Tiny “Cobra Enemy!” Pin a Big Hit With G.I. Joe Fans

Stick it!— GIjOE/Cobra fan and pin creator, Mae Catt models her latest creation, a unique “Cobra Enemy!” cloisonné lapel pin that really pops against her dark jacket. (Photo: Mae Catt) Click to enlarge.

Don’t Worry—Getting “Pinned” Doesn’t Mean You’re Going Steady With Cobra

Fans and collectors of GIjOE-related collectibles and ephemera will be thrilled to learn that there is now an exciting new (little) item they can now add to their already growing stash—a tiny cloisonné lapel pin emblazoned with a “Cobra Enemy!” warning in bold black lettering which is set against a bright yellow “starburst” background and red cobra logo (see closeup below).

POW!!!— As this super close-up reveals, the quality of Mae’s new “Cobra Enemy!” cloisonné lapel pin is top notch all the way. Resistance is Futile! (Photo: Mae Catt) Click to enlarge.

We were curious about the pin’s origins, so we contacted its creator, Mae Catt, of the aptly dubbed, Catt Call Co., who kindly replied with the following (exclusive) insider-intel:

“Hello, all! My name is Mae Catt, I’m a big GIJOE (okay, well, Cobra) fan who also loves lapel pins. I combined those two loves into the Cobra Enemy lapel pin that you can see in the photos shown in this article. I’m just an individual seller, and I got into GIjOE in the most backwards of ways. I was only 18, and was backpacking through Paris with a high school friend when the GIjOE live-action movie was just coming out. Bombarded by the film’s foreign advertising, we decided to check out GIjOE online…” 

Mae’s “Catt Call” business card is cleverly designed to resemble the backing cards of the old Hasbro 3.75″ action figure packaging. Sweet! (Photo: Mae Catt) Click to enlarge.

“But rather than watch that (dumb) live-action movie—we downloaded the original animated movie instead and watched it on a laptop in a hotel room. I had no preconceived ideas of the context of GIjOE, Cobra or that movie, but I decided it was just good enough (and overtly ridiculous enough) to inspire me to look it all up on Wikipedia.

That’s when I discovered the absurd INSANITY of the Cobra Commander. I soon became ‘charmed’ by the character’s willpower and villainy I suppose, and have been a huge fan of the Cobra phenomenon ever since.

Back in the ‘ol US of A, I sought out friends who were actually alive waaay back in the 1980’s, and was ‘properly’ introduced to the amazing world of GIjOE and Cobra through catered screenings of the TV episodes. Now, more recently, I’ve also gotten into the lapel pin craze that’s going around.

Have you seen the increased amount of collector’s pins at conventions? Well, the scene over on Instagram is going crazy right now. Pins seem to hit a button inside me. They’re a very subtle, classy way to express your fandom on formal wear, and I latched onto pin collecting almost immediately.

The next step of course, was to start making pins myself! The second pin I ever made was the Cobra Enemy pin. It’s gold plated, 1.25″ wide, painted with hard enamel (meaning smooth) and the design is something I’d wanted to make into a pin since, oh… forever.

I’ve always thought of that little toy sticker as a badge of honor for Cobra members, sort of like, ‘Yeah, I’m the Enemy. Come at me!’ Anyway, if you’re into the GIjOE/Cobra pin scene too, please pick yours up HERE. You can also follow me on Instagram @CattCallCo for more nerdy pins. Thanks!” —Mae Catt

Any way you look at it— The new “Cobra Enemy” lapel pin from Catt Call Co. is a definite WINNER. Our advice to you? Order yours today! (Photo: Mae Catt) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: If you don’t already own this very cool pin, we’ll bet you’ll be ordering one very soon. It is a truly ROCKIN’ collectible that looks great on any GIjOE fan’s cap, convention shirt, or vest. Our sincerest thanks and best wishes to Mae Catt for her generous contributions to this article.

Decal Sets Provide Quick-n-Easy Upgrades For 1/6th Scale Vehicles, Figures, Weapons & Gear

Da, Comrade!— Custom 1:6 scale Dragon Russian Aerosan vehicle with added ProSeries waterslide decals from Patches of Pride. Out-STANDING! (Photo: Kent Middleton) Click to enlarge.

It may seem obvious to most fans of The Joe Report, but a few of you “lay readers” out there may still not realize the extreme ease with which decals and other such markings can improve and upgrade items in your 1:6 scale collection. Whether the markings in question are hand-painted, comprised of traditional “peel-n-stick” papers, or output as high-end “waterslide” decals, there’s no questioning their ability to put the “WOW” factor into any custom project.

Do YOU have the gift?— Customizer Ron Stymus’ real-life experience as a tattoo artist spills over into his 1:6 scale hobby as well. Check out his outstanding hand-painted “Rat Fink” artwork on this Joe. WOW! Of course, if you can’t draw as well as Ron, you can always apply decals from companies such as PoP. (Photo: Ron Stymus)

For example, tattoo decals can add realism and character to any action figure’s body. Instrument panel decals can add a whole new level of realism and playability to a vehicle’s interior. And without a doubt, exterior body or hull markings can go a LONG way towards upgrading any custom vehicle, aircraft or watercraft. As Nike says— JUST DO IT.

