Back when they made toys big enough that you needed an extra room in the house to store them. As an 80s child, GI Joe wasn't the only brand doing this 😂
I had that play set when I was younger. I remember countless hours playing with it. To this day no other play set can match it. My only regret is not having it today. I'm 51 years old and if I still had it, I would still play with it
It’s possible to get it again... and I’m stoked you’d still play like 1987. We are always in favour with that! But the memories you have of this thing must be priceless. It boggles my mind the games my friends and I would have had if I’d had this thing in my childhood room!
You won't ever see anyone do anything like this ever again. If Hasbro did anything close to it, it would only be a Hasbro Pulse Exclusive and they would charge an arm and a leg for it.
Do you remember the questionnaire that came with it. It had specific questions about GI joe and certain answers fit a certain way. It was awesome for sure.
The was the Holy Grail toy for me. Never got one so I really appreciate your review. WOW! If Hasbro ever re-released this thing I would be on board even if they sold it piece by piece. I agree, it was so sad that Hasbro did not do more in space. Such as missed opportunity. Thanks for the video. Subscribed!
Thanks so much! We wanted to shoot it in the same way we would play with it, in the dark, with only a few sources of light. But not to worry, it still maintains some amateur charm (bad focus, furniture in the shot). Har har har.
Thank you, for that wonderful review! I had that beautiful Beast of a playset / vehicles. It took me a solid day to put it all together. Roughly 12 hours to put the plastic together and another 12 hours to put the decals on. I absolutely enjoyed putting this together. It was the biggest GI Joe toy I ever owned.
All I want is a G.I. Joe Defiant Shuttle Complex with Hardtop and Payload all brought to life in a proper live action G.I. Joe TV series set in the 80s since Terror Drome debut as a playset in 1987. This is the 80s nostalgic thing we see.
Wow! I remember that toy but never realized it was that cool. It's a lot better than I thought it was. Fantastic review and unique way of showing inside and all the details.
I begged and pleaded for that when I was kid...maybe now if the Mrs says yes though =/ Great review, and I believe this is the most epic of the Joe's play-sets. I could imagine dozens and dozens of play time scenarios. Hope you guys work it into a story video! Thanks guys! YO! JOE-BURG!!!!
The Defiant Shuttle Complex was so insanely expensive to produce and to purchase back then, but it was just a highly detailed, wildly fun play-set to have! Unfortunately, due to cost, I never had one as a kid, but I bought a sealed one about 15 years ago for my kids and we have it to this day. Thanks for the review - your vids are epic!
Oh wow! I take it you unsealed it with your kids? What an ultimate gift. I think not having it for your own childhood was made worth it by being able to experience opening one side by side with your own kin! Great story.
awesome i totally 4 got about this piece!! My younger brother had it and the Cobra Comanding center??? Our mother always made sure we had the best and gnarly toys on the block!!! Our mother always loved toys and my sister always collected her dolls that today their vintage!!! I'm totally upset that all the toys that I had and recieved thru out my young life are gone!! And i had completed sets too!!! I also had the Lone Ranger Collection!! One of the best cowboy toys on the market at that time also based on the T.V. show!! Sweet ,💯👌🏼😍I ALSO HAD THE 12 INCHES STAR WARS FIGURES?? I WAS IN LOVE WITH THAT SET FROM KENNER OR HASBRO?? IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME I HAVE NOT SEEN OR READ, FOLLOWED THESE TOY COMPANIES IN A LONG TIME!!!!
Well the good news Pablo is that a lot of this stuff has survived (and commands crazy prices too). But if you are in the market to buy back some of the cool stuff from your youth, every once in every while, good deals crop up. I’d say we got this Defiant for a VERY good deal and a friendly rate. So good luck my man! And thanks for the awesome comment!
I got this when I was around 12 and it was my most beloved Christmas presents of all time. I do disagree with this being the most detailed and amazing sets. I would give that honor to the aircraft carrier. One of the few gi Joe sets my parents just wouldn't budge on. Too much space taken up lol
The content and commentary on this video makes this the best Defiant toy review out of all the other Defiant toy reviews on UA-cam. There was not one single dull moment in this video and I watched all 23 minutes of it while glued to my seat! Thanks for producing this. (I'm currently restoring my Defiant as I write this.)
5:20 the delayed reaction to the shuttle almost toppling backward and then the casual "well ok, all good." I love the channel, your fun attitudes, the great/clever writing and your enthusiasm. Your accents also help give a sense of respectability to anything you say. The David Attenborough effect (it sounds british enough) :)
Haha! Never thought of the South African accent as authoritative. But I guess we don't have the "typical" SA accent anyway. Glad you liked my mime performance!
All i can say, it's a fantastic toy!! Good job guys for this video upload and i salute for the hasbro toy designers who conceptualize and build it for kids.
The one thing I never saw in person as a kid or anytime until recently. I bought a Shuttle to restore, same with you, thinking that would be as far as it goes. Then I found a good deal on a Booster, so I bought that. Then I found a good deal on some crawler parts and bought those. And yesterday I found an incredible deal for the gantry with both blue doors and having only one small crack at one of the gun locations. The gantry assemble has all the inner parts. $350. So I am well on my way to owning and restoring a complete Defiant. So cool.
Very nice and detailed review. And seeing a Defiant in such pristine conditions isn't obvious at all. Congrats. We're trying to complete ours: we're still missing a couple of pieces but we didn't expect to add this playset to our collection.
This is an awesome video of an awesome playset! Can you imagine if our eighties selves had both the Defiant and USS Flagg at the same time?! That would be non-stop play time on so many levels.
