“Basic” Vector Machine Gun:

I LOVE the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games. Granted, I’m more of a campaign player than a multi-player addict but the interactive modern counter-terrorist video game experience is the closest that I’m going to come to a perfect G.I. Joe FPS. As such, I recognized the Vector right away from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as the signature weapon of the Ultranationalist faction. (It’s also used by the Spetsnaz troopers.) Based on the KRISS Vector .45 SMG, it’s a compact weapon with a low damage per round but an insane rate of fire. Fans of the 30 th Anniversary line will recognize it as the SMG that was packaged with Dusty. The MGR version of this compact weapon is modular and can be outfitted with any of the scopes and sights found in series 6 as well as a silencer. The minute I saw this weapon I immediate thought of the Retaliation Cobra Troopers and how this would make a near-perfect weapon for them to carry when they drop into battle. Oddly enough, I could also envision this as a standard weapon for the Cobra Alley Vipers due to its compact size.

Modular Accessory set (wave 6):

Okay, this is where it can get confusing. Rather than cover all of the accessories individually, I’ll follow MGR’s example and highlight the “Modular Accessory Set” available at MarauderInc.com. Included in the set are:

• AGTS grenade launcher
• Bipod
• Contoured vertical grip
• Flashlight w/ vertical grip
• HOLO scope
• PEQ laser sight
• Ridged vertical grip
• SOCOM scope
• Tactical flashlight
• Tactical scope

It’s an amazing set of accessories that will work well on the AKM, FOS, Vector and even the M260 to a limited extent. (Some of the scopes might also work on the M200 but why on earth would you want to neuter such a fantastic rifle?) The point is that MGR has taken the concept of the modular weapon and enhanced it even further. Multiple grip options, multiple scopes, and the option to add either a separate flashlight or grenade launcher is just amazing. In all honestly—my eyes had a hard time initially recognizing the differences in the two grip types but the camera lens reassured me that I’m both getting older and the sculpts are different. Trust me, there is no bad here—one set of the modular weapons can be used to outfit at least two different rifles depending upon the level of customization you’re going for.

Desert Eagle:

“When you absolutely have to stop someone dead in their tracks, accept no substitutes!” My first media-exposure to the Desert Eagle was in the writings of Clive Cussler—where Dirk Pitt’s intrepid companion Al Giordano carried a .50 caliber Desert Eagle as his preferred sidearm. Ever since, I’ve thought of this as the automatic handgun for someone who really just wants to make someone fall down right away. Used in countless movies, video games, and other fiction, this is a welcome addition to the MGR 1:18 armory. One thing to note is that the handgrip of this pistol is larger than those of most standard “Joe weapons”—however the size isn’t an issue with the softer plastic used on Generation 2 and later figures.

Flamethrower incendiary weapon:

Sometimes dubbed the “M240 flamethrower” this is one of the times where MGR produces a replica of a weapon that doesn’t actually exist—but that fans wish did. Fans of the sci-fi actioner “Aliens” might recognize this design as the one that was carried by the Colonial Marines when they investigated the lost colony on LV-427. Originally built on the frame of an M-16, this weapon included a large fuel canister along the underside, eliminating the need for a backpack fuel supply. Uncannily similar in design to the weapon included with the Retaliation Cobra Trooper, the MGR flamethrower is a sleek modern update to a classic weapon carried by Blowtorch and Charbroil. While I don’t see replacing the gear that came included with either of them, this version is perfect for a squad of troops—such as the Joe Trooper or even the Steel Brigade. This would also be a solid addition to a figure such as the PoC Jungle Assault Duke. (Let’s face it—he has that whole “Aliens/Predator” vibe going anyway.) Even the Hazard Vipers could benefit from carrying this flamethrower into a compound overrun with Compound Z-infected Zombie Vipers! It’s another great addition that works best with figures that have hinged wrists to get the proper angle down.