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Updated: Apr 5th, 2007 - 12:17:34 |
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The standard individual load carrying equipment system now used by US Army and Marines is the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment or MOLLE system. Most of us have seen this set of equipment items used in photos of Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and various military training photos. Because the MOLLE system is now the mainstay of US forces, I have decided to take a look at the carded package item produced by Toy Soldier and Workshop, Inc. This carded equipment set is the most complete MOLLE package available. The only exception to this is the MOLLE system showcased in the box figure set by Dragon Models Limited (DML) under the name: USMC, John Tiano (DR# No. 70194) which also include the full backpack system with sleeping bag carrier, stole pockets, figure, etc.
For ordering purposes, the Toy Soldier set is referred to as the MOLLE Gear System Grenadier. The set includes MOLLE Fighting Load Carrier (FLC) vest, MOLLE patrol pack, and Interceptor Body Armor set (including ballistic plates) with detachable groin and neck protector. The set also comes with six (6) each two (2) pocket 40mm grenade pouches, six (6) each M16/M4 ammo pouches, four (4) each, hand grenade pouches, two (2) each 100 round Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) pouches, a buttpack system, two (2) improved canteen carriers with canteens, and a hand held radio pouch (such as the MX300, AN/PRC-126, or AN/PRC-148). Toy Soldier introduced this set in mid 2003. The MSRP for this set is $29.99. The set is available in either in woodland or desert camouflage.
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Toy Soldier’s MOLLE Gear System Grenadier in Desert and Woodland Camouflage
A Little History
The MOLLE system was developed at the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (Natick) and is an Army and Marine Corps joint project item that replaces the aging All-purpose, Lightweight, Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) pack and integrated individual fighting system introduced in 1988. MOLLE is a fully integrated, modular load bearing system consisting of a load bearing vest with butt pack, main ruck with sustainment pouches and sleeping bag compartment attached to an external frame.
The Fighting Load Carrier (FLC) replaces the Load Bearing Equipment (LBE) web belt and suspenders of the ALICE. The FLC is always worn and holds pockets for magazines and hand grenades. A connecting device on the vest is designed so that the external frame of the main ruck attaches to the waist belt of the vest to transfer the load from the shoulders and back to the hips where it can be carried much easier with less fatigue. Soldiers can significantly increase the amount of ammunition they carry, and the weight is evenly distributed across the torso. The vest has no metal clips or hooks that can be awkward and dig into the skin, and has an H-harness in back to minimize heat buildup. It is adjustable to all sizes, and the vest sits high, so that soldiers can fasten the MOLLE frame waist belt underneath the FLC to distribute some of the load to the hips. Each of the three flap pockets on the FLC holds two 30-round magazines, two grenade pockets, and two canteen pouches. There is also a patrol pack, which can be used separately or combined with the main ruck for added load carrying capability. MOLLE can be configured in several different variations to fit the load handling needs of the mission. There are also different variations of the load-bearing vest for each member of a squad. These configurations include a rifleman, squad automatic weapon gunner, grenadier, and corpsman (Medic).
General
For collectors who have kept an eye on trends within the 1/6th scale market have seen similar MOLLE configurations from ACE, Blue Box Toys (BBi), DML, and Hot Toys to name a few. Most hobbyists have only been exposed to a limited view of the MOLLE configuration most notably the interceptor vest and the FLC vest with pouches. Toys Soldier has done two things. First it has provided this set in a desert tan camouflage pattern, which is now being issued by US troops in Afghanistan such as the 173rd. Second, it has provided a very nice package of the most desired MOLLE accessories to configure your 1/6th scale models. With Toy Soldier’s MOLLE carded set you can make either a SAW gunner, rifleman, or grenadier figure. The great thing about the Toy Soldier package is after you have equipped one figure, there are enough items left over to outfit another figure in a different manner. The basic configuration for this set is the Grenadier arrangement (seen below). Lets take a closer look at this set.
