Power Team Elite Camel Playset
Available as always through G.I.Joe HQ
While I'm not really certain exactly what purpose a set like this might serve, in today's day and age, I could definitely see potential for "camel use" in dioramas and other avenues. Myself, I'm not really sure how much action this camel (or the horse for that matter...) will see, but for a little set for relatively little cash it might have some purposes to serve for some folks out there.
First of all, as I mentioned, in today's day and age where many wars are waged in the arid deserts, camels can definitely provide some uses. Undercover agents may use them as transport, or they can even serve as background fodder in realistic dio shots and dio-stories. But not only might the camel come in useful, but the figure included with him is pretty darn cool as well.
The figure here is realistically designed as a desert ops special forces trooper with a very cool, tight fitting battle helmet w/ goggles, and some great tan camouflage patterns over his uniform. He uses the typical PTE articulation, which is actually very, very cool, and he fits on the camel to perfection.
Not only that but he comes with some excellent accessories that spice the figure up very well. Even as a bare desert troop he would look the part. But once you strap on his rubberized tac-vest, he gets even more life into him. Combine that with the awesome M4 Carbine that he comes with and the backpack with real elastic straps and you get a great figure for a low price, especially to fill your fodder ranks.
And that's the incredible thing I'm finding out about these figures. While I sought them out to become cannon fodder, a lot of them start getting a personality the more you use them. This figure's hard, determined facial features really reflect someone dedicated to his duty...he's seen a lot of action, but is always ready and willing for more. His face is sculpted to fantastic detail, from his white-painted eyes to his pursed grimace. A facial sculpt like this doesn't usually come from "knock offs" and if M&C Toys is capable of putting out something like this as a generic trooper, I'd love to see their take on some actual characters.
The camel itself is also nicely done. He is right in scale with PTE figures, or G.I. Joes for that matter, and comes with a realistic looking molded on saddle. The rope reigns work well, too, and his articulated hips and front knees add enough poseability to make him really work. I can see these guys being used in a desert environment very easily, and could imagine a small group of Joes using them as long distance transport to avoid detection.
The sculpted camel hair looks authentic and realistic and once you put the figure on it, the whole package just comes together very well. It's not often you think about a well-armed American soldier riding on the back of a camel, for some reason it looks good here and provides a nice selection of cool accessories.
So basically for around four bucks you get a great army trooper with a cool rifle, a great vest, and a backpack that's almost better done than most of the G.I. Joe stuff you see these days, but you also get a set of binoculars, a gas can, and an authentic desert camel for your middle eastern dio enthusiasts.
Like a lot of the other PTE products out there, this is a little set that sneaks up on you and doesn't seem that interesting until you get down to it. The camel accessory itself doesn't do wonders for me personally (although I could see people who would be into it) but the figure is great and the accessory compliment is good, which is a main draw for this series any way.
I wouldn't necessarily say you should put this on top of your must buy list...I'd save that for the Military Buggy and the Lookout Tower, but this is absolutely a neat little set for a very little price and is worth considering for purchase.
