Small Scale Military Headquarters

Picked this up this afternoon. My Cobra forces have already commandeered the thing! The tires are soft vinyl and the bow-plane moves down which really surprised me. The windows in the front, although translucent don't have anything behind them except for the hatchway you cram the figures into. Newer body style GI Joe figures fit very well. The hatch on the back does not open but it's really no big deal. Gun turret swivels 360 degrees and gun elevates. You get two PTE troopers, two rifles, two jerry cans and a pair on binoculars. The only flaw on mine was a fingerprint on the bottom of the bow-plane. This thing has tons of play and display value for twenty bucks and PTE has really raised the bar as far as overall quality. I may make some armored covers for those front windshield pieces though.

Now for the pics. I had to mess with the brightness in Photoshop because my camera doesn't like dark colors so some of the colors, especially the tan airbrushed cammo looks brighter than they are. There is a ton of potential here for weathering and customizing!

The IFV is awesome, thanks for the pics Rowsdower

Stug45 wrote: The IFV is awesome, thanks for the pics Rowsdower

NP. Last time I was in Big Lots, all they had was an endless supply of watch towers and buggys. I was floored when I saw all the goodies on the shelves today.

The pictures really do not do this thing justice. It will look sweet weathered and with some mods. I was really surprised to find it has soft tires and not hard plastic. I need to order some cobra insignia decals. Maybe paint it classic Cobra black and red?

Rowsdower wrote: I need to order some cobra insignia decals. Maybe paint it classic Cobra black and red?

Hell Yea

Rowsdower wrote: The only flaw on mine was a fingerprint on the bottom of the bow-plane.

Cool now you can commit a crime and blame it on a Chi-com. Thanks for the pics.

YT wrote:Cool now you can commit a crime and blame it on a Chi-com. Thanks for the pics.

You had to go and put the idea in my head.

thanks for the pics.

Rowsdower, you beat me to the pics, but I'll post mine anyways

I've done a little customizing to mine already, painting in the tow cables, tools, and engine gratings. I also mounted the jerry cans on the rear of the vehicle. Not sure if its accurate, but I like the looks.









This is really an awesome vehicle and truly sets a new standard for PTE. This is far superior to the Unimax Assault Force/Bravo Team LAV-25 in nearly every way, and it costs $5 less. Heck, it is better than a lot of what Hasbro currently offers. I love the opening hatches, moving parts, gun turret, removable tools, rubber tires, spinning propellers, and the fact that it is a foreign vehicle. Just a lot of good work on the part of PTE and for a great value. My only gripe is the lack of interior and opening rear door, but that was made up for with everything else.

Three of the four Big Lots in my area have these and the bombed building in. No Type 98 tank or Chinese helicopter. I got the tank pictured from overseas a while back. It is great that Big Lots got in some of the new PTE items

Here are some more pictures that I posted months back on a previous thread showing size comparisons of the IFV and Type 98 tank. (Never hurts to have more pictures... )

IFV vs. M1 Abrams





Type 98 vs. M1 Abrams

tmanthegreat wrote: This is really an awesome vehicle and truly sets a new standard for PTE. This is far superior to the Unimax Assault Force/Bravo Team LAV-25 in nearly every way, and it costs $5 less. Heck, it is better than a lot of what Hasbro currently offers. I love the opening hatches, moving parts, gun turret, removable tools, rubber tires, spinning propellers, and the fact that it is a foreign vehicle. Just a lot of good work on the part of PTE and for a great value. My only gripe is the lack of interior and opening rear door, but that was made up for with everything else.

It beats 95% of Hasbro's vehicles from the last 23 years or so.

So how much is it? and what is the name of the real vehicle?

It's a Type 92/WZ551, $20.00

tmanthegreat wrote:I've done a little customizing to mine already, painting in the tow cables, tools, and engine gratings. I also mounted the jerry cans on the rear of the vehicle. Not sure if its accurate, but I like the looks.

This is really an awesome vehicle and truly sets a new standard for PTE. This is far superior to the Unimax Assault Force/Bravo Team LAV-25 in nearly every way, and it costs $5 less. Heck, it is better than a lot of what Hasbro currently offers.

I see you did the exhaust Tman. That was one of the first thing I knew I needed to spruce up a bit. I am going to give that some rust coloring and maybe airbrush some "dirt" on the tires, wheel wells and lower hull. Maybe some paint scuffs here and there and exhaust stains over the engine grates on top. I like the added accessories as well, I will be sure to add some myself. I also want to add some cables over the molded cables.

And you are right, this thing is way better than the LAV, I'm glad I held out on that one after reading some less than positive reviews. This thing even blows away the GI Joe Bravo vehicles that are out now and for $5 less.

Great comparison pics Birddog. I hope to get that Chinese tank!

Couldn't resist seeing if the thing actually floats so I put it in the pool. It floats very well with the waterline coming up to where you would expect it to. Unfortunately after a few minutes it starts slowly sinking, I think water enters from where the wheels attach, there was no water entering from the hatches, and they are sealed tubes below. I think the duck and turtle had something to do with it. I didn't get any pictures of it sinking as I was in a hurry to grab it before it slipped under, and the water is pretty chilly. Anyhow, it is drying out in the sun and I won't try that again.

Fill that sucker with foam and it'll be an awesome pool toy.

Very cool

Ta-152 wrote:Fill that sucker with foam and it'll be an awesome pool toy.

Good idea!

chunks of styrofoam will keep the water out, if it's entering the crew compartment. If you put the right amount in the water that does enter will act as ballast keeping the vehicle at the correct waterline.

The problem with foam is that it moves around inside and any water in their will move to where the foam isnt and the vehicle will become unbalanced and float at a weird angle. You'd have to glue the foam in, in the correct position to prevent this.

I have some experience in this area.

The Cobra Watermoccassin was designed like that. Chunks of foam to keep it afloat. Pretty slick back in the day.

Jesse James wrote:The Cobra Watermoccassin was designed like that. Chunks of foam to keep it afloat. Pretty slick back in the day.

You're right, I forgot about that one! Anyhow, it is all dried out now so all is well.

Use some xpanding foam just not too much

I really hope that Heli makes it into Big Lots!!
Definately grabbin one of those IFV!

me2

I purchased the heli and the ifv i plan on changing the ifv into an M93 fox nbc

I picked up the IFV today and being curious as to what it is, did some web surfing. This page has some photos and info. From what I ca tell, it seems pretty accurate though I haven't check the size for scale accuracy.

www.army-guide.com/eng/product1435.html