Very Hot 1:6 Sniper in Jungle PREVIEW

Hot on the heels of Zy Toys is Very Hot, trying to play catch up. This is their next release, which is also a sniper (Zy Toys sniper previewed in the previous post) but Very Hot is calling it "Sniper in Jungle" which actually isn't correct at all!

This figure is much more accurate as a USMC Sniper in Iraq circa 2003. In fact, Very Hot practically copied Hot Toys design and released it as their own.

Hot Toys had released a USMC sniper from the 23rd Marine Regiment with Dominic Purcell head sculpt (see picture below). The set came with NBC Suit (Woodland), Frog Chest Rig (Coyote), BDU Pants (3C Desert), Personal Body Armor, Gas Mask Bag (OD), Shooters Rifle Stock Pack with Bullets, Tactical Drop Leg Holster, T-Shirt, Pistol Belt, and Real like Gloves. Accessories included F3 Radio with Soldier Intercom Headset, USMC ISR Radio, Binoculars, Goggles with OD Cover, PASGT Helmet with Cover, PVS-14 NVG Mount, Sunglasses, Watch, Elbow Pads, Knee Pads, and Tactical Boots. Weapons: M40A3 with AN/PVS-10 & MST-100 Rifle Scope, Multi-Purpose Bayonet, M4/M203 Grenade Launcher, and M9 Pistol with Tactical Retention Lanyard.

I had blogged about the USMC in Iraq, 2003 on October 25, 2008 (check out my entry HERE).

The 2003 war fought by the USMC in Iraq was made into a television miniseries (now out on DVD) by HBO titled "Generation Kill". It was based on the book of the same name by Evan Wright about his experience as an embedded reporter with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion‎ of the United States Marine Corps during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Due to the concern that Saddam Hussein might unleash chemical weapons against allied troops, the Marines wore Woodland camouflaged MOPP-4 (Mission-Oriented Protective Posture response level 4) gear over their desert BDUs. Most Marine units were only issued with Woodland camouflage MOPP suits because they just didn't have enough of them in Desert camouflage!

So, as you can see, this Very Hot 1:6 Sniper in Jungle is actually not wearing Woodland BDUs for jungle warfare but Woodland NBC overgarments for battle in the Iraqi desert in preparation for a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) strike. The Overgarments — Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) were specially designed clothing to be worn over the normal uniform. These garments are designed to allow maximum airflow for cooling while keeping chemical and biological agents from reaching the skin of the wearer. Some are equipped with a charcoal lining to neutralize some agents. Military personnel often equip over garments with strips of M9 Detector Paper to identify chemical agents on the battlefield they might come in contact with.

The VeryHot 1:6 Sniper in Iraq Uniform set includes a woodland camo "goretex" hooded jacket and pants, "frog" style chest rig (in DCU camouflage pattern), tan soft body armor, helmet in DCU camouflage pattern cover. He is armed with a pistol and drop down holster and M4 carbine with grenade launcher, but being he's a Sniper (and looking like a USMC Scout Sniper at that), he's carrying the M40 Sniper Rifle. Other items in the set include binoculars, gas mask sub-load, nomex gloves, smoke grenades, desert boots, dust goggles, radio with handset, pistol belt and knee pads.

At least this is a more complete figure than the Zy Toys sniper outfit set (no weapons, no accessories, no boots) and it'll be GREAT if you intend to recreate a scene on the 2003 invasion of Iraq or a Generation Kill kitbash.