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Captain Toy/Michael's Review of the Week

Review of Indiana Jones in German Soldier Disguise
Sixth Scale Action Figure

Sideshow Collectibles
Date Published: 2009-11-13
Written By: Guy Klender
Overall Average Rating: 3 out of 4

The following is a guest review. The review does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Michael Crawford or Michael's Review of the Week, and are the opinion and work of the guest author.

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Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Introduction

Tonight's review is a half and half - I shot the photos, but the text is written by the best informed, most diligent Indiana Jones fan I know, Guy Klender. Guy's going to give us his take on this latest release from Sideshow - take it away, Guy!

Hello everyone.  It’s a great privilege and rarity to write an Indiana Jones review for the site.  With so little new products coming out, Hasbro line dead, and Michael and I each buying all there is out there it’s hard to get to one before he has.  However today I have the honor of writing a review of INDIANA JONES GERMAN DISGUISE from SIDESHOW COLLECTIBLES for the site.  SIDESHOW is one of the few companies keeping Indy alive for us.  This is the second INDY we have in the line.  I will be honest - I was not as excited as I wanted to be about this when it was first announced but then again ANYTHING Indiana Jones sparks my interest.  So lets get into it shall we…

Packaging - ***
If you like the Sideshow Star Wars boxes, you'll love these as well.  Magnetic closures, lots of great background text, nice graphic design, and completely collector friendly.  You'll be able to take it all out and put it back later any time you feel like it, no damage done.  I dropped one star from Michael’s original review as I the temple style graphic that has appeared on every Indy line has become boring.  Once again I wish Lucasfilm would let up a bit on its stranglehold and allow people like Sideshow to show some real style.

Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Sculpting - ***1/2
Wow.  The production pics of this did not do it justice.  I think the head may be a bit large but it looks so good I wouldn’t want to change a thing.  They sculpted him with the hat on.  Now we saw this on the first Indy as well and as we know the cloth caps somehow just don’t work.  However a hat-less second head would have been nice.  He is without the hat most of the time, and when he holds the bazooka in the film, the only accessory that comes with this figure, he does not have it on.  I guess now we know what to do with the hat-less sculpt from the original figure.  However I think this is a better sculpt.  It seems we are getting closer to having the perfect Harrison Ford head one day.  The fabric of the hat is done very well, the folds, wrinkles and texture really coming out.  There are two sets of hands, one set in closed fist punch pose, and the other open grip and with right hand finger posed for the trigger of the bazooka.

Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Paint - ****
There is little paint done on the figure and that’s what works well.  They did a wash for the hair and to get the hat fabric to stand out.  The skin no longer has that glossy look we had the first time.  The eyes are wonderful and its looks like Sideshow is catching up on eyes now, he even has a bit of bloodshot to them.

The largest improvement is the unshaven face.  The upper lip on our original Indy was...well it was like my upper lip in 8th grade. This time is is so subtle I have to keep looking to see how they did it.  Great job Sideshow.

The thing I liked the most, and what makes me want that hat-less version even more, is the inclusion of the blood on his forehead.  The brim of the hat covers it so you don’t see it unless you move the head, and I am not sure how you could pose it to really show this off, but it is a detail I had thought they missed.  The hair is a huge improvement.  Yes I know he wearing a hat, but the hair that is on the back of the head and the sides is done in a wash that brings out the sculpt and creates a softness and lifelike quality to the hair.

Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Articulation - ***1/2
We have tight joints this time that hold a pose folks.  It seems that problem has been fixed.  His head doesn’t drupe like before, however I think that was the weight of the sculpt with the hat on that was the cause.  Having the articulated shoulders lets us do the “tied with Marion to the pole” pose.  When the bazooka is in his hands and up on his shoulder it looks great as well as without it and the “punched a man and stole his clothes”, look.   I think most of the time you would only do a few key poses from moments in the movie but this figure could do then all if you needed to.

Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Accessories - *1/2
Here is where the ball was dropped.  He has the customary stand with the Indiana Jones font but at this price point a second head should have been included.  They did it with the first Indy and we really didn’t need it there as we keep him in the awesome Temple poses or action poses that are hat on.  Here is where hat-less would have been great.  It would have been a chance to be screen accurate, to show off the great new paint and scraped forehead, and to make it more of a value at this price point.  Having one extra set of hands didn’t bother me at all, really can’t see where more than that would have been needed.  Now, what makes me the happiest is the correct bazooka.  When he was first shown off it was not the one from the film.  It may have been something that had somewhere in the warehouse and use it just to show off the figure, but I know the fan boards were buzzing that Sideshow had given him the wrong weapon.  They got it almost right, they even did a bit of silver wash on the back nozzle to get it closer to screen accurate.  What they missed is a leather strap that is used on it as well as a metal shoulder brace that hangs underneath.  It’s not a huge deal but again when there are so few accessories it’s even more important to get them right.

Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Outfit - ****
Now we go back up in score again.  Sideshow started by doing military figures so I was sure they would hit this out of the park.  He has the flat black Nazi boots and the fabric of the khaki pants bunches wonderfully where it tucks into his boots.  The jacket is fantastic. The emblems and patches perfectly done and even the silver trim of the Epaulettes is right on.  What impressed me the most were the ammo pouches and the shoulder harness that goes over the jacket.  It’s tiny, sure, but that belt buckle even has a swastika on it.  They gave the ammo pouches a light wash to give them a dark worn leather look.  The tiny buckles and straps that make up the harness are in scale and really put this outfit over the top on accuracy.  Sideshow knows its military outfits and here they prove it.

Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Fun Factor - **1/2
For me all things Indy are fun.  I am a man who has an annual pass to Disneyland and at least once a week I am on that Indiana Jones ride, so perhaps having me give this marks is silly.  Instead of explaining why I gave it only 2 ½ stars, how about I tell you how it could have received more stars.  First of all, give me that second head.  When you do a sculpt this good, paint it so well, and even include the scraped forehead, show it off, and take that hat off mister. This would allow for more screen accurate poses and more value for sure.  A leather strap on the bazooka, a small detail for sure but it makes a big difference in the look and feel and again, the value. Currently collectors and having to cut back on their spending. Now is not the time to cut back on accessories or skip the details to make things cheaper and at the same time charge more. The last thing is really something we have talked about since day one with the Indiana Jones line.  MARION RAVENWOOD.  If we had her in the white slip dress the two could be next to one another and the pole they are tied to as the accessory, what a display base that would be. I hope your listening SIDESHOW COLLECTIBLES.

Value - **1/2
This figure is the same price as the first Indy but with less than half of what that one had.  I love the new sculpt, the outfit is great but when its this much we want to get all we can and dropping the ball on the extra head is really big.

Things to Watch Out For -
As with all tiny parts be careful the straps over the jacket and the Epaulettes could be damaged if you weren’t careful.

Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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Overall - ***
I love this sculpt I really do and it makes me wish even more they had chosen to show it off with a hat-less version.  Getting the details right really would have set this apart. With each figure we feel there is something off on this Indy line.  With my Raiders version it was the tan straps on the jacket back, with Toht, the glasses.  I love all my Sideshow Indy toys though and can’t wait to get my Henry Jones Sr. in the next few weeks and sometime next year have a wonderful exclusive refrigerator on my shelf for my KOTCS collection.  What I do like about this figure  is that we are getting into some new territory, specific moments from the films.  I hope we get an Indy in a tuxedo and clean-shaven as he was at the Club Obi Wan in the opening of Temple of Doom.  A professor Jones with an apple from the classroom scene or in his airship disguises from Last Crusade, “No Ticket” version. Now with that being said , can I have my MARION RAVENWOOD please.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***1/2
Outfit - ****
Accessories - *1/2
Fun Factor - **1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Sideshow originally had him for $90, but sold out. You can always get on the wait list, however.

- has him for $81.

- has it for $87.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

Discussion:
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Indiana Jones German Soldier disguise action figure by Sideshow

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This product was purchased for the review by the reviewer. Photos by Michael Crawford, text by Guy Klender.

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