Thursday, October 29, 2009

G.I. Joe "Saving Private Ryan" Tom Hanks Figure

When the movie "Saving Private Ryan" was about to be released in 1998, it was rumored that a 1/6 scale World War II US Army 2nd Ranger military figure with Tom Hanks as Captain John H Miller head sculpt was to be released. There were even pictures circulated and it got collectors excited. Apparently the film producer and director Steven Spielberg did not sign off on it and the G.I. Joe Normandy Ranger was released without the Tom Hanks head. However, the Tom Hanks head with five o'clock shadow did appear on the secondary market and I got hold of it.

It was a matter of replacing the G.I. Joe Collectors' Club Limited Edition Second World War Normandy Ranger head with the Tom Hanks John H Miller head sculpt to get a "Saving Private Ryan" 1/6 scale Captain John H Miller military figure. I also replaced the M1 helmet and M1A1 Thompson sub-machine gun.







Close-up of the 1/6 Tom Hanks as Captain John H Miller with five o'clock shadow head sculpt. Obviously head sculpts have improved much since but I'm a sentimental guy. I still have some of my vintage figures and although they are not as detailed as the ones being released now, I liked them for what they meant back then. They are also good for comparison with the standard that can be achieved now. Case in point: the recently released excellent DiD 1/6 scale 12-inch Second World War US Army 2nd Ranger Marksman "Private Daniel" (with Barry Pepper likeness as he appeared in "Saving Private Ryan") reviewed HERE

This M1 helmet is from the recently released Soldier Story WWII US 2nd Ranger Battalion rifleman (Previewed HERE) and does not have the Captain bars in front. It also goes to show how small Soldier Story's 1/6 heads are because the bodies they use are bigger than Hasbro's G.I. Joe Classic Collection bodies yet the helmet seems tight and small on this head.

G.I. Joe Collectors' Club Limited Edition Exclusive Second World War Normandy Ranger came with helmet (replaced with Soldier Story 2nd Ranger helmet) and outfit consisting of shirt, pants, combat field jacket, Ranger assault vest with Entrenching Tool and e-tool holder, leggings and ankle boots. The figure is equipped with an ammo bag, M1A1 Thompson sub-machine gun (also replaced with one by Cotswold), .45 pistol with holster, Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), knife with fabric sheath, and web belt with canteen with cover. The original head was a Club exclusive WWII head with red hair and blue eyes, and came in a traditional long box. Pictures of the original head sculpt can be seen in pictures I posted under "June 6, 1944: D-Day".

Added these two fragmentation grenades.

His Ranger tab/insignia

The ammo bag and his Combat Knife in sheath





Here's the Tom Hanks as Captain John H Miller with five o'clock shadow head sculpt without helmet

Another Tom Hank as Captain John H Miller head sculpt with WWII US Army Ranger outfit by Dragon was posted HERE and pictures of the 1/6 Tom Hanks as Captain Miller with 1/6 Matt Damon as Private First Class James Francis Ryan can be seen HERE


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The helmet you used is a Sergeant's helmet. Miller's in the movie is with a vertical captain's bar at the front and another vertical bar at the rear instead of the horizontal one as shown. The Sergeant helmet here is from SS's "close-to-Tom Hanks" Ranger released last month.

alex teo said...

thanks for the input although i did mention that in my post. This is still better than Hasbro's plastic helmet with the "ear mufflers" (sponge) at the two sides.

HoweFeltrsnatch said...

I own the actual Tom hanks Joe with both final product head and one of a kind prototype head hand dated on neck in ink by hasbro. Can't say in detail who I received it from
but got it as a gift from a family member who was apart of the film in the 90's. Collectors estimate its worth at $3-$5000, but I hav never had offers or heard of anyone willing too purchase the figure for more than $900. I've been collecting 80's 3,3/4" joes for 15 years and have the second largest collection known in the world after Leo dicaprio. need too sell collection too send my son to school. ChristopherNoel513@yahoo.com costume designer for snakeeyes of the GiJoe films