HCC788 - 1986 Cobra NIGHT RAVEN and STRATO-VIPER - vintage G. I. Joe toy review! S02E41

[@Sithman1776]

The Raven was the crown jewel of my collection!

[@inmjoh]

Fins out fins in... you spent so much time on that, you didn't realize the missle pods on your Raven are on backwards lol

[@generalchang2217]

One of the best Hasbro Corbra aircraft ever made at this point.

[@stephenturner757]

One of the best aircraft of any toy line ever made!

[@christianhafer9819]

Maybe the best. It's fantastic.

[@ExUSSailor]

This was probably my favorite Cobra vehicle I owned as a kid.

[@randaleastwood6836]

Such a flashback! I got this toy in 1986 and even as a 6 year old kid I took great care of the nightraven and the box. It was just so beautiful. To bad when my brother inherited my joes, my mother threw it away to make room for his stupid teenage mutant ninja turtles and even more ridiculous power rangers. Somewhere in the landfill around my hometown deep in the trash lies a really nice nightraven with box. On a side note, my mom kept most of the figures long enough for me to appreciate them again and retain the strato viper.

[@Senbonzakura776]

I remember seeing the commercial for this and asking my parents for it. I still have mine, and still looks great...oh, and fins out

[@hneugiii1245]

GI Joe was all about imagination and whatever you wanted to do. On that, both of my Night Ravens are fins in!

[@Zeoinx69]

Both? Both?! Clearly that means you have an extra you are CLEARLY wanting to send me! Obey Cobra! My Shelf needs a Nightraven!

[@b-retrogamer2324]

Blasphemy

[@fredericofurlan]

G.I.Joe were extremely popular here in Brazil in late 80's and early 90's, I had this one and many others. Nice toys.

[@greglemieux9809]

I got that for Christmas when I was 9 years old. You wanna talk about a happy kid. Man I wish I never got rid of my cool toys.

[@mikaelschaefer7720]

This is still my favorite I was hoping haslab would have done this instead of the joes skystriker

[@jamiesands3331]

The drone reminded me of the shuttles from the 80’s NBC series “V.”

[@bobastu]

Easy counselor, we all love GI Joe here. The tube on top of the STARBOARD vertical stabilizer is a pitot tube for real time instrumentation data to be received by the aircraft Caution: NEVER touch or lean on that tube after the plane lands. It has a heater and will burn you. Nuff said on that. I had two of these, one for Joe and one for Cobra. I played out the Firefox story so my Joe's got one too. Mine were always wings out! I award you the coveted "No Prize" award for successfully arguing the validity of wings out.

[@heatherburger1666]

This was a Christmas gift from my parents. I really enjoyed this toy. Thank you for bringing back some great childhood memories

[@Sammydx1]

Such a great play value. Plus that recon jet. Above and beyond for us

[@Tr0nzoid]

I didn't take the cockpit seat out to put people inside. I just dropped it and stuck the figures in. Because it would slide out, I taped it shut. This meant I kept the Strato-Viper and someone else I didn't really care about using stuck inside all the time.

[@jongaulthero]

MAN!!! I loved this one. I really, really wanted one bad back in '86 but just couldn't. Plus, I'd been in the Army for 2 years and didn't think I could keep it in my barracks room.

[@mikaelschaefer7720]

Fins out on mine since the day I got it in the 80’s

[@MartinKronstrom]

I got a Night Raven for Xmas in 1987. I loooved it! But too heavy/big for a 7 yo kid. So the tiny plane got used way much.

[@deathwasp1]

This is the very first birthday present I remember getting. And it's still my very favorite toy.

[@timh3794]

Sir you are by far better than retroblasting channel. I unsubscribed and refused to watch any of his over analytical jargon. Your channel is fun and you keep it real! Keep doing what you do HCC! Cooooobraaaaaa!

[@jimmerzink4726]

Great review! Thanks for the detail and for the pictures of real world jets. My sons and I had a great argument over the missiles facing backwards. lol

[@JediDB]

I love my Night Raven with its fins IN. Lol. Great vid.

[@chrisnwi1209]

fins out, fins out !!!!!!! great review to a great toy from a great guy. which is great lol.

