Plan B Toy's Ladder 49
with Mr. Stinkhead

Plan B Toys has impressed us for years. The articulation coupled with attention to detail, has yielded some of the most incredible, yet playable toys we've ever had. Their Special Forces line has covered contemporary military figures, World War II, and emergency response & rescue figures. The Ladder 49 line is the first series to feature head sculpts of real people, and the accuracy is dead-on.

Ladder 49, set in Baltimore, comes out October 1st. It features the story of Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) as he awaits rescue in a burning building. John Travolta plays Capt (and later Chief) Kennedy, and Robert Patrick (T2 and The Sopranos) plays Lenny Richter.

Based on the previously release Emergency Forces fire fighter, these figures themselves employ many types of material. There is soft rubber around the waist of the coat to allow for more leg movement, the "reflective tape" is a metallic paint. I was blown away by the accessories. The oxygen mask is clear but tinted with real elastic straps and it has a little hose you can plug into the shoulder straps. Each figure comes with a coiled canvas fire hose, and the hose is real cloth. There is also a spray nozzle than can be plugged into the end of the hose. Incredible.

The helmets slide on easily, but stay put. Though the firefighter's gear is a bit bulky, The arms and legs are articulated enough to get some great poses. We're anxiously awaiting this movie, and the figures will be hitting stores shortly. I also want to petition the folks at Plan B to make me a plug-in Dennis Leary head so I can play Rescue Me. Frankly, if you haven't been watching this show on FX, you're in need of a good ass kicking.

Check out the Plan-BToys.com site for more information on their incredibly articulated figures, and our Toy Fair coverage of their stuff coming out this year. Also look at the Official Site for Ladder 49 due in theatres Oct 1.

All images and article © 2004 MillionairePlayboy.com.