G.I. Joe Wild Bill 2-Up Hand-Painted Preproduction Prototype (Hasbro, 1983)....

Description

G.I. Joe Wild Bill 2-Up Hand-Painted Preproduction Prototype (Hasbro, 1983). This 2-Up preproduction prototype of Wild Bill captures the development of one of the most distinctive personalities in the early A Real American Hero lineup. Introduced in 1983 as the team's helicopter pilot, Wild Bill, real name William S. Hardy, brought a uniquely American, larger-than-life presence to the line, blending combat experience with a cowboy-inspired aesthetic that made him instantly recognizable. He was released exclusively with the Dragonfly Assault Copter (XH-1), one of the most iconic vehicles of the early era. Sculpted at approximately twice the scale of the final 3.75-inch figure, this resin prototype allowed Hasbro's artists to fully realize the character's signature elements, from the wide-brimmed hat and facial features to the layered vest and flight gear. Pieces at this scale were used in conjunction with pantograph machinery to translate the sculpt into steel tooling, preserving those details for production. Hand-painted at this stage as a paint master, the figure closely matches the final retail release, with only subtle tonal variations in color application. As typical of 2-Ups from this era, the figure is cast in resin from the original sculpt and constructed from multiple components but is not functional as an articulated toy, with joints glued and painted. This lot comes from the Derryl DePriest collection and is accompanied by a COA signed by Derryl DePriest. A standout representative from the formative years of G.I. Joe, this Wild Bill 2-Up embodies the character-driven design philosophy that helped define the line, preserving the exact moment this fan-favorite pilot took shape before reaching collectors and store shelves.

More Information: The prototype remains in excellent condition, with clean paint application and intact construction throughout.

Derryl DePriest is a longtime toy industry executive and pop culture historian who served as Vice President of Global Brand Management at Hasbro from 2001 to 2018, overseeing major initiatives for Star Wars and G.I. Joe during a transformative era for collector-focused product. During his tenure, Hasbro launched key lines including The Vintage Collection and the 6-inch Star Wars: The Black Series, both of which reshaped modern action figure presentation and articulation standards. A lifelong G.I. Joe enthusiast and recognized liaison between Hasbro and the collector community, DePriest later authored Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Archive Edition and has contributed extensively to documenting the history of G.I. Joe. Items offered from his collection reflect the perspective of an executive who helped guide some of the most influential collector-driven brands of the modern era.


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