Packaging: The Ernie Pyle box has an illustration of Ernie Pyle holding a sheet of paper on the front of the box, and the same illustration on the back of the box with some additional background. A brief biography of Ernie Pyle is provided. A prototype of the battlefront journalist, Ernie Pyle was killed in action as he covered World War II.
The Headsculpt and Figure: The figure was a super -articulated body with the Gung-Ho grip. The headsculpt is another excellent effort from Hasbro. It actually looks more like Agent Skinner of the X-Files than of the photos of Ernie Pyle that I have seen. Ernie Pyle had a leaner, more serious face. Ernie Pyle had spent most of World War II on the battle fronts, and he looked lean. The Hasbro sculpt has fuller look. The Hasbro Ernie Pyle looks like he has been eating prime-rib steaks all during World War II, but the real Ernie Pyle was eating mostly C-rations along with the Infantry that he usually was covering. This is not really a drawback or a put-down of the headsculpt; but it seems to me that most of the sculptors of Battle Front Collectible items seem to avoid the realistic battle-front look in the faces of the action figures.
Outfit and Gear: The jacket is very well sewn, of outstanding quality materials! The camouflage scarf/bandana is so unique and looks very hip! Too bad that Ernie was not issued a shirt!! But he has a nice pair of pants, and the plastic web-belt is not the ultra-lite cheap version that came with the Royal Marine Commando. A canteen, super-cool rubber "wool cap," shovel with E.R.'s initials, goggles, helmet, and camp stove are included. A can of food to heat on the stove would have been a plus, but it was not included. There is a folding table also included along with a typewriter and a page from an article by Ernie Pyle. The "wool cap is excellent because it really looks like the kind of wool cap that Radar (from the TV show MASH) always wore, and it fits perfectly; unlike the real wool caps that are made for the action figures and usually pop off of their heads at some point. The camp stove has that plastic gray-silver look, and it could have been done in dark blue or some other color that did not look like a Barbie accessory. But, just the jacket and the scarf put this set above the average, and the folding table and the rubber cap make it an excellent bunch of accessories.
Overall: The headsculpt is one of the best, and the gear is excellent also. This set is a cut above for the MSRP of $19.99 which is the price at most stores like Target, Wal-Mart, and Toys R Us. However, some TRU stores have it at $21.99. There seem to be some stores in the TRU chain that usually charge $2.00 more on most action figures while others have the same prices as Targets.
Grade: A+
