Admittedly a terrible title. Kept trying to think of a better one. Nothing came.
But it's fitting, because rescued from the brink of oblivion, I give you not one, but two Cobra Light Aerial Weapons.
So these puppies and their blueprints were discovered in local comic store Cosmic Comics on Beyers Naude Drive, Johannesburg, along with some other assorted tat. CLAWs have always intrigued me, it is so exotic these days to see so many design elements invested in a small vehicle such as this. The red aping of the mold used in the 25th Anniversary pack with a (Strato) Viper, Outback and the FLAK cannon was a bit off-putting. It reduced the size, number of parts and features of the original to bare lip service. It makes me a very happy boy to report that this 25th knock off is about as close to the original as these things are:
...not very.
But a further obstacle stood between me and buying one online. The constant nag of Modern Era compatibility. But as of the writing of this article, I'm off collecting Modern Era figures. At least for now.
So what does the CLAW do so well? It has a staggering amount of features for a vehicle so small, including:
...funny thing about that word 'eggshell'. Appropriate too. Yes folks, this is a very frail and brittle toy. Treat it like gold leaf. I can't see it crashing onto anything firmer than soft grass unscathed. The white plastic is also prone to discolouration and the joints to which the rear wheels clip look in danger of stressing and cracking. This ain't no Air Commando's Glider!
And what function do they serve for Cobra? The cartoon used them as all out, air warfare pawns, often animating a squadron of them accompanying FANGs to harass GI Joe ground forces. The comic book both in American and British publications used them as one-man stealth insertion craft thus:
But all mediums ignored the CLAWs real shining attribute - unmanned drone. I envision a scenario where a small group of Cobra commandos need air support and extraction, the CLAWs are dispatched to assist, engaging hostiles from the air with a flurry of bombs, rockets and machine gun fire, before landing on a short dirt strip or road and functioning as as air extraction for the departing Cobra forces. In an age of unmanned drone warfare, it makes sense for Cobra to top US drones by firstly being rocket powered and secondly being able to hold a trooper if needs be. It never included a specialized pilot and this supports the theory that it is deployed in such capacity and can be returned to base as a drone vehicle, without the occupant having to undergo too much specialized training in its operation.
But it's fitting, because rescued from the brink of oblivion, I give you not one, but two Cobra Light Aerial Weapons.
So these puppies and their blueprints were discovered in local comic store Cosmic Comics on Beyers Naude Drive, Johannesburg, along with some other assorted tat. CLAWs have always intrigued me, it is so exotic these days to see so many design elements invested in a small vehicle such as this. The red aping of the mold used in the 25th Anniversary pack with a (Strato) Viper, Outback and the FLAK cannon was a bit off-putting. It reduced the size, number of parts and features of the original to bare lip service. It makes me a very happy boy to report that this 25th knock off is about as close to the original as these things are:
...not very.
But a further obstacle stood between me and buying one online. The constant nag of Modern Era compatibility. But as of the writing of this article, I'm off collecting Modern Era figures. At least for now.
So what does the CLAW do so well? It has a staggering amount of features for a vehicle so small, including:
- Removable bomb and rockets
- Removable gun shroud
- Movable ailerons
- Movable canard wings
- Rolling wheels
- Retractable rear wheels
- Extending wings
- Holds one figure
And what function do they serve for Cobra? The cartoon used them as all out, air warfare pawns, often animating a squadron of them accompanying FANGs to harass GI Joe ground forces. The comic book both in American and British publications used them as one-man stealth insertion craft thus:
But all mediums ignored the CLAWs real shining attribute - unmanned drone. I envision a scenario where a small group of Cobra commandos need air support and extraction, the CLAWs are dispatched to assist, engaging hostiles from the air with a flurry of bombs, rockets and machine gun fire, before landing on a short dirt strip or road and functioning as as air extraction for the departing Cobra forces. In an age of unmanned drone warfare, it makes sense for Cobra to top US drones by firstly being rocket powered and secondly being able to hold a trooper if needs be. It never included a specialized pilot and this supports the theory that it is deployed in such capacity and can be returned to base as a drone vehicle, without the occupant having to undergo too much specialized training in its operation.
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