Action Packs

Action Packs were primarily small vehicles. They could be broken down and carried on Joes back. Included among these were the first GI Joe motorcycle(Irwin junk doesn't count), the "Flying Space Adventure" rocket pack, a portable car, a helicopter and the standard Joe raft with breakdown oars and a carrying case.

Rescue Raft

Another version of the standard GI Joe life raft, this time in orange. A green plastic backpack was included to carry the raft in when it was deflated. The paddle for the set would break down into two pieces and insert into the side of the backpack. The removable top of the backpack also included a compass. Later reissued as part of the "Attack at Vulture Falls" window box with the pack and oar molded in brown and the compass on the lid removed. The elastic straps were also replaced with brown rubber straps. Near my house when I was growing up was a very wide, but shallow creek. It was a great setting for Joe adventures and a perfect place for the "Rescue Raft". The creek flowed rather slowly but there were a couple of places where it would flow over and down some rocks. Putting your Joe in the raft and letting him float down stream was just like sending him down the rapids. Unfortunately due to the lack of depth in the creek it didn't offer much for a deep sea diver or a Joe in scuba gear so the other Sea Adventurer sets were relegated to the bath tub.

Parts list: Orange inflatable raft. On the side of the raft printed in black "G.I. Joe Life Raft". Two part tan oar, green plastic case with two black elastic straps and AT decal, green top for case with compass. Instruction book.

Fire Fighting

A brand new piece of equipment. This consisted of a red backpack with a fire hose and nozzle. By pressing a black button on the pack the hose would spray water. In other words it works just like a squirt gun.

Parts list: Red backpack with black plunger button and AT decal, black plastic fire hose, red fire nozzle. Instruction book.

Escape Car

A golf cart looking vehicle which broke down and folded up to fit on Joes back. Also looks very similar to the Apollo moon rover. Later issued in the "Trouble at Vulture Pass" window box with no apparent variations.

Parts list: White car body, four blue wheels, red steering column and handgrips, red seat with seat belt, red pack frame with two green cloth straps to allow Joe to wear the folded car on his back.

Underwater Explorer

A new version of the sea sled in a much more compact size. This is a white sled with blue and black trim. There are two propellors (non-working) in the back of the sled for propulsion. Later issued in yellow in the "Jaws of Death" window box.

Parts list: Disassembles into the following four parts: Front windshield with two black handles, main body with elastic backpack straps, blue rudder, propellor section with two small AT decals. Instruction book.

Life Line Catapult

This is basically a grappling hook launcher with a yellow and black hook and a mirror for sighting. Joe wears this backpack in reverse and you sight down through the mirror to aim, while flipping a yellow switch to launch. It really works provided you are in range of the nylon cord attached to the grappling hook. The Life Line Catapult and Signal flasher were issued together in a box set. I have the Canadian box and I'm not sure if they were issued this way in the U.S.

Parts list: Disassembles into the following four parts: Yellow and black grappling hook, yellow firing tube which contains the spring and trigger, yellow tube that contains the cord and ties to the hook, main body with sighting mirrors and AT decal. Instruction book.

Drag Bike

The first GI Joe motorcycle. Someone I'm sure will point to that blow molded Irwin junk, but we're talking Hasbro here. This set consisted of a motorcycle which breaks down allowing Joe to carry it on his back. Unlike a traditional motorcycle Joe has to lay prone on this one to ride. Hence the name "Drag Bike". I remember very vividly the day one of my friends purchased this baby with his allowance. We all were admiring how cool it was when the "kid sister" snapped one of the handgrips off trying to force Joe onto it. Man did we hate her.

Parts list: Main body red/black with seat and two small AT decals, silver handlebars with elastic straps, front axle with black removable hub, front wheel, two back wheels, back axle with black removable hub, grey frame with engine. Instruction book.

Flying Rescue

This is the rocket pack from "Flying Space Adventure", but now it's molded in red and blue.

Parts list: Main rocket body in red with small AT decal, two blue arms with handgrips, blue top section with wheel for "flying", nylon string on a hand winder. Instruction book.

Sail Car (1st issue), Windboat (reissue)

A vehicle similar to those things you see people cruising through the desert on. The entire thing disassembles and fits onto Joes back. If you have a good wind it really works!

Parts list: Main triangular deck body molded in blue with front wheel, two rear wheels, yellow plastic sail with yellow rope for steering, four yellow mast/supports to hold sail up. Instruction book.

Signal Flasher

A blue backpack with a red flasher light on top. There is a switch on the back that causes the light to blink when you press it. The morse code is also printed on the back for reference. The Life Line Catapult and Signal flasher were issued together in a box set. I have the Canadian box and I'm not sure if they were issued this way in the U.S.

Parts list: Blue backpack with red light, radio headset and large AT decal.

Turbo Copter

Similar to a jet pack but this has a helicopter rotor instead of a rocket engine. There is a button on the side of the backpack and when you press it the rotors spin similar to those on the AT helicopter. Later issued in black as part of the "Black Widow Rendezvous" set.

Parts list: Main copter pack molded in yellow with two black arms with handgrips, silver rotor with three rubber tips on the end similar to those on the AT Helicopter. Instruction book.

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