OK....I waited a year for these guys and now I finally got my hands on a set. For those who want to skip the LONG review, let me just say - awesome. These new bbi figures are on par with the XD Japanese in terms of articulation and detail, with some pros and a few minor cons.
Articulation - the Japanese actually have a point that these guys do not (right above the knee), but three of these guys have the sweet ankle-joint we have come to know from the early bbi guys. This point does wonders for having the guys crouch/creep around. Also, some of the guys can get more than a 90 degree bend on their arm so they can get to almost proper firing position. The extra arm from old XD figures are still best in this regard though. Overall the articulation is good, with the figures being able to do splits with no gear or limbs popping off. No figure stands though - and no hole in the feet - take that for what it's worth.
This leads me to sturdiness - these are VERY sturdy. No bbi "breaks" like we use to have. These really can be flung around by kids like a GiJoe. (On a side note I found an RAH Joe on card from '88 and it has a $4.99 price tag on it! The four inch figure market has had 20 yr. price stability!!).
Another reason they can be 'played' with is because their gear is stuck on, aside from the packs & helmets. The gear on the chest can be plucked off like on the bbi modern figures, but it does not seem like it is meant to be removed. The gear on their belts is molded on. SO, customizing will be tough. You cannot mix & match gear like on the 21C Paras to get a bunch of similar but unique soldiers (like in my webshots album). This hurts the most because no two of the new guys are alike. That is, no two guys are from the same unit so if you want 6 battle-ready Screaming Eagles, they will all be virtually identical from the neck down. On the one hand you will never lose a map case or a canteen, but on the other there is a lot less creativity in setting them up.
Headsculpts - Love them. Yea, some guys look older but the detail is all there and the heads "pop" right off and are easily switched with S1 paras.
Weapons - sweet and plenty of them - we know this from the S1 paras (wow, buying all those paras seems stupid now....I guess that's why they didn't announce this wave earlier
).
1) The jump ready para - he sucks. That makes 7 of 12 bbi figures with life-vests on
. Every case of these new guys I get my hands on I will have 2 more of these worthless guys. His backpack is also on the right (wrong) way so he is LESS accurate than the S1 paras from bbi. He is literally worthless to me.
2) The Pathfinder is cool, but his headsculpt is so unique (with camo & deep blue eyes) that his possibilities are limited (and my guy was missing his backpack
).
3) The US 2nd Ranger is cool, though a little "uptight" looking and too clean. He just got his uniform from the dry-cleaner.
4) The 101st Airborne guys is one of my favs - he's the perfect battle-ready para. Shame they didn't do 2 of him. Doofy look on his face but he comes with good weapons and displays very well because when you bend his knee it does not reveal the color of the orginal plastic like it does on the S1 paras and some of these guys. It is cool that the figures are painted - but the pitfall is missing a spot or a joint here or there.
5) US 29th Infantryman - WOW. A regular with removable helmet....need I say more? OK...he is weathered beautifully, has the great ankles and a life-like face. Drawbacks include his unpainted knees (see above) and the BAR ammo stuck on him. If this ammo was removable you could use this guy to build the entire 29th Infantry...he is awesome.
6) The US Ranger is my favorite. His uniform is cool, he is battle-hardened, his joints are flawless and he possibly has the BEST 1:18 headsculpt ever. He is SO BADASS looking down his .45 that you will just stare back at him
.
Now please don't make me wait a year for S3. I really hope they continue to release waves with a variety of figures but with overlap so with time you could get a few different Pathfinders, Screaming Eagles, Infantrymen...etc....I guess like the 1/6th figure market...
)
