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Community => Other Toy Lines => Topic started by: Angry Ewok on April 18, 2003, 08:35 PM

Title: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 18, 2003, 08:35 PM
All of the 21st Century Toys threads have been merged into this thread, so if you got anything, news, thoughts, etc, here's the place to do it! 21st Century RULES!

As usual, Toys R Us had no new Star Wars figures, but as I turned around to admire the 21st Century Line, I realised that their entire initial XD line of about 9 figures (not counting Battle of Buldge figures) was on CLEARANCE for .90 cents a piece!

I snagged 12 figures in all, unfortunately someone had already snagged all the German Machine Gunners, and Mp44 Soldiers.... BUT, I got all the others (and a few doubles of infantry and BAR troops)!

Awesome score, and of course, I've got pics to proove it.  ;D ;D :-* ;D

21st Century owns Hasbro. I'm so happy, I plan on getting some of the Battle of Buldge figures too.
Title: Re: 21st Century Toys = Huge Clearance Score
Post by: Jesse James on April 18, 2003, 11:10 PM
Nice score Ewok...  The 1st series figures aren't the GREATEST, but they were a great first effort...  21st actually LEARNED from their mistakes too and made their 3rd series paras and all waves after that with their new and improved articulation.

They're supposed to re-release the 1st series with the new articulation at some point...  I hope we see new head sculpts/removeable helmets too.  Good score my friend, especially for $.90!

I can't find ANY more of the battle of the bulge figures in my area either.  You must be in a high traffic TRU.  Ours just gets stuff at a trickle...  It keeps things from backing up a lot though.
Title: Re: 21st Century Toys = Huge Clearance Score
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 18, 2003, 11:22 PM
Well, we got about 4 different Buldge figures, several of the four, though.

I've had 2 arms break from the Series 1, it seems like the paint dries inside the joints and thus... articulated arms are breaking. It really sucks, but for .90, I can't complain much. If the Series 1 are re-done... I'll only pick up a new German Officer and German & American Infantry... I feel like the others are perfect. Oh yes, and of course the G. Machine Gunner and MP44, as I said they weren't there...

Question, JJ, I see that a Patton series is in the making... does this mean there'll be a 1:18th Patton made?! If so, I'm big-time happy, cause I loveeeee Patton... he was a genius... wrote a great book, too (War as I knew it).
Title: Re: 21st Century Toys = Huge Clearance Score
Post by: Jesse James on April 19, 2003, 01:04 AM
Yeah there is...

Shipping (Or already in your area) is the Patton Command Car (Dodge COmmand Car).  It's pricey and a bit lacking in quality control, but still neat in a way (Especially when the figures come out).

Patton 1:18 figures are on the way any day now they say...  Patton at the Bulge, Patton in N. Africa, and Patton in Dress uniform are all planned I believe.

And yes he has his pit bull with him!

They're not the best looking figures IMO, but they're not the worst either.  I'm goign to do a "Patton in Star Wars" series of customs eventually...  Patton as an Imperial General, Patton as Rebel General...  You get the gist. :)

I'm gonna go make an "All 21st Century" post here because there's new stuff...  It really deserves it's own topic.

The 1st series figures were prone to that breakage at first...  I'd suggest a dip in boiling water to alleviate that issue.  I had a few break too...  I had a U.S. para's boot break on me just the other day and had to send it back to 21st to get a replacement.

I didn't have that issue with the Bulge figures at all.  I highly recommend you nab at least the BAR gunner and rifleman...  They ROCK.  The Tanker's great too, but the jeep driver's a tad weak.
Title: 21st Century X-Treme Detail News...
Post by: Jesse James on April 19, 2003, 01:15 AM
For those of us diggin' on the new product trickling out from this company, or for those of us who like to use this for customizing...

Or for simply those of us not in the know, 21st Century Toys has released images of a new wave of figures to come out eventually.

We've asked for it, 21st is supplying it...  U.S. Marines from World War II.  The Pacific Theatre is FINALLY seeing some attention besides a repainted Sherman and a couple of airplanes!

http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/1-18_new_marines.html

An eclectic mix of 7 leathernecks...  Not bad, I just wish we were getting 7 U.S. and 7 Germans in the battle of the Bulge series, but that series seems much more limited (4 of each, and 1 on each side is a Tanker).

The headsculpts leave a little to be desired, but these are rough VERY early prototypes that don't even appear to be hardcopies...  They look rough enough to have been hand sculpted prototypes that were hand painted then photographed.  Things could change I guess...

This fella's my favorite so far I think...  Pretty "basic" and the Japanese flag is just a great touch!  I have a bunch of diorama's dancing through my head already.  I just wish the 3 or 4 guys with noticeable "extreme" expressions on their faces were more neutral. :(

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/images/sneak_preview/10303_big.jpg)

Now we need some Japanese for these guys to fight with!

I love 21st's product...  Between these, modern figures, Battle of the Bulge, Patton 1:18, the carded Pilot Pack-in figures, and all this other great stuff, I really just don't know how I'm gonna afford it all, or where to put it when I finally get it!  :)

Tack onto that what BBi's offering up this year, and yikes I'll be all 1:18 action figure'd out.
Title: Re: 21st Century X-Treme Detail News...
Post by: JediMAC on April 19, 2003, 03:13 AM
Ugh.  Looking at that figure makes me ill Jesse!  It clearly illustrates what CAN be done with a figure when a company puts its mind to it!  Makes me more than a tad envious of that line's detail and articulation.  Very nice!  How many points there - 14?
Title: Re: 21st Century X-Treme Detail News...
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 19, 2003, 09:36 AM
Nope, 16 points!

They articulated the elbow with joints AND A SWIVEL so that you can pose his arms pointing outward or inward... you're choice!

21sC is incredible.
Title: Re: 21st Century Toys = Huge Clearance Score
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 19, 2003, 09:41 AM
JJ, where can I see a picture of the 1:18 Pattons?! I've looked everywhere! The pitbull is awesome, lol...

And yes, making a Rebel General Patton is probably the coolest custom one could make... I can see it now...

"Now we've got the Imps by the nose, and we'll kick them in the ass! Attack! Attack! and Attack!, and Never stop attacking!"
Title: Re: 21st Century X-Treme Detail News...
Post by: Jesse James on April 19, 2003, 02:47 PM
Actually, there's some with 18 points...

1 neck
1 waist
2 shoulder
2 bicep
2 elbow
2 wrist
2 hip/thigh
2 knee
2 boot top/shoe top

And some figures (U.S. Paratroopers, P-38 pilot, etc...) have 2 mid-thigh cut joints so their thigh pivots at the center as well.  If you ever see a P-38/Corsair pilot up close, it's got the most amazing detail and articulation you could want!

PLUS, many figures come with a second set of "Extremely posed" arms.  They pop right off and on with the articulated arms.  I dont' use the posed arms ever, but I do sometimes swap the posed hands off with the articulated arms set of hands.  

What's even funnier is BBi's figures...  Their articulation goes like this:

1 neck
1 waist
2 ball/socket shoulder
2 bicep
2 angle joint (like rft's knee joints) elbows
2 wrist
2 hip/thigh
2 knee
2 ball/socket ankle

AND all BBi parts are interchangeable...  You can pop every piece off them and put it on another guy.  Plus BBi give you accessories galore like belts, functioning holsters, helmets, goggles, etc...

BBi's accessories are flimsy though (Make Hasbro's look sturdy), and the articulation can look a bit noticeable in some areas (The ankle and shoulder joints particularly), but they've improved their 1:18 they're releasing this year and they look 100% better.

BBi's stuff is $1 cheaper too, coming in at Hasbro's $4.99 MSRP, AND, BBi pays a few licensing fees as well.  To top that off they're about half the size of 21st Century Toys is, which is dwarfed by Hasbro itself.

Not bad for small companies eh?
Title: Re: 21st Century X-Treme Detail News...
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 19, 2003, 04:13 PM
My newest dio... Pure gold.

(http://www.jedidefender.com/personal/WW2Teebo.jpg)
Title: Re: 21st Century Toys = Huge Clearance Score
Post by: Jesse James on April 19, 2003, 05:55 PM
Hey Ewok

Check out Ground Pounder's site (Where I pull most of those pics I throw around from).  He's bound to have shots of the Patton figures.

Also, check Raving Toy Maniac's site for their 2003 Toy Fair pics.  They should have images of the Patton figures as well as BBi's stuff and other XD stuff.
Title: Re: 21st Century Toys = Huge Clearance Score
Post by: Scott on April 21, 2003, 04:36 PM
I just merged the two threads, sorry if it doesn't make sense anymore  :P

Jesse, is the plastic akin to SW figure plastic so Boil and pops work well or is it more like RFT plastic a little harder
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 21, 2003, 08:16 PM
I finally found the Patton figures, they were at 21st Century's website, I feel like a moron after looking over them for so long.

The Patton's are weird, like their upper bodies are bigger than their legs. I think the Buldge Patton is coolest, but I'll wait and see when I finally see them in stores.

JJ, do you have a favorite figure in this BoB line? I haven't bought any of them yet, but I think 82nd Airborne Cpl. Ruppert would have to be my favorite.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 23, 2003, 03:31 AM
Sorry I haven't popped in a couple days to post a lot because I'm bogged down like a mother with a paper I'm writing for school.

Anyway, Yeah I hear what you're saying on those Patton figures Ewok.  I mentioned that at GP's board, and really still feel the Patton figures aren't 21st's finest work.  I think they will utilize more good parts for Star Wars customs though, and maybe the odd XD custom as well.

As for favorites, I'd say Private Wilson (101st Rifleman) and Major Von Schnitzel (German Officer) are my favorite paratroopers...

My favorite Battle of the Bulge is EASILY the U.S. Rifleman.  The Germans aren't out yet, and there's a reason for that...  I'm gonna post that below though as a separate "announcement" since this is the official 21st Century Toys topic. :)

The best pilot, well that one's a real toss-up.  The Corsair/Army green P-38 pilot is my favorite, but I may change my mind when I get the pilot set online (hopefully this week).  The first P-38 pilot looks awesome though, as do the Stuka Gunner and pilot.  I dunno what a proper scaled Mustang and Messerschmit pilot may be like though.

As for customizing OCB, 21st figures pop apart VERY easily.  All their plastic is of the pliable kind like Hasbro's figures are on the limbs/heads.  I'd say even more pliable actually.  I usually can pull an XD figures hands off and put them on another figure without heating if I want (I suggest heating though, for safety sake so you don't break them).  

BBi's figures are actually MADE to pull apart so you can interchange all the parts.  Those figures are really marvels.  Only their legs are "rigid" plastic and don't pop on/off.  The whole upper body of a BBi figure comes apart with ease though.

XD are definately a really customizeable line though, if it's your cup of tea!  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 23, 2003, 03:37 AM
And sometimes at the height of our revalry....

Well, 21st announced some bad BAD news today for us as collectors.

They will no longer be selling German items through Toys R Us, nor any other major retailer.  The German Battle of the Bulge figures will ONLY be available through purchase through Online "E-tailer" retail outlets (Small Blue Planet, etc...), and they will also be made available through 21st Century Toys themselves through their fan club.

Ground Pounder's site should have updates when they arrive in-stock.

Toys R Us has been facing pressure from "groups" to stop sales of World War 2 German product for some time now, and they've officially decided NOT to carry it anymore.

As GP said in his statement, this could be bad as far as the variety of German product we see.  I'm hoping we see a good bit more, and that maybe 21st can even diversify product now that they aren't focusing on children as their target market, but we'll have to wait this out and see.

Just walking into a store and buying the odd German infantryman would've been great, but apparantly that won't happen. :(

Let's just hope they're readily available...  The German product was always the LAST to sell anyway, so maybe this is for the best?

21st is definately on shakey ground as it is, financially, so I just hope this isn't yet another nail in the possible coffin of the company.

On a better note, Japanese Infantry are to follow the USMC WW2 figures that just had pictures released, and on top of that the 2 'Eastern Warrior' figures and the "Delta Team" figure (Which someone identified as a British Special Forces soldier!) are shipping to stores as we speak...  supposedly.

Keep yinz guys eyes pealed!  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 23, 2003, 08:17 AM
This sucks bad!

I must say, it's hard not to "root for the bad guys" when you're playing the 'Battle of the Buldge', considering the Germans sort of won it.  ::) I'm hoping that the 21stC crew will now begin to make some Waffen-SS figures (both the Soldiers and the SS Officers). It wouldn't bother me to actually see some swastika's, finally.

I'm not a National Socialist or anything, I'm just a stickler for accuracy. Seeing an Iron Cross on the tail of a plain gets my panties bunched up (figuratively speaking, as I don't wear panties  :o).

JJ, are you a member of their club? If not, why not? If so, how do I join? I know there's a link on their site, but it appeared as if I've got to call them in order to join, and I'm too lazy to do that (of course, now that Germans won't be sold, I've got some motivation to become a member).
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nicklab on April 23, 2003, 12:14 PM
Have any of you guys used the Fountain playset piece from this line as a Theed prop for your SW dioramas?  Just curious.  Been thinking about getting that piece for that express purpose.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 24, 2003, 01:20 AM
http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/1-18_iraqi_freedom.html

Yes, even MORE news...

The modern figures got pictured today.

The figures have some weaker versions and I can confirm the U.S. Spec. Forces guy SUCKS!  I have him, he comes with the Humvee.  He's a TERRIBLE figure.  Do NOT buy him under any circumstance!  haha

The ROyal Marine looks great though, as do the "Iraqi's".  If you ask me though, this whole line was set up for the war in Afghanistan, not Iraq.  IT was changed due to the war in Iraq's current popularity I believe.

Those "Iraqi's" look like Afghanistan citizens to me.  They aren't wearing traditional Iraqi garb anyway, but they do look Afghani to me.

The U.S. Delta guy, Spec. Forces guy, and armor guy look very rough to me, and like 3 of 21st's weaker (If not weakest ever) figures.  

The good news though you ask?  BBi's modern 1:18 figures are FREAKING AMAZING, and need to be seen.

PLEASE look up the Toy Fair 2003 coverage at Small Blue Planet or Raving Toy Maniac or one of these other toy sites to see the BBi US Marines 3-pack, Blackhawk, Little bird, and humvee...  Amazing stuff, and all would trounce 21st's modern figures.

Something to keep in mind!

That 21st Century Royal Marine is a nice figure though, as are the "Iraqi" guys.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 24, 2003, 08:56 PM
Nicklab,

I think I've seen some use the fountain, but that's a costly set piece...  I'd wait for it to go on further clearance.  They're still $20 here, but I'm hoping for a drop in price eventually!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on April 28, 2003, 12:39 AM
(http://www.smallblueplanettoys.com/ToyFair2003/21stCenturyToys/DSC00031.jpg)
Please tell me this is 1:18... if this is, it's going on my cieling w/ my 1:48 models...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 28, 2003, 04:04 PM
Hmmm, I think it is AE, but not sure...  I'm 99% sure it's 1:18 though.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on May 2, 2003, 08:08 PM
Since Hasbro still isn't giving me new stuff, I bought Fallshirmjager Major Von Schnitzel and a Battle of the Buldge figure (American troop w/ white covers over helmet and uniform, forgot the title, wait, its a BAR troop, that's right)...

Anyway, all of the Germans have been bought, or removed, because only Schnitzel and one other were avaliable.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nicklab on May 9, 2003, 05:33 PM
I just recently saw the 1:18 scale HumVee and Bradley Fighting vehicles this week.  They look impressive.  What do you guys who collect this line think of them?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 10, 2003, 01:24 AM
Ewok,

The paras have been out for some time, so keep your eyes pealed at various TRU's if you have the means...  You may find a stray Falschirmjagger here and there.

I just found a fresh case of paras the other day actually, and got a Private Wilson (U.S. 101st Rifleman) and a Private Rupert (82nd ready for his D-Day Jump).

Nick,

The Humvee is probably one of the weaker products I've bought from 21st, so if you're going on first impressions do NOT buy that vehicle.  The figure is an abomination, and the Humvee itself doesn't justify the $30 pricetag.

The Bradley though, while I don't own it, is supposedly one of the best vehicles ever.  Full interior for troops and all.  I didn't get it because $40 was beyond my means that day, but now I wish I'd just bought it and left the Humvee personally.

My favorite line is the Battle of the Bulge right now.  They're easily the best figures I feel...  The paras and Falschirmjaggers are a close 2nd though, and the USMC Pacific theatre figures look to be awful nice (And rumored Japanese don't hurt either!)...

I think 21st makes some of THE best product out on the market today, honestly.  They blow Hasbro away in overall quality in what you get in an action figure.

I'd also say that you should ALLLLLLL check out BBi's Elite Force 1:18 line.

Their figures are all modern, but they're REALLY articulated, well sculpted, and neat little toys.  They're also going to be sold (supposedly) at "major retailers" this year in bulk.  IE: you may walk into Wal-Mart and find their awesome new Marine Corps 3-pack (In Desert tan) for $15.  Not too shabby once you see the ammount of stuff you get guys!

If I ever find some good pics, I'm gonna show you guys how much these BBi figures rock.  They have a Blackhawk helicopter on the way too, and let me say the chopper is MASSIVE.  It's got a pricetag to match, but it's full 1:18 scale and full detailed.

I want my BBi marines dropping out of that mamajama into a diorama ASAP though!

But, to answer your question Nick, I really like the lines. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on May 10, 2003, 10:50 AM
Bought me two BAR Gunners for .90 cents a peice, again. I also picked up a Fallshirmjager and the BotB BAR Gunner... I think I'll pick up a tank, eventually, I just can't figure out which one... the BotB BAR Gunner is just awesome.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 10, 2003, 09:49 PM
Yeah, that BoB stuff is pretty top notch.   Too bad that line's limited in the # of figures it is going to have.  Only 3 Germans, and 4 U.S. total...

I hope they make a 2nd BoB series some day...  I want a U.S. rifleman and BAR in trenchcoat. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 11, 2003, 08:29 PM
Hey all, here's a quick image of the Marine 3-pack that BBi is going to be selling at "Major Retailers" this year.  I'm hoping to walk into Wal-Mart and find these personally!

(http://www.toymania.com/toyshows/tf2003/images/tf03bbi15.jpg)

EDIT: I guess they dont' allow links over at RTM, which isn't surprising because their site's a tad stingey IMO, but check the link below for all the images.

BBi's stuff is REALLY well detailed, features 16 points of articulation per figure (On their first series anyway) including ball/socket shoulders and a ball/socket ankle joint.

Needless to say they're uber poseable!  

BBi's #1 drawbacks are:

-Availability...  Up till now I've only seen them at online etailers and Electronic's Boutique stores in the mall.

-Visible articulation...  Some of the joints aren't overly well hidden, including the pin in the knees, and that BBi uses that "45 degree angle cut" joint that 21st Century created but scrapped for old hinge style...  Why BBi adopted it on the elbow, I'll never know, but it's ugly and noticeable.

-Gummy gear...  Their weapons make some Star Wars weapons look rigid.  

But, with every con, BBi makes up for it in other areas and then some!  Their positives are a-plenty, and include....

-Awesome sculpts...  I have 7 Generic heads that I'm using for Star Wars customizing from their first series SWAT figures and one Spec. Forces guy alone.  On top of that, their bodies are sculpted very well also, and with very intricate details like stitching in fabric and such.

-Good poseability...  Even though the articulation is noticeable, you get one very poseable figure.

-Interchanging parts.  The torsos, arms and heads pop off with ease, but do pop in quite sturdy for play.  They make for some mix/matching if you wanted to do major "army building".  

-Gear...  You get a lot with each figure...  Everything from knit stocking caps, to helmets, to ballcaps, to an assault rifle, to a pistol that fits in a holster, to a removeable belt, to removeable webbing gear...  These guys often come with quite a bit of gear.

-Gear sculpts are great too.  

-Price...  At $4.99 these figures make Hasbro's attempts at toys look like a joke.  They're amazingly detailed and executed, and cheap to boot!  Can't beat that with a stick!


I honestly can't say what the new figures will be like, but that picture of the Marine 3-pack looks substantially better than their 1st series figures.  Joints look well hidden which was my biggest gripe probably.

Buying them in a 3-pack will make army building a SNAP too.  Way to go BBi!

I highly recommend them to you guys, they're great figures for a very reasonable price.  And check Raving Toy Maniacs (http://www.toymania.com/toyshows/tf2003/bbi2.shtml) for more shots of their 2003 product and carded images of their 2002 U.S. Spec. Forces figures.  

The 2nd series is due out in July I belive, and WW2 planes (and possibly more) are POSSIBLE for later this year.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 17, 2003, 06:09 AM
Nice to see this made the transition over to the new forum section.

Not much new info out on the line, but I did get the white Stuka the other day (Was waiting for the winter paint ap) and it's freaking amazing.

2 figures, with 18 points of articulation each...  A gunner AND pilot, and to boot they're different sculpts for the most part.  The Pilot has flares and leg straps like an X-Wing pilot has, and the gunner doesn't.  Both have a unique head as well...  The one guy is sort of showing his teeth looking PO'd and the other guy has no expression but his goggles are covering his eyes.

Not bad considering I paid only $45 for the thing, and the plane is HUGE...  both canopies slide open for the pilot and gunner, there's full interior and it's painted...  The seats are even weathered...

The winter white is a striking paintjob, and the plane was likely only seen on the Eastern Front doing in T-34's...  The main tank buster bomb has eyes and teeth painted on it, and I believe the nose logo says "Moshaisk", but I can't see it from here to be sure on that now...

It's all white, and that's really kinda creepy looking actually...  The Deutch Afrika Korps version with the big red and white snake down the fuselage is damned scary looking too though, if you want a desert camo Stuka, and the regular green/grey one is nice as well with the flying swine emblem.

The plane comes with 3 smaller bombs for each wing as well, and the machine gunners MG-34 (Which this exact gun was used in ANH by Sandtroopers, but it's the rarer version which is VERY difficult to see which had no stock and drum clips on both sides) is mounted into the cockpit window on a ball/socket mount and it DOES pivot like the real gun would've...

The level of detail and moving parts literally puts every toy Hasbro has ever made to shame.  These things are unsurpassed...  And people who know my love of the TIE Bomber from POTJ know that I think that ship was absolutely flawless.  It still doesn't hold a candle, or even a match, to this Stuka though...  I just had to buy it, and I don't collect the planes that much because of space issues.

Anyway, pick it up because the last thing you'd be is disappointed.  The pilots come with gas masks, and luger holsters which fit on them as well, oh, and stands too...  You at least get what you pay $45 for, that's for sure.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 17, 2003, 11:23 PM
Yes,the stuka is uber cool!I can't wait for some new products,and ummmm some ''cool ;)'' stuff from build-o-rama!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 22, 2003, 03:50 AM
BBi's New Blackhawk Due Out Soon!!!

Look at this honkin' HUGE thing!!!  :)  I totally was NOT gonna get into modern 1:18 but I can't help but to want this thing, and to fill it with those 1:18 marines BBi is making.  

(http://207.44.182.109/photo/1/data/707/1BBI-37.jpg)

That's a freakin' huge toy, and check out that detail.  People at the SDCC who saw this in person were speechless.  BBi's stepping things up a notch, and 21st Century has serious competition now.  If BBi's things wind up at brick & mortar retailers like they promised, 21st is gonna have to play some serious catch up.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 22, 2003, 12:32 PM
That will be hanging from my ceiling.Put the Republic gunship to shame!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 22, 2003, 04:19 PM
I hear that DCF!

The thing is huge...

BBi's also releasing:

1:18 dune buggy (Delta Force scout/recon vehicle? with driver and maybe 2nd figure, I forget)
1:18 dirtbike (Delta Force vehicle again with rider)
1:18 littlebird chopper (with pilot)
1:18 Humvee (They're out from the 1st series but I hear a redo of them is going to be made available, which I'd like because 21st's humvee is lacking)

Coupled with the Marine 3-packs in desert camo, and the machine gunner 2-pack in woodland green camo.

Good BBi year...  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 22, 2003, 10:39 PM
I think I'll have two little birds flanking the blackhawk,Ala my two Jedi star fighters flanking my gunship.God I love military stuff.

I also have an idea about the :cough:Afgan warrior coming out(the RPG one).I'll set up a mini display where this guy is trying to take out the blackhawk.Sounds cool huh?Ahhh,I might do that at somepoint,but with a move coming in the next year,I'll leave it for the new house,just like my larde scale SW dioramas.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 25, 2003, 07:48 AM
Oh man...

(http://www.bobafettmp.com/warbirds/comiccon2003/images/pict4540.jpg)

Go to GP's site for more...  There's a thread about Comic-Con out in San Diego, and one gentleman there snapped away quite a few photos, and member "Laughinggravy" was there talking to 21st Century, and got to hold the 2.5 ton truck...  

Good reporting from the crew over at GP's site (And their respective sites as well).
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 25, 2003, 01:23 PM
That is a fine jet IMO.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 6, 2003, 05:34 AM
A quick update to things...

the BBi Elite Force 1:18 figures are cropping up at Toys R Us stores as of now...

Their dune buggy (Special ops), Humvee (With lame decal) and the Littlebird chopper (Amazing) are also showing.

The figures have improved quality plastic (Sturdier) and the weapons are also sturdier.  The figures out are supposedly the U.S. Special Forces (Desert Tan) with standard Kevlar helmets and new head sculpts too...  Or so I'm hearing.  I've yet to make a toy run to find these in my area, but the guy that reported said he found them in PA so they must be everywhere by now.

Sounds good to me anyway, and at $4.99 a figure, $14.99 for the buggy, and $20 for the Humvee you cannot go wrong really.  Scrape the damn decal off even!  It's still cheaper than 21st's Humvee and you'll likely FIND a BBi Humvee too (And a better pack-in figure...  21st's Humvee driver is easily their worst figure ever).

Now if only that HUGE blackhawk would hit shelves alongside those U.S.M.C. 3-packs!  I'm itchin' to fill one of those blackhawks with some leathernecks, that's for sure...  A few U.S. Spec. Forces guys in close support, of course. :)

These are great figures, don't pass this stuff up!  They're on par with 21st Century in quality, and they even outperform in poseability (Though I'm not wild about the elbow joint, but you take what you can get).

If I were little, these guys would litter my back yard right now!  Ah, to be young again.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 10, 2003, 02:46 AM
GP's site sees a glowing review for the BBi Littlebird.

I guess it has multiple weapon configurations, and the pack-in pilot looks like "Dubya".

Not that I'm a Republican, but having a "Dubya" head should make for interesting customs. :)  Like now I want an Imperial Admiral "Dubya" and a Rebel General Dubya, or a pilot Dubya...  Oh and a stormtrooper Dubya. :)

I guess the pilot's a great figure though, and it's confirmed that the figures and their weapons ARE a more rigid plastic.

I'm hearing the BBi Humvee's suck compared to the 21st Century ones though.  I can speak from experience that 21st's isn't much to write home about though, and the BBi one IS cheaper.  I think it may be in better scale as well, and possibly just needs a good paint job.  Just my early (Non owning) opinion right now.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 13, 2003, 02:17 AM
I hopped by TRU today and they had some BBi stuff low and behold.

They had shelf space for the Little Bird but all were gone.  They had all the Navy Seals, but only one of select figures, and they had the weapons set.

Also, they had the Humvee, which while some sorta b!tched about it over at GP's site, I'd say it's as good as 21st's Humvee...  It DOES say "Humvee" on it on the back fenders which is dumb looking.  They paid for the rights to "Humvee" though so they're milking it I guess.

The vehicle looks slightly less detailed, but a bit more sturdy than 21st's (And slightly larger).  The pack-in driver is 10x 21st's pack-in driver though, and is in desert tan jump suit.

No dune buggy,  no dirtbike, no choppers, and no U.S. Special Forces or Marine 3-packs...

BUT, One guy at GP's site got the Blackhawk, and gave it a GLOWING review.  Said it's worth the hefty pricetag.  One pack-in pilot though, so we're doomed to find a co-pilot somehow, or hope BBI makes one carded.
Title: Got BBi stuff tonight!!!!
Post by: Jesse James on August 20, 2003, 01:16 AM
OH MAN!!!!

It's freaking great!

I got 2 of the U.S. Special Forces Army figures, the 2 weapons packs, and the Littlebird helicopter.

I cannot help but praise these.  THey're freaking amazing toys, and you guys GOTTA grab these.  

Be careful with the figures, as limbs are breaking because they're sticking.  Heat them in hot water if necessary, and dismantle the arm then rebuild it so you don't have this problem.  At the first sign of too stiff to turn, do this.

The weapons are TWICE as good as before, because BBi actually listened and used stiffer plastic!  They're great now!  The pistols with tracers are my favorite weapons I think though.  My army doods replaced their old pistols with these ones.

The figures have some bad paintjobs if you aren't careful, so watch the eyes mostly.  I got a cross-eyed breacher.  :(  He's still got a bitchin' buzzcut though and is a great sculpt.  Far superior to 21st Century headsculpts or even Star Wars.

The Helicopter is the highlight of my night.  An all-new pilot with removeable helmet and unique head, the helicopter has multiple configurations, opening doors, turning rotors, FULL painted detail inside.

This thing is freaking flawless.  And $20...  Yes, $20 for this compared to the cheap rehash TIE from Hasbro for $30 at Kay Bee toys...   Feel a lil ripped off by Hasbro yet?

I also saw the Dirtbike, recon buggy, and Humvee as well as all the Navy SEALS and the other U.S. Army doods (I Only got 2), but I was a bit too poor last night to buy more. :(  I wanted to so much though, these figures are simply flawless if you ask me.

The articulation at the elbows still bothers me, and I wish BBi would go to hinge joints instead of the 45 degree pivoting joint for elbows, but I can deal with it and it does work well.

These army guys rock!  They're gonna fly off shelves I think, but the SEALS aren't as interesting because they've got the sculpted on ski masks and such.  I like how each head is unique, and while sort of expressionless the guys don't look "blank" in the face either.

THESE are the ultimate army builders!  Even removeable belts on them!  Come on Hasbro, catch up PLEASE!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 7, 2003, 09:56 PM
Wow, I got some more stuff going now...

I have all the SPec. Forces and am ready to do a little army building now...

I also have the strike vehicle (dune buggy), the little bird, and the dirtbike...

I saw the Blackhawk, and as much as I wanted it, I held off because I don't have the room nor do I have $60 to blow right now...  I still want one though.

And a note of news...

BBI says the Marines are ont heir way to the TRU warehouses I guess, so those should be arriving soon!  Whee!!!!  They looked like some really great figures.

BBI has also now said they're trying to develope a World War 2 line...  I am hoping for figures, and a select few vehicles at first, but mostly figures...  I want some nationalities other than U.S. forces and German forces...

Where's the brits and Canadians?  Australians?  Italians?  French Resistance?  Russians?  Japanese?  And then more Germans and U.S. too!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 15, 2003, 01:24 PM
New stuff, new stuff, new stuff...

1) The U.S. Marines in both Woodland and Desert Camo are hitting shelves around the country...  I cannot wait to find some of these.  One headscupt resembles everyone's favorite Die-hard star, Bruce Willis even.

I'm already geeked to make a Bruce Willis as Rebel or Imperial Officer custom. :)

Keep your eyes pealed...  For note though, the Marines do NOT have the ankle ball/socket joint anymore.  I'm bummed personally as I loved that joint and it made for MUCH more dynamic posing of the figures.  Send in your feelings to BBi if you liked it too so they maybe go back to using it.

Also, the pistols appear to NOT be removeable from their holsters ont he Marines, but rather they have the hanging holster that the Recon bike rider has...  I hate that, and personally may just pop their belts off because that looks like crap if you ask me.  Again, drop BBi a line if you dislike that kinda stuff.

Beyond that they look good though...  AMAZING headsculpts, boonie hats, helmets, goggles, removeable backpacks WITH real straps, and pretty much just as heavily articulated as ever.  Can't argue with that.

2) Dragon has finally shown a little life beyond their Michael Wittman w/Crommwell Turret figure.  That Wittman looked like, as the Germans would say, shite.  Blah...

The new German figures (What, you expected Dragon to make some new Allied guys?  hah!) are woodland camo dot pattern figures from Arnhem circa 1944.  Damn fine paint jobs on these guys so you may want to pick them up just for that.  

Easily the best sculpts of any toy line in operation today, Dragon's figures are impressive to look at, but much like the figures of the 3-packs from Hasbro they're NOT very poseable.  Sporting 10 points of articulation, they are pretty pre-posed (Or VERY pre-posed as in the kneeling soldiers case), but the sculpt and articulation are wonderful.  If you have a diorama set-up you wanna do they're great for it.

My first series Grenadiers are in the French Farmhouse in an "Ambush" set-up with some 21st figures.  Like they're waiting a column to come along and open up on them.  They look sharp but I won't be playing with my Dragon figures anytime soon, while my 21st and BBi figures get "posed" every day it seems. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 17, 2003, 03:59 AM
few more small things of note...

21st Century, who have all but dropped off the retail map, have recently shown new items, but only airplanes.

P-47
P-40
Winter Messerschmit (Wheee!)
etc., etc...

Images are up at GP's site if you check in the forums...  I'd dig up a link, but at this point I'm too lazy to do so, and 21st's sorta pi$$in' me off with their constant barage of airplanes that  don't sell because they're outrageously priced.  

However, 21st DID MENTION (not show, which to me the proof is in product photos but whatever) their troop carrier, which will be based on the trucks that had the front end of the Dodge Command Car basically...  Heavily used in the Battle of the Bulge.

They also mentioned that they're trying to get the BoB figures out, which I hope that means OUT IN FORCE because I have army building to do with those and 21st's doing a poor job of getting the troops deployed for EITHER side (Damn I want those Germans but I need a whole slew of U.S. guys too!)

They also mentioned the Japs and Marines are on their way eventually, but I forget when.  I'm thinking they said next year...  Oh Joy!  That means 5 years from now in 21st's concept of time/space.

Still, if the Japs are half as good as those Leatherneck's prototypes looked then we're in for something special.

I hope 21st gets their head out of their collective rear-end and finally realizes (After this next onslaught of planes) that PLANES AND BIG TICKET ITEMS DO NOT SELL AS WELL SO STOP PRODUCTING SO MUCH OF IT AT ONE TIME!?!?!?!?!?!

I'd much rather they just put out 2 or 3 planes a year total, and an equal # of land vehicles, and then on a monthly or bi-monthly basis crank out new waves of figures.  

If we got new figures constantly, the line would be so much healthier.  The way they clog shelves with high-end items though, they shoot themselves in the foot.

It's like Hasbro putting out new $40+ ships en masse and wondering why there's no shelf space for anything else.  Blah!

Damned if 21st needs a wake up call right now.  :(  Thank goodness BBi's been there to keep the interest alive in 1:18 military stuff.  Hell even Dragon's more on the ball than 21st lately.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: TopJedi on October 1, 2003, 11:34 AM
Hey Jesse, great to se a familiar face here from another site......I'm GungHo Brian from GP's site  ;D  I'm a military figure kitbasher and collector....but also a HUGE Star Wars fan as well ;)

I'm HUGE into XD and the new BBI stuff.......GREAT items!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on October 1, 2003, 12:25 PM
I'm AngryEwok @ the GP site, I think... Haven't posted there in ages - just don't got the cash to buy any more.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: dustrho on October 1, 2003, 12:41 PM
Hey Jesse, great to se a familiar face here from another site......I'm GungHo Brian from GP's site  ;D  I'm a military figure kitbasher and collector....but also a HUGE Star Wars fan as well ;)

I'm HUGE into XD and the new BBI stuff.......GREAT items!

Wow, a once regular finally posts here again.  Glad to see you're still around Brian!   ;D
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: TopJedi on October 1, 2003, 10:32 PM
Oh ya bro, I'm alive and well........and JD IS my SW home ;)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 2, 2003, 12:16 AM
Cool Beans TopJedi. :)

Always neat to see the carryover fans between lines.

Get the Marines yet from BBI?  I got 3 of them and I ahve to say I like the Army Spec. Forces guys better personally.  I miss the ankle joint, and the arms aren't as poseable on the Marines it seems (Same articuatlion points and count, just a little poorer quality).

The headsculpts are the best yet though I think.  Still myf avorite BBi figure is the Littlebird Pilot.  That dood F'n rocks!

I'm sad to see the holsters that work gone the way of the do-do too though.

Anyway, it's cool to see you here alive and posting!

Check GP's post about what's coming from 21st Century too?  I'm bummed that the figure information was sporatic and didn't seem promising for figures seeing a routine/regular release schedule like the less expensive items deserve.

Planes are nice, but there's no way they're outselling figures.  I just cannot imagine $40-$60 items are ever going to outsell $5.99 figures.  The logic isn't there, haha.

And I'm itchin' to build a Battle of the Bulge diorama something feirce but cannot find figures...  I'm lucky I found all of them in that short window they were released last year.  Just wish I could've bought doubles, triples, and even 10's and 20's of the rifleman and BAR gunner.  
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: TopJedi on October 2, 2003, 07:57 AM
JJ, I've been staying current with GP's site....so I read all the posts ;)  I would love to have more planes (I only have one original Mustang) and I'd kill to have more amour......but it seems that it's not in the cards for me :(

I've got a few armor pieces....and roughly 50 XD figs....Nam and WW2..... I want to set up a play table in my room and build a few scale city blocks for WW2......

I've been picking up a few of the new BBI pieces......just the Specops guys.....nice stuff so far.....

Have you seen those new Corps! Elite figs yet?  I picked up a few.....the weapons are kinda nice....with the exception of one M4 that had the scope reversed on the mount...hahahahah   I'm trying to figure out how to transplant these heads to other figs.....

Also, how hard is it to transplant heads on 21st XD figs? Is it a boil job? What does the base of the head look like?

I'd kill for some of those BOB figs.....LOL, I'll clean the shelves if they hit again ;) I just watched episodes 7-10 yesterday of Band of Brothers..........the BOB scenes have to be one of the best War movie scenes EVER filmed!  After seeing it I was all sad that I couldn't replicate it in XD :(

Well, I've rambled on enough.......I've gotta go to work now.....

Anyone have any extra bits and pieces of XD for trade???  

Laters, Brian
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 2, 2003, 03:10 PM
I may have a ton of XD stuff I'll sell off to ya actually.  

If you wanna swap XD heads, it's easy.  They pop right out with boiling water.  Their bodies are even pliable plastic that softens in the heat.

XD and BBI are some of the easiest figs to customize I've ever seen.  

