Wow, I remember playing with this thing for years. The creakiness is its most memorable "feature." That toy was responsible for several hundred Tomahawk helicopters full of Joes getting shot down. Luckily, they always had custom parachutes made from tissues. :)
Great suggestion! I never thought of using the Baroness as a pilot or co-pilot, and she does have "fixed-wing pilot" as her secondary military specialty.
Actually with that front looking the way it does looks just like the Russian planes in the CLint Eastwood movie Firefox. The Raven is more like the Firefox than the Blackbird.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS JET (..THE COBRA NIGHT RAVEN) CAME OUT IN THE 80S! HASBRO WAS FOR A MINUTE PRODUCING VEHICLES THAT WERE ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR IT TIME! THE COBRA NIGHT RAVEN IS STILL AWESOME TO THIS DAY ALONG WITH THE COBRA MORAY (..OR HYDROFOIL)! -SADLY TWO COBRA VEHICLES I DIDN'T HAVE AS A KID; BUT I WILL GET THEM OFF EBAY ONE OF THESE DAYS (..THEY ARE MUST HAVE FOR ME)!
I bought a Night Raven today, complete with the box! Awesome jet and great addition to my collection. Thanks for the review, even though I'm a little late. I used your video as a reference to know what to look for as far as missing parts and what not. Thanks again! Go Joe!!!
thanks for the video. I happened to find one at a Goodwill. Its not complete, but I love it. Wish I would've gotten it as a kid!!! Still in great condition. Landing gear still works!!!
I made the mistake of getting rid of my original Night Raven, BIG MISTAKE! This new one I got off eBay is my second chance, and I'm hanging on to it!!!
Yes when I was a 11 year old I remember seeing the commercial for this. When I was 8 I begged my dad to take me to Firefox, great movie. Looks just like the mig 29 from the movie.
@formbx257 I HAD THIS AS A CHILD BUT RECENTLY GOT MY HANDS ON THE RISE OF COBRA NIGHT RAVEN V2. IT IS AMAZING WITH NEW FEATURES AND PLAY FRIENDLY MODIFACATIONS ARE GREAT. HOWEVER, THIS IS A CLASSIC!!
Yes, the chrome silver Night Raven was really a Sky Raven from the 1990 GI Joe: Sky Patrol series. It didn't come with a recon craft or pilot like the original did.
I got this for my birthday in 86, had it for a day and friends brother wanted it so bad he traded me all his figures (30 some) and Thunder Machine! The funny part was my mom saw this kid walking down the street with this jet that I just bought whit a big a smile on his face. Im just impressed she knew it was my jet. Good eye mom!
I haven't had it for long, I picked it up at last years Canadian GI Joe Convention (Aug 2012). Fins and the drone are easy to find separate on ebay, but I don't know how to fix the landing gear.
To clean the Night Raven, I just use a damp cloth (avoid rubbing the stickers - like on most toys). You may want to check a GI Joe collector forum (like YoJoe, HISSTank, JoeCanuck etc.) and see if any members have repaired their jets. If there isn't already a thread, you should join one and ask.
I never thought I'd say this about a toy but the Night Raven is a sexy plane. I never got one, so this up close look is great. I always wondered if an actual aircraft could have a mini jet attatched like the Raven does.
Nice review vid. I use this software as well and didn't know what all this could possibly do until I saw your review vid. Keep up the great work and thanks for the straightforward feedback. Thanks Damon
Dispite noise cone this is still sleek looking jet. I would have Baroness as third pilot for fact alone that her black jump suit goes well with Night Raven.
Aw man, I loved this one. Then again, I've always been a complete sucker for all things SR-71 related. Wasn't Serpentor piloting one of these in the movie? Right before he speared Duke?
Yea, I remember him being bathed in red while piloting a jet when yelling "This I command!!!" Which incidentally became my catch phrase that summer. Jaja, as a super young kid, I had sights on world domination and I felt as though Serpentor and I were kindred spirits. Like he just "got it." Jaja, I'm not really sure where that started though... it was just there one day.
I used to play with this in my pool! It sank, but did so very slowly so I used to pretend in crash landed and have the pilots escape before it went down.
