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The Soldiers of the World series had all of the major players represented... as well as a couple of minor ones. Including the Russians and Brits made sense, as they were our allies. The Axis, composed of Germany, Italy, and Japan, is represented only by German and Japanese action figures (Italy was left out by Hasbro). The French Resistance is a weird one, because they were no more or less active than Yugoslavian Italian, or Greek resistance fighters, yet Hasbro included them. The Aussie was weird, too, because they weren't a major power (though they certainly augmented the British, much like the Canadians did). It always seemed odd to me to omit Italy, so I decided to put one together. Here's my Forgotten Soldier of the World from Italy. I figured the Bersaglieri would be the way to go, since they were the regiment that was the very best. The regiment were above-average in size and stamina, endured intense physical training and ALL of them had to qualify as marksmen. By the time US got into the war, the Italians were pretty much decimated (they were often used as cannon fodder by the Germans), but at least one division of Bersaglieri fought on with the Germans to the bitter end of WWII.
The figure is a 40th figure, dressed in a "kitbash" Italian uniform. Most of it is from Twisting Toyz. I tried to think a little bit like a Hasbro Executive and looked at ways to cut costs and put it in the same realm as the other SOTW figures. The trousers are oddball brown Joe trousers, nothing special... but it would mean Hasbro wouldn't have to come up with goofy knickers and leg wraps, which could get expensive and difficult for kids to PLAY with. The boots are generic combat boots instead of something special, again to cut costs. Each SOTW figure had a special weapon, ammo belt or pouches, and something else that was unique. So I figured a unique set of ammo pouches and rifle would be in order (like they did for the Japanese and German figures). The rifle is a Model 38 Carcano, rather than the 91/38 carbine, mostly because THIS rifle is authentic period, but is not as fragile with the skinny barrel and goofy folding bayonet (more play value and harder for kids to destroy). The backpack was a no-brainer since it was included with other SOTW figures (Japanese, German, and a flamethrower backpack on the Aussie). Heck, Hasbro could probably modify the Japanese backpack to work well enough. The canteen would be an easy one, too... cheap to produce and easy to include. The helmet is unique (like the German, Brit, French and Japanese headgear), but it is also a useful design for re-use (a pith helmet). Incidentally, the vintage pith helmet is terrible, and a better pith helmet sculpt would have been a welcome addition to the Joe line. There is also an entrenching tool and bayonet piece on Joe's belt that could be omitted, but remains on the prototype so the advocate has something to "give up" in the compromise of committee battling at Hasbro. Maybe substitute a knife or pistol. As the 1970s approached, it'd be easy to re-use the jacket and helmet in other sets (like they did the Aussie jacket and pith helmet. Perhaps they could even use a modified Aussie jacket for the Bersaglieri figure. IMHO Hasbro dropped the ball by failing to include the Italian SOTW (while oddly including the Aussie and French Resistance). A lot can be said for re-using components already in production, but with just a few unique pieces (certainly not any more than they did for OTHER SOTW figures), they could have put together an Italian infantryman in the Soldiers of the World series. Now I have one in mine -- the way Hasbro SHOULD have done it! :-)
- ATC
The figure is a 40th figure, dressed in a "kitbash" Italian uniform. Most of it is from Twisting Toyz. I tried to think a little bit like a Hasbro Executive and looked at ways to cut costs and put it in the same realm as the other SOTW figures. The trousers are oddball brown Joe trousers, nothing special... but it would mean Hasbro wouldn't have to come up with goofy knickers and leg wraps, which could get expensive and difficult for kids to PLAY with. The boots are generic combat boots instead of something special, again to cut costs. Each SOTW figure had a special weapon, ammo belt or pouches, and something else that was unique. So I figured a unique set of ammo pouches and rifle would be in order (like they did for the Japanese and German figures). The rifle is a Model 38 Carcano, rather than the 91/38 carbine, mostly because THIS rifle is authentic period, but is not as fragile with the skinny barrel and goofy folding bayonet (more play value and harder for kids to destroy). The backpack was a no-brainer since it was included with other SOTW figures (Japanese, German, and a flamethrower backpack on the Aussie). Heck, Hasbro could probably modify the Japanese backpack to work well enough. The canteen would be an easy one, too... cheap to produce and easy to include. The helmet is unique (like the German, Brit, French and Japanese headgear), but it is also a useful design for re-use (a pith helmet). Incidentally, the vintage pith helmet is terrible, and a better pith helmet sculpt would have been a welcome addition to the Joe line. There is also an entrenching tool and bayonet piece on Joe's belt that could be omitted, but remains on the prototype so the advocate has something to "give up" in the compromise of committee battling at Hasbro. Maybe substitute a knife or pistol. As the 1970s approached, it'd be easy to re-use the jacket and helmet in other sets (like they did the Aussie jacket and pith helmet. Perhaps they could even use a modified Aussie jacket for the Bersaglieri figure. IMHO Hasbro dropped the ball by failing to include the Italian SOTW (while oddly including the Aussie and French Resistance). A lot can be said for re-using components already in production, but with just a few unique pieces (certainly not any more than they did for OTHER SOTW figures), they could have put together an Italian infantryman in the Soldiers of the World series. Now I have one in mine -- the way Hasbro SHOULD have done it! :-)
- ATC
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