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Reviews > Hot Toys

Last Updated: Apr 5th, 2007 - 12:17:34

Hot Toys, Inc. SPEAR Body Armor (2005)
By T. R. Stallworth
Jun 10, 2005, 15:26

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Hot Toys, Inc. SPEAR Body Armor (2005)

Product Description:

This year Hot Toys, Inc. released their 1/6^th scale version of the Special Operations Forces Equipment Advanced Requirements (SPEAR) Body Armor/Load Carriage System (BALCS) in a carded accessory set. Yes, I know that is a long-winded term for body armor. But Hey! That is what the military calls it. I will just use the term SPEAR Body Armor. Previously, the SPEAR Body Armor was only available with Hot Toys boxed figures. Additionally, to call it a carded set is misleading. Most of the various 1/6^th scale eCommerce sites get this item loose and put it in a package/bag.

This accessory set comes in three colors: Black cammo, 3-Color Desert Cammo, and Woodland cammo patterns (photos below). This set is a perfect compliment to those hobbyists seeking to model their Special Operations Forces (SOF) figures using the correct gear for the operational environment. The MSRP for this product is $12.00.

One Sixth Scale hobbyist have seen different version of this body armor released before on such figures as DML�s Special Ops �Cody� and US Army Special Forces, Sniper, Exercise �Balikaton �Jason Grant�. The BBi versions were released with �Prowler� SF Sniper, and Navy SEAL �Raptor� Desert Ops figure sets. With the release of �Raptor� figure set, BBi provided an improved second version of this body armor. Improvements included material upgrades, use of elastic for the waist securing point, more detail on the inside structure of the body armor, and the addition of a groin protector. The DML�s version of this body armor has the lease amount of detail of any of the vendors. However, this attribute can works in your favor when outfitting a figure that requires a less bulkiness to accommodate a given Tactical Vest. To date, DML and BBi have only produced this body armor in a woodland cammo pattern. The big difference with the Hot Toys release over the DML and BBi versions are the 3-color desert camouflage pattern, type of material used, and the addition of the neck protector. By the way, Toy Soldier (not reviewed) also makes a version of this same item in the same cammo patterns as Hot Toys.

Military 1-to-1 Overview (The real thing!):

The SPEAR series of equipment items is the United States Special Operations Command�s (USSOCOM) modernization effort for the joint (Army, Navy, and Air Force) SOF operator. SPEAR focuses on four areas of improvement in personal equipment in the years 1996 � 2005. The SPEAR BALCS consists of body armor, an equipment load carrying subsystem, and a backpack subsystem. The BALCS maximizes ballistic protection, buoyancy compensation, and load carrying capacity, while minimizing the burdens of weight, bulk and heat stress.

The SPEAR BALCS Body Armor provides protection against fragmentation, handgun, and rifle threats. The armor system contains a soft armor vest; front and back interchangeable upgrade plates, and modular neck and groin protection. The neutrally buoyant soft vest is available in four sizes (S-XL); plates are sized with the vest. Approximate weight of a Medium vest is 6.5 lbs.; the Medium plates are approximately 6 lbs. each. This makes the average SPEAR body armor weigh about 18.5 pounds without any attachments. The pictures below provide a look at the real thing for comparison.

Product Overview:

The set I purchased was the SPEAR body armor in the 3-color desert camouflage scheme. The basic set consist of the SPEAR body armor with detachable groin and neck protector; and three Equipment Load Carrying Subsystem (ELCS) M4/M16 ammo pouches also in a 3-color desert camouflage scheme. This body armor has three (3) vertical MOLLE compatible strips on the front, one wider horizontal on the front and six (6) horizontal MOLLE compatible strips on the back for attaching the accompanying ELCS ammo pouches or other equipment items.

Hot Toys SPEAR Body Armor with ELCS Pouches

Body Armor Vest:

The basic body armor is a very good replica of the 1-to-1-size item supporting the same number of loops in the front and back for attaching various MOLLE compatible items. Construction and quality of the item is good and allows enough room in the vest to accommodate a variety of 1/6-scale bodies, without giving that look of being to small or tight. A look that is very common when using BBi�s G3.0 and G3.5 bodies. Closure of the SPEAR body armor is done through Micro Velcro strips on the shoulders and sides. Additionally, 3/8^th inch plastic adjustable buckles and straps on the side of the body armor provide the added security.