[@HCC788]

+Chris Michalec Great!

[@Mlopez_602]

I had this up until I joined the ARMY in '94. Came back after basic training and everything was gone.

[@joshcarrico6534]

Outside of my Star Wars toys, the Night Raven was probably my favorite toy ever. I wish I had never sold it. Such a great toy.

[@joshcarrico6534]

Oh, and I had my fins pointed in. Looks better that way.

[@sovetskyskaiyastrigon1750]

The stabilization wings are called Canards

[@mi777ke777]

The Night Raven and Ghost Striker are my two all time favs.

[@josephskiles]

I got this for Christmas the first year it was out, I don't think there was a happier kid in the world that day. Of course my cockpit broke the first time I played with it. Snake Eyes constantly stole that jet from Cobra

[@Karnegis]

I got this for my birthday when I was a kid. The fins went out.

[@agnethaladuff8559]

Cool review of the Cobra Night Raven and the pilot Strato Viper.

[@patrickmckown5996]

I do have 2 complete Night Ravens, each with different landing gear slides. The landing gear doesn't stay down very well with the straight slide. With the drone, fins out. But, since the Sky Raven didn't come with one, I do fins in.

[@samfrito]

Great review HCC. and once again, you go to the head of the class for "clear-basin' sum truth". awesome toy and figure and once I got it way back then, I doctored the hell out of that bright orange and made it Tamiya's metal blue, and detailed the engines beneath the covers, and the recon pods cockpit. I pulled it out a couple of months ago to show it off to my son (9 years old Tformer fan) and he dug it. yes, fin-gate is going to shroud this amazing aircraft in debate for years to come, but it's fins out. that's how dad did it, that's how hasbro did it, and that's how HCC does it. and I can live better knowing blame is to be placed on the decal instruction sheet and other less accurate media.

[@HCC788]

+sam torres Blue would be a good alternative color to the orange. The kids don't have toys as cool as we had! I'm not surprised your son liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@Buff88]

Cool Jet and Pilot. Whoa never seen such a discussion about fins! Lol

[@jfunk14]

G.I.Joe got a Skypatrol Raven in the late 80's early 90's.

[@dirus3142]

The strato viper complements the cobra eel figure well. They both have the same color scheme that makes the cobra specialist soldiers stand out.

[@evanscott9473]

I recently ordered a Night Raven still in box. Since the X-19 had fins in, that's probably how I'll configure the NR.

[@machiwoomiapoo]

I remember watching Firefox and just waiting for the last part of the movie to see the airplane. Also, I enjoyed watching D.A.R.Y.L. when he stole the SR-71 Blackbird. This is one of my favorite Cobra toys. It reminded me of the time I was driving out to Mountain Home, Idaho, Air Force Base and I saw the exhaust from an airplane off in the distance. It was dusk, so I could tell it was an SR-71 Blackbird taking off when it went up. It's such an amazing plane. I played with this toy all the time, and I feel the landing gear was much better than the Skystriker's. Thanks for the wonderful review and memories. Take care, Sam from machiwoomiapoo channel. Please check out my synthesizer tunes if you get a chance. Yo Joe!

[@turdfergusonn4590]

I got back into collecting Joes a few months ago, and with that I'm also checking for your reviews when I pick up a new piece. I haven't picked up a Night Raven yet, but this was my favorite toy when I was a kid so I had to watch it. I always assembled my Night Raven fins OUT. But like others have stated, the missiles are supposed to face backwards. So *why* are all the weapons on the toy facing backwards, you may ask? EASY ANSWER! Because it's faster than anything else in the sky! The Night Raven gets IN FRONT OF THE ENEMY TO SHOOT IT DOWN!

[@galaxyoftoys]

Another excellent review. I never had a Night Raven, but maybe someday...

[@HCC788]

+Galaxy of Toys "It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine." -Wayne Campbell, 1992.

[@billislois]

all planes have the fins out for better maneuvering and so is much more space for the drone to land easier on the raven

[@kvoltti]

Special Missions # 5 is one of my favorite issues of the classic comics

[@mattpenn9079]

I love that Cobra's two main operational fighters were based on designs that were not meant for air-to-air combat in the slightest.

