Hasbro’s G.I. Joe Team have once again claimed the dog days of summer to entice Classified Fans into backing a 1/12 scale vehicle. To this point, we’ve received the H.I.S.S. Tank, and the Dragonfly Helicopter should be shipping soon. This year, Cobra takes to the skies with the iconic Rattler Ground Attack Jet. The campaign is drawing to an end Monday September 9, 2024, so at the time of this post, there’s still a few days to decide if you’re clear for takeoff. Let’s take a look at what’s included in this offering.
The details from Hasbro:
The Cobra Airborne is readying for launch but needs your assistance to fund its crowning achievement of aviation ingenuity. M.A.R.S. Industries, in concert with HasLab, has developed a 6-inch scale G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Rattler Ground Attack Jet. In order to initiate our takeoff sequence, we are in need of 9,000 backer orders by the end of the Campaign. For each HasLab vehicle you pledge, you’ll receive a Cobra Rattler jet along with an action figure of Flight Commander Wild Weasel featuring premium deco, detailing, and articulation for poseability.
This crowdfunded project will run from July 25th, 2024, to 11:59 PM ET on September 9th. If successful, the project is expected to begin shipping in Fall 2025.
The Rattler measures 33.53 inches long and has a wingspan of 32.04 inches. After backing two previous Classified HasLabs, real estate is starting to become an issue in the Cap Cave. Hasbro has anticipated this and added a new feature to the Rattler allowing the wings to fold up. This reduces the width down to 15.26 inches while still keeping the height below 14 inches. It’s a necessity at this point as there are so many 1/12 & 1/10 scale vehicles on the market you need a life size garage to store them all.
The attention to detail is top notch. From the articulated flight stick in the illuminated cockpit to the access panels exposing the turbine engines, it’s what we’ve come to expect from the Classified HasLabs. The blue of the Rattler hits all the right nostalgia notes for me. I had the G.I. Joe Sky Striker as a kid. I loved it… but… The Rattler looked so much cooler to me.
Wild Weasel is not only a top tier code name, he was also one of the coolest looking figures in the Real American Hero line, in my opinion. It’s nice to see him get another great figure with this release. We even get to see what was hiding beneath that mask all these years. Those blue eyes are dreamy. I wonder if the left one survived whatever caused the scar on his face or if it’s supposed to be a glass eye? They’ve also included a damaged visor to show off that handsome mug.
The Rattler includes a flight stand that allows for multiple display options. A nice addition is a drawer on the display base to store some of your blast effects or missiles. The blast effects offer plenty of variety for figure photography. I love the inclusion of the blue laser beams for the turret cannons harkening back to the animated series.
In terms of unlocks, we’re already 2/3 of the way to a fully unlocked campaign. So far you’ll get some flight patches and a Rattler Gunner action figure. The last unlock is within striking distance and I think it’s a pretty safe bet we’ll get there. At 18,000 backers, The Baroness gets some pilot gear! This is a fantastic looking figure. I hope this isn’t the last time we see this head with multiple hair options for The Baroness. She was so iconic for going undercover and those big reveals where she would let her hair down. More of that, please.
Everything about this offering is excellent. I always prefer an additional figure over patches, but outside of a generic Cobra Flight Crew Member I’m not sure who else they could have included. I never had a Rattler as a kid, but this is the Rattler I dreamt of having as a kid. If you’re ready to take flight in your own Rattler, get your order in by Monday at midnight.
When will it be on sale, and what is the cost? Also, is it remote control?