toys R Us across the street had an open box Night Boomer on clearance as well that I picked up (I wish I still had that one!).  A small town store called Cornet was another favorite of mine for Joe shopping (toys in general).  They had multiple years of Joe stock from a few years back, plus they still carried MASK a few years after they stopped making them!  Toy shows seemed to pop up every month at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.  I found my '82 Scarlett at one for what seemed like a fortune back then... $15!!  

I was an older, more sophisticated GI Joe fan during this time.  In my younger days, GI Joe and Cobra would fight in straight battles.  Now I had developed complicated plots and sub-plots.  Joes died, some came back to life.  There was plenty of machevellian plotting in the Cobra camp as many strove to overthrow Cobra Commander, and they all failed.  Some plots involved time travel, wormholes, space battles and riots.  Cobra Commander even managed to get elected mayor of Pinewood, California.  Pinewood was a city I had made up a few years earlier and it was the epicenter of my Joeverse (and still is to this day).  GI Joe had a base there and Cobra was constantly trying to take over the city.  All these adventures make up the foundation of my current day Joeverse.

Sadly, it all came to an end in 1994.  Some of the last Joes I remember buying were the 30th Anniversary Action Soldier, Pilot, and Marine sets and a few of the Street Fighter figures.  I didn't realize at that time that the line was coming to an end.  My attention turned to getting my first car, and from there my life as an ordinary teenager began, and the Joes went into the attic and the closet.

COMING SOON!  PART 3!

A long, long personal history of my collecting!

Part One:  The First Wave!

I don't really remember buying my first Joes.  I only remember having them.  I can only assume that my Mom or Grandma must have bought me Zap and the Mobile Missile System at the Kay-Bee Toys at Westridge Mall in 1982.  I do remember playing around with the MMS at Piccadilly Cafeteria on what must have been the day I got it.  For years, broken leg Zap was floating around in my yellow wooden toybox.  Parts of the MMS were floating around the back bedroom of my grandparents farmhouse for many many years.  I vaguely remember having that straight-armed Hawk as well, but I didn't know their code names.  Many of the original Joes from that first year were a mystery to me.  They seemed generic and primitive compared to the releases in the next few years.  Anyway, that is my earliest Joe memory.

At my school, GI Joe was huge.  That was about all we would play during recess.  Our Jansport backpacks would be crammed with the latest figures and weapons and on days when we wouldn't them to school, we would become the Joes themselves.  My friend Tommy always insisted on being Duke and I usually had to be Flint.  He justified this by saying that he had blonde hair and so did Duke.  It was a golden age of GI Joe!  I'll never forget hunting around everywhere to find Snake Eyes and finally finding him at Smitty's.  I found Storm Shadow at Diamond's department store (before they got bought out by Dillard's).  Every store it seemed sold GI Joe.  I bought Check Point Alpha at Alpha Beta (before they became ABCO).  Christmases and birthdays were always a Joefest!  We had to return Zartan to Lionel Playworld because his O-ring broke (this was before we figured out the back screw trick).  

Sending away for hooded Cobra Commander was a huge deal.  It seemed like six months before he finally came in the mail!  He looked very regal in his dark blue uniform with official looking gold stripe running down his leg.  I was the only kid in the 2nd grade with a Cobra Commander figure.  Since they stopped selling the helmeted version a year earlier, this was the holy grail of the time. You can't forget Sergeant Slaughter too... or The Fridge.  All the mail-aways were awesome.

The ultimate was the USS Flagg.  It sat in the living room for a week... that is until my mom got sick of it sitting there.  The mighty ship was too big to fit in my room, so it went to live on the back patio.  One day, it mysteriously disappeared into my grandparents' basement.  At the time, I was kind of creeped out to go down there and play with it, so they thought I had lost interest in it and gave it to a family friend.

My first wave of interest in GI Joe sadly came to a close late in 1987.  I had switched schools and it seemed that no one there was interested in GI Joe.  So, I stopped buying them.  Some of the last Joes I bought during that time were Law and Order and Chuckles.  

NEXT:  The Second Wave:  Too Old For Joe, but that doesn't phase me!