G.I. Joe U.S.S. Flagg Restoration: Part 3 - Review the Flagg - Hasbro 1985

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The final touches are complete and the U.S.S. Flagg is ready to sail once again! Michael gives his final thoughts on the biggest action figure toy ever made -- Hasbro's 1985 G.I. Joe U.S.S. Flagg Aircrafy Carrier playset!
#RetroBlasting #USSFlagg #toyrestoration #GIJoe

[@TheLavadiver]

The neighbor kid up the street had the Flagg and it was awesome. But since I had the Rattler and no JOE aircraft, I felt it was my duty to strafe it.

[@Weremoogle]

😆

[@Geek_Chorus]

COBRAAAA!!!!!!

[@modelcitizen1977]

My cousin had the Flagg. It dominated his entire bedroom. I was mad jealous.

[@AllYourBaseRBelong2Us]

I was able to get a closet FLAGG early this past year, locally. I had never seen one prior. It was intimidating to see it dominating an entire corner of a downstairs study of a newer open-concept home. I was able to get it, mostly complete and in good shape for $400 because the guy who had set it up found his kids had no interest in it. It was still very apparent that he held an appreciation of the toy as he questioned me for a guarantee that I wasn't looking to flip or part the thing out as FLAGGs in this condition at that time were going for north of $800 without the shipping. Still, he was determined to part with it. The very pretty blonde he was married to may have had something to do with that. The FLAGG doesn't float, but it seems like the great axiom of recreational watercraft holds true: the two happiest days of a boat owner's life are the day he buys the boat, and then the day he sells the boat. The Defiant can roll into an austere space or back of a larger closet to be redeployed within a minute, same thing with the Gi Joe Battle Command Center, Ninja Turtles Techno Drome, Ghostbusters Firehouse, and so on. Every other major play set of that era that I can think of can be picked up and moved without too much hassle. Having transported the whole thing and set it up in my basement it occurs to me that the USS FLAGG isn't a toy, its a Shrine. It takes a ritual's worth of work to set up and put away, and once it is up it commands the space of a small bedroom. It also requires offerings: a Sky Striker here, a Dragonfly there....Ownership is a commitment. Thank you RetroBlasting for another awesome series of videos!

[@curseoffenrir]

Living vicariously through Retroblasting, thank you Micheal, really enjoying even your old videos.

[@boblowes]

Have to say - your USS Flagg is a hell of an impressive display of GI Joe firepower. But you're right - it needs all those vehicles, aircraft and the custom keel to make it work.

[@Beer-can_full_of_toes]

Thanks to you all at RB Gijoe berg and several other channels I now have my own USS Flagg raised and on display in my basement with my childhood Defiant and a recently acquired Terror Drome to battle the Joes. I have a almost all of my childhood GI Joe toys at least the ones my cousins didn’t break and even some of those I’ve managed to repair and restore with your awesome knowledge and references. I really appreciate the work you put into your channel and the care you have for vintage toys. Thank you and good day.

[@frankbrown4780]

Michael, now that, is one fancy coffee table you have there......................just make sure everyone uses coasters!

[@IsiahTomas]

Yes, and watch out for those, Lana? Lana? Lana? ...... LANA!!!!! WHAT??? ...... Dan-

[@hondorockz]

That's a big ship!

[@standepain]

YAHTZEE! Retroblasting uploads a video...I stop everything and watch!

[@ascensionindustries9631]

I had a friend in elementary school with two younger brothers an were all GI Joe nerds. So their parents bought them the Flag. They were the only kids I knew who had it an it was awesome.

[@bricksandplanes2580]

I have mine and is an amazing center piece! Although it is used for my Macross collection 😈😬

[@EMANUELE316]

Had several friends and hours spent at their homes. Back in 1985, I probably spent most of my Christmas break at my best friends house.

[@chrisbrewer9942]

Glad to see her finished with the replacement stickers. It looks perfect Michael. She’s sea worthy again. Hope you, Melinda and the rest of the team at Retroblasting have a Merry Christmas. Yo Joe!