GP says Battle of the Bulge is making a comeback so keep your eyes open I guess.  And "Variant" figures in the playsets too?  Whatever that means.  

I'd buy playsets if the figures are unique enough, even though I got the farmhouse and barn on clearance here.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: TopJedi on October 2, 2003, 06:53 PM
JJ, shoot me a list of what you might have to part with. I'm in the process of paying for some car maintenance repairs, and some shelving material for my soon to be set up toy room (FINALLY...Thank God ;)) but you never know....... Do you collect any other toy lines? I have alot of stuff.....so maybe I might have something that interests you.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Mister Skeezler on October 6, 2003, 12:26 PM
Are the XD or BBI figures compatible with Star Wars figures? I'd love to make some generic characters, officers, smugglers, etc.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 9, 2003, 02:50 AM
Hey Lando, sorry I didn't catch this...

The XD and BBi are the same scale if that's what your'e going for.

Headsculpts are far superior to anything Hasbro does, that's for sure, as the entire sculpt is really.  And articulation...  And accessories...

Yeah, they're superior and they're compatible.  I hope to have the heads from both lines "available" at some point to the customizers out there.  **cough cough**

The neckpegs of both lines are NOT the same as SW though, just so you know.  

They're really diverse though.  The German Paratroopers have some of the best "Imperial" gaunt/thin heads I've seen.  The BBi line has a HUGE variety of generic white and black male heads/hairstyles though the SWAT BBi figures aren't as easy to find (Yet had the best diversity of headsculpt).

The new marines and army (And SEALS) have a decent variety too though.

At $5.99 or $4.99 though, it can be pricey to buy just for a piece or two, just keep that in mind.

My favorites so far are the Army Spec. Forces from BBi and the Battle of the Bulge from X-Treme Detail (Though some XD pilot figures are FREAKING AMAZING in sculpt, articulation, and decoration on their own).
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on October 24, 2003, 11:58 AM
Hey,jesse james you got any GIjoes from the 2000 line?Thye look like thye could be good custom fodder...

I'm commodre vator at GPs...I haven't posted in awhile sice I have put my ww2 thing on the back burner...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 24, 2003, 03:22 PM
I've bought some Joes for accessories to use for SW customs mostly, not much else though...  I tend to avoid Joes for customs.

I'm more impressed with the modern Joe line though...  I still prefer the accurate proportions of the vintage RAH but modern Joes are getting pretty heavy with the articulation. :)

In the "news" front though for 1:18 military...

-BBi's at some toy show going on right now and displayed an F-18...  OH YES!  at approximately 3 ft. long, this is one HUGE Fighter. :)  Come On Star Wars, compete with that!  I want a scale Y-Wing...  It still wouldn't even be this big.

BBI also displayed their LAV in packaging with a driver that has goggle outlines from the desert sands...  Very cool, and their new Abrams Tank with driver which also looks spot-on scale and DAMN good.

-21st Century was also recently at a con displaying things like their deuce and a half troop truck (The only WW2 item I was gaga over though because I can't collect planes much).  They did display multiple planes though, including the Messerschmitt in winter white which does look sharp, and I believe the new P-47?  

21st is still in the game, but when/where they show up is up in the air because I never truly accept 21st's timeline as the truth.  They say we should see some of the planes at Wal-Mart soon....  I'm more interested in figures though.  Where's my battle of the bulge fgures?  1st series resculpts?  Marines and Japs?  Come on!

-Dragon came out with new images of some U.S. Infantry that look pretty damn sharp...  I hate that Dragon won't go for articulation, and subsequently they don't get as much of my $, but I will buy a set of these.  Great sculpts as always from Dragon and will look  nice in a display I think.

Well, here's to hoping that 21st gets back in the figure game soon because they were putting out the top-notch figures for a while.

BBi's taken the reigns, but have some work to do to get perfection.  I think series one of theirs were better than series two (The marines) as the marines have awkward leg scupts that seem too close together.  They're close to having the BEST figures on the market though so I hope BBI keeps changing things to improve.  And I hope BBi jumps into WW2 here soon too!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on November 6, 2003, 09:38 PM
So,whats up with you guys?Buy and nice things?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: TopJedi on November 7, 2003, 06:59 AM
I'm still alive....but I haven't bought any military toys in a while. Between working on setting up my toy room and focusing on Star Wars again this toy line has been put on the back burner.

I've even been contemplating parting with my 1/32nd scale stuff.........I guess time will tell.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 7, 2003, 06:09 PM
21st's supposedly got stuff on the water from Asia right now...  Spitfire, Winter ME109, etc...

Not much to report on them right now though I think.

BBI's Apache is out they say, but I've yet to see it.  I want one I think, but the size of it may limit me and I'll skip it.

The LAV I will get and someone said it's out too...

I've yet to nab anything new for a while though.  Not since the BBI Marines came out.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 26, 2003, 05:29 PM
For those of you interested, I had a new XD experience the other day...

Wal-Mart in Delmont, PA had the Motorworks/21st packaged P-47 with checkerboard design for D-Day invasion.  Not a bad looking plane really.

And they had a grey helicopter...  modern of course, which is either an Apache or some other chopper?

21st put out 2, an Apache and some other one (Not a blackhawk) recently.  Ours had just this grey chopper...

Figure quality for the chopper pilot looks poor, and really the overall look of the toy didn't look too swift either but the P-47 looked great.  It came with the 1st P-38 pilot in the leather jacket and parachute.

Good stuff on the plane, mediocre stuff on t he chopper...  I think BBi's Apache looks better personally, but it costs more if I'm not mistaken?

BBI's prices seemed to spike on the wave 2 vehicles by the way...  $60 for the Apache is on-par with the $60 for the Blackhawk, and they're similarly sized, but the LAV is $40 if I'm not mistaken, and easily should be a $30 or less toy...  

Nice figures in the Apache and LAV though for BBI.  The LAV driver has a scarf around his face evne, pretty neat, but $40's a bit outta my price range for a vehicle so seemingly small.

Plus, BBi's quality has dropped off of late...  Their 2nd series has not impressed me like their 1st wave did.  I'm hoping they pick up the ball here and improve their figures some for their following product lineups.  

Right now they're leaving as sour a taste in my mouth as 21st has by not releasing much of any product of late.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on February 5, 2004, 12:32 PM
New planes coming!Including Avenger torpedo bomber! ;D
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on February 6, 2004, 05:09 AM
Wow, the topic sees some life.

More than I can say for 21st Century.  :P

The big possible rumor now is that they've possibly been taken over or sold.  Seems that items are coming out in the Motorworks boxes, but with 21st Century Toys stamped on the vehicles (as always), yet not a SINGLE mention of 21st Century Toys anywhere but the company stamp in the plastic itself.

Nowhere on the box...  Nothing.  SOme other company IS listed however (forgetting the name).

Could it be 21st Century has been sold?  Or possibly just partnered with another production facility allowing them use of the molds produced?

Hard to say at this stage, but I want a freaking Bradley Fighting Vehicle for my BBI Grunts, that's all I know!

21st may be in the crapper big time, and trying to dig their way out.  A shame, considering how well their figures sell.  If they'd focus on those instead of huge plane after huge plane, the line would be doing much better I think.

Planes are nice, but you gotta do that stuff in moderation.  Big ticket items just don't move well, as any toy company will gladly point out (And as FAO Swartz will gladly attest to as well).
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 8, 2004, 12:10 AM
For anyone interested..........

I've been seeing Battle of the Bulge Sherman's in my neck of t he woods at Wal-Mart (under the Motorworks brand, which is what all the new stuff's been coming in as).  You may want t keep your eyes peeled on that one guys.

The M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle is there also, and let me say that it's a great vehicle if you're wanting something to haul your BBI Marines around in.  Full interior, hatches, etc...  This vehicle is regarded as a dandy.

Both have die-cast bodies as well, not plastic, so we're talking some damn heavy tanks here.  Seriously...  I'll have 2 Shermans (bought one, ahve one on lay-a-way).  They come with the BoB Tanker as well, and a nice dusted paintscheme.  Good stuff.

I just wish the Sherman had an interior.  :(  That saddens me, because it really deserves one.  Perhaps a custom at some point...

And on 21st Century Toys News...

An email to a member at GP's site originally said that 1:18 was going to be toned down, but that was turned around by a 21st Cent. Toys executive seemingly immediately.

2004 is said t be a focus on 1:18, so take that with a grain of salt (how many times has 21st promsied crap and reniged?), but here's a mere TASTE of what's to come (supposedly).

-1:18 marines (7 figures)
-1:18 Jap. Infantry (7 figures)
-1:18 Battle of the Bulge Germans and U.S.  (7 figures...  I have the U.S. and they kick ass plain and simple)
-1:18 German tanks (Mostly winter camo versions)
-1:18 U.S. tanks (Same camo versions as Germans)
-1:18 self-proppelled gun
-1:18 German & US Troop Trucks
-1:18 Artillery Piece (?)
-1:18 Abrahams Tank (gloated as superior to anything on the market...  god willing we actualy get to SEE it)
-1:18 Afghannistan Freedom Fighters (Or Taliban Troops if you're doing what I am with them! :P )

And more.........

So, this guy gloats that there's gonna be a lot of 1:18 and it's going to mostly be ground forces, and that 21st is going to run with "themes" like Battle of the Bulge, to coincide with their releases.  

Believe what you want...  I'm hopeful, but hesitant to put my faith in a company that is this unreliable.  21st Cent. Toys just rarely ever comes through.

I am finding armor though now, so there's some hope.

21st makes arguably some of the best action figures in 1:18 scale...  Far superior to Hasbro's standard Star Wars figures, and at least comparable to the 1st series BBI figures...  Will 21st come through with all this though?  That is the million $ question I think.  

I'm tired of the BS.  Bring it to the table or fold the company...  That's my view at this point.  If you can't "run with the big dogs" as it were...  We shall see though.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 27, 2004, 03:12 AM
BIG news...  Literally.

Talk of "Big Birds" coming out is swirling, and an image of a B-17 (Yes, I'm not giving you **** here, I said a B-17) have surfaced...  

Will they make the famed "Flying Fortress" of World War II?  Possibly the most recognizeable plane of the war, which would sport a 5 FEET + wide wingspan?

OOOOoooo baby.  I don't have much room but you bet your sweet ass I'd own one of these, come hell or high water!  

Not sure they're actually gonna make these or not...  There's a lotta "talk" swirling about what 21st is GOING to do this year and into the next couple years, but what they WILL do is something else.  

If I can last these dormant days though, you guys can too.  Don't give up all hope and let us just wish for these things.

I say though, if 21st DOES make a 1:18 B-17 then Hasbro better get their **** together and start making scale vehicles.  Their stuff isn't even NEAR the level of detail, quality, or complexity of 21st so they can really at least improve their LITTLE vehicles like the AT-ST, Y-Wing, B-Wing, and TIE FIghter...  Good God there H, get with the times...  Especially if vehicles are just aimed at collectors like you always tend to claim.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on March 27, 2004, 07:33 AM
This kicks ass! I don't know were I'm going to put that, what with that BBi F-18 coming out soon.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 28, 2004, 04:07 AM
I'm just scared on what cost could be for this...  $40-$50 for a regular plane could translate into pretty darn expensive for a B-17.  

Just having that though, with a full crew, would rock.  I'd be one happy camper if it was the only large plane they ever made, though a jump plane or glider (or both) for my D-Day paratroopers would be lovely.  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on March 28, 2004, 11:46 AM
It looks like they're going to do this moduarly, so that *should* keep the overall cost down.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 28, 2004, 03:58 PM
Maybe they bogarted the Modular Millenium Falcon that I and a couple others have tossed around Star Wars forums for years?  You'd be getting a ship darn near the same size as this plane's reported to be.  I really hope they go through with this.

This would be just so sweet...

I'll all for buying this, seriously.  I've never wanted to pick up an expensive item so badly before, short of a car.  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 28, 2004, 03:59 PM
BTW,

It seems that 21st's figure production is going to be highly scaled back, from news heard at the Toy Soldier Expo in Eastern PA.  

Battle of the Bulge will see release to specialty/hobby shops, but don't look for Marines till 2005...  WTF 21st?  You're killing your own toy line again.   >:(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on March 29, 2004, 05:24 PM
Seems to be a pattern...

21st's Lets make planes for 1+ years

BBi's Yeah, we can make a great line WITHOUT enemies

Hasbro's Cheaper, faster, poorer

Well the last one does *kinda* make sense from a bussines perspective, but so does outsourcing.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 3, 2004, 03:47 PM
Update, sorta...

21st's Spitfires are out and about, though I've never seen one at a store, nor a P-40 Warhawk.  A shame too because the Spit's a plane I'd actually enjoy owning.

I saw one version of each at the Toy show in Pittsburgh this past weekend and they're nice.  Neat figures too sort of.

BBI's site is updated too, with more figure photos including some foreign guys (brits it would appear), and U.S. Army figures...  Not the Army Special Forces, just basic grunts.

Also, the F18 is up I believe, which is F'n huge.  The G.I. Joe Skystriker just took a back seat, as did any of the planes 21st's made as far as size comparisons...  This thing's big looking.  Wow...  I ain't buying it because of room, but I would otherwise.

And on a plus side, the BBI LAV is on sale at most TRU's.  $10 off its retail.  For $30 it's not bad...  $40 was way too much to me though.

The Abrahams is too, from what I hear, and they're cleared out of my TRU's so I'm wagering the stories are true that the Abrahams got clearanced too.  BBI's great, but their vehicles in their last series were lacking.  Non-moving hatches (most of them) and molded detail instead of separate pieces put these a notch below their 1st series stuff and their choppers.  

I hope they step it up a notch on the vehicles, and improve their figures SLIGHTLY.  Some sculpting/construction methods on the figures, and better articulation style, would help them tremendously!  Then jump into WW2 please BBI because youo're the only one putting figures out aside from Dragon...

Oh, that reminds me, Dragon's put out 2 series of U.S. infantry I believe...  Northern France 44, which look great, and I thought I saw some more classic looking infantry uniforms for another series?  I forget.  I wanna nab them though.

And they did some nice camo Germans too...  Wish I had the $ to nab all those sets.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on May 3, 2004, 10:18 PM
Had I know I would have picked up all those spits I found. And that was a month ago!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 7, 2004, 11:35 PM
Hell I'd have nabbed one from you.  It's nowhere to be found here and one of the few planes I'd like to own.  I guess WM's distribution of XD's been a regional disaster.

The Checkertail P-47 was here while others never got it...  Then certain ones of the choppers are here that nobody else got...  We got the Winter Sherman (made with die-cast metal too, that's a heavy ass vehicle) and NATO camo Bradley are here too (Love the Sherman) but I guess others had a hell of a time finding them.

Go figure, ya know?  

XD's going in the toilet if they DO NOT get figures out though, and en masse.  Not sporatic online crap, but actual on-the-pegs figures and not just a wave a year.  To me, the figure's are the staple product...  THe anchor.  The vehicles are secondary.  Till XD gets that in their mind, they won't have a take-off line.

I think they're not jumping on figures because of the way WM is sticklers about shelf-space devotion, and that Germans will go over as well there as they did at TRU.  It's a shame the public at large shuns German soldiers as all "Nazi".  It cheapens German veterans to me, but I guess they deserve no respect in some people's eyes.  Most U.S. vets still give them respect though.  How ironic that over-sensitive public does not.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on May 9, 2004, 12:44 PM
I agree 100%, hell it's not like they're relasing Himmler with jewish corpse. I have mainly German infantry and planes from the line and you know what? I'm a jew, gasp! I'm so sick of all the PC police being the real Nazi's. End rant.

We to had the Sherman and Bradley a few months back, I almost picked it up, but I decided I'd hold onto my money.

However, here are some figures I'd like to see, pardon my spelling and historical errors in someparts:

Russian Infantry
Russian NCO
Russian Officer

Kriegsmarine trooper
Kriegsmarine Officer
Kriegsmarine crewman

Chinese Nationalist trooper
Chinese Nationalist officer
Chinese Communist trooper
Chinese Communist officer

Japanese infantry
Japanese officer
Japanese Cavalry


Italian Infantry
Italian Officer
Italian Naval Crewman
Italian Naval Officer
Italian Officer mounted on horse

French Gurellia: Male, female, variations

Spanish Infantry
Spanish Officer

Polish Infantry
Polish Officer
Polish Cavalry
Polish Cavalry Officer

Canadian Infantry
Canadian Officer
Canadian Royal Marine
Canadian Mounty- just 'cuz

British Infantry
British Officer
British SAS commando
British SAS officer
British Infantry: North African garb
British Officer: North African garb
British Royal Marine

French Infantry
French Officer

Leaders series:

Eisenhower
Montgomery
Rommel
Tojo
Zuhkav
Roosevelt
Churchhill
Stalin
Mao
Chang Kai Shek
Hiroheto
Hitler
Mussolini
Franko
Degaul
 

To be honest I want a toy line to cover history from Napolean to about five or so years into the future. Now tell me that wouldn't kick major ass.

Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 11, 2004, 03:56 AM
Here's an image of the upcoming Army Grunts from BBI...  Not much, but these and new accessory sets are the most we have to look forward to.

Oh, and carded BBI chopper pilots.  I could handle having a couple extra of them...  I only have my lil bird pilot, so these I can dig.

(http://www.blueboxtoys.com/bbi/eForce/4inches/NEW/IMAGE/21331-6.jpg)

BTW, removable berets on the Army troops...  nice touch BBI.  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 15, 2004, 01:55 AM
I nabbed a busted up Stuka (flying pig) at Toys R Us today fr $24.50...

I had t haggle the price with them on it though.  The canopy's smashed beyond believe, ugh.  The pilots were fine though, as was MOST of the plane.

I stress MOST because one prop's also snapped off.

This is cool though fr $25, and I'm going to do a downed Stuka...  Something to hopefully have with surrounding Russian Infantry someday!  :)

I was happy with the purchase...  This was one of 21st's finer plane's I think.  A big honkin' pile of plastic for sure.

I wonder where this lone one came from?  Must've been in stock in the back.  The floor personnel at TRU were appauled that anyone put it out even, and were reluctant to sell it to me.  They agreed to $24.50 saying they'd get full price from the vendor if they did a "send-back".

I got news for them, vendors with which you no longer do business are not obligated to take back product.  There's no 21st/TRU contract, so there's no sending crap back.  I felt like pulling that card on them, but figured $25's not horrible, and I can patch the canopy together and claim it as part of the ultimate battle damage I'm gonna dose her with.  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 26, 2004, 08:07 PM
Since I like to keep this updated as much as possible...

Spitfires and P-40 Warhawks are across the country, and many are sold through already.  Wal-Mart sucks is all I can say.  These never hit here in Pittsburgh as near as I can tell or I'd have had a Spitfire no doubt.  That's a fine plane.

With that said...

The Battle of the Bulge figures are supposedly on their way, both U.S. and Germans.  They're shipping soon to E-Tailers like Bad Cat Toys but over at GP's there a couple options to getting them!  I'm just not sure who all.

Bad Cat has a case assortment of them for $6.25 per figure before shipping.  Gotta buy by the case though right now.

They are ALSO shipping with Patton figures though.

The assortment I saw at Bad Cat was like 12 figures, and sported 2 of each German, 1 of each Patton figure, and then the rest were U.S. figures (I guess since they'd already seen some limited release to TRU before the deal ended).

Beyond that, little of note figure-wise.  I wish 21st would get their asses in gear on figures.  They really  need to have a steady release of NEW figures throughout the year before pissing with all these planes.  I like planes sometimes, but due to space and cost I can't buy them all.  Figures though, I'd buy at least one of each, and likely multiples of the most "generic" guys too.

Gimme some leathernecks and japs to duke it out please!  Some Russians, Brits, French Reisstance, and some resculpts of U.S. and German infantry wouldn't hurt either, know what I mean? :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 18, 2004, 01:24 AM
BBI's new Spec. Forces guys are leaking out...

(http://www.joecustoms.com/board/files/gbs.jpg)

The guy with the green beret and stinger has a custom head though from what I read who posted this image at Joe Customs.

They look nifty though.

I am still hping for some BETTER things from BBI though.  Changes in articulation, overall quality, etc...  Hopefully soon.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 18, 2004, 01:51 AM
Now those look nice! I might have to buy a few to flesh out my Rebel Forces.

What kind of weapon does the one on the left have? Looks kinda odd.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 18, 2004, 02:01 AM
It's the one shouolder-mounted rocket launcher...  That came with the recon dirt-bike guy.  I'm unsure the name, but it has a box with a hose that mounts to it.  I'm assuming it's laser-guided due to the gear it comes with.

On the bike it can rest on the rack on the front oof the handlebars.  
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 18, 2004, 02:06 AM
I'm sure that'd be pretty hard to carry into battle. Now the bretes are detachable correct? If so I could 'justify' buying about 2 each.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 19, 2004, 02:01 AM
I've heard they are seperate of the figures, so that's cool to me.  I already have some custom ideas in mind for the berets and Star Wars.

I really wish BBI would go into WW2 stuff.  Even if all they did was allies, it'd at least be SOMETHING out there considering how 21st's dropping the ball with figures.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 19, 2004, 02:18 AM
I know, I really doubt we'll ever see the Marines or the Patton figures. Sad really, I truley thought 21C was the future, however BBi seems to be doing a decent job, even if we only have one side fighting.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 19, 2004, 02:51 AM
BotB are due out, supposedly, soon, with Patton mixed in...  The case ratios are creeping up on sites like Small Blue Planet and others.

I'm curious to see what happens...  I'd like more BotB even.

The fact 21st isn't even doing many ground vehicles sucks though.  They only do planes, and while nice, with nice figures, they really are missing the fast money maker in figures right now.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 19, 2004, 06:30 AM
True. What was the deal with that German Infantry pack? Seemed kinda odd to me seeing as how supposedly came with broken figures sans guns.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 21, 2004, 12:32 AM
Everything I could gather on that was it was, more or less, a scam on SMB's part to dump sloppy product they've come across in their stockrooms or have gotten 2nd hand.

I'm not sure though, so don't quote me on that, but I hear worse and worse things about Small Blue Planet.  BadCat Toys and some others seem to be taking over in the toy soldier dept., and I know just by the negative attention SMB's gotten I'm going to definitely hold off on ordering from them ever.

Their prices are outfreakin'rageous sometimes I've noticed too.

1:18 military toys DON'T have the same support from etailers that Star Wars seems to get.  Not that the companies themselves are even that "sturdy" to begin with...  21st most of all.

21st makes the best action figures I've seen (as far as overall articulation, sculpt, etc.), but they just don't have a sturdy basis to make product it seems.

Dragon, if they made heavily articulated figures, would DOMINATE the military action figure market.  I wish so much that they'd get off their duffs and stop with the pre-posed figures.

21st's best is overall better to me, even if their sculpt and accessories aren't what Dragons are.  They just make a 100x more playable figure.  A more "fun" figure.

Too bad they just don't TRY to make figures.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 27, 2004, 09:02 AM
BoB is now available at SBP.

I wish I had the funds for some of those Germans. Maybe convert one into a Soviet, since we're nver gonna get one.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 28, 2004, 01:07 AM
Yeah, I wanna get some of those, but the $7.99 tag's scaring me off.  May try ordering a case assortment instead since they came to TRU retail then.

Wanna nab some Dragn figures on sale too...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on July 2, 2004, 09:06 PM
Okay I've been out of the loop as of late when it comes to 21stC, but where the hell are the Pacific Front figures that were supposed to be coming out? My TRU doesn't seem to carry the action figures anymore but every once and awhile they'll have a few vehicles. God help me, I'm out of the loop.  :'(

No Eastern Campaign (soviets verse germans) yet?  :'(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 2, 2004, 11:40 PM
On hold...  I talked to a 21st rep and he said they ARE coming, and other reps have said '05 for the Japanese and Marines...

They looked awesome, I mean they really were outstanding, "hardened" looking soldiers...  Though the Japs never did show up, but I imagine they'd have been great looking too, and they've BEEN mentioned so I hope we're getting them too.

I think the modern figures were due out first...  They had 2 Afghan "Freedom Fighters" and some varius U.S. and British SAS figures I think...  Some of those guys have leaked out into mainstream through vehicle pack-ins.

Anyway, there is some news...

The BotB figures are out, and I'm not sure but this may include Patton figures as well...

The FW-190 is out too on the west coast and includes a new German Pilot.  I gotta see it before I buy it.

BotB is only available online, but the German Infantry are already being touted as the "best figures ever", namely the open great-coat soldier.

I want to get a case because individually they're $7, but for a case of 12 (including 1 of each Patton, 1 of each U.S., 1 German Tanker, and 2 of each German infantry) they're $6.  Not sure if cases are in, but individual figures ARE so I'm assuming cases are too.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 3, 2004, 12:03 AM
I'm pretty sure the cases are in, as with Patton. You sure about the two of each German? I was under the impression it was one of each figure, like all 3 Pattons.

I still want some first series figs with better articulation. Hell, I'd take straight up re-releases.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 3, 2004, 01:06 AM
Every case breakdown I've seen is an assortment of 12...

-1 MB Driver
-1 U.S. Tanker
-1 U.S. Rifleman w/Mackinaw Coat
-1 U.S. BAR Gunner
-1 Patton Dress
-1 Patton Tunisia
-1 Patton Bulge
-1 German Tanker w/reversable winter/autumn fatigues (wish there were 2 of him and no MB Driver myself)
-2 German with open great coat
-2 German with closed great coat

Total: 12 Figures.

That's a pretty good assortment, other than I'd probably (personally) replace the U.S. Tanker and Jeep Driver with an extra German Tanker and U.S. Rifleman.  

Be more for army building, and the MB Driver flat out sucks balls.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 3, 2004, 02:03 AM
Ok, thanks, that is a good deal. If I don't end up going to New York for the 4th, I might pick one up.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 3, 2004, 02:12 AM
Toy Federation, Badcat Toys, and Small Blue Planet are the places with them right now that I'm aware of...  I hear SMB's got the highest shipping prices though.  Not that I can confirm that.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 3, 2004, 03:00 AM
So I've heard.
What the hell happend at GP tonight? I've lost my password so many times, I know I have more than one account, I think. Still can't find my Commodore Vator password either.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 4, 2004, 03:50 AM
I actually didn't know what yu meant about what happened, but...

From what I can tell, Audie Murphy, Recondo, and some other nic I forget are all the same guy, and because GP's is filled with guys that are clueless about toy collecting in general (lotta "older" guys who just like militaria) they got taken for a ride on some trades by sme ******bag little kid.

IE: the guy with all the nics...

So, GP, and his major domo Aferg are cracking down on multiple nics.

I dn't believe I have anything but JJ...  I don't register 2nd nics usually unless I find one really amusing.

The whole thing's a mess, but sometimes so are GP's forums.  I think he really, if he wanted his site/stuff to take off, should consider "hiring" some people to work for the site.  Make a real 1:18 military site...  There's enough news crap for it!

BTW I ordered a neat 4-figure set (the classic Infantry U.S. figures) from SMB the other day.  They're the U.S. set...  Not the men of Charlie Co., but the other set with "names".

They look awesome, but that's just in images.

The C. Co. guys are on sale as well.  All are under $5 under the current Dragon sale, so I can't argue with that price on Dragon figures.  They're not poseable really, but around a farmhouse or barn they look disgustingly realistic.  I mean, Dragon's 1:18 may not be fun to play with like BBI and 21st, but hell if they aren't amazing to look at, and I'll never blow my nose at such good custom head fodder to reproduce.

Now I need Charlie Co., and they have a modular "bombed building" playset that I'm hearing REALLY good things abuot by a cheapo cmpany.

The playset's like $15 and has a ton of crappy accessries, but I'm thinking of nabbing 2 just for Star Wars dios for my imperial shelf or something.  $15 you can't go wrong.

Shipping wasn't terrible either...  $5 something I think, but on cases of BotB at SMB it was like $8 at a minimum.  I don't know why.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 7, 2004, 07:46 AM
Wonderful, I'm officaly overwhelmed. Super.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 8, 2004, 01:20 PM
Just got my 4 figure set of the U.S. Infantry - Italy 1944 figures from Small Blue Planet.

These Dragn figures are crap for poseability, but fun to look at.

Ya knw, these sport 10 points of articualtion, but they're still terribly unposeable.

Great headsculpts as always, but...  I'm sad to say only 2 full headsculpts, and 2 others are the "half-heads" like the first series had some as well.

Very deceiving because SMB never mentioned this, nor did anyone else I believe.

Great accessories, as always.  Removable packs and pouches, separate belts, rifles, SMG's, etc...  TONS of gear, quite simply.

For less than $5 a figure, you really can't argue.  Good stuff here!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 8, 2004, 01:40 PM
They sound nice, how do they look next to 1st series 21st?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 9, 2004, 07:44 AM
Not bad...  1st series Panz. Gren's didn't look bad with XD Infantry either, but I'd say there's a MORE noticeable difference in the GI's.  the colors don't match up exactly, and the helmets aren't even cmparable (XD's pale in cmparison).

I have the Halftrack driver standing with them, and he looks cool enough...  The Khaki of the jackets is different though, but not terribly so.

I think the Paras look 10x better with them though...  I'm hoping 21st redoes Infantry basics at some point.  They were supposed to since they had molds for legs and such ready, but I don't have a clue where that would stand now.

I'd buy Infantry ALL over again if they had the new articulation and removable helmets.  I'd gladly rebuy, and buy even more than the last go-round.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 20, 2004, 07:12 PM
I'm actually running into P-40 Warhawks here!  Hooly crap.

Wish I could find a damn Spitfire.  :(

I'm gonna get RAF P-40 if I can maybe.  Put it on Lay-A-Way...  They're nice planes with a NEW pilot.  F'n sunglasses on the guy though.  :(

ALso, 21st Century Toys is attending SDCC...  Yup, they'll be there right alongside BBI I think (not sure) and of course Hasbro.  They'll be selling, for the first time ever, the modern figures!

Yup, the Eastern Warriors are due there!  I want me some Tally Ban!  My Marines are tired of shoooting Cobra Terrorists.

BTW, they're marketing the "Eastern Warriors" as CIA Trained Operatives if nobody knew that.  Yup, allies, not enemies.  Who are we kidding though?  These guys are buying up weapons from Destro like a mofo in my world.

The modern figures there, I think, are the CIA Delta Force dude, the Royal Marine (I want that figure!) and the 2 Eastern Warriors...  Or that's what the site showed at 21stCentury Toys homepage.  The U.S. SPec. Forces figure with the Humvee sucked BAD so I hope he's being scrapped.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 22, 2004, 06:25 PM
Unless my eyes are deciveing me, I think I've seen a Battle of the Bulge German OFFICER in one of the new pics!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 24, 2004, 01:23 AM
Indeed I was right, new German Infantry coming!  :D

Good for customs, good for dioramas!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 24, 2004, 01:28 AM
Not sure which images you mean Vator...

In the BotB line there's 2 trenchcoat Germans and a tanker only...  At least right now.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 24, 2004, 01:31 AM
Figures.com has newer pics: http://69.93.119.2/photo/1/showgallery.php?cat=1591&page=4&sort=1&perpage=15&=

They look nice. Those are new aren't they? Maybe the rumored re-releases with new articualtion...the arms are definatley different.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 24, 2004, 02:55 AM
Ah thse...

Well, that's up in the air, but...  I can safely say those are ALL frankenstein kitbashes 21st did.  They're a mix of BotB Germans (open greatcoat) with the coat removed and non-coat arms on....  Headswaps galore...

Frm what I assume, they're either just lame attempts at filling stuff out at the show, or they're lame prototypes for more infantry figures.  They were talking of doing the 1st Series Infantry over with the new articulation since they have the limbs to do it now...  I hope they at least put some new heads out so othey have removable helmets.

Anyway, since the re-release infantry isn't even on-tap from them, I'm wagering they're just filler because the booth had no figures really.  Or so it seemed.

I'd love head variant and new limbs on the infantry guys though...  Or BotB figures...  Or Paratroopers...  I'd buy those waves all over again with variety if they did it.  Some deco variants would rock.

They seemed to mostly display new planes only at SDCC...  And the couple tanks (the BotB Tiger I).

I want that bubbletop Mustang something feirce.  NICE plane.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 24, 2004, 04:14 AM
Could be, but they did have a sign behind those figures that showed them, don't know if that means anything or what, but maybe. Also, in the para pics, you can see the tops of some prototype Germans. Personaly, I'd jump at the change to get these, since I missed the first wave.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: JediMAC on July 24, 2004, 06:15 AM
Hey Jesse and Andrew -
So here's the scoop on those figures you guys wanted from the 21st Century booth (sorry, no pix  :-[):

They're only available as a set - not individually.  The 4-pack is $25, and comes with a free 21st Century poster.  It's the 3 figures Jesse asked for, plus a "Special Forces" figure.

Andrew, I obviously didn't buy the set for you, since you only asked for one of them.  LMK if you change your mind and want the whole set, otherwise, you're outta luck.

Jess, I went out on a limb with you, and hopefully I didn't screw the pooch here.  But I bought you the set, since it had all 3 of the figures you wanted.  No idea about that fourth one, but they said they couldn't guarantee that they'd have more tomorrow (for me to have time to confirm with you).  So it was $25 for your three, plus the "Special Forces" figure, and a free poster as part of the deal.

I tried to get individual figures, but they wouldn't budge.  So Jess, LMK if that was OK to buy the whole set for you or not.  If not, I'll see if there's any way at all that they might take them back tomorrow...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 24, 2004, 06:05 PM
Yeah Matt, that's cool. I'll just wait till they become more widely available (say in about fifty years) to pick them up.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 25, 2004, 02:13 AM
Totally cool by me Matt.

The Spec. Forces guy may sell actually, or i'll hack him for customs fodder.  I actually OWN the guy already (he was packed in the limtied release that 21st's Humvee saw at the end of their Toys R Us deal).  I got him and he was cool to a point, but his legs are F'n horrible in every way possible (totally hard to explain here).

So the one I get I'll sell or something...  I'm sure smeone will bite.  Or i'll hack him, like I said.  He has a cool, to-scale stocking cap, so maybe one of my customs will have a cold noggin'?

The other 3 are all brand new so I'm all for them...  With the poster, I consider it a fairly balanced transaction.  I owe ya Matt!

LMK when you get back what all I owe.

Talk to you soon, and thank you SO much for taking the time to do that...  Next year I'll have to get you to nag 21st for me to make MORE FREAKING FIGURES ALREADY!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 25, 2004, 02:30 AM
Yes, thanks a TON Matt, you're a king!

So, Jesse, still no news on those 'new' Germans eh?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 25, 2004, 03:58 AM
From what I can tell that's all just kitbashes.  

Someone at Gp's said some of them were early prototypes.  The guy that went to SDCC said that I guess?  They did say they were going to do 1st series infnantry with the new articulation, so perhaps it's just a cheap thing they're gonna do, but not do new heads?  That sucks if that's the case though.  The figures need removable helmets I think.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 27, 2004, 08:58 PM
Well, some updated news...

A chap named "LaughingGravy2" at Ground Pounder's actually worked 21st's booth this year for them.  He does so routinely, and it makes sense he'd done it again this year but everyone forgot.

Anyway, he came back...  And he's being a bit of a pr!ck about his time there, and he's tootally being condescending at GP's site.  

Apparantly volunteering at a toy booth makes you an industry expert in his eyes because he's trashing EVERYONE at GP's site right now for their "Cry baby behavior".  I dunno what his deal is but you'd think 21st cut his checks for him.

Either way, he DID have good information.

The "marching" figures at 21st's booth were ACTUALLY a mock-up of a set of 12 troops and 4 officers in a set using existing figure parts that 21st is going to market as $100 troopo builder sets (about $6.25 a figure then).  Sounds sorta neat, if not pricey.

It would reuse parts I guess?  That's the word from the con anyway.

Also, the 2.5 ton truck's supposedly (take with salt) around the corner.  We've heard this now for how long?  I'd love it to be because I want 2 or 3 of the Dodge, but I dunno how true that actually is.

Apparantly 21st is expressing anger with their consumers through LaughingGravy.  That or he's just really a bitter person.  He's really tearing into pretty much everyone at GP's site, and even Aferguson whoo's a mod and a pretty good guy (level-headed fellow).

I guess anyone with a criticism is now getting an earful over there from LG.  To each their own, but if we all were as complacent we'd still have the small pilots/drivers and craptacular angle-cut articulation of the 1st series, ya know?

It's just like with Hasbro.

Irregardless, that's some news...

Also, BBI had an exclusive figure that NOBODY reported on till the Con was over.  Showing the seemingly biased attitude a lot have towards 21st Century, and against BBI.  Totally crappy that NOBODY said anything about this great little Army figure till today.

It's a 1:18 Army Infantryman in a new camo pattern the U.S. is using?  I'm not personally familiar.  I'll try post images later.

We'll see...  I hope GP's site calms down because LG needs to get a grip, take some pills, and they need to get that site in order.  It has no updates, it has no structure.  There's nothing for 1:18 military collectors beyond that message board anymore.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 27, 2004, 10:21 PM
I noticed that over there Jesse, what a pricko.

That builder set sounds cool, I'm hoping they'll do a US one. Read over the part that this might be a new series. Cool beans. I'm hoping these come out around Christmas or November.

Of course, they could continue that series down the road I would think. Russian, Italian, French, ect. But, that will never happen.

EDIT 2: Can't believe I said "Cool Beans"...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 30, 2004, 05:45 PM
BBI's F-18 pilot appears to be the FIRST new figure to sport their new articulation.

Minor news, but good.

They'er going to basic hinge elbows.  Thank god, because their angle joints suck bad.

The figures just NOW need more separated legs so they look less awkward when standing, and they'll be damn near perfect.

If they'd bring the ball/socket ankle  to ALL figures, that'd be nice too.  They seem to only think it's worthy on figures with pantlegs over the boots though.  Too bad. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 30, 2004, 07:12 PM
Yeah, they look rather odd standing next to say  a 21st figure or even a Star Wars fig.

I'm looking foward to their generic enemey that they supposedly have coming.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 30, 2004, 07:57 PM
Me too.  I'm intrigued by the possible headsculpts.  I'd dig a female too, considering the fodder in this scale's non-existant.

Could be a neat line-up from BBI, and at least you can count on it shipping someday.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 31, 2004, 02:49 AM
 ;D It's really sad because it's true!

I'm actually hoping that we get a more Oriental/European type bad guy. Cobra, to me, is rather bland in that the uniforms are not meancing at all.

