Platoon Pvt. Chris Taylor

One of the greatest films ever made about the horrors and controversy surrounding the Vietnam War was director Oliver Stone’s Platoon starring Charlie Sheen as Pvt. Chris Taylor, with supporting roles by Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe.

The film would inspire countless other films and TV shows about the war, that shed new light on the war that tore America apart.

Sideshow Collectibles recreated all three of their characters as 12-inch, fully articulated deluxe action figures.

In this review I’ll be examining the Pvt. Chris Taylor figure and his weapons and accessories.

The figure looks remarkably like the actor Charlie Sheen.  Its narrow face, long straight nose, close set eyes, heavy brow and pointed chin match the actor’s features perfectly.

The figure is fully articulated in all of its joints including the neck and torso and has its hands are set in grip positions for holding weapons and equipment with no slippage.

All the figure’s clothing, equipment and weapons are fashioned after the Vietnam War era.

Chris Taylor wears a standard issue green military outfit for the field.

Around his neck he wears a heavy scarf of green tucked into a heavy green coat consisting of a large tuned down collar, two vest pockets with flaps, two waist pockets with flaps and reinforced cuffs that open complemented by heavy stitching.

Over the coat he wears an equipment belt with shoulder straps with buckles and an equipment belt with a heavy clip buckle, loops and rivets.  Hanging onto the belt are two ammo pouches with heavy snap shut lids.  The belt and pouches are green.

The figure wears loose fitting trousers with two large pockets with the legs cinched at he bottoms.  The trousers end at the top of the figure’s tall-laced boots.  The boots appear to be canvas with heavy leather soles and toes.  Take a moment to look at the detail on the boots from the stitching to he laces-amazing!

Taylor also wears a special red headband like the one seen in the movie.

Included with the figure is a standard issue helmet with camo cloth covering, and M-16 Rifle with clip and shoulder strap, three hand grenades, a knife with scabbard and strap and ring attachment, a mine, detonation cord, a firing trigger, a small pouch and a larger pouch for carrying the various detonation equipment.

The M-16 is the most impressive of the weapons.  It’s heavy stock and grip, firing chamber and upper metal handle perfectly match its larger namesake.  It also has strap clips and a trigger guard and clip.

The figure easily holds the weapons and equipment with no slippage or chance of dropping them.

The figure is freestanding and requires no base or support wire.

Color application on the figure and weapons duplicate military standard colors with clean even lines and no slopovers.  Molding is crisp and sharp with no rough edges or flashing.