GI Joe | Knowing is Half the Battle Station

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[@J-T-A]

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]

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]

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]

Exactly

[@stephentucker6548]

"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]

I very much know that feeling!

[@kibagami74]

"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]

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]

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

[@MichaelJShaffer]

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.

[@mr.blonde66milkyway66]

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!!!🙏🇺🇸

[@gadget19k76]

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.

[@VorpalSlade]

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.

[@G7M9W]

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.

[@grimacemusically]

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.

[@joe3019772008]

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.

[@2loonscalling437]

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

[@VorpalSlade]

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!

[@Christolclear101]

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

[@hemnair75]

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.

[@ccipher5990]

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. 😀

[@cowpuddles4851]

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.

[@JFvE]

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.

[@michaelstopher1471]

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

[@Forest_Giant]

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.

[@Godzillaborg21]

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.

[@robbiebegley4200]

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. 😀

[@williamlydon2554]

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.

[@jordel2010]

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]

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

[@Chasing80sToys]

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

[@AnalogToys]

Thanks!

[@yesterlandtoys1138]

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

[@jordanhelljester]

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.

[@FreedomCompatriots]

"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.

[@beardedcyborg8807]

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.

[@soundandvision77]

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.

[@TimHayes]

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.

[@MatecaCorp]

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.

[@evilface1974]

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.

[@mickmo4700]

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]

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.

[@creagandubh4411]

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. 👍

[@arctrooper999]

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

[@wilhelmtoyandhobby]

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

[@TheNightBadger]

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...

[@nickdunlop07]

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

[@Mvargo97]

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.

[@alexandros.yiannis]

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

[@KensToyz]

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

[@dgray3771]

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.

[@informer]

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.

[@upsbrinquedos]

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

[@gazmatraz5248]

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 :(

[@8andSk8]

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

[@brendanhaley3668]

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!

[@tapoemt3995]

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! :)

[@Transfixed]

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

[@dennislogan6781]

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.

[@davelovelock4007]

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

[@jakeproven256]

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

[@beaker126]

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.

[@SpeedyArt]

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

[@jolemaire6629]

Now we just get figures in 6 inch without any worldbuilding. Action figures have never been this boring.....how i miss the good old times

[@elizabethiori9289]

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.

[@tsmproduction246]

Classic review Tony, good informative and well put together

[@marcryan1974]

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

[@scubapete9500]

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!

[@digipure]

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.

[@swalton7969]

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

[@Djkold]

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!

[@BeachHead79]

Awesome rundown of these small but awesome play sets!

[@jessecowled5764]

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

[@AnalogToys]

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

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

Great video Tony! Those were great play sets.

[@LeeONardo]

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]

Micro Machines didn't have action figures ya numpty

[@stephens4175]

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.

[@livingmaga6299]

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

[@gerainthorton8980]

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.

[@skabcat242]

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

[@happiaxxident]

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.

[@CollectingStarWars]

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

[@RoleKeeper]

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.

[@El_Keck]

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.

[@paulrebori2395]

So well done

[@epicproportionsmediaproduc6697]

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.

[@g.ijoebear1759]

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(?)

[@ericpowell4350]

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

[@rynohobbies]

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 .

[@RandomAmerican3000]

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.

[@Portal2099]

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.

[@jamesbirch9614]

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. 👏👏👍

[@gregorycraig9882]

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.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

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

[@xazylsclubhouse]

7:07 😂 great video!

[@Black_Adam911]

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

[@ToyKennections]

Fantastic overview of these battle stations - Yo Joe!

[@kennylong653]

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

[@jeenkzk5919]

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

[@impossiblepie]

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

[@loganholmberg2295]

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.

[@TheLilith1978]

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

[@sanroman3461]

Great video 👏👏

[@paulmiddleton8487]

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!

[@ncopictures7182]

Valaverse needs to consider something like one of these!

[@DavidGalich77]

GO JOE! That was a blast.

[@UrbanTiger74]

The COBRA surveillance station could double as a jamming or early warning station. Man I miss this stuff.

[@MartinHughes-cc6lc]

I not long ago picked up the Outpost Defender in mint condish. Man, I wish I had this as a kid, I would have played out Roukes Drift and the Battle of Mirbat endlessly

[@skydemolisher]

My cousin had some of them but I never knew of some of the others, its a pity there aren't many companies that do that kind of thing anymore. Playsets are such a great asset for expanding the imagination and I loved them as a child, still do as an adult. KMart in NZ has some dinosaur and shark themed sets and World Peacekeepers is available at The Warehouse and Toyworld but those are really the only things I can think of that are playsets like the old GI Joe things now.

[@salvation7362]

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. 😂

[@Ksknight100]

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.