US MARINES by TSSD (1 Viewer)

[Plastic General]

Well I defiantly feel that the 8 poses of US MARINES have a better spectrum of variety then the NVA set does.
But the sculpting on the NVA is crisp and hard to beat.

* A good PRONE figure firing an M-60 is much needed.
* Also much needed is a figure throwing a GRENADE.

Why do so many sets nowadays omit prone figures??
Any introduction set should always cover the 6 basic combat poses.

1) Standing sharp-shooting.

2) Firing MG from waist.

3) Kneeling sharp-shooting.

4) Holding weapon THROWING GRENADE.

5) Running with weapon.

6) PRONE firing

I'm happy to see that TSSD has covered 4/6 of the basics.
Anything after that is gravy!
Looking forward to buying 2 bags + conversions!!





Plastic General

 

[Go for Broke]

Those look good. I may have to buy a bag or two.

 

[tws1956]

Well I defiantly feel that the 8 poses of US MARINES have a better spectrum of variety then the NVA set does.
But the sculpting on the NVA is crisp and hard to beat.

* A good PRONE figure firing an M-60 is much needed.
* Also much needed is a figure throwing a GRENADE.

Why do so many sets nowadays omit prone figures??
Any introduction set should always cover the 6 basic combat poses.

1) Standing sharp-shooting.

2) Firing MG from waist.

3) Kneeling sharp-shooting.

4) Holding weapon THROWING GRENADE.

5) Running with weapon.

6) PRONE firing

I'm happy to see that TSSD has covered 4/6 of the basics.
Anything after that is gravy!
Looking forward to buying 2 bags + conversions!!

View attachment 196868

View attachment 196869

Plastic General

Here's something I have never quite understood. From Marx onward any WW2 American army or marine figures always has the officer pose with a .45 pistol and nothing else. Isn't that completely incorrect? My understanding is platoon and company officers carried rifles and/or machine guns, with their pistols strictly as sidearms. I could be wrong. But, hell, Lt. Hanley on Combat! always had a carbine!

 

[Jay]

These are great also. I can't wait to see the set. These are on the top of my list for OTSN. I'm glad there aren't a lot of unique poses, such as a NVA soldier with a bugle. You can only do so much with these figures. I'd rather more shooting and charging. As it is, the Marine with the pistol, while really nice, is a one of.
Still, I'll bet these sell really well. Hopefully series 2 won't be far behind.

And yeah, it isn't 'too soon.'

 

[THE SHOOTIST]

Yes! I'll be buying these. I'll most likely expire before I find time to paint them, but there is still hope.....

 

[combatmen]

Here's something I have never quite understood. From Marx onward any WW2 American army or marine figures always has the officer pose with a .45 pistol and nothing else. Isn't that completely incorrect? My understanding is platoon and company officers carried rifles and/or machine guns, with their pistols strictly as sidearms. I could be wrong. But, hell, Lt. Hanley on Combat! always had a carbine!

My guess is, is that the figure with 45 is supposed to be in the heat of battle and lacking time to reload or being out of M-16 ammo went for his trusty 45. He should be easy to convert to other figure poses.
BOBBYGMOORE

 

[binder001]

Prone figures - yes that's frustrating for the guy who wants to portray soldiers in combat. Keep low or get dead! Plus must light machine guns are designed for prone firing. It still frustrates me that many plastic figures in 1/72nd or 1/32nd show US troops KNEELING behind the air-cooled .30 cal. The tripod was designed for PRONE firing!

Anyway, plastic prone figures have always had a problem because of their lower "play value". We all remember when we were kids and the prone guys were usually the last set up and the first to "die". Ironically they were the most accurate poses for WW2 combat.

Pistols - the Marine shown must be in trouble, he's got the .45 in his left hand (maybe he has one of the early M16s with the ammo that led to jams!). The "toy" figures often have drawn pistols that are out of proportion to the actual use of handguns. It's a common feature of plastic toy soldiers. You are right in your comment that the US M1 carbine was originally meant for officers as well as service troops. Some infantry officers would pick up an M1 rifle instead. In Viet Nam the officers and medics, etc were supposed to have their rifle available as their primary weapon.

Speaking of grenade throwers - you always see the GI tossing a frag grenade, commonly seen, but almost as common in places like Viet Nam were smoke grenades for target marking or LZ designation, and CS (tear gas) grenades to flush Charlie out his bunkers and tunnels. Both of those look more like tossing a soda can than a baseball.

More important to the US troops than the NVA/VC would be an RTO (radio telephone operator). He's the key to calling in the massive American firepower, artillery, helos, air support, etc. Along with the extra guns, we need the availability of a "Prick 77" radio or equivalent.

