One of Seven OG13 sets, this set represents years of tweaking and learning various customizing techniques (much from this very site) to improve this classic group, finally released to completion in 2009 in 25th anniversary format. I never had all of these guys back when I was young, and the promise (but disappointment) of the 1997 Stars and Stripes set and the 2004 Comic Pack releases (incomplete set) had me hungry for a complete 25th set.


GiJoe_O13-Classic25th_2017-0527b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Back in 2009, I was ecstatic when I finally bought Zap to complete the set, and wanted to get them together in a group display with a nice dynamic pose to highlight the new improved sculpting and articulation of the line:


GiJoe_O13-Classic25th_2009-0908 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Through the years, I sought to improve these figures and improve on this setup (as well as photos), scouring all the Joe websites for ideas, techniques, and examples. The development of this set is what got me into customizing, and to expand these techniques to other figures and sets. By 2015, with the updates and photo below, I felt I was ready to go public with my work (though that wouldn’t actually happen until 2017):


GiJoe_O13-Classic25th_2015-0503a by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Since then some further updates and tweaks were made, as well as a working version of a magnetic display stand. So below is the most up-to-date version (Sept 2018), taken almost 10 years from the first:

Remastered by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

And this summer, while doing some other Joe research via Rank & File Vol1 1, I got inspired by the cover, and wanted try a take on it:

Ultimate Weapon of Democracy (2019-0609ab) by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


PhotoGrid_1560546713979 by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Individual figures will be added to the Gallery in the coming days and weeks, as well as more general set thoughts, and other threads for the other OG13 sets.

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what an epic quest! detailed beyond my depth on this set, but I know enough to know they are special! really amazing job on that art pic with them coming off the page/screen!

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Hawk and Short-Fuze are up. I usually start with Hawk. Short-Fuze was put up simultaneously since the bodies of the Hasbro releases were swapped. And coincidentally, both use heads of their respective characters from the 2004 Comic Pack releases.


GiJoe_O13-Hawk-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-ShortFuze-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

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really nice! I love the realistic weapons!!

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Amazing stuff.

Zap and Rock 'n Roll are up. Minimal work on Zap, lots more work on RnR. Higher rez photos hotlinked below, and orig UHD rez photos viewed by clicking on Flickr links.


GiJoe_O13-Zap-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-RockNRoll-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

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I've never found the modern era GI Joe body design appealing and thus moved away from joe figures (but not fiction) because they lacked the "magic" of ARAH.


This.....what you've done....100% captured the "magic" . They look phenomenal.

I appreciate this work.

And I appreciate the kind words--the best I've ever received, anywhere.

Interesting that you didn't take to the modern era body design. I was on the other side of the spectrum, in that they blew me away in 2007, especially Snake Eyes and Stalker. I still see my work on this set as "fine tuning" of the later OG13 figures to keep up with the level of those first two 25th OG13 figures. BTW: Stalker and maybe Snake Eyes wont be uploaded into the gallery here, not enough tweaking to warrant it.

And in regards to the "magic", that in a way is a reason all these figures will remain in 25th early body style and retro look. I can't bring myself to update these guys to later 30th and 50th figure parts, despite better sculpting, proportions (that short lower torso!), and in some cases articulation. It was somewhat easier to allow myself the upgrade for my Cobra O13 set. Hopefully, as a complete set, these guys hold their own against later modern figures as years go by...

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Flash and Grand Slam are up. Grand Slam orange/red pads straight arm was my very first figure. But I favor the 83 Silver Pad repaint for this set.


GiJoe_O13-Flash-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-GrandSlam-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

Grand Slam Jam, with a few of his counterparts from other sets:


GiJoe_O13-GrandSlam-BonusPic1_2018-0527f by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

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the action pic is really well laid out! you got a lot of slam in that jam

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Grunt, Steeler, and Breaker are up. Not much done really with Grunt and Breaker, but Steeler was pretty much a full overhaul.


GiJoe_O13-Breaker-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-Steeler-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-Grunt-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

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Final 25th Classic Style OG13's are up in the gallery: Scarlett and Snake Eyes with minor tweaks from the original (mostly repaint work). I also included my Stalker here. This version won't be in the Gallery because I can't really call it a custom (just retouched some paint, painted the gloves and added goggles and a backpack.


GiJoe_O13-Scarlett-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-SnakeEyes-Classic25th_2017-1028a by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-Stalker-Classic25th_2017-1028b by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

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Combined entry cover photos:


GiJoe_O13-13set-Classic25th_2019-1101bb by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoe_O13-13set-Classic25th_2019-1101cb by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

And combined with my Cobra O13 concept set. Collect them all!


GiJoeVsCobra_82-00_2019-1116bc by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr


GiJoeVsCobra_82-00_2019-1116cc by HissHissFangFang, on Flickr

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You hit this project out of the park. Paints and parts look production. And the photos hit me in the old toy catalog nostalgia.

But I agree with Suntzu that you’ve really added relevance to those 25th parts. Like you, the 25th line brought me back to this world. But my eye quickly wandered with each new Joe upgrade and each new non-Joe line.

This kind of thing really breathes new life into it.

Also it was great meeting you this weekend at AR!

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This would have made a fantastic con set. Looks awesome. I really like the different shades of green on the Joes.

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