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Grenadier Configuration with Patrol Pack
Fighting Load Carrier (FLC) Vest
The FLC is well detailed and is adjustable so it can fit any 1/6th scale figure. The quality of the FLC vest is high and is compatible with BBi or DML items should you choose to embellish your figure with items from these companies. Ample room is provided to accommodate additional garments or and different type body armor you might choose to use. Therefore, the FLC vest fits very well on the figure even with the use of body armor and a fleece jacket under it. The FLC is adjusted by releasing the locking taps on each side of the FLC vest and adjusting the waistband to the desired width. Once this is done, the locking tabs are easily inserted back into the MOLLE waistband. All pouches are secured to the FLC or body armor with Toy Soldiers standard plastic prong configuration. This configuration allows you to easily slide the prongs into the MOLLE straps and then secure them with the securing lip straps provided on each pouch. For those of you who have dealt with DML’s version of this vest know how difficult working with the Velcro fasteners can be. To embellishment your figure even further, a MOLLE Buttpack is available within the set. Once the vest has been configure and fitted to the figure, there are elastic stole retention straps to secure all loose ends neatly near their connecting points. There are also stole pockets inside the vest for maps and other flat or thin articles.
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FLC in the Grenadier configuration. Notice map stole pockets.
Interceptor Body Armor
The Interceptor body armor is also very well detailed. Everything is right where it should be and functions, as it should. There are stole pockets for the PAL ballistic plates, functional adjustment straps, detail marking inside the vest, a neck protector that functions well, and a groin protector that is easy to insert and remove. A very nicely detailed item indeed. The neck protector is attached the body armor with the use of Velcro. The groin protector is attached with the use of two buckles.
However, I have to say that the body armor was the item I liked the least. In the package I purchased, the body armor was made to small to properly fit BBi’s 3.0/3.5 bodies and it barely fit a DML figure without looking a little to snug. The vest also sat a little high above the figure’s waist. The waist area was greatly exposed above the belt buckle, which is not a correct fit. I have tried readjusting the vest to accommodate the figure to include removing the ballistic plates. Yet as of this writing, I have been unsuccessful at obtaining a satisfactory fit. Adding the groin protector make the gap between the bottom of the vest and the waist less noticeable. In the picture below I have provided a comparison of the Toy Soldier interceptor vest with that of BBi’s interceptor vest from 327th Airborne, Jerry Ellis boxed figure Set. Both front and side views are provided. You can clearly see that the Toy Soldier interceptor vest seems ill fitted. The body configuration used for modeling both vest is DML’s Adam 1.3. If you take a close look at the marketing photo provided by TS (Third photo down) you will notice how high the vest set on the figure.
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Interceptor Vest Toy Soldier’s version Left, BBi’s version Right front view.
Interceptor Vest Toy Soldier’s version Left, BBi’s version Right side view
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SAW Gunner Configuration with interceptor vest and groin protector
Pouches
Pouches are well constructed, detailed, and are easy to mount on the Interceptor vest or the FLC by slipping TS plastic prong configuration behind the MOLLE loop and locking them in place with the retaining straps. There are many configuration options available with six magazine ammo pouches, six 40 mm grenade pouches, four hand grenade pouches, and two saw ammo pouches. Snaps, buckles and Velcro ties are function and sturdy. The 40 mm grenade ammo pouches securely hold grenades made by a verity of vendors while the M4/M16 ammo pouches will hold 2 magazines by any vendor. The buttpack is very cool also and has a working zipper. One item of great surprise was the one-quart canteen with improved carrier that was provided with this set. Although not functional, the canteens come with the Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) cap used for drinking water though a tube via the NBC protective mask. A nice little detail! Additionally, the improved canteen carrier has side pockets for stoling water purification tablets.
Patrol Pack
The 3-day patrol pack is another great item with this package. It has functional pockets with zippers and/or buckles; it is MOLLE compatible for adding extra pouches, has padded should straps, and has a two-compartment section. Other neat things about this pack is TS has provided a slot for inserting an identification card, extra functional loops for repositioning the shoulder straps, and two access ports with Velcro closure tabs. This is a very useful detail for adding a radio in the pack and allowing the antenna to extend through or adding a hydration tube to give the illusion of the backpack supporting hydration functions. The one thing that consumers may find annoying is that all the buckles are all the same size on the pack. The use of this one size fit all bulky buckles distracts (somewhat) from the over all appearance of the patrol pack.
Three-Day Pack with Radio and SAW pouch added
Although this set may be a hard to find item now, I think it is worth the effort to seek one out. So many pouches are packed in to this set that you just cannot go wrong. I only have two beefs with the set: the bulky buckles used on the daypack and the cut of the interceptor body armor. Both of which are over shadowed by the utility of the set. My opinion is that this is a great set.
T. R.
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Copyright 2006 by JoeWorld-Online.com
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