[@beauyerks7413]

Best Xmas ever!! I got Night Raven....and TERROR Dome❤❤❤

[@airfre]

I love this plane the best G.I. Joe vehicle ever made in my opinion I own 2 & 2 strato vipers they are 99% complete the only thing that is missing on them both is the air brake that attaches to the top gun. Those little pieces are hard to come by & when I find them they are always some outrageous prices. I have a third one but I'm restoring it & have a few more parts to get I prefer my fins out it looks better to me awesome vid as always

[@dubuyajay9964]

What about the X-19?

[@hector1011]

Great Review as usual. This one was one of my prized possessions as a kid. I always favored cobra vehicles. Looking forward to the next review HCC !

[@HCC788]

+sonic360 Thank you! This one must have given a kid a lot of cool factor back in 1986.

[@TJ347]

As a high speed, high altitude bomber, the Night Raven has no need for forward facing weaponry. All weapons are supposed to be rear facing, to deal with pursuing aircraft or incoming missiles. Accordingly, the Skystriker is not it's equivalent in any way, as the Night Raven really isn't outfitted for dogfighting despite being used in that way in GI Joe media. As to the Strato-Viper... I seem to vaguely recall them being surgically equipped with a "shunt" to make them more resistant to whatever, but maybe that was another figure... Anyway, it's interesting that the role of the Night Raven is so misunderstood by collectors, yet the inward/outward fin placement is what they argue about. Curiouser and curiouser.

[@douglasbrownell2704]

Thank you for another nice review. I never had the original night Raven but I had it skyraven under Skype patrol. As far as I'm concerned Fin's outer end is just a matter of what you prefer.

[@standepain]

I think the reason it probably wasn't armed with any forward facing weapons is it would have shot itself down just like the SR-71 wasn't armed since it traveled faster than any projectile.

[@patrickmckown5996]

I think those weapons are more defensive, since probably it's being chased more. It can outrun most Joe plane's. I'm not sure about the X-19 Phantom.

[@lemonthardeman]

I like the fins in, it looks cooler.

[@mikewilson858]

The most beautiful GI Joe vehicle

[@nps1016]

Thanks for the review, I’ve always loved the Cobra vehicles over the GI Joe ones even though the GI Joe ones were a little more authentic. But I love the Night Raven, it was a bad ass plane along with the Rattler. I think I might have the Night Raven someplace, I kept a lot of my GI Joe toys, and the tail fins are always out not in, it just looks better.

[@jakubbuszko3089]

Am saw the G.I. Joe " Sky Patrol Raven . " piloted by " Sky Dive " in 94 ...

[@ChiMTB]

The A.V.A.C. Firebat pilot (included with the Cobra Terror Drome) is the Air Viper. According to Michael Mercy, A.V.A.C. stands for "Air Viper Advanced Class".

[@Thor13332]

One of the coolest Cobra vehicles ever. I think maybe the 1990 Cobra Hurricane Vtol could be considered a replacement but I think they performed different roles. The Night Raven is a nicer vehicle imo. The Hurricane has YELLOW missiles and a yellow main gun...

[@HCC788]

+Thor13332 Hmm... yellow.

[@terrancechilds3049]

I would love to have had one of those when I was a kid

[@fatcat8033]

you and retro blasting are awesomE!

[@wasabi-in-my-eye3134]

I love strato vipers. Hope this get made in 6" scale and single release.

[@codyneuburg1825]

My frist big toy , after a Enterprise, and Hi Ho Sliver with L. Ranger and Tonto

[@b-retrogamer2324]

My favorite as a kid.

[@b1r6989c]

I saw Michael French's rant on facebook about the fins out. I told him to check the instructions, and his response was for me to look at the blueprint section. I agree with the fins out. I pointed out one other thing to him which he did not respond to, and that was the placement of the missile pods. I believe somebody already mentioned it, but yeah, missiles point so they shoot behind the jet. couldn't help but notice yours fire to the front.