My folk’s place was where the kids on my street would congregate because I had the best collection... but with those playsets in the mix I’m sure all the kids in the neighborhood would want in. Man, the mind boggles with all the possibilities for adventure those two sets present. But we did okay with the motley crew we had assembled! Furniture made perfectly good suggested spaceships.
I know this comment is years after you released this, but my god. What a presentation! I never knew this existed. I just thought it was just the shuttle. Wow. Impressive and great presentation. Thank you very much for sharing. Now I need to explore your channel
I've always wondered how much detail it had. I've never seen its inside detail like this. I had the Mobile Command Centre, but this was REALLY thought out. Maximum possible playability! I love that they even put foot pegs on the " ceiling". Thanks so much for posting guys! 🤘😁🖖🇨🇦
Amazing video my man love the defiant I probably won't get one probably just a gi joe crusader though because I love the repainted night Raven drone definitely gonna recreate this in my action figure line I'm making soon but anyways great video hope you and your family are doing great and I'm gonna try to recreate the defiant to the best of my ability.
Fun facts: Everyone on the Joe line worked on this, even Kirk Bozigan did one of the bays, 4 I think. The wheels and cranking system had a more robust design but they were priced down. And just the tooling alone cost $2 million that's ' 86 Fantastic review guys. Heck even learn about the extra EVA attachment point on the booster
Awesome factoids there Dave, thanks. The more I learn about this playset, the more in awe I am that it exists at all. What a treasure trove. It goes unmentioned in the review but we put together a "skateboard" to move it about without putting weight on the wheels. It's like the Flagg all over again, only this time the playset has wheels "for show"! $2 mil. Outrageous. Only G.I. Joe at the height of it's popularity could attract such investment I'm sure. Wow.
Ahhh... I wish I can own one some day soon.I always enjoy watching your reviews! also, you did a bang up job in restoring the damage parts from the Crawler.. I can't see any signs it was damage, sweet! And nice new hairdo BTW, Stephen!
I still have my V.2 repaint of payload from the Crusader shuttle from my childhood. Only had to replace the "T" hook on it recently but the O Ring is still good after 30 years. And the figure still has over 90% of the paint on it.
I was excited for you guys when I seen the unboxing and if anyone deserves to have a Defiant it's GIjoburg!! Thanks Steve for letting me know about the podcast i've been listening to so many episodes you guys are awesome Gi joe brothers!
I spent hours playing with the defiant launch system as a kid I had to choose between the carrier flag or shuttle for Christmas My neighbor got the flag and we had many happy days
@GI Joburg it's sad how children's toys have gone down so low in quality it's a direct correlation to the dollar losing purchasing power. Hopefully we once again have quality toys for children
GI Joburg once again delivers a brilliant and compelling review. I haven't sen this beast in person as of yet, but I can already say based on the review that my favorite part of this set is the space station--ships as large yet cramped as this one is have been perfect settings for if you wanted to throw in a Xenomorph or two in with the Space Joes. Also, Steve's quote on 'how we haven't seen this level of detail on a toy since' is quite an understatement, especially with Hasbro's present state.
What more can we say? The mid to late eighties were a never again to be repeated juncture in toy history! We should be grateful this time existed at all. And I fear a xenomorph or two would make quick work of the Joes. Acid blood would seal their doom!
Another excellent review. The best on YT. Reviewers are barely as excited as you guys are and I appreciate that. The thing I want to say the most, is this might be the FIRST Joe vehicle that isn't just made for good looks. Have you ever noticed most vehicles the figures rode ON TOP of so many and not inside? The APC (still on my list of ones to get) you can pile in the joes. Same thing with cobra vehicles. Even as a kid that frustrated me. If I have a large SUV humvee style, I don't want just a driver and passenger with a Cannon on top, I want like 6 joes to go in it. So when I saw the bridge I was astonished!! All the seating! And the seating in the back was just too Cool!!
Couldn’t agree more. Spacious cabin areas were real food for our childhood imaginations. So much better than a small hollow to hide a single figure. Internal spaces were such a strong selling point.
By that you mean the fragility? Whoo boy! I think I heard somewhere that the prototypes were tougher. But that meant more plastic and tougher materials and moldings which in turn made it heavier and pricier. Imagine a pricier grail item?! Oh man, if only we could have a 1980's economy again...
the GI Joe space space toys in the 90s wood go very well very well with the defiant and the giant GI Joe robot versus cobras Spaceteam and bats I agree with you guys should have kept that around this really cool looking toy
It's probably been said, but the Millennium Falcon can dock with its topside hatch as seen in The Empire Strikes Back. At the end of ESB it is docked with the Redemption.
While I don't think it beats the USS Flagg, I have to admit this is easily one of the top 10 playsets of the 1980s, hands down. Like you mentioned in the video, it would have been nice if Hasbro had thought about a group of space Joes and Cobras to go along with such a well designed and crafted playset like this.
Yup. But I guess the focus of Joe could only be split so far... I think if it evolved into a full scale space war, the military purists would have stopped buying. But a piece like this really deserves more complimentary toys. The Defiant will always remain an island...
I also have been whatching other people reviewing the gijoe line but I think you make the videos look interesting not boring thanks again a big yo Joe to you guys from me in the UK 👍👍👍👍👍👍😁😁
Yeah, we tried to carve a style that was unique to Joburg. Glad you appreciate it man! Now we just need to work on getting up to our contemporaries' release schedules!
GI Joburg I have a Defiant on lay away at a local comic shop. And yours is the only review that shows the gantry so close and detailed. I’m watching your review on the Flagg now. Keep them coming
Love all your reviews. I think the only 80s space toy that comes close to the greatness of the Defiant would have to be He-Man's Starship Eternia, which was supposed to be an Intergalactic Castle Grayskull 😉
Wow, Matt! You've got me doing the research now. That sounds really cool. A space vehicle at a larger scale with He Man's fantasy elements? Sounds fascinating.
