SCC Figure Spotlight - REPEATER (Version 1)

 

STEADI-CAM MACHINE GUNNER - REPEATER

    Many different characters on the G.I. Joe Team were qualified to use machine guns.  But the primary job of "machine gunner" often fell to Rock n' Roll or Roadblock.  Rock n' Roll was the team's original Machine Gunner in 1982 and Roadblock, the Heavy Machine Gunner, debuted a few years later in 1984.  Both of these characters saw numerous figure updates over the years.  When Series 7 was released, however, we were introduced to the new Steadi-Cam Machine Gunner - Repeater.

    The first paragraph of Repeater's file card describes him as a great soldier the other Joes can always count on in the field.  In 1988, it said that he had served in the military for 20+ years with his rank never getting any higher than E-6.  But Repeater is happy where he is at.  He enjoys his role on the Team and really has no interest in moving up.  He is good at his job and dependable... you can't ask for much more.

    The second paragraph for the file card explains the dangers and weight the role of machine gunner carries on the battlefield.  When the machine gunner opens fire, the enemy knows his location and he becomes their primary target.  No matter what happens out there, the team depend on him to keep firing.  This is where the benefit of having a strong, dependable soldier such as Repeater on your team lies!  He's not going to back down no matter what Cobra throws at him!

    The figure for Repeater was ready for some desert action with his tan uniform with brown digital camo markings.  He had an olive drab flak jacket and belt.  On his right hip he has a mount where you can his weapon and he wears a black, fingerless glove on his right hand.

    Repeater has black hair and wears a tan Ranger hat.  The figure also looks to have a stern look on his face.  I don't know if that was deliberate or not, but I feel it goes with his tough, no-backing-down personality described on his file card.

    The figure for Repeater came with 3 accessories.  He came with a nice-sized olive drab backpack that matched the figure's vest.  He also came with his black machine gun and a counter-weight for the gun.  The gun attaches to the counter-weight which then pegs into a hole on the mount on Repeater's hip.  

    Repeater's steadi-cam machine gun is reminiscent of the style of machine guns the Colonial Marines used in the movie Aliens.  The advantage of this is that it takes the weight of the weapon off the gunner's arms.  It also offers a more fluid movement when aiming he weapon.  On the other side, Repeater's ability to maneuver during a firefight is going to be limited because of this.

    I really like Repeater and I'm going to give the guy 4 out of 5 Aliens DVDs!!!  He is a little more under-the-radar compared to high-profile characters like Roadblock and Rock N' Roll, but I felt there was enough room for another machine gunner on the Team.  The figure looks great and has great accessories!  I do wish he had a better range of motion with his weapon.  Once it is attached, the figure is kind of stuck in that position.  That, and as previously mentioned, he doesn't have much maneuvering power in the field.  

    The 1988 Wave also brought some heavy hitters with the likes of characters like Hardball, Charbroil, in addition to Repeater.  Together, these three could generate a lot of firepower!  I always thought this was a good trio to put together in a fight!

     As much as the G.I. Joe toy-line has had some wild concepts in the years prior, I have to admit that 1987 was a bit of a stretch.  Series 7, 1988, was a return to more normal storyline... not COMPLETELY normal, we still had some science fiction or fantasy elements weaved into the line. But "some" was okay.  Characters like Repeater were more grounded in realism and this was a welcome sight!     

 

Other random jaw-jabbering....

--- There is a hole going straight through the machine gun.  Was he at some point supposed to come with ammunition?

--- Repeater is one of many home-town boys from Rhode Island - Home of Hasbro HQ.

--- Though he wasn't a spotlight character like many others, he still had his likeness on several G.I. Joe products that year... like a shampoo bottle or band-aids.

--- Repeater only got one other update in the G.I. Joe toyline.  In 1989, a second version was released as a member of G.I. Joe's Night Force, a rare sub-group only found at Toys R Us.

--- The second pic of Repeater was taken on an uprooted tree in beautiful Brown County, Ind. on a mini Christmas vacation.  Sure, I take action figures on vacation...  Doesn't everyone???