HCC788 - 1990 Concealment Specialist AMBUSH - vintage G. I. Joe toy review! HD S02E32

[@gunnersmate7482]

Ambush is one of my top 10 all time favorite vintage joe's. I actually like his rifle and his helmet. He looks somewhat realistic and I frequently display him with recondo.

[@christianhafer9819]

The rifle is a great size. I never thought it was too big. It's smaller than Roadblocks guns. Ambush is definitely a Top 10 figure from the whole vintage line. Maybe even my #1. Perfect.

[@ProjectDARKCorp]

Bring me back memories of having him as a kid. I remember there is a way to hook the netted fabric to the tent. If you notice those small pegs on the legs of the tent? You suppose to have to skew it to those. But it will obviously damage the fabric. when you remove/drape it to the tent a couple of times. For me, it's the cause why I lost mine. But it works. I don't recommend it, but it works. Great review man.

[@ganimed1976]

Ambush is so well in concealment his team mates not even realize that he was a member of the mission.

[@mrbluesteen]

The bottom prongs were made to roll up the net fabric as a bedroll and secure it to the bottom

[@racerxgundam]

i never had this guy (or knew he existed) but he is top tier all the way. Aside from his military aesthetic which is spot on...my dear god..that GLORIOUS MUTTON CHOP MUSTACHE! If it could be definitely proven that his camo poncho/tent thing was made from lady jay's stockings...best figure in the line up by far! storm shadow v2/snake eyes version 2..u have been bested kind sirs!

[@lonesquiff6551]

I remember there being an episode with him and a Cobra Viper that he used to know that was particularly good. I'd forgotten about his accessories, I never really used them. I do have some of those tent poles and I honestly thought they'd been mixed into my Joes box from a Micro Machine Star Wars Endor playset I still have lol.

[@donaldthompson9938]

He appeared in Marvel comic G.I. Joe Issue # 111.

[@white-dragon4424]

The rifle's what's called a bullpup configuration, where the clip is placed behind the handle and trigger, like that of the SA-80 assault rifle. As well as the advantages noted in the wiki they also tend to feel more comfortable to use. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullpup

[@JoeMotionVideos82]

Where is the action figure? I see your hands and a file card. Damn he's good!

[@CounterClaws]

Ambush's rifle is NOT based on the EM-2 it is however based on a prototype of the British army's current rifle the SA80.

[@chrismayer3919]

I just LOVED ambush! He was my favorite figure; simply don't include him in any diorama and tell everyone he's hiding from them; let 'em try to find him! *snicker*

[@christianhafer9819]

He's easily one of my favorites as well. Really excellent.

[@Thor13332]

They brought ghillie suits back in the modern joe line. A new character called Cross Hair (a sniper) came with one.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

Cross Hair is one of my favorites of the new sculpt series ! Really liked his accessories and it was nice to have another sniper for the team. Also as a G.I. Joe customizer, he makes for great custom fodder. Recently got an action figure in the newer sculpt style and he looks amazing.

[@edenmonte9628]

I missed out on this one.I think the last gijoe I bought was that snake eyes with the bright orange grappling hook launcher b.s. backpack. good figure though.

[@GIJOE4157]

This character is one I'm waiting for Hasbro to release in regular a toy line or thru the G.I. Joe Club! Ambush is a fun character! When this figure is eventually made in modern era form; he will be a welcomed addition to most Joe collectors including myself! -This would be an easy figure to make by the club too using preexisting parts: a newly sculpted head & helmet, use the P.O.C Shock trooper torso, upper arms and legs, use P.O.C/30th Anniversary Steel Brigade's lower arms, use G.I.Joe Renegades Cobra trooper's feet and newly sculpted web gear, backpack and weapon!

[@HCC788]

GIJOE4157 I have not kept up with the Club FSS. I'm surprised they haven't done Ambush yet. Seems like he would be a fan favorite from his era.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Came out 2017. RIP Club. :(

[@jasonkerest2517]

Great review! This action figure has a strange bit of nostalgia for me...I saw this in the store a little too late for my time of G.I. JOE. My time was Up in 1989. I did notice he had an E-3 grade and I kind of wanted to get him based on that novelty, but by that point I was too old for collecting G.I. JOE. I did purchase him as an adult and I see now what I had missed out on. I really didn't mind that his grade was PFC. It makes him kind of unique in the G.I. JOE lore to be one of 2 pay grade E-3. I kind of like that his knees bend slightly more then 45 degrees. Thanks for the review HCC788.

[@divadt11]

Never promoted? Hiding from superiors? So he's basically the Beetle Bailey of the Joe team.

[@HCC788]

+divadt11 Hah! That's funny. That sounds about right! His laziness is mistaken for an expertise in "concealment."

[@Klebersoaresmelo]

He was so good at hiding that not found to receive promotions...