Same with the terrorists, I mean, 'Eastern Warriors'.

I want something that looks like a cross between Soviet and German uniforms for a nice look. Heck, make them look like the Imperials for all I care. Just make them 'cool'.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on August 2, 2004, 04:11 PM
Howdy,
I just got into collecting XDs and was wondering if you guys could tell a good site to find series 1 and 2 figures, every site seems to be sold out.  :-\
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 3, 2004, 12:22 AM
Hmmm

I can't say I'm familiar with old 1st series stuff and where it's available, but...

Small Blue Planet
Bad Cat Toys

Those are the two most named stores I can think of so you may find what yu need there.  I hear they show at TRU too sometimes still.

I think Amazon.com may even have some 1st series infantry figures available.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on August 3, 2004, 03:22 AM
TRU in my area has no 21syC figures whatsoever, unless they sold out, and jediraven(my brother) looked at WM for me and said they didn't have anything either.  :'( Looks like I'll have to use online stores.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 3, 2004, 03:53 AM
Justin never mentioned his brother was into 21st figures...  I work with him at FFURG actually.

21st's contract with TRU is dead at this point and they're marketing figures thrugh E-tailers.  TRU's still sometimes have old stock thugh, but nothing one can **** on.

At GP's site, you may be able to barter with smeone for figures.  I've thought of selling off my 1st series collection since I dn't even have teh room to display them anymore.  Only figures though as they're pretty much all I had and the few vehicles I had I wanted to keep.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on August 3, 2004, 01:45 PM
Justin never mentioned his brother was into 21st figures...  I work with him at FFURG actually.
At GP's site, you may be able to barter with smeone for figures.  I've thought of selling off my 1st series collection since I dn't even have teh room to display them anymore.  Only figures though as they're pretty much all I had and the few vehicles I had I wanted to keep.


Yeah I just started getting into them about a week ago, I'll check GP's, thanks.  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 3, 2004, 04:02 PM
Cruise the trade area.  It's your best bet I think.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on August 3, 2004, 10:46 PM
Do you happen to know if Patton's command car is rare? Turns out TRU had something but just 2 of those. LOL
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 4, 2004, 01:41 AM
No, it wasn't rare.  It was actually tremendously overpriced at $25.  It sat and sat even long after the deal with TRU fell through.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 9, 2004, 04:04 AM
(http://photobucket.com/albums/v434/Furious-George/th_1-18Playset.jpg)

Proving once again that even knock-off 1:18 scale military toy companies have more sense than Hasbro...

This is a neat little playset that retails for $15, has 4 remvable helmet figures, and I think 150+ pieces total or some such (I have one on the way, I'll pimp it when I get it).

The company's small and does knock-offs.

Imagine this format/concept in Star Wars terms?

Interlocking Hoth sets like Trench pieces, gun towers, or even cave halls and such?

Interlocking Death Star sets?  Maybe even stackable like we've seen in the Diorama section of our site?

Interlocking Bespin Set?

Interlocking Jabba's Palace or Cantina?

Interlocking Theed set?

Interlocking Coruscant set?

If this is what a knock-off company can do, Hasbro can do better still.  I'd love any of the above if Hasbro took this idea and made it quality.  

Oh well.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 9, 2004, 06:50 AM
That's the ever sparkle playset, isn't it?

I look foward to a review when you get it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 9, 2004, 07:52 PM
Yup.  I'm hearing good things about the set.  Like accurate sidearms, .50 cal machine guns with tri-pods (hotly needed in this scale), mortars, a bazooka with rockets, etc...

Even has tables I think?

And the figures aren't bad either.  A ntch below PTE in overall articulation (not hard to do considering PTE's figures have like 20 points of articulation each), but they have removable helmets.

I have heard the helmets kinda suck.  We'll see.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 9, 2004, 10:26 PM
Yeah, the more tripods and mortars the better, befour I started to pack up my rebs for the move, I had started to make a heavy ammo squad. Here's hoping this is good enough to pick up, eh?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on August 13, 2004, 10:21 PM
Hey, is $60 a good price for an original Panther tank? I can't seem to even find them for sale, and also is $65 decent for the original Tiger tank?

Thanks
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 14, 2004, 12:48 AM
I couldn't really tell you fair prices.

I tried selling my Panther one time and had no buyers, ya know?  I'd likely sell it for $60 though...  It's a cool tank, but I don't even have it displayed anymore.

The Tiger was REALLY widely available, and there's repaints supposedly coming (WInter one anyway) so I'd hold off on buying that one myself. 

It's a nice tank thugh.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on August 14, 2004, 02:02 AM
K, thanks for the help. I'll just wait and snipe the auction.  ;D
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 14, 2004, 06:42 AM
The Panther is the one with the detailed interior, right?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: jokabofe on August 14, 2004, 04:48 PM
(http://photobucket.com/albums/v434/Furious-George/th_1-18Playset.jpg)

Proving once again that even knock-off 1:18 scale military toy companies have more sense than Hasbro...

This is a neat little playset that retails for $15, has 4 remvable helmet figures, and I think 150+ pieces total or some such (I have one on the way, I'll pimp it when I get it).

The company's small and does knock-offs.

Imagine this format/concept in Star Wars terms?

Interlocking Hoth sets like Trench pieces, gun towers, or even cave halls and such?

Interlocking Death Star sets?  Maybe even stackable like we've seen in the Diorama section of our site?

Interlocking Bespin Set?

Interlocking Jabba's Palace or Cantina?

Interlocking Theed set?

Interlocking Coruscant set?

If this is what a knock-off company can do, Hasbro can do better still.  I'd love any of the above if Hasbro took this idea and made it quality.  

Oh well.

i wouldn't hold my breath for hasbro to make anything like that for the star wars line. it would be awesome if they did, but then it would probably be closer to like $60 for those pieces and 4 figures, not $15.

what we need to have happen is for some small company to come out and make some bootleg stuff like this for star wars. then it would probably be cool, and cheap, and we'd all be happy.

 ;D
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 15, 2004, 03:10 AM
Oh Dave, I'd KILL for bootleg Star Wars in the U.S. that was half as nice as stuff like this.  It just is dangerous water for a company to tread.

With militaria, they can copy without trampling on toes, so long as they don't directly copy licensed material, like plane names, vehicle names, historical character names, etc...  Like 21st has the license to reproduce Gen. George Patton, which was rather expensive.  As well as a license to repro Dodge products frm the war.  I guess BBI has the rights to "Humvee" though.

Contrary to popular belief, these little licenses cost TONS to these small toy companies, and have much less/shorter earning potential than Star Wars does to Hasbro.  In the end they're equally expensive, if not more so, but the companies shell out big bucks for them.

Plane names, squadron insignia, and I guess noseart are also all copywritten materials as well.  I learned a lot from my long discussions with some of these companies over the years.  They give you some really good insight into the industry that Hasbro rarely ever shares, and they give it to you from a truly costly perspective due to their size.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 16, 2004, 11:31 PM
Some less than stellar reviews coming in on the "Modern Troops" exclusive SDCC 4-pack.  Not to worry Matt, I'm still happy to get them when they arrive! :)

BTW I'm gonna pay you...  Honest.   :-*  :-\

The whole wave, from what I'm hearing, is underwhelming in sculpt...  Articulation lacking on some.  I can first-hand confirm that the U.S. Spec. Forces guy (Donned in a kind of "Hunting Bin Laden" digs) does NOT have nice leg sculpt, or articulation.  It's like his articulation's too low...  Very strange.

That figure, at least, isn't one of their better sculpts, and from what I can see one of the Afghani guys looks similar.

The Royal Marine and other Afghani I'm hoping for good things on.  We'll see when I get ahold ofo them.

Evilchuk at GP's was giving a little review, and mentioning he has a lot of Eversparkle's interlocking playset.  Wonder what he thinks of those though?  I got one of those n the way too as I've noted.  Should be good news on that at least.

I'm still happy to get at least 2 half-decent looking figures from that modern set, including a freakin' middle-eastern guy.  I mean, if you asked me last year if we'd ever see Iraqi's or Afghani's, or a militant muslim looking guy I'd have said never in a million years.  Now look...  Go figure. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 17, 2004, 06:06 PM
Harley Euler's package arrived to me today...  The modular playset's pretty cool!

I'll do a bit more of a review when I can get it built.

Accessories are a mix of cool and "eh".  Figures are kinda poor but th e headsclupts (3 unique out of EIGHT, yes 8 figures).  A nice generic black guy, white guy, and older white guy with mustache.

I got Matt's SDCC package today too.  Haven't opened the modern figure set just yet...  Kinda hesitant to even.  These were limited editions and Matt got me like #64...  That's freakin' LOW.  I'm impressed.

Great day all around...  More when I get some time.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 17, 2004, 06:26 PM
Sound good Jesse.

On another note, PTE's website is showing some nice dio fodder, even a nice command base.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 18, 2004, 06:27 PM
OK, well, here's my take on things:

21st Cent. Modern Figures

First, the sculpts on these figures are a mix of really detailed/nicely done, all the way down to what I can only categorize as some of the sloppiest work 21st's done ever.

The figures sport "skirt pieces", which are all nice and these are the first 21st figures to do so other than the Battle of the Bulge, but they're not "opened" at the sides or center to allow greater range of motion like the BotB figures are.

The headsculpts are very animated on the two Afghani looking guys.  That's a shame because the one with a little Afghani hat has a removable hat and would be a goood army builder if he didn't have the animated face.

The British guy looks the best to me personally.  Best articulation, sculpt, and overall quality.

The Spec. Forces, again, I can confirm sucks in every way except his arm articulation and hat.  Very  poor figure really.

The weapons in all the packages are bent horribly.  It appears someone at 21st must moonlight at Hasbro on this.  The plastic's cheap looking, feeling, and it has ruined the weapons (a shame since they're all  new). 

The U.S. and British fellow have removable stocking caps, which is cool...  And one Eastern Warrior has a removable hat that is commonly seen worn by the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Very cool!

In short, had the head sculpts, leg articulation (both style and sculpt) and weapons been better, these figures would all be winners.  Had they been changed in these ways, they'd be as good as the BotB figures actually.

Eversparkle Playset (Eversparkle's such a truly stupid name)

In short, for $15 you really can't ask for a ton more.  :)

You get 8 figures with 4 unique headsculpts (2 unique black men...  One seemingly older than the other, and 2 unique white men, one younger and one with a mustache and seemingly older), which while they're not BBI or 21st level of detail they're good generic headsculpts.  Customs Ahoy!

There's a plethora of gear, and it's all relatively undetailed though passable.  Especially the tri-pod machine guns and mortar.  The mortar's actually having poseable bases and bi-pod legs.  Very realistic. 

There's 3 sizes of crates and boxes which have removable lids and fit some of the ordinance inside.  Very cool.  Detailed and would look good with a paintjob.

Lots of the other little gear pieces like grenades, pistols, binoculars, clips, pouches, etc., are all molded with a peg on them like 21st figure's gear is, with the intent of it fitting on a figure's holes on their belt area/legs.  Their tiny accessries are kind of disappointing.

There's knee pads and nightvision goggles that have working straps, but they're a pain to get on and awkward when you do.  Far inferior to BBI's efforts in this area.

There's a 3-piece brick wall that frm the front looks neat, but from the back is "hollow" so it is a tad disappointing.  I'm thinking of filling the back in with epoxy and giving it a good paintjob.  It'll shine then!

There's stacks of sandbags that are similar in nature to the wall, and disappointing looking from the back.

There's 2 3-piece tables you build and they look nice within the building.  Again, a paintjob is needed.

There are 2 rocket launchers that look like German Panzeerschrek's, and they come with 4 long missles for them which look neat.  Not the greatest rocket launcher, but the rockets make a  neat modern accessory.  BTW the mortars (there's 2) have little mortar shells too!

There are 2 nice M-16 rifles, 2 rifles I can't identify, and 2 sniper rifles with molded-on bi-pods.  The sniper rifles are very nice and I'm replacing my BBI rifles with these.

The M-16's will flesh out some army builder BBI figures too.

The playset itself is really great.

If you have mutliples of these sets, you really are only limited by the # of pieces you have from the # of sets you have.  There's several different wall sculpts, colors, and "styles" included. 

The floors interlock nicely, and there's a pin piece that fills out an open locking hole on the floors.  Tough to explain, but it's neat.  The pins are in short supply though.  Really they should include twice the # of those that they give  you.

The pieces all go together nicely, and you can ALSO stack upward so if you're ambitious and wanted to make a large office building, all you need to do is buy lots of sets.

I've found one simply isn't enough myself...  I'm buying at least two more at some point.  I figure I can spare $30 for that.

So, in the end I'm pretty pleased.

Again, as with all the parts, the playset could use paint.  There's nice detail in the walls, and while they're a little "thin" they're nice.  I think there's sci-fi and military potential there, and with the right paint they can look good in multiple settings (Africa, Europe, possibly the pacific).

The problem with having one set is the # of different walls tend to contrast some.  That's not good, so you really may want mre just for consistency.  I'd love t contact Eversparkle and just get MORE of a SINGLE piece or couple pieces rather than buy a whole set.

Honestly I'd buy a box of just the playset pieces than the accessories and figures.

$5 or $10 would go far with that.

My opinion, nab it.  I'm nabbing at least 2 at some point, maybe more.  It's a great item...  Little toyish when completed, but I'm thinking paint and some fixing up will help it immensely.

The tabs that interlock will be the biggest eyesore.  No biggie there to me personally, and if I was making permanent buildings I'd even shave them off and cover them with some epoxy that's sanded flush or smething.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on August 20, 2004, 04:08 PM
Well I have all series 1 and 2 and gonna start on tanks, can't find any Shermans anywhere, even vehicles besides Patton's crap car. Stupid local retailers suck.  :'(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 20, 2004, 09:34 PM
Beyond Wal-Mart, you wono't find much.

The only items I hear of at TRU's are sporatic (very sporatic) sightings of old stock that was lost in the back room, Command Cars, Battle ofo the Bulge Jeeps (which I believe are all gone), the odd airplane showing up in a return or the stockroom, and clearance playsets.

Oh, and the Walker Bulldog tank I think it is, which wasn't evne used in WW2 I believe but has a WW2 tanker.

Beyond that TRu is all BBI stuff.

Most Wal-Mart stores here have Sherman Tanks in Winter White...  There's also Cobra choppers, P-47's sometimes, and P-40 Warhawk planes, and Huey's in Air American deco.

Not a lot...  But some out there. 

Battle of the Bulge figures are available online...  So are the single-carded pilots.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 29, 2004, 08:11 PM
A bit of an update...

If you g uys are looking for deals, get thee to TRU now.

Select BBI stuff's 50% off, as is most of the left-over 21st Century Product like Command Cars.  I'd take a Command Car or two or three for $12.  LAV's, dirtbikes, and Buggy's are all clearanced for BBI. 

I wish the helo's would...  They're about all that's left here.

Playsets from 21st are 50% off now too, so Fountain's are $10 about.  Not bad at that price.

If anyone has a wide selection available at THEIR TRU, by all means give me a hollar because mine are all cleared out.  I'd like to nab some stuff if someone's willing to help though,  namely a Command Car or two, and an LAV or two.

Just give me a hollar!

JJ
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 2, 2004, 02:07 AM
Well, tonight I opened the modern military figures set that was a SDCC exclusive.

The set   includes:

-1 Royal Marine
-1 U.S. Special Forces Soldier
-1 "Eastern Warrior" with RPG
-1 "Eastern Warrior" with what I think is a Dragunov Machine Gun (The U.S.'s .60 Cal. equivalent?)

Anyway...

-The Eastern Warriors are BOTH surprisingly better than they were given credit for.  The one in blue with a Turban and the RPG is actually nicely sculpted, though I hate his "screaming" face sculpt.  It's horrible.  The articulation at his legs is limited in that he has no shoe-top articulation like 99% of the line has.  For some reason 21st is all over the board on these modern figures as far as articulation goes.  They dropped the ball.

The 2nd Eastern Warrior with the Machine Gun has a bandoleir of bullets, a clip-on ammo can to his gun, a removable hat...  Very cool.  His outfit required a molded skirt-piece as well extending his camo jacket and ethnic garb.  His hat is the classic Pakistani/Afghanistan hat...  It's like a bowl with no brim.  His head sculpt's much better.

Neither figure has movable shoes/feet unfortunately, and the guy with the hat has a weird  sculpt on his legs where they're shorter than they should be, so his knee almost seems lower than it should be.  It actually works out, but this same feature is a flaw on the U.S. Spec. Forces guy.

By and by, these 2 are nice.  I'd actually take head variants of them to tell you the truth.  More neutral heads would be nice.  And one other thing...  RUBBERY WEAPONS SUCK.  21st went cheapo like Hasbro on their weapons.  I'm having a bitch of a time straightening the Dragunov and RPG out, which were horribly bent several directions. 

Crappy 21st, crappy.

-The U.S. Spec. Forces guy sucks...  He's so bad I didn't even open him since I had one that came with the Humvee.  His legs have that stubbiness to them, but to a much worse extent and they're VERY noticeable.  His foot articulation's nixed as well, and again his weapon's very flimsy. 

The Spec. Forces guy has one redeeming feature, his removable stocking cap which is neat.  If he had a better lower half, he'd be quite decent really, though his headsculpt is pretty ****-tacular in comparison to the rest of the modern 4-pack figures really.

-The Royal Marine takes the cake as crappiest of the lot.  Boy did my opinion do a 180 on this one from its in the package perspective, and this is exactly why you should hold final judgment till you get it in your hands.

Crappiest of 21st's efforts to date, short of the mini figures with the vehicles actually.

Beyond his SAW being bent horribly, and his feet being terribly awkwardly posed for no reason, and his skirt piece for his jacket being so rigid you can't move the legs, 21st removed one of the most important aspects of their figures, the articulation at his bicept that actually allows a figure to hold a rifle.

Yes, 21st, the king of articulation, cut articulation at the bicep on this figure so he basically can't even hold his heavy support weapon.  A weapon nobody could fire one-handed even if they were Rambo...  Well, Rambo could but nobody could do it accurately, ever, even old Sly Stallone.

I mean, what an utter crock of ****.

The Marine des have a nice sculpt...  Probably the nicest of the bunch, and a great deco too.  Give me this guy with proper articulation and a pliable skirt piece and a rigid weapon, and I'd buy a dozen to make a squad and do some headswaps.  They're not bad really overall other than that damn bicep articulation.

So, my overall opinion...

Well, first I gotta thank Matt (JediMAC) again for nabbing them for me, but as far as how I feel...  I like the Eastern guys, and gimme maybe a handful more because they're neat enemies even though 21st is marketing them as CIA trained allies (Shrewd move 21st, but smart).  The other two guys suck though unfortunately.

The 5th Modern figure, if you're wondering, is the current pack-in pilot with the choppers out there...  He's in the versions of the cobra helicopter floating around Wal-Mart stores, which are easy to find here so they're likely easy to find everywhere.

He's a CIA operative in a ballcap with sunglasses.  I do not have him as I don't own a chopper (odd pack-in figure considering he's not a pilot but whatever), but I've heard nothing good on him.

Weird that 21st goes balls to the wall on what, for all intents and purposes, is supposed to be a hated enemy for your guys, and the Coalition troops flat out blow.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 9, 2004, 08:58 PM
A neat score at the local TRU last night...

Someone bought the BBI Apache Helicopter and returned it because, I am assuming here, they broke the one pack-in pilot.  One of them has his arm glued at the bicep (in a relatively straight pose), so I'm assuming they were twisting the joints and broke it.  I know the wrist joints on both pilot pack-ins were tight.

So anyway, the box is resealed and the contents are just thrown in.  They're rattling all around.  Low and behold the price is $9.90.  A $40, to-scale, amazingly detailed chopper for $10.50 after tax.

One busted pilot's nothing for that price, so I bought it...  I wasn't sure it was complete actually, but I figured even if not then I'd just make a custom downed Apache diorama.  I could sorta finegal that.

Low and behold the chopper's complete and in pristine shape though.  $10.50 got me my Apache with one pilot that has a non-functioning left arm at the elbow.  Yippee!  :)  I'll take that thank ya!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on September 9, 2004, 10:28 PM
Saw that at GP's, great score! I suppose that's a late birthday suprise, huh?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 10, 2004, 06:22 PM
Yup, but bought it myself...  Dunno how much of a "gift" that is I guess. :)

On another awesomely bright military toys note, I got a clearanced Bradley today from a really kick-ass nice guy at GP's.  I didn't recognize the nic there actually, and I'm always hesitant to do business with people I don't know especially because at GP's they don't monitor the trading/selling whatsoever, and there's been some serious sheister's there as well as people just trying to jack prices up and make a buck.

I mean, a dude offered me a BotB jeep not long ago for like $35 before shipping.  I damn near told him off.  It's a shame GP's doesn' thave a solid collecting code and tight-knit community like we have here.

But I digress...

Anyway this dude got me a Bradley for $25-ish shipped (I believe it was less actually).

How kick ass is that?  SHIPPED, and I'm talking 2-day with confirmation.  I owe him big now...  He went above and beyond.  Even overpacked it really.  haha

Sometimes ya just win out I guess.  I'm gonna see if he customizes and offer headcasts or something as a thank you.  I owe him that much. 

Now if I could get a 2nd Bradley to take apart and actually cast a lot of the pieces.  The hatch covers and stuff rock all get-out.  I'm thinkin' Star Wars custom if I could get a 2nd one that cheap, haha.

PS: The modern tanker, if anyone's curious, sucks bigtime.  Terrible figure, and no bicep articulation like the Royal Marine.  I don't get 21st's modern figures....  They are just atrocious.  This company's weakest offering ever, without a shadow of a doubt.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on September 10, 2004, 07:15 PM
Now see, I got the Bradley when it first came out. I take it you no longer have the hippie piloting it?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 10, 2004, 11:03 PM
It came with a modern dude...  It's a modern paintjob though, so I'm assuming the original came with the one Nam guy with the peace symbol necklace?

I never saw the first one I don't believe...  The new one's got a tan/grey camo that I'm not sure if it's legit Army or if it's a NATO scheme or something.

New one's neat, and cast in steel like the Winter Sherman was, so it's pretty unique.

Apparantly the Tiger's shipping to Wal-Mart right now (I've heard both an original grey pattern and winter deco) and they too are cast in steel.

Honestly, if it's not changing costs (IE: we can't get it cheaper as plastic) then I'm all for this die-cast stuff.  Feels much more "tank" to me.  Really neat.

I want a winter Tiger now!

Anyway...

Tonight extended the good fortune.  I got 2 Fountain's for $10 each at TRU, and I got the LAST LAV they had for $16-ish.

Not a bad haul at TRU then tonight...  I have to say that for $10 the fountain's suddenly a prime piece.  If this had been $10 or $15 in the first place I may have bought one ages ago.  Thankfully I never got one because the store has about 10 (well, 8 now), and they aren't flying off the shelves exactly.

It's a nice piece, but not $30 nice like they wanted originally.

$20 was too high too, but $10 sure as hell felt right, especially since the removable helmet German Infantry dude's packed in there too.  :P

I'm pretty happy.  Dunno why I bought two Fountain's, but I think I know a use for the 2nd one. 

I guess other people's TRU's have tons of other stuff though...  I've heard that there's a lotta Patton Cars, even old tanks and stuff, but mine is now cleared out of most all 21st product except fountain's and I think 2 of the weird era tanks (The Walker Bulldog or the other one...  The tanks that didn't really have an era to fit in, ya know?  I think the other was a Chaffee perhaps?).
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on September 12, 2004, 02:40 PM
I got 2 questions.

1. Are they making an Me-262? (there is a picture of it on GP's)

2. Would Hobby Town USA carry 21st Century stuff??
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 12, 2004, 03:34 PM
One was pictured, dunno what came of it or if it's due this year or next...  With 21st stuff you really can't gauge when it's coming. 

They're piss poor about accurate street dates.  What's worse is you never even know if you'll even see one in your area, or if you'll be relegated to going online for it.

As far as HTUSA carrying this stuff, some do and some don't...  Mine doesn't for instance, but I've heard others have extensive selection at good/fair prices.  Even figures.

Hit or miss...  I've not been to my HTUSA in probably 3 months or so, so I can't even say mine DOESN'T carry these still.  They may now.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 20, 2004, 04:21 PM
I've now gotten two Bradley's, and LAV, two Fountains, and that's about it...  Just recently though, and all great stuff for real cheap.

The Bradley's I had help with from a friend at GP's site...

Now to get some playset extras...  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on September 20, 2004, 06:06 PM
I've now gotten two Bradley's, and LAV, two Fountains, and that's about it...  Just recently though, and all great stuff for real cheap.

The Bradley's I had help with from a friend at GP's site...

Now to get some playset extras...  :)


So is the fountain anything great, or the german figure? My TRU has a bin filled with them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 21, 2004, 01:31 AM
For $10 it's neat.  If you've got figures for around it, it's really quite a nice display piece.  The pack-in is ok.  He has a removable helmet...  Can't argue with that.  They did a U.S. and German Infantry with removable helmet, but they rarely packed the U.S. in.

Most U.S. pack-ins were actually U.S. officers with glued on helmets. 

They're a good set, but I waited for $10 before buying ANY.  $5 for a big fountain and $5 for a figure.  That's better than retail when you break it down.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 30, 2004, 11:52 PM
I picked up.....

1 BBI Chopper pilot (green blackhawk pilot)
1 of each of the new accessory sets.

The new weapons packs are cool, and have tons of heavy weapons.  LAW rockets are what I think the one thing is at least, and there's a LAW thing that's on a 2-handled control/sight thing.  I saw it on the history channel once (I think on Q&A) and it is a computer sighted LAW rocket?

Cool stuff, and customizeable for Star Wars if you're creative (wink wink!).

Lots of rocket launchers, a 3-piece morta that's neat, some extras of the pistols an M-16 with grenade launcher, the SWAT figure's sniper rifle (not sure of its make), etc.

They're pretty great sets, so keep your eyes open...  I wish they'd do some weapons from other countries though.  ::)  RPG's, AK's, Dragunov's, and such.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on October 1, 2004, 04:33 PM
Is this a prototype or what is it??


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27294&item=5924147331&rd=1
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 2, 2004, 05:31 PM
I don't know...  It' sprobably the 1:6 Radio Controlled Stuart which never showed up in my area, but it's a big honking RC tank.  Supposedly LOTS of fun.

That's my only guess on it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 4, 2004, 02:11 AM
Bad news for the scale military toy world...

GP's site:

http://www.gpxd.com/Index.htm

is gonna be no more after a little while...  There's some brainstorming going on at his forum on a fix for this, and honestly this could be a HUGE chance for a cohesive group of guys to get together and make a ROUTINELY updated news site ala our very own JediDefender that brings you the best news first from companies like BBI, 21st, Power Team Elite, or even G.I. Joe and other brands...

Unfortunately, I dunno that such an enterprise will work...  I don't know how to make sites, or i'd single-handedl have thrown it together right now as a way of having an immediate change of power.

The guys at GP's are dedicated, even if I can't say I agree with them or their opinions all the time, and it's a shame GP's is gonna close shop.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 11, 2004, 10:08 PM
With GP's closing, a member there by the name of "P-51", came up with a new forum, and I'd say a much superior one at that.

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/

This is the new forum replacing GP's old one though when he finally closes up shop in the coming month(s) or whatever.

And on a bright note for me:

1) BBI's released photos of their first foray into WW2 1:18.  They put up shots of a 1:18 Sherman tank they've been working on...

Now, the question is whether or not they'll have figures accompanying the vehicles.  Pack-ins or even carded.  I'm really anxious to see them possibly stepping into the WW2 market that 21st Century is too lazy to get off their asses and fill with product.

BBI's not perfect, but they at least get product to the shelf, and that's 100% more than 21st does.

2) I've found "new" BBI figures recently.  The guys with berets previewed at Toy Fair (and who've been out around the country for months and months now) just now showed up at Toys R Us stores in my neck of the woods. 

I also was able to get some of the blackhawk pilot/crew figures.  There's a white guy in green and a black guy in tan available.  The black guy's packed in with the new "spec. Forces" guys with the berets...  The white guy is packed in with Navy Seal repacks.

The guys with berets all have new weapons, nicer cammo paintjobs (IMO), and their limbs are MUCH sturdier unlike the first Marines that their bodies are copies of.  Their limbs stay together, but those USMC figures fell apart with every far cross-wise.

The Spec. Forces guys are direct copies of the Marines though, and don't sport any new headsculpts, so just beware that you're buying basically the same grunts with new guns.  I got the sniper (in tan) and a "Support gunner" with a weapon I personally can't identify and a stinger missle.

They're cool, they're superior to the Marines, so I may even buy more at some point, but till BBI fixes their figure construction overall, they're not as cool as I'd like.

It's nice to have something new to buy though, and they're "nice enough" to me.

Unfortunately I turned up no new Star Wars figures.  There's nothing here and it's starting to piss me off that something I want to buy is just nowhere to be found at this point.  Retail and Hasbro are both ******** in my book...  Hasbro for their horrible case assortments and the fact they are the ones that make e-tail a "hit or miss" thing, and then Retailers for pressuring Hasbro on ****** case assortments and for not restocking when their brain-dead purchasers don't know squat about their product they're buying, overorder, and then treat the line like it's contageous then.

May you all burn in hell...

Yeah that's a little strong, but I just wasted a lotta gas for a lotta nothing.  Buncha dorks.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 17, 2004, 03:11 PM
And BBI comes outta left field again with their often rumored P-51 Mustang...  Yes, they have their own version, and have debuted it, and it's a doozey.  Judging by the pic, it's everything 21st's have been and then some.

On their Sherman, people have noted it's a different type as the barrel is bigger.  It's a larger gunned Sherman, so that's enticing people who already own the 21st Sherman to pick this one up that has more firepower as well.  :)  Make a neat little column then I guess.

I'll get one if it's as good or better than 21st's winter BotB Sherman.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on October 20, 2004, 10:04 PM
!

I do think I've just died...not only do the BBi figures from WW2 look amazing, it appears we'll be treated to a Futuristic line aswell. I hope these Star Wars hybreds are just mock ups, because they're just to dang obvious. Although, if they end up like this, I'd be happy for the diorama filler.
Plus, that new tank kicks ass!

All in all: GREAT JOB BBi

!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 21, 2004, 02:12 AM
Not just BBI, but 21st...  They've got a bit coming out including a Stug.  NEW ARMOR!  YES!

:)

And those Marines and "Army Builder" sets just kick ass.

Here's the 21st page of images from Figures.com:

http://69.93.119.2/photo/1/showgallery.php?cat=1823&page=1&sort=1&perpage=15&=

Here's BBI's, which if you ask me BBI had the best showing.  I love 21st, but it's gonna take a while to see that Stug, the truck, the Marines, or anything...  BBI actually releases stuff, ya know?  So here we go!:

http://69.93.119.2/photo/1/showgallery.php?cat=1817

Both companies coming out swinging, but BBI just threw a 1-2 Punch that 21st's lost some teeth on.  They need to get their **** together to get back in the game on any competitive level.  I LOVE their figures, but they gotta RELEASE figures for me to support them...  Armor's a step forward, but I can only buy planes so much before I'm sick of it.

I need tanks, jeeps, trucks, Kubel's, artillery, and most of all I need figures... 

BBI's figures look great, but I'm not sure on those sci-fi kitbashes with SW figures.  They're weird, and I'm hoping they're just rough prototypes (real rough) and not figures or an off-shoot line they're trying out.  I dunno.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 26, 2004, 12:41 AM
And this news goes further in that BBI's "SW" cobbled together figures are a push of a futuristic military toy line (confirmed via Figures.com).  Dunno what the final product would look like, but it could be a neat complement to people's Cantina dioramas, or Mos Eisly/Espa streets or something.

Good filler figures.

And the other news is 21st's got a possible 1:18 medeival line coming (COOOL), and possible lines for films like Platoon, Bridge Too Far, and an upcoming film they definitely have likeness rights to called "Sahara".

Sculpts of Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and the dude that played Green Goblin (Name escapes me) were seen as well, so it's a certainty they have the rights to Platoon...  Bridge too Far just had Airborne figures strewn about as a display.

Nonetheless, customizers rejoice at the notion of making a scarred Tom Berenger Imperial Officer or Rebel Fleet Trooper (Sergeant!). 

I'm giddy folks!  This is good stuff on ALL levels here.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Bob Crane on October 29, 2004, 07:22 PM
Here's a question; perhaps one of you gentlemen may be of help?
 I got the 1/18 FW D9, but it’s missing the screws to affix the wings, can anyone tell me the size and type? Most probably all the planes use the same screws but I can’t be sure.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 30, 2004, 02:55 AM
Honestly, if I'd ever even SEEN a FW I'd be able to help you Bob, but that plane NEVER saw the light of day in Pittsburgh.  At least not so far anyway.

Hell, I just got a D-Day Spitfire from SMB because they put them on sale ($35 guys, that's a damn good price).  Another plane I was die-hard wanting (even as a non-plane guy) and another one that didn't show up here.

I'd say it's likely the screws are all the same size, so if there's others on the plane you may do well to unscrew one and get a couple copies of it.

Contacting 21st MIGHT yield good luck too.  They're surprisingly good with the public.  Could try anyway.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Bob Crane on October 30, 2004, 03:41 AM
Thanks, I'll try contacting them about it.
That line is pretty scarce around these parts as well, and extremely expensive- the price of a tank at Toys R Us is over $90 cnd. (with tax)…cheaper to buy online even after the shipping cost.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on October 30, 2004, 03:38 PM
Hey Jesse what kinda stuff you got up there? We got nothing but Langley's, Flying Tigers, both versions of FW-190's, a bunch of winter Tigers and Bradleys.

If you need any of that stuff maybe I could have my brother help me work out a trade?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 30, 2004, 04:29 PM
around here it's slim pickings. 

Few planes remain at all.  The odd P-40 here and there, and that's it for planes.  Winter Shermans are in abundance, and the grey Tiger's out and about.

Beyond that, I really see nothing of interest.  I'd looked for a winter Tiger...  I've even heard people find them on sale already which I'd kill for one for cheap (I have a grey plastic original version, but would love a steel winter white one). 

The FW I'd buy if I found it, especially if it was cheap, but I haven't seen one up here.

With shipping, big items like those can be costly to get from out of state...  if you guys find the Winter Tiger or FW on sale, let me know.  I should talk to Justin at some point soon...  If I can get to FFURG chat some time anyway.

Are you finding them full price or cheaper generally?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Ghidorah on October 30, 2004, 04:35 PM
They are full price but I wouldn't mind a winter Sherman because the one he got me for Christmas (the original one) is missing a bunch of parts. But yeah I wouldn't mind making a trade. And do they have any RAF P-40's up there?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 31, 2004, 03:19 AM
Can't say I'm wanting to do a trade right now.  Too expensive...  I'm biding my time on all these.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 2, 2004, 04:07 AM
By all means, drool...

Before your eyes, witness the raising of the bar in 1:18 aircraft, as BBI sets benchmarks that every company must now live up to.

Hasbro, take notes, because your vehicles suck the sweat from a dead man in comparison to this thing of beauty.

By the way, Hasbro's pack-ins now officially wreak of "cheap" when compared to this plane's figure which not only sports super articulation, but removable officer's cap, leather flying cap, goggles, and oxygen mask.

Hasbro gives us what?  An underscaled , rehashed Y-Wing with cheaply kitbashed figure for $30 when BBI gives us this to-scale, brand-new sculpt, intricately detailed/sculpted, intricated decoed, licensed (for the noseart/designation), amazingly accurate plane with tons of separate and moving/functioning parts, as well as a pilot pack-in with tons of accessories and articulation.  And they give us that for $15 - $20 more.

Feeling ripped off by the "Big H" yet? 

(http://store1.yimg.com/I/badcattoys_1818_6422050)

That...

Is...

Incredible.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Mikey D on November 3, 2004, 07:37 AM
Wait a minute, John Madden won't fly on commerical planes instead opting to drive around the country on the Outback bus, but he can fly multi million fighter jets?

Seriously, pretty cool stuff.  I've admired these at my trips to TRU.  Definitely a lot for your buck.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 17, 2004, 03:09 AM
Word on the street is that the BBI Shermans have shipped and are arriving.

Good news to me, I just hope the figures are a short distance behind.

WW2's sorely missing mucho figures at this point.  BBI could be
the 1:18 salvation.  Even if they have to market enemies online
only at this point.

If they did, I'd be all over some enemy modern, enemy WW2, enemy
Nam, etc....  Any non-PC Enemy from any era actually.  It would open
up the door for some of the enemies that weren't even touchable
before the pressure to drop all German product on TRU.  Stuff like
Waffen SS, honor guards, or even specific characters like a
Rommell figure.  Be a nice compliment to 21st's Patton figures.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on November 17, 2004, 07:12 AM
Got the BBi F-18 saturday, and this plane rules. Not only is it huge, it's very fun to play with. AT-ATs, Republic Gunships, and Imperial Shuttles all pale in comparison to the size of this thing.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 18, 2004, 12:29 AM
Nice man...

The jets are friggin' HUGE I hear.  Definitely a put down to anything Hasbro
has offered up IMO.  Giant, and definitely worth their price.  Most I've seen them
ring up around is $80 or so, and that's online.  I hear they're cheaper
at TRU stores.

Not that I've seen one at a TRU, but I digress.
 
I'd like to nab one...  Something in a general paintjob...  Nothing special
like the blue angels or the fictional black jet I hear is shipping.

I only want one jet though.  I can't go overboard on those.  I can't afford the $
or space for all the WW2 planes I've got, much less modern stuff which dwarfs
the old planes.  :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Famine on November 18, 2004, 02:59 PM
I don't know if it's a 21st Century Toy, but I was at Wal*Mart last night, and there was a floor display with this MASSIVE fully working acurate RC Tank. And when I say massive, this isn't your little RC car. This was...I'd say as tall as a standard computer tower, and as long as a smaller bycicle.

I'm thinking about asking for one for Christmas. 189.99 I think it was.

Kevin
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on November 18, 2004, 04:17 PM
Yeah that's 21st Century, under the Motorworks logo.

JJ, I got the plane at TRU, and there were about 6 left so if SC got em...well then PA got beat by a state where the average IQ is 90.  :-X
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 18, 2004, 05:02 PM
9 chances out of 10 the NE is always last to get anything.  I think it's all the pot
hole filled roads myself.  Truckers don't wanna come up.

