JoeDeclassified.com

(This is the first time that BOTH canceled Mechs have appeared together in one image (in the hands of collectors) for an internet review. Courtesy of Nitro-B.A.T. w/ a special nod also to Roshan. This is also the first time the Grey Market "hybrid" Mech has been photographed
outside of the ebay images.)

The following images are from the collection of Nitro-B.A.T. Photos by Nitro-B.A.T.

For larger pictures, check out the front page: http://www.joedeclassified.com/?p=629

Recently, an oddity surfaced through the Grey Market in China: a mystery mech. It seemed to be a hybrid of sorts, comprised of parts and aesthetics from both the canceled POC Cobra Minotaur and the canceled POC Mountain Wolf mechs. Well, thanks to Joe Declassified supporter and hobby lurker Nitro-B.A.T., we get an in-hand look at this oddity along with comparison shots to the 2 canceled mechs. As you can see from the pictures, the oddity mech is not only a hybrid, but also a mutation. It carries over the frosted canopy of the Mountain Wolf but its camo is not a straight carry over from the Minotaur. In fact, the camo is inverted. Error? Preproduction piece?

Or something else entirely?


From left to right:
Canceled Pursuit of Cobra Mountain Wolf Mech, Unidentified "Hybrid" Mech, Canceled Pursuit of Cobra Cobra Minotaur Mech.







Both Canceled Pursuit of Cobra Mechs w/ drivers (Arctic Threat Alpine + Desert Assault Desert Scorpion)





"Hybrid Desert Wolf Mech" (At least that's what I'm calling it)






Canceled Cobra Minotaur Mech







Canceled Mountain Wolf Mech






Comparison pics below in next post.

Could the hybrid mech just be a test piece for seeing how the frosting on the glass and the camo paint mask would look?

It just seems like the hybrid may be a step behind the Minotaur since it doesn't have the silver highlights the Minotaur has

Very possible. Nitro-B.A.T. was kind enough to bring all three mechs to the Declassified Booth for Coil Con and so everyone had a chance to give them a once over and toss about ideas and theories. The frosted canopy suggests that the easy answer is what you've suggested, Shogi. But the canopy could just be a place holder. It may have nothing to do with the rest of the mech. The Minotaur is supposed to be the final, realized product. But the hybrid camo seems to have MORE detail than the Minotaur. Suggesting that either the Minotaur was watered down, or that the Minotaur pre-dates the hybrid.
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If it wasn't for that extra detail on the hybrid camo... that grey mixed in with the inverted brown/black combo etc... I'd say it was an easy error or simple paint testing prepro piece. It is that extra step that gives it that small dose of uncertainty. Although it is possible, as you've said, that this was to test the more sophisticated paint apps of both mechs (since the rest of the Mountain Wolf isn't as "ornate" as its rival the Cobra Minotaur).

I keep hoping the canceled mechs show up at Ross one day.