One Sixth Memories - 2000 - The First Diorama - D-Day

This November, I will take you all down on a trip of memory lane from 2000-2007 when I first started taking diorama photos of my toys, namely my 1/6 scale GI Joe collection. Some intense backyard battles are coming. 

I had just left the military after 11 years and bought my first home out in the Southwest. This was the fall of 2000. From November 1997 through June of 1999, I spent my Army time in Korea. While home on leave and traveling between duty stations, I started picking up the new 1/6th scale GI Joes. Besides Hasbro, some great figures were coming out from 21st Century (same price point as Hasbro) and Dragon (a bit higher price point). Had some great figures frmo Cotswold Collectibles Elite Brigade line as well.

One weekend, I decided to take some Joes out to the backyard for some simple dioramas. I shot the photos on 35mm film. I remember having to wait for 24 hour photos to be developed. 

First Diorama: D-Day - the movie Saving Private Ryan came out two years earlier. I was obsessed with it, and watched it a ton. In this set up, I have the two Hasbro D-Day Rangers (a convention exclusive), a Ranger Captain and Ranger Medic from Elite Brigade, a 29th Infantry soldier from 21st Century's Ultimate Soldier line. 

2007 CDROM Archives - Army Rangers on Patrol

Sometimes in the toy market, items just don't catch an audience and they go on clearance. I probably grabbed the 75th Ranger Regiment uniforms from 21st Century Toys as the 1/6 scale was 1. going out of style or 2. specialty companies were creating very expensive figures and uniforms that diverted customers from the really nice but inexpensive sets.

What I liked about this Ranger uniform is that it was from the olive drab days during the 60s and 70s. Many units hadn't moved to the camouflage BDUs yet. I liked their rubber caps that were Ranger Rolled.

In this diorama, I went out to the local walking path next to the creek and brought five Joes in the Ranger Regiment uniform. I also had two Joes in Cotswold's Elite Brigade Ranger Instructor.