M&C Toys: figure, uniform, the 4 extra pockets added to the uniform, hat, T-shirt, web gear, glasses, binoculars, canteens (1 and 2 quart), radio, pistol and holster, hand grenades and knife(blade only), dog tags
BBI: boots, magazine pouches
Unknown: combat pack (purchased loose)
Hasbro: MP5 sub machinegun
21st Century Toys: smoke grenade
Elastic and grosgrain strap, jump rings, spare buckles, paint
In 2007, I began a paradigm shift in my figure collecting and customizing. I had, for 14 years or so, focused almost exclusively on realistic modern and historic military figures and I was feeling burned out. Then that year came the 25th anniversary RAH figures and the collector's club 12" Adventure Team line which I began collecting with enthusiasm. I found that customizing 12" fictional characters allowed far more artistic freedom than realistic military, so I was up and running creating an army of 12" Real American Hero custom Joes. After converting a dozen or so 12" HOF figures to better bodies and gear (I liked their head sculpts and uniforms) I began digging around websites featuring old file cards for some new custom projects. That's when I discovered "Recoil" and decided to create a 12" representation to support my newly refurbished Hall of Fame Joes. Inspiration for Recoil was drawn from the Real American Hero figure and character bio and from source material from Osprey Elite US Army Rangers & LRRP Unit 1942-87. I paid homage to original character but gave him a post-modern woodland camouflage uniform and more realistic weapons and gear.
The custom is more of a kit bash, but I modified and customized several items. I used 4 pockets cut from an extra uniform to add extra pockets to his uniform jacket; one each on the shoulders and back hips. I did this to keep him from looking too regulation. I added the pockets to the uniform with Fabri-Tac glue. If you need a precedent for this, research the extra pockets added to US Airborne uniforms prior to D-Day. I dyed the rubbery belt and shoulder straps in black dye also to divert from a regulation look. I modified the Hasbro HK MP5 with a suppressor from styrene tube and a scope from M&C parts, styrene tube and section cut from the body of a ballpoint pen. The styling for this weapon was a deliberate attempt to mirror a similar weapon offered with Hall of Heroes "Firefly". The knife was made by attaching the thick rubbery blade cut from an M&C bayonet to a custom handle made from sheet styrene and a 1/18 M&C Toys flag pole end for a handle. I wrapped thick hemp cord around the handle for a grip. The magazine pouches were slightly modified so that they lay horizontally rather than vertically. This modification facilitates bending at the waist; important for a trooper sneaking around in the brush. The figure itself has one of the better M&C head sculpts which tend to look a bit goofy. Together with the cowboy rolled boonie hat and cool-guy shades, he stands up well within my Hall of Fame/Real American Hero ranks.