Now this is what they should do for the next HasLab. Reissue this with upgraded quality plastic and retooling the parts that are prone to breakage. Add some new features including storage for the parts. Include the FSS versions of the figures, plus Countdown and any other astronauts.
love your vids! I myself have this set and would like to know if you, during your exploration of this set, noticed there is a rat sculpted into the cockpit of the shuttle? I can't for the life of me understand why Hasbro did that, it is so weird? Does Payload have a pet rat that runs freely around the shuttle? It is to my knowledge never mentioned anywhere what the purpose of this is, maybe it is just an Easter Egg, but what a strange one. Also on the gantry/crawler there is more than the back of the S.N.A.K.E. There's also a Mauler engine, a Snow Cat engine cover and Tripwire's 3 mines sculpted into the plastic. Truly an awesome and awe inspiring set!
I've been aware of the rat for some time but never located it with my own eyes just yet. The sculptors had a sense of humour! Thanks for watching and commenting bro!
WHAAAAT? Now I know about reuse molding from other Joe vehicles but the Falcon is new to me! Maybe Joe was trying to make her "the fastest ship in the galaxy"!
These toys were so cool and such high quality. GI JOe was so rad. I wish they would re make all of the toys again and maybe make a new cartoon series that is more series like Exo Squad was where people can die and talk about civil unrest with the rise of Cobra. Coud you imagine if ninja vipers and storm shadow and snake eyes came up on the Defiant to space? SPACE NINJAS!!
Aw man, that is wild. I really ought to track down some Exo Squad. I’m not familiar with it but Toy Galaxy’s feature on it certainly piqued my interest.
I was the only kid I knew who even knew Exosquad existed. I was homeschooled so I did not have to go to school on the bus and I could watch TV in the morning. That show was intense and more adult than small kids could understand. I was a teenager so it was cool. Very serious and people died. Lots of amazing battles. If a new GI Joe cartoon could be like that where people can die, serious terrorists doing really brutal things, amazing big battles wit lasers like the old cartoons on the land see and air and battle tactics. ALso ninja espionage has to be there and Dreadnoks and bikers and just tons of civil unrest. They could go about the ride of Cobra being from militant extremists protesting and recruiting in schools and through media and then changing the dynamic over time to get rid of the weak protesters to an established seirous Army much like how Stalin killed off many bolshevics. Cobra Commander was inspired by Stalin and other dictators a I remember him quoting Stalin on the cartoon before and shouting about a new social order. Like who funds Cobra, how do they acquire property with bases and weapons. The Crimson Guard would be extreme fanatics and ideologues who really love and believe in Cobra Commander's mission for the world. The Officers and Troopers would also believe but not be as intense much like the SS and regular German soldiers. Cobra could be a combination of far left militants and islamic extremists mixing together.
21:23 SPACE FORCE!!! Also, I think its really funny that the number designation for the space station is "8008", i'd love to know the story behind that one. =)
I wanted one of these so bad back in the day. This would have been the only thing I would have gotten for Christmas if my mom could have found one on island.
Such an excellent review! You lucky guys being a defiant owner!! My missis gives me the raised eyebrow for owning a Flagg. Does this behemoth of a space tank have its own garage?
It parks on the floor beneath my desk! More compact than the Flagg, I assure you. Still, it's not gonna easily store out of sight. I don't know what I'm going to do when my nieces and nephews visit at the end of the year!
An amazing toy I have never seen in person and fun review I truly felt like I was watching some vintage NASA history programme (Yes I spelled it for you guys like that!) but one small detail overlooked. How did you miss the molded in rats on the launch complex panels? Its so superb I am downright dizzy from the amount of intricate detail put into a single toy! Yes this is beyond anything ever attempted before or since!
Rats, Tripwire mines, parts of the Snowcat... Too much to squeeze into one review really! Our esteemed colleague FORMBX257 picked up that slack with his I suppose. That and the fact that every time I've set out to find the rats I've gotten distracted and started playing with the toy instead! Sneaky vermin! Thank you for the comment. "Programme" indeed! Next, repeat after me: "coloUr", "honoUr", "armoUr"... 😀
It's still a great playset, but I still think the Flagg and Terrordome are the two main Holy Grails for GI Joe and Cobra HQ. With the Old Cartoon (84) Base w/ the howitzer sticking out of it a close runner up as it was the default HQ for Joe in the cartoon and for part of the Marvel Comics Era.
Not saying that I would risk it, but those springs do look more robust than many toys, even others from the GI Joe line. . That said, as a kid I had the Crusader reissue of the shuttle and it was a top notch toy.
@@gijoburg these toy makers had a bad habit of using the cheapest, most brittle plastic possible and expect it to have some kind of structural integrity. while a stunning piece, this might be the most egregious example of, 'you thought that would hold?!'
They need to but as a Canadian I do also very much prefer pounds to kg but kms to miles big fan of SA I wish you guys all the best and always stay safe, thx for the great vids btw you've stoked my love for Joe's again keep up the good work I'd love to find a transformers version of GI JOBURG
Only if the figures are that important to you. Star Brigade figures are waaaay cheaper and just as fun. But yep, Payload is pretty darn magnificent. And someone has to drive this monster. It might as well be HT.
I have an adventure idea that uses the Defiant. Cobra starts targeting communications satellites (using the Steller Stilleto, if available) and Joes have to stop them. While the Defiant tries to guard the satellites, Joe forces on the ground have to find and hit Cobra's launch sites
That set looks neat that we could want a live action G.I. Joe series for online like youtube and netflix instead of another live action G.I. Joe movie.