The tank you speak of Famine is the 1:6 scale Stuart tank.

It's made for the 12" action figures by 21st...  I'd like one myself.

21st had a little video of it set to music on their site, and the thing is
really incredible.  Going up steep hills, turret moving.  Looked like a blast.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 5, 2004, 09:30 PM
Power Team Elite has some things available on KBToys.com of interest.

Includes a look-out tower, their command base, and their littlebird.  Not sure if anyone's into these.  They're nice items.

Little talk going on in the genre otherwise right now which is sorta sucky.  Things were rumored, and right now nothing.  I'm hoping 21st comes through with what they are claiming but you'd think X-Mas would be a time to push some.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 15, 2004, 12:51 AM
Power Team Elite's got some weird stuff hitting overseas right now...

Firemen (seems like removable head gear too), "adventurers" like kayakers, mountain climbers, divers, arctic explorers and other junk...

Kinda neat really.  Their playsets are out too I guess.

Pretty good stuff overall...  PTE's some notches below 21st or BBI, but their accessories generally are "neat" for the most part and they're uber cheap too.

Can't argue with that.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on December 15, 2004, 07:12 PM
I found the M113A2 at Wal Mart today...their new figures are a little "wonky"...I'll take a picture and post it (if somebody will tell me how)

As soon as I break that thing out of the box, we are going to see if the external tanks will come off (along with some other externals) and it is going to be a 3/4 Cav ACAV in Cu Chi 1968...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 15, 2004, 08:15 PM
Oh hell dude, I saw that at Wal-Mart last night too Paul and it's a great little piece of armor but HORRIBLE pack-ins (though you do get 2).

Worst figures that company has ever done, and that's saying a lot since their modern figures sucked pretty bad too. 

21st addressed the figures in that actually, not too long ago, and they've said they're going to be changing how they do figures...  That those are indeed an embarassement.  They said to look for good things in the future.

That's fine, but what about now?  They should offer replacements for those knock-off looking POS's...  i'd say they changed production facilities and got the shaft when they did so.   ::)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on December 18, 2004, 09:56 AM
Ok now here is where the confusing part comes in...this 113 is NOT marked 21st Century, or Motorworks...it is stamped New Millenium Toys.

It is half plastic and half Die-Cast.  Enough stuff comes off I am going to see if I can turn it into a Nam Era one.  That being said, if anybody knows where I can find some of the old 21st C XD Nam figures I need a couple to crew this thing.  I'll pay cash, trades whatever it takes. The figures that came with it make Power Team Elite USA guys look like VOTC Stormtroopers....
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on December 24, 2004, 11:41 PM
UGH!

We all know Smalljoes.com, right? Well on the 21st I orderd a mess load of CORPS and BoB figures on 3 day delivery. I was hoping they'd arrive today, but it would appear as though they have not. Perhaps tommorow? We'll see along with a reivew of some of the Corps filler stuff for Dioramas.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 25, 2004, 03:37 AM
Corps stuff always looks so, uh, "cheap" to me.  I dunno.

BotB stuff sounds nice though.  I'd love more Germans and US RIflemen. 

Damned if they didn't do a US in trenchcoat though.  :(  That line shoudl really have had more to it.  Closed and open trenchcoat U.S. riflemen, and a coldweather officer (just use the tanker's body) with a removable bag of Thompson clips.

For the Germans, they should've had a rifleman in the white parka and pants.  A German with MG-34 would've been nice too..  or a Flammenwaffer trooper.

The worst of that lot are the Jeep Driver, and I'd say the US Tanker.  Neither had accessories really, and the Jeep Driver's just a real let-down.  I'm swapping heads on all the extras of him I got and giving him Thompsons or bandoleirs of clips some day (cast accessories/heads). 

I'm hoping they redo 1st series with this articulation though, and the removable helmets, and then I'll maybe try my hand at whipping up a cloth coat for the dudes.  Slap it on over top the regular coat and stuff.  Should be cool.

The Germans are just so hard to get ahold of though...  Especially the open-coat guy.

GREAT headsculpts in this wave though.  Very generic, but with a mix of hoods for both sides too.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on December 25, 2004, 09:56 AM
Well I didn't order figures so much as I orderd a bunch of accessories, like howiters and towers. Even super cheap things can be customized to look cool, so we'll see how that turns out.

The pacage arrived today, and it's huge. You actually get some pretty nice accessories with the Corps buildings and Cannons. Even the figures, no matter how cheap they are, are a step in the right direction.
The only downer thus far is the tank...very flimsy guns on that thing.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 22, 2005, 06:22 AM
I've been lax on the news here, I know...

Not a ton going on, though my area did finally see what I estimate to have been ONE case of the FW-190 and Spits...  Got neither, though I'd like the FockeWulf.

Onto better news, for me anyway, I found Steel Shermans and Tigers (well, one Tiger) on clearance at a WM I frequent that does probably the most volume of business in Pittsburgh.  I got the Tiger I saw (regular grey) and 1 Sherman leaving another that was broken I believe behind.

The Tiger, ironically, was only there maybe 4 or 5 months...  These didn't come out till Fall I thought.  Only one left and they clearanced it...  Seems silly.  The Shermans dwindled as well.

Also next to them were the little troop carriers (M113 or whatever?) with those horrid figures.  They all are the green ones, and they're clearanced for a great $39.96, haha.  Isn't that retail on them?  I dunno... 

$15 Tiger though...  That's a wet dream as far as I'm concerned.  I don't care now that I didn't get a winter one.  I'll paint htis one up or my plastic version.

The Steel Tiger's a thing of beauty....  Love it!

Beyond that then, not much new here...  I'd love the BBI Mustang and Sherman but I keep hoping to see them at TRU, kinda like the jets...  I want a jet, but I don't wanna pay for it to ship here to my house.  :(

I'm not sure what else is new...  I know our man in the field at Toy Fair's (Jokabofe/Dave) is gonna try getting some info from BBI and 21st's booths as well as Dusty Trail's booth, but don't expect a ton of info since it's not Dave's specialty and I can't expect him to be too bothered with it.  I'm tryin' for us guys!  :P

Oh, and one big news bit...

The Marines have been up for pre-order a couple weeks now, but word on the Japanese is still sketchy and conflicting...  The marines are due to hit though, which is good.

I hate half those headsculpts at least though.  The figures look like works of art next to the sad sacks 21st had in the M113 box though.  WTF was that all about?  :-\
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 28, 2005, 07:41 PM
D'oh!!!

OK, i forgot to mention for those curious, but the WW2 Marines from 21st Cent. have been shipping now for a while, so I apologize.  I never ordered them because of $ at the moment.  Hopefully soon though, but I just haven't had the cash to do a case of these which is what I'm hoping for.

The Japanese are on the backs of the cards too I guess, and are dfinitely getting made it seems. 

From what has been said, the heads aren't as animated as the previews showed, so that's a good thing.  Sounds like some of the guys coulda used extra sets of hands though, and that weapons are  a mismatch at times.  No big deal though.

The figures look good...  Great things are being said, so I wanna get a case ASAP.  Cheapest way to go and gets the most figures for ya too anyway. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on February 18, 2005, 01:56 AM
OK, so the Terminator line by Palisades is great news...  Even if it's not "real" military.

But anyway, BBI's Toy Fair info is leaking early like grannie's depends!

http://photos.figures.com/photo/1/showgallery.php?cat=2274&page=1&perpage=15&what=allfields&=&action=

Plenty of pictures of stuff we already saw, though BETTER photos of the WW2 figures.  I must say, they're few but they're great.

Also note, a WORKING PARACHUTE for the WW2 Paratrooper.  Oh hell yeah! [/end will smith]

Great stuff, if not a bit redundant from stuff we've seen.  Be nice to have seen a more accurate U.S. modern infantryman, some kind of "enemy" to come from the company...  Germans for WW2 and Some kind of generic "terrorists" for modern.  :(

Hell go the 21st route with making them allies, JUST MAKE THEM!  My grunts and leathernecks are sick of shooting at the Cobra 6-pack figures like they're nothing but a buncha greenshirts. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on February 21, 2005, 04:16 AM
Not a HUGE turn-out for Toy Fair unfortunately for 21st Century fans...

Plane guys went ga-ga over the first shots of the Avenger Torpedo Plane though, which does look admittedly neat to me but I'm honest to God sick of planes at this point.  Also 21st's first Jet as well.

I could care at this point though... 

They had limited items from 2 of their new licenses too, in the movie Sahara, as well as the first clear shots of the Platoon items we've seen (no mention on Platoon 1:18 figures though, just 1:6, which is bull****).

Only 2 Sahara figures in 1:18 and both pack-ins as well.   ::)

It appears 21st isn't supporting 1:18 beyond making planes and the odd land vehicle (Panzer, etc.)... 

The only real 1:18 figures they had were camo repaints of the Marines.  Color me underwhelmed.  I was hoping for the army builder packs to get some concrete backing, or to see the Japanese Infantry, or to see 1:18 Platoon, Sahara, and (pipedream) Skycaptain lines...  21st just basically told me (a 1:18 scale collector) to go piss off though I guess.

Oh well, BBI can have my $ since they're making WW2 infantry and paratrooper figures.

May a big dong slap 21st in the head if they're not gonna support 1:18 beyond planes and repaint planes though.  Screw them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 5, 2005, 03:42 PM
I've seen some better shots of the Platoon figure heads, and they're VERY realistic.

It's a real disappointment to see Hasbro unable to get likenesses correct but 21st nails some pretty tough sculpts without much effort.

I'd love seeing the rest of that line...  Or the supposed rest of the line anyway, I don't know what's due for it, but I thought 10 figures from teh Platoon line?  And I wonder now even more what the "Bridge Too Far" line may hold!

The Japanese had better images surface too, and those look like absolutely fantastic figures.  Simply incredible sculpts.  If only 21st could get their stuff distributed decently.  It's a bitch finding any Ardennes Germans anymore, and I'd love to have open coats and tankers galore to headswap with and do up some random troops.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: MisterPL on March 7, 2005, 11:30 AM
Has 21st Century expressed any interest in a line of 1:18 scale space toys? I'm talking Mercury, Saturn, and Apollo mission astronauts, Soyuz cosmonauts, and of course key vehicles. It seems like a natural line extention.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 7, 2005, 06:23 PM
Not that I'm aware, though ironically they were branching out that direction at one point...  Well, not towards space specifically, but moving away from "military only" like they have been.  Rumor was they were heading to a Police and Firefighters line which I'd welcome...

Space (real space) I'd welcome too...  They could certainly do it justice, however the material/variety is limited.  I know they're reluctant to do certain airplanes even, ones you'd THINK would be good choices, simply because they say there's a slight chance they wouldn't go well.  THe Japanese Zero actually is one such plane...  Who wouldn't want a Zero though if they bought a Corsair or the upcoming Avenger?  I dunno.

The other thing, oddly, that I heard was maybe coming out was 1:18 scale middle ages figures.  Knights, pikemen, etc...  Weird.

The thing I think would kill the space idea is a void of "repaints".  A lot of 21st's love of military vehicles is many can be repainted and resold.  I guess it's justification for some things getting made.

I know the upcoming Panzer is already lined upw ith ambush paintscheme, winter, etc...  I usually buy only one or two versions.  Definitely only 1 of a plane though, if even that.  Planes are HUGE and take too much room.  I'd rather work on my own 1:18 Star Wars vehicles to take up space around my place.  Planes just take a back seat to me.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 25, 2005, 12:10 AM
For the curious, 21st Cent. Toys updated their "Area 21" section of their site with pictures of the Japanese 1:18 infantry figures.

They're sporting some new articulation in an attempt to rival (or outdo) the improved articulation with BBI.  Hasbro's still dominating by showing they can do the ultimate in 1:18 articulation, but BBI and 21st are making nice strides as they slug it out.

21st's adding shoulder ball/socket joints, etc...  Interesting. 

Also of note, 1:18 figures ARE SHOWING UP at Wal-Marts across the country.  not just any 1:18 either, but actually Battle of the Bulge figures and Marines!  Can't beat that with a stick folks!  Look at WM for figures, and if they don't have them, complain and try and get them into your store.

Soon as I find a pile on pegs I'm putting in a lay-a-way order of the "army builder" generic riflemen and whatnot.  :)  I still dont' have those Marines in my collection sadly, so I hope I find some at WM soon.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 1, 2005, 02:55 AM
So is anyone finding figures at Wal-Mart?

People are saying they are finding them left and right...  Pilots, Battle of the Bulge figures, the new Pacific Theater Marines, Patton figures...  The works.

Also US and German halftracks, German Panzers, etc...

Where is this **** at?  I'd buy up a full set of Marines plus army builders if I saw them,a nd forget about BotB Germans and GI's...  I'd build a huge army of those!

Where is this stuff though?  Is Pittsburgh the only area being denied any XD stuff?  I'm pissed.  >:(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on May 1, 2005, 10:02 AM
This **** is at Wal-Mart now? Looks like I'll be hitting there tommorow.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 2, 2005, 01:23 AM
Yeah...  That and then some.  The black 109, the 1.5 ton Dodge truck...

I've lost track of all the stuff people have found of late, but NOT finding the figures is killing me.  Everyone says they've found dozens, except for me.   :-\
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 1, 2005, 05:21 PM
For the first time I've seen a D-Day Spitfire in person.  I'm temppted to take back my Spit for the D-Day.

The figures still haven't shown in my area, nor has the Panzer, nor the Dodge Truck, etc...  I'm bumming.  I wanted to pick up Marines and BotB figures galore. :(  Wal-Mart sucks ass for distribution.  I miss TRU carrying the line, though they bungled the German figures completely.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 18, 2005, 02:28 AM
Link bump!

http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 6, 2005, 02:22 AM
At a recent show, BBI unveiled 1:18 scale Paratroopers (82nd and 101st) with working chutes...  Now, there's a catch.

The figures look unbelievable, and BBI's new articulation is great, but unfortunately it appears the harnesses and life vests are molded on gear that cannot be removed.  :(  This sucks total balls, to be perfectly blunt.  It'll be cool to have one or two guys like they're landing or something, but they don't make good figures for ANYTHING but this.  :(

I'm so bummed that they don't have the removable gear...  That'd make them truly fantastic figures.  They still look good for what they are, and have lots of equipment (Machine guns, mortars, etc.).  BBI's always got top-notch accessories.  I just wish we'd have figures that could complement the 21st guys in a diorama.  I hope they opt for some non-parachute-laden paratroopers.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 6, 2005, 11:45 PM
And 21st looks like they took the idea for the 12 packs we saw last year and have made an SS pack. Not really sure what to think of the thing...I mean, full parade uniformed SS soldiers? Why would we need those?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 7, 2005, 02:02 AM
I'd buy them, but for no real reason other than to have a set...

I'd much rather see Series 1 US and German infantry in the new articulation style with removable headgear.  That's a 12-pack that would get me.  I guess 21st maybe feels that, if they're gonna get slapped on the wrist for selling "Nazi" stuff anywya, they may as well actually SELL Nazi stuff... 

I'd really rather that they focused on common war-time uni's though like U.S. infantry and German Infantry...   :-\
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 7, 2005, 02:10 AM
So would I. I'm still torn on wheither or not to get that set or not, I mean I'm not offended by it...its just a little weird is all.

It does look like a cool set though.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 7, 2005, 02:57 AM
Yeah, I blew the pic up and it's really neat looking...  Actually.

Weird, but if you wanted an "Eagle's Nest Defense" diorama it could work maybe?  I was thinking that SS in parade dress were still defending the Eagle's Nest when the 101st arrived, but in short supply.

They're definitely 21st figures...  Look to have the new articulation, all apear to have removable headgear...

I dunno that $150 is what I wanna plunk down for 16 figures though.  :(  Otherwise I'd buy a set.

Now, do that with all Wermacht in field grey, and cammo, and winter fatigues, and I'd buy ALL 3 sets.  Maybe even a couple of each if given time.

Same with Marines, and US Army Infantry sets.  I'd dig paratrooper sets too so long as they both were D-Day/Europe specific...  A Market Garden set wouldn't hurt either.

For the German sets it would be great if field caps and helmets were included for all troops, but that's just being picky. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 7, 2005, 03:37 AM
I still really want British, Soviet, Italian, Japanese and Canadian figures. *Sigh* Don't they realize they'd sell?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 7, 2005, 05:09 PM
The Japanese are going to be at SDCC, so they're on the way...

I would like Russians and British troops, maybe some French Resistance too, but Italians and stuff may have a tougher time appealing to people outside the die-hards.  Kind of like obscure armor and planes...  I dunno.

I'd think Russians and British, or even just British figures would have some popularity. 

I'dd be happy with much of anything right now though...  Besides the Marines, it's been a while since new figures were out.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 7, 2005, 10:45 PM
Yeah, I still haven't picked up any Marines though. They just so happened to come out JUST after I spent all my Christmas Cash.  ::)

Whats a shame is that there are no plans for Japanese Armor. Ah well, more un-even battles.

Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 8, 2005, 03:35 AM
Eh, the Japanese didn't have the swiftest junk in the war anyway...  I'm not surprised since I don't know many people that could name a piece of Japanese armor but a Panther or Tiger Tank are sorta known names... 

I wish they'd crank out those movie figures.  I think 21st has a good thing going with maybe doing Bridge Too Far, Bridge on River Kwai, Platoon, or other war film figures...  I'd take some SPR figures i know, or a Band of Brothers boxed set of re-issued 101st Para's with new headsculpts.

At this point though, those boxed sets they showed a while ago would be nice to see something new about...  Same with some new figures.  They gotta get off their ass and put stuff out routinely though, and stop dicking us around about junk.  BBI as well, who showed those great WW2 US infantry guys then nothing...  Well screw you too BBI!  >:(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 14, 2005, 05:07 AM
Japs are appearently showing up across the country. No such luck around here, although I almost picked up the Pacific Sherman and Halftracks at Wal-Mart tonight.

Even though I'm strapped for cash, Jesse, Rob says he found some Japanese Infantry in Dallas yesterday. You might want to get in contact with him if you can't find any.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 14, 2005, 08:50 PM
I'm to the point I'll likely order online...  I gotta get marines yet even.  I still don't have a set.  :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 18, 2005, 04:53 AM
Sounds like COmic-Con was only good if you're into planes...

21st showed a Zero which they'd previously denied would happen till just now.  Everyone congratulated them on a "great surprise", but to me this asinine stealth **** between 21st and BBI has become retarded. 

Speaking of BBI, they had little to no presence at the show...  Not that I didn't expect just that out of them.  BBI has about as much customer interaction/quality as most big box retailers.   ::)  Sounds like Hasbro!  You'd think they were a bigger company the wayt hey basically shun their fans on information.

21st showed the Japanese infantry, and sold them in limited edition boxes I guess (and for cheap I hear), but the Jap infantry are also hitting Wal-Mart shelves!  That's good news, unfortunately my local Wal-Mart stores haven't put JACK and **** out for 21st stuff in a long time, and I just passed Jack on his way out of town. 

Supposedly the Jap infantry and Camo-deco marines are due out to WM stores though, as is the camo Sherman ("COED") among other stuff...  I guess the stuff that is shipping (a Dodge truck, Command Car, hannomag, halftrack, Sherman, Bulldog, etc.) has new figures in it...  Or repainted stuff. 

Like para's with new paintjobs and whatnot.  That's cool, but finding the stuff's been a pain.

Word from what WAS there of BBI, was that the paratroopers they showed recently WILL NOT have removable chutes/life vests as was feared.  That sucks bigtime.  The figures are basically useless unless you have them to throw in the air and watch 'em fall.

Great extra accessories, nice headsculpts, terrible figure choice on the "gear" though.  The accessories though, magnificent.

Anyway, 21st also showed a master for the Avenger...  Ig uess it's huge, and it's one of the few planes I may get.  They showed their Mustang too I guess, complete w/opening gun-bay details I guess...  This means squat to me personally.  I want a Mustang but I hear the BBI one (with a better figure) is equal to the 21st one or better short of the gunbay detail.  So in that case, give me the "Killer" BBI Mustang with the pilot that has all that kick ass gear.

Gotta get a BBI Sherman still too.  That thing is sweet.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Gregorbian on July 21, 2005, 03:17 PM
Are these toys only available at Toys R Us?  My TRU has 10 of these figures (only 3 different figures) and have not seemed to be restocked in at least 4 or 5 months.  I really like these figures and would definitely buy some more (especially for customs), but I haven't seen them anywhere else.  Is there a good website that I could order these from?
Any ideas?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 21, 2005, 03:50 PM
BBI is exclusive to TRU.  21st Century was, but issues over "Nazi" product as some PC groups claimed caused TRU to tell 21st Century NOT to make any more German product.  In essence nixing 50% of what 21st was able to make, simply because people don't understand history or choose to label anyone a Nazi.

The 21st deal fizzled and BBI was picked up.  They've done mostly modern U.S. items, but they did do a Sherman and Mustang here recently too.  BBI's supposedly going to jump into WW2 stuff more (seen infantry, they have paratroopers on tap with working chutes too).  There's also a "Futuristic Sci Fi Military" line that BBI's got in concept phases and stuff.

21st Century Toys has a deal going with Wal-Mart right now, and while many people are finding 21st Century stuff in droves at their local Wal-Marts, I can't say I'm one of them.  I have seen lots of planes over the years, and at times I've seen tanks now and again.  They actually cast a lot of the tanks in die-cast metals as well, which means you get one huge-ass, and real heavy piece of toy for $40 (or less).

Figures are shipping now though I hear...  Marines in cammoflauge paintjobs (their solid green counterparts were released not long ago) and Japanese Infantry which just started shipping this month.

Also tanks, their 1.5 ton truck, etc... 

Online, Bad Cat Aviation, Small Blue Planet, and other stores carry 21st stuff.  Some cheap, some not-so-cheap.  Depends.  Most carry BBI too.

BBI just hasn't put out new figures in a while, so they haven't restocked.  Most did restock withs ome repaints of the modern marine figures, or army...  Or they've restocked with the chopper pilots...  If they've only got 3 or 4 different figures, they've sold through a lotta stuff.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Gregorbian on July 21, 2005, 06:41 PM
Oh ok, thanks for the information Jesse.  I'll definitely be on the lookout for some of the new products.  ;D
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 22, 2005, 02:09 AM
N/P on that...  I dig both lines, and Dragon has been known to put out a 1:18 item or two as well, however they're REALLY pre-posed figures.  Articulation's minimal.

The 21st figures are my favorites, however their first series figs sorta blow, and BBI's new articulation could outclass 21st completely. 

21st and BBI both do great headsculpts though...  BBI's got a lot more variety though and generally have only done neutral sculpts (Not the Sherman tanker though).  Good stuff all around.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth_Ennis on July 26, 2005, 03:16 PM
My local Walmart just got a ton of new 21c stuff both carded 12 in weapons as well as 1 /18 vehicles. Anyone interested should check it out.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 26, 2005, 08:37 PM
The problem with Wal-Mart is they're spotty on distribution.  One area will get deluged with stuff while others get nothing.

Case-in-point, my area has seen little, or no 21st Century shipments in a LONG time.  We're still stuck with choppers from a long time ago on our shelves.

Figures I've never seen...  I still need the 1st series Marines, much less their camo repainted brethren.  :(  And the Japanese, ugh...  I want those figures too but they're nowhere to be found...

Plus I've never seen a Hanomag or US Halftrack in stores...  Never seen a Panzer in stores (any paint variant)...  Never seen the 1.5 ton Dodge truck...  The Battle of the Bulge Jeep...  None of it.

I did see 1:6 Patton Tanks (RC) here and there, and the Kubels as well as Humvee's.  How that huge ticket stuff ships but 1:18 doesn't is beyond me. :( 

It's frustrating as all hell when I'm doing SW figure toy runs, hoping to at least see some 21st Century figures I need and put them on layaway, and coming home completely empty-handed.

Needless to say I hate Wal-Mart and feel they're probably the WORST retailer that this line has been stuck with.  The guys at the XD forums bitch up a storm about Toys R Us, but at least they put stuff on the shelves.  Wal-Mart's a joke, and they hinder toy licenses so much that I'd never have wished this company to have gotten involved.

I'd sooner TRU carried them, put out only U.S./Allied items, and Germans were kept to an online exclusive deal of some sort.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 28, 2005, 03:10 AM
I guess we're sorta like you here Jesse. Still no Japs, although we got the vehicles...I guess I'll wait till the Japs are online to order them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 28, 2005, 06:19 AM
At least you've seen the vehicles...  I'd love to walk into WM see the trucks and stuff, and put a nice lay-away down... 

Figures though, they're killing me.  That's WHAT I collect, and I can't find squat...  I mean, I like tanks and stuff but I can't always justify it.  The figures though I'd be building some nice armies of guys.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Gregorbian on July 30, 2005, 07:29 PM
OK, I have another question for you experts  :D 
I stopped by my local Target today, and I saw 3 sets of BBi Elite Force "Combat Command" 2-packs.  They are 3 3/4" figures that have the same level of articulation as G.I. Joe figures (including the same type of hip joints that are held together with a metal peg thing, but no O-Ring), however the sculpts are terrible and look more like a dollar store figure than the excellent sculpts of the TRU BBi Elite Force figures.  They retail for $5 and come with 2 figures, 5 or 6 guns (the guns are nicely detailed), and a backpack or two.
My question is this:  Is Target going to start carrying the "real" (I don't count these crappy 2-packs) BBi Elite Force figures?  I stop by this Target almost everyday and I have never seen these 2-packs before. 

I can take some pics if you want me to (yeah I bought a set in the hopes that they would be some good custom fodder ::))....

Thanks  ;D
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on July 31, 2005, 04:19 AM
The current word on these is this:

-Target Exclusive Line
-No word on them carrying the real Elite Force figs
-The line has vehicles (that are underscaled...see: A-10)

Personally, I'd much rather them put out some of those WW2 figures. Or make something new...there's no need for another P-51, ME-109, F4, ect.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 1, 2005, 01:13 AM
I think BBI's likely gotten some kind of deal to do a certain # of cheap-o figs for Target...  They want something on their shelves like CHap Mei or whatnot.

It's junk...  But if it's making BBI some $ to put into other stuff, so be it.  I want WW2 figs too!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Gregorbian on August 1, 2005, 01:20 AM
Yeah those Target figures are beyond garbage.  I'll probably just use the guns and throw out the figures  :P
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 10, 2005, 01:51 AM
So I picked up 2 of the BBI Paratroopers tonight...

The good?

-Articulation is above and beyond anything before done by BBI.  It's amazing what hinged elbows can do to figures who've done nothing but looked like **** with their piss-poor angle-cut elbows.  These guys are great though.

-Legs Apart...  BBI apparantly learned that the ****-tacular way their last couple waves of figures looked because their legs were awkwardly close together just wasn't working, so they fixed them up and now they're looking great.  Much better spacing.  Very realistic.

-Gear...  Armed to the teeth these guys are.  Some come with 2 firearms, and each ahs a heavy-weapon pack-in except one who has a duffel bag on his leg.  I got one with a kick-ass mortar and the duffel-bag guy.

They also have the first ever to-scale .45 pistols, and pineapple grenades.  Talk about kicking ass eh?  Smoke grenades too, lots of pouches...  They're just packed with gear.

-Headsculpts rock...  Really the sculpts overall rock, and it makes me only long for more WW2 items from BBI since 21st doesn't put **** at a decent retailer.  Great figures though, and the headsculpts are among their best ever if you ask me.  Just intensely realistic.  Good customizing fodder for Star Wars too!

And now, the bad and the ugly all in one...

While I like having the workking chute and all, it sucks more than enough ass that the vest and chute straps are all molded on the figure and not removable.  They look great for what they are, but I want combat ready Para's, not jumping para's, and that's gonna kill me buying anything but ONE set of these guys.

Had they been vest/chuteless, I'd want at least 3 of each figure if not more.  They're just that F'n great.  I'm sad that BBI went this other route though.  They did a great job, but they gotta ditch these packs so the figures can actually be used in multiple dioramas other than jumping or pre-jump looks.

So, that one little slight kinda killed my "high" on these.  They're neat, but only neat enough for one set and that sucks.  :(  I wanna army build, dammit.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 17, 2005, 07:13 AM
Oh man, talk about the Great Raid. Last night at Wal-Mart, I literally jumped from the aisle to the pegs shouting: "**** Yeah!". Why? A 21st Century Display.  ;D

I hadn't seen new 21C stuff on the pegs for years and there it all was. Able figures too. I ended up getting 11 Japanese, and I intend to get more.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 18, 2005, 12:34 AM
Nice score on the Japanese figures Vator...  Wish I could find them myself.  Can you post any pictures or give some reviews?

I wish 21st would get over itself with these asinine headsculpts they keep doing though.  You get liek 2 neutral guys then a buncha screaming guys.  Looks like half the group is in a Banzai charge by the pics I've seen.  :-\
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 18, 2005, 07:04 AM
I'll try to get some up sometime with the crappy camera. They're pretty good figures over all though, definatley some of their best infantry to date.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 18, 2005, 11:04 PM
I scored Marine figures tonight, finally.   ::)  And the one rifleman they only had in camo so I had to settle.  I don't like the camo though since it wasn't heavily used in the pacific theater.

Gotta pop these open! :)

Not a fan of the headsculpts on some, and the hands that are molded so you can't use them on some are REALLY F'n annoying.

Finally some Leathernecks.  Now I need to find those Japanese.  The cardbacks show 2 of the same Japanese guy though.  I hope that's a mistake.  Some of their headsculpts look almost racially stereotypical.  Kinda frightening.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 19, 2005, 06:14 AM
  Some of their headsculpts look almost racially stereotypical.  Kinda frightening.

Sorta like the Germans did?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 19, 2005, 06:35 AM
I dunno, I liked the German sculpts.  They looked European, but that's to be expected...  They were a little too "alike" for my tastes though.  They all seemed very similar on some level...

The Japanese though...  The one guy, from what I can tell, looks like he's bucktoothed and his eyes are just little slits.  The picture is bad of course on the cardback, nothing to really judge by, but man that doesn't look "good", ya know?  I can't tell if the guy's just yelling or what...

I hate...  repeat HATE...  these gaping screaming mouths.   >:(  You'd think 21st would have seen the ****-tacular job Hasbro did with this kinda sculpting and how it went over lik ea turd in a punchbowl, and they'd not do the same damn thing. 
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 27, 2005, 03:14 AM
Looked like MacArthur had hit the beaches at the local WM tonight.  Green-shirt Leathernecks by the higginsboatful.  So many they didn't have nearly enough pegs.  Probably could've filled 2 more with the figures piled on the bottom shelf.

I want XD figures, but some diversity would be nice.  Seemed that all they were throwing out there was Green Marines.  No camo, no Japanese, no Battle of the Bulge, and no pilots/pattons.   :-\

BTW I'm highly disappointed with the lack of at least extra hands for these guys.  21st's hands they used suck donkey nuts, to put it bluntly.  My guys can't hold their guns in firing poses with these hands even.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 28, 2005, 11:38 AM
Well I do know the Japanese have lots of extra hands...lots of extra everything. Those really are done in the classic 21C vein.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 29, 2005, 11:54 PM
Nice...  I wonder why the skimping on the Marines then?

And after seeing all those Marines at WM, I still hate those headsculpts.  They're so terrible on some of them.  I'm amazed some of the guys at P51's boards are so gung-ho (no pun) about them as they are.

I don't want guys that look like they just came from the port-o-potty...  Those faces are blech.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: jokabofe on September 3, 2005, 01:28 PM
I don't know if these are even made by 21st century or not, but they look like it. Found these on the Target website this morning...

Modern Military Figure Assortment Comic-Con 4 pk (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_8/601-3497788-4440168?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0007QQS12)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on September 7, 2005, 11:21 AM
Yeah, those are 21C...with those BBi things that Targets getting, mayhaps they're getting into the game?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 17, 2005, 01:42 AM
Indeed Dave those are 21st as Vator mentioned.

They're the half-assed modern figures they made (the Arab figures are ok, and a sneaky means of getting around PC police by making them "allies" but also making them look noticeably crazy).  The Spec. Forces and British SAS are weak efforts though good sculpts on the faces/heads.

I got the Comic-Con set when Matt was out there (these were from last year, not this past year), and they were neat to have but short of buying extra arabs for SOMEONE to shoot at my modern figures, I really am not too into them.  Plus $30's even more than they sold for at CC, yikes.

Weird seeing them at Target.  Be nice if they'd get off their ass and carry 21st stuff.  They do have the BBI "Cheapies" (not the high-quality Elite Force line at TRU, but knock-off styled figures put out also by BBI at Target's request).

If I walked in Target and found pegs full of Battle of the Bulge figures, Japanese, or revised Series 1 Infantry, I'd be all about that. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 3, 2005, 02:29 AM
OOOOOOOoo baby! :)

So 21st busted out big news that they're partnering with Toys R Us (holy ****!  :o !?) of all people, who dumped 21st and their contract because of special interest pressures, and they're going to produce a 5-pack of figures with vehicles to distribute as a "Merril's Marauders" (sp) set.

The Marrauders were a group that totally F'd with the Japanese behind enemy lines.  Army Rangers, special forces guys...  Very cool.

The set is 5 all-new figures (so it says, though the heads look like Para heads I think) with gear, a 1.5 ton Dodge Truck (Troop Carrier), and a Dodge Command Car with no distinguishing markings so it'll be a cool "hit & fade" vehicle.

Anyway the whole set looks great and I hope it's not terribly expensive.  There's a LOT in there though so it could be pricey.  Still it's nothing they don't already have the toolings for it seems save for maybe the figures.

Way to go 21st on making the figure guys happy and seeing there is potential for the figure line overall really.  World War II offers a buttload of material to make.  I just hope they start diversifying to nationalities like British, Russian, French and Italian troops...  I'd also like new 1st series Germans and U.S. Infantry, as well as various cammo variants on the Germans, some DAK variants on the Germans, some North African U.S. and British troops...

French, or "generic" resistance fighter figures would be cool too.  They could really do a generic line that fit for Poland, France, the Netherlands or elsewhere...  Russians are a must in this line at some point, along with re-releases of the BotB Germans to go with the Russian Troops.

WW2 offers so much diversity that would be popular if marketed right, that I just hope this is a sign of great things to come.  US Spec. Forces from Pacific?  I'd never have guessed.  :)

Some D-Day Rangers are now a must!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 7, 2005, 01:19 AM
Thanks to SLC (Ryan) I got a handful of the Japanese tonight and I'm pleased as punch.  These are among 21st's best figures.

Ball/socket shoulders and cut joints at the thighs are great for poseability...  The sculpts are fantastic too.  Probably their best ever really.

I wish the hats were removable on the hatted dude I got but the helmets do come off so that's a plus.  I don't know why 21st's afraid to tackle hats but whatever.

Great figures...  Tons of gear too.  I'm glad to see 21st willing to improve upon itself.  The shoulders and thigh joints are the kinds of things you have to have I think.  They just add a lot to these figure's poseability.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 10, 2005, 12:25 AM
Vator, where the hell did you go?

Anyway, new pics of new BBI World War II figures have surfaced as they hit TRU shelves as well.  There's D-Day (really simply generic actually) Infantry guys which look great, and 2 Para's as well (sans their jump gear).  The Infantry just are stunning looking, and the Para's are as well (Pathfinder and 101st regular I think, not sure).  I really want to army build with the infantry though because 21st's been lax on getting regular German and U.S. infantry out...  Sad because N. Africa repaints and different stuff would be doable if they would take the chance to revisit their first series.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on October 10, 2005, 01:13 AM
Vator, where the hell did you go?

Anyway, new pics of new BBI World War II figures have surfaced as they hit TRU shelves as well. There's D-Day (really simply generic actually) Infantry guys which look great, and 2 Para's as well (sans their jump gear). The Infantry just are stunning looking, and the Para's are as well (Pathfinder and 101st regular I think, not sure). I really want to army build with the infantry though because 21st's been lax on getting regular German and U.S. infantry out... Sad because N. Africa repaints and different stuff would be doable if they would take the chance to revisit their first series.

Nothing but the paratroopers at our local TRU. I'd like to see some of the D-Day Rangers. I'd love to start collecting some stuff from this line, but due to financial restictions I'm limited to only picking up the occasional figure. I use these for customs a lot now. I really like the way the torsos are put together. They are 2 piece with a hard shell outside and a soft plastic ocre, it makes part swapping increddibly easy, you don't even need to boil them. It is a really cool idea because it lets you easily vary up the troops. Anyone know where I can find some of the older stuff relatively cheap online?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 10, 2005, 04:49 AM
Yeah, their headsculpts are cool, lotsa extra gear and perhaps good parts for cusotmizing, however I'm not pleased with them as actual military figures. 

Theyr'e cool for that brief period where a Paratrooper's dropping from the sky, but once the 82nd and 101st hit the ground they're dropping those chutes like mofo's, and 90% of that **** they were forced to lug along (if it wasn't ripped off in the drop).

To me the 82nd and 101st figures coming out (no drop gear) are the ultimate though.  If I could I'd buy all the chuted figures and just swap heads onto these other bodies just to make the combat ready figures.

At least BBI stuff shows up though.  That's more than I can say for 21st figures, as you know Ryan.  I can't find jack besides Marines around here.  Either the store is packed with Series 1 and 2 Marines or they're just not stocking XD figures at all.  I'm bummed because after the Japanese figs you sent, I know I want an army of these guys. :)  They're fantastic!

And god knows I need more BotB Germans...  I despise Wal-Mart like you wouldn't believe.  Their distribution is just F'd from start to finish.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on October 10, 2005, 06:47 AM
Vator, where the hell did you go?
School, unfortunatley.  :(

I'm loving that TRU pack, but I've got to say looking at some of the prototypes (some guy at GP post a link in the thread about the PT boat, if I recall) they've had over the years I'm more interested in 21C getting back into Vietnam. I mean the Japanese were a step in the right direction for the WW2 line, but I'm getting a little tired of just having "America VS Nazi's" or "America VS Nazi's...IN COATS!" or "America VS Nazi's...THAT CAME FROM THE AIR!!!!".
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 10, 2005, 05:36 PM
I'm ETO fan so I actually dig the Americans Vs. Nazi's routine, however some British and Russians would certainly spice things up, and to say that we're short on Germans is nothing short of an understatement.  I saw the BotB figs at TRU during their first blitz and that was it.  Never seen them at WM and obviously never saw a German figure in a store unless it was online somewhere.

