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Guy had just finished the Mobile Command Center, and was searching for inspiration for the next big G.I. Joe vehicle. He was stumped for weeks. In the audio clip below Guy discusses his inspiration for the Rolling Thunder: a Marine APC from the 1986 film, Aliens.
When asked what his favorite G.I. Joe product was, Guy picked the Rolling Thunder without hesitation. In the audio clip below Guy discusses the juxtaposition of moms protesting outside of Hasbro while he's developing a toy of mass destruction.
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The ideation sketches below show the Rolling Thunder in early development. Many changes were still in store for this concept.
As the Rolling Thunder moved toward production, a double missile bay was developed, the two man deployable six-wheeled ATSV (all terrain scout vehicle) was downsized, an additional vehicle was cut and replaced with the “Turntable” magnetic array radar/multi-missile air defense,
and many more. Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.
and many more. Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.
The exploded view below was created to show each part that would need to be manufactured, and this would help estimate costing.
This design would still evolve significantly before moving into prototyping and eventually into production.
Note the telescoping tilt-back turret,twin missiles, six missiles housed under each bay door, and cabin interior access ladder.
This design would still evolve significantly before moving into prototyping and eventually into production.
Note the telescoping tilt-back turret,twin missiles, six missiles housed under each bay door, and cabin interior access ladder.
The refined Rolling Thunder development sketches below were provided by Guy Cassaday and more closely reflect the final product.
Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.
Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.
The Polaroids below show the presentation art and costing model, all created by Guy Cassaday.
The Rolling Thunder prototype was built by engineers, but Guy did build the Rolling Thunder's ATSV (all terrain scout vehicle) shown below. This prototype featured two missiles that were cost reduced out of the final product. The Rolling Thunder is Guy's favorite vehicle that he designed.
The 1988 Rolling Thunder made its debut in the 1988 Toy Fair catalog, seen below. The Rolling Thunder was originally designed to include an interior access ladder that swung down from the cabin. This ladder was cost reduced out of the design before the vehicle went into production