I can get behind that. But I think the best medium is still animation, wouldn't you agree? Imagine the old skool cartoon with the level of seriousness of Resolute? I'd love that!
@@gijoburg Have you seen Bumblebee movie before? As for a live action Joe film and series the characters and vehicles include playsets must have the classic ARAH designs and only way they can have it is the movie/TV series is set in the 80s and 90s just like Bumblebee movie with the classi G1 style Transformers especially Optimus Prime and Soundwave.
I would love a GI Joe story set in the Cold War era this means no iPhones, internet and other electronic things we see in the 21st century which would make a great GI Joe story.
I’m with you there. A late Cold War era Joe setting is the sweet spot. Where the F-14 ruled the sky and portable computers were the size of an accordion.
While the specimen featured in this vid is from The Netherlands, I do believe they were sold in the US. I'm sure not all toystores could carry such a monster tho. Just the really big boys like TRU and Sears.
Back when they made toys big enough that you needed an extra room in the house to store them. As an 80s child, GI Joe wasn't the only brand doing this 😂
Castle Greyskull!
This could possibly be the best GI Joe UA-cam review of all time.
Oh wow. "Of all time". We'll try not let it go to our heads!!! Thanks Jason!
@@gijoburg sorry mate. But it's a tossup between this and dan larson's existential review of the uss flagg. ua-cam.com/video/icYD54Hjey4/v-deo.html
I had that play set when I was younger. I remember countless hours playing with it. To this day no other play set can match it. My only regret is not having it today. I'm 51 years old and if I still had it, I would still play with it
It’s possible to get it again... and I’m stoked you’d still play like 1987. We are always in favour with that! But the memories you have of this thing must be priceless. It boggles my mind the games my friends and I would have had if I’d had this thing in my childhood room!
@@neilzulkowitcz2367 eBay
What a labor of love this toy must have been. Ceiling-mounted foot pegs, functional airlock, and real docking capability? Insane.
If there was ever any doubt as to which toyline broke all the records; I offer this toy into evidence. What a thing.
GI Joe had a space force before the US military did😂
You won't ever see anyone do anything like this ever again. If Hasbro did anything close to it, it would only be a Hasbro Pulse Exclusive and they would charge an arm and a leg for it.
I was lucky enough to have this and the Flagg,, but this got wayyyyy more playtime,, it was amazing,, hell it’s STILL cool!
Do you remember the questionnaire that came with it. It had specific questions about GI joe and certain answers fit a certain way. It was awesome for sure.
The was the Holy Grail toy for me. Never got one so I really appreciate your review. WOW! If Hasbro ever re-released this thing I would be on board even if they sold it piece by piece. I agree, it was so sad that Hasbro did not do more in space. Such as missed opportunity. Thanks for the video. Subscribed!
Thanks for the sub, and thanks for the comment! This most certainly is worthy of Holy Grail status. Magnificent and terrifying all at once!
I really like your film style. I really enjoyed the views of it made like we (the viewers) were floating in space and approaching the spaceship.
Thanks so much! We wanted to shoot it in the same way we would play with it, in the dark, with only a few sources of light. But not to worry, it still maintains some amateur charm (bad focus, furniture in the shot). Har har har.
Thank you, for that wonderful review! I had that beautiful Beast of a playset / vehicles. It took me a solid day to put it all together. Roughly 12 hours to put the plastic together and another 12 hours to put the decals on. I absolutely enjoyed putting this together. It was the biggest GI Joe toy I ever owned.
@@douglasbrownell2704 wow! No kidding! That must have been quite the marathon build. Good to take one’s time tho. These things were complex for kids!
Love the close-up camera angles that show all the detail and passageways!
Thanks Ronald! This playset makes me daydream about being three and three-quarter inches tall!
All I want is a G.I. Joe Defiant Shuttle Complex with Hardtop and Payload all brought to life in a proper live action G.I. Joe TV series set in the 80s since Terror Drome debut as a playset in 1987. This is the 80s nostalgic thing we see.
Woah! Can they at least get Duke right first?! 😝
Go on Ebuy they are on Ebuy.
@@dominicliner1609 I'm not looking for one to buy. I just collect pictures of the Defiant as a reference use. I always look at the designs often.
@@Gothiczartan ok I wanted a GIJOE Defiant space shuttle when I was a kid back in the 80's but naver got it.
Wow! I remember that toy but never realized it was that cool. It's a lot better than I thought it was. Fantastic review and unique way of showing inside and all the details.
Love the inner child that comes out in your videos! Great job
Hard to ignore one's inner child around something like the Defiant. I'm a nine year old again, every time! Thanks for the comment!
I begged and pleaded for that when I was kid...maybe now if the Mrs says yes though =/
Great review, and I believe this is the most epic of the Joe's play-sets. I could imagine dozens and dozens of play time scenarios. Hope you guys work it into a story video! Thanks guys! YO! JOE-BURG!!!!
You better believe we will! There's another biggie or two we need to give some screentime to first tho...
@@gijoburg oh, which ones?!
Round ones and flat ones...
The Defiant Shuttle Complex was so insanely expensive to produce and to purchase back then, but it was just a highly detailed, wildly fun play-set to have! Unfortunately, due to cost, I never had one as a kid, but I bought a sealed one about 15 years ago for my kids and we have it to this day. Thanks for the review - your vids are epic!
Oh wow! I take it you unsealed it with your kids? What an ultimate gift. I think not having it for your own childhood was made worth it by being able to experience opening one side by side with your own kin! Great story.
