This may have come up, but is there any relationship between these two? Did a Hasbro designer around 1984 see what Palitoy was doing, like the Red Shadows design and incorporate some basic elements in the design of the CGs?

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I'd be surprised if it was. It seems like figures from that era would have dozens of different designs and then another couple dozen color studies to see where it would best fit in with the overall annual assortment. there is a lot of historical military uniform details on him that aren't on the Red Shadows. And by that point in time, Palitoy was straight up producing GI Joe characters as Action Force.

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I'd thought the CG was inspired by of Emperor's Royal Guard. Though, some concept art had the Cobra elite trooper in blue. Ron Rudat likely designed the CG's look, and he's a history buff.

Red Shadow was a new head on an existing WW2 German soldier body.