Elite Operations Military Troops Play Set # 2

 Another Chap Mei figures pack by Toys R Us exclusive line ,"Elite Operations".

Airmen. Pilots, gunners, paratrooper... and a tank commander (!?!).

Included items. No doubt about it, Chap Mei figures look great. May be weak as modern action figures, but as static models, they excel!

Included accessories.

Figures: Pilot - refer to Police Force Patrol Vehicle Playset - Chaser, Captain Red A-6 and original version of the same "Captain Red A-6".

Figures: "Combat pilot", "Paratrooper" with a nice plain gray color, and "Lieutenant Cooper (tank commander)". For more details on this figure, refer to Soldier Force Deluxe Combat Vehicle Playset - Tank

Having the 2 "Captain Red-A6" molds present side by side, the difference is in the arms. Besides the color schemes, of course. The newer version hold a new narrow pair. Much more realistic position.

Spotlight: Earlier pilots paintings. As far as the right one goes, it´s the very first time I ever saw such color scheme. Very nice.

Status: Status: Look for available figures and accessories at CM Surplus Fan Markt

 

Elite Operations Military Troops Play Set # 1

 From the pre-True Heroes era, comes this Toys R Us exclusive repack of Chap Mei figures.

The infamous line had a mix of "original" Chap Mei figures and several others. Today we take a deeper look into the #99620 set. The "Marine Operations Specialists".

Included items. They do look good. And the fact you´re looking at a group of general uniform troops, makes it an even cooler picture. Army-building all the way!

Included accessories.

Included figures. With and without accessories. Left: "Frogman Deepdive" figure mold in 3 different color schemes. For more information on this figure, refer to Soldier Force V Coast Patrol Playset. Right: "Dean Octogear" mold figure in 2 different color schemes - refer to Rescue Squad Coast Patrol Playset with Shark and Frogman (articulated feet version) - refer to "Soldier Force IV Heavy Combat Boat Playset".

Since we´re in the presence of both "Frogman" versions, we´ll grab the opportunity to check the molds differences. Actually, the torso is exactly the same, and the articulated feet figure legs, although different, are in fact inspired by the first version. The articulation detail makes this 2nd figure taller.

A well-deserved spotlight for these two figures. Great underwater marine camouflage. 



Status: Look for available figures and accessories at CM Surplus Fan Markt

  

Group shots: Elite Operations

As told before, Elite Operations was a pre-True Heroes era, and a Toys R Us exclusive with some repacks of Chap Mei figures/vehicles.

It featured mostly Soldier Force series III figures, but also some from the I&II series, as a few from series IV.

The cool thing about this discontinued line was the "variations" aspect. The line spawned a very few differently colored figures to bring some joy to Chap Mei fans. These were NOT bootlegs, but "official" CM products.

Based on Frogman v1, this is an interesting color variation. Slightly similar to Dean Octogear than any other.

My favorite, a marine scheme camouflage based on Frogman Deepdive.

A very interesting variation of the Soldier Force Series I&II pilot. Love the white stripes.

Paratrooper with no camouflage pattern.

Status: Available figures

  

Elite Operations Military Troops Play Set # 3

To finish the 6-packs Elite Operations chapter, the 3rd of the 3 is finally here presented.

 
Ground troops... and a frogman (?!?).

Included items. Soldier Force has always been the top notch of Chap Mei marketing strenght.

 Included accessories.

Figures: "Flamethrower Burns" - his flamethrower is sadly not present. For more details on this figure, refer to Soldier Force Deluxe Combat Vehicle Playset - Truck, "Tactic Commander Owl 218" - For more details on this figure, refer to "Soldier Force Deluxe Combat Vehicle Playset - Humvee", and "Techno Sniper Nighthawk" - For more details on this figure, refer to "Soldier Force Deluxe Combat Vehicle Playset - Tank". These last 2 figures are in some aspects similar to Hitman movie´s FSB shocktroops. Probably no relation, but an interesting detail nevertheless.