GI Joburg yes, it truly was worth it! Thank you for your kind words!
awesome i totally 4 got about this piece!! My younger brother had it and the Cobra Comanding center??? Our mother always made sure we had the best and gnarly toys on the block!!! Our mother always loved toys and my sister always collected her dolls that today their vintage!!! I'm totally upset that all the toys that I had and recieved thru out my young life are gone!! And i had completed sets too!!! I also had the Lone Ranger Collection!! One of the best cowboy toys on the market at that time also based on the T.V. show!! Sweet ,💯👌🏼😍I ALSO HAD THE 12 INCHES STAR WARS FIGURES?? I WAS IN LOVE WITH THAT SET FROM KENNER OR HASBRO?? IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME I HAVE NOT SEEN OR READ, FOLLOWED THESE TOY COMPANIES IN A LONG TIME!!!!
Well the good news Pablo is that a lot of this stuff has survived (and commands crazy prices too). But if you are in the market to buy back some of the cool stuff from your youth, every once in every while, good deals crop up. I’d say we got this Defiant for a VERY good deal and a friendly rate. So good luck my man! And thanks for the awesome comment!
I got this when I was around 12 and it was my most beloved Christmas presents of all time. I do disagree with this being the most detailed and amazing sets. I would give that honor to the aircraft carrier. One of the few gi Joe sets my parents just wouldn't budge on. Too much space taken up lol
Great review on the Defiant. I just pick up the USS Flagg. Now I’m on the hunt for the next 2 grails. The Defiant and the Cobra Terror Drome.
Thank you! Congrats on getting the Flagg, Admiral!
6:03 Sci-Fi...that was one of my favorite figures to have because of that beautiful neon green.
He’s certainly in a league of his own, at least until the 1990’s!
The content and commentary on this video makes this the best Defiant toy review out of all the other Defiant toy reviews on UA-cam. There was not one single dull moment in this video and I watched all 23 minutes of it while glued to my seat! Thanks for producing this. (I'm currently restoring my Defiant as I write this.)
I don’t know what to say other thank a heartfelt thank you! That means a lot to us. All of the best with the restoration!
5:20 the delayed reaction to the shuttle almost toppling backward and then the casual "well ok, all good." I love the channel, your fun attitudes, the great/clever writing and your enthusiasm. Your accents also help give a sense of respectability to anything you say. The David Attenborough effect (it sounds british enough) :)
Haha! Never thought of the South African accent as authoritative. But I guess we don't have the "typical" SA accent anyway. Glad you liked my mime performance!
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GI Joburg jlo
All i can say, it's a fantastic toy!! Good job guys for this video upload and i salute for the hasbro toy designers who conceptualize and build it for kids.
The one thing I never saw in person as a kid or anytime until recently. I bought a Shuttle to restore, same with you, thinking that would be as far as it goes. Then I found a good deal on a Booster, so I bought that. Then I found a good deal on some crawler parts and bought those. And yesterday I found an incredible deal for the gantry with both blue doors and having only one small crack at one of the gun locations. The gantry assemble has all the inner parts. $350. So I am well on my way to owning and restoring a complete Defiant. So cool.
Very nice and detailed review. And seeing a Defiant in such pristine conditions isn't obvious at all. Congrats. We're trying to complete ours: we're still missing a couple of pieces but we didn't expect to add this playset to our collection.
Thank you! I have to admit, I never expected to own one myself. But a friend made me an offer I couldn’t refuse!
Wow! Thank you for showing all the cool details! I never knew all the things you could do with this playset.
It's pretty unbelievable right?! This thing is totally like a box of secrets for you to discover.
You guys have some of the best & most in depth & fun to watch reviews ever!.....you rock!
I have to say that, wow that's awesome and huge. I would have had so much fun playing with that. Thanks for sharing this.
You are welcome Ed! My wish is to have everybody around to play with this stuff! Curating a collection is boring! Toys are meant to be PLAYED WITH!
I couldn't agree more. Yo Joe!
This is an awesome video of an awesome playset! Can you imagine if our eighties selves had both the Defiant and USS Flagg at the same time?! That would be non-stop play time on so many levels.
My folk’s place was where the kids on my street would congregate because I had the best collection... but with those playsets in the mix I’m sure all the kids in the neighborhood would want in. Man, the mind boggles with all the possibilities for adventure those two sets present. But we did okay with the motley crew we had assembled! Furniture made perfectly good suggested spaceships.
I know this comment is years after you released this, but my god. What a presentation! I never knew this existed. I just thought it was just the shuttle. Wow. Impressive and great presentation. Thank you very much for sharing. Now I need to explore your channel
I've always wondered how much detail it had. I've never seen its inside detail like this. I had the Mobile Command Centre, but this was REALLY thought out. Maximum possible playability! I love that they even put foot pegs on the " ceiling". Thanks so much for posting guys! 🤘😁🖖🇨🇦
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting! 🇿🇦😘
This was an awesome review. I don't think I'll get the defiant, but I feel like I know it by heart now. Thanks for the tour.
Amazing video my man love the defiant I probably won't get one probably just a gi joe crusader though because I love the repainted night Raven drone definitely gonna recreate this in my action figure line I'm making soon but anyways great video hope you and your family are doing great and I'm gonna try to recreate the defiant to the best of my ability.
Fun facts:
Everyone on the Joe line worked on this, even Kirk Bozigan did one of the bays, 4 I think.
The wheels and cranking system had a more robust design but they were priced down.
And just the tooling alone cost $2 million that's ' 86
Fantastic review guys. Heck even learn about the extra EVA attachment point on the booster
Awesome factoids there Dave, thanks. The more I learn about this playset, the more in awe I am that it exists at all. What a treasure trove. It goes unmentioned in the review but we put together a "skateboard" to move it about without putting weight on the wheels. It's like the Flagg all over again, only this time the playset has wheels "for show"!