Obviously inspired by the real life SR-71 with its D-21 Drone... BTW.... A D-21 drone got lost in Soviet Russia in the late 60s and was discovered intact by the Soviets. They reverse engineered it and created a drone called Voron ("RAVEN") years later.... coincidence?
The scout craft on mine has two small tabs underneath, either side and to the front of the skid for sitting level. Must be a varient or issue improvement.
This was an amazingly informative and well done review. I just acquired one of these with the recon craft and figure at a flea market with landing gear in tact and the air brake on the front gun still there. The only thing missing was the two bombs and the orange cockpit seat, which I'm hoping to find on ebay. I got the jet for $30 after talking the vendor down from $50. Do you think I got a good deal? Let me know on my channel! You just gained a new subscriber!
The ROC Night Raven is a good toy. It has a nifty gun feature that makes the craft work like a shotgun to fire its missiles and it was a solid build, along with a proper Strato-Viper update. BUT, looking at the original version, I can safely say the ROC version was an inferior toy against the original. It was smaller, sat one pilot and lacked the drone craft. That probably put off older fans from buying it, and it was perhaps overpriced at $40, maybe if they'd set it at $30 then most of them wouldn't have ended up at TJ Maxx for $20. Though it does have a much better loading mechanism for the pilot than the original did, so there's that.
Really enjoy your reviews. A question: Have you seen or heard of any Ravens with the different bomb bay doors like the one they show in the commercial? They show actual doors on hinges. I have both versions, complete, with the different landing gear slide. One locking, like the one you showed, and one that's straight and no lock.
A prototype is shown in the commercials, it was the only version that had those hinged bomb bay doors. They were probably removed from the production version to cut down on the budget (they might have had an extra mechanism to close them when the bomb rack was pushed back up). Fun fact: the prototype also has extra flaps attached to the rear landing gear. The production versions don't, leaving an open space there!
I am green with envy! I have 2 HISS tanks, 3 stinger jeeps, 4 flightpods, 1 fang gyro copter, and 1 firebat.. An original cobra night raven would be the best addition I could hope for! I didn't like the new night raven all bcoz its not as big as the original. Thanks for the wonderful review... cooooobbbrraaaaa!!!!!
Just got one myself, but had to search for a few items. My friend had one when we were kids and I seem to remember a tee shaped gear door on the rear struts that stayed attached to them similar to the nose gear. (There are two pegs on each landing gear so it does look like one could go there.) What do you know about this? Also I was watching the vintage commercial and noticed the bomb bay had two doors that were hinged and swung open when the lever was pulled down instead of the section of the fuselage dropping with the tray like mine does. Was this shot with a preproduction example which was changed when the vehicle was released, or is it another variation that is out there? (Kind of like the two types of gear retraction levers.) One detail about the toy pertaining to the SR-71 orgins. If you look at the corrugated skin between the fuselage and engines and compare them to a three view drawing, they are laid out exactly the same and the Night Raven scales out to about 1/48. (It and the Testors/Italiari 1/48 SR-71 are roughly the same size.)
+jpatt1000 There was never a version with t-shaped rear covers. It really does look like some should go there though, but even the prototype (shown on the back of the retail box) doesn't have any. The hinged bomb doors, however, are shown on the back of the retail box and in the commercial but are definitely from the prototype only. Cool info about the model kit! I'm not surprised, though, some Hasbro sculptors either worked on model kits between jobs or outright copied details to bulk up their toy projects.
If only this had the design of the new Night Raven released back in 2009 and had the same features and qualities(e.g. rubber tires, smaller rear aircraft, etc.) PLUS the design of how the 2009 version's cockpit opens('cause it's really cool), it would be PERFECT! Wish Hasbro re-releases, because the 2009 version kinda sucked!
my lil brother got this for a gift! it was awesome, bad deal was he never took care of his toys so it was soon in shambles! :( that cockpit was cool but hard to manipulate
I don't think so, Hasbro seems very reluctant to re-release large toys. The 2009 Rise Of Cobra version didn't sell too well, so retailers don't want anything similar. Hasbro has surprised us with the Skystriker, Tomahawk and the Cobra Wolf - so there's always hope...