[@vilod]

Wish I grew up with toys like this. The only figures I had was the ones I created with old shot gun shells and wooden blocks. I did get a Space 1999 Eagle 1 finally and boy did I play the hell out of it. Wish I still had it.

[@studinthemaking]

My cousin had that as a kid. Plus, they had the cobra base. We blew them up as teenagers. Great times.

[@bgddyphil]

Bought mine in 96... finally got the last pieces a bunch of deck clips a few weeks ago. I need to get a new antenna assembly as mine has issues but it displays ok. Great video! Love it!

[@JomasterTheSecond]

I'm a wee bit disappointed you didn't photoshop two "g"s into 'Six Flags' for maximum crossover.

[@WhiteysWickedWorkshop]

Loved the 3 parts of this restoration. You make me want to get one.

[@JoseGarcia-xi9ed]

Great 300z reference! Thanks for sharing your build.

[@ChroniqueVintage]

Thanks for this great review, I only saw this massive playset once on catalog back home, it's definitely an iconic item from the 80's !

[@wilfred8326]

I am almost inspired to buy a mixture of parts and and building one up from scratch.... to Build my own! And it would be a Coffee Table!

[@gabergabe223]

I was given the 2nd to last one of these that has to had in their warehouse. I grew up near Hasbro in Pawtucket and my step father new some people that worked there. My brother threw a party at our house and locked our dog in my room while we were away in NH. She chewed all the antenna and the figures, small vehicles I had on the deck. My refrigerator Perry was sacrificed as well.

[@HectorMartinez-si2xy]

Are last we here in the end ! Thanks for the journey and Marry Christmas!

[@MiKeMiDNiTe-77]

Awesome review I love the interior lighting gives it that nice sense of realism 🇺🇸

[@jeffstark8449]

Me and my brother had this. It was so massive tho it couldn't move. As we spent most of our time playing with our joes outside. We didn't use it much for a couple years til we took it outside,tore it apart and used the parts for other bases.

[@SenseiJae]

I slept on the deck of my flagg once. That thing was super sturdy.

[@zabu7912]

I had a few gi joe figures in the 80s, but I always was more into Star Wars. I was always impressed with the joe fig line in the 80's, Hasbro took chances and made some awesome vehicles. It would've been nice to see a Death Star or Bespin playset of that scale.

[@jokerproduction5135]

kt the Death Star play set is a good size and has a lot of features I’m restoring one now and it’s a nice toy the Flagg is more. A status symbol if you ask me it looks impressive bit is basically a flag ship for the joe line like retro blasting said in an earlier episode the kids are playing with every thing but the Flagg we were at the tail end of the Star Wars line and at the height of the joe line I always loved the Star Wars and joe vehicles only got a few Star Wars action figures cause of limited articulation joes were a better figure but Star Wars play sets and vechcles are well designed toys bar none

[@zabu7912]

@@jokerproduction5135 I agree, Star Wars toys definitely set the standard, as a kid in the 70's I had a lot of the playsets and the Dearh Star is a great toy. I dont know if your familiar with Hasbro crowd funding source Haslab where Jabbas sail barge was funded, but fans seem to want a bigger Death Star. I dont know how you could build a bigger one and do it justice. I would like to see a Bespin playset with decent carbon freezing chamber.

[@jokerproduction5135]

kt I’ve heard of has-lab and the Jabba barge a Death Star would be a cool project and a bespin play set would be awesome I’ve seen where people will take several deathstar play sets and make one big one any quality play set that hasbro makes is better than not doing anything I don’t like most of the new Star Wars toys but some. Of the ships are cool and the power of the force stuff is cheep new in box so I grab that off of eBay I didn’t have a lot of Star Wars stuff as a kid and I’m impressed at the quality and detail of the vechiles bit as a kid I couldn’t get over the limited articulation the action figures had compared to the gi joes so I never had the figures as a kid now I buy and restore them and have a new found love for them

[@zabu7912]

@@jokerproduction5135 I mainly collect the 6 inch Black Series now. I like the vintage collection, but just dont have the money to buy it all. I backed the sail barge because I thought it was worth it, but I'll have to see once it ships end of February. Its think Hasbro targets more adult collectors than kids these days.

