Dusty Trail Action Series 1: The Captain (pirate) action figure review by Andrew Lenahan
Figure: The Captain (pirate)
Property: Dusty Trail Action Series
Series: 1
Keywords: Historical figures, pirate captain, pirate, ship captain, corsair
Company: Dusty Trail Toys
Release year: 2003
Series Overview:
Bucking the industry trend of using licensed properties as the basis for toy lines, Dusty Trail introduced its Action Series: a line of figures who, though realistic, are not based on any particular person or existing character. Series 1 is a motley bunch, including a pirate, an old-west outlaw, a modern SWAT officer and matching criminal lowlife, and two World War II soldiers.
Character Overview:
With Disney's blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean, and WizKids' popular Pirates of the Spanish Main and Pirates of the Crimson Coast games, pirates have more mainstream popularity than ever. Here, of course, we have a pirate action figure. I wonder, though, why Dusty Trail chose to make this thoroughly generic Captain (without even a name!) when so many interesting pirate characters exist in public-domain fiction and real historical contexts.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8
Although not quite up to the dizzying heights of some of the other Dusty Trail Action Series, The Captain is still a strong sculpt. He's in a fairly dramatic pose, fiercely brandishing his weapon at some attacker while posing with one foot up on a crate. His soft rubber overcoat is folded realistically to match, and they didn't go overboard on decoration and make him a foppish Captain Hook type. Paint is also very good, with my favourite detail being the feather in his cap: resisting the temptation to make it pure white, it has some appropriately grimy detailing.
Articulation: 4
Like most of the Dusty Trail Action Series figures, The Captain is articulated only at the neck, shoulders, and wrists, and obviously only really meant to be posed in his packaged position. Adding insult to injury, his feet don't fit the base pegs very well, though it is possible to cram him on them.
Accessories: 8
All the Dusty Trail Action Series figures come with bases, and The Captain's base is one of the better ones. It's an oval section of a ship's deck, with a beveled edge to make it perfect for display. The wood grain is VERY realistic, and looks just like real stained wood unless you turn it over and reveal the unpainted plastic bottom. Attached to the base is the crate that he leans on. The only real problem with the base is that The Captain fits on it poorly. Additionally, there are three weapons: a cutlass sword and two pistols. One nice touch is that the pistols aren't the same: one is relaxed (and fits in his belt) while the other has the flint back and ready to fire!
Packaging: Above Average
The Dusty Trail action series uses packaging like the recent McFarlane figures. I like it there, and I like it here too. It shows the figure well, it's sturdy, and won't get damaged easily.
Overall score: 7
With a solid sculpt and accessory base, but pitiful articulation and some trouble fitting on his pegs, The Captain averages out to a decent yet entirely non-essential figure. Great if you know someone who could use a little inexpensive desk or shelf sculpture of a pirate, but don't expect to play with it.
Availability:
Originally sold at a fairly hefty $12-15 (a bit more than McFarlane figures of similar size and quality), Amazon.com (link) currently has them for $7.99 each as of this writing. This is quite a good price.
Property: Dusty Trail Action Series
Series: 1
Keywords: Historical figures, pirate captain, pirate, ship captain, corsair
Company: Dusty Trail Toys
Release year: 2003
Series Overview:
Bucking the industry trend of using licensed properties as the basis for toy lines, Dusty Trail introduced its Action Series: a line of figures who, though realistic, are not based on any particular person or existing character. Series 1 is a motley bunch, including a pirate, an old-west outlaw, a modern SWAT officer and matching criminal lowlife, and two World War II soldiers.
Character Overview:
With Disney's blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean, and WizKids' popular Pirates of the Spanish Main and Pirates of the Crimson Coast games, pirates have more mainstream popularity than ever. Here, of course, we have a pirate action figure. I wonder, though, why Dusty Trail chose to make this thoroughly generic Captain (without even a name!) when so many interesting pirate characters exist in public-domain fiction and real historical contexts.
Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8
Although not quite up to the dizzying heights of some of the other Dusty Trail Action Series, The Captain is still a strong sculpt. He's in a fairly dramatic pose, fiercely brandishing his weapon at some attacker while posing with one foot up on a crate. His soft rubber overcoat is folded realistically to match, and they didn't go overboard on decoration and make him a foppish Captain Hook type. Paint is also very good, with my favourite detail being the feather in his cap: resisting the temptation to make it pure white, it has some appropriately grimy detailing.
Articulation: 4
Like most of the Dusty Trail Action Series figures, The Captain is articulated only at the neck, shoulders, and wrists, and obviously only really meant to be posed in his packaged position. Adding insult to injury, his feet don't fit the base pegs very well, though it is possible to cram him on them.
Accessories: 8
All the Dusty Trail Action Series figures come with bases, and The Captain's base is one of the better ones. It's an oval section of a ship's deck, with a beveled edge to make it perfect for display. The wood grain is VERY realistic, and looks just like real stained wood unless you turn it over and reveal the unpainted plastic bottom. Attached to the base is the crate that he leans on. The only real problem with the base is that The Captain fits on it poorly. Additionally, there are three weapons: a cutlass sword and two pistols. One nice touch is that the pistols aren't the same: one is relaxed (and fits in his belt) while the other has the flint back and ready to fire!
Packaging: Above Average
The Dusty Trail action series uses packaging like the recent McFarlane figures. I like it there, and I like it here too. It shows the figure well, it's sturdy, and won't get damaged easily.
Overall score: 7
With a solid sculpt and accessory base, but pitiful articulation and some trouble fitting on his pegs, The Captain averages out to a decent yet entirely non-essential figure. Great if you know someone who could use a little inexpensive desk or shelf sculpture of a pirate, but don't expect to play with it.
Availability:
Originally sold at a fairly hefty $12-15 (a bit more than McFarlane figures of similar size and quality), Amazon.com (link) currently has them for $7.99 each as of this writing. This is quite a good price.
posted by Andrew Lenahan at 2:20 PM
1 Comments:
This would have to be my favorite out of the Dusty Trails collection....because I am partial to pirates! I love the whole scurvy lot'o'em! At least this guy isn't frozen in such an odd position that you wouldn't be able to play with him. He would make a great stand in pirate for any action figure game. *hugs the pirate*
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