Man i had one. When i hit about 12 an decided i was too big for toys i took all my toys and put them in trash bags. My mom gave them to my younger cousins. To this day im pissed..):
thats what a 3d printer can be used too. printed or 3d printed. but real verion lasts longer. make a copy and give it avay.(not real versoin .o.c. MASTERS of universe.
Wow, I remember playing with this thing for years. The creakiness is its most memorable "feature." That toy was responsible for several hundred Tomahawk helicopters full of Joes getting shot down. Luckily, they always had custom parachutes made from tissues. :)
I got the Cobra Raven for Christmas in 1986!! I was the happiest kid in the world that year.. lol
Great suggestion! I never thought of using the Baroness as a pilot or co-pilot, and she does have "fixed-wing pilot" as her secondary military specialty.
Actually with that front looking the way it does looks just like the Russian planes in the CLint Eastwood movie Firefox. The Raven is more like the Firefox than the Blackbird.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS JET (..THE COBRA NIGHT RAVEN) CAME OUT IN THE 80S! HASBRO WAS FOR A MINUTE PRODUCING VEHICLES THAT WERE ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR IT TIME! THE COBRA NIGHT RAVEN IS STILL AWESOME TO THIS DAY ALONG WITH THE COBRA MORAY (..OR HYDROFOIL)! -SADLY TWO COBRA VEHICLES I DIDN'T HAVE AS A KID; BUT I WILL GET THEM OFF EBAY ONE OF THESE DAYS (..THEY ARE MUST HAVE FOR ME)!
I bought a Night Raven today, complete with the box! Awesome jet and great addition to my collection. Thanks for the review, even though I'm a little late. I used your video as a reference to know what to look for as far as missing parts and what not. Thanks again! Go Joe!!!
thanks for the video. I happened to find one at a Goodwill. Its not complete, but I love it. Wish I would've gotten it as a kid!!!
Still in great condition. Landing gear still works!!!
I made the mistake of getting rid of my original Night Raven, BIG MISTAKE! This new one I got off eBay is my second chance, and I'm hanging on to it!!!
Gaze at the wonder of this bad ass toy. Man i'm 31 years old and I still would play with that.
Yes when I was a 11 year old I remember seeing the commercial for this. When I was 8 I begged my dad to take me to Firefox, great movie. Looks just like the mig 29 from the movie.
The design of the main plane kind of reminds me of the plane from the movie Firefox.
*Oh my GOD... I had that jet when I was a KID.*
*I loved that thing.*
@formbx257 I HAD THIS AS A CHILD BUT RECENTLY GOT MY HANDS ON THE RISE OF COBRA NIGHT RAVEN V2. IT IS AMAZING WITH NEW FEATURES AND PLAY FRIENDLY MODIFACATIONS ARE GREAT. HOWEVER, THIS IS A CLASSIC!!
Yes, the chrome silver Night Raven was really a Sky Raven from the 1990 GI Joe: Sky Patrol series. It didn't come with a recon craft or pilot like the original did.
I got this for my birthday in 86, had it for a day and friends brother wanted it so bad he traded me all his figures (30 some) and Thunder Machine! The funny part was my mom saw this kid walking down the street with this jet that I just bought whit a big a smile on his face. Im just impressed she knew it was my jet. Good eye mom!
Yeah. My brother has this vehicle and it's very impressive in person, totally wish I had it! The rattler is almost as cool for sure
I'll do the Havoc and Cross Country in a few months (March maybe).
I haven't had it for long, I picked it up at last years Canadian GI Joe Convention (Aug 2012). Fins and the drone are easy to find separate on ebay, but I don't know how to fix the landing gear.
i had this model..... man it rings back so much painful memories...
To clean the Night Raven, I just use a damp cloth (avoid rubbing the stickers - like on most toys). You may want to check a GI Joe collector forum (like YoJoe, HISSTank, JoeCanuck etc.) and see if any members have repaired their jets. If there isn't already a thread, you should join one and ask.
formbx257 retroblaster on UA-cam fixed the landing gear on his and did a superb job.
