Posted on 07/31/2009 1:24:58 AM PDT by Rummyfan
August's new movie G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra may not be at the top of our list of must-sees this summer, but we have been watching closely for the strange weapon designs they come up with. Bad procurement choices and G.I. Joethe toys, cartoons and, now, the moviehave a long history. Here, we look at the five most misguided equipment designs placed in the hands of G.I. Joe figurines over the years.
The Mole Pod
Historically, mining underneath a defensive perimeter is an iffy military tacticwhen it works, it can end a siege (particularly when walls can be collapsed, or explosives planted beneath defenses). When it doesn't work, it can be a grave loss as troops emerge piecemeal from the holeassuming they are not crushed by the tunnel's collapse. COBRA's Mole Pod is specifically designed to conduct subterranean raids, but not so smart is the placement of a missile launcher in the tip of a drill bitthink about it. Also, drill bits made to tunnel through rock are flat-faced, with dull, nonconical protrusions.
More at the link....
Check it later. Thanks.
And so what, GI Joes were supposed to have a futuristic, fantasy element.
What future engineer may, or may not ... need to unlearn subliminal messages of comprehension in order to think more "engineery"
I’m not sure all features were represented fairly. Maybe the missile tip of the drill retracts until it’s needed? Why would a figurine of an Abominable Snowman fighting GI Joe have no gloves on, is that a separate item sold for Joe? (An accompanying picture does show mittens.) The top mounted missiles might or might not be a problem for the helicopter, depending on how the blades bend when in operation. It does seem legitimate to ask why a truck would be painted camo green then have safety stripes stuck on it, unless that’s an option packaged in the box.
They may be dumb, but they sure look like fun! When I was a kid GI Joe had nothing but a rifle and maybe a bazooka or something. But I still had a lot of fun with ‘em.
I had a whole bunch of GI Joe stuff when I was young, but my mother didn't like the "war" style GI Joes... Anybody else remember the accessory kit that included the crutches and bloody bandages? lol. She REALLY hated that one, and refused to allow me to get it! But I did have the deep sea diver, complete with octopus, and the space ship!
Mark
My older brother had a toy soldier set that included cannons that could shoot (spring loaded, not caps). We thought it was great fun to use the stop signs as shells, as they fit the cannons perfectly.
My favorite was the tank, mostly because it was battery-operated.
But the thing was a technological marvel of the toy world for the age bracket- the barrel direction could independently control the power transmission to the tracks, allowing the tank to actually turn like real tanks do.
Hah! I had the mercury space capsule! The foil suit wasn’t real durable, though.
I remember leading up to the Christmas of 1965, peering desperately through a keyhole into the locked room where my parents were storing our gifts in preparation for wrapping them, and lo and behold-
A GI Joe footlocker! Had yellow rope handles, as I recall...:)
One day, my GI Joe was gone. Gone. Couldn’t find him. Looked everywhere. I was heartbroken.
When I went to elementary school a few days later, I was walking down the hall past the locked glass cabinets that had the best dioramas by the third grade class (I was in second grade, and my diorama was the fight between the Monitor and the Merrimack...cardboard covered with tin-foil for water...:)
I looked over and saw one with an honorable mention done by my brother, and...there was my GI Joe...HEADLESS! (Who knew my brother was an Islamo-fascist in those days?)
Well, he wasn’t quite headless, the had an egg on his neck where his head had been. I did get him back, but what good is a headless GI Joe? It was his whole personality. (everyone knew the color of their hair was what imparted their special individual skills on them!)
I buried him in the back yard while my dog looked on. As I walked away head bowed, she was gleefully pawing at the earth, and ran after me with a newly disinterred GI Joe, his arms no longer folded in peaceful repose across his chest, but now flopping wildly from each side of the labrador retriever’s mouth!
It does seem legitimate to ask why a truck would be painted camo green then have safety stripes stuck on it, unless thats an option packaged in the box.
Popular Mechanics meets Cracked?
I had the space capsule and Jeep back in the 60’s.
I still have mine and the Alan Sheppard record.
Wow!!!! I am impressed...:)
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