Patreon Special Missions: G.I. Joe Rolling Thunder (1988) ⚡⚡

Overkill is under-rated, my friends! It's the most heavily-armed force of nature in the Joes' entire arsenal! ⚡⚡
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Theme "Broke Down Automobile" & end theme "If You're Gonna Leave Me" by seanpinchin.ca
Available on iTunes
BGM by www.bensound.com
#GIJoe #RollingThunder

[@ahobimo732]

This was probably the biggest single toy that I had as a kid. I had a lot of GI Joe figures, and the Rolling Thunder was almost always at the centre of whatever scenario I would make up for them. Fond memories. One of my favorite details about the vehicle was that the two giant rockets had individual, removable bombs inside of them.

[@thehistorian1232]

It’s always kind of cool to try and spot the real-life inspirations for these wonderfully weird vehicles. This rolling thunder is the mutated lovechild of the Czech “DANA” 152mm howitzer and a Scud “TEL”- transporter-erector-launcher. They’re both super topical for the late ‘80s, when this toy was released! Love your videos, they’re super calming and fun to watch, a glimpse into a past before video games and netflix. Must have been fun to be a kid back then!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks!

[@SladeM.]

THIS was THE G.I Joe vehicle that I wanted soooo badly when I was 12 back in 88. Everywhere my mom looked it was always sold out. Sadly I was no longer into Joes and by the age of 15 I become obsessed(still am) with comic books and all things Marvel & DC. I do enjoy collecting the G.I Joe classified line nowadays.

Le Rolling-Thunder est mon véhicule G.I.*joe's préféré. Quand j'étais petit ce véhicule exposé dans les rayons du Leclerc de Dinan pour noël me faisait rêver. Malheureusement mon père n'aimait pas les GI Joe's. Je m'étais alors promis qu'adulte je le rechercherai. J'ai dû attendre longtemps avant de me l'acheter et un voyage à Paris dans une boutique spécialisée. Je me souviens du retour en métro et en train avec cet énorme carton contenant le Rolling-thunder en loose. Quelle fierté!! il me manque juste la boite mais un poster de chez 3Djoes fera l'affaire.

[@protokevinleversee975]

I had one of these second hand, I LOVED it. I realized one Missile could destroy the entire Cobra Army. This and the Havok were my favorite

[@robster001]

This brings back a lot of good memories. I had bought this at Woolworths with birthday money. Definitely one of my favorites and I wish I still had it.

[@davidtrujillo1648]

I got this for Christmas when it came out, my favorite present as a kid. Bought it again a few years ago

[@dkres82]

Always one I wanted but never got.

[@tylerwhitney3443]

Ditto

[@Vitriolblog]

Basically an ICBM vehicle armed to the teeth. I still have mine in storage somewhere, terrible code name for the driver but this was when the franchise started to lose steam. Fun review!

[@magnumrex]

This came out right after I stopped collecting. I like how you outfitted it with all the original Joes. It sort of reminds me of the vehicle from issues 5/6 of the original series vs the October guard.

[@geewunder1171]

The Rolling Thunder and the Mobile Command Center are my two favorite Joe vehicles - because they're also playsets, and there's just so much to DO with them! Play features through the roof! Of course, I have never been able to find a complete Defiant...

[@Klaaism]

Got a Rolling Thunder from my Great Grandmother one Christmas. Was easily my favorite toy, and I sadly played with it so much it was in pretty bad shape by the mid 90s and I was in middle school. Parts missing and a couple guns broke... sold it in a yardsale by 96 irc. Kind of wishing I had kept it now.

[@thebluelibra5686]

The Rolling Thunder and The General were the last big GIJoe Christmas gifts I ever received. I always loved the cock pit on the Rolling Thunder, and until I had one, I would frequently build my own versions of the vehicle with Construx for my Joes to take into combat. Good times.

[@Slaytanica666]

I LOVED this thing as a kid. I always pretended Armadillo was like a big brutish badass that didn’t need weapons. I always had him and Roadpig brawling it out hand to hand.

[@georgzeth]

Nice!... I still have mine... I have the mexican edition that was called "Colosso", it's the same thing but with different name. I have it with the original box.

