Power Team Elite/World Peace Keepers : SU-27 Review

SU-27 "Flanker" 

This thing is really good.

Courtesy: Wikipedia. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sukhoi_Su-27SKM_at_MAKS-2005_airshow.jpg

I'll have to apologize upfront before beginning this review.  In fact, several of the upcoming reviews I have planned could stand being tagged with some sort of disclaimer expressing the need for some apology and an appeal toward  perspective and self-control of the reader.  Why?  Because this toy is freaking hard to find.  Even on eBay it is very, very rare in the United States. 

Hold that thought, however.

I've recently witnessed two of these toys sneaking past in a short-listed BIN auction that went for a song at $100 and about twenty dollars for shipping in the CONUS.  In a proper week long auction it would probably have earned the seller TRIPLE what he received.  I'm actually beating myself over my head that I didn't see this, or else it would have been mine.  I'll go ahead and link to the listing for however long Ebay keeps these things posted.

BBI Peacekeepers Power Team Elite Jet Vehicle HORNET GI Joe Figure Lot 1/18

Eat your heart out as I've almost digested mine.  For posterity's sake I'll post the image if only to reopen wounds and dwell on what might have been.  Minus the figures and a few minor things like traffic cones that come with these sets, these very well may be complete [IE, ordinance and ladders] and they even have unapplied sticker sheets.

Front: Two "True Heroes" F-22 Fighters.  Middle: Power Team Elite F/A-18 Hornet, both of  which we will feature in upcoming reviews.  The rarest of the three types (by far) are the SU-27s positioned in back flanks.

This is the only successful auction I've seen for the SU-27 in a few years, and this one slipped through on the sly.  No mention of the true prizes of this lot (the SU27) are in the title or description.  Add that to the fact that lots tend to go more ignored and whoever won this auction received them at an absolute steal. 

But enough of me sharing my angst with you.  I'm sorry about that, I really am.

Moving along, I was fortunate enough to grab an SU-27 from BigBadToyStore.com awhile back while they still had a few of these in stock.  I always meant to buy another, but wasn't able to in time before the stock ran out.  A pity.  Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of it still in box by itself, only along with the entire shipment I received:

It's cut off at the bottom by an assortment of figures in their packages, but it pretty much shows everything: pilot, missiles, tail fins, a few boxes, ladder, and fuel can.  To the right of it is the PTE J-10, which we'll also review at some point.  The packaging is same theme as we've seen before from Power Team Elite toys, which I rate as pretty decent at showing you what you're getting.

A little about the SU-27:

The "Flanker" is an advanced Fourth Generation design, often referred as a "Generation 4.5" fighter aircraft.  What does this mean?  For starters, it means it's a modern design (it first went into service in the mid-1980s.  Yes! that is relatively modern in aeronautical terms).  Unlike the previous jets of the third generation, fourth generation fighters were built to be true multi-role aircraft that could excel in a number of missions and environments.  Previous generations saw specific aircraft that would be dedicated interceptors, or escort fighters, or close-air-support craft.  Modern fighters are intended to be any and all of those things, sometimes on the same mission.

Fourth gen jets also sought to restore close-combat capabilities in contrast to the ideas that long range missiles would be the most influential aspect of air-to-air warfare.  There was in increased concentration on maneuverability and acceleration, even as advances in electronics made beyond visual range (BVR) combat more viable.  Other jets built under fourth-generation philosophy include the F-16, F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet, F-15, and the F-14 (which I equate perfectly with the Sky Striker).  The "Advanced" fourth generation jets, or gen 4.5 expand on gen 4 principals by adding things like data link, advanced radars, thrust vectoring, super cruise, super-maneuverability, etc.

Where does this put the SU-27?

As far as I understand it, the Flanker ranks quite highly amongst the advanced generation four designs.  The real questions seem to exist around how well the soviets are able to support it, maintain it, and keep it's electronics current.  It's quite maneuverable at most speeds, is fast, accelerates well, carries lots of fuel, and has a big radar.  In addition, it's rumored to be able to be able to detect other aircraft thermally from miles way with a special Infra-red search and track system.  It seems to be more or less on par with the F-15 'C' or 'E' Eagle, with some feeling that it's superior in a number of respects. 