The item I purchased had good quality control. No loose ends or excess strings hanging that needed policing up. Each stitch was tightly secure and even though I pulled on several of the stitch areas quiet hard, they did not come free. There did seem to be a little excess material on the forward inside section of the vest that had to be stowed away. However, this was not a real problem. Pockets were provided, front and rear, to support the use and insertion of ballistic plates. Oddly however, Hot Toys provided no ballistic plates with the set. I tried using several different types of ballistic plates from various vendors such as Toy Soldier, BBi, and ACE. However, none of the plates would fit. I ended up making my own using 0.60 mm thick styrene plastic to help give the body armor a little more form. The ballistic plate compartment is secured with the use of Micro Velcro.

Groin Protector

The groin protector uses the same 3-color desert camouflage material as the body armor. Padding is provided inside the groin protector to give it a functional look. The groin protector is attached to the vest with the use of 1/8^th inch plastic buckles with mirroring connection point is in the ballistic plate area of the body armor. The Groin Protector sets and hangs level on the figure when used.

Neck Protector:

The neck protector is designed and functions the same as its 1-to-1 counterpart. The neck protector uses the same 3-color desert camouflage material as the body armor. The neck protector has a two (2)-piece design that attaches to the body armor using Micro Velcro technology. This item fits securely to the body armor and moves with the body armor without any worries of the item coming free or loose. Because the body armor is designed the same as the 1-to-1 item, the collar (neck protector) is adjustable. You adjust the neck protector by moving and aligning the Micro Velcro two-piece collar in or out. Thus, you can accommodate any 1/6^th scale figure�s neck size (a good feature for the larger BBi 3.5 bodies). Good quality control was exhibited here.

ELCS Ammo Pouches:

The set comes with three (3) ELCS ammo pouches. These pouches normally attach to the front of the SPEAR body armor through the front vertical loops. The basic construction of the pouches supports the insertion of two (2) 1/6^th scale 30 round M4/M16 magazines. However, attention must be paid to which type or vendor specific 30 round M4/M16 magazines that is being used. I found DML, BBi (second and third generation), ACE, and Toy Soldier 30 round M4/M16 magazines do not always fit inside the pouches properly. A little forcing is needed to get two magazines into the pouch. BBi�s first generation of 30 round M4/M16 magazines fit very well (BBi�s used this version of magazines with their figure sets from 2000 through mid 2004. They are more rounded on the corners and the overall size of the magazines are smaller). That is the down side. The up side is that the quality of Micro Velcro used allows the ammo pouch opening flap to stay closed even if you use DML, BBi, ACE, or Toy Soldier magazines though it may look a little strained. Another option is to fill the ELCS ammo pouches with cotton. I should also point out that using magazines from the ACE�s MagPul carded accessory set with the MagPul adaptor attached will not fit in the Hot Toys ELCS ammo pouches. The MagPul adapter must be removed which defeats the point of using them.

The ELCS ammo pouches attaches to the SPEAR body armor with cloth attaching extensions that must be weaved / interlaced through the vertical MOLLE loops on the body armor and ELCS pouch. On the loose end of each of the cloth attaching extensions is a metal button designed to look like a snap. However, because of the size of this metal button, care must be taken to get it through the MOLLE loops on the body armor and ammo pouch. Getting that ball through the MOLLE loops is not very easily done. Quality Control on the Pouch buttons is not as tight here either. I had to close several of the prongs of the metal buttons on the pouch attaching extensions on my unit. Even then, you will have to force that puppy through the MOLLE attaching points. You will need a good pair of needle nose tweezers, patience, and time to interlace the ELCS ammo pouches attaching extensions to the body armor.

Hobbyist should pay attention to weather their figure is a right of left hand shooter to ensure the ELCS ammo pouch opening is on the correct side of the body armor (i.e., ammo pouch openings should be on the left if figure is a right handed shooter. Why? Because, if you are righted handed you normally remove and load the magazine with your left hand. Reaching around to the right to get the magazine out would be stupid, time consuming, and interferes with a smooth quick reload of a full magazine. The reverse is true for left handed shooters).

Overall Rating:

On a scale of one to ten, I rate this product as a seven (7). Overall a very good set with lifelike detail. The negative points, which lower the score of this item, are:

The lack of ballistic plates (at $12.00 Hot Toys could have provided this five cent item),
The inability of to seamlessly accommodate a variety of 1/6^th scale magazines without difficulty,
The size of the button snap (for detail) on the ELCS ammo pouches cloth attaching extensions which drastically impeded the securing the ELCS ammo pouches to the body armor,
The lack of quality control used on securing the metal button (snap?) to the ELCS ammo pouch attaching extensions (I had to close at lease one prong on every ELCS ammo pouch), and.
The excess material inside the ballistic plate stow area.

Enjoy

T. R. Stallworth

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