The Whale is one of the most sought after vehicles of the classic line...

...but,.. do you think its a bit outdated?

I mean, Chap Mei's patrol boat is a perfect example of a modern ship, with well rounded weapons and abilities.

the whale has that,.. but still....

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I spend a few weeks down in Florida back in '05 working with the Coast Guard on some counter-narcotics stuff, and got to see a couple of LACV/LCAC Hovercraft roar up on the beach near where we were working. Two words: friggin' awesome

Outdated concept? Not in the least. The Navy decommissioned their Hydrofoils back in '93 (I got to ride on the Pegasus & Taurus before they were shut down) but the Hovercrafts continue to be a viable piece of equipment.

To update the WHALE - it needs to have at least a small cargo area to offload a VAMP or something similar. But when I think of GI Joe, I think of Cobra Island -- there's no way a patrol boat is going to have any affect on combat operations there, but a hovercraft is a whole different story.

So from a Joe perspective and a real-life "been there, done that" perspective, the WHALE is just as viable, if not moreso, now than ever.

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Like Chief said, I'd want it to have a bigger cargo area to fit a VAMP or other smaller vehicle. That would be full of win in my book and if they did one like that now I'd buy the hell out of it.

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That is an awesome idea. I agree as well.

However, I think it would be cool that if the WHALE were ever actually updated that it would come with a smaller hovercraft, like the two man one with a machine gun in Army of Two.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/Chadsta/PSU/Army%20of%20Two/vehicle_hovercraft2.jpg)

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As Chief mentioned, it is definitely still practical, and I love the idea of an extended cargo bay - also possibly replace the sled with shotable torpedos/missiles (if not given an update - I loved the sled part when I was younger).

I would also like to see a more enclosed cockpit area where they sit, just like in the real LCAC.

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Great part about the Whale, all it needs is new pegs. It's already Modern Joe friendly. So it wouldnt be too bad for Hasbro to re-release. Sure I'd love to see a slightly larger version, maybe not big enough to hold a VAMP, possibly an AWE striker or Ram/Mirage.

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I think the AWE Striker is just as big a the VAMP. Actually I think the footprint of the AWE is bigger than the VAMP what with the wider wheelbase and all.

But having it fit smaller vehicles would be acceptable too. Something the size of the Armadillo or RAM would be cool.

And if the original is truly 25th friendly as suggested then I'll have to put a WHALE at the top of my "gotta have" list.

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IF Hasbro were to put out a "modern WHALE" for the 25th figs, I'd hope they really go to town and Redesign it. Obviously keep it a Hovercraft...but Change the whole thing around. Keep the same footprint, but make it look like a Modern LCAC. Give it Room to hold a Vamp or other Vamp-chassis based Vehicle.

Ditch the Shooting Sled and dinky bike. Keep the Really floats gimick. Put a Covered Troop hold behind the Vehicle Deck. Make the Pilot house look protected, but keep it accesable so you're able to actualy put a figure there. I'd actualy get a kick out of a sprin loaded Depth Charge tosser...somthing better than the dinky dump ramp that was on the vintage Whale.

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You know, one of my favorite things about the whale is the dinky bike. I wish I could explain it, but I <3 that piece and would miss it on a 25th update. Though room for the Vamp does sound infinitely cooler.

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I think the WHALE is pretty much in everybody's top five, if not ranking higher.

One of my favorite Marvel issues was the Torpedo and Snow Job mission to the atoll that had all the Cobra ASPs defending it.

I think the WHALE was one of the go-to vehicles most often used by Hama.

I don't think I want to see a new WHALE (NARWHAL?) modded to include room for a VAMP. That's not what the the WHALE is deigned to do. If we are talking cargo room then the JOEs would be better off using a LCAC in te first place.

If any room is added, then it should be for a launching bay for the SHARC (seen in Marvel when the JOEs are recovering 'Rip-Cord' from his one-man Cobra Island Invasion), the JOE SEALS, or even the other JOE mini-subs.

Ever since I saw the teaser in 'Die Another Day' I have wanted both the small hovercrafts and the big one.

