Ricky Foster Review: It's the little things that drive you nuts

Here is an "at first glance" review of DiD's Ricky Foster 101st Airborne figure. I received mine today from Echo Base Toys.

I first noticed...
When I first cracked the front of the package, I was immediately drawn to the stark contrast of color between the jump jacket and trousers. The M42 Jump Jacket is a light OD shade (read: Khaki) and the trousers are a darker OD shade 7.

The tale of two kitties
This brought me to the realization that the uniform is not a complete M42 jump suit. The trousers are actually paratrooper-modified M43 trousers as seen during the Market Garden operation and beyond. So, this kit actually contains a figure dressed from the waist up in an M42 Normandy era uniform and pathfinder style. From the waist down, with the M43 buckle boots and M43 trousers, this figure is a Market Garden and beyond figure.

I should not be alarmed that these trousers are M43s since the pics on the DiD website clearly show the waist tabs and slit pocket reminiscent of the M43 trousers.

Rank schizophrenia
The kit comes with insignia for a sergeant and corporal and a private... one patch each rank. So your figure either has to have one sleeve without rank or be a private from one side and a corporal from the other.

Attention to detail? We don't need no stinkin' detail!
The M1 Garand is well done with the exception of the swing swivel hooks and the sling itself. DiD goes to such great lengths to have accurate detail on so much of their gear and then just drop the ball in other areas. The leather sling actually is configured more like an M1923 web sling than the M1907 leather sling. It doesn't have the accurate two-pronged hooks, only a series of brass colored jump rings. The swivel hook attachments are also the round brass-colored jump rings instead of the wide, rectangular swivel hooks. The sling is pretty much just like their web sling on the Corbin Black Thompson, except with a leather like material.

Move along, nothing new to see here...
The M1A1 Thompson is pretty much the same as the Corbin Black release as is the M1C/M2 helmet. The M1936 pistol belt is also the same.

What's new and exciting!
The grenade pouches, training gas mask carrier and the five-cell 20-round magazine pouches all appear to be up to advance billing. All are well done. The LTD fasteners need a bit of cleaning up around the outside where excess glue is collected.

The Parachutist's Rifle Assembly Holster, aka the "Griswold bag," and the Thompson SMG cover appear to be particularly well done. The Thompson cover is especially well done, but can be a tight squeeze around the rear sight assembly. The Griswold Bag is the original shorter version before they added length to accommodate a Thompson with a Cutts compensator on the muzzle.

Nothing particularly noteworthy about the M1 bayonet and scabbard.

The T5 chute looks to be particularly well done, but has no reserve chute though reserve chutes were standard practice by U.S. troops according to history scholars specializing in this area. The only other issue I see with it is the odd yellowish color of the harness strap assembly. The harness lock appears to be a bit sturdier than other versions, but its functionality makes it a bit bulky in its thickness.

The M17 binoculars case would perhaps be the best on the market if the strap matched the case. That is easily fixed, however. Nothing particularly noteworthy about the M3 binoculars.

The "fuzzy" headsculpt is very well done. The hair on the sculpt is well done in particular I think. It is not as wiry or kinky as it appears in photos. It is fairly straight and softer than it appears in pictures. Now, after a helmet crushes it down, it might change.

The kit does come with eleven (11) magazines (counting the one in the Thompson. They are all metal and thankfully someone out there gets "it" when it comes to providing enough mags to fill the gear in the rest of the kit.

Neither here nor there...
The extra molded headsculpt is okay if you plan to display your figure without headgear on. The kit does come with the waterslide helmet decals as noted on the DiD site, but they are not as crisp or well defined as the symbols you see on the site. The "club" symbol could just as well be a bush. Don't expect much here. Also, the helmet netting is provided, but needs to be dyed. It is an off white cotton.

The M43 buckle boots are better than the pitiful attempt Toy Soldier made, but not as well done as the NLM version. Whether to use these or the latest DML molded pattern is a toss up IMHO.

This is an "at first glance" review, so I may discover other things as I assemble the figure. But for now, I wouldn't expect any more pleasant surprises.

You can check out this figure at DiD's web site