DID 2nd Ranger Battalion Sniper Preview

The plot thickens.

Did has announced that they will be releasing a World War II 1/6 scale 12-inch 2nd Ranger Battalion Sniper figure. What is most interesting is the head sculpt because unless you haven't watched "Saving Private Ryan (1998)" or "We Were Soldiers (2002)", you can definitely identify the HS as actor Barry Pepper, who acted as Private Daniel Jackson in SPR and Joseph L. Galloway in the latter, not to mention as Sergeant Mike Strank in "Flags of Our Fathers (2006)".







Why do I say the plot thickens? If you remember correctly, the other company Soldier Story recently released a 1/6 scale 12-inch WWII US Airborne Medic from the 82nd Airborne with a head sculpt meant to resemble Giovanni Ribisi as Medic Irwin Wade from "Saving Private Ryan". See my post HERE if you don't believe me.

Slowly but surely Captain Miller's squad is beginning to take shape in 1/6 scale.

DiD isn't even hiding the fact that this is Private Daniel from SPR because that's what they have named this figure.

Slap on his helmet and ranger assault vest



and you get almost an authentic World War II 2nd Ranger Battalion Private Daniel Jackson figure





Even comes with 1/6 scale dog tags







Unfortunately, it looks like the M1903 rifle that DiD has produced is the A1 version, which was only used by the USMC in the PTO (that's Pacific Theatre of Operations). The US GI snipers in the ETO (European Theatre of Ops) used the M1903A4, which has a different stock, different scope, different mounting brackets and no iron sights.









Full item details of DiD Private Daniel from 2nd Ranger Battalion: Figure with Unique Headsculpt (You have to admit, that's one fine head sculpt of Barry Pepper), M41 Jacket, HBT Pants, Leather Boots, Leggings, Wool Shirt, Gas Mask Bag, Abdomen Life Vest, Ranger Assault Vest, Gas Shoulder Brassard, M1 Helmet with Netting, M1903 Sniper Rifle, Sniper Scope Tube, 1/6 scale Dogtags with Cross, Garand Ammo Belt, .30 Cal Ammo Bandoleer, Colt .45 Pistol & Holster, Entrenching Tool & Carrier, Canteen & Carrier, First Aid Pouch, Wool Cap, Knuckle Knife & Sheath, and Extra Set of Hands

Other Barry Pepper head sculpts I already own: US Navy SEAL Recon (Nam) figure, World War II 101st Airborne NCO (Staff Sergeant) figure.

And then there's Tom Hanks as Captain John H Miller and Matt Damon as Private First Class James Francis Ryan from "Saving Private Ryan" (pictures of both of them HERE)

Full Review of product in hand - DiD 1/6 scale 12-inch WWII US Army 2nd Ranger Battalion Marksman "Private Daniel" HERE

GI Joe US Army West Point Cadet

GI Joe Timeless Collection FAO Schwarz Exclusive "West Point & Annapolis Cadets" Figures and Accessories Reminiscent of the Golden Age (1964-1978). Already covered the Annapolis Cadet in the previous post. Here's the 1/6 scale 12-inch West Point Cadet figure which came with Hat (Shako) with plume and strap, gray ceremonial jacket with rank chevrons, maroon waist sash with two metal clips, cross shoulder strap (sword belt) with gold buckle and sword loop, sword, sheath, white trousers and dress shoes. Also has ceremonial white M1 Garand rifle with strap, dog tag with chain, US Army flag and display stand.

















Among the many distinguished and notable figures that have graduated from West Point are Generals Dwight D Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and George S Patton (all covered in my earlier post "Generals, Fall IN!" HERE)

There's also the GI Joe Dress Marine (post HERE)

GI Joe US Navy Annapolis Cadet

From previous post: The M1 Garand is still used by drill teams and military honor guards. It is also widely sought by the civilian population as a hunting rifle, target rifle and military collectible.

GI Joe first released the three service cadets in 1967 with authentic 1/6 dress uniform and nice detailing. Let's not forget Hasbro produced these figures for children to play with and they bothered to make sure each outfit was as accurate as possible to the actual thing. Kids today wouldn't care for the authenticity of the figures, adult collectors would!

The original Annapolis cadet soared in demand soon after because he had a unique sword which was different from the other two (West Point and Air Cadets) and was much sought after.

In 2001, Hasbro released the GI JOE Timeless Collection FAO Schwarz Exclusive "West Point & Annapolis Cadets" Figures and Accessories Reminiscent of the Golden Age (1964-1978). The GI Joe 1/6 scale 12-inch Annapolis Cadet figure came with Navy Blue Jacket with brass buttons, white pants, white garrison cap, dress shoes, blue sword belt with gold buckle and metal clips, collar anchor, sword, sheath, white ceremonial M1 Garand rifle with strap, and dog tag with chain. Also came with display base and USN Flag.



















In my earlier post HERE, a "USNA ancient mariner" commented that they should be called Midshipmen and not cadets.

