All: Captain America vehicle
Cage: Animal Planet


Big Trapper was released in 1976 at the tail-end of GI Joe's original run. By that point, The Adventure Team had grown to include characters such as Major Mike Powers and Bullet Man. That year, in an effort to increase Joe sales, Hasbro created a new enemy for Joe to fight: The Intruders. These super-smart aliens resembled cavemen and had a ''bear hug'' feature that allowed them to trap Joe in their powerful arms.

Big Trapper itself was built on the same frame as the Mobile Support Vehicle and was designed as a vehicle to trap and transport the Intruders. It was equipped with a laser cannon and a cage that had bars that could ''bend'' allowing the Intruders to escape.

For my custom, I used the Captain America 6-wheeled tank as a base. I attached the cage to the back, removed the main turret and re-attached the gun. Rather than making it a ''laser'', I opted for a harpoon. I found scans of the original stickers online. I printed them and added the control panels in the back section as a nod to the original. The end result is more an interpretation than slavishly vintage looking. When I put together my modern Adventure Team, this Big Trapper will probably be one of their vehicles.

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