Soldier Story US WWII 2nd Ranger Photo Review

Monkey Depot · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2009, 20:27

Hey Guys,
Just got a package from Soldier Story with the upcoming Ranger figure in it for a photo review. You US fans are gonna be stoked on this guy cause he is loaded with awesome US gear. Soldier Story pulled all the stops out on this one. Everything is "crisp", meaning nice tailoring, material choices, and attention to detail. Also, there has been some conversation here and on other boards about the size of SS US M1 helmet being too small. Well I broke out one of my real 1:1 M1 helmets, a ruler and a set of calipers today and went to work. Turns out, looks can deceive, cause the 1/6 helmet is actually .067in too long and .029in too wide. Meaning in scale inches it is a whopping .4in too long and .175 too wide. Pretty damn close if you ask me and I would doubt a good amount of the rest of our 1/6 gear would hold up to such scrutiny. You have to keep in mind with the US M1 helmet, there was only one size of shell. Meaning, the helmet will look a different size based on the size of the head it was on. So when you look at period photos, the perspective can often be 'off' based on the size of the person's head. The SS helmet is almost dead nuts on. Just sayin..........

Monkey Depot Photo Review Soldier Story 2nd Ranger

Double Dare · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2009, 20:57

Thanks, Brady! Can't wait to get mine. I know where I'll be shopping for loose items from this set.

pathfinder505 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2009, 21:25

Thanks for the GREAT review. I already pre-order 2 sets just waiting for it arrive.

Jeffajab · #4 (**permalink**) 07-31-2009, 23:48

Another great photo review.

"...Close up of headsculpt. Might look somewhat familiar to some folks..."

Nope, I'm not see'in it. Can you get closer? Who? Is that a young (and thin) Tom Hanks for the "Joe and the Volcano" bash I've always wanted to make!

Also, question about the white bar on the helmet. I thought that was for officers. And while it is accurate to have it vertical or horizontal, wasn't it vertical on Hanks' helmet?

I suppose you can argue that SS is not trying to make an exact Capt. Miller figure, i.e., rank, weapon, for copyright reasons...

Lastly, can you get out the calipers on the head, because SS heads always seem undersized...

.

HeadRusch1 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 02:05

Ok, I guess I'm going to take a beating on this....but I'm ready for it.

These Soldier Story WW2 figures to me all look like dolls in over-sized doll clothes. I mean, I know in our hobby the devil is in the details, but to me the details seem...wrong. Like the clothes are cut for a bigger body than SS provides. I prefer the look of the Dragon offerings that are similar because they seem to have a better fit in the uniform (if not in absolute accuracy). Some things in this hobby made out of cloth just wind up looking out of scale, and SS seems to be doing alot of that.

In the shot Brady posted above, the gloves look like gigantic doll gloves.....the jacket looks like its 3 sizes too big...the outer seam on the wire-cutter holder looks super thick...I mean, well..here:
http://www.5thrib.com/images/equipment/cutters.jpg

I don't know, I'm just not digging the look.

I agree with the above poster, the heads look small. Small...and crappy. I'm not a big fan of the sculpts on the WW2 figures heads, or their expressions.

I have tons of Dragon WW2 and some BBI.....but I'd put my Dragon WW2 guys up against this guy and take the Dragons every day of the week. What am I missing here because people seem to get really fired up about these WW2 releases, but I'm just not making the jump...

?????

azazel · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 03:56

If you prefer plastic moulded pouches, plastic moulded boots, elastic strips in place of proper webbing straps, plastic web belts, elastic helmet straps, then that's cool. There's room in this hobby for all kinds of tastes and preferences.

I do like DML and BBI's WW2 offerings. God knows I have enough of them. But Soldier Story's latest figures have got me interested in buying some WW2 Americans beyond the few I have from DML and BBI at a price point I'd never have expected I'd be willing to pay for WW2 stuff. At the same time I struggle in being willing to pay $40 for some of DML's better offerings.

justin_g · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 05:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadRusch1

Ok, I guess I'm going to take a beating on this....but I'm ready for it.