While I do plan on going over various aircraft on this blog in some depth in the future, you can always read up a little more on Wikipedia.

The Cobra "Buzzard"

You may be inclined to give this to your Joes, but in to my mind Cobra truly lacks an air superiority/multi-role fighter.  Most of the classic cartoon episodes feature either the Rattler or the Night Raven, one based off of a dedicated tank buster and close-support aircraft and the other an unarmed reconnaissance jet who's only defense was it's ability to cruise high and fast to out-pace enemy interceptors and anti-aircraft missiles.  Both aircraft are more adaptions of the aircraft that inspired them rather than pure homages, and so in my estimate share neither their greatest strengths nor their combat limitations.  Never-the-less, I don't count the Rattler as at all fast nor the Night Raven as particularly agile.  Also, like many thing Joe that resemble real-life military hardware, this toy needs it's 'Joe name'.  I think the Cobra "Buzzard" is appropriate and it's what I use.

The set comes with ten missiles listed starting from the middle to the outside:

AS-17 Krypton Air to Surface Missiles (x2 - inner most missiles)
KH-29 Air to surface Missiles (x2)
Vympel R-27 Medium Range Passive Radar missile (x2)
Vympel R-73 Short range IR missile (x4 - outer most missiles)

Note that there are ten missiles included in this set, yet there are a total of twelve hard-points for them to be fitted to.  There are four hard-points on the wings, two in tandem between the engine nacelles, and two (unoccupied) mounted under the intakes.  This set comes with a lot of accessories, but still it would have been nice to have received two fuel tanks to mount on the last two hard-points.

 

Left to right: Vympel R-73,  Vympel R-27, KH-29, AS-17

Missiles to the right are from the XP-21F SkyStriker for comparison.  Above is the included ladder and some accessories typical of those included in the set, though not necessarily those included with this set.

Here is a shot of the hard-points themselves.  Unlike actual GI Joe product from Hasbro, PTE missiles slide on and off their mounts.  Some of the missiles fit these rails loosely and will slide off quite easily.

Empty rail hard-point

Missile mounts to the toy by sliding on or off the rail.

The airbrake right behind the cockpit opens for some realistic play-value.  Out of the box, the tail fins require attachment to the rear of the body.

The profile looks fantastic, complete with the iconic arched-downward front.  Molded in a weathered blue, it has plenty of detail showing various control surfaces and panels.  Joe scaled-vehicles of this size are typically 1:32, and in this scale the toy possesses the unmistakeable and beautiful symmetry of the aircraft it's based off of.  

Like the rest of the plane, there is plenty of detail in the cockpit.  A joe-sized figure (see pic below) with molded helm seems to fit well without any real clearance to spare.  Unlike the Sky Striker, the seat is positioned well in the center of the cockpit.  Inside there is a molded seat, a control stick, and control details. 

The plastic the plane is made from is kind of thin, but is reasonably robust enough for handling by young adults.  These sets are advertised as being appropriate for ages 3+, but I don't see it standing up to the rigors of being handled so roughly as younger children can put toys through.  I'm not saying they aren't safe for younger children, I just don't think they'll survive all that long.  Plus, this toy is now pretty much a collector's item with it being such a rare find.

The landing gears work reasonably well.  They lock in place reliably and fold up inside the fuselage.

There is an arrester hook mounted to the back end between the engine, which technically may indicate this is the naval variant for service aboard an aircraft carrier, the SU-33.  You could play it either way, even though the package indicates it is the basic SU-27. 



I haven't applied the stickers yet for a couple of reasons.  Number one, I was waiting to take pictures for this review, and second, since I'm assigning this to Cobra, I'm contemplating customization options.  Here is the sticker sheet and instructions included below.  Honestly, there's not a whole lot of documentation with these toys.

