HCC788 - 1988 WINDMILL and SKYSTORM X-Wing Chopper - Vintage G.I. Joe toy review!

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Special Thanks to:
Geoff Adams, Sean Dowling, Jason Galligan, Droidwhisperer,
Jeff Mills (Biggypines), Ryan Wagner, James Swindell, Brian Zahn,
Byron Kellogg, Michael Johnson, Ben Penserga, Mike Smith,
Tyler Levens, Shaun Drefahl, Raz Holly, David Tejerina,
William J. Stelmack, Philip Hanks, Todd Humphrey, Kurt Kesler,
Martin Day, Venetian Snares, Magnus Lauglo, Mike Murdock,
Daryl Beck, Chris Piers, Brad Williams, Troy Smith,
Hector M. Martimez, Brandon Knight, David Fitchner,
Mark Taylor, John Logan, Judson Mabee, Donald Koehne, Brent McMillan,
Dennis Pederso, Abomb Justice of the Clan MacDonald, Hikaru,
C.S. "Chuckles" McKee, Chris Lucero, Ryan Little, Jason Malvuccio,
Jason Youngberg, Jeffrey Sharp, Gazz, steve, Bradley A. Good.
Robert Hawkins, dacca, the baron, Chris Mc.83, William Phillip,
Robert Bone, William Phillips, Lachlan McLeod, Joseph C. Melli
Sources and Information:
Skystorm on Yojoe.com:
www.yojoe.com/vehicles/88/sky...
Windmill on Yojoe.com:
www.yojoe.com/action/88/windm...
Skystorm on 3DJoes.com:
www.3djoes.com/skystorm.html
Windmill on 3DJoes.com:
www.3djoes.com/windmill.html
"X-Wing by Attila Héjja (1955-2007) in Popular Mechanics:
books.google.com/books?
id=G-MDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q&f=false
"Air Power," Tom Cole, and Josh Eppinger, Illustrations
by Attila Hejja, Popular Mechanics, Dec., 1987,
books.google.com/
books?id=G-MDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA70#v=onepage&q&f=false
Skystorm on Halfbattle.com:
www.halfbattle.com/88equip.htm...
"The Hungarian-Born Painter Who Immortalized
America's Space Program," Attila Nagy, Gizmodo,
11/10/2014,
gizmodo.com/the-hungarian-bor...
immortalized-americas-sp-1649421338
Windmill on Halfbattle.com:
www.halfbattle.com/windmill.html
AIM-7 Sparrow:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-7_S...
Image:
By Wilson44691 - Own work, CC0,
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Stop-Rotor Rotary Wing Aircraft:
www.nrl.navy.mil/techtransfer/
available-technologies/electronics/stop-rotor-rotary-wing-aircraft
Warrant Officer Candidate School (United States Army):
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Warrant_Officer_Candidate_School_(United_States_Army)
Image:
By The Institute of Heraldry -
www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Her...
ArmyDUISSICOA/ArmyHeraldryUnit.aspx?u=4224,
Public Domain,
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Fort Rucker:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ru...
Image:
By U.S. Army (Transferred by The Bushranger/Originally
uploaded by The Bushranger) -
U.S. Army (Originally uploaded on en.wikipedia),
Public Domain,
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Windmill on Joepedia:
gijoe.wikia.com/wiki/Windmill
Windmill on JMM's G.I. Joe Comics Home Page:
www.myuselessknowledge.com/joe/
index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=302&Itemid=53
G.I. Joe Phantom X-19 commercial
G.I. Joe Skystorm commercial
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero published by Marvel Comics
MASK Switchblade commercial
Music:
Chipper, Big Rock, The Snow Queen
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons:
By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
Elephants by Huma-Huma
G. I. Joe is (c) Hasbro.
All copyrighted material is used for the purpose of
comment and criticism, which constitutes a fair use
of such material.
This video is (c) Bryan Lower.

[@ProfessorGalileu]

Hi HCC788! Wouldn't be cool to see the Skystorm battling the Cobra Mamba? What a cool dogfight between two so iconic/excentric design!!!

[@Bear-nu8xm]

I forgot just how spoiled I was as a child. As I watch this channel I regularly proclaim, I had that!

[@KevinMurray242]

The Skystorm and Tiger Rat formed entirety of my Joe air force, they were hopeless out gunned by my FANG, Rattler, Stiletto, and a year later FANG II and Condor. Not to mention the Despoiler and AGP. I ended up using my Skystorm almost entirely in Helicopter mode (it seemed slightly silly as a jet). It's unfortunate that the excellent sculpt of Windmill (well...below the neck) was completely trashed by the colours.