NEXT: GI Joe West Point Cadet

1/6 M1 Garand rifle

July 4th - Independence Day in the US, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

And one of the weapons that have kept the United States of America "And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!" was the M1 Garand rifle. The M1 Garand (officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1) was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. In 1936, it officially replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the standard service rifle of the United States Armed Forces [source: wiki] and was used heavily by US Forces in World War II to oppose and defeat the Nazis and the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan.

New Ti-Lite M1 Garand - amazing details!

The M1 rifle is a gas-operated, semi-automatic, clip-fed rifle.

The M1 Garand was designed for simple assembly and disassembly to facilitate field maintenance. It can be field stripped (broken down) without tools. Ti-Lite's breakdown of the weapon parts showing bayonet, front hand guard, bolt, rear sight, operating rod, receiver, stock and trigger housing group

Assembled M1 Garand

Movable operating rod

At the time, it was believed that a detachable magazine on a general-issue service rifle would be easily lost by US soldiers (a criticism made of British soldiers and the Lee-Enfield 50 years previously), would render the weapon too susceptible to clogging from dirt and debris (a belief that proved unfounded with the adoption of the M1 Carbine), and that a protruding magazine would complicate existing manual-of-arms drills. As a result, inventor John Pedersen developed an "en bloc" clip system that allowed ammunition to be inserted from above, clip included, into the fixed magazine. While this design provided the requisite flush-mount magazine, the clip system increased the rifle's weight, and prevented it from being fired without a clip, such as while reloading.




The super detailed trigger mechanism of Ti-Lite's M1 Garand

I'd also covered 1/6 Multiple Grenade Launchers HERE

Next: The M1 Garand used by drill teams and military honor guards.

Dr Figures CIA Operator Preview

Looks like Dr Figures is pumping out a new figure... a 1/6 scale 12-inch Fully Posable Action Figure CIA Operator. Guess who the head sculpt resembles? Looks a lot like Will Smith to me



His accessories will include Sunglasses, Combat Light with holder, H1L Light, Radio and Headset, Mobile Phone, Carabiners



His gear comprises Recon Vest, Rifle Magazine Pouches, Grenade Pouches, Utility Pouches, Radio Pouch. Vest is MAV in OD. It is similar to the one that came out with BBI Brennan (but that one was Multicam).



Also comes with Black Backpack and patches



His weapons of choice: Colt M1911 Pistol with suppressor and Beretta Rx4 Storm Rifle plus baseball and 40mm grenades. The RX4 (perfect for a Ghost Recon bash) is in the same "family" as the Beretta Px4 Storm pistol and Cx4 Storm carbine. It doesn't seem to be used in any military operation but is a big hit to police and homeland security.



He will be dressed in knit Watch cap, Shemagh, black Polo T-Shirt, Oakley gloved hands, black tactical Pants, Pistol Holster, Grenade Belt and assault boots.





Dr Figures CIA operator will also have a baseball cap





Backup weapon and sidearm is the all too familiar M1911 pistol



Holstered when not in use



All accessories are ABS Plastic, not resin. Don't ask me why? Dr Figures quality has not been the best so let's hope they can improve on it. Otherwise, the head sculpt looks good and the 1/6 scale Rx4 certainly is a PLUS. What he needs for a ride should be a Mazda RX4 to match his weapon - LOL!!

CIA operatives already in my collection:
Soldier Story 1/6 12-inch CIA SAD Night Ops with black skull balaclava (pictures here)
CIA operatives in Afghanistan - "Jones" and "Bana"
Spooks in Afghanistan (group pictures)

1/6 Will Smith figures in my collection:
Will Smith as US Army virologist Lieutenant Colonel Robert Neville in "I am Legend (2007)" pictures
Will Smith as Police Detective Mike Lowrey in the "Bad Boys" movies - link here
Will Smith as CPT Steven Hiller, F16 Pilot in the movie "Independence Day (1996)" - pictures

Toy Boy Roy :)

A really good buddy of mine is in the papers today - The New Paper sub-section First page 7. Most of us in Singapore who are in the toy loop should know him by now - He's Roy from The Falcon's Hangar. I knew him in 1996 when he was selling collectibles every Sunday at the flea market in Clark Quay. Man, those were the days - that's more than thirteen years ago now. Most of the new toys released in Singapore and overseas have gone through his hands. Quite a number of shops in China Square Central get their goods through him. I've seen them load cartons and ship them out by the dozens.



Why was he featured? Because he's organizing the TOY CARNIVAL @ SAM, which is happening this Sunday, 5 July 2009 from 10 am to 6 pm. It's at the Singapore Art Museum located at 71 Bras Basah Road. Check out their web site here for location details and how to get there PLUS all the other partners for the event, including Singapore's very own 501st Legion (I'd posted about them here and here)



And here's the ad for the event as it appeared in The New Paper



Bring today's The New Paper and get an autograph from the man himself - ha! ha!

And always remember: If you want TOY, go to ROY!!