I was surprised to see "new" Marines.
They're not new sculpts, but the original wave of Marines is reshipping with different paint applications and some seem to have different weapons I think... The paint's noticeably different though.
Some guys have "stubble" or "dirt" painted on them, which is odd sort of, but it looks ok. Starts of Goatee's and beards and such.
Did anyone know they were repainting the original leathernecks though and tossing them back on shelves?
I also noticed with the 2 guys with berets that I bought, that they have noticeably better construction than the 1st wave of Marines did that utilized the same body. The Marine's joints would pop off at the arms (bicep and elbow both), but on the new guys with berets and new weapons, they are much sturdier and they seem to have their legs a little wider apart so they don't look like they're trying to keep a greased BB up their rears!
If the new wave of Marines are anything near as good in their construction, I think I may start upgrading my troops because those 1st series guys were flawed, to say the least.
On paintjobs, I can't tell who's got a good one and who doesn't. There's more going on with these newer figures... The woodland camo's especially confusing and I'm not sure it is as accurate as it should be. On the Marines it looks nice enough though, both versions. The beret guys, I dunno that it's so nice.
Oh, and one more question...
Did anyone else wonder what the gun is with the one woodland camo'd guy that has a beret? It looks like something out of the movie Alien. I've seen new weapons in development and things on the History Channel, and this gun looks like something out of a sci-fi flick. Anyone familiar with it? It's got a clip coming out the stock it seems... Kind of hard to put into words, so hopefully one of you will just know what I'm talking about.
Overall, I can't wait to see BBI make a go at WW2, especially figures. If they're improving their construction of figures, and the style of articulation at the arms, then I can safely say that they'd make amazing figures in this scale, and I can only hope some are WW2. I'd dig some Coalition troops done up though for modern era, and some baddies perhaps... Any kind of "bad guy" really, or go the route 21st did with "allies" that just happen to look exactly like the enemy as well.
Shrewd, but effective maneuver from 21st, and I like it!