Monday, February 11, 2013

Review VTS 1/6th Scale Dark Soldier 12" Figure or Karl Urban as John "Reaper" Grimm in Doom

"Doom" is a 2005 action and horror film written by David Callaham and Wesley Strick and directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak. It is loosely based on the video game series of the same name created by id Software. The film follows a group of Rapid Response Tactical Squad (RRTS) Marines called on an emergency mission to Mars in the year 2046 on a rescue and retrieval mission after communications with The Olduvai Research Facility on Mars ceased hours earlier. The Marines soon battle a legion of demonic monsters plaguing the facility.

A movie about Space Marines sent to investigate strange events at a research facility on a distant planet but find themselves at the mercy of genetically enhanced killing machines. Sounds like I've heard this one before? The 1996 "Aliens" science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton was about a unit of Colonial Marines sent to a distant planet after all communication with the terraforming colony had suddenly ceased, only to encounter aliens of the creepy kind. Familiar territory isn't it?


This is the recently released VTS (Virtual ToyS) VM-007 1/6th scale Dark Soldier 12-inch Figure which gets its inspiration from the RRTS Marines as seen in the 2005 "Doom" sci-fi film. The head sculpt bears a strong resemblance to actor Karl Urban who played Staff Sergeant John "Reaper" Grimm in the movie. Any likeness is purely coincidental ;p Karl-Heinz Urban (born 1972) is a New Zealand actor best known for playing Éomer in the second and third installments of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He is also known for playing Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, Caesar on Xena: Warrior Princess, Vaako in The Chronicles of Riddick and Judge Dredd in the 2012 film Dredd.




This is my second VTS figure in a box after the earlier reviewed VTS (Virtual ToyS) 1/6 scale Zombie Killer or Woody Harrelson as "Tallahassee" 12-inch action figure HERE and HERE. Before this, I had only bought VTS uniform / outfit sets that came with just a 1/6 scale head sculpt but no 12-inch figure body. The box cover is in red with craters on a planet surface (Mars maybe?) and a large skull with the title "Dark Soldier, Kill 'em all" on it. On the back of the box is a listing of the items to be found inside.


The VTS Dark Soldier 12-inch Figure lies in the top main tray snugly fitted in a foam layer wearing his 1/6 scale combat suit and combat boots.


Underneath the top layer is the accessories tray containing his 1/6 scale sci-fi assault rifle with rifle sling, radio communications headset (blink and you might miss it), universal pouch (large), universal pouch (small), magazine pouch, ammo pouch, walkie-talkie radio, knee pads (one pair), elbow pads (one pair), half-finger tactical gloves (one pair), combat knife with scabbard, tactical vest, tactical belt, pistol, drop-leg holster


Here are the above items laid out for you to see. I actually forgot the radio communications headset when I took this picture. Some of the marines including Mac (Yao Chin), Duke (Razaaq Adoti) and Reaper (Karl Urban) use H&K USP handguns with stainless-steel barrels as their sidearms.


The futuristic assault rifle used in the film is a visually modified Heckler & Koch G36 rifle carried by Sarge (Dwayne Johnson), Reaper (Karl Urban), Portman (Richard Brake) and Duke (Razaaq Adoti). Mac (Yao Chin) also carries what appears to be one of these rifles with some sort of grenade launcher attachment. According to the ammo counters, the beefed-up box magazines are supposed to hold 65 rounds.


Another picture of the 1/6 scale futuristic assault rifle (showing both sides) included in this VTS 1/6th Scale Dark Soldier 12" Figure and seen in the film "Doom". The magazine is removable but only one is included.


Rapid Response Tactical Squad (RRTS) Marines' walkie-talkie radio, combat knife with scabbard


Here's the VTS Dark Soldier 12-inch Figure with 1/6 head sculpt bearing the likeness of Karl Urban as John "Reaper" Grimm in "Doom" wearing his combat suit, half-finger tactical gloves and boots


Under the combat suit, he actually has a black long sleeve T-shirt


Close-up of the black round neck long sleeve T-shirt


and black molded combat boots


Here's how the combat suit looks like from the back


NEXT: VTS 1/6th scale Dark Soldier 12" Figure all geared up and ready to take on anything, or so they think ;p

1 comment:

desmond said...

love the rifle..nice!