I think your points are completely valid.

In the end, I think alot of it comes down to personal taste though.

Eg: Rubber molded gear can be made to be completely scale accurate(but probably with limited or no functionality). Cloth gear can be made from realistic looking materials, with almost exact functionality - in the end, neither is perfect! But both can be made to look amazing by a talented hobbyist.

I totally agree on the Soldier Story clothing as well - almost all of their uniforms are too big for probably any 1/6 body - especially their own S2 body which is not a particularly large body. It's odd because their older figures had great fitting uniforms - it's only since the USN EOD figure that they have been making everything in XXL sizes.

goaltendah1 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 09:02

Thanks for the review Brady. Kick arse job!

This may be my first WWII figure.

Jeff

pathfinder505 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 11:49

forgot to ask when will this ranger be showing up in the states?

duralumin · #10 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadRusch1

Ok, I guess I'm going to take a beating on this....but I'm ready for it.

These Soldier Story WW2 figures to me all look like dolls in over-sized doll clothes. I mean, I know in our hobby the devil is in the details, but to me the details seem...wrong. Like the clothes are cut for a bigger body than SS provides. I prefer the look of the Dragon offerings that are similar because they seem to have a better fit in the uniform (if not in absolute accuracy). Some things in this hobby made out of cloth just wind up looking out of scale, and SS seems to be doing alot of that.

In the shot Brady posted above, the gloves look like gigantic doll gloves.....the jacket looks like its 3 sizes too big...the outer seam on the wire-cutter holder looks super thick...I mean, well..here:
http://www.5thrib.com/images/equipment/cutters.jpg

I don't know, I'm just not digging the look.

I agree with the above poster, the heads look small. Small...and crappy. I'm not a big fan of the sculpts on the WW2 figures heads, or their expressions.

I have tons of Dragon WW2 and some BBI.....but I'd put my Dragon WW2 guys up against this guy and take the Dragons every day of the week. What am I missing here because people seem to get really fired up about these WW2 releases, but I'm just not making the jump...

?????

HR: all valid constructive points...but IMO it has mostly to do with the smallness of SS's headsculpts that is throwing everything else off. Put a DML or other HS on that body and I'd wager that everything else might fall into place a little better proportion-wise. Usually I'm complaining about big headsculpts, but SS noggin sculpts are too small. I've been waiting for this one Brady, can't wait for mine. GREAT review!

Jeffajab · #11 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by duralumin

HR: all valid constructive points...but IMO it has mostly to do with the smallness of SS's headsculpts that is throwing everything else off. Put a DML or other HS on that body and I'd wager that everything else might fall into place a little better proportion-wise. Usually I'm complaining about big headsculpts, but SS noggin sculpts are too small. I've been waiting for this one Brady, can't wait for mine. GREAT review!

One of the problems with the S2 body is that there really aren't any compatible headsculpts. Dragon neck: too long. Even the BBI 3/3.5 heads have too much neck. I don't have a Hot Toys "no-neck" head, but I believe the neck connectors are different sizes. Maybe if the S2 is a copy of Triad Toys, maybe Triad Toys heads will fit? In the meantime, I have a nice collection of interchangeable SS heads that are all too small!

Captain Miller · #12 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 06:01

In spite of all this scrutiny, I think that this SS Ranger holds up pretty well. for me, this is the first figure that I don't have to replace any parts on. Everything is made well. IMO - everything is accurate and fits well.

I mean, look at those leggings! First time I've seen them look real, and not like leg warmers.

Soldier Story: Make WWI Figs!

Tweezers · #13 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 22:50

Quote:

there has been some conversation here and on other boards about the size of SS US M1 helmet being too small.

Brady -- I'm pretty sure John at Cal-Tek told me that they UPDATED the helmet for this issue; I don't have this in-hand yet, but it appears to be the case.
Since you have the specs on the real M1, care to do a comparison to the one on their last release (the D-Day medic) ... And, perhaps, the DiD pot, too (yeah, yeah, I know you're busy

-- If not possible, no sweat

; thanks for what you've already provided)