SCC Figure Spotlight - DUSTY (Version 1 and 2)

DESERT TROOPER - DUSTY  (VERSION 1)

    In the first 3 years of the G.I. Joe toy-line, we got a variety of soldiers to tackle multiple environments.  You had divers like Deep Six and Torpedo for underwater missions, Snow Job for the Arctic, Recondo for the jungle and so on.  While some Joes wore desert colors, it wasn't until Series 4 that we would finally get a dedicated Desert Trooper - Dusty.

    Dusty's file card states he used to work as a refrigerator and air-conditioning repairman, which I think is fun and clever given his chosen field of work.  It portrays him as an individual who loves the harsh desert environment.  He gladly accepts the challenge it presents to him, and enjoys it.  

    For his uniform, Dusty is completely decked out in desert camouflage of tan and brown from his head all the way down to his black boots.  Even on his face he sports brown camo face paint.  Under his helmet he has a have-lock to protect his neck from the hot sun.  This is made of real cloth and attached to the figure.  At the time of his release in 1985, Dusty was unique in that he was the first G.I. Joe figure to have the face paint and a have-lock.

    Dusty's accessories include his black rifle - a FAMAS F-1 with a removeable bipod and a tan backpack.  The backpack has great additional detail with 2 canteens sculpted on it.

    The year, 1985, was a big year for G.I. Joe.  Many popular figures and vehicles were released that year.  While Dusty was not as high-profile as some of the other characters - he was still a must have for me!  He was a great looking figure with great accessories.  My figure would often find itself being paired with the AWE Striker dune-buggy and it's driver Crankcase!  

    On that note, he would also go perfect with other vehicles from the line such as the VAMP Mk II from 1984 or later with the Desert Fox from 1988.  Unfortunately, I never owned either of those vehicles though.  So the AWE Striker remained his main ride.

    You just can't go wrong with this figure...  I can't suggest any way to possibly improve him!  His look and colors are great, his accessories are great and his file card is great!!!  With all my praise for the figure, it should be no surprise to find that I rate Dusty (v1) with 5 Out of 5 Air Conditioners!  This is one figure that was definitely a homerun by the crew at Hasbro!

DESERT TROOPER - DUSTY  (VERSION 2)

    Dusty returned in 1988 when he was tapped for duty on G.I. Joe’s sub-group - Tiger Force!  This sub-group used older Joe vehicles as well as captured Cobra ones that were all updated with the new Tiger Force paint scheme.  The members of this group were also updated with various color patterns, usually involving “Tiger stripes” somewhere on their uniform.

    For the most part, the file card was the same. Although it was updated to mention him jumping at the chance to join the Tiger Force team. It also makes mention of him driving the vehicle - the Tiger Paw (a recolored, captured Cobra Ferret).

    So the 10 characters that make up Tiger Force are repaints with the color palette varying from figure to figure.  For Dusty, his all tan and brown desert camouflage was now gone. Instead, the jacket he wears is now dark green with yellow "tiger stripes". His helmet, havelock and pants has been changed to olive drab green. Dusty (v2) also no longer had the camo facepaint.

    The accessories for Dusty (v2) are the same as the original with the FAMAS rifle, it's bipod and his backpack. The only difference was the backpack was now the same green as his pants and helmet.

    I have to admit, when Tiger Force was first released, I didn't understand it. I already had most of these figures, so I thought "what's the point?" I quickly changed my mind though for various reasons, one of which was that several great characters were getting another go-around! By 1988 there wasn't a cartoon anymore, and many of those characters, like Dusty, had some decent screen-time. So it was nice to see many of them again! I ended up a fan of Tiger Force and bought all of the figures and most of the vehicles.

    Dusty was a great addition to the group, I've always considered Tiger Force a desert team. While his colors aren't as awesome or "desert themed" as the original, I still think the figure looks pretty good. I like that he was kind of paired up with the Tiger Paw vehicle. I thought this was a great match-up. He would also make a good driver for the Tiger Sting (a repainted VAMP mk II).

    

    Unfortunately, the loss of the desert camo hurt the look of the figure a bit. The greens are nowhere near as effective camo in a desert environment. Even if you don't see Tiger Force as a desert team, Dusty IS their Desert Trooper. Also, in my opinion, the figure's face is a little plain looking without the facepaint.

    So, overall, I would have to give Tiger Force Dusty a 3 out of 5 Air Conditioners! He is a good figure, great for Tiger Force, just not at the same level of awesomeness that the first one was!!! It was great to have him back in the Joe line-up though. You can't complain about that!!!

    What are your thoughts between these 2 versions of Dusty? Like him? Don't like him? Which one did you like better?

UP NEXT......  Dusty, Version 3 (1991)!!!