[@jokerproduction5135]

kt if you want vintage Star Wars vehicles get the power of the force one they are the same molds and cheaper

[@MarcelosToyRoom]

Man this is the best playset ever. Won't ever be matched by size or features. I am happy to be a owner of one :D

[@MauriceMercado]

I got to say, I find your videos so entertaining and informative and actually quite relaxing. LOL You are about a year older then me so I can identify with your content and I absolutely LOVE 80's toys, it makes me reminisce quiet fondly to my childhood and playing with G.I. Joe and TMNT. I on; t wish my parents didn't give away all my toys when I was a teen. (Still a bit bitter about that...lol) Keep up the great content and if you ever make it to New York (I'm in Yonkers) I'd love to buy you lunch and talk 80's toys with you. Cheers.

[@minimundus1712]

So many parts that can break, or get missing god i love this toy ( even iam not a collector or had G.I. joe Toys ;) )

[@tonygriego6382]

Merry Christmas.

[@EMANUELE316]

Gave my father a sales pitch before XMAS in 86’. Moved back to VA Beach in 87’. During a trip to Bradley’s Dept store with my Mother, USS Flagg was marked on clearance for $50 or $75. I still swear and have regrets to this day! Never got that sky striker or shuttle either.

[@wilfred8326]

Damn parents

[@lawsonjenkins2906]

Favorite episode

[@kevinratello9808]

Took me two years to complete my USS Flag. Enjoyed the video guys happy holidays can’t wait for more videos for the up coming new year. Thanks again

[@mikesmith2718]

Finally!!! I’ve been waiting forever thank you so much and merry christmas

[@MrChristopoop]

Merry Christmas and thanks for the video! I am counting down the hours until my youngest opens the LEGO Death Star which I had to hunt down when she asked for Star Wars legos. Wife kept asking if I wanted anything for Christmas, I kept telling her that I would be enjoying our youngest daughter’s gift along with her. When she saw the price of it, she was more than happy to not get me anything for Christmas. The Death Star will be like the Flagg in the respect that a ton of imagination can be spurred with all the available play possibilities (LEGO does this by adding tons of mini figs and the Flagg just needs the accoutrements of extra action figures and vehicles such as what you had stored on yours.). I think having that extra area added does wonders for the Flagg. First modification like that I saw was the Michael Mercy video on his Flagg upgrades. Added lighting is pretty neat too. I hope you and Melinda have a cool weather Christmas. It seemed to throw me off mentally when I was stationed at Fort Bragg in NC and it was warm out in late December. I reside about 50 minutes east of your alma mater now in central NY, and appreciate the ambiance of the weather I his time of year

[@MichaelJShaffer]

The Nissan analogy was SPOT ON (and I also fully agree that the 300 is better😎)! So well done. Adding the custom hull is almost a necessity. It completely transforms the playset/toy. I've seen some people fill out the interior of the superstructure with scale bunk beds, lockers, ladders, etc. I liken it to a house. It's nothing until you get all the furniture and the decor finished. Then it's a "home".

[@wilfred8326]

I might do that if I get a chance 🤔 since I have a photo of myself on the mid-deck of the CV67 JFK in March 2007

[@TheMelvor]

Great video. An unexpected treat on a pretty blah day. Thank you!

[@davidandrews5215]

Thank for doing the last last 3 part video on the flag I have been looking for it and when you respond back I thought awesome this is the time to ask you guys about this . Great video Micheal and you touch it on so many bases .I got my own a couple of years back in 2010 and I finally got my last piece to complete it the thin piece that goes under the elevator deck and I do not think it is list as parts list in the pictures of the G I JOE books by Mark Bellomo . I just happen to see the part on fb g i joe groups for sale . My flag is on the top of my rack with the gijoeburg idea for storing vehicles under the flag. With four shelves and shelf guides to pull out my toys . Under it made out of plywood and 2x4 and on heavy duty wheels from harbor freight . The display that you have for you toys is awesome looking forward to more videos from g i joe to anything that you guys want to do they are always informative and just so totally radical keep up the great work .

