Honestly, none of these are super-exciting. Partly that’s just because Cobra vehicles are cooler to me personally, but partly because most of these are kinda too “real world” to get me going. Obviously the HAVOC is an exception to that, but I’m not sure it’s “good weird”, and also Cross-Country is the *actual* “Hooded Cobra Commander” of Joe (in terms of controversy revolving around depictions of “real world” evil stuff) and just brings out the worst of the Joe community.

So like maybe the Mauler? I mean the Snow Cat is pretty iconic, but like Arctic vehicles are, I dunno . . . 
Ultimately, I’m likely to pledge for almost any HasLab, if only to get in on the included figures. But I’m probably gonna have to wait for the next Cobra offering to get really pumped, and even then I’m not 100% sure what would really get me going. It’s the smaller, usually one-person, flying and/or weird vehicles that are usually my absolute favorite. I’d be more jazzed about a Firebat or even a Pogo than any of these listed things.

Yeah,  I am wondering about price range for Snow Cat.  They got the Jeep done for $100 retail... I'm guessing with the added bulk and the added pieces the Snow Cat would have to cost at least double that - which is why they are leaning HasLab and not retail.   Unfortunately -  I don't think they do $200 HasLab projects so it will likely be closer to $300 and they'll toss in an extra figure or two and an extra missile rig it can tow to make it feel "worth it"

I would think the Thunder Machine would be a cool one, but it's another I don't think needs to be a haslab really.

@valo487 Here is the "It's Chad" Youtube video where he talks about the possible Haslabs.   He has a pretty good recent track record of leaks for Joe so I would lean more towards this being the case.

So in regards to the possible offerings, here are some points:

Mauler:  Heavy Metal and Steeler as figures.  Mostly add-on parts for different armour configurations, but not alternate turrets for other vehicles.

Snow Cat:  He didn't mention it in the stream, but confirmed in the comments that Frostbite would be the driver and "Snow Bunny" Baroness (his words) as a tier figure.  The interesting thing with the Snow Cat was that the pictures/descriptions made it seem like they were leaning towards a larger version ala the HISS.  It would still have the recognizable Snow Cat front end, but the back would be larger to accommodate a troop carrier type situation like the HISS.   The missile rack would be deployable like the Ice Sabre from the ROC/POC era.  If they went that route I would definitely be interested because it would bring something new to the Snow Cat.  However it would also probably increase the price.

Hammer:   Apparently one of the issues was licensing.  They wanted to get Hummer approval to make it more official and have the naming on the vehicle.   It would be pretty much the same design as the original with all the bells and whistles.   Interestingly there were 3 colour ways:  Original look, Camouflage and Night Force.

HAVOC:  Very reminiscent of the original but some interesting changes.   Again 3 colour ways choices:  Night Force, Camouflage and original green.  Cross Country apparently looked the same, minus the rebel flag.  Still had the hat.  The HAVOC would still have the rising arm cannons, but apparently the seat up top was gone in favour of some kind of Drone launch system thing.  I wasn't exactly clear on the description, but a drone might be replacing the hover sled thing in the back??  As pointed out it would be the most expensive of the choices.

Overall I would be fine with any of them except the Hammer.   Never was a fan of the vehicle.   

The Mauler would be a bit boring, but it is an iconic Joe tank (after the MOBAT).  Also nice to get Steeler and Heavy Metal.

Snow Cat sounds like the most interesting choice and can be used in snow or just on land fine as a tank type vehicle.   I like the sound of it being a mix of troop carrier and original vehicle.

HAVOC would be my personal favourite of them all, but the price and sound of some of those changes make me a little skeptical.  

Also not too happy about it being a 2026 Haslab implying that we aren't getting one this year.   While my wallet is happy about it, it does mean after we get the Rattler it will be at least 2 years before getting another Haslab in hand.

I heard a rumor sometime last year that they were going to start releasing more “medium sized” vehicles, with the Thunder Machine being called out by name. If they’re not planning a Haslab this year it could be to avoid going to the vehicle well too often. Or possibly they’ve already decided what this year’s HasLab would be and didn’t need to focus group it. As for the choices listed, the Snow Cat sounds like the best choice from the reactions I’ve seen to this news with the HAVOC a close second, I do wonder what effect being weather-specific will have it comes to a campaign like this, I’m all for it but I could see some people skipping a 200+ dollar vehicle that you can’t use away from the snow. 