[@MarkLedfordCustomGuitars]

Thank you for the great videos. As an 80's kid i only wanted G.I. Joes but i J.I. Joe left me before i left them and it was because the colors and characters. I liked it because of the military theme but it seemed they wanted to be TMNT, and other toy lines instead of being who they had always been

[@jcjc4164]

Joe had a wide appeal it's first 5 years, small kids to adults model makers were fans. There wasn't really anything specifically targeted at young kids. Joe in 1985 had the 8th and 9th graders that played sports still interested in the toys and the cartoon.

[@HCC788]

ERRATA: I refer to the retractable blades, engine cover, and rear stabilizers as light gray or blue-gray. Under these lights they appear on camera as more blue than gray. I misread the file card as saying the Skystorm's top speed is 450 mph. The Skystorm was animated for the DiC series and briefly appeared in Operation Dragonfire.

[@gijoespanol]

I am not totally sure but I think all planes and helicopters Cobra and Joe could accommodate additional figures besides the pilot, it seems Skystorm started the exception to this rule.

[@calanon534]

I loved this one, as I had two. It became the backbone of the Joe Air Force, supported by a single Conquest. I lost Windmilll's revolver on the inside, when I tried to store it in there with him. Fell into the body, never to be seen again. The second revolver was given to my Wild Bill figure that I got loose with no accessories. I actually liked Windmill for some reason. I forget what I did with the other one, but I want to say I made it his twin brother Grasscutter or something.

[@donaldthompson9938]

The Skystorm Helicopter did appear in the Operation Dragonfire mini series but it was flown by Scoop.

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

I really like the cockpit and canopy, it looks similar to the Star Wars X-Wing. I love the colors on both of the Windmill figures, although the pistol is a little too big. The Funskool version could help Pathfinder chop through the jungle.

[@OldDirtyCollector]

The colors of windmill are much more forgiving than the one the US got. I don’t mind the blue flight suit with the leather jacket. Love the sky storm! 🍻

[@thephotoviper]

I recently acquired windmill, and decided to swap his legs and waist with skid mark... It vastly improved the look of both figures. Windmill looks more like a pilot, and skid mark now would function great as a traffic controller on the deck of a flagg...

[@dovahkiintemplar8255]

Great review Bryan. Windmill reminded me of the Voltron pilot that did not make the cut.

[@jedi69outcast]

The potential for customizing the paint job would help it go a long way

[@DareDevilDave75]

That revolver is the perfect accessory for wild Phil

[@fatcat8033]

Wind Mill wasn't Ugly he was just confused ...

[@nyquist75]

rony looks like a must watch, thanks for putting him on

[@bartdman95]

If Hasbro was being cheap with the paint the time they released this figure, maybe they should have gave out instructions on how to add paint details on it.

[@mattleuty5285]

It's a shame that he was painted this way. Also I wish that they had just upscaled the MASK Switchblade to make the Sky Storm. Both figure and vehicle could have just been tweaked a bit more and it would have made them great. I love all the effort you put into making these videos Bryan.

[@soundwave8466]

Thanks for reviews this thing. Not many people reviewed it. Please review the Cobra Earthquake!

[@biggeasy77toyreviews75]

Great reveiw!!! The India version of Windmill looks much better!!! Thanks for sharing!!! Yo Joe!!!

[@jasonkerest394]

I never owned this figure or vehicle as a kid. I would have picked it up eventually, but the Tiger Force was released in late summer/ early fall, and without exception Tiger Force took top priority in my "want" collection. I do remember Windmill from the comics issue #82 as being a contrast of sorts between Skidmark, the eternal fuss-budget, and Wildcard as the eternal klutz. Windmill's personality when standing next to these two defaults to least likely to be taken away in a straight-jacket. I knock those figures but I have to say I really love issue #82 of the Marvel run. It got me back into GI Joe after the lull in 1987. It was a reset moment for the series and began the Cobra Civil War story arch. It took several(let's be honest) not pretty figures and vehicles- (Skidmark, Wildcard, Windmill, and to some degree the Stellar Stiletto), and created an interesting and plausible scenario of infiltration and theft of high tech gadgetry. I do own the Windmill figure as an adult with the intention upgrading him with a Johnny Cage head and get Windmill back to as close as possible his first appearance.