$2 mil. Outrageous. Only G.I. Joe at the height of it's popularity could attract such investment I'm sure. Wow.
Ahhh... I wish I can own one some day soon.I always enjoy watching your reviews! also, you did a bang up job in restoring the damage parts from the Crawler.. I can't see any signs it was damage, sweet! And nice new hairdo BTW, Stephen!
Too kind Rob. It's never my intention to be in these kinds of vids. Sometimes I'm groomed. Sometimes I'm jungle.
love how you guys do your reviews, it's like watching National Geographic/Discovery channels. BUT WAAAAAAY BETTER!!!!
Because its GI JOE!!! Man, imagine our hobby was covered by Discovery?!
I still have my V.2 repaint of payload from the Crusader shuttle from my childhood. Only had to replace the "T" hook on it recently but the O Ring is still good after 30 years. And the figure still has over 90% of the paint on it.
I was excited for you guys when I seen the unboxing and if anyone deserves to have a Defiant it's GIjoburg!! Thanks Steve for letting me know about the podcast i've been listening to so many episodes you guys are awesome Gi joe brothers!
Thank you Mike, glad you like our style! Yo Joburg!
I spent hours playing with the defiant launch system as a kid
I had to choose between the carrier flag or shuttle for Christmas
My neighbor got the flag and we had many happy days
I want your childhood!!!
@GI Joburg it's sad how children's toys have gone down so low in quality it's a direct correlation to the dollar losing purchasing power. Hopefully we once again have quality toys for children
GI Joburg once again delivers a brilliant and compelling review.
I haven't sen this beast in person as of yet, but I can already say based on the review that my favorite part of this set is the space station--ships as large yet cramped as this one is have been perfect settings for if you wanted to throw in a Xenomorph or two in with the Space Joes.
Also, Steve's quote on 'how we haven't seen this level of detail on a toy since' is quite an understatement, especially with Hasbro's present state.
What more can we say? The mid to late eighties were a never again to be repeated juncture in toy history! We should be grateful this time existed at all.
And I fear a xenomorph or two would make quick work of the Joes. Acid blood would seal their doom!
Oh god, that's so impressive and massive, great job guys!
It’s a beast. Every time I see it I can’t believe it exists.
Love to see how this looks with the modern era FSS versions of those figures.
GI Joburg - the best GI joe toy reviewer
Human Mechanism - self proclaimed toy reviewer.
Another excellent review. The best on YT. Reviewers are barely as excited as you guys are and I appreciate that.
The thing I want to say the most, is this might be the FIRST Joe vehicle that isn't just made for good looks. Have you ever noticed most vehicles the figures rode ON TOP of so many and not inside? The APC (still on my list of ones to get) you can pile in the joes. Same thing with cobra vehicles. Even as a kid that frustrated me. If I have a large SUV humvee style, I don't want just a driver and passenger with a Cannon on top, I want like 6 joes to go in it. So when I saw the bridge I was astonished!! All the seating! And the seating in the back was just too Cool!!
Couldn’t agree more. Spacious cabin areas were real food for our childhood imaginations. So much better than a small hollow to hide a single figure. Internal spaces were such a strong selling point.
I always wanted one and I had the Crusader I do sometimes wish they could reissue the Defiant Complex with the originals shortcomings addressed
By that you mean the fragility? Whoo boy! I think I heard somewhere that the prototypes were tougher. But that meant more plastic and tougher materials and moldings which in turn made it heavier and pricier. Imagine a pricier grail item?! Oh man, if only we could have a 1980's economy again...
the GI Joe space space toys in the 90s wood go very well very well with the defiant and the giant GI Joe robot versus cobras Spaceteam and bats I agree with you guys should have kept that around this really cool looking toy
It's probably been said, but the Millennium Falcon can dock with its topside hatch as seen in The Empire Strikes Back. At the end of ESB it is docked with the Redemption.
While I don't think it beats the USS Flagg, I have to admit this is easily one of the top 10 playsets of the 1980s, hands down. Like you mentioned in the video, it would have been nice if Hasbro had thought about a group of space Joes and Cobras to go along with such a well designed and crafted playset like this.
Yup. But I guess the focus of Joe could only be split so far... I think if it evolved into a full scale space war, the military purists would have stopped buying. But a piece like this really deserves more complimentary toys. The Defiant will always remain an island...
And as far as comparisons to the Flagg go - it IS the Flagg. Of outer space!
I also have been whatching other people reviewing the gijoe line but I think you make the videos look interesting not boring thanks again a big yo Joe to you guys from me in the UK 👍👍👍👍👍👍😁😁
Yeah, we tried to carve a style that was unique to Joburg. Glad you appreciate it man! Now we just need to work on getting up to our contemporaries' release schedules!
I appreciate it a lot coz it's helping me find the ones I didn't have when I was a kid but really wanted 😁👍👍👍👍👍
oh man now this is a sweet play set
Yep. It's pretty incredible. I can't believe one found its way all the way to us in Africa. Holy Grail of plastic crack!
Wow, just wow... what a piece of kit, 👍
This is the best review I have seen so far. Great job.
Hey hey! What awesome praise. Thanks Adam. You rock!
GI Joburg I have a Defiant on lay away at a local comic shop. And yours is the only review that shows the gantry so close and detailed. I’m watching your review on the Flagg now.
Keep them coming
Tq for such an amazing in depth effort in explaining how it works.
You are welcome! We're just trying to do justice to a truly great toy. Thanks for commenting!
Love all your reviews. I think the only 80s space toy that comes close to the greatness of the Defiant would have to be He-Man's Starship Eternia, which was supposed to be an Intergalactic Castle Grayskull 😉
Wow, Matt! You've got me doing the research now. That sounds really cool. A space vehicle at a larger scale with He Man's fantasy elements? Sounds fascinating.