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

Amazing work Mike, Merry Christmas

[@Defiant15E]

“Death is the last great adventure!” My sides are hurting! LMAO!!

[@saturdaymorningfan3123]

Great review! Thanks for all the great videos.

[@planetschlock]

God, the sheer enormity of this thing still amazes me.

[@mackbonham1]

What an amazing restoration! I'm glad that you opted for eye-appeal and functionality with your custom keel/mounting rather than being a slave to "authenticity".

[@mattleuty5285]

Loved the video guys and I just wanted the opportunity to wish you and Melinda a fantastic Christmas. Let it be known that Retroblasting has delivered another year of quality content that goes out of its way to educate and entertain. It is no wonder that Retroblasting is the most mentioned channel when watching other related videos. Your wide range of topics and fandoms never fail to bring something new my way. So here's to an exciting new year and all the fantastic things that are coming.

[@retroblasting]

Thanks Matt! Christmas party chat tomorrow on KZbin starting at 2 pm Eastern!

[@mattleuty5285]

RetroBlasting oh that's great news, thanks for letting me know, I will certainly be there.

[@erikkunkle9574]

It really does come a live with tje added features. My bed substituted for the flag and many of sortie was flown from it with my skystriker. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@BullCraftMaxx]

Hope you have a great Holiday Season Retroblasting!

[@joncarroll2040]

Question about your opinion of the Flag: do you think that it's a better playset than the Death Star?

[@GeneralSantucci1st]

By a mile

[@novax-ig9yt]

Great video. Thank you!

[@MartinFutter70]

A nice conclusion on the videos for your Flagg, and the extension to the lower hull from Jo Berg? was a great addition. It took me back to the moment I spotted one in the window of Norwich toyshop Kerrisons (UK) and thinking was over a £100 too much to ask for a cardboard playset? Now I see its, as you say "green turtle plastic!" flight deck and a good looking bridge section, my curiosity is working overtime as to what you'll be doing with the other piece of superstructure. Great play potential as a base, just glad I didn't buy it due to the size! thumbs up and anchors away!

[@daveassanowicz186]

🎄Merry Christmas🎄🎅

[@kickliy6741]

Great job! Well worth the wait! Congratulations!

[@josephheflin6747]

Awesome Video!! keep them coming.

[@BullCraftMaxx]

AWESOME!!!! SO HAPPY FOR THIS VIDEO!

[@georgelea4297]

awesome video as usual keep up the awesome work you do

[@MadTheDJ]

Was the custom raised mount designed with passages or doors between the bays? The added height is a definite bonus, but with some tweaking it could be made "playable," too (yes, I know his is for display, but it's essentially a giant diarama, may as well make it appear functional as a carrier interior). Going even further, you could decorate the interior of the raised base either by painting details like hull plating, signs, etc., or making custom stickers. I say go all in!

[@GeneralSantucci1st]

I wish I could put mine in the middle of the room like you did . I have to put it up against the wall .

[@CO2Giger]

Great video!

[@marcothommen2484]

After watching Michael putting the Flagg together so very carefully..... To everybody who got the Flagg as a kid, been super excited over it, and broke the first parts during first assembly... My feelings are with you!!!!

[@blackbirdtech3368]

The ONE toy I never got in the 80’s but will own someday. Just need the real estate and patience to get one at 100 percent complete. Great video as always! Merry Christmas!

[@atom-88]

Awesome review guys👍, just want to say thank you for videos has I have been enjoying RB for the a couple of years now and have also been enjoying the Dream Land pod cast, so it's easy to say I'm looking forward to your 2019 content 👍. Merry Christmas Michael & Melinda and a happy new year.

[@guitardudeguy3139]

I really admire this GI Joe coffee table! I had a chance to buy one 5 years ago and at a fraction of the price I see today, just no where to put it..I love it, but it's just not practical for me, even now. I can still dream. The bottom base you built for it is a necessity for sure. It would be too rickety otherwise from what I see. I have all the necessary vehicles and figures to go with it, Skystriker, etc. Several Shipwrecks and others. Including a Keelhaul mail away. Just no Flagg. I can remember how upset I was when it was sank in the cartoon series. Thanks for sharing this great adventure of restoring your prize jewel. My next item is the Whale...All I can find are carcasses so far. Nothing worth restoring, but I'll keep trying.