[@johnsoehnlen4781]

That's actually a pretty good idea changing out Windmill's head with Johnny Cage's head. How did that work out?

[@jasonkerest394]

@@johnsoehnlen4781 - I made it a custom because the Johnny Cage head and neck sits a little too high on the Windmill torso, so I used Ghostrider's torso with Johnny Cage's head, then I used 1993 Mace's arms, waist and legs to complete the figure. And I filled in the sunglasses with silver sharpy but left the frames and rims black. Pretty close to comic accurate and nice looking figure!

[@milanondrak5564]

I quite like the sky storm. I never had it as a kid but it looks nice.

[@uhhuhhuh100]

Great review! The Skystorm X-Wing Chopper is a decent vehicle, despite lacking landing gear in the front. The Windmill figure has too much neon. It's so neon it could easily be mistaken for a 1990's G.I. Joe figure.

[@bigtone7913]

My man ,you review the shit out of these figures.Totally appreciate the time you put into these reviews just so lazy asses like me can sit back and enjoy .I have a handful of Joe's now but your videos might make me hunt some more dow.Again,thanks !

[@Canoby]

SO glad you mentioned VENOM's Switchblade. I had both that and the Skystorm as a kid, and they were personal favorites. And yes, Windmill's taste in uniform colors is terrible

[@matthewsirois3705]

The information on the file card was cool. I also preferred the Funskool colors

[@chrisbrewer9942]

Windmill looks like he should've been driving another vehicle you reviewed recently... The Rat, thats right I said it!

[@zerocooler7]

The Skystorm did make at least one appearance in the DIC animated series. It can be seen in the beginning of Operation Dragonfire : Day 2. Windmill was not flying it.

[@ghostbusterguy20011]

hey buddy I happen to like windmill I like to use him as my fuel guy for the Flagg also he makes a pretty good what do you call those guys who guide the planes well just imagine him with two red flashlights

[@blissex]

Is it me or does windmills helmet look like the the 1979 buck rodgers helmet, it's weird when you see stuff like that in Gi joe

[@Michael_Johnson_5446]

Fantastic research here!

[@chrismc.8358]

Look at it this way, with all those bright colors, he'd be really easy to find if he ever got shot down! Lol

[@Beer-can_full_of_toes]

I never owned the skystorm but I still have my Windmill figure. I was part of a small time Joe economy on the buses I rode at school. Trading this and that for joe figures was big and I never even realized Windmill had only come with a vehicle. I liked it back then but not so much now. I always was a sucker for helmets on figures back then. His helmet is not only a molded part of his head but it’s pretty goofy looking. A totally agree on the wasted potential of the body sculpt too. I pretty much hate the whole figure but I REALLY hate it from the boots to the belt buckle.

[@hexagram3timesthree723]

Tinted visors for his helmet would've made Windmill look a lot less strange.

[@TerryTurner]

It looks just right for a modern figure (a sleek one). 👍😎

[@anionhero]

Great review, but I caught a mistake. You read the file card as saying the X-Wing Chopper clocks in at 450 miles per hour in its stopped-rotor mode. It actually stated that it clocks at 345 mph. But you are right there does seem to be something missing from this toy. The rest of the statement "and can carry a bigger payload than a Dragonfly" also states what is missing from this aircraft. Where does the bigger payload go? On the Dragonfly, you could put an extra person in the cockpit and some additional figures on the landing skids. On the X-Wing there is no place for the bigger payload they are talking about. I can just imagine the Joes hanging onto those small wings for dear life as the X-Wing jets off in it's stopped-rotor mode. lol.

[@thesnook666]

Perfect code name for a figure that totally blows

[@CGJ7755]

His beefy revolver was cool.

[@bathbombcool5628]

Thats some of the greatest cosplay I've ever seen...

[@TerryTurner]

Should've been recolored forest green and sandy brown with a taste of black where it's needed.👍😉

[@robertrubero772]

He looks like the human version of that lovable Autobot chopper, Springer lol

[@Mlopez_602]

I don't even remember this contraption.

[@orcatwar9810]

now you know

[@chrismayer3919]

Here's MY take on colouring/style of what WINDMILL should look like; outer jacket-dark brown, inner shirt-light green, ox mask-dk. grey, pants- jet black, boots lt. tan, helmet-no orange stripe and removeable.

[@jeffphillips1798]

Windmill was dressed like a Halloween pumpkin kitty.