Now this is what they should do for the next HasLab. Reissue this with upgraded quality plastic and retooling the parts that are prone to breakage. Add some new features including storage for the parts. Include the FSS versions of the figures, plus Countdown and any other astronauts.
love your vids!
I myself have this set and would like to know if you, during your exploration of this set, noticed there is a rat sculpted into the cockpit of the shuttle? I can't for the life of me understand why Hasbro did that, it is so weird? Does Payload have a pet rat that runs freely around the shuttle? It is to my knowledge never mentioned anywhere what the purpose of this is, maybe it is just an Easter Egg, but what a strange one. Also on the gantry/crawler there is more than the back of the S.N.A.K.E. There's also a Mauler engine, a Snow Cat engine cover and Tripwire's 3 mines sculpted into the plastic. Truly an awesome and awe inspiring set!
I've been aware of the rat for some time but never located it with my own eyes just yet. The sculptors had a sense of humour! Thanks for watching and commenting bro!
Great review of an awesome G.I. joe toy
I got the gantry/ crawler at a garage sale without the shuttle and thruster shuttle. It was converted into a cobra base!!
Fun fact: apparently some parts of this play sets molds consist of parts from a Millennium Falcon model kit.
WHAAAAT? Now I know about reuse molding from other Joe vehicles but the Falcon is new to me! Maybe Joe was trying to make her "the fastest ship in the galaxy"!
Most excellent! The Defiant , another wish I had, out of reach toy for kids. Definitely a collector's jewel like the Flagg.
Yup. I'm glad I never knew of its existence as a child. Dreaming of owning it would have become an obsession!
These toys were so cool and such high quality. GI JOe was so rad. I wish they would re make all of the toys again and maybe make a new cartoon series that is more series like Exo Squad was where people can die and talk about civil unrest with the rise of Cobra. Coud you imagine if ninja vipers and storm shadow and snake eyes came up on the Defiant to space? SPACE NINJAS!!
Aw man, that is wild. I really ought to track down some Exo Squad. I’m not familiar with it but Toy Galaxy’s feature on it certainly piqued my interest.
I was the only kid I knew who even knew Exosquad existed. I was homeschooled so I did not have to go to school on the bus and I could watch TV in the morning. That show was intense and more adult than small kids could understand. I was a teenager so it was cool. Very serious and people died. Lots of amazing battles.
If a new GI Joe cartoon could be like that where people can die, serious terrorists doing really brutal things, amazing big battles wit lasers like the old cartoons on the land see and air and battle tactics. ALso ninja espionage has to be there and Dreadnoks and bikers and just tons of civil unrest. They could go about the ride of Cobra being from militant extremists protesting and recruiting in schools and through media and then changing the dynamic over time to get rid of the weak protesters to an established seirous Army much like how Stalin killed off many bolshevics. Cobra Commander was inspired by Stalin and other dictators a I remember him quoting Stalin on the cartoon before and shouting about a new social order.
Like who funds Cobra, how do they acquire property with bases and weapons. The Crimson Guard would be extreme fanatics and ideologues who really love and believe in Cobra Commander's mission for the world. The Officers and Troopers would also believe but not be as intense much like the SS and regular German soldiers.
Cobra could be a combination of far left militants and islamic extremists mixing together.
21:23 SPACE FORCE!!! Also, I think its really funny that the number designation for the space station is "8008", i'd love to know the story behind that one. =)
Hehe. Like punching “55378008” into a calculator and turning it upside down. As I recall there was some stupid accompanying story...
Imagine being 8 years old and getting this for Christmas.
I think I’d be talking about it for the rest of my life.
I was one of those kids.
I wanted one of these so bad back in the day. This would have been the only thing I would have gotten for Christmas if my mom could have found one on island.
Any closer to getting one Matt? It’s a beast, but it’s attainable…
Nice work man I never even seen this back in the day ...very cool
Thanks bro! And now you know!
GI Joburg and knowing is half the battle... LOL
Great review guys!
So glad you liked it! Yep, a grail piece like this deserves any toy fan's adulation. I'm so glad we could add our voice on the subject.
Such an excellent review! You lucky guys being a defiant owner!! My missis gives me the raised eyebrow for owning a Flagg. Does this behemoth of a space tank have its own garage?
It parks on the floor beneath my desk! More compact than the Flagg, I assure you. Still, it's not gonna easily store out of sight. I don't know what I'm going to do when my nieces and nephews visit at the end of the year!
WoW!! Fantastic!! Excellent video guys!
Wish I didn’t see this review. Now I really want one.
If you've got the space; the dough; the opportunity; and the ambition... DO IT!
An amazing toy I have never seen in person and fun review I truly felt like I was watching some vintage NASA history programme (Yes I spelled it for you guys like that!) but one small detail overlooked. How did you miss the molded in rats on the launch complex panels? Its so superb I am downright dizzy from the amount of intricate detail put into a single toy! Yes this is beyond anything ever attempted before or since!
Rats, Tripwire mines, parts of the Snowcat... Too much to squeeze into one review really! Our esteemed colleague FORMBX257 picked up that slack with his I suppose.
That and the fact that every time I've set out to find the rats I've gotten distracted and started playing with the toy instead! Sneaky vermin!
Thank you for the comment. "Programme" indeed! Next, repeat after me: "coloUr", "honoUr", "armoUr"...
😀
And the Candian inflectional such as "Whats all that Abooooot?"
It's still a great playset, but I still think the Flagg and Terrordome are the two main Holy Grails for GI Joe and Cobra HQ. With the Old Cartoon (84) Base w/ the howitzer sticking out of it a close runner up as it was the default HQ for Joe in the cartoon and for part of the Marvel Comics Era.
