Review 1: Dragon Private First Class "Cappy" - World War II US Army Ranger 2nd Battalion

The 1998 American epic war film "Saving Private Ryan" was directed by Steven Spielberg who wanted to show audiences the powerful, realistic re-creation of WWII's D-Day invasion and the immediate aftermath. The film is noted for its graphic and realistic portrayal of war, especially for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which depicts the Omaha Beach assault of June 6, 1944.

Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) is given the assignment of finding a paratrooper, Private First Class James Ryan (Matt Damon) behind enemy lines and he chooses a translator, Corporal Upham (Jeremy Davis), skilled in language but not in combat, to join his squad of right-hand man Sergeant Horvath (Tom Sizemore), plus privates Mellish (Adam Goldberg), Medic Wade (Giovanni Ribisi), cynical Reiben (Edward Burns) from Brooklyn, Italian-American Caparzo (Vin Diesel), and religious Southerner Jackson (Barry Pepper), an ace sharpshooter who calls on the Lord while taking aim.

Having previously experienced action in Italy and North Africa, the close-knit squad sets out through areas still thick with Nazis. After they lose one man in a skirmish at a bombed village, some in the group begin to question the logic of losing more lives to save a single soldier.

This is Dragon Models Limited (DML) 1/6th scale Private First Class "Cappy" - World War II US Army Ranger (2nd Battalion, France 1944) 12-inch military action figure. The box description reads: "Cappy was a US Army Ranger that came ashore with the 2nd Ranger Battalion in the early hours of 6 June 1944 on the Normandy coast. His weapon is wrapped in a black plastic cover to protect it from seawater and sand, and he carries an M5 Assault Gas mask in its M7 rubberized bag. On his arm is a Gas Detecting Brassard. In an amazing piece of realism, his Service Boots are even coated with gritty sand from the beach at the foot of the cliff. Looking like he just waded through the surf, Cappy takes realism to a whole new level."

Vin Diesel stars as Private First Class Adrian "Cappy" Caparzo in "Saving Private Ryan" and this DML 1/6th scale WWII US Army Ranger 12-inch action figure is obviously modeled after Diesel's character. He was cast in Steven Spielberg's 1998 Oscar-winning film on the poignancy of his performance in Multi-Facial, a short semi-autobiographical film which follows a struggling actor stuck in the audition process, because he is regarded as either "too black" or "too white", or not black or white enough.

Cappy comes in one tray with a pair of extra hands, M1 Helmet and Insignia: WWII Ranger Scrolls and Private First Class stripes. Another tray holds all his WWII US Army gear and weapon.

World War II US Army Ranger (2nd Battalion) Private First Class "Cappy" comes dressed in M1941 Field Jacket over G1 Wool shirt, M1943 Trousers and Service Shoes with sand grain effect

Close-up pictures and views of the Dragon Models Limited (DML) 1/6th scale Private First Class "Cappy" - World War II US Army Ranger (2nd Battalion, France 1944) 12-inch military action figure head sculpt. There is some resemblance to Vin Diesel who plays Private First Class Adrian "Cappy" Caparzo in "Saving Private Ryan".

Cappy's M1941 Field Jacket has to be first zipped up

and then buttoned up one by one. Pretty detailed and a very delicate process.

And here's his 1/6th scale Service Boots with gritty sand effect

Cappy's G.I. gear consists of M1928 Haversack with M43 Entrenching Tool Cover attached, M1923 Cartridge Belt with M1910 Canteen Cover and M1942 First Aid Pouch, Meat Can Pouch, M43 Shovel, Metal M1910 Canteen (Water Bottle), M1 Garand Rifle, M1 Garand Rifle Magazine x 6, Inflatable M1926 US Navy Lifebelt, M1 Helmet, Black Waterproof Cover, M5 Army Assault Gasmask Bag

NEXT: Fully equipped 1/6th scale US Army Ranger Private 1st Class "Cappy", France 1944, WWII