Hey all,

First off, sorry I haven't been posting much. I assure you that I'm still trying to make time to take shots and write a story for everyone's favorite toyline. With that typed, on to the subject at hand.

I just got TF Duke from BBTS today. After reading Hisstank's review, I was ho hum about getting him.

Then I opened him up.

I have to say that hisstank's review is simply wrong, unless there's been a running change since Eopie Herder got his, which is very possible - and I'd have to say, likely.

The bad:
-The head's smaller than the original Duke's, so I just swapped them out (the skin color's almost spot-on).
-The forearms DO pop off easily.
-The helmet's green instead of tan, and the binoculars are green instead of black / gray.
-The bandolier seems a little... cheap. It doesn't fit as nicely as the original's.
-Blonde instead of brown hair (though I prefer the original blonde)

The good:
-NEARLY 90 DEGREE MOVEMENT IN HIS LEFT ELBOW!!!
-I'd guess 65 to 75 degree movement in his right elbow.
-NEARLY 90 DEGREE MOVEMENT IN HIS HIPS!!! He can now sit up straight! Hasbro got the aesthetics of the diaper crotch to work with the articulation of the figure.
-A painted shovel on his backpack.

I wish I had my camera here to show you all how great this Duke is. I'll make sure and take pictures tomorrow, if one of you hasn't taken care of that in the meantime.

I highly recommend TF Duke. This WILL become your default... if you can get past the colors

And I'm not even a Duke fan

I know this should probably go in reviews, but since I don't have my camera on me for a proper one, and since I feel this figure really is great, I wanted to throw up my thoughts as soon as possible. Obviously, I have no problem with any of you doing a proper review of this guy.

Have fun, all!!!

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On a quest to collect and customize the 1985 Joes in Modern Era form. Aaand maybe the Cobras, too.

Holy crap! There were five troop builders in 1985 - what am I getting myself into!?!

Wow, if a Flint-booster like yourself is giving a positive review to a Duke figure, there must be something right about it! Mine is sitting on my Pile of Loot at Big Bad Toy Store, waiting till I have enough stuff accumulated to ship. Personally, I'll be using the Duke from the final DVD pack (albeit with a head swap) as my definitive version, but this one will be nice to have too.

I'm actually a little disappointed that his hair isn't brown, though-- As a Duke fan, I think his hair should always be blond, but since I use a different head on my 25th Duke anyway (VvV comic pack version -- the best ever!), brown hair on this one could have made a nice head for my custom Steeler.

One question, if I may -- How do his arms compare, color-wise (both sleeve and flesh tone), to the likes of Breaker or Rock n' Roll? I'm wondering if an arm swap could work without any repainting...

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is on indefinite hiatus...