Hasbro has kicked off Yo Joe! June by debuting their latest HasLab project, the G.I Joe Classified Series Assault Copter Dragonfly (XH-1). Boasting a lower price point than last year’s H.I.S.S. Tank, the Dragonfly reached its funding goal in a little over 24 hours. An impressive feat considering they increased the backer goal by 2000. Will the Dragonfly be able to soar past the H.I.S.S. Tank’s final total of 26,772? Let’s take a look at everything that’s included and speculate on the final two figures that might get added to the HasLab.
The Dragonfly was one of my go-to G.I. Joe vehicles back in the day. It had the reserved parking spot on the helipad of G.I. Joe’s headquarters. With Wild Bill in the cockpit, the Dragonfly would fly into battle ready to even the odds against Cobra or drop a line to a Joe in need of rescue. It had a lot of replay ability and was a great example of what the G.I. Joe line was capable of in their vehicles. I played the hell out of that chopper and have a lot of fond memories. That’s one of the reasons I backed the Classified XH-1.
Checking in at 34 inches long, the Dragonfly is BIG. In comparison, the H.I.S.S. will be 19 inches. Real estate is quickly becoming a concern in the Cap Cave, but I’m saving a spot for the XH-1. The details per the HasLab listing:
- Elaborately-detailed Command Cockpit Interior: The copter pilot and gunner sit buckled with a 4-point harness in front of specialized illuminated instrument control panels. You can pose each figure operating the center, floor-mounted control stick and throttle controls maneuvering around and locking in on an oncoming H.I.S.S.
- Detachable “Gull-wing” Canopy: The vehicle comes with “gull wing” functioning canopy with forward port entry for the gunner and rear starboard entry for the pilot. The canopy detaches for easier access.
- Multiple Customizable Armaments: Customize your XH-1 loadout with detachable weapon accessories:
- 2 Creeper missiles
- 2 70MM unguided rocket launchers
- 2 Jester Missile racks to hold 8 Jester Missiles
- Removable laser-guided stationary 160MM Cannon Pod with belt-fed ammo that connects to the port side of the chopper
- Functioning Hoist: The attachment points fit a removable hoist with rotating dial which extends or retracts a cable and rescue hook for infiltration and extraction or rescue ops.
- Cannon Details: The 25MM Dragonbreath Rotary Nose Cannon rotates and can pivot up and down; and twin X-551 Mini-Cannon details below the cockpit increase the XH-1’s powerful attack capabilities.
- 6 Blast Effects: 2 small effects fit the X-551 Mini-Cannons, the Dragonbreath Rotary Cannon, or trail behind the 70MM unguided rocket launchers; 2 medium effects attach to the Cannon Pod or the rear of the Jester and Creeper missile accessories; 2 large effects attach behind the missile accessories and to the wing pegs.
- Removable Access Panels: Access panels detach to reveal engine details.
- Hinged Cannon Access Doors: Doors lower showing the inner workings of the twin X-551 60MM Mini-Cannon accessories and act as a step to pose your figures ascending into the cockpit.
- Movable V Tail Wing: The vertical tail fin rotates from 90 degrees to 45 to assist in maneuverability.
- Adjustable Stabilizer Wings: Rear stabilizers pivot up and down.
- Counter Rotating Coaxial Turbine Detail: The snap-on Counter Rotation Turbine cover swivels to silence and direct the turbine thrust.
- Engine Cover Exhaust Vents: Flared exhaust port design details provide the XH-1 with high-speed stability.
- Clear Display Stand: The transparent 10-inch-high display stand has a 15-degree angle allowing you to pose your Attack Copter as though it’s hovering in the air, either climbing or descending. The base is decorated with a modern take on the classic DF-1 roundel.
- Sticker Sheet: Personalize your Assault Copter fleet with consumer-applied labels for customization.
You also get a fully articulated Classified Wild Bill as part of the base offering. The six-inch figure comes with his two six-shooters and a knife. He also gets the nifty Classified toupee treatment so you can go with hat and hair, with hair only, or if you’re feeling really frisky you can go full on bald Bill. It truly is an army builder!
The numbers have continued to grow since the campaign launched on Monday. There’s a good chance that by the time you read this article the first of three additional figures will have been unlocked. Night Force Rip Cord has already been announced as the 13,000-backer goal with the other two (16,000 & 19,000) to be announced as the campaign continues on. Who might the other two recruits be? Here’s who my money is on…
Airborne: Franklin E. Talltree aka Airborne would be a good fit as the helicopter assault trooper of the Joe team. Airborne was part of the second wave of figures in 1983 and also played a role in the Sunbow cartoon. As a Navajo, Airborne would mark a second Native American in the Classified line joining Spirit Iron-Knife. If they’re concerned about making a “normal” version of Airborne available as part of the HasLab, they can take a similar approach as Ripcord and give us a Night Force or Tiger Force version.
W.C. Culbert: This was the name of the Dragonfly’s co-pilot according to the original toy’s sticker sheet, though no figure was ever produced with that name. Bill Culbertson sculpted the original Dragonfly and was also the inspiration for the Wild Bill nickname. Hasbro shortened his last name to Culbert and slapped it on the co-pilot. If you want to break all of the HasLab records, you make a W.C. Culbert figure. Honouring someone that had such a huge impact on many G.I. Joe fans lives will motivate many that might not have purchased otherwise. Give him a toy related codename and fans will eat it up.
If you want to back the HasLab Dragonfly XH-1 you have until 11:59PM EST on July 17, 2023.