I never thought I'd say this about a toy but the Night Raven is a sexy plane. I never got one, so this up close look is great. I always wondered if an actual aircraft could have a mini jet attatched like the Raven does.
No, but maybe if the Mini jet is attached from the bottom and it's weight and design doesn't effect the mother aircraft.
Nice review vid. I use this software as well and didn't know what all this could possibly do until I saw your review vid. Keep up the great work and thanks for the straightforward feedback.
Thanks
Damon
Dispite noise cone this is still sleek looking jet. I would have Baroness as third pilot for fact alone that her black jump suit goes well with Night Raven.
i know allot of people will disagree with me... but i actually like the ROC version more then the original. great review as always!
Aw man, I loved this one. Then again, I've always been a complete sucker for all things SR-71 related.
Wasn't Serpentor piloting one of these in the movie? Right before he speared Duke?
+Anthony Sforza Yes, Serpentor used the Night Raven a lot. I remember him escaping in one at the end of the "Arise, Serpentor Arise" 5-parter.
Yea, I remember him being bathed in red while piloting a jet when yelling "This I command!!!" Which incidentally became my catch phrase that summer. Jaja, as a super young kid, I had sights on world domination and I felt as though Serpentor and I were kindred spirits. Like he just "got it." Jaja, I'm not really sure where that started though... it was just there one day.
formbx257 Serpentor actually flew a Raven in the 1987 Cartoon Movie :)
The 1984 Stinger and 1984 CLAW glider were the first to break the snake-like name tradition.
I used to play with this in my pool! It sank, but did so very slowly so I used to pretend in crash landed and have the pilots escape before it went down.
Excellent work as always Kevin! Any idea when you'll review the havoc?
Great review, thanks for another nice trip down memory lane.
I had the later Sky Patrol version. I sold it about six years ago on e-bay...That plane paid my rent that month!
Actually... Night Raven looks like a cross between the SR-71 and the fictional Russian super jet in the 1982 Clint Eastwood film "Firefox".
Obviously inspired by the real life SR-71 with its D-21 Drone... BTW.... A D-21 drone got lost in Soviet Russia in the late 60s and was discovered intact by the Soviets. They reverse engineered it and created a drone called Voron ("RAVEN") years later.... coincidence?
Wha t do you use to clean the Night Raven, and do you have any tips for a s
'sticking" landing gear handle/lever...? Great review!
The scout craft on mine has two small tabs underneath, either side and to the front of the skid for sitting level. Must be a varient or issue improvement.
This was an amazingly informative and well done review. I just acquired one of these with the recon craft and figure at a flea market with landing gear in tact and the air brake on the front gun still there. The only thing missing was the two bombs and the orange cockpit seat, which I'm hoping to find on ebay. I got the jet for $30 after talking the vendor down from $50. Do you think I got a good deal? Let me know on my channel! You just gained a new subscriber!
Thanks for watching and subscribing! $30 is a great deal! The missing accessories should cost $10-12 total, so its still a good deal.
The ROC Night Raven is a good toy. It has a nifty gun feature that makes the craft work like a shotgun to fire its missiles and it was a solid build, along with a proper Strato-Viper update. BUT, looking at the original version, I can safely say the ROC version was an inferior toy against the original. It was smaller, sat one pilot and lacked the drone craft. That probably put off older fans from buying it, and it was perhaps overpriced at $40, maybe if they'd set it at $30 then most of them wouldn't have ended up at TJ Maxx for $20. Though it does have a much better loading mechanism for the pilot than the original did, so there's that.
Really enjoy your reviews. A question: Have you seen or heard of any Ravens with the different bomb bay doors like the one they show in the commercial? They show actual doors on hinges. I have both versions, complete, with the different landing gear slide. One locking, like the one you showed, and one that's straight and no lock.
A prototype is shown in the commercials, it was the only version that had those hinged bomb bay doors. They were probably removed from the production version to cut down on the budget (they might have had an extra mechanism to close them when the bomb rack was pushed back up). Fun fact: the prototype also has extra flaps attached to the rear landing gear. The production versions don't, leaving an open space there!
formbx257 thanks for the reply. Interesting to know this. Appreciate the knowledge.
