Rapid Deployment Force (1993)
What you see before you can best be described as excitement on the go. Can you imagine being able to carry three of your favorite GI Joe figures with you wherever you go? How about unleashing three (okay, two) highly desirable figures from a fairly nondescript looking black plastic case? You can even look super cool while doing so, because this bad boy can also clip onto your belt. Oh yeah. Look out, ladies. I’m going out on the town, and I don’t need a wingman. I’ve got the Rapid Deployment Force.
Based on the goofy yet practical Pocket Patrol Packs of the early 80s , this mail-in is notable mainly for two of the three figures contained within. Night Force Repeater and Night Force Shockwave were included with the case, along with Fast Draw. It’s pretty amazing to think that those two former Toys R Us exclusive figures made it into one of the Real American Hero era’s later mail-in offers.
Of course, things couldn’t be all sunshine and roses for those looking to complete two Night Force figures in one fell swoop. The set contained weapons, none of which actually belonged to the original figures contained in the set. There’s a Low Light rifle (without bipod), a Hit & Run machine gun, and a funky gold repaint of the previously funky orange Tracker submachine gun. I know I was more than a little disappointed when I picked up the set in the 90s, hoping I would easily knock out a couple holes in my collection.
Fast Draw fares the worst, as he was a very accessory-laden figure. Here, he’s naked without any of his unique gear. It’s actually a little sad, compared to the badassedness of his RDF compatriots. Those two guys still look good without their signature weapons, but without his visor and missile system, poor Fast Draw looks like a human cannonball dressed as an oven mitt.
While the case itself shuts quite securely, and the belt attachment loop works like a charm (see below for proof!), be careful of the open slots in the back, as the weapons and figure stands can slip out. You wouldn’t want to lose that stylish gold sub-machine. And in case you’re curious, this set also included a file card, complete with its own storyline. Amazing.
I believe this will be the next mail-away set I’ll go after, since I feel that if I dug around for each figure’s respective accessories, they’d be completed. And I could put my own version of the RDF in the case, consisting of Crazy Legs, Stalker (Battle Corps version), and Lady Jaye (1997 version). AND, best of all, I’d have another addition to a surprise I’ll be saving for next year’s Emerald City Comic-Con: my Pocket Patrol Pack ‘uniform’, made up of four on a belt and three on a bandolier, with a camo uniform and helmet to complete the look. I call it my “Pocket Patrolman” getup. Each pack would have three famous trios from episodes of the Sunbow and DIC cartoons, like one with Alpine, Bazooka and Quick Kick, and Ambush, Pathfinder and Topside.
Nice photo. I used to rock out wearing a Voltron shirt with G1 Soundwave on my belt
Fastdraw seems like an odd choice for this set. I wonder if it was a way of helping to move unsold stock?
I stumbled across this set about 15 years ago. I nearly bought it but the clown selling it wanted $100.00 Au for each of the figures and another $80.00 for the case. Talk about trying to get rich quick.
I can imagine how lame Fast Draw must have looked to kids who’d never seen the figures packed with their respective gear before. Same goes for the slot on Repeater’s belt. That’d be another head-scratcher. For older collectors, it was just Hasbro unashamedly getting rid of excess stock.
Night Force fans might have benefited a bit from this set, but I don’t see any other logical reason for including that bare bones Fast Draw in there.
This has been a set that’s outside the radar for me. The Pocket Patrol is on that fringe of items that are more like backpacks, hats, lunchboxes, and what-have-you type of things.
The RDF as itself never made my wish list. Fast Draw, especially without the flip-down visor, is just not very fun.
However, I suppose if a new MOS of fast-roping helicopter trooper were given to Fast Draw, that could have worked the imagination into making the visor-less missile trooper work with the RDF (a Ranger and a S.W.A.T. trooper)
My Fastdraw looked naked without any of his gear. I got him in a large bag of figures, mostly containing 1989 guys and some of the ’86 vehicle drivers. He is currently armed with two C.O.R.P.S bazooka’s as thats the closest i have to his F.A.F.N.I.R
@Clutch i found a V1 Repeater at a thrift store when i was a kid. I had no idea what the holster was for. I thought it was a zip line
I was so hoping that the file card would be a riff on the Velvet Underground’s “the Gift.”
“So Shockwave figured they could just hide in giant cardboard box, and mail themselves into the well-defended Cobra base! It would’ve worked too, if Fast Draw hadn’t been overcome with night terrors 33 minutes into the mission.”
@Shenanitim
While they were at it why didnt they build a large wooden badger
Cool set overall…is this what 25th Snow Job has strapped to his left thigh?
@Ben
I think that’s just a homage to the Pocket Patrol Pack itself, and not just this version of it.
Nice pictures!
Just picked this set up for 3DJoes. It’s a pricey one… $102 for a MISB set!
Please weigh in on whether or not you think they should make it onto the 3DJoes of the 90s poster, since they are the exact same molds and paint apps as their previous incarnations.
Thanks!
Carson
Hiss Tank poll:
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-joe-toys-vintage-discussion/368800-3djoes-90s-poster-i-need-your-input.html#post4414464
OG 13 poll:
https://www.og13.com/forums/showthread.php?8025-3DJoes-of-the-90s-poster-I-need-your-input!
filecard mentions Fast Draw as a mobile missile specialist but the set didn’t even include a springloaded Battle Corp launcher for him to use!
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