Packaging: Very nice front cover of the Scud Hunter Sniper setting up for a head shot. Unfortunately, the inside flap does not have any of the traditional history blurb which Dragon usually does for the World War II figures. The inside flap looks like some kind of infrared photo, perhaps of whatever Greg is scoping on the front flap. For those like me who are not weapons experts, I have no idea what the names are for the PASGT tactical vest, the Barrett 82A1 .50 Caliber Semi-Automatic sniper rifle, the M17 ABC Field Protective Mask, Angora hat, Hot Weather Boots (type 1), or the little hand-held computer (Global Positioning Satellite monitor?). After spending $40. or so for this collectible, I would like to know the tech names for the gear (without having to look inside the Cotswold Catalog for the information). Dragon usually lists everything, but on some of the modern sets they seem to leave out the technical information.
Headsculpt: Greg looks like most of the German Dragons that I have purchased. Not to say that they all look the same, but Dragon seems to make a lot of the Anglo-German figures look like they are cousins. Sure, there are the very unique ones like Steiner, Kater, etc. But this guy looks like Adam. He also has that "friendly" captured German POW look that I remember vividly from Saving Private Ryan. It is not a bad sculpt, but I would have preferred a Tom Berenger ugly-face sniper.
Articulation: Dragon New Generation body. He can scratch the back of his ears, etc.
Clothing: Standard looking Desert Storm camo pants and jacket. The vest is very nice, the belt is plastic with grommets. The boots have a very nice paint job. The wool cap is the nicest I have ever seen, as it is long enough to actually fold up like a real wool cap. Anyone who has ever gotten a Hasbro Secret Mission cap knows that the cap is too short to properly fold up and the majority of the fabric is in the middle of the cap where it was sewn together into a big lump. This Dragon cap is what the wool caps should all be like! It is comfortable, It has fabric to spare. It looks real, and it looks nice.
Accessories: pistol, hoslter, knife, radio & holster, ammo pouch, GPS hand-held; empty bag for the "Gas Mask" which is not included. Everything is well detailed. I would like any manufacturers to include a gas mask in every set that brings an empty gas mask bag. Even if the gas mask was not very detailed, at least put a mask in the bag. The Sniper Rifle is the highlight of the set, with a working bolt, lens caps on the scope, removable tripod legs, and a magazine with a very detailed rifle round showing.
Price: This was $27.00 on e-bay, plus postage from a foreign vendor put the price at $40.00. If you can buy it from a USA dealer, it might be less expensive than $40. For the detail of the equipment, it is a good value. It is also a valuable Collectible and something that could potentially increase in price if it is kept MIB.
Overall: This is an excellent set for any collector of Gulf War era figures, It also has excellent display value. And you can even play with it too!
Grade: A
