Toy Soldier 7th Anniversary Figure Review

Toy Soldier has another winner with its Marine Force Recon Rifleman/Corpsman release marking its 7th anniversary in the business. The figure is not without its issues, but on the whole it is a must have for Vietnam and modern hobbyists. Alan Tsu and Toy Soldier are to be congratulated on their Vietnam product line. When no one else really seems interested, TS has delivered to the hungry Vietnam era hobbyist/collector/modeler.

The ERDL uniform is apparently the so-called Vivid Green or Medium Green pattern. The uniform looks very vivid out of the box and can use a little dirt on it. However, its cut and fit are exceptional. The material wonderfully mimics the rip stop material used in many Vietnam and later camouflage uniforms. The pockets are tacked down at the corners, but easily opened for those wanting to stuff them with ballast and such. The uniform jacket is the standard four pocket Jungle Uniform pattern with the trousers the same. A belt is included and the trousers have a drawstring bottom. Not sure if any modelers leave the drawstrings in as their bulk make them hardly functional and also make it difficult to blouse the boots.

The figure does come with headgear options, an ERDL beret and boonie. Both are well done and up to TS standards. I won't spend any real time on the footwear as it is the same as previous Nam era releases like the Ken Miller and OG107 uniform "carded" set.

Also included in the release are Sage Green Nomex Gloves, made from knit material and faux leather. While I applaud Toy Soldiers attempt at making functional, accurate items... I curse their very existence when trying to wrangle these gloves over tiny little fingers. But once I finish, I am more than happy with the result. I suggest a Xanax or Valium before attempting this feat.

The web gear is outstanding and continues to be the gold standard for Vietnam era gear at this scale. The web gear or LBE is the M1967 version, marked by the Davis quick release buckles on the web belt and pack harness and the plastic "spring closures" on the ammo pouches. The figure comes loaded with eight total ammo pouches, four each of the M16A1 20-round magazine round variety and the M14/M16A1 20-round magazine type. However, I must note here that a debate has developed as to the accuracy of the M14/M16 M1967 ammo pouches. There are critics who insist these were never issued in Vietnam, while others have tried to point out evidence of late war usage. The confusion may be over the similarity to the M16 30 round pouch which was issued in Vietnam, but has two key differences: side grenade straps and a strap and hook to connect to the squared-rings on the M56 LBE suspenders or M67 D-rings. The debate does dampen the release a bit, but intrepid modelers who care about accuracy will get to the bottom of the issue and make appropriate adjustments and modifications. Others will simply not care... I sort of fall in the middle a bit. Good news is Toy Soldier, unlike many of its competitors, includes sufficient magazines to fill each and every pouch. Dragon Models, please take note.

The hallmark of the M1967 webbing was its water resistant nylon material versus the duck material used for the M1956 and earlier web gear. This TS release material is nylon and in line with that difference. The figure also comes with two M1967 1-qt canteen pouches w/plastic canteens. Besides the Nylon material, the distinguishable difference from M1956 canteen carriers is the side pouch or pocket with Velcro hook and loop closure. If memory serves, these pouches were added for carrying and easy access to water purification tablets.

An M1967 butt pack is included as well as two M1967 compass/first aid dressing pouches, a canvas Marine jungle first aid kit, a strobe light pouch (early version) and a single tropical survival kit. Also included is another debated piece of gear, the M1967 USMC Nylon combat field pack and "H" suspender harness for the pack, including the aforementioned quick-release buckle. The debate centers on a similar theme as the M14/M16 ammo pouches. While it is clear these packs were utilized in Vietnam, they were apparently few in number if not in experimental and trial status. My litmus test is simply: Was it there? If it was there, regardless of distribution or quantity, it is fair game for use by the accuracy nut like myself. And to top it, the field pack is extremely well done and looks to be a marvelous 1/6 reproduction of the real item.

Perhaps the most anticipated piece in the boxed kit is the M3 medical bag, also known as the "Unit One" medical bag. Bashers needing gear for their medic or corpsman figures have had their prayers answered. Not only is this piece now produced, it is exceptionally well done. Its is functional, well-proportioned and will be one of those pieces we see going for $40 on eBay next year. It comes complete with adjustable shoulder strap with snap hook to D-ring connectors. It also features the US Caduceus emblem on the cover flap, denoting that it is medical gear.

Also called the medical instrument supply set, The "Unit One" bag, was a 3 compartment bag made of heavy canvas, and after 1968 of rubberized cotton. Nylon versions appeared in the early 1970s. The TS version replicates the duck canvas type. Typical contents of these bags include different sizes of dressings and bandages, blood volume expanders, aspirin, salt tablets, malaria tablets, morphine syrettes and other various medications and supplies. The TS 1/6 version is done as well as any other 1/6 piece of gear I have run across.



The boxed figure gives the hobbyist an option to kit this figure as a Navy Corpsman or as a Marine Rifleman, either as part of the storied USMC Force Reconnaissance. With that in mind, the boxed figure comes with weapons options to best fit which way you decide to gear him up. The first option is the XM177E2 carbine of the M16 family. The compact weapon with collapsible stock was a favorite of NCOs, officers and specialists within special operations community. This weapon is pretty much the same as released with the Kenn Miller figure from last year. While I do prefer the DML version of the XM177E2, the TS version is certainly nothing to take lightly. It comes with a sling made from "nylon parachute cord." The other option is the venerable M14 rifle carried by many marines and soldiers... and loved by most of them. While the M14 was heavier and more unwieldy than the M16 family of assault rifles, it was reliable and packed the punch of a 7.62mm NATO round. The Toy Soldier version of the M14 is comparable to the DML version and the Hot Toys indivdually-boxed version. Unlike the DML and Hot Toys versions, it does not have a working breech cover/charging handle. Its buttplate is however more detailed than the DML version and the wood receiver is smooth like the DML version. The Hot Toys version has a highly raised contoured wood grain line that have been rejected by most in the hobby as unrealistic. Nothing a little sandpaper and paint can't correct, however, but that is off the topic of the TS version. The best thing about the M14 is the OD sling that comes with it. It is perhaps the best version of the OD sling of the Vietnam era yet released. I put it on one of my M16A1s and put a leather M1907 sling on my M14.

The TF-1 body and headsculpts have also generated much discussion. The only real improvement of teh TF-1 body is the ability to remove plates at the shoulder to give the shoulders a much more natural appearance and give the arms more flexibility. However, the arms are attached to the shoulders with pin inserts that rely pretty much on friction to hold them in place and hold a pose. Over time this will not be a workable feature and modifications will have to be made to keep them serviceable. The figure also suffers from the same loose joint issues that previous releases do. To make it worse, they have plugged the screw access holes with plastic to give the body a smoother more realsitic look, but made it difficult for hobbyists to make modification to tighten loose joints. The waist articulation is also disappointing. The figure can pivot 360 degrees at the waist, but cannot bend at the waist. It can bend at the chest, but that is it.

The figure comes with two headsculpts, a regular sculpt and a painted camouflage sculpt. I am not at this point a big fan of the TS headsculpts. They lack a degree of depth and realism that other companies are mastering quite sufficiently. It is generally agreed the sculpt was inspired by actor Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers, 61*, etc.). The camo sculpt is not bad by 1/6 standards.

On the whole, this is a great figure and a great value in context of quality boxed figures on the market today. Congratulations, Toy Soldier, for another great release. We wait with great anticipation to see if the previewed USMC infantryman will see the light of day in the coming months.

Here is an entire breakdown of the contents of the boxed kit:

Head Gear:

• ERDL Boonie Hat
• ERDL Beret

Uniform:

• ERDL Tropical Combat Uniform-Jacket
• ERDL Tropical Comabt Uniform-Pants w/Belt
• OG T-Shirt
• Footwear:
• Tropical Combat Boots, improved 1966 version w/"Panama Sole"

Weapons:

• XM177E1 Carbine w/Para Cord Sling
• M14 Rifle w/OD Sling
• 60's Contract KaBar Utility Knife w/Black Leather Sheath

Magazine & Grenades:

• M16 20 rd Magazine x8
• M14 20 rd Magazine x8
• M67 Hand Grenade x4
• M18 Smoke Grenade x2
• M34 WP Grenade

Equipment & Backpack:

• M1967 "H" Suspenders
• M1956 Equipment Belt w/"Davis" Quick-Release Buckle
• M1967 Small Arms Ammo Pouch M16-20rd x4
• M1967 1-qt Canteen Pouch w/Canteen x2
• M1967 Buttpack
• M1967 Compass/First Aid Dressing Pouch x2
• Canvas Marine Jungle First Aid Kit
• Strobe LIght Pouch (early version)
• Tropical Survival Kit
• M1967 Small Arms Ammo Pouch M14-20rd x4
• M1967 USMC Nylon Combat Field Pack
• M1967 "H" Suspender Harness for USMC Combat Field Pack (w/Quick-Release Buckle)
• Canvas "Unit One" Medic Bag

Other:

• Sage Green NOMEX style Knit & leather made flight Gloves
• T1-F (New) Body w/Camo-Painted Head & Bendy Hands
• Bonus Extra Headsculpt-Unpainted