[@skabcat242]

I once knew a kid who had this back in the 80s. He kept the Flagg on his dad's pool table.

[@thunderrobots1980s]

great video , well worth the wait

[@srod349]

2:13 Lmao 🤣 I’ve always thought that Eternia play set was horrible looking.

[@tonywilliams6428]

The Flagg is a Holy Grail item for me, but whenever I've seriously considered it over the years I came back to the same question; "How many vintage toys could I buy for what I'll pay for a Flagg?".

[@paulcheek8053]

Quick question you said in part 2 that you would tell us in part 3 why you had 2 Super structures. You never did? Loved your restoration!!!

[@V2011F]

While I wasn't born till the early 90's I feel as though nothing I had growing up will reach this level of majesty that the USS Flagg holds. With that being said I have seen the Toys that Made Us documentary series on Netflix(really good BTW) and when I saw it I immediately thought of ways that we could make it today, after seeing this video series and the problems with the Flagg I can definitely say I know how to fix these problems though if they are ever used in a future project by Hasbro, that's highly unlikely. Anyway, first things first with the Flagg needs a small crew of about 4 or 5 figures that would fit in this setting, new or classic characters would be fine and these could be exclusive versions of the characters that could only be purchased with the Flagg. Next, the Flagg needs to be big but manageable, meaning we need to cut about a foot off the length but increase the height so it can be used as both a storage space for all of the G.I. Joe vehicles you own and a base for your action figures when you play with them. Finally mobility and parts, this seems to be the biggest problem with the Flagg as it is impossible to move once you put it together and have all your vehicles stored in its docking bay, as such separating sections are a must this will allow you to not only easily take it apart and move it from one room to another, or place it in a moving box easily if you move out of town (we've all been there and it sucks). The separated sections could also be mini playsets as well with a command bridge, docking bay, engine room, armory, gym/gun range, and a medical bay, all the while keeping the garages that held your vehicles separate. These are just a few methods of altering the USS Flagg for today's kids without removing the spirit of the old and heightening the play that you can have with this new version of the toy set. I'm pretty sure that parents would be willing to spend $200+ on this version of the Flagg, knowing that it will definitely keep their kids occupied for hours and that is money well spent.

[@davidlerner100]

I enjoyed the video I am also building the USS Flagg I really do enjoy your reviews thank you again

[@cobra-emperor6starwars665]

I love the Flagg

[@smoothkirito]

I always wanted the Flagg, but the only GI Joe playset I ever had was the original Headquarters, and I got that used at a flea market 5+ years after it came out. My parents were always more willing to buy me Transformers than GI Joe, and to be fair, at the time I was okay with that, because I always preferred the Transformers cartoon over GI Joe. Looking back in hindsight, I still believe the animated Transformers was heads above GI Joe as far as the show went, but I absolutely admit that the GI Joe toys were the superior brand, and wish I had more of them, and had kept them.

[@Rudy_Zissou]

I was like “how many Shipwrecks does Michael actually have?” Yup.. quite a few it would seem! Incredible restoration and experience through what every Action Force and GI Joe fan knows as one of the stand out playsets of the 80’s.. Have a very merry christmas 🎄

[@Joe-rx7ht]

The one kid in my school rumored of owning the USS Flagg, was the most hated kid in my school. 😆

[@minitower]

Happy New Years guys

[@Ilse446]

Another great video

[@ReboottoysEllis]

Yes LJN wrestlemania on the deck of the USS flag on your next review woo hoo.

[@wallsjr77]

You guys awesome.

[@danielhoover2394]

You could enlist the help of some Action Pilots of the 3 & 3/4" scale on the flight deck. They have a strong resemblance to a Navy Flight Deck Crew (such as Shooters, for example). That should get the poor over worked Cutter and Shipwreck off the hook so they can work in the command deck.