Hate I got rid of mine as a kid. I want it back
nashcarlos Yeah. Me, too. Hands down, the best non-Star Wars toy that I ever had. Such a well made toy!
can only dream that this thing gets re-released!!!
Serpentor: Cobra lalalalalalala!
I am green with envy! I have 2 HISS tanks, 3 stinger jeeps, 4 flightpods, 1 fang gyro copter, and 1 firebat.. An original cobra night raven would be the best addition I could hope for! I didn't like the new night raven all bcoz its not as big as the original. Thanks for the wonderful review... cooooobbbrraaaaa!!!!!
Cool! I do not have this one yet! I looked at it before on line! Ware did you get yours? How much did it cost?
The night raven. In other words the Black Bird
Hello Kevin, how long have you had that Night Raven? I saw one here in Greenhills, but its missing a fin, a drone, and has a broken landing gear..
It looks better without the drone . They should have been boxed as separate vehicles
WOW, great toy and amazing review love it.
ahhhhh, my childhood memories.
Just got one myself, but had to search for a few items. My friend had one when we were kids and I seem to remember a tee shaped gear door on the rear struts that stayed attached to them similar to the nose gear. (There are two pegs on each landing gear so it does look like one could go there.) What do you know about this? Also I was watching the vintage commercial and noticed the bomb bay had two doors that were hinged and swung open when the lever was pulled down instead of the section of the fuselage dropping with the tray like mine does. Was this shot with a preproduction example which was changed when the vehicle was released, or is it another variation that is out there? (Kind of like the two types of gear retraction levers.) One detail about the toy pertaining to the SR-71 orgins. If you look at the corrugated skin between the fuselage and engines and compare them to a three view drawing, they are laid out exactly the same and the Night Raven scales out to about 1/48. (It and the Testors/Italiari 1/48 SR-71 are roughly the same size.)
+jpatt1000 There was never a version with t-shaped rear covers. It really does look like some should go there though, but even the prototype (shown on the back of the retail box) doesn't have any. The hinged bomb doors, however, are shown on the back of the retail box and in the commercial but are definitely from the prototype only. Cool info about the model kit! I'm not surprised, though, some Hasbro sculptors either worked on model kits between jobs or outright copied details to bulk up their toy projects.
Thanks for the info. I wonder why the bomb bay doors didn't make production? They really did look slick!
Wow it's like Human alliance Jetfire or the X-men jet.
A really cool toy.
Hey Kevin, does the newer figures fit in this version of the Night Raven?
Yes, but some modern figures with large helmets might be a tight fit.
If only this had the design of the new Night Raven released back in 2009 and had the same features and qualities(e.g. rubber tires, smaller rear aircraft, etc.) PLUS the design of how the 2009 version's cockpit opens('cause it's really cool), it would be PERFECT! Wish Hasbro re-releases, because the 2009 version kinda sucked!
How much $ do night ravens go for now?
my lil brother got this for a gift! it was awesome, bad deal was he never took care of his toys so it was soon in shambles! :(
that cockpit was cool but hard to manipulate
Another great review.
Is there any plans for a re release of this toy?
I don't think so, Hasbro seems very reluctant to re-release large toys. The 2009 Rise Of Cobra version didn't sell too well, so retailers don't want anything similar. Hasbro has surprised us with the Skystriker, Tomahawk and the Cobra Wolf - so there's always hope...
I can only hope....
I'm sooo saddened that I missed out on this toy
Man i had one. When i hit about 12 an decided i was too big for toys i took all my toys and put them in trash bags. My mom gave them to my younger cousins. To this day im pissed..):
80's music. This needs 80's music, from diverse genres.
had one in box. lost it in storage.
It's beautiful!
I want mine back!!!!
Hasbro needs to bring this back, (just like they did with the rattler) I'd rather just buy a brand new one, then go hunting for one.
thats what a 3d printer can be used too. printed or 3d printed. but real verion lasts longer. make a copy and give it avay.(not real versoin .o.c. MASTERS of universe.