Upper body: 2013 DG Cobra Trooper
Lower body from 2013 Sgt Airborne
Helmet and jet pack: 2007 Cobra Air Trooper
Jet pack handle: 2008 DVD Pack CLAW
Webgear: 2013 Cobra Invasion Trooper

Paints: Citadel Kantor Blue, Testors Flat Black


This figure is part of my Cobra O13 1982 Set, a custom/kitbash companion/rival set for G.I. Joe "Original 13" of 1982, done in 25th and 30th Anniversary style.

This figure is same concept that Hasbro cleverly introduced in 2007, except where the file card alludes to them also being Cobra Fighter Jet pilots, in my mind Cobra and Joes do not get jet fighters until post 1983 (at least from a toy perspective). Rather, I see these air troopers first being Jet Pack troopers, then repacked as a toy in 1983 as the Viper (glider) pilots. He's an analogue to JUMP pack Grand Slam, and though the Cobra JUMP pack may translate too directly to GS's gear (stolen gear?), it does look great in Cobra blue. His alternate air gear is the FANG-inspired heli-pack from the 2013 Cobra Commander.

When this figure was created, I only had one more Dollar General Cobra Trooper figure left, and two figures to make (the other being his pack buddy Cobra Flamethrower). I choose to sacrifice my three pack Retaliation Sgt Airborne (for its similar 30th style sculpting and articulation), and split the two halves of each figure between the Air Trooper and the Flamethrower-which worked out pretty well for both figures (I wanted this figure more bottom heavy in the legs, and the Air Trooper top heavy in the chest).

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