For example, Kent Middleton, recently sent in some exclusive photos showing us the progress of his custom Dragon Aerosan project. A quick (and jealous) look at the pics reveals that Kent’s new custom snowskipper has been dramatically enhanced with the addition of waterslide decals produced by 1:6 scale manufacturer, Patches of Pride (PoP).

Before, the vehicle had been unmarked. But after the installation of PoP’s decals, there’s now no doubt that Kent’s aerosan had belonged to Stalin’s WWII “Red Army.” We asked Middleton about this exciting custom project, and he kindly replied with the following updates:

“Its not ‘done’ yet. The machinegun rig is custom, and I am painting the inside to replicate severely weathered plywood, but you can’t see that in the pics as I stuck the Russians in there. Only about 6-8 layers to go, and its a slog, cuz you can’t disassemble this beast! That, some paint chipping and some moisture ‘drips’ are still to come… someday.” —Kent “I Kan Do It” Middleton

It’s amazing what the addition of a simple red star can do for a custom aerosan. Without it, you’d have to guess which force was behind the wheel (and machinegun). (Photo: Kent Middleton) Click to enlarge.

Quality Counts— This super close-up reveals the amazing realism provided by PoP’s top-of-the-line ProSeries waterslide decals. In fact, they look painted on! (Photo: Kent Middleton) Click to enlarge.

Truly Transformative— As this screenshot from the Patches of Pride website clearly demonstrates, a little paint and some professional waterslide decals can make a stunning difference in even the smallest 1:6 scale items. Which pile of ammo cans would YOU prefer to display? (Photo: PoP) Click to enlarge.

Bottom Line: When working on any 1:6 scale custom project, it’s important to keep in mind that tiny items like ammo cans and mammoth items like Panzer Tanks can all benefit from the creative addition of decals and/or other types of exterior markings. If your hand or art skills are limited, then we recommend you seek out the assistance of 1:6 companies whose products are proven and can help your next custom project look its best. Remember—Details Matter!

G.I. Joe Collector’s Club’s 2017 “Man of Mysteries: The Arcane Adventurer” Promises to Be One of the WEIRDEST Adventure Team Members EVER Produced

What the…? 2017’s GIJCC incentive figure will leave many members scratching their heads. Part magician, part Ghostbuster, part time-traveller(?), the new “Arcane Adventurer” is destined to become one of the weirdest GIjOEs ever produced. Ala-Ka-What-the-heck-is-this-guy? (Photo: GIJCC)

Ala-KAZAMM!— Here are the most recent pics of the GIjOE Collector’s Club’s upcoming (albeit unusual) “Arcane Adventurer;” a new 12-inch incentive figure that will soon be shipping out to “active” 2017 club members. To be honest, we’re not quite sure what to make of this guy.

You’ll Get!— Members who select the 12-inch option will soon receive THIS mysterious figure in the mail. ZING! The club’s already made his pants disappear! We’re diggin’ that gray AT sweatshirt, though. Out-STANDING! (Photo: GIJCC)

Here’s the club’s official press release describing the figure:

“This is the Man of Mysteries: The Arcane Adventurer! He is all decked out in this MOCK UP image, in his add-on accessory set (purchased separately). When the adventure gets too weird, the team calls in THIS GUY!

This Club Exclusive 12″ Action Figure comes FREE to active members who select the 12″ option dressed in his shirt and shorts. The add-on set (purchased separately) will complete the figure! The accessory set will include:

– trench coat
– pants
– shoes
– AT amulet
– goggles
– glow-in-the-dark samurai sword
– satchel case
– dimensional scanner
– glow-in-the-dark “mummy case”
and MORE!

This FREE figure wearing shirt and shorts ONLY will be sent to any G.I. Joe Club member that selects the 12″ figure option and whose membership is active by March 16th, 2017. Make sure you’re an active member of the G.I. Joe Collectors’ Club to receive 12 monthly issues of the Club Magazine, access to Club Exclusives, Discounts for the International G.I. Joe Collectors’ Convention, and your choice of a FREE 3 3/4″ or 12″ G.I. Joe action figure for 2017!”

A Rare Gem, Indeed— This new figure also comes with a unique AT amulet shaped like a scarlet gemstone. Pretty sweet. Just imagine all the magical possibilities! (Photo: GIJCC)

Look Out, Luke!— This latest pic reveals that the Arcane Adventurer’s samurai sword is actually some sort of glow-in-the-dark lightsaber. Holy, Han Solo! (Photo: GIJCC)

Bottom Line: Active members should all keep a “mystical eye” on their mailboxes. This strange “Arcane Adventurer” will be “materializing” in their zip codes soon!

The Trenches Forum May Be Down—But it’s Not Out

Scott Beckmann, Trenches Founder

Numerous 1:6 scalers have written in to us lately regarding the unknown status and/or “fate” of the beloved GIjOE/action figure forum known as The Trenches. Clicks onto old links connecting to the website are currently coming up bone dry, and searches on Google too, are currently yielding no results. To discern the answer to this perplexing (and clearly troubling) question, we contacted the forum’s top man himself, Scott Beckmann, who kindly provided the following insider-intel:

“The Trenches are currently offline. We’re doing server maintenance and also some other stuff.”

Bottom Line: Take a breath, oh faithful “Trenchers.” Your favorite 1:6 scale hangout will be returning (sometime) very soon. And as they say—Good things come to those who wait!