The Japanese ARE a step in the right direction, and that's what makes me hopeful for Brits and Russians.  If they covered the main groups, I'd be happy.  Some resistance guys (civilians, basically, with guns) would be cool too and I think they'd perhaps have some level of appeal, but it's kinda like Star Wars...

I think they should be redoing the 1st series Germans and U.S., and just continuously mix them in so they're available (especially riflemen), and then sneak these random guys in like SAS, red devils, Russian Infantry, Blackwatch...  Repaint some of the 1st series guys too for Afrika Korps troops and do some N. Africa British (new legs/shorts) and Americans...  The possibilities to do this, and do it cheaply (ala the Marrauders set) is there if they'd take the time to think about it.

I think Russians and British have some appeal, and I think resistance fighters would have some appeal as well, just slightly less broad.  As long as you have the basics out there though with Americans and Germans (and variations of them) then you've got a good base to sneak those odder things in now and then.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on October 24, 2005, 08:51 PM
BBi Rangers and Infantry have appearently hit TRU in limited quantities...so I guess that constitutes a search tommorow. I'd like to have a few of these, and if I really like 'em, I may pick up one of those BBi Shermans that have been sitting for around a year.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 24, 2005, 11:45 PM
There's TONS of **** out right now...  It's unreal, but here's my best possible breakdown.

-Sahara Figures are OUT.  There's only two, but they make bitchin' modern "enemies" with a little work.  Very Arabic looking figures, just need maybe a paintjob.  The headsculpts look nice though for customizing so I'm all geared up to buy an army for the heads to use in customizing and the bodies and such I'm gonna build a nice insurgent force to counter my BBI figures.  May need to (hop0efully if I find them) get more 21st Arab figures then too.

-Merril's Marrauders Giftset is OUT NOW as well...  The set is a Dodge Truck, and COmmand Car, with I believe 4 or 5 figures (I forget total I think 5 though) which are just dark green cast Paratroopers with random heads.  I saw complaints about accuracy of the uniforms but I'm ok with this as-is given it's a mere $40 for the whole set, so you get two vehicles and like 5 figures for that low-ass price.  Nice.

-New RC Tanks in 1:18!  This is a first, but they're around $80 I've heard...  I saw them tonight but they were up high so I didn't get a good look nor buy any.  Too pricey this month, but maybe lay-away next time I'm down.  There's a Panzer and the armored Personnel Carrier that was out.  They look pretty nice to me though especially the Panzer.  I just got a Panzer but I'd take an RC one in a heartbeat.  I hope they make a different frequency Sherman to kick its ass! :)

-Battle of the Bulge figures...  Supposedly these are pegwarming for some people, but not me.  I saw the first sign of them recently around here but so far we only have Marines in droves.  There's also paint variants I hear.  Like one German has a black helmet, the German Tankers come in white, field green/grey, and autumn camo patterns...  Dunno if there's differences on the US guys or what.

-Japanes Infantry...  I'm hearing variants on these too!  Green and Brown uniforms.  DId the Japanese wear green AND brown?  I had no idea...  I'm less familiar with the PTO than ETO.

-BBI U.S. World War 2 figures OUT...  Dunno about availability Vator, but the Paras seemed a bit scarce.  I htink we'll see more but the pegs are just a bit full rather than these being "limited".  I think that's a rumor because they're just currently hard to find.  Those BBI repaint Marines were a bitch to find too at first but now they're like flyshit.

There's like 3 infantry and 2 Paratroopers (sans jump gear) all set to go for a nice heavy D-Day landing.  Look to be the best troops for "D-Day" fans, ever.  And BBI loads you with gear too sot hat rocks.

-BBI Para's w/Jump Gear...  These hit and went most places but I still see them some, sot hey're around too.

Lots of great stuff out there though right now...  I even see some of the fightersthat never showed up here because the shelves are clogged with OLD fighters like P-47's and choppers galore.  Like i saw a night fighter and tropical camo ME109 tonight for the first time.  Yay (I'm done with planes).

So there you go...  Tons of stuff, no $$$, and some of it's as big a bitch to find as Star Wars figures!  Oh yeah, and then there's Star Wars I can't afford and/or find. :)  Life's a bitch ain't it?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 22, 2005, 06:11 AM
Long time with not a lot of news...  Basically stuff is still trickling out slowly in some areas, and in other areas it's an F'n deluge of great stuff. 

This is why I hate Wal-Mart having much of anything to do with a line, and pretty much having exclusive control on distribution.  I pray Star Wars never sees the day that only WM would carry it.  We'd be doomed at that stage.

Anyway...  My area is still mostly Marines, however I did notice a new thing here and there...  and I use "new" loosely.

First the Nightfighter ME-109 started surfacing here and there...  That means about jack and **** to me, and jack just left town.  The plane looks really neat, and it's black of course, and it even makes me wonder what a neat repaint A-Wing in the SW line would look like in black, but whatever... 

Anyway, planes aside I didn't see a whole lotta new stuff of late...  Still no Japanese Infantry that I really want to build a massive army with. :(  Still no Battle of the Bulge either unfortunately.  I did find some Sahara figures though!  Yay!

My buddy Ryan (SLC) has some for me, and these were bought as an early b-day gift tonight so I'll have a couple.  They're ****** quality overall unfortunately because they're prone to breaking, but they would make really great figures for:

-SAS customs...  The British "Desert Rats" kinda guys.  Very cool potential there.

-Modern "enemies".  You could really manage some modern enemies, friends, allies, or even civilians out of these.  The figures lack swiveling biceps though, so holding a weapon is NOT an option.  That's what really sucked about them.

-Star Wars fodder...  The outfits scream Star Wars, and would easily repaint to accomodate a number of SW background characters.  I've always felt arab-styled clothing would fit into most any scene from Coruscant to Tattooine.  They're good fodder.

The downsides to both Sahara figures are:

-Likenesses are NOT even close.  If that's Matthew McConnehey (sp), the supposed sexiest man alive, then I'm apparantly a close 2nd.  And the guy from "That Thing You Do" (the costar of Sahara and comic relief I guess) looks REALLY neat for a sort of 1970's haircut dude.  Big sideburns and stuff.  He's really neat, but both heads are a bit large...  Not too bad, but like they look awkward on say a Capt. Antilles body, but on a bulkier figure they'd look cool.

-No Bicep Swivels...  Unfortunately no arm swivels so the arms aren't nearly poseable enough.  They have ball/socket shoulders, and even the cut joints at the thighs for great leg poseability, but the arms need that extra point to really make these the perfect fodder.  Some work and someone may get that joint working, but really I'd dump the thigh joint for the bicep swivel. 

-Brittle/Fragile...  Kinda like the Army Of Darkness figures as far as how easily they break.  My one figure's wrist broke right out of the packaging!  I didn't even touch it, it just broke.  Amazing.

And I'd also say that 21st's sculptors could've hidden the wrist joint at the bracelet, the top of the sleeve or some such, but htey instead chose to put it right about mid-forearm.  Weird.

Oh, and no accessories but a 2nd "wrap" head, and a stand.  Neat to get a 2nd head for certain, ****** to not get a gun.  Hell, pack in an AK-47 or something just to make it more appealing.

Nice paintjobs, neat concept, possible fodder for future release as "arab enemy" figures for a modern line, but missed marks in the arm articulation mostly.

Enjoy... 
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 2, 2005, 04:54 AM
BBi Rangers and Infantry have appearently hit TRU in limited quantities...so I guess that constitutes a search tommorow. I'd like to have a few of these, and if I really like 'em, I may pick up one of those BBi Shermans that have been sitting for around a year.

Still none of these here Vator...

I did see the Merril's Marrauders set for the first time.  For $40 (I think) you really got a lot.  I've heard a whole lotta bitchin' about the figure's quality and for the most part it's legitimate beefs on a basically complete inaccuracy ala Cmdr. Gree but the Marrauders have basically Market Garden uniforms on.  I see the point, but for an exclusive where you get the 1.5 ton Truck and the Dodge Command Car (general purpose) and a pile of accessories and gear...  That's not bad considering the price and all that stuff.

Hate those Para's headsculpts that are "screaming" and stuff though.  Just f'n stupid looking.  21st needs tot ake a page from BBI and tone down the animated faces.  The Japanese and Marines suffer from the gritting, grunting, grimacing, screaming, and general looks of constipation.  Some are really comical.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 15, 2005, 03:59 AM
http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/articles.asp?newsID=126

Big huge great glorious fantabulous news at 21st's website "Area 21".  You have to be a member to access but it's worth signing up to look.

There's a slew of "new" Battle of the Bulge figures coming.  They mostly utilize the parts of the previous figures and previous headsculpts but they do use new gear too.  A longcoat US Rifleman FINALLY is on tap!

Also, a big step forward for army builders.  21st is including extra heads with these figures, extra arms, and coat/snap on accessories (ala the German Rifleman opencoat).  The benefit to us is that we're getting a ****load of army building potential with 2 heads being packed in with the figure, 2 sets of arms, etc., etc...

Hasbro take note, you could learn a thing or two from 21st Century Toys once again because they're showing clear as day how army builder figures SHOULD be done.  Hasbro has the articulation down pat, but they have a lot of ways to make army building something focal for the modern Star Wars line if they adopt these multiple poppable heads and such.  Especially with the ease of which you can pop heads on SW figures these days. :)

Enjoy!  I know I will.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on December 15, 2005, 04:16 AM
This is WONDERFUL news indeed, Jesse! It's a dream come true for me...not only do they make great Army Builders, but they also come with a crap load of fodder. Just wow.

So I guess we'll be getting some more Germans too? Perhaps utilizing the Kepi that came with the Kublewagon driver all those ages ago. Oh, or maybe the officers cap? I'll retract what I said earlier about being tuckered out of US-German stuff if they can keep this level of quality up. Outstanding.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 15, 2005, 04:26 AM
I'm guessing Germans are on the way. :)

I'd like to see the Tanker utilized as a Winter White infantryman.  I popped a German Para head onto a Tanker that Ryan sent me and he looks bitchin'.  I've got a little work left to get him some Y-Harness or something and ammo for a gun (Thinking I'll make an MP-40 or rifleman out of him).

As of now though, he has a whitewashed brain bucket, and he looks really neat.  :)  Kudos to 21st for leading the way again.  Hasbro needs to take notes here because they always can improve I've found.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on December 15, 2005, 05:49 AM
I like the second one the most. Hopefully the figs will reach us, but the only place I can buy them around me is the Robinson WalMart. :( I see alot of fodder, especially in his jacket, and if I pick some of these up, I might have to get started back up on the 305th. Thanks for the headsup, Jesse James.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 15, 2005, 05:58 AM
I've not seen much of any Battle of the Bulge figures around Nirvana, did you see BotB or Japanese out your way?

The only Bulge figures I saw was a single closed coat German (Series 1) and a Jeep Driver who lingers because that figure simply sucks butt hard.

The Japanese figures I got were simply by the gracious Ryan helping me out if I recall.  I've never seen a Japanese figure in person, series 1 or 2.  Never seen the series 2 German Battle of the Bulge figures either.

Now Marines...  There's a bunch at Wal-Mart in Delmont and Wal-Mart in Kittanning.  No shortage of Leathernecks here that's for sure.  Sucks because I really would rather have Bulge and Japanese figures. :(  I don't even have a complete Japanese set at this point.

Oh and no Series 3 Marine repaints either...  This sucks.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on December 15, 2005, 05:04 PM
Well Jesse just let me know what you are looking for and I can help you out whenever I can.  :)

Which reminds me I have to ship those Sahara figs, and that German I got for you...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 16, 2005, 04:11 AM
Yo Ryan,

Don't feel bad, I haven't even paid yet so it's not like I'm in a rush for you to get them out to me.  If anything I feel bad because I'm just caught up in the holidays and haven't gotten you paid so please don't rush those to me...

And of course I appreciate the offer for XD help...  Considering I"ve yet to see a single Japanese (Series 1 or 2), and that Battle of the Bulge (Series 1 or 2) figures are non-existant here too, I definitely need the help, haha...  I can't get enough of the 3 Germans really, and I haven't even got a complete set of Japanese figures so far...  I know I don't have the Officer and one other one...  Yet somehow other places have TONS of these figures literally falling off the pegs.

Where are these bastions of toy heaven!?  >:(  And why does Pittsburgh only get those goddamn Huey's all the time!?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 19, 2005, 12:37 AM
Couple more updates...

First it seems a series of Operation Market Garden Paratroopers is on tap.  The Market Garden mission was, for the unaware, a major military disaster after D-Day, and so far there's one figure in that get-up and the Merril's Marrauders set features Market Garden sculpts with various heads for the Pacific Theater Commando's, which i guess is inaccurate (I know little about MM's).  The 21st guy at the forums has hinted to Market Garden Para's as a series and I'm AOK with that honestly.  It's overlooked too much.

At the same time, the OTHER Battle of the Bulge "new" figures are pictured at 21st's site.

Two autumn cammo German Tankers but with removable hats/earphones, so that's really cool, and the one dude's sporting the Commander's cap, so kick ass.  I hope they're in white too though, I prefer it for BotB scenarios.

There's also a re-issue of the Open and Closed coat Germans with unique paintjobs and markings including their coat's cuff insignia.  VERY cool little detail, adds to the figure, and adds to diversity.  Gear doesn't look different though.  I'd really have liked an MP-40 guy and a closed coat rifleman honestly. :(

There's also a new US guy in either the Officer/Tanker's jacket or the Mackinaw coat, with 101st markings.  He has the tilting-head Paratrooper figure's head, and a folding stock carbine which is cool but I THINK they weren't in use after D-Day or drops in general, but rather guys who wanted a carbine got a solid stock.  I could be wrong though.

The other head is the Pvt. Wilson Para head which is my probably all-time favorite XD headsculpt.  Another great rifleman and great diversity added to the US ranks.

The US Bulge figures are going to be one of the most diverse and varied lines 21st's done...  Cool to note too that with all these extra torso's potentially being packed in with figures, and if you have leg/lower torso's around, you could really flesh out your ranks with just buying one figure.  I know I have some fig parts aroudn I'm going to use.

Cool stuff, and 21st is rockin' the figure market it seems by just mixing/matching parts FINALLY.  Smart business move.  Hasbro should learn from this and make wise part swaps like this.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 30, 2005, 07:11 PM
21st Century's "Area 21" has some info on the upcoming Platoon line...

Yes, you too can own your own Tom Berrenger(sp) figure now!  :)  And Charlie Sheen, and Willam Defoe...  And others. (Johnny Depp too folks)

Now, what does this mean?  Well, the likeness of the Sahara figures was...  eh.  I've seen worse, but I've seen WAY better.  These could be hit or miss but some early images had leaked a while back I believe and the Berrenger sculpt looked absolutely incredible, down to every deep scar.

For you customizing fans, how cool shall it be to make  Willam Defoe IMperial Officer, or Tom Berrenger bounty hunter, right?  Right.  :)

Here's the release info though...

Hopefully pics soon!

Quote
For those who may not already know, 21st Century Toys Inc. secured a licence to produce a series of vehicles and action figures from the award winning film PLATOON. In a recent breifing from 21st Century Toys earlier today, AREA-21 was updated with the progress of the Platoon project. Fans have been eagerly awaiting to hear more details about this exciting line of new vietnam era figures and vehicles. Today AREA-21 has some answers for you!

The burning question from fans has been centered on the Action figures themselves and the question has been raised asking if these will be all new figure molds, head sculpts or what exactly? AREA-21 is pleased to announce that the Platton figures will be ALL NEW from the toes of the boots to the tops of their helmets! -That is right fans you heard it here first! Fans will be excited to learn that your favorite characters from the film have been faithfully sculpted and reproduced into a 1:18 scale action figure, capturing the likeness of Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Johnny Depp and others.

The good news doesn't stop there! Each new 1:18 scale PLATOON action figure will feature all new articulation points in the construction. These promise to be the most poseable, highly detailed action figures to have ever been produced by 21st Century Toys. AREA-21 will be the first to update you with more information and release dates on this exciting new product line as soon it becomes available. 21st Century Toys has not confimed an estimated shipping date at this time.

I'm really stoked to pick these up.  I've resigned myself to only collecting WW2 vehicles, and all figures.  No tanks from other eras, no planes at all really unless it's just something uber special, but with the line's figures expanding in diversity I'm ok with just focusing on them.

BTW, further proof that small companies are paying exorbitant fees for licensed stuff...  If you think it's cheap securing the likeness rights to Johnny Depp, or Willam Defoe, think again...  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've seen a number of items 21st has had to pay a license fee for...  Everything from the name Dodge to a historical character's likeness to a specific plane's noseart.  You'd be A-freakin'-mazed what these can cost, and they're costing a lot to an incredibly small company compared to Hasbro.

There's guys out there that will tell you Hasbro does the best they can what with their licensing to LFL and all, but I say to you that if a company as small as 21st is incurring many licenses, and at very high costs, and still getting us the utmost high quality toys for less, than Hasbro (a publicly held corporation and #2 US Toy Company) can do better with its Star Wars line.  I'm sorry, people just don't seem to see that other companies out there, 1/10 Hasbro's size, do a lot more with a lot less. 

The Platoon line's been a long time coming, so I'm stoked for this.  I must have a Charlie Sheen Imperial Trooper...  I must.
Title: Sahara
Post by: Jedi Idej on January 5, 2006, 02:56 AM
Now, what does this mean?  Well, the likeness of the Sahara figures was...  eh.  I've seen worse, but I've seen WAY better. 

Saw two different characters at Wally World... They kinda stink. I was hoping I could use them as custom fodder, but their noggins are noticeably too big for the current crop of Star Wars figs. On the plus side for collectors of movie toys or Sahara, each pack comes with a second interchangeable head of the character.

These were either a rush job or sent to market as-is because they didn't want to waste any more resources. On the back of the card we're  beckoned to collect all the figures. What's pictured is a small, hard-to-see publicity photo or movie still of three of the actors. I didn't see a figure of the woman on the pegs so I don't know if it sold or they haven't gotten around to producing one.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 5, 2006, 07:07 AM
The Sahara figures, for whatever reason, were sorta just a side thing for 21st.

I wouldn't say the heads are too big though, they're actually pretty good with some fodder and not great with others.  Like I saw Fritzkrieg use the Matthew McConnehey head on a Ki-Adi ROTS figure and it looks great actually.  The turbin heads look good on a number of fodder pieces too, and of course the heads are perfect with most POTF2 stuff since it's bigger, but yeah the Jedi Fritz made using the ROTS Ki-Adi body looked fine with the one head.

The figures are cool for modern military stuff and the turbins come off, that's aplus because they fit any SW head I've put them on and would be good for random background people.

The figures are a little shoddy quality though.  Not bad sculpts (bad likenesses though) but kinda cheap and fragile.  not 21st's normal quality work.

The line was weird.  It's like they got the license amidst their financial woes and couldn't deliver the product.  I want the desert jeep for SAS North Africa reasons, but I've seen nothing of it.

The figures seem to have come and gone.  I'm just as glad these didn't ship too heavily so the military figures are actually not backlogged cause of these guys.  They could have easily sat around considering the fim's popularity and this line's dismal look/effort.

They're really not bad customizing fodder though IMO, pretty great really for Star Wars and military customs.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on January 5, 2006, 05:20 PM
Wow, just got caught up on all the new 21st Century News. I think, in light of the plethora of news I'm still trying to digest, a simple response would be appropriate: Hell. Yes.
I'm loving the BoB repaints (The Germans especially), and the Operation Market Garden figures looks fantastic. And I'm dying to see pics of these Platoon figures, since they'll apperantly have all new articulation and what not.

Dare I say that 2006 will be an active year for Army Building? I think so.  8)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Gregorbian on January 5, 2006, 06:41 PM
I finally found some of the 21st Century Toys army guys.  I picked up a German Trenchcoat (open coat), US soldier in the white coat, and a US soldier without coat.  They are very cool, I like the articulated arms.  My only question is are all of the arms that fragile?  The German's arms tend to pop off at the elbows (especially the non-trenchcoat articulated arms).  I've got some of the closed trenchcoat German as well as the set of the Ardennes figures from TRU.com ($50 for the set).  I can't wait, these guys are awesome custom fodder!

I also picked up 2 of those WW2 Paratroopers from TRU, not bad, but they can't put their arms down to their sides.  I'll probably just use their heads and accessories for some customs - anybody need the parachute sets?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on January 5, 2006, 08:15 PM
The BoB figs have me considering buying WWII figures again...after a good amount of time off...

I am looking forward to the Platoon Figs too. 

I can see getting a few to Army build with..the first series of Germans were SOOO bad, anything has to be an improvement.  I'm not sure why BBI is so afraid of Axis stuff..

I did snag the Series 2 German Tanker and he is pretty nice.  I also snagged the Bf109 pilot, but typical of 21stC his ankles were painted stuck so as I GENTLY tried to rotate it....BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE and he is a casualty of FLAK.  So I am going to do some body part swapping and get him a new leg.

I'm also considering one of the RC Panzer IV's.  I'd wish they would have done skirts but, I'm sure I can make some.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 7, 2006, 02:51 AM
I want the Panzer IV too Paul, but it's pricey for me right now.  Skirts and a winter white wash would have probably made me lay one away already though.

Anyway, they're not fragile by my tinkering with them...  I don't have problems with joints popping off and stuff.  Sometimes you get a factory defect here and there like a shortened limb or a joint that's pins aren't molded right so they don't hold together but that's not too common. 

I haven't seen BotB figs yet really, definitely not S2, and it's killing me.  Glad to see you making a comeback to it though Paul.  I need the new BBI WW2 infantry and stuff, those look sweet.  I need these new BotB though, they're just what I wanted, especially the US Greatcoat rifleman. 

Lots of good stuff and we've still not heard about the "Bridge Too Far" line.  There was a lot of talk they'd secured rights to that film, which could be on the way...  I want a Sean Connery Red Devil!  Now that's kick ass custom fodder.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on March 4, 2006, 10:10 PM
I saw wave 2 of the Battle of the Bulge at 2 different Wal Marts  in the last 2 days.

I really like the "Variety" they provide in the figures.  Not less than 2 of them have different head sculpts in the package.  And not just "hat on' and "Hat off" of the same face...entirely different head sculpts.

That and the combinations of different arms and removable great coats/ mackinaws etc.  is just one great "extra".

If Hasbro would look down the "Aisle" and see what the "little guys" were able to do, ARMY building would be sweet.

I did not pick any up.  It was more a "catch and release" activity.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 6, 2006, 06:24 AM
Damn Paul, those are the biggies for me...  And wouldn't you know that all my WM's are suddenly loaded with other waves.  Just my F'n luck.

Those figures look gorgeous, did you see the trenchcoated US Rifleman?  I LOVE that figure.  I need dozens of just that guy. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 10, 2006, 07:20 AM
BigBadToyStore had a sale going last week that we advertised out on the front page of JediDefender.com, and so I went in and checked it out.  I ordered the BBI Sherman finally and WOW I love this beast.

Besides the gaping maw that is the Tanker's mouth, the thing is a beauty...  Oh and no interior to the tank.  Is it wrong to want a Sherman witha n interior? :(

The tank's awesome though.  Worth every penny, and only $33 really shipped after the sale price.  Their shipping blew IMO ($8-ish is too much I think, but that's me), but the tank's worth it.  I wish I could've afforded the Mustang too.  BBI's Mustang is awesome.  I don't collect many planes, but the Mustang's too iconic not to have, and I wanted the pilot figure too...  So sweet.

Next sale perhaps...

Oh, and in other news...

Tons of stuff is shipping, including Battle of the Bulge Series 2, so go shop dammit.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Angry Ewok on March 10, 2006, 08:53 PM
I don't get it... Toys R Us has a big clearance of all of their 21st Centruy stop, and just stopped carrying it... I was happy to see that our Wal-Mart picked it up, but for some reason they only stock the planes and tanks. No individual figures.

Is this just a local thing for me, or are people having trouble getting 21st all over the place?

Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 11, 2006, 12:38 AM
Wal-Mart's not distributing evenly on 21st...  Each store has a variety I've found, like in my area Brad I can count 5 stores I visit and each has (generally) something different.

Some things get wide release like the choppers were everywhere here, and the current Humvee variants and the Weapons Carrier Dodge are at every WM I visit, but like the one that just opened has Imperial Marine (Japanese) figures, while one 15 mins away has Battle of the Bulge, Marines, and Pilots/Patton figures.

And 2 other WM's near me have just Marines (S1 and S2)... 

I see planes at various stores but they're various planes.  One has P-47 Bubbletops, one has the German Night Fighter, one has old Corsairs and Stukas. 

All had RC Panzers and APC's up to the holidays and they've since seen clearance, but only a few had regular model tanks.  Like one had Shermans back in the day, one had Tigers... 

One right now near me has Halftracks and nothing else.  Weird.

TRU quit with their deal with 21st because some self-interest group(s) complained that the toys glorified the Nazi Party as there were "Nazi" action figures.  Nobody takes the time to pick upa  book and read, so they just cry Nazi...  But, TRU did get the Merril's Marauders set for the holidays, so they're not totally out of it. :)

I'm amazed WM hasn't caught flack...  They have on the S1 Marine holding a Japanese flat and cigarette I've heard, and that figure is phased out, but they haven't on Germans.  They do sort of "generically" name them too though as "Ardennes Infantry", haha. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on March 11, 2006, 09:40 AM
I've only seen a few 21st Century figs at WalMart, and the only one I really liked was an Imperial Marine (rifleman) and I picked it up. The figs are awesome, but they would be 10x better if they used the BBi-style heads, not the cheesy, non-neutral expression.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 11, 2006, 05:10 PM
They're 50/50 with expressions.  The Marines have a mix of expressionless, slight expressions, and full on eyes-closed screaming faces.  The Japanese are the same as there's like 3 or 4 without any expression, 1 with a slight expression and the rest with mouths open.

Same with the Paratrooeprs...  Battle of the Bulge had expressionless figures, as did Series 1 Infantry, Vietnam, etc...  Modern figures sucked but the heads were nice and fairly expressionless.

BBI's headsculpts are better but most of them lack muchof a neck so customizing wise they're not as useful I've found...  Not without "work", which is ok for me but not a lot want to make a suitable neck for them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on March 11, 2006, 05:13 PM
Yeah, except I only found Marines with screwed up faces, and I Imperial Marine with an expressionless face but still looked goofy. BBi's don't have much a neck, that's true. I find myself having to Dremel it outinto a balljoint so it'll look normal.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 20, 2006, 03:16 AM
OOOOooooooo good news is out there my friends.

Series 2 Battle of the Bulge are becomign widely available online for good prices, and when you get a WHOLE torso with some figures, and 2 heads, and lots of gear...  Count me in.  I want a whole case, they're awesome, and I need the Autumn cammo German tankers anyway for my autumn cammo tank.

Now, the juicy news...

BBI has new modern figures on the market NOW, out of the freakin' blue, no words of warning whatsoever.

Among them, new SEALS, new headsculpts...  One guy with bare arms.  New articulation...  no pics yet that I've seen, but holy **** I gotta see these.  BBI's figures stepped it up a notch with their new WOrld War 2 series sporting advanced articulation.  I haven't gotten them yet but it's pretty fantastic judging by the Sherman Tanker.

Now, what could be better than this you ask?

I'll tell ya what...  unintentional pictures of the new Hot Toyz Aliens Snap Kit figures, AND, COLONIAL MARINES!  And Ripley too.  3 Marines, 1 Ripley, shitloads of Aliens, and Aliens fans getting massive erections as the sight of these SUPER detailed, SUPER articulated, SUPER accessorized figures.

Some of the aliens appear to have bullet holes too...  Not just straight re-releases all around.  Nice tough Hot Toyz.

Count me in for two cases of these.  now I gotta get series 2 right quick so I get that Alien Queen to chase Ripley.

I'm on f'n sensory overload right now.  I need to calm down. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on May 1, 2006, 03:33 AM
I found some Series 2 BoB figures tonight. $5 for 1 figure, 2 heads, 6 arms, 1 coat, 2 helmets, a gun, a satchel, a canteen, a pouch, and a stand. Hasbro take nots, that is how it is supposed to be fun.

Jesse would you like me to pick some up for you if i see them again?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 1, 2006, 03:51 AM
Perhaps Ryan...  Especially U.S. troopers in greatcoats in particular.  Open or closed...  I don't have any but they're sorely missing from my BotB dioramas, haha.  I always thought the trenchcoats were more prevelant than Mackinaws too but what do I know?   ::)

On 21st/1:18 scale news...  HOLY **** there's a ton of BBI stuff going on.

The WW2 figures have been showing, mostly online, but out of left field there's a WHOLE new series of modern.  The new modern figures take BBI from comparable to 21st to slightly superior IMO.  The articulation on the new ones is their new style articulation, which I honestly have to admit is better than 21st's due to the sculpting and engineering behind it (if you own the Infantry, you know what I mean...  Their elbow joints are perfect for holding rifles properly).

Beyond that though...  The new modern guys kick much ass.  There's 2 paras, one in Woodland and one in Desert fatigues.  Both look great with chutes and look like they have packs that make them look good without their chutes and combat ready too.

The Spec. Forces guys htough...  Holy crap.  They include a sleaveless guy, who is easily the best sleaveless custom fodder in history, guys have laptops and crap, there's SEALS in their combat gear with the dive stuff for them to wade onto shore into a zone...  Silenced pistols, the works.  New headsculpts, new bodies, new parts, new articulation, new weapons...

I really am stoked for modern again after seeing these.  BBI has taken this to another level, so 21st's extra heads/arms and stuff were REALLY needed to even keep up at this point.

Keep your eyes open at TRU for those BBI figures.  I must have those...  NOW!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on May 1, 2006, 04:16 AM
Do you by chance have any pictures or links to the stuff?

EDIT: I found pictures of two of the Modern Para, but that is it.

(http://www.blueboxtoys.com/bbi2005/html/product/1-18_a/1-18_ef/old_product/NEW/IMAGE/21694.jpg)


(http://www.blueboxtoys.com/bbi2005/html/product/1-18_a/1-18_ef/old_product/NEW/IMAGE/21695.jpg)





I have to say that I'm really digging the new articulation style too. I really only pick up bbi and XD stuff of customs but these are really starting to make me want to get into this line fully. The only thing holding me back is money, of course.  :-\
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on May 1, 2006, 04:42 AM
(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5012/1000082small28vn.jpg)

(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3193/1000086small8ur.jpg)

(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5250/1000085small9cb.jpg)

(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4193/1000083small8ej.jpg)

(http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2245/1000084small24av.jpg)


 ;D
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 1, 2006, 04:55 AM
The only disappointment on those BBI figs is it seems some lack wrist articulation, a major flaw IMO.  Sure it'll show on some (bare-armed guy) but at the end of the day the wrist joint is too important to skip like that I think...  Be damned aesthetics, give him the articulation point.

Give him gloves or something...  just get it done.

Either way, some great figures, and fodder, in those shots.  I need those figures...  The Sniper.  Look at the Guille suit stuff on his head.  I love it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 8, 2006, 02:45 AM
I saw the new US Modern Paratroopers tonight.  Wow...  I passed because I'm short on cash really but wow...  Nice figures.  I also noticed I think new/repainted WW2 Paratroopers.  I saw an OMG BBI Paratrooper w/chute, which I don't recall from before...  It's cool looking.

I just hate the molded-on jump gear.  Why can't BBI do cloth straps or something so the jump gear comes off and you get a combat-ready Infantryman?   :-\  That's what I want...  My only complaint though with these figures, which is saying a ton about them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on May 8, 2006, 04:03 AM
Yeah I saw some the other day too, I passed as well though. I couldn't take the higher price mark at the time.

I agree on the jump gear. At least you can tuck the straps behind the backpack so you can have pre-jump troopers. :-\
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 8, 2006, 04:22 AM
Yeah, I have a pre-jump set of paras from WW2 and they're ok but not great.  I got them mostly for the headsculpts for customizing casts.

They display ok, but they're of course limited to that pre-jump or jump look and that's it.  It's like OTC Dagobah Luke...  You either have him training with Yoda on his back or handstanding.  Luke did a ****load more work than that.  Some articulated arms were in order, but alas not to be had.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Smartypants1635 on May 8, 2006, 11:23 PM
Where do you guys find the 21st toys? The only military i have found are the blue dotz toys at my local Tru.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 9, 2006, 12:19 AM
Wal-Mart carries 21st's line.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Smartypants1635 on May 9, 2006, 08:55 AM
Ok. thanks a bunch, everyone has been talking about how good this line is so I thought I'd pick some up.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on May 9, 2006, 08:39 PM
I found the whole lot of new moderns tonight, as well as the three new WWII figures. I have to say I'm a wee bit disappointed. I'll do a quick a review of each of the figures.

Sleeveless SEAL- At first the arms seemed like they would be excellent, I'd really have liked wrist articulation on them. The skin is also painted on like it is on the head so there is so chipping at the joints and when you bend the arms you can see lots of green at the joint. The holster doesn't work for some reason, the pistol is sculpted in. The hat/headgear is also sculpted onto the head and isn't removable.

Navy Combat Diver- He's got the standard articulation for the most part so no real complaints there. The accessories are all pretty cool, but there is no easy way to get the pack on, and the regulator is too low. I broke the back strap the first time I tried to put it on. The holster like the other guy is also a non working holster.

USAF Nightstalker- The gear he comes with is pretty cool. I really like the little laptop, it actually opens and closes. But like the SEAL his wrists aren't articulated, there really is no excuse for this one. The gloves would hide the joint easily. And like both the others the holster has the pistol sculpted in, again I seen no reason for this especially cause they already have working ones made.

Sniper- I think he may be the best of the moderns but he still has some flaws. The head piece and back piece of the ghilli are removable which is nice but the headpiece seems to fall of fairly easily. It would have been nice if the suit had been removable on the arms and legs too, it looks goofy when the head piece and back piece are removed. Mine won't hold either of the guns very well. The hands are sculpted so they have a really tight grip and it is hard to get the guns in there, especially that .50 cal, its handle is way to big. The head is ball jointed which is nice, it doesn't work quite as well as Hasbro's but it is still nice to have.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 10, 2006, 12:53 AM
I was gonna toss out a comment on the holsters myself...  I noticed on the 2 modern paras they made that the holsters have a pistol sculpted in them, and that sucks butt since they do have working holsters on the line overall.

The Marines didn't have them though...  They had those lame holster/belts I didn't even keep on my figures.  I wish htey'd go back to working holsters though, those looked fantastic, and a pistol in his hand with one on his hip looks stupid to me.

You saw a lot of these Ryan?  I've seen nothing new with BBI for ages.  :(

I'm ok with the bare armed Spec. Forces dude not having wrists but I'm bummed to hear the Night Stalker lacks them.  That's a load of BS, no doubt.  The Spec. Forces guy should have them too...  To me articulation outweighs aesthetics.  The paint thing, eh...  I don't get BBI's unwillingness to cast in flesh tones unless they worry about matching paint to it or some such. 

Not without their flaws but still they look great to me. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on May 10, 2006, 02:24 AM
Not a lot really, I think someone else got to them first but I saw at least 1 of each of them, there were 2 of a few.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 10, 2006, 04:51 PM
From what I heard the WW2 guys were shortpacked in the new modern figure cases...

I have yet to get any of the BBI WW2 combat ready dudes at retail.  My buddy sent me one to drool over when I sold stuff to him recently, knowing I'd go nuts after I got this figure open.  NOw I want these figures I can't find.

BBI's not often restocked at TRU...  They sit on those jump ready paras and don't go for the lower pricepoint figures much.  Some TRU's have no basic $5 figures, just the paras. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on May 10, 2006, 05:11 PM
Yeah the TRUs by me (either the one up here in Fort Collins, or the one down by my parent's house) are hit or miss. Sometimes they will have a few weapon packs and that will be it, I went for a bout  weeks without seeing a single basic figure at retail, and now figures have started to show up again, not it great numbers or anything, but they're there.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 16, 2006, 12:34 AM
I picked up a full set of the modern figs and the 2 WW2 figs shipping with them here just the other day...  I'm overall pleased with what I got.  I'll give some mini-reviews/thoughts on them here now...

-US Spec. Forces Afghanistan...  The Special Forces guy with bare arms is pretty much lacking the things Ryan already mentioned, so you're right on with this one.  The joints are not attractive and show green spots throughout instead of casting it in flesh tones...  And no wrist articulation?  That sucks, plain and simple.  If you can see the elbow joints so much what's the big deal about gaps at wrist joints?  Sleeveless arms are just gonna have to accept they're ugly with articulation and move on.

No working holster also sucks, and I'd add that a non-removable hat is inexcuseable really...  Not perfect, but at the samet ime it's probably the best sculpted figure they've ever done...  The realism on it's unmatched, and it shows how our special forces are fitting in over in Afghanistan...  It's a brutal area, and our troops are adapting to it in weird ways.

-Night Stalker...  One I don't even know wtf a nightstalker is.  I've never heard the term, but I can only assume the guy's a chopper pilot...  What he flies, I have no clue.  Every chopper comes with a pilot so this guy's an enigma to me.  He has a pilot helmet on though...  Though why does he come with a big, I think, M-60 machine gun?  I don't get it...

He does come with a cool laptop and GPS though and that's awesome to me.  A great sculpt, but like the Afghan spec. ops guy he has no wrist joints and like you said Ryan it's REALLY inexcuseable on a figure who has gloves on.  For christ's sake just give him the wrists from the other army figures since they're the same gloves...  Oh and no working holster, again, when they have a goddamn working holster all ready to be used that they've put on figures to-date. :(  This sucks really and is a regression IMO.

-Sniper...  I love this guy.  I don't mind the goofy guille suit without the "back" on it.  To me I'll only display him all guille'd out anyway. :)  I'm gonna cast the hat and suit for star wars uses too, it's fantastic.  The figure has a very hard time holding his sniper rifle(s) though I've found, my only complaint about him.  :(

I like that he comes with two rifles though...  Again though, no working holster...  WTF is the deal with BBI ditching working socom holsters?   ???

-Navy SEAL...  Best of the bunch is the Navy SEAL figure.  He features diving vest, diving fins, camera (I think?), 9mm SMG, boonie hat, goggles...  Stuff all fits the figure well though the breather doesn't fit to his mouth right, it's too low. :(  It'd be nice if the goggles/mask would wrap on the boonie hat too instead of only on the face.  No huge deal there though...