Figures: For more detail on the left-hand side figure, refer to "Soldier Force Deluxe Combat Vehicle - Tank", "Colonel Stewart(Zone Commander)". For more details on this one, refer to "Soldier Force Deluxe Combat Vehicle Playset - Truck". And Frogman (articulated feet version) - refer to "Soldier Force IV Heavy Combat Boat Playset".

Status: Unavailable

Elite Operations Air Force Helicopter

Another entry about the "failed" elite operations branch of Toys R Us "exclusive" toys. Elite Operations Air Force Freedom Helicopter and Soldier - Toys R Us Exclusive This one about a repaint of the first Chap Mei true "ace". Their version of the Boeing Vertol "CH-47 Chinook".

Still available with "True Heroes" colors, this set is an absolute must for any 1:18 (toy/model) enthusiast and especially, RAH G.I.Joe fans. The first version I ever got to hold was from "Wild Quest" line and yellow in color: Wild Quest Rescue Patrol : Transport Helicopter

Not only the toy is an almost direct tracing of the original, even the base is there. That huge gray (the originals being black) smooth base makes a beautiful display.

Included items.

Accessories view.

Figure: "Lieutenant Cooper (Tank Commander)". For more details on this figure, refer to Soldier Force Deluxe Combat Vehicle Playset - Tank

Jeep. A repaint from the original first Chap Mei series. Police, Soldier, Dino, Wild etc. Back in the day, this thing was part of Chap Mei´s bread and butter.

A decent (and for years sought after) Joe army addition. Easy to customize or use in this fairly great "Delta" paint scheme.

Doors. The whole thing seems to be used to design the fan´s favorite "Osprey" (refer to "Soldier Force Osprey" for comparison). The cargo bay is pretty much the same size and molding but this one has the advantage of that rescue/jump sliding side door.

Cargo bay. Fits Hasbro´s G.I.Joe Vamp, easy. Armadillo and middle size (thin) vehicles.

Hooks. The rescue hook has a wind-up motor. When pulled, goes back up (with an irritating noise). The belly hook works exactly as shown in "Soldier Force Osprey" with all the exact same accessories.

Interesting details. Side cannon, handle (it´s a particularly heavy toy), wheels (again, same as Osprey´s) and the front engine detail. Note that the 2 Light&Sound buttons are not there. This one is not a SFX toy. Those buttons were removed and replaced by small panels.

Angle shots and cockpit access.

Scale shots with a RAH G.I.Joe figure. This baby´s big. And very useful for either Joe or Cobra purposes.

Scale shot with retracted rotor blades. I´ve said it before, I´ll say it again... a MUST.

Status: Available through Amazon.com

Elite Operations Deluxe Military Vehicle Play Set + Bonus

Combo set from the discontinued Toys R Us line, "Elite Operations" which was followed (read replaced) by "True Heroes". You can still find an item or two from this line at Amazon.com, such as the Elite Operations Air Force Freedom Helicopter and Soldier - Toys R Us Exclusive.

 2nd class toys, but still usable in the "Joeverse".

 Included items: 1 tank, 1 helicopter, 6 figures (4 were bonus in this pack) and some accessories.

Included accessories. Some recognizable bootlegs of other lines, such as the Uzi, very similar to the one present in the Sonic Action Hummer. As for the rest, they were also seen in some Auchan sets. Not clear is who copied what from whom. Since all those similar accessory-packed sets came to the market at the same time, it may have been a license given to both by the original mold owners. Who knows...

Included figures. Clone army cannon fodder...

Tank. A small, but not very small armored machine. Not very detailed, but still useful in many ways.

Detail shots. As you can see, it is a "Light & Sound" vehicle. With some effort, a custom work can turn it into a nice combat vehicle.

Helicopter. For more details on this mold with "Rescue" colors, refer to H.E.R.O.E.S. Giant Combo Play Set - Part 2 -

Scale shots to compare included figures with a 3 3/4" action figure. As said before, cannon fodder for your movies, dioramas, or background for action shots.

Scale shots with a RAH G.I.Joe figure. Some of the accessories are VERY good to use with your 1:18 scale figures. The figure fits the tank with little effort, and with MORE effort, you can even close the hatch... well... not bad.

Status: Unavailable