Monday, December 31, 2007

Indiana Jones - revisited

One of my all-time favourite action hero made into one of my all-time favourite action figure (my entry of sept 8, 2007 didn't do it justice!) is one of the movies i am eagerly waiting to see - Indiana Jones 4: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (finally happening in 2008). So here's wishing everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR and may all your toy wishes come true!! (especially for Indiana Jones 4 action figures)

This (IMHO) ultimate Indiana Jones action figure produced by Toys McCoy in 1999 came in a very nice package.

Box flap opened to reveal short intro write-up and guarantee of authenticity stamp

Box opens fully to reveal box contents, accessories on the left flap and indy on the right.

That is where it hits you - the million dollar question: do you rip open the left flap and empty its contents, thereby rendering this ultra-expensive package a steep plunge in value, not to mention destroying the really nice packaging? OR enjoy the box contents by staring at the items in its sealed and mint condition, thus keeping up said value of toy? You see, unlike the currently smart and collector-friendly companies like Medicom and Hot Toys which produce excellent toys (albeit expensive) where you can remove the toy from the tray they come in and even put them back in the same position without damaging any item, those jokers at Toys McCoy forgot to consider this dilemma. Needless to say, i've been staring at the sealed items for more than 7 years now (sigh)

Back of box describes beautifully crafted but sadly "untouchable" contents

Next best thing - find a cheaper yet acceptable alternative for indy's accessories. Pile on the accessories on action figure which is removeable from box and you can still have a nice-looking indiana jones figure.


Close-up of Indiana Jones

I finally got the right fedora - check it out here!

USAF TACP in ACU

Hot Toys may have done many things right but they got this figure's uniform WRONG :( The ACU is all smudged and blotty and looks terrible next to BBi's "Lucas". As usual , all Hot Toys' figures come fully loaded and ready for war.


Love the PVS-21 Night Vision Goggles (the problem with collecting modern military figures is that they are always evolving - what is modern now may become outdated a year later coz equipment is constantly changing and improving; historical figures, on the other hand, remain accurate)

The PRC-113 Military Satcom

Comparisons of various ACUs issued.

10th Mountain Div in ACU

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the latest combat uniform (battledress) worn by the US Army. It replaces the Army's current Woodland and Three Color Desert pattern BDU.

This 10th Mountain Div (Light Infantry) Trooper "Lucas" by BBi in 2006 is wearing the ACU with Coyote brown chest rig.


He is armed with the M4 carbine with butt stock mag pouch and the XM26-LSS (Lightweight Shotgun System).

Comparisons of various ACUs issued.

MultiCam

The MultiCam pattern was a result of extensive development and testing by Crye Associates and the US Army. It was designed to work in multiple environments (hence its name) – desert, woodland and urban. Although it came out on top in Army tests, the Army decided to go with new ACU pattern which is basically a variation of the MARPAT MCCUU used by the USMC.

In the Transformers movie, Captain Lennox and his squad wore the Multicam uniform of the US Army's "Future Force Warrior" system for battle with the Decepticons.

The figure featured here is wearing the R6 Field Shirt and Pants.



Updated pictures - 18 October 2008







Sunday, December 30, 2007

Star Wars Episode 1: Darth Maul by Hasbro

Darth Maul from the Sith Lords version released in Jan 2001, together with Darth Vader.


Close-up of the Sith Lords version Darth Maul

The end of Darth Maul after being dispatched by Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of Episode 1. The score by John Willians for this fight together with the battle for Naboo really brought out the tempo and suspense.

Star Wars Episode 1: Darth Maul by Sideshow

Darth Maul using the force

Darth Maul with his deadly double-bladed lightsabre, a whirling vortex of lethal energy.

Close-up of Darth Maul (by Sideshow)

Darth Maul using his electrobinoculars to search for Jedi and wearing his wrist link which allows him to remotely direct his 'dark eye' probe droids and receive signals from them.

Other Darth Mauls by Hasbro and riding Sith Speeder.

Star Wars Episode 1: Darth Maul

While episode 1 may have been about finding Anakin the slave who will become Darth Vader, Darth Maul was certainly one of the key characters in the show. What with the face tattoos, vestigial horns and double-bladed lightsabre, he was certainly as cool as villians should be. He made the bad guys look good, just like Darth Vader and the stormtroopers.

His Sith Speeder (produced by Hasbro) wasn't exactly a cool ride though - General Grievous' Wheel Bike was way cooler. Darth Maul also had his probe droids (by Sideshow) to do his reconnaissance for him.



Darth Maul close-up and the hidden compartment to stash his sabre.

The ultra-cool and ultra-nice probe droids. It would have been great if Sideshow did transparent spikes instead so that the probes really look like they were hovering.


Saturday, December 29, 2007

Hellboy 15: Alien by Mike Mignola

The alien from the Hellboy comic series




His tools of trade - for probing and conducting experiments on abducted humans? your guess is as good as mine :)

Hellboy 14: Roger by Mike Mignola

Roger is an homunculus, a being made of herbs and blood. He was discovered by Liz Sherman in an alchemist's laboratory under a Czech Castle. He became a member of B.P.R.D.




He was given life when Elizabeth Sherman touched his socket, thus transfering energy to him.