If I had the space I would try my hand at customizing an LCAC for the JOEs. Just big enough to fit a Mauler or even the Thunderclap (ie-decent sized vehicles), yet several smaller vehicles could fit too. Plus simply done as transports. Any JOE LCAC would need plenty of offensive/defensive weaponry.

I can easily see Cobra or MARS effectively using the hovercrafts as seen in Die Another Day, and they could also be used by the JOEs.

I still look at my spare (somewhat stripped) WHALE from time to time and imagine it modded into something the Oktober Guard (Russan Navy) would use.

So I don't think the WHALE really needs updated, but it definitely could be augmented by other mission-specific hovercrafts.

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The only thing I'd like to see in an Update Whale would be new foot pegs and better/stronger machinegun clips that hold the guns to the turrets, and the same for the missle boxes.

If you try to put a VAMP in it, it'd get too big. Even a Skyhawk (or whatever the new bird is called) would be to big, although it'd be cool in a RHINOesque way.

DJ you mean like a mini Zuhr? For those that don't know what I'm talking about its basically a HUGE Whale much larger than a LCAC. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-m ... 1151909236 its armed with AA gun, missiles, and artillery. Carries 170 Tons of troops and vehicles compared to the 60 tons of the LCAC. I do believe that either Matt or Chad build a LCAC and posted pics of it on the old board.

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Oh, that's nice.

No, I'm referring to several books I have from the 80's that show Russian Naval Infantry hitting the beach during an exercise.

I'm gonna have to go next door and do some fact checking to post here.

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Update for roguetiger:

The three Russian Air Cushion Landing Craft I knew about were the Aist, Lebed, and Gus.

The Aist:
-1975 onward
-220t full load
-157 x 57ft (48 x 18m)
-Two gas-turbines; 24000bhp = 65kt
-Four 30mm (2x2)

Was the first large military hovercraft. Gas-turbines rated at 12-14000hp each. Four axial fans and four prop units. Max speed 65kt (120km/h). Continuous tank deck with fore/aft ramps can accomadate two MBTs (T-62 or T-72) or five PT-76 amphi tanks; or can just transport 150 troops. Guns provide AAA or shore defense suppression.

The Lebed:
-1967 onward
-85t full load
-79 x 39ft (24 x 12m)
-2 horizontal thrust engines, 7200hp = 50kt; one vertical lift engine, 350hp
-Raised control cab to starboard, with twin 30mm AA on the portside. Can carry 2 PT-76 amphi tanks or 120 troops or 45t cargo. Designed for Ivan Rogov docking well.

The Gus:
-1970 onward
-27t full load
-70 x 27ft (21 x 8m)
-2 horizontal thrust engines, 1560hp = 58kt; one vertical thrust engine, 780bhp.
-Adapted from 50 seat civilian, can carry 24 fully-equipped troops and no vehicles. Used for direct assault or rapid reinforcement, complementing larger vehicle-carrying ACVs.

I think that the WHALE is slightly to small to work as a Gus (if going for an Oktober Guard vehicle).

It could be possible to combine elements from the Gus and the Lebed (small ACV but with vehicle carrying capacity) if someone happened to find some spare WHALEs. Just using the skirt section, they could be cut apart vertically and then pieced together to form a bigger footprint. From there it could be modded to provide space for a couple of VAMPS, or Armadillos, or even a SHARC launching bay. Plus a dedicated troop compartment.

It would be big, and probably gonna look like a shoe box turned upside down on the skirt. At least a foot tall, not counting the fans.

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I gotta agree with Killa, as dinky and weird as it seems now, that minibike provided me hours of fun as a kid. So did the sled.

I'm lovin' the idea of an update that remains true to the spirit and basic design of the WHALE but adds more cargo room (and some detail down in that hold would be sweet for us dioists). If they went that route, there's no reason they couldn't include a full-size RAM (sans sidecar, of course) in that spot on the new WHALE. Then beef up that sled a bit and turn it into something like Cobra's later Hydro Sled and you've got a three-fer vehicle combo that could surpass the RHINO in terms of sheer coolness.

I just drooled a bit on my keyboard thinking about it.