Gary B.
Waverly, NE

 

[Jay]

More important to the US troops than the NVA/VC would be an RTO (radio telephone operator). He's the key to calling in the massive American firepower, artillery, helos, air support, etc. Along with the extra guns, we need the availability of a "Prick 77" radio or equivalent.

Gary B.
Waverly, NE[/QUOTE]

My thought also. I'm hoping there will be a second set next year with this and a few other poses, maybe on a S&D, but a little less involved in combat. Also, as mentioned in passing, with a medic. Consider all the possibilities for both sides. I hope FOV re-releases the APC

 

[Denver]

I have seen and held these figures.
They provide many conversion possibilities.

 

[Plastic General]

More important to the US troops than the NVA/VC would be an RTO (radio telephone operator). He's the key to calling in the massive American firepower, artillery, helos, air support, etc. Along with the extra guns, we need the availability of a "Prick 77" radio or equivalent.

Gary B.
Waverly, NE

My thought also. I'm hoping there will be a second set next year with this and a few other poses, maybe on a S&D, but a little less involved in combat. Also, as mentioned in passing, with a medic. Consider all the possibilities for both sides. I hope FOV re-releases the APC[/QUOTE]

I strongly agree!!!

 

[Scott]

These new figures look great. It looks like you could build good sized forces of the standard shooting and attacking poses from multiple bags of figures.

Can any VN era "buffs" chime in on authenticity of the figures? Even though I lived through seeing these men on TV every night on the news it was almost 50 years ago.

 

[Jay]

These new figures look great. It looks like you could build good sized forces of the standard shooting and attacking poses from multiple bags of figures.

Can any VN era "buffs" chime in on authenticity of the figures? Even though I lived through seeing these men on TV every night on the news it was almost 50 years ago.

I'm trying to get a closer look, but the jungle books look authentic. Overall I'd say they look spot on.

 

[semperrandyfi]

Not seeing these figures 360 or really clear as yet,I might add :
Pistol was an issue item to M-60 (The Pig) and M-79 fellas.
Most grunts carried a K-Bar
Usually 2 7mag bandoleers were humped(17-18 rounds in each)
782(deuce gear)had 1st aide packet (usually on right shoulder),2
canteens,gas mask(Hue City),ammo pouches,SL with compass
A-gunner w/linked 60 ammo
RTO w/PRC-25 when I was in country-"The Monster"-25 lb.w/battery-
plus his gear & 16 ,smoke grenades,extra battery & ???"King of The Hump"
Need slings on 16s, +LAAWs/3.5 rocket launcher(Hue City)
In the heat,many unbloused trousers were the norm(leeches be ****ed)
Some would tape 2 mags together.
Army buttpacks took extras(C-Rats,claymore,and whatever you wanted to hump.)

Just some random notes here..Taps.

 

[binder001]

I don't know about the Marines, but some observations on misc kit in Viet Nam; some troops would put bottles of insect repellent ot gun oil in the elastic band that holds the camo cover on the helmet. Some Army guys would carry an M18 Claymore mine in its bag, then after use the bag might be used to carry misc. junk. In hot areas it was common to see guys with an OD towel in use as a sweat rag around their neck.

While surfing Amazon I noticed that there are a couple recent books on Viet Nam uniforms, broken down into 1962-68 and 68-75. There is also a new book out of small arms of the Viet Nam War by Dale Dye, I have this one on order and I should have it within the week.

Gary B.
Waverly, NE

 

[fritz]

the faces and noses are funny/creepy looking, not impress.

 

[semperrandyfi]

Not seeing these figures 360 or really clear as yet,I might add :
Pistol was an issue item to M-60 (The Pig) and M-79 fellas.
Most grunts carried a K-Bar
Usually 2 7mag bandoleers were humped(17-18 rounds in each)
782(deuce gear)had 1st aide packet (usually on right shoulder),2
canteens,gas mask(Hue City),ammo pouches,SL with compass
A-gunner w/linked 60 ammo
RTO w/PRC-25 when I was in country-"The Monster"-25 lb.w/battery-
plus his gear & 16 ,smoke grenades,extra battery & ???"King of The Hump"
Need slings on 16s, +LAAWs/3.5 rocket launcher(Hue City)
In the heat,many unbloused trousers were the norm(leeches be ****ed)
Some would tape 2 mags together.
Army buttpacks took extras(C-Rats,claymore,and whatever you wanted to hump.)

Just some random notes here..Taps.

P.S. a set of dogtags on the bootlaces would be a nice touch.
Maybe some do-rags /drive-on towels were prevalent in country
as well.

Typing lamp is out.