Looking for a bit of clarification on the terms. I've searched a bit and found that most prototypes on ebay are actually test shots. Now I picked this piece up recently:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c260/Shogi88/Collection%20toy%20room/TRTS2.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c260/Shogi88/Collection%20toy%20room/TRTS.jpg

I figured for my first one a cheap price would be good :)
I got him today and could tell instantly that this was a newer one (Soft plastic) after checking him out next to a vintage Tunnel Rat I saw that there is no year stamp but it still says "Hasbro" and the waist says "Made in China H-1"

Now is there a way to tell what Tunnel Rat this is a test shot of? Also is there a way to tell if this is really a test shot or if someone at the factory just decided to grab some spare plastic and make a few figures.

Any help is appreciated

Alot of speculation is that people from the factory is taking these & selling them, one guy even said he found them in the trash behind the factory where they are made.
I bought a comic pack Zartan testshot it has in permanent lettering on the bottom "HM".
I would say what you have there is a testshot for a newer version of Tunnel Rat, probably Desert Squad.
Wish I knew more, but what I know is all heresay.

i have a few from this guy too, they are definitly all newer ones he has, but other than that i dont know anything, and i seriously doubt many will, if i were you id pm tattoo shane, he seems to have the most comprehensive knowlegde of these type of joes

Post you own pic when you have it, but linking to an auction of a fig that is most likely a bootleg/midnight run is not allowed. Just a warning for a first time.

how do you know its a bootleg / midnight run?

I bought a set of loose comic pack Dreadnoks (from a U.S. seller) that were the finished product that had "HM" written on their feet

Post you own pic when you have it, but linking to an auction of a fig that is most likely a bootleg/midnight run is not allowed. Just a warning for a first time.


Whoops, sorry. I've edited my original post with my own pics

i have a few from this guy too, they are definitly all newer ones he has, but other than that i dont know anything, and i seriously doubt many will, if i were you id pm tattoo shane, he seems to have the most comprehensive knowlegde of these type of joes

Thanks for the kind words dfunk! Unfortunately, my general area of interest is with "vintage", pre-94 prototypes and i'm a little out of my element with the modern "first-shots". Suffice it to say, there are a lot of theories about these types of figures and all of them have some degree of merit. IMO, Kevin is the best to answer this question as he researched the topic extensively. Ron also knows a lot about them.

I do own a few i've found interesting and i'm happy with the ones i have, if that makes any difference.

yeah the ones i have i truely like so i could care less if they are employee specials or midnight runs or whatever, i just like them, most of mine have actually come from hasbro employees, i only have 6 or so, well anyways i dont really think it matters where they come from as long as there liked

A few years ago while visiting Hong Kong I came across many of these so called testshots, but their wide availability as well as variety there made me think these were indeed some kind of 'midnight run'. They appeared to have many samples of figures from all Hasbro and Kenner lines. A friend even acquired over a hundred pieces from Alien Resurrection to sell...

Kevin is the best to answer this question as he researched the topic extensively. Ron also knows a lot about them.

Hello, it's Ron. Devilcat guessed correctly. That figure was the legitimate test shot to the Desert Patrol 6-Pack set. Click on the link to see a picture of the entire test shot set with that Tunnel Rat.

http://www.treasuresntoys.com/yojoe.htm

God Bless and Yo Joe,
Ron Conner
G.I. Joe Author of 3 Books @ http://www.backinthedaytoys.com/bitdt.htm
G.I. Joe Toy Dealer @ http://www.treasuresntoys.com/gijoe334.htm
G.I. Joe Fan Site Webmaster @ http://www.treasuresntoys.com/webcamp.htm

Cool, thanx for the info!