[@SgtRoxx72]

What a gorgeous vehicle. I was 16 in 1988, and had my driver's license so I was appreciating my freedom from my parents having to drive me everywhere. I also had a girlfriend at the time, so I got out of collecting right around 1988. I have a bunch of figures and vehicles from 1987 so 1988 was the year I moved on to other things. Anyway, I never got this vehicle but it is a thing of beauty for sure! If I had the room to display my GI Joe collection I would probably try to track one of these down. It sure is an incredible addition to any GI Joe collection! You did an amazing job cleaning and restoring the Rolling Thunder Michael! It truly looks like it just got removed from the box 32 years ago! Thank you for the amazing video of this classic vehicle! I hope you and Luana are both well, and healthy. Nerdmasté my brother!

[@MichaelMercy]

I've got a whole new appreciation for it after this video! I guess I've never taken the time to sit down and 'futz' with it much since getting it, but this was a great opportunity to clean and restore it and bring it to life. It's the ultimate rolling fortress! Glad you enjoyed it, good brother! Luana and I are finally on feeling better, thanks!

[@gerainthorton8980]

I had the H.A.V.O.C and that is usually talked about as a freaky vehicle. This makes the H.A.V.O.C look pretty tame. Nice review. Great work on the sounds, love the attention to detail.

[@dlafleur3944]

I went to a vintage toy store the other day and got sad I didn’t keep All the joes I had as a kid lol. I had the rolling thunder as well. So many good memories

[@Patmanx1]

growing up I had a neighbor whose son got a big stash of gi joes when he was like 6. We were both about 8yr old at the time and THIS awesome thing was one of the things he had. When his parents moved he got rid of his gi joes because he never played with them. Obviously he gifted them to me, right? nope. I miss this thing and wish he would have given them to me when he left. Even his parents knew I liked to play with them because I'd bring mine over since I had a lot of cobra stuff, like the white jet that splits in 2!

[@willieleefrancis8091]

That white cobra jet that split into 2 pieces is none other than the 1989 Cobra Condor, with the Aero-Viper figure.

[@maguffle]

I had one of these as a child! This thing was a BEAST!!!

[@genecalderonapologeticsmin6948]

It's all your fault! I saw one at a great price at a local shop but didn't think I wanted it. After watching this and the points you made about matching the '82/'83s so well, I bought it and am in the process of minor restoration. I'm all giddy, though. Thanks for these great videos!

[@Akbal25]

I had it, man what a blast from the past... Thanks.

[@Tr0nzoid]

I got this as a birthday present that year. It had the kind of stuff I liked, from the weaponry to the design and the color scheme. I need to get it back in shape and round up all of its parts. Looking back, I could have taken out the big missiles and used it as a sort of mobile command center.

[@theallamericanone]

Hey, I love your G.I. Joe videos. You do a great job with your commentary and the effects. I did chuckle a bit when you pronounced Huachuca. I'm a retired Army veteran of over 21 years and I've been stationed there a number of times. So, I know it's a weird name to say if you've never heard it pronounced before LOL! This is the pronunciation phonetically (Wa-chu-Ka). Yep, good ol' Fort "We Gotcha" was the common joke. HA, HA, HA! Anyhow, I own a complete Rolling Thunder myself so again....great video. Keep it up Brother!!

[@mattstrom5348]

My older brother surprised me with this and the M.A.S.K boulder hill play set for my 12th birthday? Wow I don't think I'll ever forget all that cool stuff!

[@Spongemonkey26]

Had the Rolling Thunder back then. It was big, and as a kid I wasn't too sure what I could do with it play wise. That and it had super squeaky wheels, I didnt want to move it around much. But man was it impressive to have in my collection

[@ShivonYoTu]

Awesome review!! I trust the last part about having battery compartment and firing missile are not real but the magic of MichaelMercy pixie dust!! Kindly confirm as its hard to say!! Please keep taking us back to our childhood!!

[@willieleefrancis8091]

The Rolling Thunder is an awesome impact combat vehicle indeed! I bought one of these off of Ebay about 8 years ago. Who knows, I just might buy myself another one, one day. A great review of 1988 Joe vehicle, Michael!

[@lordtwohig7671]

Outstanding production value, as we’ve come to expect, Mr. Mercy! Thank you for resurrecting those old feelings/memories of creative play with the aid of some fantastic toys!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! 🙏

[@RedSiegfried]

Love the video! Haven't thought about this one in a long time and I always thought it was the big transport vehicle from Revenge of Cobra that transported the laser core. BTW, it's pronounced Fort Wa-Chooka and it's very near the famous Arizona town of Tombstone, home of the infamous Gunfight at The OK Corral. Thanks for another great video, Michael!