[@Des_Zee]

Yes that was the holy Grail of toys back in the 80's. But I knew I wasn't gonna have one we lived in an apartment and that ship would've took up my whole room! But my parents gave me a pretty nice gi Joe collection and transformers too. I was happy without it. I also got to play with once when my father visited one of his friends and their son had it.

[@Nick-zj2bv]

I saw a Flagg at savers once. It was in a random box, it was 50 bucks. I didn't know know if it was complete so I passed.

[@batangbatugan]

What a great feature to celebrate Christmas eve! But now the question is, if a generous RB fan/Santa delivers Retroblasting a complete Eternia playset, will Michael review it? ;)

[@jamesvaughn1090]

Awsome video

[@jamesvaughn1090]

Thanks u

[@tntsk868]

God bless you for making this video. Your insight on this toy makes me not want to ever own a U..S.S. Flagg because of the space it takes and the money it cost. I would rather use the space for more action figures and studio space. It would be nice for hasbro to reissue it, but I'm sure it would cost just around the same amount as the original.

[@atariboy9084]

Two reason why I never got the U.S.S. Flagg. One: I lived in a small studio apt with my mother and brother so I dont think I could fit that hulk of a toy in our bed room. and Two: In 1985 I was one of the early New Yorker kid that saved up to buy the new Nintendo NES Deluxe set with Rob the Robot for my birthday. With the money I saved up all that year I could had brought two U.S.S. Flagg. but Super Mario Bros was Super Mario Bros.

[@shapilier793]

I'm not much of a Joe fan, but even the Flagg looks appealing. If I had one, it'd be a Hellicarier for my Marvel Universe figures.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

This reminded me of dad saying to me that he'll never buy me this one since it will occupies half our livingroom...me a heartbroken kid.

[@dualpersonamadness3976]

I didn't know there were 3 Mikes. Edit: Thanks for the ❤

[@juanc1328]

The little kid in me say “I want it”,the mean wife next to me say “your not having it”!

[@kascnef]

Back when Joe was at its peak

[@jamespero6803]

I had the flagg as a child (im working on getting a new one this coming year) and i have the defiant as an adult collector... Ive gotta say i think the defiant blows the flagg away in terms of a fun playset to have

[@retroblasting]

That may well be the case, but it's not nearly as infamous/well-known in terms of mainstream toy history.

[@brushstroke3733]

One of my friends had the Flagg when I was a kid, and it took up almost a whole room. I was not at all jealous that I didn't have it. I thought it cool, but garrish. And also massively out of scale compared to the Skystrikers.

[@Ilse446]

There back

[@wall4818]

The only issue this thing has that most other collectors items don't is the size, really. Think back to the original Millennium Falcon from the 70's and 80's, which is expensive and usually a bit worse for wear and missing a few parts (though to be fair it's like that in the film, too). It's even a pretty large item, arguably wider (and maybe taller) than the Flagg without that custom base. I think the size is the only problem because a bigger size means bigger piece count, although they went the extra mile with stuff being removeable like the weapons locker. The size is what sort of brings it down, but overall the struggle for getting this is the same for any other vintage toy or playset, just a much longer process because again, bigger size means bigger piece count, and it's almost impossible to find one that's complete.

[@cobra-emperor6starwars665]

I painted my Flagg black but still have some more work to do on it to make it into a better custom

[@rennysreviews9813]

I was talking to my dad about this and he said he and everyone he knew. Only dreamed he said, only dreamed

[@Mike19737]

I had an opportunity in 2021 to buy USS FLAGG for $1500. I came THIS close but I had no room! 😂😂

[@shigeolincolntaco]

I remember when my brothers and I tried to talk our mom into getting this for us she looked at the price lol at us and said "Here are Hot wheels"

[@squidsminion]

Next to impossible but not impossible, my house was built in the 60’s but my bedroom could house that monster of a toy (that is if I had it).

[@sxhbk]

There we go... YO Joeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

[@R3troZone]

"Like the elevator that could assist in deploying smaller vehicles into the sea." Tha -- That's not what the elevator is for. It's for transferring vehicles back and forth from the hanger to the flight deck.

[@retroblasting]

Show me on the base toy where the lower deck storage is. Purposes change depending on actual reality of the product.