|
Scupting - ***1/2
Some people do not like the sculpting on the Ultimate Soldiers line - I'm
not one of them. I think this sculpt captures a British soldier
fantastically, and is far superior to most of the current 12" head
sculpts out there. Yes, Dragon also does some beautiful work, but I
think 21st Century has their moments as well and this is one of them.
Paint - ***
Paint application is good, and the accessories are particularly well
done. The face paint is clean and neat as well.
|
All of the WWII figures produced by 21st Century have been terrific, I
have to admit. Not perfect, mind you, but certainly better than 80%
of what's coming out of Hasbro these days.
Packaging - ***1/2
Excellent artwork and a very well done history on the inside flap.
The figures are packaged so that you can see all the pieces easily, and
can appreciate the quality even if you're a MIB collector. The boxes
are also quite sturdy, and aren't prone to alot of shelf damage. My
one compliant - would it kill them to include a simple instruction sheet
showing you how all the pieces are intended to attach? I spent a
good 45 minutes working it all out, and I doubt I have it right yet.
Articulation - ***
Better than Hasbro, but not quite up to Dragon quality yet. I like
the heavier bodies though, and have certainly not been disappointed by the
range of motion and display possibilities.
Accessories - ***1/2
A terrific arsenal of well sculpted and accurate accessories come with
this figure. They get the ***1/2 stars based on sculpt quality and
accuracy - they don't make it to **** because quality is often a problem
(once again, I had to glue a couple straps that fell off immediately) and
the softness of the rubber used for the knife and bayonet is not to my
liking. BTW, he also comes with a standard helmet, but I much prefer
the beret.
Value - ***
If you grab this baby on clearance at Target, you're getting a fantastic
value! At the original price of $25, it isn't quite as good, but
better than many of the other 12" figures out there.
Overall - ***1/2
This is a wonderful figure, but it's not perfect. Slightly
better plastic used in the accessories, and slightly tighter quality
control, and this figure would have been pushing a **** rating. But
at $14 or less, he's a terrific addition to your Allied forces.
|
