I’m glad that at least two, uh, people remembered that it’s the 30th Anniversary of Coleco’s Rambo Force of Freedom line. NECA and me.
But that’s okay, because for not a ton of money or effort, there is a surprising amount of Coleco’s gear and vehicles to go with your solitary Rambo figure. Just not these gear or vehicles, these are mine. Go find your own.
Okay, let me just say that while most of the vehicles are . . . kinda stupid . . . the SAVAGE Strike Headquarters and these weapon packs are still really solid, 30 years on. I still can’t believe we had a 6-inch Rambo line, with a helicopter, that wasn’t a Huey. Somebody screwed up.
Anyway, back to the weapons packs. There were a few different price points to outfit your Rambo crew: there were small arms that came on a cardback, these medium-size boxes for emplacement guns, and then a bigger one for artillery. I have represented here the run of the boxed weapons, which were the .50 cal Anti-Aircraft and .50 cal tri-pod mounts, the 81mm Mortar, and the 106mm Recoiless Rifle.
The .50 cals are, of course, plastic renditions of the Browning M2 Machine gun. Ma Deuce has been in service since the late 1920s, having been designed toward the end of the First World War, and has reigned unopposed as the standard NATO machine gun ever since. Both gun sculpts are the same, and both come with removable belt ammo and cartridge box.
The smaller version has a pintle mount that allows some pivot on the tripod, whereas the AA version mounts on a 4-legged stand with a Y-firing handle and a bracket that lets it traverse, just like the real deal. Despite being cast in a standard olive drab plastic, these (and the other weapons) have great detailing, and are impressively accurate to their source.
The other small-box weapon is the 81mm Mortar, accurately depicting and describing the US M29 Mortar system. Developed in the 1950s from the M1 system, itself based on designs dating back to WWI. The 81mm projectile has been around for nearly as long, and is made in dozen of varieties, for various countries. The kit includes a handful that actually fit into the bore, which is pretty sweet.
Not as action-packed as the guns, this set still makes for a nice addition, and can be had pretty cheap, though not as cheap as its last retail price.
And then there is the 106, better known as the M40. It’s been in service since the Korean War, and thanks to its size, weight, and ease of use, this breach-loading single shot cannon can be mounted on dozens of vehicles, or mounted on a rolling tripod for crew operation.
Not as prevalent in the modern era, having been replaced by more missile-based anti-tank weapons, this thing still looks cool as all hell. The Rambo version comes with 5-shells and a functioning breach. I’ve found that .22LR rounds fit it pretty good as well. No further questions.
So if your 1/10-1/12 figures could use some heavier artillery, watch your favorite auction site, or have Canonball take you to Billy Galaxy’s in Portland. Just don’t come asking me for mine, I’m stocking up for war.