[@MCDJACDC]

Awesome! Thank you, you helped me piece my together.

[@delvis7842]

I'd love to see Ambush in a Mossy Oak camo pattern! that would be legit!

[@samfrito]

Great review HCC. I like your living diorama at the end too. I hope you start a trend here. our hobby relies on imagination and dioramas certainly bring action figures into still life territory, which is part of my love for GI JOE. Ambush does harken back to the JOES that absolutely rocked. Even his choice of weapon (sans-serif the weird pistol) are very suited for our early era JOES. In his illustration does it look like he was meant to have a knit cap, similar to Low Light? I like the helmet, but just giving my opinion.

[@HCC788]

sam torres The card art does sort of look like he's wearing a cap. It is nothing like what he actually came with-- the accessory is definitely a helmet. Perhaps there was a last-minute change.

[@samfrito]

Yeah, and in most of the media you showed he looks like he is blonde. I guess reddish brown was the manufacturers pick.

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 It's a grenade launcher not a pistol. Perfect size for that. Watch your dude Formbx257. He'll set you straight.

[@jmsberetta]

cool review

[@HCC788]

james strickland Thank you!

[@Abbotttdesign]

Wow! 8 years ago you made this vid?! 😮

[@davidsharp9768]

90s? Cool. Nice fresh change of pace! BTW, any chance you might do Battleforce 2000? Not my favorites, as a little too silly, but they were fairly prominent in the comics and were the first major sub-team.

[@HCC788]

David Sharp Battle Force 2000 is on the agenda, but I'm pretty far away from completing anything for that sub team. It is on the radar!

[@mattlerch531]

i have a later version of him. i think its from the collectors edition 2-pack i bought at kaybee toys in the late 90's or early 2000's.

[@user-si9fx4xb6v]

Yes, that was series 16 released in 2000 which marked the return of G.I. Joe to mass retail. Many fan favorite characters returned in this series, although many characters had their names and backgrounds changed for some reason. Ambush in this series was called Side Track.

[@Barada73]

The rank/grade thing really bugs me on this figure. E-3 is the Army grade for a Private First Class (PFC). Unless a soldier is failing to meet basic Army standards, it's almost unheard of that you wouldn't reach at least E-4 (Specialist or Corporal) within your first 2 years in the military. Someone who is good enough of a soldier to qualify for a special forces unit, like GI Joe, would have likely passed the grade of E-3 within his first year in service. Since GI Joe is an elite special forces unit that spans all branches of military service, then it is logical to assume that they wouldn't be recruiting soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines who have only been in the military a couple of years. I actually tried out for Delta Force when I was in the Army, (I failed to meet the qualifications, but I wanted to at least try) and Delta Force won't even consider you until you are at least a grade of E-5 (Sergeant) and have a minimum of 3-4 years left on your contract. So, my only guess for Ambush is that he was reduced in rank, after he joined GI Joe, as a disciplinary action. Probably dereliction of duty because nobody can ever find him when they need him.

[@calanon534]

This is my headcanon, now.

[@bingolos9063]

3:15 to be more precise its based off the Enfield SA80: XL60 series. tho you are not wrong about it being an enfield Its a shame that his nationality is American, guy kinda look like Cpt. Price from the MW series and he's British

[@chrisnwi1209]

cool figure one of few from the 90's even worth getting.

[@HCC788]

Chris Michalec Eventually I will get to the figures from the 90s that *weren't* worth getting, and I'll give them the review they deserve. But I'm not in a big hurry to get them.

[@chrisnwi1209]

I agree I slowed why down on buying joes for just that reason.

[@IndianaJenkins615]

Can you make a video review of the repaint 2000 Sidetrack figure?

[@bgddyphil]

I know you're not a fan of the later "science fiction"angle but robo joe was also an E-3

[@lokiwartooth1138]

3:24 this style weapon is called a bullpup.

[@THEWATCHERISLOOKING]

I think this one and the green version was one of the few good last ones.

[@MidnightRangeTM]

How could you not call it a “Lemmy” beard!?!?!?

[@mgvillanmp478]

this is one I thought you would never do..but this one is alright compared to some from the 90's that were not thought out right or just a little out there ...I didn't collect any of the 90's joes the bright colors and crazy looking figures were not very interesting.. but some of the vehicles are now rare and sought after...anyways nice work ..I saw this a couple of days ago but I forgot to leave a comment!!

[@HCC788]

+mgvillanmp478 Thanks for commenting. I completely agree about the 90s, which is why I didn't expect to like this one. But I guess there are some exceptions to the garish 90s.

[@mgvillanmp478]

+HoodedCobraCommander788 I got to agree with you there

[@thomasminton3969]

90s>80s

[@christianhafer9819]

@@mgvillanmp478 This is more more than alright. Ambush is as good as any figure in the whole line. Easily a top 10 figure.

