Review 1: Hot Toys The Expendables 2 1/6 scale Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross 12-inch Figure

"The Expendables (2010)" featured an all-star cast of action-movie icons in Sylvester Stallone's explosive action thriller about a group of hard-nosed mercenaries who are double-crossed during a treacherous mission. It's the kind of all-out, over the top action movie they just don't make anymore. The movie had been billed as a throwback to the action flicks of the 1980s and despite criticisms, did well enough to justify a sequel, "Expendables 2 (2012)" with the third film scheduled for release in August 2014.

Following the great response to the Barney Ross Collectible Figure of The Expendables movie, Hot Toys released the 1/6th scale Barney Ross Collectible Figure from its sequel The Expendables 2. The movie-accurate Barney Ross collectible is specially crafted based on the image of Sylvester Stallone in the movie, highlighting the newly developed head sculpt, body tattoo, two styles of costume, detailed accessories and weapons. That makes it TWO Barney Ross figures and ZERO Expendables figures. If Hot Toys had their way, it would just be Stallone clones for Expendables 3 haha

This is Hot Toys MMS194 Expendables 2 Barney Ross 1/6th scale Collectible Figure which specially features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross in the movie The Expendables 2. The figure stands approximately 30 cm / 12 inches tall, has Muscular body with over 30 points of articulations and Highly detailed hair sculpture and moustache plus Movie-accurate facial expressions with detailed wrinkles and skin texture including Body tattoo on chest, arms and back.

This first part review of Hot Toys "The Expendables 2" 1/6 scale Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross 12-inch Collectible Figure alone has 27 pictures! And there are lots more to come :P

Box is nice :) It has the standard slip-case cover that slides off to reveal a window display style box with topless Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross showing off his tattoo body. I'm quite pleased that Hot Toys bothered to add the tattoos even though they will be covered up when he puts the 1/6 scale fabric clothes on.

Hot Toys The Expendables 2 1/6th scale Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross 12-inch Collectible Figure looks much better than Hot Toys first offering in terms of gear and accessories (see preview pictures HERE). Version 1 looks more basic compared to this latest version released. I almost thought this was a DX (DeluXe) version due to the extra outfit and accessories, including number of extra hands.

The two styles of costume (casual wear and tactical suit) are stored in a bottom tray below the main one (pictured above). Compared to the latest released Hot Toys The Dark Knight Rises Selina Kyle Catwoman collectible figure which had very little to offer in terms of accessories (see my part one review HERE), this Barney Ross figure looks like a DX (DeluXe) version indeed.

Hot Toys The Expendables 2: Barney Ross 1/6th scale collectible figure instruction sheet showing you how to dress up Barney as well as how to care for the tattoo body. Click on the picture for a bigger and better view

Topless Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) wearing black pants with two different belts (one for his pants and the other for securing his two pistol holsters and one revolver holster (at the back). He wears black boots and comes with a pair of gloved fists with ring on left fist.

Scroll down to see the turnaround views of this 1/6th scale topless Barney Ross collectible figure, showing off his upper body tattoo

Hot Toys Instructions for the tattoo & rubber body: "Don't rub the tattoo area or wipe the body with thinner, benzene, alcohol or any corrosive materials which could damage the material of the body. Don't get the rubber body in touch with fire or heat to avoid material damage."

The tattoo body is quite nicely done with all the details. Pity the tattoos will all be covered up when Barney puts his top on

Hot Toys did a phenomenal job with their Movie Masterpiece Series MMS114 1/6 scale "300" King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) 12-inch collectible figure which came without any visible joints and was fully pose-able (see my review HERE). Alas, it was a once-off because no other figure was made that way ever since.

These new muscle bodies have limited articulation at the elbows because they do not come with double-jointed elbows. A case of going for realism but neglecting articulation.

Here are close-up pictures / views of the authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross head sculpt as seen in the movie The Expendables 2

Realistic and life-like head sculpts are now taken for granted. People expect only this kind of standard now when in the past, no heads ever looked as real as these. Sculpting has certainly come a long way and I'm certainly glad for it. It puts the ART into 1/6 scale figures and make people sit up and take notice.

Without Hot Toys, many people would still be unaware of the 1/6 scale market and living their happy lives but thanks (or "no thanks", depending on how you look at it) to their Movie Masterpiece Series, people are buying their stuff like crazy drug addicts hooked on something they cannot free themselves from and BOOM! the 1/6 scale collectible market has just grown and keeps on growing with new found Hot Toys fans. Which opens up the Pandora Box because now there are scalpers and scum out there who are willing to buy up everything from the exclusive market and then re-sell them at a much inflated price in the secondary market just because there is a demand and limited supply. Check out my post HERE of scum and scalpers at the 2011 Hong Kong Ani-Con.

Another view of the Hot Toys Expendables 2 Barney Ross figure with tattooed body

Besides the Figure stand with Barney Ross nameplate and the movie logo, there are lots of accessories released with this figure

The seven (7) pieces of extra palms (besides the pair of gloved fists with ring on left fist) included are: One (1) pair of gloved palms for gun shooting, One (1) gloved left palm with ring for gun holding, One (1) pair of gloved relaxed palms, One (1) right palm for gun shooting, One (1) right palm for cigar holding

Hot Toys Expendables 2 Barney Ross 1/6 scale accessories include: One (1) headset, One (1) watch, One (1) cigar, One bangle, One (1) pair of sunglasses, One (1) pair of goggles

1/6 scale Weapons include: Two pistols, One revolver (As in the original film, Barney Ross carries a customized Colt .45 Single Action Army revolver a.k.a. Peacemaker or Frontiersman),

One assault rifle. Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), Yin Yang (Jet Li) and Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren) use Noveske Rifleworks Diplomats with Vltor VIS-1 monolithic upper receiver assemblies during the rescue mission in the beginning.

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) uses a pair of Kimber Gold Combat II pistols as his sidearms in the film, the same Kimber Gold Combat II pistols that he wielded in the first film. In this film, the Kimbers' grips feature small "Expendable" emblems on both guns.

Barney Ross casual wear consists of brown beret, navy blue T-shirt (looks gray to me), denim vest, brown pants with leather-like black belt and a pair of brown boots

Close-up view of the brown beret, navy blue T-shirt (looks gray to me) and denim vest

Close-up picture of the brown pants with leather-like black belt and a pair of brown boots

Back view

Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) tactical suit consists of: black beret with Expendables patch, black T-shirt (not shown), black zip-up three-quarter sleeve tee, black tactical vest, black pants and black boots (which he's already wearing).

NEXT: MOre of Hot Toys "The Expendables 2" 1/6 scale Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross 12-inch Collectible Figure

Other Sylvester Stallone figures:
September 2, 2007 - Hot Toys 1/6 scale Rambo: First Blood Part 2 (1985) HERE
August 23, 2008 - Kitbash John Rambo from First Blood (1982). Check out the pictures HERE
April 3, 2009 - Medicom RAH (Real Action Heroes) Judge Dredd 12-inch figure posted HERE

Related posts:
December 29, 2012 - Review 3: Jason Statham as Lee Christmas – Art Figures 1/6 Soldiers of Fortune 12-inch figure (pictures HERE)
September 12, 2013 - The Expendables 2 Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lungren) 12-inch Figure aka Art Figures 1/6 scale Soldiers Of Fortune 2 posted HERE
September 15, 2013 - Army of Two: Art Figures 1/6 Soldiers Of Fortune Lee Christmas and Gunner Jensen (pictures HERE)