PLUS MODEL [ MORE REVIEWS ] [ WEBSITE ] [ NEW STORIES ]

In-Box Review
135
US Snipers in Ghillie suits
1/35 US Snipers in “Jackle Hillie Suit”
  • 000153

by: Andy Renshaw [ SKYHAWK ]

introduction
In an unusual release by Plus Model of the Czech Republic, we have a very rarely modeled subject of a US sniper team in Ghillie suits. The box is labeled “Jackle Hillie Suit”, and I honestly don’t know where this came from, but the correct nomenclature is “Ghillie” suit.

For a brief background, the Ghillie suit is a trademark of the sniper, and US soldiers wishing to become a sniper must report to sniper school with a Ghillie suit in hand, usually hand made. Most start with an old set of uniforms, or a one piece Nomex suit, then weave and sew on strips of fabric, rope twine, and other materials to make a very distinctive and effective suit. It is used during sniper training, but its practical use is limited due to the difficulty moving in the suit, high internal temperatures (well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), and the fact that the suit tends to be flammable making any contact with fire or combusting material (such as a flare or WP grenade) very hazardous. Regardless they are unique and present an interesting subject to model.
review

The kit is packed in a traditional small cardboard box with a photo of the finished item. There are a total of 9 resin parts on 4 sprues. The low parts count is due to the figures themselves are basically molded in one part with only the hands and weapons separate.
The parts are bubble free, and have minimal flash and appear to be very well cast, much to the standards of other Plus Models releases.

The Figures:
Ok, here is where my honest opinion will come out. The figures are cast in some very odd poses. One is standing with the sniper rifle slung over his shoulder, as a former Marksmanship Instructor would say, “like your granddaddy’s shotgun”. The other is hunched over cradling his rifle while pointing at a tablet of some kind; a GPS unit or PDA maybe? There is no interaction between them, and in my opinion both poses are, in a short assessment, boring.
The idea of modeling a Ghillie suited sniper is a great idea (something I’ve been wanting to do myself), however the choice of poses has much to be desired. The sculptor should have at least posed the sniper sighting in, and had the scout looking through a scope, binoculars, or something interactive. Even if the two figures were in a more concealed pose (both crouching, etc) and interacting over the GPS unit as though getting ready to sight in on the target would have been more interesting than what is provided. It is the lack of interesting poses that cause me to give this set a lower than usual rating.

Weapons:
The kit has both weapons covered in Ghillie suit like material, so identifying the rifles is a little difficult. The scout has an M16 with M203 grenade launcher, which is accurate. This is carried in case there is contact made with the enemy during extraction to provide some means of defense. The bolt action sniper rifle would be unable to combat a group of automatic rifle armed adversaries. The other rifle is hard to tell, but appears to be one of the variants made by Accuracy International such as a L96 or PSG 90. Maybe somebody more familiar with these rifles can give us a positive ID based on the shape. The choice of the L96 or PSG 90 is odd, as most US Army snipers carry the M24 Sniper Weapon System as standard equipment.
conclusion
Like always with Plus Models, the mechanics of the model, such as molding and resin, is top quality. Also the handling of the Ghillie suit itself, which I’m sure was problematic to sculpt “just right” is well done and looks right. I am personally just disappointed at the poses and feel that the subject would have been much better served with a better choice of poses that where more interactive, which maybe would have made for better sellers too.


SUMMARY
Highs: Good quality molding and casting.
Lows: Poses have much to be desired.
Verdict: Good casting but not the most attractive poses.
Percentage Rating
65%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: 090
  Suggested Retail: $13.70
  PUBLISHED: Jan 06, 2009
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 91.16%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 85.93%

Our Thanks to Plus Model!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

View Vendor Homepage  |  More Reviews  

About Andy Renshaw (skyhawk)
FROM: FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

I started modeling around 8 years old when my dad bought me a Monogram 1/48 A-7. We built that together, and after that he turned me loose. Along with armor and figures, I also enjoy building aircraft and trains (model railroading), and tend to cycle between the genres. Recently married, I have...

Copyright ©2021 text by Andy Renshaw [ SKYHAWK ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Great point....that is pretty lame. Not to mention i bet snipers currently use camelbacks and not canteens (along with the rest of the US Army and USMC).
JAN 06, 2009 - 09:25 AM
that would make a little more sence for some US figures. Mmmm....ill have to find me a pic of an M14 and compare profiles.
JAN 06, 2009 - 09:26 AM
lol, the second guy has a likeness to my profile picture here is another picture of myself in my ghillie suit, in case you're interested.
JAN 11, 2009 - 08:35 AM
Ya, for some reason they just don't look right Evan
JAN 11, 2009 - 09:52 AM
I don't care much for this release I have to say. The ghillie suit is made in a heavy handed fashion as is the camouflage material used on the weapons. This type of suit would be difficult to carry off in miniature form. A few things to point out about the suit that are bothersome. The sheer amount of garnish represented here is too great overall. Another thing is the front of the suit. This is typically not covered by garnish. Instead it is reinforced with a heavy canvas material, likely a cut up duffel bag. This suit is also meant for a wooded area. I think that something that would represent our snipers operationally would need a more urban or desert look. These guys look like they sniper candidates on exercise.
JAN 11, 2009 - 04:36 PM
like John said I don't think having a ghillie suit out of resin is a viable way to represent the suit. Its made out of thin fabric strips which sit loosely on top of each other on a real suit, something very hard to represent in moulded resin. The poses are also really weird and like a lot of other mainstream manufacturers are show soldiers at rest, which is pretty boring. I think the figures pale in comparison to the Zvezda snipers with Ghillie suits, which have better poses and much crisper. just my 2 cents worth. ps could it possibly be an accuracy international arctic warfare
JAN 13, 2009 - 06:01 AM
It isn't. Here's an AI L96AW; It has a moulded stock, not a sleleton one.
JAN 17, 2009 - 03:46 AM
Some ghilie suits have scrim in front of suit as well, and those ones are mostly used by snipers or hunters that will be standing up or crouching more. The suits with scrim only on the back are used for lying prone on the ground.
JAN 17, 2011 - 03:34 AM
jesus mate! dragged up an old post!
JAN 18, 2011 - 10:47 PM
   
ADVERTISEMENT


Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • 000526
  • 000233
  • 000429
  • 000335
ADVERTISEMENT