Monday, November 19, 2012

Preview Soldier Story 1991 Operation Desert Saber 1/6 USMC "Jarhead" 12" Military Figure

Jarhead is a 2005 biographical drama war film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 2003 memoir of the same name, directed by Sam Mendes, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford with co-stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The title comes from the slang term used to refer to U.S. Marines (sometimes by Marines themselves).

Jamie Foxx plays SSgt Sykes. Staff Sergeant Sykes is a Marine lifer. He is Swoff and Troy's training SNCO during Scout Sniper training at Camp Pendleton. If you've been wanting to add a 1990s Gulf War Era 12-inch military figure to your collection, now's the time :) First there was the DAM Toys 1/6 USMC in Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm 1991) 12-inch "Jarhead" Figure (pictures HERE) and now this.


From Soldier Story will come this 1/6 scale USMC 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Division grunt from Operation Desert Saber, Kuwait 1991. The Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991), codenamed Operation Desert Storm (17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991) was a war waged by a UN-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.




The Desert Night Camouflage pattern is a two-color grid camouflage pattern used by the United States military during the Gulf War. It was designed to aid soldiers in concealment from older generation enemy night vision devices (NVDs). The pattern is now considered obsolete due to the increase in capability of foreign night vision devices.


During the first Gulf War, clothing sets in this pattern were issued to US troops as an over-jacket (with a removable insulating liner) and over-pants, both being designed to be worn over the issued six-color Desert Battle Dress Uniform during nighttime operations.


During the Gulf War, one scout/sniper section of a Marine Corps battalion conducted a night test comparing the visibility of the desert night camouflage clothing with six-color desert uniforms and winter overwhites. The night camouflage clothing proved to be more visible than both the day desert uniforms and winter overwhites when viewed though an AN/PVS-5 night vision device.


Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU, often called Chocolate-Chip Camouflage, Cookie Dough Camouflage, or the Six-Color Desert Pattern) was the camouflage used by the United States Military during the Gulf War and in the early 1990s. The camouflage received its nickname because it resembles chocolate-chip cookie dough. It is made up of a base pattern of light tan overlaid with broad swathes of pale olive green and wide two-tone bands of brown. Clusters of black-on-white spots are scattered over it which were meant to mimic the appearance of rocks.


Some collectors and military enthusiasts in the forums have commented that this Soldier Story 1/6 scale Desert Battle Dress Uniform, abbreviated DBDU or 6-Color Uniform, is much more accurate than the DAM Desert Storm figure coming out.


1/6 scale African American 12-inch figures are quite rarely produced so this is a nice addition to the growing number of AA figures in the market


Soldier Story Kuwait 1991 Operation Desert Saber 1/6 USMC 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Division "Jarhead" 12" Military Figure will come equipped with PASGT Helmet, PAGST Helmet cover, G.I. Sun-Wind-Dust Motocross Goggles, Night Camouflage Hat, Night camouflage uniform parka, Night camouflage uniform trousers, T-shirt, Balaclava, PASGT Body armor, Desert camo PASGT flak jacket cover, Desert Camouflage Hat, Desert battle dress uniform coat, Desert battle dress uniform trousers, Olive drab panama jungle combat boots, Y suspenders, LC-2 belt, LC-2 Magazine pouches x 2, Hand grenades x 4, Flash light, Strobe light & strobe light case, E-Tool plastic sheath, First Aid / Compass Pouch, LC-2 Butt pack, LC-2 first aid kit pouch, M17 gas mask container, Canteens & Canteen covers x 2, Desert camo backpack cover, Alice Backpack, Alice load carrying equipment metal frame, M16A2 assault rifle, M16 30-Round magazine x 7, M9 bayonet & Scabbard belt attachment, "O" Lanyard Kit, G.I. earplugs case, Sleeping pad, Alice Clips (Belt Keepers), 12-inch S2 body, 1/6 scale Head sculpt, Hands x 2


This Marine certainly looks fully loaded for war in the gulf.




Seems like a rather nice 1/6 scale Jamie Foxx head sculpt and most definitely a response to the DAM Toys Gulf War Jarhead figure. Question is: Will DAM Toys also release a Jamie Foxx as SSgt Sykes 12-inch figure as well.


When Art Figures and DAM Toys were competing for collectors' pockets and producing the 1/6 scale Black Hawk Down 12-inch figures, two figures were produced of William Fichtner as SFC Jeff Sanderson from "Black Hawk Down" (who is based on real Delta Force operator SFC Paul Howe). You can see the pictures HERE and HERE


As usual, Soldier Story 12-inch military figures come with very nice details and this looks to be a rather complete U.S. Marine Corps grunt with all his gear and accessories


This 1990s U.S. military gear will also work great for Just Cause, Urgent Fury and Gothic Serpent bashes.


The bayonet and scabbard is a really nice improvement over what has been on the market before.


We also get to see a basic M16A2 without all that SOPMOD additions! Most grunts don't carry sophisticated rifles (cost reasons) so this assault rifle is a welcome sight.


Here's all the gear and accessories of the Soldier Story upcoming 1/6 scale USMC 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Division grunt from Operation Desert Saber, Kuwait 1991 laid out nicely


Someone made an observation in the forums that "some years back, the "pigeon sh*t" camo and period gear were getting snatched up for bashes, and 21C's night camo was in demand. Now it can all be had, in detail. The hobby's not getting any cheaper, but it sure does offer a lot of choices we only used to dream of."

4 comments:

One Shot said...

Looks pretty damn cool. This is a welcome sight for sure.

Unknown said...

Soldier story is crazy, I have just recieved my first figure and it is just amazing the quality the offer.

alex teo said...

Yup Jako. Soldier Story is up there in terms of quality and details with their military figures, together with DID. DAM Toys seem to be catching up as well and that's all good news for us 12-inch figure collectors :)

Anonymous said...

Love it! Will be getting this figure as soon as it hits the shelves. I'm gonna put it up next to my Swofford figure from DAM when after I get that too. Haha!