Articulation's perfect really, though BBI could step it up by adding mid-thigh swivels to figures...  And again no working socom holster and it's a must at this point.  Screw making a new holster with a molded-in gun, just give us the old one you already ahve tooled up and we can put the new kick-ass pistols in it ya know?

Anyway, great figures...

The WW2's are better IMO for the most part than 21st's but I'm disappointed that their backpacks are basically stuck on them.  If you take them off the web gearing looks like ****.  The Army Ranger's helmet is too small too for his head, but no big deal there to me, I have tons of helmets available to slap on him.

Some more rifle-ish hands would be nice for posing the figure with M1-Garands but again it poses ok...  Just takes some work.

Overall, great figures, and for $4.99 you can't beat this kind of value.  Even the worst BBI figure rivals the best Hasbro figure...  That's not a good thing for Hasbro, but it's great for a small company like BBI, no doubt.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on June 22, 2006, 10:21 AM
I just picked up the Afghan Spec Forces and WW2 Medic Paratrooper for customs...I actually love the Spec Forces fig, the lack of wrist articulation is a minor setback, as well as the non-removable hat...the brim is too low and you can't see his face.

The Paratrooper was okay...I mainly bought him for the headsculpt and the gear...I didn't like that his arms couldn't hang down at his sides...they kinda hung out at an angle do to the sculpt of his jumpsuit.

Also picked up one of their earlier Marines, the African American version for the boonie hat and beret.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 22, 2006, 10:56 AM
My Wally's have been getting in Panzer's again...is there something I've missed? I thought the days of the Panzers were through, but I guess not.

Also, what news of the MiG-15? That's a fighter I've been longing for as long as some were for the Avenger.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 24, 2006, 09:41 PM
Might be a new deco, I dunno, but I've not seen anything but RC Panzers in a while...  Then again the basic Panzers were non-existant in Pittsburgh unfortunately.  I saw one, once, for clearance like they had just found them in the back and needed to unload them fast...  It was at a store I go to routinely too so it wasn't new, just must've gotten lost in a shuffle somewhere along the line.

RC are still abundant here though...  Some stores got new and some just have leftover stuff they won't clearance.

Anyway new news on 21st...

They announced the Pioneer division Hanomag of course which many have probably already seen...  It's cool right?  Has the cool new small artillery piece on it and of course the small track bridges for traversing small streams and gaps...  If a winter white comes up I'll pick one up happily enough for Ardennes offensives...  Not sure I like the camo they showed though.

Anyway, then 21st comes out of the blue with a new US Halftrack...  Sweet.  The M-16 Anti-Air version with quad-cannon's in the rear...  This is a beast of a half-track.  I really want this piece of armor though, especially in Winter White...   I just hope both these come with lots of gear and perhaps new drivers or at least some good repaint pack-in figures.  The lack of figures with the humvees and weapons carrier really hurt the sales on those I think...  I mean who wouldn't pick up a slightly new/repainted Spec. Ops guys, or even perhaps an all-new modern US Infantryman figure?  I'd dig it.

Anyway, new planes too...  I slowly have drifted away from planes all together personally.  The Mig looks cool, so does the Starfighter, and I really REALLY would love the pack-in pilots if nothing else...  The East German Starfighter looks great too.  I just can't justify the space the planes take up though when air combat wasn't ever something I got into like others.

Figures and armor, that's my love at this point...  I need more and more of that. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 8, 2006, 04:03 AM
For the military collectors there's been some movement on the front lines of late...  New Halftracks are the rage from 21st this year in 1:18 so why not a third one right?  Here's images of it:

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/Sdkfz_251_Stuka/1.jpg)

Also 21st confirmed EIGHTEEN new 1:18 figures this year, including at least 2 DAK Germans.  ALl-new sculpts, nothing re-used or repainted, and all featuring the new (and incredible) articulation. 

DAK is cool, not my normal favorite but cool...  I'd honestly be happy with resculpting the basic German and US infantry units (riflemen, support, etc.) from European operations but this is cool too...  The report also said to expect Americans in the mix, many accessories for each figure, and many never-before-seen accessories...

I really hope 21st branches out to Brits, Russians, maybe even Resistance Fighters at some point.  I'd love it myself.

There's also lots of OTHER scales getting news, and since I'm not much on the airplanes anymore (too big and take up too much space for my collecting habits) it should be noted there's just huge news for planes.  Duel 2-packs of planes I guess, Jets, the long-awaited Avenger Torpedoe Bomber is just recently at retail... 

And on a personal note I'm finding Series 2 Battle of the Bulge figures routinely on trips out which is fantastic.  The US troops in greatcoats are freaking incredible.  I love these figures and they're what I wish we'd have gotten first time since the greatcoat was pretty common in the field.

Cool stuff. 

Oh and yes finally some freaking ARTILLERY is up...  Check out 21st's first piece in this genre, the PAK 40, a popular piece of German Artillery used extensively on all fronts:
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18_PAK40_TestShot/full/1.jpg)

And here's some shots of the other 2 halftracks for the curious...

Pioneer Hanomag...  Notice the bridge pieces on the sides and the artillery piece in place of the forward MG.  Pretty nice.  These were used extensively by forward German Forces on all fronts.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/pioneerpanzerwagen/full/1.jpg)

And this of course is the quad .50 caliber Halftrack.  The anti-aircraft gun (what it was originally designed for) was pretty wicked looking and this is one of 21st's more distinct and highly anticipated armor pieces this year I believe.  I love it personally and it's my favorite thing they've announced in a while really.  These were used against ground/infantry as well later in the war (i've heard this and 21st mentions it on their site but I don't know where it was recorded to have been used against ground targets but my god it must've been devastating against infantry). 
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/M16_Halftrack/full/1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: jedipurge on August 8, 2006, 11:24 AM
Thanks for the pics Jesse, awesome.  why in the hell can't hasbro do there vehicles in this fashion/detail.  It's really amazing the detail/realism put into them.  I can't wait to see what Fritz could/will do with that half track .50 calib quad.   I'm rackin' my brain trying to think how to make that Star Warsy.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on August 8, 2006, 03:19 PM
I really like this line. I have a 32x Me109 with german ace paint apps. I follow my heritage;hence the german fighter. My son is really into the 32x planes as well he currently has a Me262, Zero, macci. He really wants a FW 190D plus the upcoming Stuka. He has no desire for the Allied aircraft either. He says if they do a P61 or a twin Mustang he may change his mind. He would like 32x scale american and german bombers as well. We can't find anything but more macci's and zero's at retail so We'll probably have to shop online to get those newer Axis planes.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 9, 2006, 01:42 AM
I could definitely use the quad .50 for a SW custom...  It's so alien looking on its own you could just add greeblies to it, maybe extend the barrels and add it to an AT-ST carcas for a walker with some NASTY teeth.

The HT's are some of 21st's best work + value...  They sell for like $20 and the sheer # of parts used to make them makes it worth the price.  The original HT (US) sold for $30 included tons of gear and a figure with a new rem. helmet headsculpt too...  So it was a bit more value, but the recent repaint (Battle of the Bulge) was $20 and just didn't include all the "stuff" but was still a great item.  I didn't pick it up unfortunately and now regret it tremendously.

The work 21st does really goes unrecognized as the brilliance in terms of detail and quality that it is in this scale.  There's always the argument (when drawing comparisons between Hasbro and 21st) that 21st doesn't deal with license costs like Hasbro, etc...  The truth of the matter is though that they actually have to pay licensing fees out on anything from George Patton's family (for his name/likeness) to the individual names/noseart on planes...  And not to mention the manufacturing abilities Hasbro has in an advantage, the financial backing Hasbro has as a publicly held company that 21st lacks as a privately held company, etc...  Yet they're managing a lot of good stuff with their toy line.  They and BBI really go under the radar as truly great toy companies for the collector.  I'm just glad 21st's doing well financially with Wal-Mart (they also don't have the retailer support Hasbro does...  It's sad but 21st really only deals with one retailer in any capacity).  The line is popular I guess with adults and kids alike.

Who'd have thought we'd be at 2006 and kids would want WW2 figures of Japanese Imperial Soldiers, or US Marines from WW2's Pacific Theater?  The pegs in my region aren't empty for 21st product but I gotta say they're not overflowing either.  I remember the pegs overflowing with Japanese figures and now you can only get certain ones and usually there's only a handful of each.  The line seems to be doing well and 21st says it is too...  Good for us then. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: jedipurge on August 9, 2006, 11:35 AM
I'm loving these figs/vehicles, if I didn't have Star Wars OCD I'd be buying anything and everything from this line and BBi, it's just amazing, the guns aren't all limpy like hasbros either.  I was checking out one of the figs and his gun actually has a foldable stock, i would kill to have a stormie/clone carbine that had a foldable stock.  I only have 2 complaints though, which doesn't even compare to how many I have with hasbro, 1)some of the facial expressions-they range from looking like they got smacked with an ugly stick to looking like they got take a  :-X with no toilet paper in sight.  Some are okay but it seems most are in the "action" expression which may not nessicarily, spelling, hold well when using these guys for custom fodder.  2)I wish the joints were ball jointed, while according to Hasbro it's more expensive it looks so much better then that pin/hinge deal that most of them have.  but with the news that they'll be doing more/different scults soon we'll have to wait and see.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: TheBlackDog65 on August 10, 2006, 12:10 AM
Wow, where have I been?  Man oh man, I should have been in this thread a LONG time ago.  This is what is one item that is taking over on from my 3 3/4 Star Wars collecting (cutting back to only a figure or two that I want; my must haves on the SW line). 
I have bought many of the 1/32 figures, focusing on the 82nd, 101st, and Big Red 1 when they were out from Normandy, to Market Garden, to the Bulge (and their German counterparts). 
I buy some vechiles, but not duplicates.  I LOVE that they are doing a Pak 40! Anyway, I think for the money, this is the best thing out there for collecting!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on August 10, 2006, 03:56 PM
1:144th scale planes are out!

Last night at WM I picked up the Japanese Hayate, the f6 hellcat, the ME262, and the P51 mustang.

Nice little planes..my son will be thrilled when he checks his sock for xmas
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 11, 2006, 01:16 AM
I try to keep this thread updated...  It includes BBI stuff (of which I've seen more of the new figs of late btw), but yeah the 21st line (and 1:18 in general) is popping...  Tons of stuff coming, and it's not over yet.

I guess all these random updates are 21st's way of keeping up wiht the fans since they (and BBI) had 0 presence at SDCC...  BBI was there but showed nothing.  The competition in these lines is cool (then you throw in Adm. Toys and their jets too), but it's made a lot of the companies tighter lipped than Hasbro about future product till the future isn't very distant. 

The Halftracks are cool to me...  I just hope some paint schemes are consistant for current figure lines.  Like I'm really hoping all the Hano's come in Winter White for mechanized infantry units assaulting Bastogne...  The US HT will be green I assume which is fine for Bastogne (as is a winter paintjob).  The Germans had so many camo schemes though that you could get anything really. :(  I just hate when 21st does Eastern front schemes considering they've done jack and **** with Eastern front figures...

Would I buy Russians?  Hell yeah but they just don't seem anxious to do them...  I'd buy any nationality.  I hope we get some Brits first though.  I'm salivating at the 18 new figures with 2 DAK confirmed...  There could be some rocking choices in there.  I hope they mix it up some though with really different groups sent out at once instead of one big wave of Marines or Japanese...  If they mix it up and release more of one group later and staggered over time, I think it'll be better for sales.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on August 16, 2006, 07:47 PM
I've been a fan and collector of the 1:18 scale aircraft line since I found the first P-51 Mustang at TRU years ago. Since then I've picked up the ME 109, P-38 Lightning, Stuka, F4U Corsair, P-47 Thunderbolt, FW-190, Spitfire, Huey and F-104 Starfighter. I've been looking for the P-40 Warhawk "Flying Tigers" scheme, and AH-1 Supercobra but I've been told I'm outta luck. From  BBI I've picked up the Apache, Blackhawk, Little  Bird, Kiowa and  Zero.

Keep an eye out at Wal-Mart for those TBM Avengers, I read that BadCat was screwed by 21st Century to Debut this plane.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on August 16, 2006, 07:53 PM
I saw a few Avengers at my local Wally-World last night. It is an incredible looking plane. Were I not so poor I would have loved to pick one up. Hasbro really needs to learn a thing or two about proper scale from 21st Century...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on August 18, 2006, 11:23 AM
Woah!  Just  picked  up  the  Avenger  at  the  Wal-Mart in  East  Palmdale  and  this  plane  is  awesome!  But  at  70  bucks!  Ouch!  Looks  like  my  kidney  is  goin' on  e-bay.

If  anyone  spots  1:18  scale  "Flying  Tigers"  Warhawk  or  AH-1  Supercobra  please  let  me  know.  I  have  2  kidneys  after  all.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 18, 2006, 08:57 PM
Bearing in mind the Avenger is a BEAST of a plane...  3-seater, Torp...  It's one of 21st's biggest projects, and really is only dwarfed by the jets which chime in at $80-ish retail...

Hell the jets dwarf even Star Wars ships like an X-Wing or B-Wing...  :)  Sweeeet.

Planes are something I've pretty much bailed on though due to space...  If anyone's interested I have several I'd sell including the Spitfire and the checkerboard P-47 (which I love but can't justify the space it takes up).  I have the BBI Cobra I'm contemplating selling too which is their best piece overall besides maybe the Blackhawk.  I dunno...  :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on August 18, 2006, 10:09 PM
I picked up, saw several new 21st century plane products last night. I picked up the new 'dogfight' 1:32 2 pack with a P47 and a FW 190 in exclusive paint schemes-at 24$ what a steal considering Wm sells 1/32 scale at 15-16$ each usually :o. I also saw the new 1:48th scale planes..the p51 and me 109. Lastly I spotted the TBF1 avenger that I knew DG was salivatating for so I called him. I didn't even see the
Dogfight 2 pack(it was apparently stuffed in a return cart) but DG did spot it and called me after he bought it for me!I met him at another store where I bought it off him. What a strange turn of events last night. As a bonus, the store that had all the new 21st century stuff also had the 5 newest titanium ships so I stashed/bought some.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on August 21, 2006, 02:41 PM
Bearing in mind the Avenger is a BEAST of a plane...  3-seater, Torp...  It's one of 21st's biggest projects

Yeah it was hard to find space for the Beast, luckily 21st included it's folding wing mechanism. That helped.

SWM Santa Clarita had 3  1:18 scale F4U Corsairs, Bunker Hill Squadron, yesterday.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 22, 2006, 04:17 AM
Definitely a good feature with the folding wings.  I believe the Corsair had that as well (but I don't own it to know exactly).

If you plane nuts want planes, I have planes for sale for my cost + shipping...  Winter Stuka, Spitfire, maybe my P-38 (I love it though, it's a tough one to part with) and my P-47 as well...  Jon, if you want to trade stuff for them too that's always an option, I just have a pile of planes and ZERO space anymore...  :(  I gotta cut back, especially since armor is my focus with the figures and I really need freed up space after seeing armor and land stuff is due out this year.

By all means hit me up if you guys want more 1:18 planes, they're all yours.  I also have a damaged (but salvageable) original scheme Stuka I got clearanced at TRU, and I have a nearly complete BBI Apache or Cobra, I forget which model chopper it is...  It's fantastic.  I got it on sale too btw so it's cheaper than what they cost full retail.

Let me know guys, please.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on August 22, 2006, 10:50 AM
Definitely a good feature with the folding wings.  I believe the Corsair had that as well

I just have a pile of planes and ZERO space anymore.

I have a nearly complete BBI Apache or Cobra, I forget which model chopper it is...  It's fantastic.

Yep the wings fold, I have the two parked side by side.

Have you considered hanging them from the ceiling? I did this at my last house and saved lots of shelf space.

The Apache has tires and the Cobra has skids. You probably have an Apache, I don't recall BBI making a Cobra. On the other hand if they did it would be awesome, and I'd be very interested in it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on August 23, 2006, 01:15 PM
Jesse-

I'm(for my son and myself) only interested in the 1:32, 1:144 scale right now.
Thanks for the nice offer though, those sound like some nice planes(would hope 21st would make a 1:32 lightning or P61 one day ;))

On another note I sent a formal request to 21st research and development dept for the Japanese Shinden fighter and German Dornier Arrow (DO335) to be produced in 1:32 scale. I'm not, however, highly optimistic about these being done since while the Shinden saw some war action, these planes never really went into full production or saw much if any war action(and 21st isn't known for doing concept/unpopular/rare aircraft). I thought I'd ask them for S and G's though and that way I know I at least did my part to try and get it made.

The DS
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 24, 2006, 12:45 AM

Yep the wings fold, I have the two parked side by side.

Have you considered hanging them from the ceiling? I did this at my last house and saved lots of shelf space.

The Apache has tires and the Cobra has skids. You probably have an Apache, I don't recall BBI making a Cobra. On the other hand if they did it would be awesome, and I'd be very interested in it.

With customizing scale Star Wars pieces (anything from artillery to armor to speeders to spacecraft), space (hah) is a real issue even from the ceiling unfortunately.  My planes just take up too much of it and I can't justify it at this point since I honestly don't get much enjoyment out of the planes besides appreciation for the detail and size...  They're fantasitc but aviation isn't a hobby of mine nor a real focus of my history hobbies...

Now armor...  Land warfare...  That's a WHOLE other story. ;)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 30, 2006, 03:53 AM
Another update for another Hanomag variant, this one with a PAK on its back...  Anti-tank halftrack?  Yup, smells of desperation. ;)

It's a good variant though as they were fairly common towards the war's last couple years I think, in a push to get as much anti-armor stuff out there on the field as possible...  A Hanomag against a Sherman is a dead Hanomag though.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 6, 2006, 11:52 PM
New figure pictures are due soon from 21st...  I can't freakin' wait!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on September 7, 2006, 01:24 PM
I just picked up a 1:18 scale Bunker Hill Corsair, and Desert Stuka for 15 bucks each at the W Lancaster WM, awesome deal.

I'm not into vehicles as much as I'm into aircraft but I've been picking up some on clearance for about 10 bucks or so. In the past week I've picked up a hard top Humvee, M-115 Mutt, Navy Seal Jeep, a Hanomag and a half-track.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 9, 2006, 02:28 AM
It's "XD"-Day baby!  Oh yeah...  Me = happy as a clam right now...  I've waited for S1 resculpts for some years, and 21st doesn't disappoint in the slightest by delivering super articulation, super accessories, and super everything...

Hasbro take notes, you just got owned by 21st. :)

29th ID Rifleman
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/D-Day_Figures/full/1.jpg)
2nd Rangers Scout (think Saving Private Ryan)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/D-Day_Figures/full/2.jpg)

My wallet just **** itself.

And that's just TWO of 18 new figures next year, 2 of which are DAK (for the first time in the line).  Sweet stuff here.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on September 9, 2006, 05:26 AM
 (http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/e025.gif)

Damn. Those really look fantastic. Look at the size of that knife with the 2nd Ranger, it is tiny. 19 different accesories and SA all for under $5. There is no reason that a small company like 21st Century should be able to put a product like this out and Hasbro, the big huge corporation, can only muster up a few repaints with maybe 1 or 2 accessories each.

I think 21sy century and Bbi are going to be getting more and more of my money that would have been going to Hasbro in the next few years...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 12, 2006, 01:33 AM
More pics due soon I guess, and there is definitely some German dishes on the menu. :)

No Russians or Brits...  yet.  Sounds bleak for them, but I'm keeping SOME hope alive for it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on September 14, 2006, 03:14 AM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/D_Day_German/full/1.jpg)

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/D_Day_German/full/2.jpg)

21st Century has the German pictures up. Some good stuff for certain. Looks like there is a new hat in there with the Parade trooper. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 14, 2006, 03:15 AM
Did someone say Germans?

First up is a D-Day German in a Camo smock, which is friggin' great looking, and we NEED a German in this common garb for our hedgerow ass whipping scenes.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/D_Day_German/full/1.jpg)

And next, a German regular infantry dude...  Not sure what the deal is with "Parade Dress" and all that, as this looks like just a regular old infantryman to me, but I suppose that's maybe what they called their uniforms?  I'm not sure...  Nobody I know seems to be sure on that either.  Weird.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/D_Day_German/full/2.jpg)

I like that, with these two figures, you get extra headgear with both...  A field cap and helmet with the latter figure and a netted and unnetted helmet with the camo infantry.  That's cool really and as an army builder THAT is great stuff.  Head variants would be nice but the helmets/hats are a start and means there will be diversity with the headgear on even.

I'd love to see 21st dish out some beefy accessory sets with like an MG-42 w/ammo cans and ammo belts maybe...    Some landmines would be great, a Bazooka, a Panzerschrek and Panzerfaust, some packs and other gear, medic gear, sniper rifles for both sides, some packs with straps on them (like Thompson clip bags, Officer sachels, etc.)...  You put all this stuff in a set and the set alone would warrant buying MORE of the figures actually.  Arm up the figures with the new gear and expand...

Then again I'd re-buy figures packaged with this gear and a new head too, and get even better army building galore going. :)

Good for 21st though.  The articulation on these is insane...

And again I say to Hasbro, if the costs incurred in articulation are primarily just the increase in parts-per-figure equalling an increase in labor costs (and it's not so much the cost of the STYLE of articulation, or the # of parts needed to be tooled), then why can 21st give us a figure comprised of this many parts (and arguably more labor intensive figures) with such ease?

And look at BBI...  They're usually even MORE complex on some level it seems.  Or at least equal...

Hasbro can do better articulating the SW line, and I just can't see the excuses at this point.  They're outclassed by these much smaller companies, and even beaten at the cash register since these come in at a whole $2 less per figure ($4.99 is standard for BBI and 21st Cent. Toys figures).  Yeesh!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 14, 2006, 03:16 AM
Posting at the same time on those Ryan. :)  Good stuff though no doubt.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on September 14, 2006, 03:21 AM
Sorry for stealing your thunder there Jesse. ;)

It's time like these I wish I ahd the money to dive into this line some more. I'd absolutely LOVE to make a whole D-Day diorama set for these.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on September 14, 2006, 01:42 PM
1:144th scale planes are out!

Those stands that come with the 3" Titanium ships seem to work well with the Axis fighters of this series, but not so much the American planes.

This line has great detail for the scale, but I especially love the price, 3 bucks and change, compare that to those Franklin Mint jobs going at $15 each.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on September 15, 2006, 05:12 PM
Did someone say Germans?

First up is a D-Day German in a Camo smock, which is friggin' great looking, and we NEED a German in this common garb for our hedgerow ass whipping scenes.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/D_Day_German/full/1.jpg)

I would love to see the photographic evidence these guys are using to justify this guy.  I like German Camo as much as the next guy and the smock is truly iconic for Waffen SS and some limited Heer units, but I have only seen maybe 5 pictures of guys wearing Oak pattern Camo pants (Dots obviously, but not Oak to match the smock).  That would have been a field made item that would have required the sacrifice of a Zeltbahn (shelter quarter).  This guy loses army builder status because of that.  He is best to be an NCO or "Alte Hasse".  Maybe a Sniper.  To make this guy an army builder he needs mouse gray or reed green pants.

The Parade trooper may be in his "Garrison" uniform, but I am pretty sure they didn't "Parade" with an open collar, even on an M-42/43 tunic.  Maybe he is Parade because he still has his Jackboots after 1943.

It is good to see them do more Germans though and I agree with Jesse, there needs to be packs of Accessories with MP-40's, MG's and the appropriate pouches and tools for each. 

I guess I will steal the Side Caps from my BOB Panzer guys so that one of the Smock guys can have a **** cap.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 15, 2006, 07:54 PM
Yeah I think I'd have preferred the smocked German to have regular German Grey-green pants on over the all-camo look...  I can't think of seeing many all dolled up like that, but it's a good start...

What I'm personally thinking is swapping torsoes with legs on some figures.  Maybe some of my BOTB Germans even and just have some of my BOTB's running into battle with camo pants on and their jackets covering it up.

I've seen the smocks in various footage/shots but not everything combined like that.

Too bad no sniper rifle...  :(  It is ideal for that role actually Paul.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on September 16, 2006, 08:00 PM
There seems to be a slowdown of sorts in my area, I haven't seen any new 21st century product of any type for awhile (3 weeks on going) now. That's like a big gap for us!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on September 16, 2006, 08:02 PM
Around here I'd be lucky to see anything new that close together. It seems we see new stuff once every two or three months.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on September 16, 2006, 08:06 PM
Yuck, I hope that doesn't happen here :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on September 16, 2006, 08:53 PM
I don't especially like the camo smock on the German guy, I would have much preffered a gray green uniform.

I'll still buy those two American D-Day troops, along with the Parade Dress German...that is, if they show up at the Robinson WalMart, which they probably won't...I'll have to go up to Beaver probably.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on September 29, 2006, 12:16 PM
Thanks to Darth Slothus I have procured one 1:18th scale 21st Century Toys MIG 15, and I have to say this is one sweet aircraft. I'm not an expert but I'm familiar enough to appreciate the details like the removable gun pod, the aft air brakes and the "spin recovery" line painted on the console.

One small gripe is that the gun pod has to be in position to stabilize the nose gear, making it impossible to display them seperately.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 3, 2006, 12:53 AM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18FIG_DAY1/full/1.jpg)
MMMMmmmmm More figures....

:)

82nd Airborne Officer...  There is going to be one figure update every day this week, so this is the first for Monday.  Tomorrow is a German I hear and we've yet to see the DAK Germans so that's at least something we know is coming.

Says the new figs are due out in the fall of this year.  I'll be amazed if we see them that fast but wow I'd love to buy up a lot of these.  Even if this is an officer, it can be modded to be a fantastic 82nd Trooper for filling out dioramas.  The pack is great, and helps keep the figure fairly generic for armying up.

The headsculpts on these new figures are without a doubt the best ever from 21st as well.  Kudos to them.

The final paintjob on this isn't done btw, so I'm assuming that's why the stripes are on but he's being touted as an officer.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on October 3, 2006, 01:18 PM
The new one is up....

A German Infantry Officer with U-boat Leather Jacket.

Looks like a good base figure though. 

Jack boots are not incorrect for  the period on an officer. 

I've never seen a Heer Infantry Soldier wearing U-Boat leathers.  Mostly see those on Waffen SS units and Panzer units or units that were based in Italy.

I like the headsculpt and the White-walls haircut, plus the removable Peak Cap.

It is an exciting week.  It look like 21st may have gone to the Ball-Socket head.  Anybody else get that impression?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 4, 2006, 02:05 AM
I'm loving this one too....  I'm not picky on the footwear if it sometimes is inaccurate.  This figure looks like it too would make a spiffy base Infantryman as well as a good officer figure.  I can't wait to mix him in some of my BotB uni's and stuff, to get a mix of Officer types and stuff.

The jacket I'm not sure of their thought process but it adds diversity plus it would look fine for Italian based troops or whatnot. 

Some extra gear would've been nice though.  A rifle, an MP 44 perhaps...  Definitely a Luger would've been something.  He seems shorthanded in that regard.  As it is though he seems like a really decent figure to me. 

Now I just hope we see a little diversity on these ETO figures.  I mean just mixing it up a little like BBI's last guys, or the S1 were.  Different heads and gear on these bodies (with diff ranks) would be nice for us looking to rack up armies.

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18FIG_DAY2/full/1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 4, 2006, 03:05 AM
Thought I'd share too an image of BBI's WW2 guys.  Good figures but they never showed in Pittsburgh.  The only BBI WW2 we got were the Para and Infantry that came with the new modern guys.

(http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/badcattoys_1915_120898110
)

I'd love some of these but at the moment $$$ is tight so they gotta wait.  They're great infantry filler though, and priced just right at $5 a figure at TRU if you can find them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 5, 2006, 02:50 AM
Another update, another figure, another German...

And another coat.  Paul, what kind of coat is this?  Another leather jacket from the Italian theater or the Kriegsmarine?

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18FIG_DAY3/full/1.jpg)

Still in the jackboots but I'm ok with that...  Cool figure, pretty perfect army builder too...  The headsculpt is great and the rifle hand is REALLY needed on more figures in the line.

I love the maxed out articulation though.  Fantastic...  Camo helmet too.  Only additions I'd make would be a plain helmet w/out markings perhaps.

Good stuff though and regardless of why, I like the jackets.  They're a nice extra at least.  It'd be cool if Hasbro incorporated similar stuff into the SW line...  Hell it'd be cool if they made the skirt pieces out of the jacket material 21st uses because it's REAL pliable.  very good for sitting/posing the figure.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on October 5, 2006, 01:19 PM
Ok, it looks like they are throwing Gebirgsjaeger (Mountain troops) emblems on the shoulders of these Italian Submarine Leather jackets...

I like what they are doing to some extent (it looks like the should joint is hidden in the black jacket or this is the first ever hybrid of Ball joint and hinge being interchangable.

But PLEASE 21st find some historical context for these things.  Jackboots in 1944 were rare enough, but now we have a Jackboot wearing mountain trooper with Italian U-boat leathers in NORMANDY...

I have a prediction for today's figure.....Pre-war Weimar republic helmet (with Dot Pattern Helmet cover), Oak Pattern Jump Smock(step in Type I), Riding Pants, Sports shoes and a "Captured" Thompson.....  But then again that may be Friday's figure.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 5, 2006, 04:33 PM
You're just angry because you know all this stuff. ;)

I'm wondering where the coats came from...  Do the coats allow the figure to be placed in another theater?  Italy perhaps?

Then sans coat he's a decent enough ETO D-Day fellow...  well short of the boots anyway?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Dressel Rebel on October 5, 2006, 05:15 PM
There's really nothing more to say about these guys except:

 Hasbro, take note.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on October 5, 2006, 07:13 PM
You're just angry because you know all this stuff. ;)


It is more a case of the same books, photos and archives are available to them as well.

It is the same frustration I have with other lines...I get all excited about what is coming...and then nit pick it...I need help I freely admit it.

Without the coat he makes a good army builder.  (even if only in Hollywood, did the Germans wear Jackboots till the end).

I can wait to donate that lleather coat to some Star Wars customs....or better yet...does that thing just Scream British Jerkin if you don't use the sleeves?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on October 5, 2006, 09:35 PM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18FIG_DAY4/full/1.jpg)

Too bad the Germans don't come with this many accessories. This is the first be-spectacled soldier we've gotten thus far in any line, isn't it?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 6, 2006, 01:23 AM
Can't say I'm as pleased with this figure...

99% of my anger goes towards the head sculpt.  I HATE the jeep cap guys.  Without a removable hat the head looks like **** because, well, you need a brain bucket on for combat.  The glasses are cool and this is a first for this line but I'm not sure I dig them too much because they're very distinct.

If he had a radio pack or something, and if he had a removable hat w/helmet, I'd be a lot more into this figure than he is.  The new Carbine with the stock out is nice though, and the radio is cool.  And the coat, of course is cool...  He'll need a new head w/helmet is all for me to really dig him.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 7, 2006, 02:19 AM
Another Yank enters the fray...

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18FIG_DAY5/full/1.jpg)
Updating the S1 Bazooka dude is a cool idea.  I wish he also came witha  rifle though as a guy just running around with a bazooka seems odd to me.  Still, this is a great figure and I've got M1's around to hand off to him too so that's alright.  He'll be armed to the teeth when I get him.  Looks like one of the better "generic" army builders I think.  Great figure...

And I'm giddy for the D-Day gear, I mean seriously.  That's some sweet stuff.  The vest is awesome.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Famine on October 7, 2006, 02:56 AM
I went to Wal*Mart tonight and GOOD LORD these figures hit the store like woah! I'm going to start collecting these, I think.

Kevin
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on October 7, 2006, 08:55 AM
Ranger vest for a guy with a 29th Infantry Patch (not Rangers)....

Definately needs a rifle or carbine of some sort to make army building an option for him.  He is the only soldier with a 41 Jacket in the new line (aka Non-Airborne) so far.

I really like the Holster options..(with pistol and without).  See I CAN say something positive....however I am surprised the didn't give him "captured" jackboots...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: dafoo on October 7, 2006, 03:11 PM
This line is just great!  It is great to have real competition in the action figure market.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 7, 2006, 09:55 PM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18FIG_DAY6/full/1.jpg)

Another day, another GI...  A Lt., and unfortunately a Lt. without a real weapon...  Sure he has a .45 but my M1 stash is gonna be damn low again I outfit all these figures with gear that they didn't get in the first place.

Take the walkie talkie out and give me a rifle for this schmuck.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on October 7, 2006, 10:21 PM
Maybe he traded his Rifle to a guy in the 2nd Ranger Btl. for the vest....

This one also seems to have the S1 type head.  Some of the others almost looked ball jointed.

I hope the hands are as easy to switch on these as the other series have been.  It is always nice to have the xtra hands from the "Stiff" arms.

I like the Binocs case too.

He may be the first with the Hybrid rank of "Buck Lt."  The sleeve stripes are a bit of a head scratcher...

I think Officers over-populate the 1:18 market.  Half the BBI stuff is officer ranked too.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 8, 2006, 03:34 AM
the XD boards mentioned paint aps are gonna change but what yous ee with gear is what you'll get.  I'm wagering the stripes are just "placeholder arms" at the moment.  Final will have the Lt. bars.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on October 8, 2006, 11:13 PM
Here's the last figure of the week:
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18FIG_DAY7/full/1.jpg)

He's looking a little light on accesories, but I do like the addition of the BAR. Not my favorite of the figs this week though.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 9, 2006, 12:37 AM
You need your support gunner so I'm cool with it, I just hope that's NOT the head we get.  That headsculpt was cool the first time but should've been retired at that point due to it being too unique.  I wish they'd sneakily try doing the main players from SPR...  I'd love the heads for casting (Tom Hanks Rebel General is a cool idea), and if they had given us some of the accessories to match up (Sniper Rifle especially) it would've had more of a "wow!" factor to the whole thing.

Anyway, ok figure and they need a BAR guy so I'm ok with that.

No DAK?  Wonder when we see them now. :)  I thought for sure this week....

Could there then be more S1 resculpts we're not seeing?  MP-44 or 40 Germans would be nice, as would snipers/sharpshooters for BOTH sides slipped in as a plus for fans.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on October 16, 2006, 01:53 PM
I picked up a 1:18 scale F-86 Sabre at the E Lancaster WM and I have to say this is an excellent plane. I appreciate the details like the airbrakes and double hinged nose wheel door, but the gun access doors  and the "real" cloth restraining harness was a pleasant surprise. The plane came with 2 each optional drop tanks and sidewinders complete with rails, but I prefer to display my fighters clean.

21st gives you all this and more at 5 bucks cheaper than the overpriced TRU Tie. Makes me dream of  the possibilities if they took over the SW Basic figure scale vehicle line.

Wish list
Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
Grumman F-9F Cougar
Sikorsky H-5
Bell 47G
Bell X-1
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on October 29, 2006, 09:48 AM
Picked up some Battle of the Bulge figures for customs...it was the first time I saw them, excellent job on 21st's part.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 30, 2006, 01:54 AM
Good score.  I haven't seen new figures on WM pegs in a while...  We're still sitting on the same Japanese and Marines pegwarming out here.  :(

If the Japanese had been given more rifles and less mortars, I'd have bought all the figures chilling at my local Wally actually.  W/out the Rifle I'm reluctant to army build a guy with a mortar and no means of personal defense.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on October 30, 2006, 10:05 AM
The Beaver Valley WalMart and the Robinson Walmart both have healthy amounts of the Bob Figures...Beaver also has a nice selection of SW, saw at least 4-5 Death Star Gunners...

I only bought a couple Imp. Marines. You're right about the rifles.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 1, 2006, 01:38 AM
More new figures, this time two tankers...  The positives are:

-Good generic base sculpts
-Lots of extras, including guns which are needed to make toys fun
-BotB extra gear too for non-D-Day ass kicking, but instead the rush to save Bastogne ass kicking.

The negatives though are:

-******* molded-on hats/helmets...  I'm sick of jeep caps.
-No ammo belts to make them less tanker-ish.  If you wanted to slip these guys in as army builders they could use some M1 bandoleirs or a shoulder bag of Thompson ammo.  Something to give them ammo to make them appear more generic footsoldier-ish.
-Boots in Gaiters...  Be nice to have finally seen guys with their pants untucked and over the boot.

I gotta say though, the loader's extra hands on the posed arms are great...  I want to put those on his BotB poseable arms though or something because my tanks are all winter washes, not D-Day green.  :(  Hell a green regular old Sherman hasn't been available since Series 1!  Holy hell, that's a travesty.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18figures_ddaytankers1/full/1.JPG)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18figures_ddaytankers1/full/2.JPG)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: spec_spidey on November 1, 2006, 11:56 AM
I am really disappointed that we haven't seen more Germans. The two showed originally got me psyched, but all the U.S. guys are a let down. They all use the old torso and leg molds just with new heads, accessories, and arms. I will probablly pass on all but the Germans.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 2, 2006, 02:38 AM
The GI's didn't disappoint me at all personally...  They're pretty great really, for what they are, and I was really looking forward to Series 1 kind of getting a revamp here...  They needed it considering basic US and German troops from the ETO were stuck with all the ****** articulation.

That said, more Germans would be nice...  They have the more diverse outfit choices.  That said, someone at the XD board mentioned how Germans are the harder sell due to the subject matter...  That is true.

But, anyway the other Tankers (there are more somehow) are on the way soon, and this weekend I guess the German DAK are on their way, so that's something cool to look forward to Spidey.

Now I'll want US guys for N. Africa and Brits...  If we're getting DAK that is, who is gonna fight them?

Add to that, only 2 DAK?  Hmmm :(  Be nice to get at least 4, like an Officer a rifleman, an MP40 guy, and an MG'er...  One in shorts would be awesome too.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on November 2, 2006, 08:43 AM


Now I'll want US guys for N. Africa and Brits...  If we're getting DAK that is, who is gonna fight them?

Add to that, only 2 DAK?  Hmmm :(  Be nice to get at least 4, like an Officer a rifleman, an MP40 guy, and an MG'er...  One in shorts would be awesome too.

That classic photo of the British Desert Rat in shorts, Tommy Helmet and Enfield with a bayonet running would be great subject matter.

The key will be that if we get US troops from N. Afrika or Sicily...I hope they don't show up in thier DDay gear or BoB gear just painted a different color.

Or even some tropical Fallschirmjaeger with the over-baggy jump pants, longsleeve shirt (rolled up) and M-41 Tropical Cap (removable of course)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 3, 2006, 01:36 AM
I can't believe the US tanks are getting a whole crew yet there isn't an interior on the Sherman.  I'm really hoping this means a retooling of the Sherman with full interior is on the way, this has me hopeful.