Synopsis/Conclusion: 

I hoped I got your attention with this review calling to attention the absolute awesomeness that the Power Team Elite/World Peacekeepers line has in store.  This is the first of several jets that I will publish reviews for.  At some point I'll try to make a detailed comparison of them along with their Hasbro counterparts but that will take some work and thought.  I am very happy to have this example in my personal collection. I really pine for Hasbro to produce something like this because like I've stated before, Cobra doesn't have what I would consider a true air-superiority fighter.  I'd like to see Hasbro release a Cobra jet plane inspired by either the Eurofighter or Rafale in a traditional Cobra color.

Quality: B 

 

Plastic is a little thin, feels a bit brittle but not overly so.  Canopy doesn't stay shut, missiles slip off.  seems more appropriate for older adolescent children.

Appearance: A

Unmistakable SU-27 symmetry integrated very well with Joe-Scale.  Great detail.

 

Play Value/Accessories: B+

Yes the figure is lackluster, but I typically am very forgiving towards PTE for this.  Lots of play value and other accessories

Overall Grade: A-

 

Itinerary for 2015

It's been almost three years of sparse blogging and I'm going to *try* to become more ambitious about it.  I have a large backlog of things to review and am trying to get better organized to do it.  It hasn't helped that I've moved twice in the past 18 months (and the last place lacked space to do adequate pics).

Although I named this place "Joe Intel Ops", most of the reviews have belonged to toys that would be considered competitors with Hasbro.  It turned out this way because there are a number of sites out there that have adequately covered GI Joe product but not a whole lot for Power Team Elite and I think the line has a lot of value, especially to us who are more into the military side of the GI Joe mythos.

Here is an unofficial list of things I want to cover in the coming months on this site:

GI Joe:

1. Conquest X-30
2. Eaglehawk
3. Fang copter
4. VAMP Mk II (in it's various iterations) 
5. Hiss Tank (POC/30th Anniversary Style)
6. Hiss Tank (25th)

Power Team Elite:

1. Black Hawk
2. Infantry Fighting vehicle
3. Aerial Rocket Helicopter
4. Main Battle Tank
5. Battle Command Post - Posted February 19th 2015
6. A-10 Thunderbolt
7. Patrol Boat
8. SU27 - Posted Dec 20, 2014
9. J-10
10. F/A-18 Hornet
11. Lookout Tower

I may be forgetting a couple here.  This list is of things I actually have at least one of.  I just need to collect thoughts and take pics.

Power Team Elite "Mounted Ranger" Set.

Power Team Elite "Mounted Ranger" Set Mini-Review

I'd just like to point out before starting that "Mounted Ranger" was my choice of title for this set.  There actually isn't any reference to it or any other name anywhere on the box as it completely lacks a title. I  needed a title for this review and thought the name fit the set well for more or less obvious reasons.

Horses once were a mainstay of warfare up until the advent of mobile armor during the Second World War.  While they are still widely utilized by the militaries of third-world countries, they were mostly relegated to ceremonial use by advanced nations.  That changed for the United States with their involvement in the war against the Taliban where Marine and Army special forces operated along side indigenous fighters on horseback in the rough terrain of Afghanistan.

GI Joe fights terrorism in all sorts of environments thanks to Cobra's penchant for building large-scale clandestine bases in the most implausible and remote of places.  After your Tomahawk is shot down and the Vamp blown up and you have to turn to the locals for help, your mission might depend on the transportation of a horse, who knows?

I think horses and Joes are a cool proposition being a kind of intimate yang to the hight-tech yin of Sky Strikers and Tomahawks.  It generates the same type of attachment I have to the weird M.A.N.T.A Sailboard while being far more practical.

Accessories:

Besides the saddle and the figure which are shown on the horse, the accessories consist of a jacket, a backpack that I don't think I've seen before, a Sniper's rifle, and an over-sized and extraneous horse shoe.  I'm not sure what you're supposed to with this horseshoe she as it's clear it isn't going to fit on the horse.  

The included figure is of course one of a small number ubiquitous to the Power Team Elite Line.  The torsos, legs, arms, and hands are almost all the same with only variations in colors and a few head-sculpt choices. These figures are far from the strength of the PTE line, so as usual I'm not going to talk a lot about it.