[@adamverwolf9499]

Capt. CREAMSICLE. holy moly, I could almost forgive the jacket if the helmet didn't have that skunk stripe. What the hell was hasbro thinking with this guy? Neon orange should never be used for pants.

[@johnosbourn4312]

The actual X-Wing craft was a joint NASA/DOD Proposal for a very high speed VTOL aircraft, but, it went nowhere, because of the complexities, of the Stop Rotor System, as well as the engineering, and structural challenges invovled in creating such an unusual aircraft.

[@matthewneufer1758]

I love the song..

[@Deadduck2pt0]

I think they look more like kitty ears, but I'll settle for mouse ears. Also, I'm surprised you didn't pull out the Dragonfly to compare to. Because I don't think the Skystorm does have more fire power. Both have 4 air to air missles, 2 air to ground. The skystorm has 2 big guns up front, but the dragon fly has a chin gun, an chin grenade launcher, and a side mounted cannon. I think it edges it out.

[@danielherrin]

I think I would have enjoyed playing with the Skystorm.

[@Slashman3]

Looks like Kazoo's helmet

[@affoster79]

I dig the vehicle. Windmill looks like a reject of the Corps.

[@RogueTwo]

Admittedly, the US Windmill isn't that great a figure. But I really like the Funskool version. Back in the early 2000s Funskool Joes could be easily and cheaply acquired, and like many New Sculpt era collectors, I bought a bunch of them to augment my modern collection. Windmill is one of my favorites, the colors are a vast improvement, with the now red jacket over a now blue flight suit. Even the yellow and silver trim here and there add a welcomed splash of color that pops nicely. And the actual windmill backpack is deliciously hilarious.

[@tonyjackson1636]

Yeah, the Skystorm definitely outdoes it's pilot. What was with Hasbro swiping names in 88? This chopper is called an X-Wing and the Phantoms pilot was Ghost Rider. Surprised the Mean Dog wasn't driven by Dirty Harry.

[@lazarus30001]

I like the artificial heart valve idea ;-)

[@Transfixed]

The Skystorm is one of those toys i remember NOT buying

[@ralang999]

Grunt v3 wants those pants :D

[@delvis7842]

I would probably classify this as a security vehicle for something like the Battle Platform? I would also associate it with your "escape vehicle" grouping like the F.A.N.G.! Imho

[@delvis7842]

As a side note for no real reason, Windmill seems like a Battle Force 2000 member to me. Also, thank you for sharing your review with us bud! Really appreciate all you do!

[@lawsonallen7741]

This was in the animated series. It was in Operation Dragonfire.

[@jameswtu]

The figure looks like he is about to cry.

[@mgvillanmp478]

I thought last week's review was bright ....wow this is even brighter ....ugh .... now I can't see.....the jet looks interesting though nice work man

[@michaelterrell9645]

Even though this is an ugly figure, but still part of the GI Joe universe. Great review Hoodie and I had this vehicle and the Phantom jet as a kid. I wish I still had them.

[@Taffer-bx7uc]

I had this toy as a kid and I don't know why I did. I always thought that the pilot looked really goofy.

[@jedi69outcast]

I still need that and the Demon. I loved skystorm

[@walterwright8454]

Captain Video and his Video Rangers!!

[@Alverant]

The figure looks a bit sad and confused - like he just saw himself in a mirror. The two made an appearance in Devil's Due Transformers vs GI Joe v3 in the last issue. The Joes are fighting Monstructor. Windmill gets his "life force" drained and he crashes into a thrown Snow Cat. Don't worry, the Laser Squad makes Monstructor's head explode soon after that.

[@gazz_N7]

Hahaha! Great review Hoodie!

[@Whiskel]

I'd love to see the Indian Skidmark.

[@white-dragon4424]

I've gotta agree with you about every part of this figure. The face is even ugly. It's like they didn't bother trying with this figure. Also, they're wrong about the hazards of flying in a helicopter. You may go down with the machine, but there's an emergency procedure called "autorotation" that allows a helicopter to land safely after engine failure.

[@cliffordferguson276]

To let everyone in on a little secret. That I used to do and I still do with my 2 characters that I still have. I swap out the orange pants for my version. 2 roadblock and I give the pants from roblock to windmill. So roadblock looks like it's cartoon character form.

[@JamesSmith-rf8wo]

Man you look at this toys as an adult.

[@mikewilson858]

He looks much better in the funskool version

[@DareDevilDave75]

That revolver would be the perfect side arm for Wild Bill.

