Operation Grayia Caesar at TAGCOM 2010

TS1:18 -- the group of 1:18 scale G.I. Joe enthusiasts and collectors I'm a part of -- was invited to participate and exhibit during the 4th TAGCOM Toys & Hobbies Convention last Feb 28, 2010 at the Robinsons Midtown Mall Atrium in Ermita, Manila. The guys were inspired to portray a series of dioramas chronicling the events of a fictitious Visit, board, search, and seizure or VBSS operation conducted by G.I. Joe against their nemesis Cobra.VBSS is the term for maritime boarding actions and tactics, designed to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections, as employed by modern navies, marine and maritime services, military and police forces. Grayia Caesar is a name for the African Water Snake.

The diorama had as its centerpiece a 3 level oil rig playset with a helipad as well as provisions to link up with Hasbro's Tactical Battle Platform playsets as well as accomodate a variety of watercraft -- running the gamut from G.I. Joe's early releases to the more recent vintage of ROC vehicles. The playset and the vehicles are complemented by a veritable army of Joes and Cobra soldiers -- from your standard stock figures, to rares and even squads of awesome custom figures. And did I mention the sharks?

Every now and then, the guys would change the vehicles and figures and advance the story. Steelbrig, our resident Doc, posted a possible scenario on how the events of Grayia Caesar may have played out:

Scene opens with an unobtrusive oil rig in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico which in reality is a fortified forward observation post for Cobra. Slipstream already made a fly by with a Conquest X-30 over the area but was not alerted to Cobra's presence. From a speed boat, a disguised Shipwreck observes the base and notes how a Moray Hydrofoil freely docks and delivers supplies to the air-sea base.

Meanwhile at the Tactical Battle Platform, Dialtone receives the intel from Shipwreck. The Joes are now alerted to Cobra's presence in the Gulf. Hawk is already briefing a handful of Joes for the mission.He dispatches an assault team led by Duke aboard the W.H.A.L.E. with a couple of S.H.A.R.C.s forming the attack group headed by Deep-Six. Wild Bill provides air support with Ghost Hawks. Back at the oil rig, the seemingly inconspicuous air-sea base hides an arsenal of anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missiles. Hidden within its confines is a squadron of Cobra Flight Pods ready for deployment.

Let Operation Grayia Caesar begin! Photos below are from Zhai.