REVIEW II: STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive USMC 2nd MEB Marine aka USMC SSgt. Nantz

Having reviewed the box packaging and its contents earlier HERE, now we see the fully decked out STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine 12-inch military figure (with Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent head sculpt from "The Dark Knight (2008)") also known as 1/6 scale USMC Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz 12-inch figure from "World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles".

Officially, this Soldier Story USMC 2nd MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade) Marine is based in Afghanistan Helmand province but unofficially, he was seen in Los Angeles when the aliens attacked Earth. This is a much better looking SSgt. Michael Nantz than the one I tried to kitbash earlier (see my post HERE) because of the more accurate USMC kit (gear and accessories).

Scroll down to see turnaround views of this amazingly accurate STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: 1/6 scale USMC 2nd MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade) Marine in Afghanistan Helmand province figure, now kitbashed as USMC SSgt. (Staff Sergeant) Michael Nantz, 2/5 (2nd Battalion 5th Marines), based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.

The STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine comes with the Woodlands MARPAT assault pack, which the regular release will not have. Also exclusive to this set but not shown in this post /entry is the 1:6 scale Desert MARPAT 8-point cover (i.e. US Marine Corps hat), one of the toy fair / convention exclusive items. Also left out is the Googles with Cover. The missing items can be found in my earlier post HERE.

Besides switching out the Soldier Story Exclusive USMC 2nd MEB Marine 1/6 scale head and 12-inch body (including the gloved hands), I also changed boots because I wasn't fond of the clownish looking USMC boots produced by Soldier Story due to the long vamp. You can see both the original head and boots in my earlier post.

Here' a look at the USMC Hydrapak With Tube, missing from my earlier kitbash.

I really like the CQC (Close Quarter Combat) M1911 Holster, CQC Pistol Magazine Case x 2 with M1911 Pistol Magazines (x 2) and M1911 MEU Pistol (with magazine).

The M4 with PEQ15 and M203 grenade launcher is also unique to this exclusive release. Not exactly what USMC SSgt. Nantz had with him in the film ("World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles") but still quite nice nonetheless.

The full USMC loadout includes: LWH Helmet with desert MARPAT Cover, NVG Mount, Desert MARPAT 8-point cover, PVS-14 NVG, USMC Issue MTV Vest with (from top left) Single Mag Pouch, Utility Pouch, M127A Signal Flare Pouch, Hydrapak With Tube, M127A Signal Flare Pouch, Climbing Buckle, Dump Pouch, Single Fragmentation Grenade Pouch x 2, Combat Application Tourniquet, USMC Combat Knife and sheath, AN/PRC 343 Radio Pouch, AN/PRC 343 Radio With Headset, cool shades / sunglasses, Triple 40mm Grenade Pouch x 2, 200-round Pouch, Double Magazine Pouch, Carabiner with Handcuffs x 2

Some close-ups of my take on the STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive 1/6 scale USMC 2nd MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade) Marine in Afghanistan Helmand province 12-inch military action figure. What I've done is to use the Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent head sculpt from "The Dark Knight (2008)" and switch boots as well. Everything else pretty much came with this toy fair / convention exclusive figure.

Here's a closer view of the Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent head sculpt which I felt looked much better than the Soldier Story version.

And here's another look at the Aaron Eckhart head sculpt with PVS-14 NVG (Night Vision Goggles)

The 1/6 scale PVS-14 NVG (Night Vision Goggles) is very detailed and well produced.

Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart headsculpt with AN/PRC 343 Radio and Headset. I admit that Marines do not keep such long hair but when it's under the helmet, you can't really tell.

In the 2011 film "Battle Los Angeles", when the Marines realized that the aliens are homing in to their radio transmissions, they quickly switched off all their radios and relied instead on verbal communications.

USMC SSgt. Nantz grabs a radio and sets it on to draw an alien flying craft up close, then blows it up as it passes by a gas station. He investigates the wreckage and discovers it is a UAV (an unmanned aircraft). The other marines cheer his "John Wayne" heroism.

Close-up views of the STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive M4 with PEQ15 and M203 grenade launcher

In the preview pictures, I didn't see the USMC Hydrapak With Tube so it was quite a pleasant surprise to see that Soldier Story included it as well, along with the exclusive Woodlands MARPAT assault pack.

I was quite intrigued to see the "USMC" words among the digital camouflage pattern on his uniform. Talk about details, now that's a nice touch. The Climbing Buckle actually works like the real thing too.

Overall I'm very pleased with this STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive 1/6 scale USMC 2nd MEB Marine in Afghanistan Helmand province 12-inch military figure. Besides fulfilling my desire for a basic grunt figure (too many special ops / special forces operatives for my liking; in reality, the numbers are the other way around i.e. more grunts, less Special Operations Forces guys), I also get to use the spare Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent head sculpt for a "World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles" 1/6 scale USMC Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz 12-inch figure :) now I'm happy!