Review: Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC Rifleman Uniform Set - Semper Fi (Always Faithful)

This is the Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC (United States Marine Corps) Rifleman Uniform Set (Note: NO 12-inch figure is included!). It is supposedly based on a US Marine Infantryman stationed in Afghanistan. Infantry is the central component of Marine ground forces. Infantrymen are trained to locate, close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, or repel the enemy's assault by fire and close combat. Riflemen serve as the primary scouts, assault troops and close combat forces within each infantry unit. The USMC Rifleman is trained in close combat, operating either the M16A4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher or the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.

When I first saw preview pictures of this VeryHot 1/6th scale USMC Rifleman Outfit set for 12-inch Figures, I was wondering why the Marine was wearing the Digital Woodland camouflage uniform instead of the Digital Desert Camo but have found out since that this is what the US Marines are currently wearing in Afghanistan.

The description on the box packaging cover reads:
"U.S. Marine Corps is the oldest elite force with about 194,000 men and women. It is even bigger than most countries' armed forces. U.S. Marine Corps is the major U.S. combat force of Rapid reaction force which has a long and remarkable history."

Contents of the Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC (United States Marine Corps) Rifleman Uniform Set are laid out in the next two pictures :) The USMC Rifleman Outfit set Features: Desert MARPAT Lightweight Helmet, NVG Mount, Night Vision Gear / Goggles, Woodland MARPAT Fatigues (shirt and pants), Dust Goggles, USMC Boots, Radio with Headset, Gloved Hands, M72 LAW Rocket Launcher, M16 Rifle, Beretta M9 Pistol, Zip Cuffs (x2), Carabiner (x2), Smoke Grenades (x2), Flare (x2), M67 Fragmentation Grenades (x3), Light Sticks (x3)

Dump Pouch, Radio Pouch, Plate Carrier Body Armor, Flare Pouch (x2), Hydration Pack, Three Fragmentation Grenade Pouches, Triple M16 Magazine Pouch, USMC KaBar Knife and Sheath, Horizontal Pouch (medium), SAW Pouch, Drop Down Pistol Holster, OD Belt, Horizontal Pouch (large), Side Panels (x2)

No recruit earns the Marine title without first gaining proficiency as a marksman with the M16 service rifle. Designed for three-round burst or single-shot semi-automatic firing, the M16 is lightweight, yet still pinpoint accurate, capable of hitting targets with precision at a maximum effective range of 550 meters.

The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW as well as LAWS Light Anti-Armor Weapons System) is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon. In early 1963 the LAW was adopted by the United States Army and the United States Marines as their primary individual infantry anti-tank weapon, replacing the M31 HEAT rifle grenade and the M20A1 "Super Bazooka" in the US Army.

Although generally thought of as a Vietnam War era weapon which has been superseded by more powerful AT4, the M72 LAW has found a new lease of life in the ongoing (2006) operations in Iraq by the US Army and Afghanistan by the US Marine Corps and Canadian Army.

This 1/6th scale M72 LAW can be extended into the firing mode and comes with the rocket as well :)

Here's a Hot Toys True Type 12-inch figure with 1/6th scale Wentworth Miller head sculpt wearing the Very Hot USMC Woodland MARPAT Uniform and USMC boots

Every Marine must be able to deliver accurate fire on targets at 200, 300 and 500 meters, but accuracy at shorter distances is just as important. Considered a defensive weapon by the Marine Corps, the M9 Beretta is a lightweight, semi-automatic, double-action pistol. The standard sidearm in the Marine Corps, the M9 is an effective weapon at up to 50 meters.

The Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC boots (NOT boot-feet but should have been) was quite a pain to put on. They seem to be made too small for the feet and it was quite a challenge to squeeze both feet into them. Very Hot's quality has always been suspect and apparently still is. They are nowhere near Soldier Story's high standards but they do offer variety at a very affordable price point ;p

Here's the fully kitted out 1/6th scale Marine 12-inch figure with the Very Hot USMC Rifleman Uniform / Outfit set. At the end of it all, even though there are still some quality issues, I really like how this Very Hot USMC uniform set came together. The Marine looks rather complete and well geared up for battle :)

I couldn't get around the helmet straps of Very Hot's USMC Rifleman uniform set :( It is not as well made as Soldier Story's version where the straps fit nicely around the neck for the correct look (see my post HERE of the STGCC 2011 Soldier Story Exclusive USMC 2nd MEB Marine). In the end, it's just a case of tucking in the excess straps into the uniform and hiding them from view.

There was also no way I could get the radio headset under the helmet as well. That would mean a really really really small head or a very BIG helmet. I decided to pose the figure without wearing the radio headset instead.

Other gripes: some of the straps / buckles came off when I was putting them onto the Marine's MTV vest. The blade of the USMC combat knife came off from the handle. These were rectified with some superglue and double-sided tapes. There isn't a lot of detailing on the M16 rifle and M72 LAW. They don't look very finished i.e. more work could have been done on them.

So if you can overlook all the bad things I've mentioned about this Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC Rifleman Uniform Set, then you've got yourself a rather decent figure. Not top notch but not too bad either. Check out the pictures I've posted, including the close-up views (scroll down to see them).

Overall, a pretty decent 1/6th scale representation of the USMC (United States Marine Corps) Rifleman as seen in the Area of Operations that is Afghanistan. Despite some of the setbacks and quality issues, I'm still pleasantly surprised at how this Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC Rifleman Uniform Set turned out.

Scroll down to see more pictures and turnaround views showing what goes where :) accessories, items and such (as a general guide anyway). I left out the dump pouch and goggles when I put this figure together, no particular reason for that, just didn't want to clutter it further ;p anyway, hope you enjoy the pictures – I took quite a LOT but posted just these few (25 pictures in this toy blog post) because this USMC Rifleman 12-inch figure was just so much fun to shoot.

The M16 (officially Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for semi-automatic, three-round burst and full-automatic fire. The rifle entered United States Army service and was deployed for jungle warfare operations in South Vietnam in 1963, becoming the U.S. military's standard service rifle of the Vietnam War by 1969, replacing the M14 rifle in that role. Since the Vietnam War, the M16 rifle family has been the primary service rifle of the U.S. armed forces.

Newer models have a "flattop" upper receiver with a Picatinny rail, to which the user can attach either a conventional sighting system or numerous optical devices such as night vision scopes.

The development of the M16A2 rifle was originally requested by the United States Marine Corps as a result of the USMC's combat experience in Vietnam with the XM16E1 and M16A1. In addition to the new rifling, the barrel was made with a greater thickness in front of the front sight post to resist bending in the field and to allow a longer period of sustained fire without overheating. The rest of the barrel was maintained at the original thickness to enable the M203 grenade launcher to be attached.

The front grip was modified from the original triangular shape to a round one, which better fitted smaller hands and could be fitted to older models of the M16. The new handguards were also symmetrical so that armories need not separate left and right spares.

The M16A4 is the fourth generation of the M16 series. It is equipped with removable carrying handle, and full length quad picatinny rail for mounting optics and other ancillary devices. The Colt M16A4 model RO945, using safe / semi / burst selective fire, is now the standard issue for front-line U.S. Marine Corps.

Scroll down for close-up views of the Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC Rifleman Uniform Set, outfitted in a Hot Toys True Type 12-inch figure with 1/6th scale Wentworth Miller head sculpt (of Prison Break fame). His shaved head makes him a good candidate for a Marine ;p

A close-up side profile view of the Very Hot 1/6th scale USMC Rifleman Uniform Set

This 12-inch Marine Rifleman carries his M72 LAW slung over his shoulders and on his back

Another look and a close-up view of the Very Hot 1/6th scale M16A4 assault rifle