[@b1r6989c]

+Blake Cabrera (b1r6989c) Well I should have read more comments, because this was mentioned several times.

[@HCC788]

+Blake Cabrera (b1r6989c) Yeah, we got that covered. However, I think the Night Raven already has enough rear-facing armaments. It doesn't make sense to me to have most of its missiles facing aft as well. But the correct way to orient them as facing to the rear.

[@TheDarthvalen]

Very detailed information video good job

[@HCC788]

+TheDarthvalen Thank you!

[@christianhafer9819]

Strato-Viper might be the best pilot/driver figure. Definitely the best on the Cobra side. He's a gorgeous figure.

[@sirkowski]

In the commercial the animation seems to have the fins in and on the actual toy sequence the fins are out lol. When I received the toy for christmas back I only realized the mistake after applying the stickers. I think there's a subtlety in the mold that fits better with fins out, but it's easy to miss. Also, my cockpit was always very loose when pulled down, but at least it meant it wouldn't break off.

[@HCC788]

+sirkowski The animation is all over the map on this vehicle and others. But from what I can gather, the toy designers intended the fins to be out. You got this for Christmas-- that's a nice Christmas gift. I didn't have one of these back in the day. I had to familiarize myself with it after I got about a week ago.

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 What took you so long to get one?

[@bgddyphil]

dude. first one of your videos I've watched. great stuff!

[@HCC788]

+phillip powers Thank you!

[@darthmaul33]

I got a bad feelin' Road Pig will have a tough time fitting in that drone

[@mgvillanmp478]

nice work man I liked this jet pretty cool man ..

[@afrtricolor]

I'm from Brazil, and I had this Night Raven in my childhood, but in Brazil almost all vehicles came with no pilots, so I never had the Strato Viper.

[@patrickmckown5996]

I'm surprised that you didn't compare the Night Raven with the X-19 Phantom.

[@giovannideldio]

My all time favorite GI Joe vehicle that I owned. Too bad it longer exists, s someone threw it out. ☹️ Oh and it's fins out BTW.

[@gochem3013]

I FREAKIN' LOVE BLACK AND RED

[@jmsberetta]

nice and amazing review. I ACTUALLY have both versions of the raven. I have the sky patrol raven and the cobra raven

[@HCC788]

+james strickland No-prize for you!

[@DBUP-l8h]

I've been wanting this beauty ever since I started collecting. Reading dio-stories as a kid especially Cobra The Inner Sanctum's made me want this so bad. I had finally had the opportunity last September. I came across a %100 complete specimen with three Strato-Vipers for about $400.00 US The conversion rate wasn't much either at the time. I was about to pick it up after much contemplation. When I went to go click the buy it now button about a week after. It was gone. Much disappointment! Never again have I seen such a good deal for one of these. Hopefully one of these days I'll get my hands on a Night Raven or two. But excellent in depth review man! It was funny, and interesting as always. I was wondering what you'd be posting today all weekend. Very awesome surprise to see the Night Raven getting a review done by you. Keep up the awesome work and I'm looking forward to next weeks review!

[@HCC788]

+Silent Wobby Thank you! I hope you will be able to pick one out. It's a pretty sweet jet. And when you do, remember... fins out!

[@DBUP-l8h]

HoodedCobraCommander788 Fins out for life!

[@HCC788]

It will be the battle cry of the righteous!

[@codyneuburg1825]

Best way to find out is watch this channel forsure

[@soterioncoil2163]

I'm your 100th like! Anyways I watched the episodes of Retroblasting you mentioned and I owned a Night Raven. I thought Strato-Viper was a real slick figure too. It was a sweet vehicle. I admire your in depth reviews they are among the best I've seen. Look forward to when you review the Cobra Firebat with A.V.A.C. (those were also nice). This channel rocks!

[@HCC788]

Thank you! I will enjoy reviewing the Firebat and the AVAC. They go with the Terror Drome, and I'll have to save the Terror Drome for a special occasion.

[@lonesquiff6551]

I know the drone was reused for the Crusader's Avenger scout craft but are the guns on both identical? I see the Night Raven ones up for sale a lot online but the Avenger ones seem harder to come by.

[@chrismayer3919]

I'm a fins out kinda girl! FINS OUT FOREVER!

[@HCC788]

I agree!

[@Laceface080880]

I played with mine so much .

[@matthewchicchi7262]

Fins out. And Rumble is blue. I'm saying that with peace 'n love.

[@mariogasparotto]

My Night Raven (Aeroforça Noturna in Brazil) are fins out!!

[@edwardjacobs4042]

Hey HCC788, The S3P stand for three times the speed of sound

[@brainysmurf74]

the bomb pods are also backwards

[@white-dragon4424]

We never got this officially in the UK...:(

[@f.d.english5080]

Has to be in my top 5 favorite cobra fig Edit: and vehicle

[@affoster79]

I never even heard the whole controversy about the fins. What I always wondered is which direction the missile pods are suppose to be pointing? Forward or backward?

[@HCC788]

+affoster79 The missile pods are supposed be facing rearward. You can't trust ol' HCC788! I don't want to perpetuate missile-gate.

[@chrismayer3919]

You never had a Night Raven, HCC788??? I feel REALLY bad for you; GET ONE! You won't regret it!

[@tonyjackson7610]

It should be noted the Strato-Viper was the first rank and file Cobra pilot. Wild Weasel, who came with the Rattler was a stand alone "gun for hire" type, the Rattler never had a cannon fodder pilot beyond the cartoon throwing blue shirts in the jet.

[@HCC788]

+tony jackson That is true.

[@stephenturner757]

I imagine the Night Raven is for high altitude flying and had no need for a lot of weapons. Dropping bombs and recon.

[@nealg6810]

When I think back of all the toys I've had growing up, I remember the boxes had a lot of discrepancies. I always thought the toy was wrong and the box was right. Ha.

[@HCC788]

+Neal G That's funny, but still a reasonable conclusion-- why couldn't we get the toy that was on the box??

[@nealg6810]

Good point. Maybe the wonderful quality control overseas.

[@HCC788]

Yes, that, and often they based the box art and packaging on prototypes. The final product was usually a little different.

[@nealg6810]

Very true. But I was a happy boy no matter what. Ha.

[@HCC788]

Me, too!

[@marcryan1974]

Awesome 👏

[@turtle-tank8231]

love the night raven

[@cadetkirk762]

What was your first gi joe toy/play set

[@TJ347]

The missile rack... It's actually a bomb bay, no?

[@delvis7842]

I looked back at this after Night Force came out, and wondered if (NF) was actually inspired by this toy

[@alexandremilliard4726]

Fins outward to get more room for the drone

[@MrDEMarq]

This would've been a good idea for a Haslab.

[@GeoffreyToday]

You know, thinking about it today I've started to wonder: Was I a huge Night Raven fan because I was a big SR-71 fan as a child. Or was I huge SR-71 fan as a child BECAUSE of the Cobra Night Raven? It's so long ago now I can't recall which came first. I remember being a huge fan of the SR-71, but I can not recall exactly what lit that fire in me as a child.

[@HCC788]

+Geoffrey Today! I can't answer your dilemma, because I am not psychic. But the Blackbird was a big hit with kids because it look so futuristic and stylized. It was a sci-fi jet that was REAL! And there were legends about the Blackbird. They may have been Cold War apocrypha, but the stories added to the mystique of the jet.

[@deleonfrancis60]

I found one and now it on it way.

[@Daimosfather1]

I would say that's case closed counselor. Nicely done. but i have always been a fins out kinda guy. I wonder if you could gauge someones psychological disorders by how the place the fins on their night ravens?

[@johnperry9287]

+David Jones oop's i wrote this and for some reason my computer had me logged in as my nephew? just know that i did comment and liked your video HCC plus i threw in a like while i was logged in as david jones! :) great review!

[@HCC788]

+john perry Thanks! If anyone can figure out who to sue, I'll represent them!

[@elkhills1]

I wonder if Wild Weasel was the original Air Viper?

[@davidtagilala5040]

ive always wondered and now i know and knowing is........ i got 2 of these suckers and both have stickers of the raven 1 with it in and 1 with it out even the toy add showed with it out