DID WWII 2nd Ranger Marksman "Private Daniel" Review I

ANOTHER Ranger post but this one's quite different from the previous because this one is about the US Army Ranger of the Second World War.

Before the 5th Ranger Battalion landed on Dog White Sector, Omaha Beach, during the Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, Dog, Easy and Fox Companies of 2nd Ranger Battalion, commanded by Colonel James Rudder, scaled the 150-foot (46m) cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, a few miles to the west, to destroy a five-gun battery of captured French Canon de 155 mm GPF guns. The 5th Rangers (along with Able, Baker and Charlie Companies of 2nd Ranger Battalion), the 1st Infantry Division and the 29th Infantry Division landed at Omaha Beach. They suffered heavy casualties but were still able to complete their D-Day objectives. [ source: wiki ]

Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. Captain John H Miller (Tom Hanks), commanding officer of Charlie Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion, along with his men, land at Omaha Beach against dug-in German infantry, machine gun nests and artillery fire. After leading a breakout from the beach and establishing a beachhead, Miller assembles six Rangers from his company (Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi and Adam Goldberg), plus one man detailed from the 29th Infantry Division (Jeremy Davies), who speaks fluent French and German, to find Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) of Baker Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment who is missing in action somewhere in Normandy.

DiD has just released this 1/6 scale 12-inch Second World War US Army 2nd Ranger Marksman "Private Daniel", who has an uncanny resemblance to Barry Pepper, the actor who played Private Daniel Jackson (same name too!), a marksman / sharpshooter. The main difference between a marksman and a sniper is that a marksman is usually considered an organic part of a team of soldiers, whereas snipers tend to work solitarily or with other snipers. I'd previewed this figure earlier (see my post HERE) but nothing beats having the figure in your hands :)

The box comes with a short write-up of the 2nd Ranger Battalion plucked off wikipedia.



As usual, DiD is pretty generous with the accessories

DiD 1/6 scale Private Daniel wearing just his basic wool shirt, HBT trousers and Leather Boots.


A close-up of the amazing head sculpt of Private Daniel (Barry Pepper) by DiD





Check out the details of the 1/6 scale dog tags with cross. Unfortunately, there's no writing on the ID tag unlike Dragon when they produced 1/6 scale USMC ID tag with name, blood type and other details engraved on it (see my post HERE)

1/6 scale ankle leather boots - they are the standard low top leather lace ups

Other items: Wool Cap, M41 Jacket, Gas Shoulder Brassard, .30 Cal Ammo Bandoleer and Leggings

The very well produced Ranger Assault Vest, Gas Mask Bag, Abdomen Life Vest, and M1 Helmet with plastic inner liner (Helmet Netting not shown)

Water Canteen and Carrier, Garand Ammo Belt, M1911 .45 Pistol and Holster, First Aid Pouch, Entrenching Tool (the handle looks like it's a tad too long) and Carrier, US1918 Trench Knuckle Knife and Sheath

The 1/6 Trench Knuckle Knife has engraving on it

M1911 .45 Pistol with removable magazine and sliding charger


The metal blade of the 1/6 entrenching tool has to be unscrewed so that it can be folded for storing, like the real thing

Last but most important of all, the M1903 Sniper Rifle. The Remington 1903 scoped rifle is constructed of real wood and metal parts. Two interchangeable scopes are offered and the second scope fits into the Sniper Scope Tube that is provided. The windage knob unscrews from the scope so it fits into the tube easily.

DiD actually listened to what was being said on the message boards and forums because the preview pictures showed Private Daniel with a M1903 rifle used only in the Pacific Theatre of Operations (PTO). They altered the rifle to the correct ETO version, the M1903A4, which has a different stock, different scope, different mounting brackets and no iron sights.



In the next post, we'll see Private Daniel fully kitted out for his mission.

He can soon join his comrades Private First Class James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) and Captain John H Miller (Tom Hanks) from "Saving Private Ryan"

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