STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine REVIEW

This was the Soldier Story Exclusive at STGCC 2011 (Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention): USMC 2nd MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade) Marine in Afghanistan Helmand province. I was keen to get the figure partly because it was based on the 2011 American military science fiction war film Battle: Los Angeles (also known as Battle: LA and World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles) which was about a United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (played by Aaron Eckhart) who has just had his retirement approved but has to go back into the line of duty in order to assist a young 2nd Lieutenant and his platoon as they fight to reclaim the city of Los Angeles from alien invaders.

As far as I can tell, the Marines in the movie were wearing the correct attire and gear, as in current and not outdated, and it's always nice to have a properly kitted out Marine / jarhead. Soldier Story has been producing some of the best 1/6 scale military figures of late and so made this EXCLUSIVE release a no-brainer for me, especially since they've added in some extras because this is a convention / toy fair exclusive :) The regular yet-to-be released version 1.0 was previewed earlier HERE

The STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine even comes in its own special exclusive paper bag with STGCC logo (designed by yours truly) printed on it as well. The bag contains the box with a slip-case cover showing off another picture of the Soldier Story USMC 2nd Marine Expedition Battalion 12-inch figure.

Remove the slip-case cover and you get this sleek looking all-black box packaging with silver ink stamped words.

Remove the shoe-box type cover and the figure is revealed fitted snugly inside a sponge tray, along with its accessories for easy removal with no twisty ties, which means no fuss and no hassle.

A closer look at the STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine 1/6 scale head sculpt which is supposed to resemble Aaron Eckhart as USMC SSgt. (Staff Sergeant) Michael Nantz, 2/5 (2nd Battalion 5th Marines, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and fall under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division). The 1/6 scale Desert MARPAT 8-point cover (i.e. US Marine Corps hat) is one of the toy fair / convention exclusive items. MARPAT (short for MARine PATtern) is a digital camouflage pattern in use with the United States Marine Corps, introduced with the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU), which replaced the Camouflage Utility Uniform.

Also included is the new and improved USMC ID Patch, with Nantz's name and rank imprinted for movie accuracy.

Also different from the regular release (which is yet to come) is this 1/6 scale M4 with PEQ15 and M203 grenade launcher instead of the M16 assault rifle.

Last but not least, the STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine also comes with the Woodlands MARPAT assault pack, which the regular release will not have.

Here's a close-up of the USMC Issue 15650 Boots (also called USMC RAT Temperate danner boots) which I don't particularly fancy because it is rather long and looks like clown shoes to me, as in Ronald McDonald's clown shoes.

Here's the STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine 12-inch figure out of the box, with 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart as USMC SSgt. (Staff Sergeant) Michael Nantz head sculpt and exclusive Desert MARPAT 8-point cover plus new and improved USMC ID Patch. The US Marine Corps hat is good to have but I don't really need it since I prefer to pose my figures wearing the helmet, ready for combat!

And here's the Soldier Story Aaron Eckhart as Michael Nantz head sculpt. The problem I have is that the head looks a wee bit BIGGER than 1/6 scale and he does look a little old for a Marine.

Not convinced about the head size? Here's the Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB Marine 12-inch military figure standing side-by-side with a kitbashed USMC Staff Sergeant Nantz I put together earlier using the Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent head sculpt from "The Dark Knight (2008)" (you can see more pictures of my kitbash USMC Nantz 12-inch figure HERE). Comparing heads, the Soldier Story version does look a tad bigger.

I also prefer the Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart head sculpt which I intend to use when I put this Soldier Story Exclusive: USMC 2nd MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade) Marine in Afghanistan Helmand province figure together. I also intend to use the Playhouse boots which I had used earlier for my kitbash as I find the Soldier Story version clownish due to the long vamp. So here's Hot Toys 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart wearing Soldier Story USMC Issue T-Shirt, desert MARPAT Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) Shirt & Pants with belt, CQC M1911 Holster, CQC Pistol Magazine Case x 2 with M1911 Pistol Magazines (x 2) and M1911 MEU Pistol (with magazine) in gloved hand.

And here's the rest of the USMC 2nd MEB (Marine Expeditionary Brigade) Marine's kit: 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

A closer look at the very nice and detailed 1:6 scale AN/PRC 343 Radio With Headset and sunglasses

And here's the rest of his combat gear: LWH Helmet with desert MARPAT Cover, NVG Mount, Desert MARPAT 8-point cover, Googles with Cover, PVS-14 NVG and Woodlands MARPAT assault pack.

Weapons for war: M4 + M203 Assault Rifle, AN/PEQ 15 MIPIM, Grenade Launcher Leaf Sight, ACOG TA31 RCO 4x32 Scope w/ Doctor Red Dot, Filter, bungi sling, 40mm Grenade x 6, M4 Magazines x 6 + 1 in rifle.

Another view of the Soldier Story Exclusive 1:6 scale M4 + M203 Assault Rifle and M67 Fragmentation Grenades x 2

Items I won't be using include: USMC Issue Gloves, a pair of bendy hands, wrist watch, extra Handcuffs x 2. The Soldier Story S2 body has been stripped of its clothes but I've left the USMC Issue 15650 Boots (also called USMC RAT Temperate danner boots) on. The Soldier Story Aaron Eckhart head looks too big and the S2 body comes with an additional thigh piece that looks very similar to what Hot Toys did with their advanced TrueType body (see pictures HERE).

A closer look at the additional thigh piece with veins popping (kind of weird looking to me). The crotch area is also made up of rubber whereas the rest of the S2 body is hard plastic. The reason for this escapes me. You can also see how long the vamp is for the boots. It's like they were made for the Joker when it is actually Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart in "The Dark Knight") who is wearing them.

Another look at the spare items which I won't be using for kitting out this STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive 1/6 scale USMC 2nd MEB Marine 12-inch military figure

NEXT: Fully kitted out Soldier Story Exclusive 1/6 scale USMC 2nd MEB Marine OR upgraded version of 1/6 scale Aaron Eckhart as USMC Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz 12-inch figure from "World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles".