1/6 Scale M16-A1 by MasterPiece Collectibles - A Review

A soon to be retailed item brought to us by Mr. Dickson & his partners from MasterPiece Collectibles who previously also released the 1/6 SAR21 Assault Rifle.

M16A1 releases are definitely much welcomed given that they're relatively few going around in proportion to the number of Nam bashers out there. Somewhat timely also as this might be a possible substitute for HT Chris Taylor's weapon if HT didn't got round to producing an era accurate one on release.

Product Review: Simple & no frills carded packaging lets you clearly see what you're getting into (probably cuts down costs too).

Visual & scale wise seem to suggest it was based off the DML version. Material is plastic & not a resin recast. Weapon comes in 2 colour tones similar to the 1:1 version: matt-black for the stock, pistol grip & handguard & a sort of gun metal grey for the receiver group. Dust cover is molded open (like DML) & the flash suppressor is the '3-prong' design & not the latter 'bird-cage' version. Accessories also includes 2 spare 20rds mag (in addition to the one in the housing). Overall the weapon has a clean-look with details like the forward-assist, selector switch, mag release button & bolt-catch etc. present.

Gripe wise, it would seemed that the sling swivel had been overlooked, intentionally or otherwise. There's also the issue on the angle of the 20rds mag which had been previously commented in the forum when the preview pics. were posted. My version also had half a detail of the open dust-cover missing (not sure if it's the same for the other pieces).

Bottom line: a commendable release still worthy of support (if you can look past the aforementioned gripes).

Thank you to the folks at Yellow Box Trade. For inquiries:
www.yellowboxtoys.blogspot.com








For reference:

1/6 TRIVIAL

Rumors has it that SS-ERT loose items circulating in the market are rejects from the production run. Either that.... or the boxed release might not have been doing well considering this was the last 'military' themed release from the manufacturer.

Visual inspection of the items showed them to be serviceable & nothing much out of the ordinary. Only noticeable flaw would be the SS badge on the tac. vest which seemed upside down but after checking out a fully boxed figure at the local shop,they seemed to be the same, though it looked normal on the box-art.

Could it be some regulatory reasons (in the States) pertaining to products depicting law enforcement agencies' badges, insignias that caused the manufacturer to purposely render the badge the opposite way or really a case of screw ups during production but out with it anyway cause it's the last 'military' figure we're doing....

Irregardless, packaged at slightly less than US$30 it seemed like a reasonable deal. Quick bash in the works.... WATCH THIS SPACE.

URBAN C.Q.B. : 5th SFG

There's writer's block.... & there's kitbasher's block!

So when in doubt, refer to the 'Holy Bible' of 1/6 figure kitbashing: SpecFigures. Herein is a bash whose inspiration was drawn from it's very pages (took some liberties adding my own take as well).

Keeping cost in mind & also thanks to a fellow hobbyist who gave up on 1/6 modern & off-loaded his loose items, the only new purchase was the DOAV vest; which is a rare find these days.

PARTS:
Body: BBI G3.5
DOAV: BBI
Pullover: DML
3C pants: DML
Boots: Toyrrfic
Protec: HT
Buttpack: DML
Waterbottle+pouch: DML
Pistol mag pouch: HT
Shotgun shell holder: BBI
Kneepads: HT
Drop leg pouch: Playhouse
M9+hostler: HT
M4: DML/HT/BBI (mod)
Shotgun: HT
Knife: ???

EAT THIS !!!

More glorified ZOMBIE mayhem.... this time from ITALY.

SHINING new bash.... no SCREAMING big deal!

Something non military for a change, a simple bash made possible due to h/s compliments from the folks @ YBoxT.

Most who seen the film should have no problem identifying with the subject. Reference is obvious but not downright accurate in my bash. For one: the axe should be a fire axe unlike the one shown here.

Anyway, glad to have tackle a different genre other than the usual military etc.

PARTS:
Body: DML
Hands: Soldier Story
Shirt: BBI
Jeans+suspender: YAMATO (Bounty Hunter)
Axe: Sideshow
Ankle boots: Soldier Story

MACV-SOG

Once again a Nam era bash but not sure about the choice of head sculpt....

Bushy beard seem more in vogue for a modern ODA or DEVGRU "Cowboy" in Iraq bash than for a Nam SOG. Used it in the end anyway for lack of a better option.

As usual salvaged from my parts bin a DML muscled arm body but with a missing/broken trigger finger; easily fixed with one chopped from DML lose hands laying around.

Intended to use a Swedish-K for the loadout but had no luck & ended up with the Carl Gustav .45 SMG for substitute.

Parts:
H/s: DID
Body: DML
Grenadier vest: HT
Tigerstripe pants+boonie: HT
Boots: Wildwork
Belt: HT
Water bottles: HT
Pistol mag pouch: DID (painted)
Compass pouch: TS
Sling bag: Wildwork
Hush puppy+hostler: HT
Knife: HT
M79: HT
.45 SMG: DML

GANTZ (Live Action)

This Jap manga/animae should be familiar to the 'otakus' out there.

The comic & animation was violent, bloody, at times funny & with lots of boobs all in one.... & the live action trailer certainly looks promising.

Synopsis for the non fans: The films stars Kazunari Ninomiya as Kei Kurono and Kenichi Matsuyama as Masaru Kato, two college students who die in a train accident only to be brought back to life by a mysterious black sphere known as GANTZ. Equipped with advanced weaponry and special suits that give them superhuman abilities, they’re forced to carry out alien assassination missions, earning “points” toward eventually buying their freedom. However, various incidents along the way complicate matters.





(synopsis & trailers from BeyondHollywood.com)

U.S. NAVY SEAL: VIETNAM

Sounds kinda dumb (& probably is) but this bash was originally the HT Nam Navy SEAL which i owned but later strip down for parts a couple years back.

Flash forward recently, saw some of the stripped items still laying around so up goes this bash with some minor changes but largely still based off the original HT release.

Basically: gave it an AK chestrig, swap the head with another HT camoe one (can't remember from which release) & change the weapon to an AK.

PARTS:
Body: BBI G3.5
H/s: HT
Navy Floatation Jacket: HT
Jeans: HT
Life preserver: HT
Head scarf: BBI
Sunglasses: 3Zero (F14 pilot)
Pouches/Buttpack: HT
AK Chestrig: TTL
Hush Puppy+Hostler: HT
AK (mod): Rifle=TS/ Buttstock=Boford

FRANK MARTIN

The lead character in the Transporter series of movies. The first movie (directed by Cory Yuen, the best among the 3) which was released in 2002 also propelled it's lead actor to action movie stardom in Hollywood.

One of those bashes that's been done to death.... not to mention the JS headsculp that's seen so many releases: Loading Toys, Soldier Story, Brother's Production & even the upcoming TTL SEAL Rifleman.

Had mine done up early this year & sitting on the self till now. Headsculp was loose from Brother's Production, black suit was CRAP, from a company (IMO) that consistently over promises & over charges for their products. Apart from being ill fitting (can't use the usual G3.5 or T-Type) the material bunches up & doesn't fall in place proper. Even with a smaller body, seams crack & buttons pop during some poses....

PARTS:
HS: Brother's Production
Body: DML
Hands: HT (mod)
Suit/belt/shoes: ACI
M9: Playhouse