[@DareDevilDave75]

Or Dirty Harry

[@cowpuddles4851]

Nailed it with the initial costume. I always thought he looked like Princess Leia. What was up with the same color scheme as Darklon? Great video once again!

[@cf2228]

I think the Indian one at least has somewhat better color scheme.

[@glennrobbins2372]

Obviously the beginning of the end of the toy line.

[@lukeelsbrock3997]

Didn't Scoop fly a Skystorm in Operation: Dragon fire Part 2?

[@soterioncoil2163]

Windmill's legs were pretty cool; his waist-piece made him look diapered. A dark, earthen tone orange would have been an acceptable shade.

[@leegray99]

Even though Funskool is meant to the poor cousin, just look at the amount of paint applications on the Funskool version

[@Eviltot]

It almost looks like a Transformer head

[@chrismayer3919]

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO!!!

[@CGJ7755]

Really not my thing. I got a mint example of one when my parents bought me a full collection. Onyl thing I really liked was windmills revolver.

[@cruizerdave]

The face sculpt looks like it it grimmacing because it has to wear that uniform.

[@white-dragon4424]

What would they have done if they'd released Skidmark in India? Paint the back of his trousers with a brown blotch?

[@TheMasterNo6]

I won a near mint UK/EU G.I.JOE THE ACTION FORCE boxed version (released in the UK in 1989). Unapplied stickers still on original sheet. Very clean condition, box, catalogue/instructions, original bag for those, mint Windmill all complete. Sadly the rotor blades ALL snapped when I turned it into helicopter mode! Really annoyed about that. I guess the plastic degrades and hardens over the years. The seller kindly offered to partially refund £15. I won it for £31.01 plus £8 postage. I've bought 3 replacement blades from a seller in the Netherlands and a set of repro stickers from tfkingdom.com....I am hopeful the blades I've bought won't break again....anyone else had this issue?

[@maxbrandt6]

You can tell the Hasbro hobos were starting to lose the script at this point.

[@transfan83]

I had this when I was a kid and liked it by gum! Sometimes you got a ugly figure and just had to live with it yes sir

[@RogueTwo]

Particularly when they were the driver/pilot of a good vehicle. Both Windmill and Skidmark epitomize this.

[@nyquist75]

indian version is pretty good actually

[@jjcelica1126]

Hi.. have you done a hydro viper review??

[@natemo82]

Indian Skidmark!

[@mahari7285]

Actually, wearing a green jacket over an orange flight suit seems to be very common among real life chopper pilots...

[@Bear-nu8xm]

Ha ,Skidmark! My mom would yell from the laundry room at me as a kid. STOP LEAVING SKIDMARKS IN YOUR UNDIES! WIPE YOUR BUTT!

[@kassandraodessa2633]

Kinda supprised star wars didn't sue for calling it an x wing especially since they repeatedly call it that in the comercial

[@AgentSmartnumber86]

Liked the review but the revolver looks like the revolver known as the python. I'd rather a gun with that name be given to a cobra figure to fit the whole snake theme of cobra but I guess it's windmills gun so no complaints here I guess

[@aaronstepien2363]

Colt recently re-released the classic Python with a few different options in barrel length but sadly not a blued variant

[@JB0071051982]

Ironically, Lady Jaye is seen with a Colt Python on the cover of Marvel Comics G.I. Joe issue #44, despite the fact that in the actual story she is seen using a pistol. Tunnel Rat also carries a Colt Python on his vest and this was carried over to two of his action figures in the new sculpt era, where the revolver is an actual accessory that he can hold.

[@nyquist75]

the pants are catastophic

[@yellowgut]

After gi joe handed him his new uniform he might be considering using that revolver on himself.

[@GroonDaRuiner]

I had that as a kid as shitty as it was he did have the greatest gun ever tho

[@kaylemathewcomendador7614]

The figure would have been better if they gave him a more contrasting jacket color, the bright green is too much with the orange.

[@jeremysnead9233]

Its more of a cobra vehicle.

[@mgvillanmp478]

Yea I bet you saving the worst one for last huh???....🙄🙄I wonder what you going to hit us with ....maybe I need some shades just in case .....

[@MrDarthryan]

It was one vehicle(had as a kid)- I kind of liked, but the figure wasn't that good

[@travelexperts6226]

They got lazy on a lot of later Joes.....

[@christianhafer9819]

I agree with you about the figure, though. Pretty ugly. Skidmark is way better.