I like the idea of a half-track troop transport, but unless they decide to paint it Army green for some reason, I'm out. 

I'm just not any kind of fan of environment-specific anything, like boats or arctic. Keep my Joes General Issue, ifyouknowwhatImean.

I also have the Ramen tank in the wings, so a Mauler would have to be something spectacular (yet still fit on a shelf) for me to consider it.

Finally, the only reasons I'd want a HAVOC are A) because I want a Cross-Country, and 2) it's the HAVOC II (an Army green half-track troop transport)

Snow Cat please!  It will go great in the arctic diorama I will never make.

I'd pay $150 for a snow cat at retail with one figure. I hope they don't make some overwrought monstrosity, charge $350 for it, and sweeten the pot with a bunch of snow-based figures. I'd much rather something a bit longer than the VAMP without all the bells and whistles. 

Hammer I've no interest in; strikes me as weird they'd do that or the Thunder Machine as a Haslab when they could sell two of them with just a repaint (same with the Snow Cat, like they're leaving money on the table). I think the HAVOC makes most sense, honestly for me they'd need to include a lot of must-have figures to sell me on a HAVOC from Haslab. 

The one vehicle that would stress me out as a must-have isn't on the rumored list so I guess I should be relieved - the WHALE really is the one I live in terror they decide to make at like $500 bucks or something. 

Yeah, i keep telling myself no more big vehicles but a well-done Snowcat would be very, very hard for me to say no to. Especially with several cool snow suited-up Joes and Cobras.

I'd go $250 max for a Snowcat with four good Arctic-themed figures. I can't imagine it would be less than that.

I have no interest in a tank and I had to look up the Hammer. No thanks. 

My brother had the HAVOC and I was always drawn to it but I don't know how well that would translate — it had an overly big cab, a totally exposed gunner and the hover-sled thing was a bit goofy — and it seems like the cost would be fairly high for kind of a marginal vehicle.

If it was totally reimagined into more of an APC, it might be cooler. But then just do an APC ... Or the Warthog.

Is the Snow Cat or a Hummer big enough for a Haslab?  Shouldn’t t those be good for normal retail?  I’d take the Mauler or The Havoc. Mostly the Mauler. 

@grumpymatt I keep meaning to bring up the Warthog as an option. Apparently my favorite vehicles as a kid were the ones you could stuff an entire squad into and that one was one of my absolute favorites. Y'know, as much as I say I don't want another honkin' big vehicle, I'd be very tempted by the Warthog. The only thing that doesn't super appeal is, to be honest, a Sarge driver. 

@leor I keep thinking the same thing. The Snow Cat wasn't THAT big. I'd so much rather a smaller retail version they gouge us for twice by re-releasing with Tiger Force colors. Like... they could EASILY sell me two Snow Cats, but not if they go crazy and make it too big. 

Posted by: @leor

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Is the Snow Cat or a Hummer big enough for a Haslab?  Shouldn’t t those be good for normal retail?  I’d take the Mauler or The Havoc. Mostly the Mauler. 

I feel like the Snow Cat could easily be Hisstank-sized with similar complexity, maybe minus the back door.

@docsilence I also loved the ones you could stuff guys into. I wanted to use as little gas as possible. I LOVED the APC until someone used it as a skateboard on the stairs. The Warthog was the next best thing to me, and I loved the three front seats. it was also the only way I got a Sergeant Slaughter as I was never into that character for some reason.

And you're right, the Snowcat wasn't that big, but... probably about the size of a HISS, so making it larger, and @vicious7171 gave me the idea of making the back able to hold, say, four guys with an opening back door (I know you said without the back door, but... that could be really pretty cool).

I'm guessing the half track thing would be a big deal too? And make it higher than $100 if they go full treat etc? Missile skis, etc. So if they expand it, make it a larger kinda snow tank, I could see it being a smaller haslab, especially when they include not just Frostbite, but also Iceberg, Avalanche, Blizzard, and a lady repaint. Arctic Scarlett maybe? Snowlett?

If they make the Snow Cat a HasLab, I hope they don’t attach new characters to it. I’d rather they make arctic variants of characters we have. Like Alpine or Torpedo. That would make it fun to have but easy to skip.