[@johnperry9287]

hey! that was my suggestion from waaay back! i was hoping you would review him cause he is one of my all time favorites. even though like you i was not collecting in 1990 but when i started he was one of the first that i wanted to obtain very cool look! great review and funny as always HCC788! btw i like to think he was demoted in rank after joining gijoe for whatever reason?

[@HCC788]

john perry Oh! Thank you for suggesting it! This one was a nice surprise.

[@johnperry9287]

+HoodedCobraCommander788 i knew you would dig him. a cool throw back to the origin of the line...sort of?

[@johnperry9287]

+john perry just so you know im not full of crap i suggested you review ambush in your stalker video. im only saying that because i did something i hate and that is claim credit for suggesting something lol i was just really glad you reviewed him because i think everyone would think he rocked as much as i do. :) btw- loved your camo in this video.

[@christianbrix5211]

The filecard makes him sound like the Joe equivalent of Zandar

[@shinmusashi44]

Those aren't grenades on his chest and leg. You can see them better in the pics you showed for the DIC cartoon.

[@WarmachineVengeance]

There are quite a few of good Joe figs like Ambush in the nineties actually, but their were unfortunately over shadowed by the outlandish themes and neon monstrosities of the decade.

[@HCC788]

***** I would agree, based on what I see on Yojoe. It's nice to see a figure like Ambush could still come out of the 90s, but there was a lot from that decade that went in a totally different direction.

[@christianhafer9819]

@@HCC788 But, you're buying the monstrosities now. Ha.

[@jameswhite4370]

The brown on the lower arms looks like could be like a brown long-johns

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

kids were always losing this one

[@matthewneufer1758]

Who did Cobra Comander ?

[@jakeproven5931]

Ambush was in the comics

[@Abbotttdesign]

Is it a tent; or a blind?

[@Abbotttdesign]

😂"It's almost as though they made these by cutting up Lady Jaye's stockings."

[@ivan363]

I always thought of him as a South African ivory Hunter

[@crazynavy9442]

Something tells me this is a requested review.

[@christianhafer9819]

It's not a pistol! It's a grenade launcher.

[@nealg6810]

They call that beard the Stately Gentleman.

[@dalesanteford7432]

The Toys R Us Dino Hunter's GI Joe set yeah I had the rock and roll and ambush with a r e Painted Desert Fox and a T-Rex rock and roll had weird looking guns an ambush came with tunnel rats assault rifle with a scope machine gun look like a weird sniper rifle

[@timothydurkan]

If you took a shot for every time "review" or "requested" was said before the one minute mark... you'd be dead.

[@pilgrimMj]

Maybe he's in all of the comics and cartoons. Perhaps you just can't see him.

[@MrX-qf4ro]

In my Joe-verse, this guy was always a Scottish, older exchange soldier, like Big Ben. But HCC--your assumption on out of tme--mutton chops ain't that anachronistic?! I mean--bikers, Metalllica, very California and Brooklyn....Lemme! Mutton Chops have ALWAYS been in!

[@bgddyphil]

by cutting up lady jaye's stalkings..... Ha!

[@Mlopez_602]

I had this guy. Partnered him up w/Dusty. Never liked the rifle so I gave him an extra Famas and he and Dusty became best friends.

[@johndoe-sc7cf]

Me too with Dusty

[@plee501pl]

Not a bad figure, especially considering the timing of the figure's entry. My personal favourites of the series is 82-88 . Never been much of a fan of the 90's figures. Oh, nit picky sure, shouldn't this guy have his face camouflaged? Thanks for the share man.

[@christianhafer9819]

Not a bad figure? Ha! A top 10er from the whole line. Phenomenal figure.

[@christianhafer9819]

I like how you were out of GI Joe by 1990, and in this very video complaining about neon colors and space Joe's, and now you're buying them and reviewing them. Lol. "Reviewing ever GI Joe figure from 1982-1994." You say that in a lot of your more recent videos. Ambush is a phenomenal figure. Maybe the best in the whole vintage line, when you take into account is color scheme and tremendous accessories.

[@mangalone4095]

Ambush should at least be E-7... They screwed him bigtime...

[@lazarus30001]

Ambush might break the rules a little too often; resulting in a field grade article 15 or comprable punishment. His pay grade could reflect a significant loss in rank.

[@timf7413]

It's a bit odd that he's such a low rank, especially as he has a rather "mature" looking head sculpt.

[@uhhuhhuh100]

Ambush is probably the only decent G.I Joe figure from 1990.

[@christianhafer9819]

Wrong. Metal-Head, Salvo, Recoil, Rampart, Bullhorn, Saw Viper, there's a ton from 1990 that are excellent. The last good year. I'll say that.

[@soterioncoil2163]

I agree. Ambush is decent.

[@chrismayer3919]

me too; one of the few 1990 figures I like

[@christianhafer9819]

Not decent. Excellent. One of the best in the whole line.