I'm trying to design and build my ultimate Joe HQ from the cartoon – but as if it were a Hasbro toy (AKA not TOO enormous) and with toy like features. So far I have a command center (where all the Joe got their orders, watched Cobra Commander etc), a working elevator to two levels and a jail. What other "stereotypical eighties features" must a playset like this have?

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Maybe:
- an indoor shooting range?
- training facility / room?
- some kind of storage / armory?
- helicopter platform?
- sleeping area?

Tim 121RVC

Thus far, I have the HQ divided into 4 sections: the middle (with the big gun) that forms the lower level command center, with an upper deck observation area. The right wing is a jail, the armory next door (to facilitate Cobra escapes, naturally LOL), an elevator at the far end and two tank sized vehicle bays on the bottom.

Thus far the left wing and further have nothing in them yet. I'm trying largely to stick to "play features" that Hasbro would have included. Thus no hospital – that would imply the Joes getting hurt, etc. Thus far I'm scouring old playsets for room ideas. Keep em coming – I'm considering what to put in these other wings. I'll also take the "greatest hits" approach if you remember something especially cool from old toy playsets.

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Cells for locking away Cobra and Nok's...a medical facility, a motor pool...Maybe a Joe rec room.

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I would be interested in pics of the progress.

What about on one side having a hangar big enough to fit a Skystriker? I seem to recall the 'toon intro showing Skystrikers, Sky Hawks and Dragonflies coming out of a hangar built into the base so that would be nice. For your play features, put in a working crane, ammo transport (like the FLAGG) and possibly an opening hangar door.

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I think a bay door that opens so your tanks or jeeps can roll out the front

If you're thinking based on the toon HQ, I'd add a 2nd level over top of the main middel section.

On that 2nd level I'd have a gun from the Thunder Clap, an ammo/armory room and a Communication/conference room with the big screen computer and such.

Put a working elevator down to the lower level...where there's a 2-3 cell jail/brig and an interogation/bunk room with a wall that blows out so cobra can escape right before being questiond.

then on one side or the other...I'd have the vehicle bay with a door wide enough that a Mauler can get out, and high enough a bridge layer can get out. I'd have the door open like a guilitien (sp?) and slide back at the same angle as teh rest of the front of the building is.

I'll figure out what to do with the other side and get back to you on it.

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I have blue prints made up, with empty spaces that I may scan here in a bit to post. BTW - a couple of limitations:

1. This is meant to be the cartoon HQ, but NOT a to-scale model.

2. I'm doing the cartoon HQ as if Hasbro were to produce it in 1986. So it can be pretty honkin big, but not too big. Keep in mind, I'm moving in like 5 months too.

3. I want to make it out of wood, so it will stand the test of time. Once I get my dream HQ, don't want it dying death by foamcore dings.

4. I'm looking for some "toy-etic" features too. Thus far I've put in an armory (like in the 83 HQ), and my favorites, a file card holder and weapon organizer compartment.

Now I'm trying to find out the main "feature" it should have as a toy. The FLAGG had a PA system...hmmm....

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Alright here are my top 5 GI Joe HQ play features.

5) Big missile firing cannon on top. Of all the guns that need to be spring loaded in GI Joe, this is the one.

4) In the cartoon, right under the cannon, was a door where the Joe vehciels came out of. I think that is straight out of Castles 101.

3) I loved the 83 Comm center with pictures of Scarlett and Cobra Commander on it. Also the cartoon had a large video screen so a back lit large screen and some smaller ones around it would be cool.

2) Jail cell. These can be either barred cells or my futuristic force field cells. Cause like others have mentioned, Cobra escapes would be a huge play feature.

1) Probably one of the coolest features of the Terrordrome, the 83 HQ, the later HQ, and the MCC is that they have places for the vehicles with fuel hoses and repair bays. If the Joes are at home, they'll probably be fixing something or tweaking something.

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in the toon, they were always, alllwwwaayys in the room with the giant computer screen getting info. So the compute room with the giant screen, and Sparks or Breaker sitting in frontof it.

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I was going to suggest a lights and sound system but wasn't sure how indepth you wanted to get. I do like pluv's idea of the backlit big screen in the main room. That could be your big feature. You can even get some images printed onto clear plastic like they use for overhead projectors to make the screen that way the light will shine through nicely.

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A better idea for the main screen that I've been waiting to implement in my future HQ is to get one of those Digital Photo Frames. That way you can change the image when ever you want and it's backlit. Some can even do video and audio files. If your building your "dream" HQ than $60 bucks for one 5-7 inches shouldnt be out of the question. You can also get smaller 1.5 inch ones in the $20 range.

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I just saw some over at Target for under $20.

They're the ones from TV that are made to fit in your wallet, so the screen will be in scale and not too ridiculously huge... probably just a bit smaller than an iPod screen.

Anyway, you could probably bash some Joe parts onto it to make a console.



Something VERY 80s would be lenticular screens for the computer (like the '86 B.A.T.'s chest sticker). I'm sure an online search could turn up some cool lenticular stickers you could use for your base.

Common playset features I remember from the 80s are trap doors and secret doors/entrances/passageways. Don't know how you could work them in, though.

Oh, and LOTS of stickers to decorate the place.

I don't know when I'll use that idea, but consider it swiped and filed away for furture use.

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A hearty THANK YOU to all who've posted thus far. Fantastic ideas that I will use for sure. That screen thing is gold! I've made three versions of the cartoon HQ over the years, and I'm aiming for this one to be last. Also, special thanks to Pluv for his very toyetic ideas. Some of those BEG for inclusion! I'll post the blue prints as soon as I can.

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