[@cameraman2505]

I did have that monster. Gifted it to someone... No room for everything but damn, happy memories. Did keep the small vehicle thought 😎.

[@agnethaladuff8559]

I'll say "Wow". The Rolling Thunder is one awesome vehicle with a cool driver. Nice to see the size comparison with some of the other vehicles, it's so cool. You have a lot of great collection of vintage toys and you're so totally awesome Michael Mercy.

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Agnetha! 😁

[@agnethaladuff8559]

@@MichaelMercy You're welcome.

[@evandavid2816]

Gotta hand it you, Michael - you always do an amazing job on the sound effects, etc., and this vid is a shining example, yes? As far as the Rolling Thunder itself goes, I can only really remember having one GI Joe vehicle as a kid, namely the Persuader Laser Tank (which it would be cool to see you do a video on in its own right some day, but I digress...); it was pretty groovy as I recall - heck, it's a frickin' LASER TANK, after all(I), what more do you want in terms of coolness?! - but it looks like it would have quite frankly been dwarfed by this behemoth, right...? PS: Speaking of thunder, rolling or otherwise; I'd love to see you do a video on my favourite Cobra-affiliated vehicle from the comics, namely the Thunder Machine, one day; or even one focusing on the Dreadnoks in general - especially since it turns out that one of them, Monkeywrench, was canonically a fellow Welshman (from Rhyl to be precise...!), and it's always nice to find characters from the same neck of the woods as you in these things, even if they are a bad 'un, yes? Thank you again for your time...Nerdmaste and YOOOOO JOE!!!

[@elcowabungahe-man6156]

I love it brings me back mike thanks love the sound effect

[@kaycee310toysandcollectibl9]

I had this figure. Wow gi joe was awesome back then. Vehicles of all types. Miss making war scenarios with these great figures and vehicles. I’m lucky my parents were able to get me most of the vehicles and figures I wanted lol. The rolling thunder, the f16 jet, the raven , the three level mobile battle station, the cobra sea spray and the list goes on and on. The biggest battle station I got was the space shuttle one. That thing was huge and heavy if not for the wheels to roll it out my closet lol 😂.

[@ScottWaa]

I had one of these growing up. I loved it! 🇺🇸

[@timcarbone007]

Loved playing with this and the big mobile base thinng but I remember very vividly thinking these are getting outlandish. They seem to be too far away from actual military type equipment

[@jasonmountain4643]

This was the best! Christmas 1989 for me.

[@beauyerks7413]

This was literally the last G i joe Vehicle i got as a kid and it was sick! ....i was 13 and really didnt wana stop collecting....but all my friends had stopped......peer preasure at its most insidious lol

[@derpdiggler7619]

One of the only big GI Joe toys I had as a kid. I wish I had it now >.

[@natebarger7482]

Like you said Mr. Mike the 1982 joe's were really the only ones maybe along with the '83 that really had a true military feel to them. The later ones were so bright and colorful and had the muscels like Arnold Swartanagger or Sly Stallone that they looked stupid.

[@michaelmorales2979]

Great video and this is still one of the vehicles that I think is a must have. Both as is, and using the base body for custom work. And, since I work there, Huachuca is pronounced wha-choo-ka. Thanks for the great content and keep it up.

[@gcscr]

I remember seeing this bad boy at my local toys store. I was amazed on how cool it was. I also remember unwrapping this huge box with RT inside of it, best Xmas ever. Armadillo with his constipated facial expression was the only thing I didn’t like about it. However the huge canon, those gigantic rockets inside of it, and the ability to stuck in it a lot of figures, made the RTone of the coolest GJ vehicles ever. I still have my mine, but is missing some missiles and couple of seatbelts. I was waiting this video for a long time! Beautiful work Michael! 🙏

[@IFuriousoneI]

Great work sir!

[@ginodescalzi6476]

Man, when you said that thing had missiles on its missiles i thought it was a metaphore!!! xD Rolling Thunder and Thunderclap are my favorite big land armored vehicles, though i don´t own them it was so fun to take a close look to one of them, thanks a lot for doing this videos :) 27:40 Optimus says: "Roller, is that you?"

[@shaylucas5670]

MM Love the camo wrist band. Keep up the great work! “Yo Joe!”

