Ranger Recon in ACU with Packbot by Expertoys

This is the Expertoys Ranger Recon (ACU version) with Packbot. Box is pretty straightforward and standard for all 1/6 figures nowadays.

Tray with his accessories

Figure in tray

Basic figure wearing ACU (Army Combat Uniform)

Head sculpt reminds me of Tommy Lee Jones, best known for his appearances as Federal Marshal Samuel Gerard in "The Fugitive (1993)" which won him wide acclaim and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor plus a sequel "US Marshals (1998)", Two-Face in "Batman Forever (1995)", Agent K in the "Men in Black (1997 & 2002)" films and as Sheriff Ed Tom Bell in "No Country for Old Men (2007)". Also played baddie ex-CIA agent William Stranix in "Under Siege (1992)", USMC force recon SGT Steve Butler in Oliver Stone's "Heaven & Earth (1993)", the third film in Stone's Vietnam War trilogy, which included "Platoon (1986)"  and "Born on the Fourth of July (1989)". He was also Major Chip Hazard in "Small Soldiers (1998)" and Colonel Hayes 'Hodge' Hodges in "Rules of Engagement (2000)" alongside Samuel L Jackson's Colonel Terry L Childers. 

Comes with US Army garrison cap or patrol cap - not too bad. Doesn't look like the bucket Dragon gave us when they released USMC LRRP "John" in 2002 with his USMC 8-Point Covers for jarheads and squids. Would have preferred a helmet instead.

Ranger Recon gear - body armor and ACU tactical vest with double M4 magazine pouch, two grenade pouches and one utility pouch, backpack, Motorola Walkie-talkie with ear piece and mic, and four G-locks, a new version of the carabiner

His weapons - a very plain M4 (no AN/PEQ laser pointer nor fore-grip nor surefire tactical light), three fast mags with hard mag holders (the magazine in his M4 is different - what gives?!), tactical holster platform with spare clip, M1911 pistol (just one molded piece, no cocking action on the charger nor removable clip which is the standard these days - WTF? - plus only the USMC is still using the M1911 Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol BUT with modifications, not Army) with suppressor and spent casings.

Spent casings?!! Why would we need spent casings - too little for a diorama and really not much use

One of the reasons for getting this Ranger Recon by Expertoys - The Packbot with X-box 360 controller. This is the RedOwl counter-sniper robot that is being tested for the Future Combat Systems. It's based on the iRobot PackBot intended for use with EOD. The PackBot EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) can be controlled by radio or wired control to handle situations involving potential explosives, thereby reducing the risk of personal injury. More than 1500 PackBots are currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan with hundreds more on the way. The PackBot makes use of a video game-style hand controller (X-box 360) which is extremely familiar to most of the young soldiers of today.

Packbot is packed flat for ease of transportation

Looks very much like Robot Number 5 from the movie "Short Circuit", obvious inspiration for the current Wall•E

 
Packbot comes with rubberised tracks which rotates as it is moved and the head unit can be raised, lowered and rotated.

The smaller outer tracks allow the Packbot to climb stairs and manoeuvre much better

 
Packbot can even dance if you want it to

Close-up of head unit

Pictures of Packbot being used with the Future Combat Systems (note the Multicam uniforms worn and blank attachments on the rifle barrels)

Expertoys Ranger Recon all geared up - shades look better than glasses. Switched the pouches on his assault vest with the hard mag holders for the fast mags

Note the Ghost Recon patch and drop-down pouch

ACU Ranger Recon with Packbot

With ACU Backpack. The X-box controller comes with connecting "wire" but no CPU

Side view of his backpack. Had to replace the M1911 pistol Expertoys included because it couldn't fit into his holster

Here he is at the controls

Close-up of the controller

From wiki - The ACU (Army Combat Uniform) uses a new military camouflage pattern called the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) which blends green, tan and gray to work effectively in desert and urban environments. The color scheme of the Army Combat Uniform is composed of a slate gray, desert sand and foliage green digital pattern. The color black was omitted from the uniform because it is not commonly found in nature. Pure black, when viewed through night vision goggles, appears excessively dark and creates an undesirable high-contrast image. In combat, the gray would tend to match the environment after use; gray is also a neutral color and thus does not tend to catch the eye as more saturated colors would. 

Comparison with other ACU uniforms that I own. IMHO the best and most accurate ACU by far. Here he is standing next to Hot Toys' 10th Mountain Division Sniper which is more green than gray.

Next to Hot Toys TACP ACU which is all smudged and yucky - bad! bad! bad!

Standing next to BBI's 10th Mountain Division "Lucas" in ACU

And finally, with fellow ranger from the 75th Ranger Regiment from Hot Toys