ROADBLOCK (v1)
HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER
Series: Three (1984)
Roadblock was first released carded as part of the third series (1984). Roadblock was also sold in 1985, then discontinued in 1986.
Images
Accessories
Roadblock came with a light green helmet, a brown backpack, a brown ammo box (that attached to the backpack), a light green M-2X machine gun, and a light green tripod.
Packaging Information
Filecard Information
File Name: Hinton, Marvin F.
SN: RA538203485
Grade: E-4
Birthplace: Biloxi, Mississippi
Primary Specialty: Infantry Heavy Weapons
Secondary Specialty: Cook
Roadblock's dream was to be a gourmet chef. He was working as a bouncer to earn money to attend the Escoffier School in France when an army recruiter convinced him that the army could train him to be a chef. Roadblock joined but found army menus and preparation techniques too appalling. Transferred to the infantry. Qualified expert: M-2 Browning .50 cal.; Heavy Machine Gun; all Warsaw Pact Heavy MGs; M-16; M-1911A1 Auto Pistol.
"A .50 cal. Browning weighs 84 pounds. Add fifty pounds for the ammo-that's about 134 pounds of steel generating 2930 f.p.s. in muzzle velocity at a cyclic rate of 55 r.p.m. Anybody who can handle that doesn't need a machine gun to keep me away!"
Variations
Roadblock's helmet, machine gun, and tripod were molded in bright green or dull green plastic. The dull green plastic tends to leak a red fluid after several years. This fluid can be wiped off easily, however.
Featured In
Roadblock was featured in several of the various media of GI Joe through the years, including Trading Cards, Comic Books, Cartoons and Commercials.
Body Construction
Roadblock's body mold is entirely original.
The entire body mold was re-used to create Roadblock (v3/Tiger Force) (1988), Double Blast (2001), Roadblock (v8) (2002), and Roadblock (v12/Night Force) (2004).
Roadblock's legs were later used for Starduster (1987) and the legs and waist were used to create Leatherneck (v4) (2001). The forearms were later used to create Flint (v9/Night Force) (2004) and Flint (v10) (2005).
Note that the figure's head only turns left and right - it does not allow the head to look up and down. The heads only turned left and right until the the swivel ball head that was introduced in 1985 (Series Four).
International Releases
Roadblock was released in France and Europe on Action Force cards.
Takara released Roadblock in Japan in 1986. Note that the card art actually comes from Roadblock (v2) (1986).
Versions of Roadblock
Note that Roadblock (v8) has a file name of "Charles L. Griffith," making that figure a version of "Double Blast" (2001). However, the conventional wisdom is that this was simply an error on Hasbro's part, and that the figure is supposed to be the "Marvin F. Hinton" Roadblock of the other versions.
Reference Information
The below information contains information about references to various collector's guides, Hasbro references, original retail prices, and other reference material related to Roadblock (v1).|
Original Retail: $2.25 Product Number: 6419 Lee's Guide: GIJ-84009 The Ultimate Guide: Pg. 37 (1st Ed.), Pg. 56 (2nd Ed.) |
Desimone Guide: #40 Tomart's Guide: #GI5255 RAHC/Rank & File: n/a Action Figure Archive Guide: n/a |
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