Check out this figure update tonight though...  This first figure kicks ass.  A removable tanker cap AND removable binoc case that MIGHT open?  Even if it doesn't it's cool to me.

And paperwork?  That kicks ass on a massive level.

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18tankers_2/full/1.jpg)

And this guy with the goggles down is SORELY needed...  I can't wait to pick him up too.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18tankers_2/full/2.JPG)

Again it goes without saying that I hate jeep caps at this point.  a single removable jeepcap sculpt should be made and re-used over these molded-on hats.  I hate 'em.

The tank crew turned out kind of extra cool though and you can't deny they're good "variety" bodies for D-Day army builders too, that's a plus unto itself.  I just wish we had some Thompson sachels, medic bags, and other accessories to ADD to these figures (and a head/helmet/hand set) to really spice up these tankers into infantry guys.  I'll just remove the unit logos on the shoulders with goof off.

You get cool stuff like picks, shovels and other extras though, and I think 21st is stepping it up some with this wave of figures.  Plus all the BotB extras...  Not too shabby.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: spec_spidey on November 3, 2006, 09:27 AM
The accessories are about the only things that I like. The figures themselves are just rehashes with new heads. I just can't justify it. I mean if 21st Century wants to call them kit bashes or re-releases with new heads and gear, I am fine with it. But calling these figures all new is pretty crappy. Some of the first preview picks were exciting, but this tanker body, I am tired of seeing it. Saw it in BOB, saw it in BOB 2, and now here. At least they could resculpt it. I hate the little holes for accessories. Just give the figure a removable belt or sculpt the items onto the figure.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 4, 2006, 01:39 AM
I didn't even realize that one guy's name was Jesse James...  Doesn't really look like me but I'll take it.  The "Wildman" bit though...  Meh, I can do without that.  When you have a name like mine, you didn't need nicknames.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on November 6, 2006, 09:44 AM
Ok...the Afrika Korps is up...the PVT looks decent...the Captain...looks like he has some decent accessories, however why does the Captain have K98 ammo pouches?  And worse yet they appear to be molded on.  I know they are re-using parts, and that is fine within a range of ranks in the German Army, but Officer and EM/NCO's did not share the same Beltbuckles etc.  The advantage is that he has no officer insignia either, so as long as you don't put the Peak Cap on him he is just another grunt.

And the lack of helmet is a bit of a let down.

And if I am wishing..I'd go for the Low Boots version as well.

Now with the stich counting out of the way......

Of course I'll snag a few.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 6, 2006, 03:17 PM
I agree Paul except from an army building POV the Officer's probably better the way he is...  A little rank removable and a K-98 and he's set to be another schmuck about to get his sandy ass handed to him by Patton! :)

Considering it's only 2 figures I'm sorta glad the officer's a better soldier than an officer...  For the curious, here's pics...  BTW I'm disappointed in the Private's fieldcap not being removable.  At this stage that's a travesty.

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18DAKfigures/full/1.jpg)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18DAKfigures/full/2.JPG)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on November 7, 2006, 10:42 AM
The Wal-Mart in SE Palmdale got some new 1:18 scale P-51 Mustangs and F-104 Starfighters. The F-104s are interesting in that they sport the USAF jungle camoflage with the name "Smoke II", yet the box they're in is the same one as the Luftwaffe version release. They had a ton of the 1:48 scale planes but no new 1:32 scale planes.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on November 7, 2006, 11:07 AM
Those aren't new..they've been there for a couple days now.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on November 7, 2006, 11:29 AM
I know, I saw them Saturday, just hadn't gotten around to mentioning it 'til now.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on November 10, 2006, 10:59 PM
Has the Pak 40 been released yet?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 11, 2006, 01:46 AM
Yeah, in some areas supposedly.  I've yet to see it but thena gain we've had a 21st Drought out here for some months really.  nothing new at all.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on November 11, 2006, 11:21 AM
Aye, we haven't seen anything past last year's Marines and Japanese, which is a shame; BOTB S3 figures looked really nice.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on November 11, 2006, 11:47 PM
Picked up another BotB Marine at a WalMart tonight.

And since this thread is also sort of a BBi thread, I bought a Navy Seal Sniper tonight as well. As soon as it came out of the package, the bicep joints were glued shut and fell out when I tried to twist them loose. I sent BBi a replacement request, the figure should be here in 2-3 weeks ( ::))...

EDIT- I meant to say 4-6...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 13, 2006, 03:44 PM
there are new BBI guys too, new photos...  I didn't even realize this.  I hope they are shiping with WW2 guys like the last moderns.

Here they are...

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/dreamangl79/toyfront.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/dreamangl79/toyback.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/dreamangl79/army2.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/dreamangl79/army3.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/dreamangl79/army2.jpg) (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/dreamangl79/army1.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on November 21, 2006, 04:08 AM
I saw the 1:32 scale Dogfight 2 pack consisting of the ME 262 and P-51 Mustang in Palmdale. This set is real nice but I'm into the larger scale. It'd be nice to pick up a 262 in 1:18.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on November 21, 2006, 09:11 PM
I'm planning on creating a Battle of the Bulge diorama for my history project based on either this picture:
(http://www.umkc.edu/lib/spec-col/ww2/Dday/images/bulge4.GIF)
or this one:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8e/Battle_of_the_Bulge.jpg)

I'll be using 21st Century Toy's BotB Marines and some hobby supplies.

I'll post pics when I'm done.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 22, 2006, 02:06 AM
You know the BotB troopers aren't Marines though, right? :)

The Battle of the Bulge was fought by a U.S. Army personnel that got cut off by the "bulge" in the lines caused by a German push deep into the Ardennes forest and elsewhere in Belgium...  The US Army's 101st Airborne were rushed into Bastogne to hold it because it was a key location and they were used to being isolated and surrounded during combat, and were needed to back up the troops already there that were having a tough time holding onto the real estate.  Other units got trapped there (a good friend of mine was an engineer for instance, and not a front line combat troop, but he had to become a rifleman due to the situation) of course but the 101st were the most famous/known group there.

While marines saw service in the European Theater it wasn't widely known, and while I could be off I don't believe any Marines were involved in "The Bulge" at all, but more with landings and whatnot earlier in the ETO.  If you want to learn a substantial bit more, check out some episodes of Band of Brothers that deal with the BotB in particular.  They're informative, realistic...  That's what I'd do.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on November 22, 2006, 06:03 AM
D'oh!

Well, I'll be using the 21st Century American figures. At least I know they're American. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 22, 2006, 06:08 AM
21st made Battle of the Bulge figures and US Marines from the Pacific Theater both, so I'm not sure what you've got but there are both for certain out there.  Marines are pretty easily available around us but the BotB figures shipped to our area too.

The key difference is the Marines are in their trademark green and camo uniforms while the Bulge figures are in winter gear like Mackinaw coats and trenchcoats and the like.  Not sure what you've got to work with of that stuff.  There were Germans too...  They actually released 2.5 full lines of Battle of the Bulge figures.  Series 1, Series 1 repaints, and Series 2...  Series 2 just started shipping in the last few months.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on November 26, 2006, 10:38 PM
I made sure I got the Battle of the Bulge figures, and I knew which ones were which, just called them Marines by habit I guess... :)

Anyways, went out to WalMart and bought 4 Battle of the Bulge troops and went to work swapping arms, coats, and heads to try to match the people in the picture above (the one with the 3 up front and the fourth running in the background). I also bought some Fomecor and put together the box:
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o40/DarthNirvana/IMG_0012.jpg)
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o40/DarthNirvana/IMG_0013.jpg)
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o40/DarthNirvana/IMG_0014.jpg)
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o40/DarthNirvana/IMG_0015.jpg)
(http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o40/DarthNirvana/IMG_0016.jpg)

I still have to add some painting details (5 'o clock shadow on prone one, black helmet on the running one *I know that it's steel, but I only got 3 from the troops I bought*, etc.).

Tomorrow I'll head out to my local hobby shop and buy the rest of the supplies I'll need to complete it- spary adhesive, snow ready mat, sprinkle snow, trees, and shrubbery. Then I'll put it together and hope to be done my Tuesday, Monday if I'm lucky.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on December 9, 2006, 11:28 PM
AWESOME!!! Picked up some of the first series of the D-Day figures today at the Beaver Valley WalMart. The whole first wave was there (German Parade Officer, Camo Smock German, Tank Commander, Ranger Scout, Tank Gunner, D-Day Rifleman), but the only ones that really caught my eye were the Tank Commander and the 2nd Ranger Scout. I really can't wait for the rest of the DDay figures, I'll post pics if anyone wants them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 14, 2006, 06:58 PM
I'm seeing BotB2 figures out here now actually...  If i had extra $$$ I'd probably buy couple of the trenchcoated US troops at least but X-mas has me strapped for spare cash it seems.  Bummer.

The Pak-40, US and German halftracks, and D-Day figures are out too so that's a lot to look for...  Especially since I wanted a couple of the halftracks, lots of D-Day figures, a few Pak's...  Yeesh.

Oh, and RC Panzers in Panzer Grey scheme at my local Wal-Mart...  I'm thinking of doing a trade-in on the scheme I have because I like the plain grey coloring much more, and it's more of a Northern Europe paintjob anyway.  I just know I don't want 2 RC Panzers...  I have one plain, so 2 total is more than enough for me.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on December 19, 2006, 10:28 AM
Last night the Palmdale Super Wal-Mart had 4 1:18 scale Mig-15s, as well as the 1:144 Dogfight 2 packs. These little planes are just repaints of the earlier wave but cool none the less.

The Lancaster store has 1 remaining 1:18 scale TBF Avenger.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on December 19, 2006, 03:32 PM
Does anyone have the Stuka fighter in 1:18th? There's a few sitting at my local WalMart and I'm debating on whether or not I should pick it up. How are their fighters, anyways?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on December 19, 2006, 04:09 PM
I have a couple of Stukas and I'm very happy to have them. The designers threw in alot of neat details like, forward and rear opening canopies, swivel rear mounted machine gun, landing gear mounted "terror sirens", dive brakes, movable elevator and rudder, 500 pound bomb with swing-out cradle as well as additional bomblets, and of course the pilot and rear gunner.

If the price doesn't bother you, you should know that the planes are made of plastic much more brittle than your common Star Wars vehicle, and parts tend to brake when forced during assembly. Also these things are huge, make sure you have plenty of space for them, I hang them up myself.

I'm a history nut, and an aviation fan so picking these planes up is a no brainer for me, but these things are cool enough that any toy collector can appreciate them. Just remember to be gentle with them.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 21, 2006, 03:22 AM
DN,

I have 2 Stuka's and have considered selling one of them actually...  Not that they're bad, they're just too big for me.  If you're interested I'd sell you one of mine actually I think...  Planes are great but big and SW is taking over in my collecting realm so figures and armor are where I'm remaining at this point.  No big planes for me. :(

Stuka's fantastic though...  Big, bulky, 2 pilot figures too...  Lots of detail.  One of the best fighters made.

EDIT:

BTW, I saw D-Day out at the Mills Mall tonight too...  had money for one though with the holidays here.  :(  I'm bummed...  A ****** day just kept getting worse.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on December 23, 2006, 12:57 AM
Today I saw a DDay 2nd Ranger Scout with his insert upside down. I considered buying him just to take a pic and for some extra fodder but I was already swamped with other Christmas gifts.

I did pick up the Stuka today, though, and just spent a good half hour putting it together. It's my first WW2 plane, and it's fantastic. I have no place to put it, though I think I'll hang it up. What do you guys use?

Thanks for the headsup Darth Broem, it was rather hard to put it together. I had to use some superglue on the tail fins for it to stay on.

I really love the camo scheme on it, but the figures are hard as hell to put in the cockpit in a good pose. And I just gave up on having the gunner hold onto the MG-15.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 23, 2006, 02:06 AM
I found it was best to kind of get his hand on the gun, and then work him into the plane.  True scale does pose its problems.

That said, if you're in the market for planes, I'm really contemplating selling some of them, and I'd probably cut a better deal than what I paid on one or two...  Food for thought.

My fav Stuka is the winter white.  Sweet ride that is with the sharktoothed bomb and all...  The line really catered to the plane guys for years so there's a lot of them out there...  My P-38's my all-time favorite though.  Big and beautiful...

I hung mine with high-strength fishing wire and strong eyehooks in the ceiling if that's any help...  I found beams to mount the hooks to so they anchored in well.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 29, 2006, 02:00 AM
I picked up the new Grey short-barrel Panzer the other day at a local WM...  $35 on clearance, and the last one in teh store.  These got put out in a weird aisle like 10 days before X-Mas and clearanced like Tuesday...  That's bull****.  They're RC like the other Panzers were before it by the way, and the first I'd seen this paintjob.

I actually returned my old Panzer (RC) in this one's box...  The grey Panzer's box pictures my Panzer so I didn't exactly feel bad about reboxing it and returning it.  I like the grey much better, and essentially they're the same thing with different paintjobs so this is one time returning something different didn't bother me so I was glad to do it.  The grey's just much more generic and fits my collecting schemes while the tan was for the Eastern Front and since I have jack **** from that front I wanted the grey...  I can BS this as D-Day armor or something.

They had like 8 of them, but only 1 was left yesterday when I picked it up.  Cool beans though, it's a good buy for $35 if someone sees the one I returned...

The downsides of the RC Panzers are that the track plastic is brittle and doesn't take a lot of beating, the tank runs faster than it should, and you can't fit a full figure in a hatch because they're molded off...  For $50 though, an RC tank is a steal at that price.  For $35 you're just damned lucky to get something this cool.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 8, 2007, 11:14 PM
Got more...  I picked up a pile last night, including the 2 DAK Troopers that simply rock.

Anyway, here's what I got...

-D-Day German Infantryman...  Guy with camo helmet.  He's about as good a generic German infantryman as they've made ever, pretty cool other than his oblong head...  Paintjobs on these are iffy on the skin, but the bodies are pretty nicely painted.  It's just odd how they cast the parts in white and painted on the flesh tones and such instead of casting in color.

This figure came with a removable black coat (open I think) and it rocks...  The coat's not right according to Paul, I wasn't really sure though.  It looks cool on him though, but no good rifle hands for the poseable coat arms unfortunately.  If you don't use it, remember me because it's great customizing fodder, haha.

-D-Day German Officer...  Weak in that he comes with less "stuff" but he too has the cool removable black coat.  His is buttoned though.  He did disappoint me that he didn't come with a Luger, a map case, etc.  It would've been great to have gotten actually this guy's legs on a smocked camo body with an MP44 and pouches, but that's me.  He's cool nonetheless, but getting his hat on isn't any small feat.

-Afrika Korps Officer...  Cool figure, and works as an officer or a regular Joe...  The figure seemingly lacks the holes for his map pouch and his ammo packets though, but the fact he comes with two hats is nice, and I LOVE the removable field caps on the Germans.  I have him as a regular schmuck...  Again, like all figures in this wave the paintjobs are so-so at best.  The body is fine, but the arms being bare really show the sloppy paint.  My Officer looks like he has a big scar on his right forearm.

-Afrika Korps Rifleman...  Two heads, one with goggles down, makes this a great army builder, however the hats are molded on and that blows.  Still, this is probably one of the best "generic" German infantryman ever made.  I now want Brits and Americans to fight him! 

-U.S. Bazooka Man...  Pretty cool "generic" D-Day figure.  If you've got extra gear it would go great with him as a regular infantryman, as he comes with no rifle, but he does have a pistol and some random gear...  I'm loving the D-Day vests, if for no other reason than my own personal customizing selfishness.  They're just simply ideal vests for Star Wars figures.  Same ****** skin paintjobs.

This guy comes with 2 unique tipped rockets too.  Dunno which is which but I assume one's anti-armor and one isn't.  I'm unsure though.

-U.S. Rifleman...  Same as above.  A lot to love but the paint.  One of these guys didn't have the vest and I can't recall who...  I think the rifleman and the Bazooka guy (I may be in error on him) didn't come with the vest now that I think of it.  I handed some off to BBI D-Day guys.

-U.S. BAR Gunner...  I KNOW he had a vest with him and he rocks.  His pouches seem odd though, but still a great figure in general with a modified headsculpt it seems (new hair on an existing head I'm thinking).  Same ****** paint.

I'd say all the U.S. guys are fantastic though, and really I like this entire wave for the most part...

One disappointment was the headsculpt on the guy with the M1 Carbine which I got earlier...  He can't have a helmet on him because his hair is too spiffy.  Disappointing to say the least.  I have him as a guy running up the beaches after falling and losing his helmet. 

Another disappointment is that, instead of new heads all around, some of the heads are re-used between Americans and Germans, also it seems like some heads are simple modifications to past headsculpts.  Youc an usually tell a modded head because it lacks the ball/socket joint that the new sculpts have.  That's a little disappointing.

Anyway, so far the tankers are the slow movers...  duh.  Though the odd thing is, with some work and extra heads/helmets the tankers would make outstanding infantry for either D-Day or Bastogne (most of them have mackinaws, which rocks).  I haven't seen either Pvt. Hodges or Lt. Richards, I can't remember which, yet.  I think it's the Lt. though.

All these figures lack proper rank to their cardbacks by the way.  The BAR Gunner figure is a Sgt. but listed as a private (would a Sgt. be given the BAR?  I'm thinking no on that, but I'm not sure now).  The 4 tankers are cool but just lack the umph of the others.  If all of them had removable headgear I think they'd do better for simply being better fodder.

Someone needs to start making WW2 accessories...  helmets and rifles in particular are in demand at this point.  I'd buy some actually if cast in color. 

Good stuff though, this wave is my favorite to-date due to the beefed up articulation...  Which speaking of, the 2 DAK figures are lacking ball/socket shoulders indicating to me they are a hold-over from a cancelled wave of DAK at one point.  I think they were made at some point and not released, maybe intended for TRU at one point and held over till now and mixed in.  Disappointing on the shoudlers but still they're SA otherwise.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on January 10, 2007, 09:14 PM
So is the 2nd wave of new figures hitting WalMarts now Jesse? Or did you order them online?

Your writeup was very nice man. I agree with you 100% on the points you made on the figures that I already bought.

I haven't been to WalMart since before Christmas and then the first wave of new figures seemed to be selling rather well.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 11, 2007, 01:25 AM
Yeah this is wave 2 of the D-Day figures, found at WM...  + 2 DAK figures.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on January 11, 2007, 10:18 AM
Alright...more 1:144 scale fighter plane repaints found at NE Lancaster WM last night. Now I do appreciate the diverse paint schemes of aircraft, but I think it's time for new sculpts.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on January 11, 2007, 03:18 PM
I'm going to be going to WalMart tonight to pick up a few supplies for a camping trip, and I'm hoping I'll be able to find the new Germans. Especially the DAK ones so I can set them up with my Stuka fighter (I think the one I bought has North Africa Camo).

Only, I have no f-ing clue what happened to it's canopy. It fell off one day when I wasn't home and I can't seem to find it anywhere, damnit!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Clone Commander on January 11, 2007, 05:52 PM
Hmmm, does anybody think that 21st Century will consider making Soviet soldiers for the eastern front?
I would love to see a Soviet Commissar, Sniper, Conscript, ect. ect.
So far I only have a US Rifleman from the Big Red One, a US Jeep with driver and a German Captain and a German foot soldier.  :P
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on January 11, 2007, 07:25 PM
The closest thing I've seen is a 1:32 scale "Battle of Stalingrad" playset that I bought my nephew for Christmas. I believe the company wants to do Eastern Front but might be wary of it's marketability.

I'd buy a 1:18 Yak-3, or Il-2 Shturmovik.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 11, 2007, 08:20 PM
21st is him-hawing on 1:18 from other nationalities...  It took them a while to do Japanese actually, but they did well at retail...  At the same time they had U.S. figures to help them too, which is sort of a key.  German stuff tends to do well in general so it moves, but testing the waters with British troops would be (I would think) the next logical step personally...  They could then maybe give some Canadian repaints of those a try just to see where it goes...  With the DAK I'd think that would be a decent time to maybe look at mixing in some NA British with some NA Americans perhaps.

Russians...  They're a little trickier since their front was exclusively theirs.  It's I think likely we'll see some other nationalities mixed in, but I think it's more likely we'll see them mixed in kind of like these 2 DAK figures were in that they'll slip into a wave of GI's or Germans from various fronts or troop types instead of seeing dedicated waves.  The Japanese were a real risk that way.

Hell I'd love some "resistance" generic looking fighters...  Something that would work for Polish, French, Dutch, or whatever resistance group you'd think of...  Slip them in with some GI's in warmer weather garb or something...  I just don't count on the big waves like the Japanese for these things since there's no U.S. wave to counter it really, and help balance it out on the pegs.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Clone Commander on January 12, 2007, 10:23 AM
I cant find any 21st Century anywhere, its bothering me, but I would certainly order them if they made russians, say does anybody have a link or a pic of that battle of Stalingrad?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on January 12, 2007, 04:22 PM
Google. (http://www.google.com)

;)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 13, 2007, 03:28 AM
Another update, a biggie, is that I got 3 new items on clearance!  Never saw them before around my area then tonight at a less traveled WM they were there on sale.

My mother picked up for me:

-Pioeneer Hanomag...  This is the German halftrack with the bridge tracks and anti-tank gun.  Sweet ride for sure!  I love it.  And for $13 how do you complain?  I mean, this thing is better put together than the best Hasbro vehicle and cost less than 2 Star Wars figures...  Hell it cost less at full retail than 4 Star Wars figures...  That's pathetic (trust me folks, it ain't a rise in the cost of plastic that we're paying for these days).  $13 is what I paid, $22-ish is normal retail on these sized vehicles in XD.

-Rocket Pod Hanomag...  This is the German halftrack with wooden racks mounted on the outsides with heavy rockets in them.  This was a cheap hanomag the Germans could put together to pummel a position with rocket attacks, a very sweet ride and a neat variation on the hanomag sculpt.  This is my favorite of the 3 sculpts I have I think.  Again, a mere $13!  You can't beat that with a stick folks.

-PAK-40 Artillery piece...  The PAK-40 is sort of small for $20-ish full retail but it is made of many different parts, it unfolds for firing or it folds up for towing very accurately, it comes with a super poseable figure that has normal and cold weather gear and full weapons, it comes with 3 loose shells, and 3 ammunition crates filled with 3 shells (removable) in each crate...  It may not look like $22 worth of stuff, but you open it and it's got that and then some really, even a removable shovel to dig it out!  Again, $13.

She also picked me up a US Halftrack that was someone's repackaging job.  ****** job at that...  They replaced an Ardennes M3 halftrack with a regular green one.  ****.  :(  I am returning this.  They also had a hardtop Humvee and Navy SEAL Tactical Vehicle circa vietnam era.  All $13.  A # of planes but she didn't know what was what on those.

And on a wholely different note, at my nearer WM by my gf's there were TONS upon TONS of Avengers, Stukas, PAK's, Hanomags of both types, the US Halftrack with the quad gun (AA gun), and other vehicles (Mutt's, Humvee's, etc.) on a pallet in Lawn & Garden tonight.  ALl wrapped up in plastic.  TONS of stuff, and hopefully some PAK's will be left over as well as a quad gun halftrack for me.  I need those! :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: jedipurge on January 18, 2007, 05:35 PM
Saw all these at my local wal-mart as well Jesse-on sale.  But it seems you got the better deal-$17 at mine down from $20 I believe.  I only really want the quad half track-sooooo much custom potential there.  I'll also take the german canon and maybe mount that on an AT-AT.  The canon kind of reminds me of the one on the AT-TE.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 18, 2007, 07:33 PM
If I could find HT's on clearance I'd definitely be customizing some...  I tend to not double-up on my armor pieces in my collection, save for the Sherman, so if I find extras I'm all about using them for customizing.  Even if it's just to chop the thing up to use individual parts on larger scratch-built projects, it's cool stuff for sure for that purpose.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on January 19, 2007, 04:11 PM
The only vehicles that I've seen are the Navy Seal Vietnam jeep (once) and some planes...I wish I could find some halftracks and PAK-40s...I would definitely customize some.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 19, 2007, 11:57 PM
Oh man what a score tonight!

First, the figures were restocked with D-Day...  Picked over but lots left to grab if I'd had more money.

But the big score...  the massive pallet I saw was out, and all marked down in the lawn&garden area.  A pallet of XD at least 15 feet.  Tons of Avengers for $35 (regular $70).  Tons of PAK's, Hanomags, US Halftracks, US halftracks w/quad AA gun, 32X stuff galore...  Just tons of stuff.  Anything regularly $22-ish was $13 too.  I'm gonna nab some things as soon as I have some extra dough because, well, I just have too much **** going on this month with birthdays and valentine's next month...  I must have more though.  Great stuff...

They have Navy SEAL Mutt's, and other goodies mixed in there too.  :)  And tons of it...  Check lawn & garden at WM because they're a toy graveyard right now.  TONS of overstock that never got out for X-Mas even.  Makes one wonder if stuff got held up at ports and couldn't make its way out in time for the holidays because it JUST seemed to arrive in bulk after X-Mas and into January.  And it's ALLLLL getting clearanced bigtime.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on January 20, 2007, 09:25 AM
Great! I'm heading out to WalMart today for some regular shopping and I will definitely check out the lawn and garden. Do you know if any of the Hanomags come in a North Africa camo scheme?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 22, 2007, 08:50 PM
I'm not sure of the 2 camo schemes...  I know one's not N. African, the Pioneer Wagon MIGHT be, but I'm not positive on that.  It could be Eastern Front too.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on January 22, 2007, 09:33 PM
Those are not N. African Camo schemes.  N Afrika paint was a very Mustardy yellow and if they had any camo on them, it was brown splotches.  If you look at full size original pieces, Afrika Yellow and Ocre are very different colors, in smaller scale it is a bit harder.

The Pioneer wagon that I saw was in a 3 Color (Ordinance Tan[ocre], Green and Rust Brown) squiggle pattern.  Some variations of this are seen in both the East and Western Fronts.  That pattern was not proprietary to either Heer or Waffen SS.

The other I saw was in "Ambush" it was the Rocket Track.  Ambush was a very "Waffen SS" pattern and I have not seen any Heer Armor with that scheme. 
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 24, 2007, 01:37 AM
So the Rocket Hano is a Waffen SS Armor Unit (Ambush Camo Pattern) and the Pioneer is in a basic Wermacht camo...

Either particular to any given environment, Paul?  Like cold weather, autumn, spring, etc.?  I am curious mostly if you'd have seen any of these camos at any time of year...  Like did they slip by without a white wash in winter?  Were they all Spring?  Would either paintjob be suitable for D-Day set-ups?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on January 24, 2007, 09:11 AM
Both are perfect for D-Day.

In 1943 the order was given that all moving pieces of armor were to be painted Ocre it was the individual units that in Late 43/Early 44 started doing camo.

In the winter White Wash was pretty much standard.  But it was water based, so a good Rain would take it off.  Ambush and "Squiggle" were Spring/Summer and Fall... unlike the reversible smock, they would have the paint job exposed as long as there was not snow on the ground.

Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 24, 2007, 07:20 PM
OK cool Paul, thanks for those details...  Interesting stuff.  I have the one Panzer model (non-RC) and I think it matches up with the one Hano pretty well...  I don't have anything in Ambush.  I have just grey Tigers (or winter) and Ocre Panther...  Nothing special to them, though I prefer my winter Tiger (and would like to sell my plastic non-winter Tiger).

Got the RC Panzer in grey...  Love it.  One of my favorite pieces I think except you can't fit any figure into it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on February 12, 2007, 01:32 AM
The staff here let me know that 21st's showing at Toy Fair was sparse.  There's mostly effort there for them to sell their product I think and less showboating to sites since there is no XD dedicated site covering them like JD...  Should be. :(

Anyway, 21st is saying F it and showing off all the new **** on their own site...  Paul you'll love some of this stuff!  Holy crappoly!

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/number18figure/full/1.jpg)
German w/range finding gear...  Love it.  Says it's for the Pak-40 (which I just got a couple of tonight for cheap) but they had a surprise...  What he's REALLY for. :)

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/07NYTF_1/full/5.jpg)
Images from our team should arrive too but 21st WAS showing off 2-packs of a German/GI at the Toy Fair show trying to sell them in sets.  I'd buy more if they were marketed cheaper in a single package like this, but so far I'm not sure this has a buyer.  It should though dammit.

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/07NYTF_1/full/1.jpg)

And yes folks...  That's a KING TIGER TANK!  And yes, your eyes don't deceive you, that's an 88...  A big, beautiful, badass, 88. 

Now where's my Howitzer and allied field artillery?  We need it...  NOW. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on February 12, 2007, 09:41 AM
I am going to be walking by the 21st C booth again today anyway and I will see if Chapman has any scoop on the King Tiger and 88.  Escpecially 88 Crew....
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on February 12, 2007, 08:24 PM
ok, I walked by and got some more info today....

King Tiger Hopefully by Fall.

88 is just about ready to go but the crew is the issue.  The guy with the range finder was definately designed for the 88.  The decision to include him with the gun is going to really be a price thing.  The retailer (s) want a certain price point and so that will determine whether the crew member comes with the gun or not.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on February 13, 2007, 01:19 AM
Suuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhweet Paul.  :)  I love the 88, crew or not, and would gladly buy the guy with the wicked range finder separately.  The Pak with crewman was a nice buy at $20 though (at $8 it's even better, wink wink).

King Tiger...  I wonder if it'll be fully detailed interior like the Tiger I?  I hope so, as that's a major want for me on all armor.  It's somethign I wish I had on the Panzer's, the Panther, the Sherman...  :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on February 13, 2007, 06:44 AM
Argh...my Wal Marts are experiencing a drought of XD figures...one D-Day tank commander and a D-Day tank driver (with its card undone on 3 out of 4 sides  ::)) are all that's sitting at my WalMart.

And with vehicles, I've never found them. Am I just not looking in the right place, or does my WalMart suck?

 :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on February 13, 2007, 07:01 AM
Well, I can safely say from all the info that comes into the Pitt group, your WM is probably the busiest, in the probably busiest area of the city, and your area is filled with the most ebayer/scalper activity (Cranberry probably a close 2nd I'd guess).  21st stuff's as scalpable as anything...

Some WM's just don't get jack in though...  Route 8 gets figures but no vehicles.  Kittanning seems to do well...  The WM in Delmont has zero XD on the pegs  in 1:18 though, just other scales.  No vehicles, no figures and they're slow to restock.  I avoid the Greensburg one at all costs.

The Mills one that is 3 minutes from my gf's place I hit often.  They vary in terms of what they get, but figures tend to come in steadily.  The current glut that's getting blown out was a pallette of stuff that came in right after Christmas, I'm guessing from just the stockroom, and I'm guessing it was stuff there before CHristmas that they felt they couldn't devote shelf space to or it got lost in the shuffle...  Now things are getting cleared at $8 a piece for the $20 vehicles, and $35 Avengers...  Lots of stuff but not "the norm" by any means, just a fluke.

For the price of a SW vehicle though you can't pass up to-scale halftracks jeeps and cannons though, haha.

Yeah though, definitely not the normal way things work...  WM almost has an exclusive deal on XD...  They don't have rights to it, but they're the only retailer taking the chance on carrying large ticket World War 2 items like that, and so they seemingly do with it as they please.  They dedicate very little space and if things back up they're quick to clearance XD it seems.  Why I do not know.

Avengers were non-existant in Pitt and now they're all half price.  I never saw the new halftracks or Pak 40 at full price anywhere either and I'd gladly have paid $20 for any of those.  I wouldn't have gotten an Avenger because planes aren't my thing, but $35 for the biggest WW2 plane they've made (ever) since the P-38 Lightning?  Yeah I'll take one.

At $8 the HT's are blowing out and the US one is all gone already.  The PAK's are soon to be gone too (partly thanks to me).  The German HT's are lingering a bit longer but still a steal at that price.

We have 2 full pegs of D-Day too with smattering of Japanese mixed in.

Nirvana, are you accumulating extra accessories from these figures?  Extra heads too perhaps (especially the Japanese stuff)?  I'm curious and would like to see if you're selling anything like rifles and such.  I need extra stuff to outfit some of my collection and I know you use these for custom SW stuff and the parts may not mean as much, especially the WW2 era rifles and whatnot. 

I'm interested in buying some of it off you if you do have anything.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 1, 2007, 02:48 AM
B-25 Bomber...  to-scale... 

Do I need to tell you more?  Well tough **** because there's not much detail to the story other than a 1:18 B-25 Mitchell is coming, it's a done deal, and takes XD stuff to a 100% new plateau...

Forget that.  It takes toys to a new plateau.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 6, 2007, 07:42 PM
21st Cent. Toys rumors are circulating about their next line of figures... 

A set from the movie Platoon were rumored last year, and they're still being touted as coming out soon, and that these figures will have a new feature that may be duplicated by other toy manufacturers.  Interesting to know what this may be... 

Considering the B-25 they're going to make, I put nothing past this company at this point.  They really do shame some other toy companies in terms of what they accomplish. 

Hasbro's copied some 21st designs in the past due to their innovation, so we'll see.

I'm just amped at the thought of Platoon figures. :)  I want a Tom Berrenger Jedi Knight.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Clone Commander on March 24, 2007, 02:15 PM
Wow, Platoon eh?
I want a Johnny Depp 'Nam fighter!
Sounds really cool and I cant wait, but where are they sold?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 27, 2007, 12:26 AM
Wal-Mart...  And online also. 
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on March 30, 2007, 12:57 AM
Toughest figure to track down, ironically, of the D-Day figures has been the Lt. U.S. 29th figure.  He's a private, but marked as a Lieutenant for some reason.  That's dumb, but regardless he's tough to track down.  I got one today, and he's pretty great so I see why he's rough to find. 

And his freakin' binoc case opens and holds binocs...  How cool is that?  It's pretty damn cool.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on April 5, 2007, 01:16 AM
Yay me, I found the new German Artillery Range Finder tonight!  That was out of the blue.

They had 2, and the Lt. Which has been a bitch to find for me (the US 29th Lt. who has Corporal's stripes by the way, so he's not a Lt.).

I got the Lt. and one of the Germans...  The german utilizes the DAK Officer's headsculpt with a nifty blonde paintjob.  Very unique looking with the new hair.  It's amazing what a coat of paint can do to hide a sculpt somewhat.

The range finder is a complex accessory, and beyond that he has some gear (breadbag, mask cannister, pistol holster, shovel set, & pistol holster), no weapon, but he comes with a pretty kickass pack for range-finding gear I guess.  A pack with full straps and everything that slips over the torso with the arms removed.  It's a tight fit but a great accessory, as is the range finder.

Beyond that and a helmet though, that's all she wrote.  No weapon to speak of, and that eats it hard...  A rifle would've been due us here I think, especially since he has ammo for one.

The U.S. Lt.'s short on weaponry too.  A SMG or rifle again would've been nice with him regardless.  He comes with a .45 and that's it. :(  His binoc case rocks though as it opens to hold the binocs.  That's detail folks!  His headsculpt seems new to me too, or its paintjob hides it substantially. 

Great figures though alla round.  21st does a bang-up job.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on May 5, 2007, 04:08 AM
Hasbro gives us the Sith Infiltrator...  It's fun to laugh at it, sure.

21st Century Toys is giving us this...

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/KingTiger_firstshot/full/1.jpg)

The King Tiger in gleaming 1:18 scale...

Germany's biggest, meanest, baddest tank of the war...  Hasbro, you better give us a to-scale AT-ST at some point because, man, this thing's gorgeous and I'd like some SW armor to-scale at some point. :) 
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Clone Commander on May 6, 2007, 12:34 AM
Now all we need is a massive Joseph Stalin 3 to completely smoke that king tiger!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 17, 2007, 04:17 PM
I'm lazy and don't feel like digging it up at the moment, but 21st Cent. Toys announced their newest piece of land equipment...

A quad .50 AA Trailer.  Weird, eh?  I'm all for it but they marketed this as armor which was disappointing slightly.  I mean, it's not armor...  It's more artillery.

Anyway it's still cool I think.

With the King Tiger coming (wowza!), a German 88 (double wowza!), and the Hanomag/Pak-40 combo, I think something simpler like this is actually nice.  COmmon piece too so nice to go with some of the D-Day guys around it I figure.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 26, 2007, 01:44 AM
OOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooo

New figures pictured today at 21st Cent. Toys...  Very nice.

For those curious they also were showing a Gun carriage coming out as well, so I'll post that first...

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/M17quadtrailer/full/1.jpg)
Pretty slick if not a little odd...  I'm up for more "artillery" type pieces though and with the 88 coming this is the kind of stuff I dig setting up figures around.

And now the figures...  Get ready for the "Platoon" line of figures.  Pictured I think are Sgt. Elias and Sgt. Barnes if my eyes do not deceive me.

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/1.jpg)(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/2.jpg)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/3.jpg)(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/4.jpg)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/5.jpg)(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/6.jpg)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/8.jpg)(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonpreview/full/7.jpg)

Now, yes some of those legs are articulation-less.  The deal there is that 21st Century Toys has always included "pre-posed" sets of arms for the figures, and now they're going to include pre-posed sets of legs too that can be swapped out with poseable sets of legs!  How's that for super quality toys?  Hasbro's good but I must say 21st is always a step ahead in action figure design/innovation I think.

I think there's two more figures set for teh Platoon series, it's not going to be a huge line, and I'd guess Charlie Sheen is one of the new ones, but I don't now who the other would be.  Depp's character had a minimal role so I doubt it's him.  Wish there were more in the series because they look outstanding.  I wasn't even into the Nam line when it came out but I'm into these new figures for sure.

Great stuff...  Love 21st Century Toys, and to make it even better.  21st is going to be sold once again at Toys R Us!  I don't know if that means BBI isn't going to be at TRU, but 21st is, and that adds a new dynamic to competition and availability. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on June 26, 2007, 03:26 PM
I am SO glad that 21st is now being sold at TRU. I was never able to find any vehicles at WalMart so maybe now I'll have a chance.

Cool pics of the Quad .50 and the Tiger. Those pre-production samples of the Platoon figures are cool too. I like the pre-posed legs especially if they are going to be able to switched out. That's really great.

If only Hasbro could be on par with the amount and quality of some of 21st's stuff...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on June 27, 2007, 10:21 PM
To beat a seemingly dead horse here...