Awesomeness
Cobra Pogo and Trouble Buble would be fitting Space Vehicles to combat it,
Not saying that I would risk it, but those springs do look more robust than many toys, even others from the GI Joe line. .
That said, as a kid I had the Crusader reissue of the shuttle and it was a top notch toy.
They don't make em like this anymore! Thanks for commenting!
Amazing review, great work!
Thanks David! Glad you liked it sir!
Awesome review lads. Great video.
i had one when i sold used toys, i always thought it was a rickety contraption. but, it looks beautiful.
True. It can be a stressful toy to play with. But daaaamn! The fact that it exists at all is a feat!
@@gijoburg these toy makers had a bad habit of using the cheapest, most brittle plastic possible and expect it to have some kind of structural integrity. while a stunning piece, this might be the most egregious example of, 'you thought that would hold?!'
greatly entertaining review as always!
Thank you very much!
South Africa is so bad ass they have G I Joe nerds that can bench press 265 pounds
Nice conversion. I wonder if the US will ever switch? I guess if it hasn’t happened by now...
They need to but as a Canadian I do also very much prefer pounds to kg but kms to miles big fan of SA I wish you guys all the best and always stay safe, thx for the great vids btw you've stoked my love for Joe's again keep up the good work I'd love to find a transformers version of GI JOBURG
What an amazing review!
Thank you Jason! This toy definitely deserves the attention.
Great review!! Informative and entertaining!! Well done!!
Thank you Ryan!
I would use the teleporter as a stasis prison cell, maybe for Cobra commamder or Destro!
Or Cobra-La or one of the late Gen 1 alien or monster figures?
I have a defiant for sale in Massachusetts needs a little work but mostly there I have plenty of pictures
My child was star wars and gi Joe ,love playing in the dirt mounds with but best was the joes fighting the Sith force
"The Toys That Made Us" brought me here
Great to know! Welcome to Joburg! We run a modest operation here but we luuuuurve our toys!
"Why does GI Joe get all the cool toys!?"
- Cobra Commander
Agreed. The stars belong to COBRAAAAAAA!
Just got mine today!!
Congratulations James! That is definitely reason to celebrate. May it give you many hours of joy; with no breakages!
GI Joburg thank u very much, now I just got to save up for hardtop and payload. It's was complete but no figures
Only if the figures are that important to you. Star Brigade figures are waaaay cheaper and just as fun.
But yep, Payload is pretty darn magnificent. And someone has to drive this monster. It might as well be HT.
I wanted that G I Joe space shuttle when I was a kid back in the 80's but naver got it.
What about the joes in the crawler base? When the shuttle takes off they would be burnt to a crisp in real life
Shields Up!!!
I have an adventure idea that uses the Defiant. Cobra starts targeting communications satellites (using the Steller Stilleto, if available) and Joes have to stop them. While the Defiant tries to guard the satellites, Joe forces on the ground have to find and hit Cobra's launch sites
Not too far off my aborted concept for GI JOBURG: THE MOVIE! Too bad the world is ending, right?!
That set looks neat that we could want a live action G.I. Joe series for online like youtube and netflix instead of another live action G.I. Joe movie.
I can get behind that. But I think the best medium is still animation, wouldn't you agree? Imagine the old skool cartoon with the level of seriousness of Resolute? I'd love that!
@@gijoburg Have you seen Bumblebee movie before? As for a live action Joe film and series the characters and vehicles include playsets must have the classic ARAH designs and only way they can have it is the movie/TV series is set in the 80s and 90s just like Bumblebee movie with the classi G1 style Transformers especially Optimus Prime and Soundwave.
A swarm of Cobra Stilettos and Condors are ready to engage the Defiant...oh yeah, one lone wolf Pogo is also in route too...👍😂
Cool Review.
#YoJoe 👊😎
Thanks Terry! We'd love to have you over and play out that scenario! Conflict in outer space is terrifying!
Ill bring the pogo ;P
👍😂
that lone wolf pogo is manned by a drunken hydro viper so no worries!
@@racerxgundam Nah, put one of the Cobra-La or late G1 aliens or monsters in it.
I wanted that but it was like $200 and that was a lot back then.
13:24 You really need to have an ASMR channel
INCREDIBLE REVIEW
"Once she is erect, she is truly a glorious sight."
Giggidy.
Ironically, the same could be said about my date last night...
Hey man, what you do in the privacy of your home is your thing. But what a howler. Who writes this stuff anyway?! ;)
awesome job!
Thanks Bart! It was about time we put this badboy out! Thanks for commenting bud.
I would love a GI Joe story set in the Cold War era this means no iPhones, internet and other electronic things we see in the 21st century which would make a great GI Joe story.
I’m with you there. A late Cold War era Joe setting is the sweet spot. Where the F-14 ruled the sky and portable computers were the size of an accordion.
@@gijoburg I would do some Joe art in a 80s designs make them look like they were from the Cold War Era.
We never had this in the uk but man that thing is big
It’s toy history that it exists at all. What a monster. What crazy amounts of work must have went in to its creation?! Spectacular.
It's beautiful it reminds me of my first time Kevin GI Joe and stuff
The mother of all GI Joe toys
It is pretty damn insane. Every time I pull it out to play with I lose my mind a little.
This should have been Haslab crowd fund project
Was this only sold outside of the U.S.A?? I dont remember ever seeing any commercial for this toy as a kid.
While the specimen featured in this vid is from The Netherlands, I do believe they were sold in the US. I'm sure not all toystores could carry such a monster tho. Just the really big boys like TRU and Sears.
Haslab should have done a reissue of this set instead of just the jet-fighter.