Darren Baker takes a look at and builds the 1/16th scale S.W.A.T. Team Leader from ICM.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Looks like a lot of under-cutting will improve the appearance.

Nice details but that is one cop that avoided the donuts.

The choice of helmet is nice, the boots look great. The rifle is completely off. They molded a generic M4 with factory fore end and carry handle. That light does not mount on those old school hand guards like that. Well it would, if you taped it there.

The sight is completely wrong. The size and configuration make it look underscale. SWAT teams typically use a large aperture, "red dot" type system for rapid target acquisition. It typically has minimal magnification as entry teams don't require it that much. It would not normally be mounted on top of the carry handle either. That puts it way too high and forces the operator into an uncomfortable position. Hard to maintain and not as smooth which equates to quick.

A similar rifle with a rail system on the fore end and a flat top receiver with same would be much more accurate.

I'm not sure as it looks like your build is incomplete, but he sure isn't carrying enough gear. The box art is wrong in that the radio wouldn't be up that high, too many ways to snag it. He should have a small ear piece and a small mic extending from that around to his mouth.

G

What you have said is correct to a given setting, but a search of online images do show this set up being used.

Thank Darren, for the the review. I've this in the stash now, and look forward to starting it... after finishing the Legend SEAL 1 & 2. I've long wanted 1/16 scale SWAT, and this is a good start.

Looking at on-line references, the uniform could be painted tan, green, blue, or black. And shades thereof. The load bearing vest, or webbing, call it what you will, is almost universally black.

To my eye, the feature that most vexed me was the multi-part assemblies: be it the four part head, or three part torso. I put this down to, hopefully, more versions later. Maybe an assaulter, medic, breacher or similar?

Being pedantic about it, a scale Taser would be a nice inclusion, given that most jurisdictions offer a less than lethal option, rather than going straight to the '556 hole in the head' method.

Overall, this is a nicely done figure of a contemporary subject, with good detail. Thankfully I have spare 1/16 M4s laying around, somewhere.

Kylie

Agent G, a boom mike is included, if a little over scale, it is easily replaced with wire of your choice. Another feature missing is a rifle sling. But don't let that put you off buying one. Or two. Not to mention distraction devices....

Like what I see and am looking forward to more of the same.

I see that not all parts have been glued on for the review (boom mike, holster, etc.), and I think that's what's confusing readers .

This figure is a good start. At least it's the most up-to-date 1/16 U.S. S.W.A.T. figure so far until something supersedes it.

The base looks nice too.

Live-Resin and Airborne Miniatures make 1/16 M4s that are more modern (complete with Rail Interface System barrel) if the builder desires to replace ICM's.

Good looking figure with exception of the M4. As previously pointed out the inclusion of a TASER would be nice, maybe even a looped bundle of flex cuffs as part of his gear.

If you are referring to the rifle, that's 15-20 years ago, for the flashlight ........maybe.

G

Actually no, It's not "universally black". FBI and ATF HRT wear green tactical gear. Las Vegas MPD wears green tact gear as do LASO SWAT and most Florida Sheriff's agencies.

The traditional uniform colors usually dictate the tact gear colors. City/municipal cops traditionally wear some sort of blue uniforms so the tact gear is black. Sheriffs wear tan, brown or green therefore the tact gear reflects that.

I'm a statie and my gear is black.

G

The weapon light looks like a Surefire M500 weapon light which was an incandescent weapon light moulded integrally with a fore end handguard, rather than a rail mounted one.

I wouldn't expect to see many carry handle receivers these days either. Most would be flat top.

Its a cool figure. Which seems to have been taken straight out of the film SWAT.

In that they use the foregrip mounted flash light and a sight on the carry handle. If you look closely at the ICM rifle it appears to be a fixed handle M16 carbine. So probably dating this prior to the late 1990's-early 2010's.

However the helmet options appear more modern. It might be better to back date with the old PASGT helmet.

Remember, you're either SWAT, or you're not.

]http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/S.W.A.T._(2003)

Looks like the M4 has the removable carry handle.

I clearly didn't look close enough. Now I've had my coffee I can see that.

Wow. Where to begin?
There are several aftermarket systems that allow mounting the tactical light to the front sight post assembly in a manner shown in the photo. I've used them on a few builds. 1:1 builds that is. I think one of them was by Midwest industries.
There are also kits to mount a light on the "old school" hand guards. They mount on top behind the front sight post using existing cooling vents.
As for whether or not a department would use this setup, I'm reminded of a quote by Donald Rumsfeld:
“You go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.” A department may or may not have funds to upgrade to the newest EBR. (Evil Black Rifle)
Whether the carrying handle is removable or not makes no difference in how it shoots. Nor does the lack of a rail system. Rail systems are not magic. They do not make one shoot better, they just allow you to add more crap to your weapon. UNLESS you are talking a fully floated setup, and even then they're only more accurate under certain situations, ie, slinging up really tightly.
I have fired an M4 with an ACOG mounted on top just as in the photo. Not uncomfortable in the least. In CQB, I engage with just the front sight post anyway. Who needs optics at two meters?
That said, if its location bothers anyone, rest assured you can use it. Just add a "J Point" to the top of the optics. And many folks may not realize this - there are iron sights milled into the top of the ACOG. Not extremely accurate, but quite adequate for medium range work.
As for the comms, I'm not sure how anyone can tell if he's wearing an ear bud or not - he's wearing a balaclava. The radio hanging up? Ummm... There are worse places to put it. As shown, the operator change easily reach back and change channels on the radio. Front mounted has advantages and disadvantages. I almost always wore mine in the front however, and getting a flexible rubber antenna hung up was NOT a consideration.The boom mike? Well, maybe, maybe not. They are more likely to hang you up, with helmet retention straps, slings, and other crap getting in the way. You can lose the boom mike altogether. Bone mikes are widely use and are easy to model - you can't see them. At any rate, it looks to be a promising figure.

Not necessarily an operator. Just slept in a few Holiday Inn Expresses.

I don't know a lot about SWAT but through the discussion here it doesn't look like it would be hard to bring it up to your own expectations. Personally, I like the figure and have it on order. It will really add to my 1/16th figures.