This is perhaps one of the most recognized and iconic images of US forces in WWII. It is every book about the airborne. It shows two members of the infamous Filthy 13 who a group of 101st Airborne 506thth Parachute Infantry regiment.paratroopers tasked to demolish German targets behind the lines. Before their mission, they painted their faces and wore mohawks to get psyched up for the mission.
The inspiration for the look came from Jake McNiece who was part Native American and not one to worry about ruffling the feathers of the brass. Soldier Story has worked wtih Cal Tek USA to honor this American hero by consulting with Mr. McNiece to produce an accurate 1/6 scale action figure. Mr. McNiece himself provided the information on his uniform and equipment.
Here we see Mr. McNiece before he gets geared up. He is wearing his war paint and mohawk and dressed in his M42 jump trousers and wool service shirt.
Headsculpt has Soldier Story's new texturing and a real hair mohawk. Mr. McNiece was quite the hellraiser and was often found smiling while causing trouble on both the battlefield and off post during leave.
Rear shot of trousers showing pocket reinforcements and ties.
Pocket detail. Pockets are funcitonal and have the correct gusset.
Front of trousers with knee reinforcements.
Soldier Story always does a great job on boots and their Corcoran jump boots are well done.
Front of M42 jump jacket.
Again, the pockets are functional.
Paratrooper switchblade pocket on front.
Everytime a US paratrooper comes out, the "Great Color Debate" begins again. The color is nice and well within the range. If you have color issues, do some reasearch and you will find that there were wide variations in M42 color.
Elbow reinforcements.
Rear of jacket with sizing belt.
Rear of jacket showing correct "skirt" seam that is often missing on 1/6 versions along with the back gusset.
Mr. McNiece with his trusty M1 Garand. Although the famous photographs from Stars and Stripes show him with a Thompson submachinegun, Mr. McNiece says that he just grabbed one to pose for the camer and that in battle his weapon of choice was the M1 Garand. Also note that Soldier Story gives you BOTH a webbed M1936 pistol belt shown here AND the M1923 M1 Garand cartridge belt.
Soldier Story's M1 Garand is a work of art in real metal and wood. Check out the buttplate detail.
Liner detail of the M1C airborne helmet. Also made from real metal.
Side view of helmet and you can barely see the 506th Airborne spade on the side.
Helmet comes netted and with scrim burlap straps. Leatherlike chin cup strap.
Check out some of our prior Soldier Story reviews to see detail shots of their awesome 1991. Safety works, hammer works, slide moves.
Ready to go to work.
Geared up for a quick mission.
Soldier Story has done a great job on the M1923 cartridge belt and the M1936 suspenders.
Rear shot showing riggers pouch in green as well as the shortened M1910 entrenching tool for airborne troops.
The field made pads that many airborne troops used to help soften the load of the suspenders.
The general purpose bag often used to carry rifle grenades and other explosives.
M1 Garand comes with removable grenade launcher attachment.
Ready to launch!
Again, the Soldier Story M1 Garand is a work of art. Here is a shot of the spring loaded working action.
Loading a clip in the Garand.
Rear shot showing M36 musette bag.
M3 trench knife in M6 scabbard was often mounted on the leg of airborne troops.
Figure comes with the work gloves
Taking a break. The mess kit is metal and funtions like the real one.
M36 pack filled with demo gear including the blacing machine, 1 pound and 1/2 pound TNT blocks and the M2 multi purpose pliers and crimpers .
Preparing a 1 pound block of TNT.
The blasting machine is super detailed. Sorry for not taking a better shot of it.
Mr. McNiece ready to hunt some Germans!
Soldier Story has really loaded this figure with gear. He also comes with full jump gear including the T5 chute pack w/reserve as well as the Griswold bag for the M1 Garand.
Side shot showing Hawkins mine as well as the gas mask bag.
Rear shot of T5 chute.
Getting ready to hook up to the static line.
Geared up ready to jump.
Detail shot of M1 Garand. Set comes with one real metal clip and bullets as well as plastic ones. Please note: the real metal and wood Garand does not break down to fit in bag.
More of the gear including the detailed pineapple grenade (real metal).
Mess kit and gear. Please note: this is a pre production piece and a couple pieces are not shown like the mess kit knife and M1 Garand bayonet.
There is a ton of fear with this figure and you can configure him multiple ways.
Shot of the box. Mr. McNiece has hand signed a limited amount of boxes. We have not received word yet how these will be available.
This figure is an awesome release and a fitting tribute to a real American hero who has really "been there and done that". Having Mr. McNiece directly involved with the project makes it even that much more special.