[@solidus0079]

What a cool vehicle, I always loved that GI Joe’s vehicles often had seat belts. Less guys lost in the yard! You really did a great job of cleaning that toy up, impressive to see it’s original state and how it is in your care!

[@alexribeiro2778]

Got this bad boy myself... only missing both antennas, wich are almost impossible to find loose and when I do they are too darn expensive... but other than that it is an awesome vehicle full of cool features

[@davidtrujillo1648]

I got this as a kid for Christmas, bought it again a few years ago

[@MichaelMercy]

Congrats & enjoy!

[@finalsecretofchrono1339]

The W.H.A.L.E. and Rolling Thunder were my favorite Joe Christmas presents

[@kramt32]

This is my biggest G.I. Joe vehicle that I've ever owned and I was also obsessed with the Defiant which I never owned

[@corypatenaude2144]

Looks great, good job.

[@BennyLlama39]

With the squeaky-wheels function and some engine sound effects, you could recreate the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade tank fight. 😀

[@anthonycarranza8313]

Drying soapy water with at shirt typically avoids streaks and spots 😊 post rinse. The spots come from micro raises and crevasses in the paint. Hopefully that’s helpful.

[@CardboardBots]

Beyond great video

[@stumbler10462]

Cobra: Wheels out Buzzboar Cobra Commander: "We will crush G.I.Joe!!" Destro: *coffs* G.I.Joe: Wheels out Rolling Thunder Cobra Commander: "WTF?!! They got a nuclear missile launcher now?!!"

[@cljerjr31]

My favorite gi joe vehicle!

[@francoisregis2155]

A cool vehicle would love to find one I remember back then I made one in LEGO using my classic space figures and M-Tron pieces A very cool vehicle

[@omarkho4284]

Love the rolling thunder. Awesome review Micheal 👍

[@cootersgarage80]

Lol, I had to deep clean mine when I bought it too. Warm water, sensitive tooth brush and Q tips. Really got to enjoy the details as I cleaned it

[@BiggestDawgEver]

I dunno. Steeler was a tank commander, not a driver. For me it would have been Clutch riding shotgun with Armadillo. Steeler and Hawk in the turret. Breaker in the comms seat behind the drivers. Then Rock'N'Roll, Grunt, Short-Fuze and Zap in the machine gun seats. Stalker, Snake-eyes and Scarlett just don't seem like they belong in a vehicle. Though Stalker could be standing next to Breaker(I always kept a spare stand in mine for hurt such an occasion). I also always used the gaps between the driver's seats and the canopies for a pair of infantry for quick deployment. Flash and Grand slam could go there or Scarlett and Snake-eyes. This was the biggest Joe vehicle I ever owned and one of my favorites. I got Thunder in a set of mail-away drivers and I didn't have the Slugger, so he was permanently assigned to the Rolling Thunder. Breaker(straight arm) was my first Joe as well, though ironically I got him packed (in error I presume) with my V.A.M.P. I later got a second vamp and got Clutch with that one.

[@gingervikingjesus2351]

As a product of the 80s, I grew up having this toy & a handful of others.. One in particular, google is failing to find, were a series of vehicles that parts of them could come off & combine with others to build a base, the only one I had of them I believe was a silver & blue tank, the middle section could come off & make a shielded gun emplacement..

[@MichaelMercy]

Battle Force 2000's Future Fortress?

[@gingervikingjesus2351]

@@MichaelMercy Honestly, idk.. It's been over 30yrs since I had it.. If I SAW it though, I'd be able to spot it in a heartbeat!!

[@Chokun-Gaming]

All that noise it makes it truly worth the name rolling thunder

[@collectorsunite1]

aaaaahhhhh brain overload , that thing is ready to rock!!!

[@chrisphilhower6029]

Had one. Probably the Best weapon GI Joe had for land based attack

[@dannyanderson3345]

This is a great video.

[@ValkyrieMagnus]

Awesome video! Now I really want one now lol 😂

[@RadtoyzGalaxy]

Great job cleaning it off wow...i dread it every time i get a dirty piece

[@adambujakvyaya5806]

Toothbrush, toothbrush, toothbrush, snowmobiles, motorcycles,mountain bikes and more!

[@EMDrecs1]

I had this, it was my FAV-O-RIT!!!

[@uberhulk2260]

Witch is bigger rolling thunder or 83 headquarters? Btw I have the rolling thunder and I have no room to display it at full missiles out! Dang that's a big ole vehicle! Nerdmaste yall!

