BTR-Ticles: Rising Tide

by Twitziller

While it is commonly considered to be part of the second series of Built To Rule G.I. Joe sets, it’s a little fuzzier than that. While it was released in 2004, the Rising Tide, along with the Cobra Sand Snake, saw a wider distribution than the true series 2 sets, which were released only in a limited area of the Midwest. The box design is similar to the series 1 sets, with the familiar green and blue box art, the clear figure/parts window on the front of the box, and the parts packed in plastic bags inside. For the Rising Tide and Sand Snake, however, the series 1 cardboard tray inside the box was replaced with a clear plastic tray, featuring a subtle stud design and a BTR logo. The fully-fledged, limited-release series 2 sets featured a new design that dropped the figure window and the interior tray entirely, and each set was simply a cardboard box containing plastic bags full of parts. The Rising Tide and the Cobra Sand Snake, therefore, could be considered a wave 1.5 of BTR.

The Rising Tide is a new design with a new name. The primary mode is a one-person attack boat, and the orange and grey color scheme and vehicle function are reminiscent of 1986’s Devilfish fast attack boat.

The included figure is high-altitude marksman Barrel Roll. Built in the O-ring style typical of most of the BTR figures, Barrel Roll is based on his 2003 Spy Troops appearance and features a convincing 5-O’clock-shadow paint application.

The Rising Tide’s secondary mode is a jet glider.

The Rising Tide’s weapons include two of the ubiquitous BTR black miniguns with orange mounts, two of the familiar bomb/torpedo/rockets in yellow, and a new, smaller missile launcher in black with a yellow missile.

Lacking wheels and engines, the parts inspire water vehicle designs, including, perhaps, even the venerable M.A.N.T.A windsurfer.

The studs mounted on the figure’s arms and legs suggest smaller, Adventure Team-styled add-on accessories.

The hover-board platform piece is an interesting shape that is usually buried underneath the rest of the model.

Barrel Roll’s Air Assault glider can be approximated with parts from the set.

Some of the notable parts from the Rising Tide include orange nose and tail pieces and the grey hood scoop piece.