The Action Figure and Toy Collecting and Discussion Thread!

[cooleddie74]

I'm an anal-retentive purist. Pretty hopeless too.

But if I did put hats on them it'd be Indy and Jack Sparrow hats. I think the cartoon ears look way too lame, but hey...that's just my opinion. Your mileage will, of course, vary.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Looks like plenty of people are already getting the Dark Knight Rises movie masters figures. Some people are even finding wave 2, and these aren't supposed to be on shelves until 5/28.

Sigh. Why can't my Wal-Marts and Toys R Us be the ones breaking street date?

 

[cooleddie74]

When it came to the Episode I 3-D merchandise street date(January 30), my TRU broke it a week early and set up their entire giant store display jammed with figures and other toys, I think, eight or nine days before the official date. Walmarts let some stuff trickle out in mid-January, but not a whole lot. Other items they were actually a week or two late getting on shelves. Go figure.*

Street dates may or may not mean a whole lot depending on who your store managers are and how many people have clammored for the new merchandise ahead of the dates. As long ago as 2002, some Episode II/Saga figures leaked out of the back rooms as early as a month ahead of the official Hasbro launch date and in spite of Lucasfilm legal threats to fine any and all retail stores that did so.

*No pun intended

 

[captcalhoun]

my god, even ScarJo's action figure has an amazing ass.

 

[cooleddie74]

my god, even ScarJo's action figure has an amazing ass.

'Tis a great time to be a toy collector.

 

[Kira's Mom]

Oh, if I were rich I'd buy all of the Hot Toys Avengers, but I'm not. Maybe I'll ask Mom and Dad for Hawkeye for Christmas.

 

[cooleddie74]

OdoWan says that you can finance purchases of Hot Toys collectibles. That's the only way some collectors can even afford to get any of them. I suppose you could always look into that option and see if it's something practical and affordable for you? I know if I bite the bullet and buy some Hot Toys that that's the route I'm most likely to take. Buying these things outright and in one fell swoop would be a bit too pricey given the hobby I already have.

 

[Amaris]

Finally got my 2" figures I ordered last week!

I feel they're about as accurate as it gets (though now I wish Hot Toys would make them ). There are some anomalies (Rarity's two tone hair color, Applejack's double ponytail), but the cutie marks look right, the colors look right, they look like the show characters (save for Fluttershy, damn you Hasbro!), and I'm rather pleased with them overall. Some pictures below, for your edification.

For comparison, my McDs versions:

A little closer, though the camera's bad at focusing when I don't use the flash (it was bright enough, trust me):

A little sharper as I pull out a bit:

And these were the other ponies that came in the set:

[back row, L to R] Beachberry, Gardenia Glow, Peachy Pie
[front row, L to R] Sky Wishes, Sweetsong, Coconut Cream

I think they're adorable, and the detail is very well done on these micro figurines.

 

[cooleddie74]

Me wanty too!

Congrats, J! That collection is so freaking awesome, and, I might add, super cute and pretty! You must be loving them to death!

 

[Amaris]

Me wanty too!

Congrats, J! That collection is so freaking awesome, and, I might add, super cute and pretty! You must be loving them to death!

I do! They did most righteous justice to my beloved Rainbow Dash.
Out of the new ponies, I think Coconut Cream is my favorite, though I just adore the name "Skywishes".

I will love them, and squeeze them, and name them 'George'.



If you're interested, Toys R Us still has them for $19.99. I don't know how long that will last, since I've seen people selling them for $5 a piece on ebay.

 

[cooleddie74]

I'm definitely looking into it! Thanks for the heads up on the special price! $19.99 beats several times that! I hope it's still in effect!

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

OdoWan says that you can finance purchases of Hot Toys collectibles. That's the only way some collectors can even afford to get any of them. I suppose you could always look into that option and see if it's something practical and affordable for you? I know if I bite the bullet and buy some Hot Toys that that's the route I'm most likely to take. Buying these things outright and in one fell swoop would be a bit too pricey given the hobby I already have.

Indeed. Sideshow Collectibles is Hot Toys US distribution partner. On the Sideshow site is the option to pay in installments for almost every item that they offer. You can even choose the number of payments. Just note that if you don't jump on a preorder right away, that you may have to pay in fewer installments, or wait several months longer to get your figure.

 

[Kemaiku]

Awesome toys J

 

[cooleddie74]

Thanks for the clarifications on the Hot Toys ordering process, OdoWan! Hopefully this will help at least one person in this thread if they are looking into buying their product.

On another note, here's a brand new loose group shot of the three figures in the controversial Bespin Battle Pack in the Hasbro STAR WARS line. I must confess I don't dislike this multipack as much as I used to in part because a few recent photos and reviews of the set(as yet unreleased) make it seem somewhat better than first impressions would lead a collector to believe.

But, as with anything like this, the final judgment will be when I actually get my hands on this set to see for myself. It might still suck. I might end up buying it. Who knows. But its stock is ever so slightly on the rise at the moment.

Luke's sun-yellow hair still looks kinda stupid, but I'm warming a little to the rest of the figure.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Nope. Still don't like it. I could almost believe that Boba is a POTF2 figure.

 

[cooleddie74]

The articulation sucks donkey gonads. That much is certain. 5 points each? What is this, 1979?!?

But as the official release of this set gets closer I guess I'm just trying like hell to be as open-minded as possible even though it can be hard. Luke's hair is just a cheesy throwback to 1980 and his articulation matches. Right now Boba is actually my favorite of the three in this Battle Pack, but I'm under no illusions he's anything really special. I guess part of me is just glad it's the first all-new Boba Fett sculpt in four years even if it has less articulation than a Hershey bar. His paint apps and detailing look pretty good for what collectors are considering a second- or even third-rate action figure, but that's about the extent of it.

Am I wrong or wicked for actually preferring that this Boba doesn't have a removable helmet for once? It seems almost every Boba Fett in the past five years or so has had a removable helmet with very, very few exceptions. That said, this figure as well as Vader are gonna have to look pretty good in person for me to bite on this set.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

I just don't see how they can improve on the Evolutions Boba. That's a perfect figure, and one of my absolute favorite Star Wars figures ever.

 

[cooleddie74]

That's the one that was repacked for the Vintage Collection VC09 Boba Fett in late 2010. I agree. Best Boba Fett ever.

With this Battle Pack one, though, I don't think their aim is to match or top anything they've done previously. I think they just wanted to make a low-articulation, well-painted play toy for kids and adult collectors who aren't necessarily as picky or particular about what they end up buying. For Hasbro it's a win-win I guess. They save plenty of tooling money by giving each figure only five POA and if even some or half of these Battle Packs sell they're still making fat cash.

 

[cooleddie74]

Oh, hey! Breaking news for all the people on the boards who do collect STAR WARS action figures!

The discount chain Tuesday Morning is currently selling mid-to-late 2011 Vintage Collection figures at all their stores for just $4.99 before tax, including the once difficult-to-find "REVENGE OF THE JEDI" variant cardback figures from August of 2011. These figures include the sought-after Slave Leia, Wicket the Ewok as well as the excellent TIE Fighter Pilot army builder, and some customers are writing in to the collector sites reporting that the even harder-to-find Bespin Han Solo/Barriss Offee wave from a little earlier last year has shown up as well, with the Expanded Universe ARC Trooper Commander(Captain Fordo) being found in at least one store.

If you have a Tuesday Morning store in your area, give it a look-see and check out the inventory. For just $4.99 a pop it's hard to turn down excellent Vintage Collection figures even if you already have them.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

I have never heard of Tuesday Morning, but apparently I have one about an hour away from me. I guess I have to check it out.