The horse itself shows pretty good body detail with the reigns made out of what appears to be black nylon string fit right into the plastic molding of the mouth.  Other detail of the body includes wrinkled skin on the hindquarters, and veins protruding from it's legs.  

Both the front legs have three points of articulation: the shoulder, knee, and foot....

Neither of the hind legs have any articulation except in the hips, that seam you see at the knee on the right leg is actually just a plastic seem.  This seam is on both rear legs and as you can't see, doesn't go all the way through to the outer portion of the leg.  This is just the way these legs were molded.  I've given some thought as to whether having greater articulation on the legs would add or detract from the toy.  I'm sure you could add joints at the hind fetlocks (basically the feet) and the hock (rear knee), but this may over-complicate the toy and make it less sturdy.

The tail doesn't move, it's one piece with each half of the body.

The saddle is attached by two stretchable bands.  It does come off by sliding down the backside and over the rear legs.  It does a pretty good job of fitting well on the body of the horse and giving figures a solid place to seat themselves...

I think the set is great, all things considered.  At five bucks (Current prices, late 2014) it's an excellent value.  As with much of the PTE lineup, it's best availability is at places like Big Lots during Fall.  The quality is decent with nothing fitting poorly or weakly built.  My one notable gripe is that this unit's reins were put on twisted and it's hard to keep the curl out of it, but that may not be typical of this toy.

Grade:
B

World Peacekeepers: 'Military Life' playsets

Most of my efforts in this hobby have been aimed towards broadening my collection of figures and vehicles. I have spent a lot of cash completing squads of the various and hard-to-find Cobra troops, filing rosters, and pursuing that rare 'must have' figure because I was so sure it would augment my collection.  I haven't spent very much time and effort creating dioramas or environments for my figures to 'be' in and I don't think I'm all that different from most collectors in that.  I'm beginning to see, however, that playsets provide an immersive element to a collection that vehicles and figures can't provide alone.

Continuing the focus on Power Team Elite's, World Peacekeeper line are two small playsets that I think augment a collection well.  Both focus on a figure's sleeping quarters, one outside and one indoors.

I'm not going to have a lot to say about the figures since they are just slight variations of the figures that have been covered in previous reviews for PTE stuff, and the accessories are for the most part stuff we've seen before too.  I wish they wouldn't have included the figs or other accessories hoping to save some of that $8 shown on the price tags.  However such thinking is pipe-dreaming since PTE doesn't cater to Joe diorama builders, they sell playsets to kids.

Outdoor Set.  Tent and Campfire:

The outdoor set features two figures, a tent consisting of a nylon canopy and several plastic struts that require assembly, two rifles, a radio backpack, a kettle, a pot, and a campfire.  The Tent assembly is sort of tricky.  The frame segments are a little difficult to fit together and the nylon canopy is a tight fit over the frame.  Once put together, it looks like this on the inside:

And here is the frame that must be pieced together.

The various segments of the frame are a very tight fit and it takes some muscle to get them together and it's easy to bend the plastic rods while doing so.  After that's put together, the canopy is likewise a little bit of a challenge to fit over the frame, and it takes a little bending to get it on.

Indoor Set.  Bunks and Locker:

The indoor set, of course, offers the same basic needs for the solider albeit from the comforts of a barracks or guardhouse rather than some remote mission area.  Included are a bunk with two billets, a locker, and an assortment of the usual accessories (below)

The locker opens up allowing for store of all the gear that comes with the indoor set.

I think both sets offer about the same basic value.  The accessories aren't that well suited for Joe, but you could make due with the rifles.  With these offerings PTE continues to fill holes that Joe fans can use to build playsets and dioramas with.   

Grade:  B for both

Well, sorry for the lack of words in this.  This was more like a 'review-ette' than a full-on analysis of these pieces.  Personally I really would like to stock up on these for both a custom GI Joe barracks and field camp site, the downside is that at $8 a pop this gets a bit expensive, which is I think a tiny bit too much for what a diorama builder might find useful from these.