Just got Retro Scarlett and I haven't opened a figure this fast since the 001 Snake Eyes shipped. I think she might be perfect. Best quality control on the joints and hinges on any female figure in the line I've seen so far (her ankle rockers are a lil sticky but that's so common and easily fixed with some hot water, no complaints). Perfect elbow, bicep, and hip joints which have been a problem for every female character I have so far, either stuck or loose or gummed up (she almost feels like she's made with a different type of plastic?). 

I am not a fan of the detachable pony tail on figures because they tend to fall out, but both ponies stay pretty secure on her! Her gear is extensive and very cool (the crossbow tends to come apart, but I've seen that in every crossbow in the line, kinda tempted to glue it in place). Only complaint about the gear is the tiniest of things - she's the first figure I can think of without an obvious holster for her pistol. But she makes up for it with that cool hip quiver for her crossbow. 

Admittedly I do like the Wave 1 face a bit better, but to be honest, I think this one looks more like how she's SUPPOSED to look, if that makes any sense? Still a wonderful sculpt, lots of personality, great paint apps at least on mine. 

I say this about a lot of figures in this line, but someone LOVED this character when they designed this figure. Truly. Early contender for one of my favorite figures of the year. (And man, I'm not one to usually say these things, but Scarlett hilariously does NOT SKIP LEG DAY.) 

I just opened my retro Recondo, and I wanted to ask if anyone else has trouble with his backpack staying on?  I have never had this happen with a GI Joe Classified yet.  I put the peg in the hole on his back, it goes in, but then just slowly begins sliding out.  God, that sounded perverse.

I digress. Anyone have this problem?  Is there something any of you do to keep the backpack on and in place?  Besides gluing it obviously, which I don't want to do.

@supercamel-1982 Not with Recondo, but a few of my figures have backpack trouble (sounds like a double entendre) when the overlay doesn't line up cleanly with the... back hole. There is no way to say this without soudning wrong. Anyway, some of my Vipers have sliding backpack-itis. Both Recondos were fine though (I've always got him on my desk and while I sometimes worry I'll lose his hat, the pack stays put.

Yeah... I've found a lot of the time I prefer to just have my figures go backpackless unless it's vital to their character -  Recondo being one where it probably is.     But the backpacks can get fiddly and the figures take up more space in group displays when they all have backpacks on,  so I tend to just leave them off.

Finally got a cheap Python Patrol Trouble Bubble and have to say I like it.   But it does make the second regular Trouble Bubble I have redundant so I'm going to have to find a better home for that guy.    There just isn't infinite space for display.

I don't think I've noticed a real issue with backpacks pegging in since the earliest waves. At some point, it feels like they've finally tightened that connection. Maybe about two years into the line.

I try to load my Classified with as many of the accessories that are included with them, space be damned. It's one of the bigger draws of the line for me, so if I can avoid it, I try not to store the stuff they come with in a bag, like I do with SO MANY MLs. Even with Black Series, I've chosen not to display lightsabers because of the amount of space necessary to allow for their arms holding them.

For Classified, if the figure doesn't have a place to store the weapon, then it goes in a bag. Fortunately, those instances are few. Though I was surprised that retro Scarlett has three loose firearms (and a ponytail) going into storage.

Is the strap on retro scarlett's right leg for anything?

If the backpack issues with my Recondo is just isolated to my figure, I may have to get another. Recondo of all people needs his backpack.

I do like to display these with all their gear on though for the most part.  Same with the vintage RAH GI Joes.  They just look so cool all loaded up for battle.

But that's why I'm trying to be careful with vehicles. Space is not infinite in my house (Not yet any ways.  I will defeat you physics.  COBRA!!!!!")  I like seeing the characters/figures more than some vehicles.  And as has been said, displaying them, as any toy in any collection with all their accessories takes up a lot of space.

Y'know, I find this line uniquely good at making it possible to display the figures with most of their gear. I think only a handful of figures have stuff that isn't easily put on the figure somehow (either in a sheath or holster or a well-designed backpack). I bag them if they're not actively on display because I worry about losing clips or knives etc. but compared to every other line I collect, it's the gold standard. 

I did recently have a kind of depressing silent meltdown looking at the cases I use to store figures when they aren't on display. I rotate stuff a lot but I got actively depressed I have stuff I actually LOVE and don't have the room to show it all off. The Joes were good for a while, but over 100 figures later, now I have to pick and choose a bit. (MOTU hit that stage recently too, just more than I have room for). Got a little angry at myself for not being wealthy with a huge display room, like that was an option, y'know? 

On a lighter note--been using the deluxe Snake Eyes with the winter white Timber as my go-to display SE for a long while, wanted to change him out for a bit. Who's your favorite to display? I might go with the carded classic but swap in the gray Timber with him. Found that the deluxe SE who came with Timber originally has a locked hip. So does my non-Vintage Destro... Realizing I think the reason I am so paranoid about the hip joints in this line is I got hosed with a few of my absolute favorite dudes early on. (all my other SEs are actually perfect though, fortunately.) 

@supercamel-1982 try wrapping a few layers of tape around the peg and trim the excess to the peg length. I used some clear packing tape on my Recondo's backpack and it created a little more friction to hold it in place.

Regarding Scarlett- The small leg strap on her right leg is a Classified embellishment to represent the little bit of detail on the original Scarlett figure. It’s kind of tech-y and I think they wanted to show her as loaded with gadgets as a special agent would have. Personally it should have been a holster for her pistol she has. It’s detail for the character.

Norm I dedicated like 16 square feet of space for Classified display and it’s going to need another 16 for this years offerings. It’s going to be a full wall soon enough.

Thwipp!

Re: Backpack Chat

For all the line does right, I feel like the backpack pegs are far and away the worst part. The original 3.75 figures backpacks were solid and fit in fine, stayed in place and never felt like a problem. Conversely, Classified's have the peg too high up, it's too thin, it doesn't go in very well and feels like it could easily warp or even break.

More so than the gummy weapons, that's my biggest issue with the line.

Revox is on to something saying the peg is too high.  I can see how that would make a big difference (just looking at the Action Soldier figure, his peg is visible at the top of his back).  I think if they had made the backpack pegs a + shape like the classic figs and made the pegs slightly harder, we'd be doing better.  Worst-case scenario is if the peg breaks off into the back, then you essentially have two ruined parts, the figure and the pack.  

Overall I feel like most of the time the backpack is an afterthought in Classified and is only there to "complete" the figure by comparison to the original version of whatever they're making.  Sometimes they stick out so far I need to snip off a few MM.  I think the worst offender so far has been the Viper mold, which sucks because those packs actually look great.  Doesn't help that the viper sucks at balancing himself, I ended up removing the packs from all mine 🙁

Classified backpacks seem to be a bit better lately and stand in a little more securely than early ones.  However, the peg/hole system should have been rethought.  Maybe straps for each backpack would have been a bit much, although maybe the straps could have had a center piece on the back which the backpack than secures to making putting the whole thing on a little easier.   The backpack itself could then attach to the straps/harness via something like a wedge on the bottom and a hook on top.  Wedge on bottom and then swing backpack forward to hook onto top.  Hell, anything would have been better than what we have now.  Or hell, have the peg/hole angled downward.  Gravity would keep it in place.

At the very least I would have appreciated optional straps for characters who wear floating backpacks like Bazooka.  

Honestly, with action figure technology where it's at, I honestly don't see why they're not all strapped without pegs. Put 'em on like a real person would. Could've been cool, and I don't see a budget issue (at least for the figures who also have separate shoulder straps)... *shrug*