[@jamespero6803]

I have mine displayed next to my havoc. They look like father and son next to each other

[@WilliamSMITH-bs7kw]

Awsome video

[@nicolasbuist141]

this will always get me the only one time my mom told me whe could not get this one cause it was to big lol i was a lucky kid whit out this toy any way thx for the good old memory

[@jaywoodley6014]

This thing was my favorite vehicle. It was so overkill my friends hated when i would bring it out for battles. That and usually i would nuke them right away. There used to be a no nukes rule. Lol good times.

[@ValkyrieMagnus]

Awesome!

[@tycondrius23]

that is awesome . interesting note is that the european release of it has a variant as far as I know . some didn't come with the Hubcaps . I love mine but it seriously need a good wash too. did you disassemble yours to wash it ? I'm a bit hesitant to do it with mine as one the wheel pegs are snapped so the wheel just comes off super easy .. Guess ol firefly been up to his old sabotage tricks lol. also I can't seem to get the middle deck on mine to close properly with the roller in the center.

[@MichaelMercy]

Nope, I washed it assembled. Mine won't close all the way with the atv in there either.

[@peterdunlap7126]

thats a cool vehicle!

[@GachaKseniyaChan701]

Damn!! I bet you the rolling thunder could single handley make America Great again!!

[@MadSUPANOVA]

1980's designer's, top notch 👌

[@chrisking6375]

Rolling thunder is g.i.joes awesome power that makes cobra running scared 😰.

[@eltenda]

Great video

[@walterwright8454]

I had many GI Joe figures in the early 80s. Why is it that only a few of them actually have their rank insignia on their sleeves? Shipwreck, General Hawk, Tripwire had them, I am sure a few others did but so many didn't/

[@77dopey]

I had this as a kid got it for Christmas my sister hated me for it cause she spent 6 hours putting it together lol

[@woodman29]

Fantastic rig. I too acquired one of these that needed elbow grease to clean. Sooo worth it. Great review Michael. Thanks you for your dedication. Nerdmaste ‘

[@jpatt1000]

The one I just bought doesn't have stickers either. Did the Rolling Thunder really not have any?

[@vaultboy9717]

my rolling thunder has squeaky wheels to. must be very common with rolling thunders nowadays

[@OldManTheseDays]

That thing is epic!

[@cobrafirepower2519]

I just got one of these with all the parts and the driver for 225 dollars it is awesome one of the greatest things I have ever gotten

[@truegregthompson]

Got it for Christmas when I was 6ish. Went to school after the holiday and my little brother wrecked it on I think the first day. Still hold a little grudge

[@billyboytn]

Try with distilled water and soap. It’s the minerals in the tap water that’s leaving the spots.

[@itscarlyj]

I was listening to Butcher Babies "Red Thunder" and this came up on my playlist. My brother has been trying to get my boys into GI Joe. Who knows maybe that's why it popped up? I'm not against it.

[@ianbrewster8934]

I could be wrong because I never had the toy. But I always believed based on what was written about the Rolling Thunder that it was actually a nuclear weapons platform. The twin missiles are actually intercontinental ballistic rockets. And like many nuclear rockets.... It had multiple warheads inside the missle for attacking multiple targets. Maybe someone can correct me on that.

[@christopherzalewski678]

Miss this bad boy

[@darthbretticus9951]

I'm new to the channel so this mite be a silly question do you do vids of your toy restorations I'd love to see that!

[@palaguin]

Still have mine downstairs, and unlike most of my Joes and TFs I know exactly where it is.

[@QuaimeVLee]

Oh wow! I totally forgot about this. Thank you, Michael!

[@johncliffe939]

Good memories

[@GachaKseniyaChan701]

Oh dang it I just realized you already said that! Lol

[@marcryan1974]

My 80s GI Joe top 10: USS Flagg Terror Drome Skystryker Rattler Mobat Mauler Whale Rolling Thunder Headquarters Mobile Command Center

[@AndAlltheNerdyFun]

Growing up my uncle had this vehicle along with the tigerforce jets. We played with these every single time we were visiting. Such a cool playset.

[@redone0510]

How can I find my missing accessories for my joe bases and vehicles? Please and thank you

[@thomasprice8019]

I used to have the Rolling Thunder but when I was moving someone stole it from me been mad ever since and had over 300 Gi Joes figures