Dark Copperhead-18 - Ultimate Deep Sea Diver

IMHO, the ULTIMATE Deep Sea Diver ever. Produced by Hot Toys in 2007, this figure comes with die-cast parts (Copper helmet, mesh cutter, regulator, rebreather, copper bottomed boots) and a leather dive/pressure suit with chain-mail gloves. He also has a pressure activated submersible bomb.



Fully decked out and ready to dive




Love the headsculpt too! Check out the copper helmet.



Back of helmet



Regulator on the front of his leather dive/pressure suit



Rebreather on the back



Pressure activated submersible bomb (shown in two parts)

Men of Honor (2000) - Deep Sea Diver 2

Carl Maxie Brashear was the first African American to become a US Navy Master Diver. In 2000, Cuba Gooding Jr potrayed Carl Brashear in the film "Men of Honor" together with Robert DeNiro as Master Chief Petty Officer Leslie William "Billy" Sunday. The movie is about how Brashear overcomes racism and other challenges (both mental and physical) to become a Master Diver.

Hasro released this GI Joe "Timeless Collection - Deep Sea Diver: Danger of the Depths" in 1999 to commemorate 35 years of GI Joe. It is similar to the old Deep Sea Diver but what was great about this release was that they produced die-cast parts instead of plastic pieces for the Diver's helmet and chest plate, weight belt, foot weights and hammer. This gave the figure a very solid feel and appearance.

Box Cover

Box Contents


Not exactly Cuba Gooding Jr but the dark skin contrasts very well with the white dive suit.

Close-up of his dog tags

His die-cast diver's helmet and chest plate

Getting ready to go under

Dive! Dive! Dive!


Playmobil version of the deep sea diver - also with lead weight shoes

The Ultimate Deep Sea Diver

Deep Sea Diver

One of the first 1/6 figures that I owned. I was amazed by the authencity of the figure then, then being 1996 when I first stumbled upon the 1/6 market (no Dragon until 1999, Ultimate Soldier, Hot Toys, 3 Zeroes, BBI, DiD, Ace...). This Action Man Deep Sea Diver had real lead weights on his belt and shoes so that he remains submerged when placed in water. By blowing through the mouthpiece (where a compass is strategically placed) of the oxygen pump and hose, you could create buoyancy and the illusion of air bubbles rising from the deep.




Helmet opened to reveal figure inside

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

The second installment which was concluded with "The Matrix Revolutions" in November 2003. The second installment had links to the "Animatrix" storyline "Final Flight of the Osiris". (Similarly, "Star Wars Episode III" continued where the animated "Star Wars: Clone Wars" left off.)

Neo and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss)

Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith)

The Merovingian (Lambert Wilson) and Persephone (Monica Bellucci - va va vroom!!)

The Twins

What has come before - The Matrix (1999)

The Matrix (1999)

When this movie came out, it blew everyone's brains with its visual effects, especially the abundant use of slow-motion, spinning cameras and the famed bullet time effect of a character freezing or slowing down and the camera panning around them. The Matrix won Oscars for film editing, sound effects editing, visual effects and sound. Can't believe it was that long ago.

Keanu Reeves as Thomas A. Anderson A.K.A. Neo, computer hacker. Hot Toys produced this figure in 2001, back when they were just starting out. No fancy packaging but the sculpting was good.


The famous dodging bullets scene that has been parodied so many times in so many movies.

IMHO, the best likeness of Keanu/Neo. Medicom didn't do him justice.

Meet Agent Smith, Neo's nemesis

Keanu also starred as Jack Traven in "Speed (1994)"
Next: The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

George W Bush on USS Lincoln (2003)

George W Bush, 43rd President of the United States, fully attired in naval aviator gear on USS Lincoln, May 1, 2003.

This figure was produced by BBI in 2003. Still lamenting the fact that BBI has exited the 1/6 market after producing so many fine figures.


Very good headsculpt - it's all Bush from whichever angle you look

All decked out and reporting for work [ hey shaun, hope you can snag him :) ]

Jarhead (2005) starring Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal (he of the famous Brokeback Mountain fame) plays Anthony Swofford, a USMC Scout Sniper in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. However, for the marines, it was more a battle against boredom and a sense of isolation rather than enemy combatants as they are forced to hydrate, wait, patrol the nearby area, hydrate some more and get familiarised to the arid environment, at the same time worrying that their wives and/or girlfriends become unfaithful back home.

Outfit is by Dragon but headsculpt is from Hot Toys.




Jake Gyllenhaal up-close.

Three Kings (1999) starring George Clooney

George Clooney played Major Archie Gates, a Special Forces soldier who is disillusioned with the 1990-1991 Gulf War and decides to steal seized Kuwaiti gold from Iraqi bunkers, together with Sergeant First Class Troy Barlow (Mark Wahlberg), Staff Sergeant Chief Elgin (Ice Cube) and Private First Class Conrad Vig (Spike Jonze).

The six-colour Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU), with a base pattern of light tan overlaid with broad swathes of pale olive green, two-tone wide bands of brown, clusters of black-on-white spots scattered over it resulted in it being nicknamed the "chocolate chip" pattern, was worn during this conflict.

This figure was from BBi but the outfit came from Dragon. BBi had some nice headsculpts.


George Clooney with a hint of his famous smirk

Clooney also played a smooth talking, irreverent US Army Special Forces Officer Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Devoe in the 1997 action film, The Peacemaker alongside Nicole Kidman.

Tears of the Sun (2003) Revisited

Bruce Willis, man of action. He played Lieutenant AK Waters of the US Navy SEAL (i like how they coined his name) sent to rescue Monica Bellucci (va-va-vroom!!). This figure by Action Trend was released in 2003 when the movie came out. It featured the customised left-thigh drop-down holster coz Bruce is left-handed. Like I mentioned before, the "go-to" guy for action movies.


Close-up of Bruce


This is the reason why I'm into 1/6 scale figures - the articulation. They can hold so many poses and look so realistic doing it, not to mention the detailed 1/6 items, from uniforms to weapons and accessories. These figures actually have to put on the uniform and deck themselves out in full gear before they can report for work, not like the other 12-inch plastic figures produced by Marvel/Neca/McFarlane that are made entirely of plastic (everything is plastic-moulded and not removable nor customiseable). I can understand when they make completely plastic figures for figures less than 8 inches coz can you imagine handling items at that scale? But why make 12-inch figures completely out of plastic when the technology is available to accessorise them at this scale. Then there are the exorbitantly priced statues that hold one pose and stay frozen that way forever - nice to look at but they can't do anything else.

Red Cell - "Raider" by BBi (2004)

Before there were so many 1/6 PMCs (Private Military Contractors) produced due to the war in Iraq (pretty much ex-military personnel decked out in civies), there was "Red Cell". Classified top secret by the US Navy and banished by the Department of Defense, "Red Cell" is the true account of a unit the US government denies ever existed! Staffed by members of the Navy's top secret SEAL Team Six, Red Cell used their special skills to carry out successful "terrorist" attacks against American military bases, assets, and personnel worldwide. The original Red Cell group formed in 1984 was hand-picked and led by the former leader of SEAL Team Six Richard 'Dick' Marcinko (Rogue Warrior).

BBi produced this figure in 2004 but i switched the body with one of Bruce Willis' likeness since he's the "go-to" guy for action becoz he simply won't lie down and die.

Harsh Times (2006)

Christian Bale played Jim Davis, an ex-US Army Ranger suffering from extreme post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after returning from his combat tours. His portrayal of the unhinged war veteran was intense.

This figure by Hot Toys is wearing the USMC desert camouflage but has Bale's likeness.