Soviets! Soviets! Soviets! We need some frakking Soviets! And Poles, Frenchmen, Chinese partisans (Nationalist *and* Communist), Australiasians, and Britts too! We really need some other forces involved in all of this.

(God, I hope that was succinct.  :P)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on June 29, 2007, 04:57 AM
They just now ventured into DAK so I'm not hopeful for a glut of Soviets soon, much less French resistance and whatnot.  Not any time soon.

Anyway more interesting 1:18 news...

BBI figures and stuff at Target, 21st stuff going to TRU as well as WM...   But equally great?  Power Team Elite back at Big Lots this year including Command Centers and the famous "Bridge Playset".  I'm stoked.  PTE rocks all, and was a FAST mover at Big Lots last year before X-Mas...  I can't wait for more then.  I missed out on a lot because of $$$ at the time but I'm stoked for more.  Especially since I have neither the command center, nor the bridge (nobody has that though).  Outstanding for us with Big Lots stores. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on July 4, 2007, 04:22 AM
Some Power Team Elite photos...

These are amazing "cheap" toys that are sold at various spots, but Big Lots seems to be jumping on more for 2007 (they got tons in for 2006).  They make SWAT, Marine, Army, Spec. Forces, SEAL, and other sets...  Tons of vehicles that make great fodder bases for custom vehicles, or with a little work very realistic "to-scale" vehicles for mlitary toys if you're into that.

Their figures are a little weak but can be used as great fodder if you want (heads/hands are their weak points really), and their weapons make Hasbro's look downright rigid by comparison.  That said, the crates, barrels, boxes, and 90% of the other accessories are all high quality rigid plastic.  Perfect for Star Wars dioramas and things.  Who's to say there aren't simple metal barrels in SW right?  Or wooden boxes.

And for actual military set-ups you cannot go wrong here.

Anyway, 3 new things coming in the PTE 1:18 (they do 1:6 scale too) line to Big Lots this year are:

Command Center playset:
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8506/command20centrelg4.jpg)
The Command Center is simply a nice size building, and it seems the new one is the same old one with a TON more gear.  You got the folding chairs, table, stand and that stuff before, but now you get a lot more gear as well it seems.  The building has a cool sci-fi-ish look I think, or a modern look, and I'm down for buying a number of the CC set.

Bridge PLayset:
(http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3034/bridgeli0.jpg)
Like the Command Center set, you seem to get a lot with it, however the bridge was never released to my knowledge, so this is a first for that set and it's really one a lot of people have been waiting for.  For military fans, it's fantastic...  Sci-Fi's a little harder to fudge with this one I think, but hey, why not right?  Gotta cross rivers somehow in Star Wars too, and not every vehicle has the legs to do it.  I'm definitely getting multiples of this set too though, if for no other reason than my military figures will display great on it as they ford a river I think.

A10:
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1349/a10gz8.jpg)
This jet just showed up, it's an A10 Warthog...  Not to-scale (I had no idea the A10 was as massive as I was told, so this is really tiny by comparison), however there's obvious customizing potential with it in Star Wars terms or GI Joe fans must simply be going ape**** for a fighter like this.  I know I would've back when I was a kid since Wild Weasel basically flew a modified A10, so these would make amazing wingmen planes for WW.

In general I cannot say enough positive things about PTE...  The company makes bunk beds for god's sake...  bunk beds.  And foot lockers, and working tents, and pieces of broken buildings you can interlock, and kickass tool accessories, and fences, and buildings...  I whipped up a speeder out of a dune buggy I got last year for like $7.  You know you love the possibilities.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 7, 2007, 01:57 AM
I picked up this tonight...  Not bad. :)
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8506/command20centrelg4.jpg)

$30 at Big Lots...  Had several more but the playsets are gonna be gone before long I'm afraid.  There's more good news in the world of 21st Century Toys/BBI though...

-TRU is carrying 21st Century Toys again, and boy howdy are they getting cool stuff.  The Pak-40 Hanomag is so far only being seen at TRU, and looks quite sweet.  At $30 though, it's a bit pricey compared to Hanomags at Wal-Mart, so that should piss everyone off a little bit.

Also, the Wave 1 D-Day figures are being repainted and sent to TRU as well...  The German in camo smock is now in a regular pair of trousers and a pea-dot (Paul, I think that's it, not sure though) camo smock/helmet.  Very cool repaint on that one.  The U.S. figures are a little different too I think but TRU was 100% sold out of US figures when I got there.  The DAK Germans are completely new though, and both feature I believe later-style DAK uniforms (all tan outfits).  Very cool though, much nicer looking IMO than the Series 1 D-Day DAK figures looked.

-Target is carrying BBI for sure...  Figures are $4.99 and $5.99 (Paras), and vehicles prices vary.  I got a BBI for $30, Apache's are $30, Abrams tanks are $25 (got one of these too), LAV's are $20, and I cannot recall prices on Humvee's but woodland regular and Desert Super Humvees were both spotted.  Need a Super Humvee actually...

For figures, they have modern basic figures, and WW2/Modern Paratroopers.  No WW2 basic figures yet, but I'm crossing my fingers and hoping because BBI did some great infantry figures.

Anyhoo though, onto the Big Lots story...  :)

I saw:

-$12.99 Howitzer Cannons (excellent, accurate piece)
-$20 Bridge Playsets (really neat, great for GI Joe, Military, or Star Wars IMO)
-$30 Command Center Playsets (Got one, had few of these)
-Watch Towers
-SWAT Boats (great for Special Forces teams like SEALs and whatnot)
-Figure 3-packs (Marines, Army, Rangers, etc., as well as Firemen, and 2 SWAT Sets)

I didn't see:

-Figure 1 or 2 packs like the bunk sets, the tents, the SWAT sets with the pieces of wall and such.
-Humvee's
-Littlebirds
-Blackhawks
-Tanks
-Planes

I'd like more of some of the above, but at the end of the day I've got a TON I can spend on of the things I did see. :)  I can't wait to get back up there actually, as I was in a hurry and had to take off real fast with only one thing.  Had to be a playset though...  Fantastic piece it is.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on August 7, 2007, 05:44 PM
Yeah, I saw the BBi stuff at Target and the 21st Century stuff (just figs, no vehicles, then again, maybe I'm not looking in the right place0) at TRU on Sunday.

They didn't have anything interesting at TRU, just stuff I already have, but at Target I hit the jackpot. Got some cool vehicles, and it looks like they are re-releasing the Marines in the newer packaging. Also found some Stormies in the SW section. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 8, 2007, 02:31 AM
The figures at TRU I guarantee you don't have if you haven't bought TRU figures yet...  ;)  They're repaints.  There's actually I guess now 3 Camo patterns on the Sgt. Otto figure...  Pea Dot is what i have, but there's anotehr being sold at TRU, and then the original all-camo sniper-style outfit at Wal-Mart.  Definitely unique though.

The DAK are both repainted as well, and very different to the original figures.  I'm not so sure on the D-Day U.S. figures though...  And didn't see any, as the Monroeville TRU was cleared out of any US figures.  ::)  Sucked to be me I guess, because I wanted more Rangers and riflemen.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on August 9, 2007, 12:52 PM
Yeah, all I saw at my TRU was 2 of the same figure- the DAK officer who I already have. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on August 9, 2007, 05:34 PM
I picked up a really cool camoflauged ME262 32X at TRU 2weeks ago. I didn't realize TRU was selling 21st stuff again. It's displayed on my den wall with their other 3 32 scale WW2 German fighters.

...still waiting for the anticipated bombers to be released in stores
So far their site only mentioned the B25 Mitchell but I ecxpect other twin engine models as well like German and Japanese types.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 10, 2007, 05:37 AM
If we're talking 1:18 (The Mitchell), I wouldn't count on TE German/Japanese just yet...  It took ages just to get a zero out of someone and then it was BBI who did it, not 21st who do most of the planes.  :(  German has better chances but still, TE planes are really a risky investment.  I think the Mitchell's being treated as a litmus test to see how it'll sell.  I'd expect a D-Day paratrooper plane next if anything, or glider perhaps, before other nationalities...

NOw, if we're talking 32X stuff I think that scale has really a much broader chance of seeing other nationalities of TE planes.  Or any TE plane really, or even 4 engines like the B-17.  1:18 Mitchell's a real dream come true though...  They're reluctant to do a friggin' A10 though which, to me anyway, seems like a no-brainer choice given their sort of "popularity" and all.  Jets are big though for sure.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Slothus on August 10, 2007, 03:44 PM
Yeah, I was reading backlog news on the 21stcenturytoys website one day and found an article about them bringing bombers to us soon in 32x and 18x scale. The bomber they mentioned was the Mitchell, though. I really don't see it too hard for them to do it..being a smaller bomber only 2 engines and all. I mean if they can do a P38 then what's to stop them doing a B25 or P61(which I'd like!)? A twin mstnag would be cool also, though not very popular so I doubt it. They 21st seem to do alot of the same planes over and over with new paint jobs rather than new sculpts/models. I mean heck, in 32X I'm still waiting for Hellcats, Spitfires, torpedo bombers of various types, several more types of Japanese fighters, russian Yak fighters ect.

Seriously, where's are Yak fighters from Russia? English planes? ****, if they can do Italian, German, American, and Japanese planes where's the other WW2 participants'?

DS
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Vator on August 19, 2007, 02:01 AM
Seriously, where's are Yak fighters from Russia? English planes? ****, if they can do Italian, German, American, and Japanese planes where's the other WW2 participants'?

Soviet Union = No-No still, I guess. I suppose NKVD figures would be pretty tasteless.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on August 20, 2007, 01:59 AM
I don't think anything is off-limits save for likely Waffen SS items...  So honestly I wouldn't doubt that we'd see some Russians and things at some point, but for now I think it's mostly a matter of tying these in with more "popular" themes.  The DAK are slipped in with D-Day figures, because DAK's less recognizeable I guess, and thus it seems to sell less too unfortunately.  I could use more myself though.

Anyway, on a 21st Cent. find, I was at WM tonight and they had new D-Day figures out including the 3rd repaint of Sgt. Otto...

For the curious, Otto was the S1 figure with the brown camo outfit that few Germans wore on D-Day I guess...  (Paul if you're reading, correct me here or any info you have would help).  Basically he's gotten repainted in what I THINK is P-Dot camo (found at TRU), and now an autumn pattern.  The brown-camo S1 figure has reddish hair and darker skin.  The S2 P-Dot has brown hair and a more flat/clean skin tone.  The autumn Series 3 seems to have blonde hair, possibly a scar, and a lighter skin tone I believe...

Saw lots of S3 Otto in Autumn camo and repacked tankers (removable helmet one that's real popular), Officers and stuff at WM tonight.  I really could use more S1 D-Day infantry and rangers though more than the tankers and stuff.  I'd take some tankers too, but seriously I need 29th Riflemen and D-Day Rangers galore.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 12, 2007, 01:35 AM
The "Platoon" line of figures is revealed...  Painted now.

Sgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonblister/full/2.jpg)
Sgt. Elias (Willam Dafoe)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonblister/full/1.jpg)
Johnny Dep's character?  Not really sure and the close-up image link is broke. :(
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonblister/3.jpg)
Charlie Sheen?  I think...  Again, a little tough to tell.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/platoonblister/full/4.jpg)

Outstanding sculpts in general I think, even if the likenesses are not exact...  Add to that, that now you get pre-posed arms, pre-posed LEGS (hooah!), and poseable arms/legs as well, and I think 21st is really again raising the bar with action figures in this scale...  And yes, they will be paying a license fee for these and likeness rights, and yes they're a relatively tiny privately held company...  So yes Hasbro could probably do better by us.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on September 12, 2007, 08:51 AM
I(Paul if you're reading, correct me here or any info you have would help). 

I haven't seen the pics...any links?
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 13, 2007, 12:35 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/folgore1975/S2Newwnhauss.jpg)
Paul, this is the Series 2 repaint of the DAK showing up at TRU now.  Many like it better, however, I'm not sure how/what the differences mean or denote...  Like, this one does look better to me (more like the IJ DAK outfits), while the S1's didn't seem quite right, but I'm not an expert by any means.  I guess both are legit uniform designs, but I didn't think the DAK changed uniforms I guess.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/rmoore456/102_0063.jpg)
(Left is Wal-Mart Series 2 Otto, Right is TRU Otto)
And this is a comparison of the two Otto repaints.  One is showing at TRU, one at Wal-Mart...  WM guy has blonde hair, TRU guy has brown.

The Series 1 Otto is in an all-camo outfit (pants and coat), but it's a lighter brown.  The first one's been confirmed as a uniform in the Normandy area around D-Day...  One of the above designs is peadot camo, isn't it?  The other one (The one showing up at WM with the blonde guy) is a mystery to me somewhat.  It looks like a variation of peadot, maybe autumn colors.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on September 13, 2007, 08:54 AM
Ok keep in mind, this will now sound like nitpicking on toys....And this will get REAL boring for alot of you.

The 2 Ottos you have pictured are pretty good representations of Waffen SS troops from 1943 to 1945.

Hopefully this figure came with a K98 since he is wearing K98 pouches on his leather gear.

The WSS has 5-6 major camo patterns with variations in almost every run.  The names of the camos are mostly the invention of post war collectors/dealers as the Germans just called it "Tarn" or camo.

The guy on the left looks (and I don't have one in hand) like they are going with "Oak" pattern.  And this looks like it has Fall side out.  As you know all WSS camo was reversible (with the exception of 44Dot aka PeaDot).  The one on the right looks like it is "Blurred Edge/Burred Edge/Smoke"   

This uniform is not unique to DDay (especially if they are wearing Fall side out) it would have been pretty standard on all fronts the WSS served on AND were in combat.

If there is a soldier figure out there with this camo on his pants as well, while that is not never seen in photos, it is rather "unique"  Camo pants were not issued unit 44Dot uniforms were made.  BUT the old hands in a unit could snag an extra Shelter Quarter (Zeltbahn) or two and get the unit tailor to make some pants for a price.  I've seen original copies (at least purported originals) that were made of a lighter material, but oddly it was not reversible, more like the heavy winter suit material, but without the lining.

Brown boots are correct too, contrary to what Hollywood has told us all those years ago, low boots are the norm for Germans after 1943.  In fact it was pretty much known that in 1942 Rear area troops were told to give their Jackboots back so that they could be sent to front line troops on the Eastern front....and if you didn't want to give your boots up, you could go Russia with them on.  These low boots were issued in a "Blonde" kind of roughout leather, only through time and use did they turn darker brown.  Individual soldiers would also blacken them.

Bored yet?

I'll give you a couple thoughts on the DAK guy later today...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: JangoTat on September 22, 2007, 03:53 PM
Jesse in regards to the PTE toys how much does the watch tower with three soldiers usually go for? i recently saw a couple at a toy store selling for $12.99 but now that the dollar is the same i wouldnt mind getting my sis to pick some up if they are cheaper.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 24, 2007, 01:49 AM
$9 each...  Here's a little rundown on prices.

-Single-figure sets w/accessory (large) = $2.50 (these include anyhthing from articulated horses/camels to a motorcycle, a tent half, or "destroyed" wall sections)

-3-figure sets w/small accessories = $4.50 (Army Rangers, SWAT, Firemen, Marines, Spec. Forces, SEALs, etc.)

-Watch Tower w/3 figures = $9 (or $9.50)...  You get a rope ladder with the set too, real rope/string and little foot pads.  Very cool.

-Playset/Command Center = $30...  Lots of stuff in it.  Lots!

-Bridge Playset/Expeditionary Force = $20...  Lots of stuff and a kick ass wooden bridge.

-M1 Abrahams Tank = $20...  slightly underscaled Abrahms Tank w/gear and figures.


That's some of the sets.  There's humvee's and things.  I don't own them but they're to-scale, and I think $12 or so.  Same with a small dune buggy too for Spec. Forces guys and a Navy SEAL Boat.

Get her to get you some of the towers and ship them OUT of the packaging in a smaller box.  You'll save money that way because the boxes often are roomy.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: JangoTat on September 24, 2007, 08:15 PM
$9 each...  Here's a little rundown on prices.

-Single-figure sets w/accessory (large) = $2.50 (these include anyhthing from articulated horses/camels to a motorcycle, a tent half, or "destroyed" wall sections)

-3-figure sets w/small accessories = $4.50 (Army Rangers, SWAT, Firemen, Marines, Spec. Forces, SEALs, etc.)

-Watch Tower w/3 figures = $9 (or $9.50)...  You get a rope ladder with the set too, real rope/string and little foot pads.  Very cool.

-Playset/Command Center = $30...  Lots of stuff in it.  Lots!

-Bridge Playset/Expeditionary Force = $20...  Lots of stuff and a kick ass wooden bridge.

-M1 Abrahams Tank = $20...  slightly underscaled Abrahms Tank w/gear and figures.


That's some of the sets.  There's humvee's and things.  I don't own them but they're to-scale, and I think $12 or so.  Same with a small dune buggy too for Spec. Forces guys and a Navy SEAL Boat.

Get her to get you some of the towers and ship them OUT of the packaging in a smaller box.  You'll save money that way because the boxes often are roomy.
                                                                                                                                                  Alright Thanks a lot man!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on September 27, 2007, 02:18 PM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/Figure2pk/full/1.jpg)

New 2-packs from 21st...  And new characters/paintjobs for army building extravaganza's! 

I'm all for this myself as long as the price is reasonable since it's mostly recycled parts and all.  I do hope for something "new" though to mix into this line as well.  I could see some kickass "dueling" figure sets like a Russian infantry packed with an eastern front German infantry as well.  Or a D-Day Yank with a MG-34 German for the bluffs maybe...  Just different stuff to beef up the concept of 2-packs.  Though "army building" sure is a good way to market it too, with two late-war German infantry.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 12, 2007, 04:20 AM
First there was 21st Century Toys at TRU...

Then they left, and BBI jumped into the 1:18 scale arena by taking over the TRU slot.  21st moved their 1:18 gig to Wal-Mart... 

2007?

Forces of Valor have now thrown their hat into the increasingly lucrative 1:18 scale military toy market!  And can you believe you can get a 1:18 scale Bradley Fighting Vehicle for a scant $20?  I think my 21st Cent. Toys one was $30 on CLEARANCE, much less $20 MSRP.

(http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc175/Kkettenkraftrad/4011_1m.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/cobrcavalier/fov1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/cobrcavalier/fov2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/cobrcavalier/fov4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/cobrcavalier/fov5.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/cobrcavalier/fov6.jpg)

And check out the back of that box there...

Yes, 1:18 Abrams tank...

Yes, 1:18 Bradley APC...

Yes, 1:18 Modern INFANTRY Grunts (finally, you can army build modern figures rather than Spec. Forces/Navy SEALS)...

But even more so...  YES, a Sherman Tank, and a Tiger I with what looks like Zimmerit detailing, and a simply kick ass rockin' camo paintjob too.

I cannot wait for those prices on the WW2 stuff and hope Target gets it in.  BTW, find the modern stuff at Target guys.  ;)

I have yet another action figure erection.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 13, 2007, 02:15 AM
And now, zee figures! 

Very much like BBI's, but better even, and just regular old modern military guys.  Support your troop in your family by buying him a little replica of himself for $5!  :)  Pretty cool.

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/birddog_76/PvtPaulWincek1.jpg)
And yes, those are MRE boxes...  Pretty slick, eh?

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/birddog_76/PvtPaulWincek3.jpg)

There's a number of them too, in I believe both desert fatigues as well as woodland camo fatigues.  I'll get at least a full set, and extras of both camo variants as I have a Bradley to fill, an LAV to fill, an Abrams that needs some guys running beside it...  And that's it since my Army Spec. Forces guys are filling the Blackhawk already.

Still, got a lot of vehicles to fill out with grunts!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on October 13, 2007, 12:55 PM
Looks like I have a new line to be checking for... It appears as if there are some really nice headsculpts, without the excesive paint washes that almost ruin 21st Century heads IMO. Those accessories are looking pretty damn cool as well, the MRE's and backpacks especially. I'd love to see a big accesory kit from these guys. Thanks for the heads up on this one Jess. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 13, 2007, 11:40 PM
I live for these toys as much as Star Wars, so it's my pleasure...  The military toy lines are some of the best collector-oriented (but apparantly with growing and very strong kid markets actually) toy lines out there I think.  And from companies that deliver a lot of bang for your buck too.  $5 SA figures, and vehicles that are 100% true-to-scale too...  I don't care what anyone says, Hasbro could take some lessons.  With as often as things are repainted and re-released, they could offer better ships in the modern line IMO.

A scale snub fighter's really in line with any of the modern or vintage warbirds out there at the moment, and I'd surely be willing to shell out $50 or so for a to-scale X-Wing or Y-Wing...  In multiple paintjobs, and usually 2 or even 3 ships at a time of any given paintjob for "squadron" building.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 16, 2007, 02:40 AM
21st Cent. Toys updated today too...

Vietnam Era baby!  Check out this dude, complete with the new "pre-posed legs" that are now included as well!  Yes, arms and legs.  Seems the 'Nam is gonna get more than just figures from the movie Platoon as well, as this figure is based on the liason for the XD forum that talks to the 21st Cent. Toys reps to get information.  He also runs/updates their website.

Don't know if the headsculpt is based on this gentleman or not, but if it is he could make himself as a Star Wars character, as his online name is TKO...  Wondering if he's a fan?   ;)

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/Namfig1/full/1.jpg)

I like it a lot.  The arms seem a little bit large but they're turned as well, so they may be more slip turned the proper way.  Great figure, and while Nam's not my thing, I'm down for the figures from it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: CHEWIE on October 17, 2007, 12:27 AM
I saw those Bravo figures at Target tonight.  Didn't pick any up but they looked pretty sweet.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 17, 2007, 12:49 AM
Nice headsculpts on them (IMO).  Very unique, yet somehow still generic...  For instance one guy's got short sides with longer/wavy combed back hair on top.  The guy I pictured above there has a #1 buzz with a sharp widow's peak (very imperial IMO), there's another african american that has a fairly plain haircut, etc.  They mix well with the BBI figures I think, as far as giving people a plethora of unique and yet somehow generic headsculpts of various races.

Asians still are sort of lagging behind, but 21st's Japanese figures did give a # of different headsculpts too, and there's likely to be some Nam add-ons I figure as well.

BTW, another new Nam guy from 21st tonight...  An M-60 Gunner:

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/Namfig2/full/1.jpg)

Kickin' ass and takin' names...  So goes the green machine!

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/Namfig3/full/1.jpg)
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/Namfig4/full/1.jpg)

Added the last 2 of the series...  That's, I think, 4 generic VN guys, 4 Platoon VN guys... 

I gotta admit though, I'm slightly disappointed that we saw no photos of a VC, or NVA.  Charlie and the gang need represented so these guys have someone to shoot at!  Nam's not my thing really, but I'll get a set for sure.  I'm really hoping for some Vietnamese military for them to duke it out with though.  Those would be not just nice figures, but good custom fodder too I think.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 23, 2007, 03:00 AM
Interesting things shaking up the 1:18 military world...

Word is BBI is on their way OUT of the Target stores...  I guess FOrces of Valor are moving in fast and furious on that set-up, and they're looking to put out Blackhawks, Apaches, and the other stuff BBI makes, and deliver it at cheaper prices than BBI does...  This is a big hit to BBI, as their presence at Toys R Us is still unknown as well.

Could BBI go out of 1:18 all together?  If Target isn't carrying them, and the potential TRU drops them, they'd be homeless...  WM's got 21st, as does TRU.  I'm personally hoping BBI remains at TRU in some capacity alongside the blitz of 21st Cent. Toys figures being there. 

Forces of Valor can just hang at Target then...  That'd be the ideal set-up to me, especially since Forces of Valor is showing a fairly decent desire to get into 1:18 World War 2, while Target's interest in WW2 was sporadic without any sign of new basic $4.99 WW2 figures or any vehicles at all besides planes. 

BBI's stuff is top-notch though, so seeing it go completely would suck...  I think there's plenty of room for Forces of Valor, BBI, and 21st in this market.  Just a matter of who wants to take the helm and venture into NEW product instead of retreading the stuff that's been done.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Ryan on October 24, 2007, 12:55 AM
Damn. Didn't BBi just come to Target a few months ago? Man I really hope this doesn't hurt the BBi line, as a line I think it is supperior to the 21st Century stuff.

I did pick up my first Forces of Valor figure last night, and I was pretty impressed. I grabbed Capt. E.J. Hilts, one of the marine offerings. The figure had decent articulation. I did however notice that the joints are all VERY stiff, and some felt like they would tear with the slightest pressure so I didn't really move them yet. One of the arms keeps falling off just below the shoulder when I try to move it at all. But considering I just bought it mainly for custom fodder and all the great accessories I can overlook it. Hopefully it was just a factory error on the one figure and the rest of the line doesn't suffer the same problems. I'd love to see FoV delve into WWII stuff, cause you can certainly never have too much of that. :)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on October 25, 2007, 01:46 AM
Yeah, the "rumors" are flopping from one side of this to the other too, so there's no telling if BBI is leaving Target or not...  But $30 Apache and Blackhawk helicopers are things that are easy to get used to, ya know?  Bummer if they're leaving.

At the same time, FOV puts out incredible stuff... E very review I've heard is that their modern figures beat BBI's simply for being modern basic infantry figures, while BBI's kind of given us special forces and little else.  BBI's supposedly not dead according to some sources, others say they're leaving Target...  We'll see.

I hope BBI's still in it somewhere, somehow.  There's room for all 3 I says to ya!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on November 11, 2007, 08:56 PM
My closest Target just re-reset the toy aisle and the BBI stuff is still strong and in abundance.  I think they may have even added some pegs.

For the first time I saw both Helicopters and the Abrams all side by side.  Plus Paratroopers and figures.

The FOV guys have sold out there twice.  But I did get to see the Desert Bradley. Tempted to snag it and do a side by side comparison with the 21st C/Motorwerks one.  Or paint it Cobra Blue...

21stC has been just about Non-existent in my Wal Marts now.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 12, 2007, 01:08 AM
It's here, but not restocked.

A guy did find more paint variations on D-Day figures though.  Blonde Officer and Parade Dress Germans, which is great because the parade guy has the cap, which is "rare".  I'd like more of him...

Bleach blonde hair dids, great for swapping onto some of those DAK guys IMO, but good regardless.  I just wish we'd get the original D-Day US guys back out.  I need more riflemen, officers, Rangers, and BAR Gunners.  My ranks are thinner than the Germans these days.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on November 25, 2007, 11:42 PM
I picked up the new wave of the Elite Force BBi figures minus the new WW2 Paratroopers- Marine Force Recon (1 Forest Camo, 1 Desert, 1 Sleeveless Desert), Delta Force (1 operator, 1 paratrooper), and Navy Seals (1 Para Diver). I can take some pics tomorrow and put them up if anyone's interested. Excellent, excellent figures, better than all the other 1/18th military figs out now and I love the one Delta Force figure more than a SW one. :P
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 26, 2007, 01:40 AM
I think I posted photos of those somewhere...  That wave includes the British Red Devil (in jump gear), marking the first time a Brit figure's been made from WW2.  Hopefully a sign of great things to come. ;)

I saw a Camo PAK-40 tonight too...  I want one, but at the TRU price I'm iffy on if I'll get it. :(  I have a number of grey ones, so I just don't know if I wanna commit to a camo repaint at inflated prices.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 28, 2007, 01:08 AM
New stuff... 

A camo Quad-gun US half-track, which is perfect for N. Africa if I am not mistaken, as well as other fronts...
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/UShalftrackS2/full/1.jpg)

And now, "Versus 2-packs", which look incredible. 
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/DualpackD_Day2/full/1.jpg)

I know for a fact I've requested just this kind of item from 21st in the past, so could we be seeing something I had some influence on? ;)  Well, I like to tell myself that anyway, but who knows.  I'm sure I'm not the only one probably who'd asked for something this cool.  Not sure on price for the 2-packs yet either, so I am hoping they come in fairly cheap since they're repaints of existing figures.

The Pea-Dot camo (I think that's pea-dot, do you know Paul?) is quite slick on the German, and the US guy's a good basic grunt.  If you have extra M1's he's cool, or with the sachel he makes an ok squad leader with a tommy gun.  Either way, sharp set I think, so long as the price is right of course.  Figures are only $5 each as it is, so anything $10 or under is ideal on these really.

Army builders dream...  Imagine SA Stormtroopers packed with SA Fleet Troopers, with maybe slight deco changes.  Or imagine SA Hoth Rebels and Imperials packed together.  Ewoks and AT-ST Drivers?  Endor Rebels and Scout Troopers?  There's a lot of possibilities there I think for Star Wars too.

I saw the camo PAK-40, and hopefully can nab that soon if I see it again.  And I can't for the life of me find the friggin' Quad-.50 trailer. :(  I wanted one to set up with my Bulge figures so they're using it as anti-infantry emplacement, but so far it's been scarce.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on November 28, 2007, 08:49 AM


The Pea-Dot camo (I think that's pea-dot, do you know Paul?) is quite slick on the German, and the US guy's a good basic grunt.  If you have extra M1's he's cool, or with the sachel he makes an ok squad leader with a tommy gun.  Either way, sharp set I think, so long as the price is right of course.  Figures are only $5 each as it is, so anything $10 or under is ideal on these really.




These sets are a great idea.  The headsculpt on the GI looks decent for a change as well if they would just stop "Washing" them with orange or rust colors.

Ok...just so that everyone can decipher my terms without the need of an Enigma machine:
Wehrmacht (this is a term used for all German Forces..Army, Navy (Kriegsmarine), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Armed/Combat SS (Waffen SS))
Heer is the plain old Army
Waffen SS is the Elite Combat Arm and separate from the Army/Heer completely.

The camo looks to be an attempt at Pea-Dot or Erbst or 44dot (keep in mind it is militaria collectors mostly who have named the camo's, several of the vets we have spoken to over the years oddly enough just called it "Tarnjacke" or camo jacket)

The only problem I see with this one (and stop reading now jesse if you don't want to know) it appears to have Heer (Army) insignia and this pattern is most definately a Waffen SS camo only. (the paratrooper smocks that have been made of this material were either made post war or were from Skorzeny's group who were attached to the WSS, the one in the Bulge Museum in Europe is even a fake)..back to the jacket...breast Eagle, Collar Litzen (collar tabs) all indiciative of Heer.  Silver Buttons on this uniform also wrong (should be green or gray).  Kudos to them for not making the helmet cover in "Pea-Dot"...That camo was ffor Tunic, Pants and Winter suits only.  Keep in mind these are only "ARMY BUILDING" rules.  I am not saying that 1 of the 20 million Heer soldiers in the war did not snag a pea dot tunic, but it is unlikely.  The two branches liked to differentiate themselves from the other.  By the time the Americans made it to mainland Europe, German soldiers were trying to avoid any association with the Waffen SS, even many WSS troops had a second set of ID papers in case they were captured.  Heer (Army) tank troops wore all black uniforms with Death's Head insignia (and had been since before the Waffen SS existed) and were often treated as SS troops by GI's who captured them.

On the American...M41 Jackets don't have Elbow Re-enforcements.  Must be the Sleeves from a paratrooper.  He is wearing a cartridge belt for an M1 Garand (and they seem to be BROWN they should be Khaki canvas) yet carries a Thompson.  Hope he only needs 30 rounds or that his haversack is full of them.  He is decked out for D-Day for sure, so hopefully they don't call it a battle of the Bulge set.

But despite all that some good figs for sure.  If hasbro would do Vs 2 packs of a SA Rebels vs SA Imperials..it would be great...

Sorry for the History Channel episode on German uniforms....
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 28, 2007, 02:55 PM
Yeah it's being touted as a D-Day pack...  Not Bulge.  His articulated set of arms and things are right for his jacket though, so that doesn't bother me.  I'm assuming his pack is also there as his "clip bag" too.  The pack is the same one that came with the D-Day 82nd Airborne figure that was just out, and he had no clip bag either... 

Those arms are most definitely that same D_Day Para's arms too, except the articulated ones.  They're the right set.  Which sucks because the non-poseable arms have the "trigger" hand on them but it's gloved. :(  Not right at all, and good trigger hands are in short supply.

Interesting on the German...  A true "Nazi" figure... sort of, but probably not intentional by 21st. 

I would go so far as to say that the collar tabs indicating he's regular army were intentional, and that the camo pattern was just trying to satiate collectors who like all the different camo's the Germans were rolling with in the war, and wanted to see the variants made.  That's my guess anyway.

German Tankers are in short supply...  The two in white and autumn reversible camo suits came and went, but a simple black suited Tanker on the card hasn't been done.  One with a peak cap and one with an officer's cap would be great though.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on November 28, 2007, 08:25 PM
Sadly if they had made the Camo on the German's Jacket in "Splinter" which was one of the Camo's unique to the Army and it would have been totally correct (except for the Army Building part..it was a field made item that only a few would have gone to the effort to have done)

(http://www.tridentmilitary.com/New-Photos18/rgc6cb.jpg)

I think for trigger fingers you are going to have to snag them off the Nam guys, almost NONE of those guys should be wearing gloves.


I have several of the Tankers.  Good figures, I just wish the head sculpts were more crisp...
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on November 29, 2007, 01:03 AM
I wanted more winter white ones to do headswaps and make infantry out of them.  Have one or two like that, but the winter German Tankers were short supply here. :(  As were BotB figures in general.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 6, 2007, 11:46 PM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/1_18KingTigerS1/full/1.jpg)

Oh my...  [/end George Takae]

:)

German King Tiger (Tiger II), in late-war camo, all decked out for the battle of the bulge!  That's one big-assed tank right there.  Can't wait to pick this up.  My only hope, and likely my only gripe, will be if there is no interior to it, which I don't believe there is one.  I miss the full interiors on the tanks like the Tiger I got.  :(

I want now to get some cremen for the damn thing!  That's a behemoth toy though right there.  Can't wait!
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on December 7, 2007, 08:51 AM
That thing is very nice.  Of course it comes at a time when I decide that vehicles are no going to be part of my collecting.

What you need for that is a Waffen SS Tank crew (if those markings bear out it being WSS) in those Italian Leather jackets they stuck on those Heer troopers earlier this year.  And on the back deck you need some Fallschirmjaeger hitching a ride..you know the picture I'm talking about.. I'll find it and post it.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 7, 2007, 03:58 PM
That would be very cool...  I'd like some German tankers, period, at this point.  ::)  I wanted so many of the white outfit ones to convert to infantry, but really at this point I could use probably 16 (at least) tankers just to flesh out my current pile of tanks...  I've got the S1 Panther, 2 Tiger I's (steel and plastic), and this baby...

Of course, I'm neglecting that I also have a regular Panzer, and the snub nosed grey RC Panzer.  So, yeah, I guess add 8 more to that list. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on December 7, 2007, 06:06 PM
Take that Panzer Guy with the Sidecap stick his head on that one with the closed leather Jacket and from the Waist up you are rocking the Italian Leather U Boat look that the 1st SS (LAH) and 12 SS (HJ) were throwing down in Normandy.

Don't forget you have 251's to crew too...

Surely some company out there can get some German Tankers out there....maybe the new Bravo Guys if they do WWII.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on December 7, 2007, 10:49 PM
Just saw the Forces of Valor Bravo Force Tiger (camo) at Target, they showed pics of the 6 Germans and 6 GI's that we can expect on the back/side of the box.

Good that we are getting more soldiers from both sides ....bad that they didn't bother to pick up any of a number of books on uniforms to even get the camo and uniforms remotely correct.  $11 worth of research and development is all it would have taken.  The GI's are an interesting green as well (yes oddly enough there is a WRONG color Green for Army Clothing Circa 1940-1945 and they came real close to it)

Oh and more bad news Jesse...not a tanker in the bunch and the Tiger did not appear to come with one either.  It did not have an MG for the Commanders or Gunners hatch either.  But the price was the same as the Bradleys/Abrams.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 8, 2007, 01:09 AM
The price is what's right for me, plus I can add a gun...  A Tiger I with zimmerit is cool unto itself.

Paul, did you happen to snag one?  That's the first sighting I've heard of a FOV 1:18 WW2 item.

I'd love to see it...  :)  Nothing like that up here so far...  Hell, I'd love to own it.

On the German crewmen, would the Hano's require Panzer crewmen, or no?  I was under the impression that a Hanomag didn't really get anything more than a unit attached to it and a regular old infantryman tasked to drive it, more or less. 

I'd love to slap the Italian coats onto guys, but what's underneath would bug me if it's inaccurate I'm afraid. :( 

I'm really stoked to hear about your finds on the FOV front though.  I really want to see the figures...  If they're anything like the S1 modern, I'm sure even inaccuracies can be overlooked.  Plus perhaps the actual product will be more accurate.  I'd be shocked if they're horribly off in detail.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on December 8, 2007, 08:34 AM
It all depends on how the 251 was "attached" to the unit.

Alot of them that were Infantry vehicles did have just plain uniforms that were issued to their branch, but the Germans who were assigned to them for the most part liked getting the Armored Crew Uniforms, which were basically the Panzer Uniforms (pocketless double breasted looking "Wrap") but in Gray or camo or even reed green summer weight.

I did not snag it...my wife and daughter were with me and we are trying to convince my daughter that this close to Christmas you don't get stuff when you are out shopping, so i tried to be a good example.  There was only 1, I doubt it will be there long.


I'd love to slap the Italian coats onto guys, but what's underneath would bug me if it's inaccurate I'm afraid. :( 


That is what bugs me about the figure to begin with.  At least in a tank (hiding his legs) with a Tanker head w/ headset he would look "more" correct.

I am hoping the images are wrong too.  The modern figs are pretty nice....but these Germans looked very much like those InToyz figures from several years ago.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 8, 2007, 03:37 PM
Quote
I am hoping the images are wrong too.  The modern figs are pretty nice....but these Germans looked very much like those InToyz figures from several years ago.
 

Yikes, the sculpts looked that bad?  Any interesting gear/weapons pictured?

You're scaring me with that above quote. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 17, 2007, 02:52 AM
From none other than our own Paul Mundheim, here's pics of the new FOV Tiger I 1:18 scale tank at Target.  For a scant $30, I think I can overlook the lack of weathering and some details (no MG on the command hatch, no smoke grenades, etc.).

Pretty slick looking...  Needs a little work the 21st tank didn't, but it will be fun fixing it up.  I love the zimmerit detail too.  That's as of yet produced on a German tank, so it's nice that it sorta changes up this Tiger from the first and repaint Tiger I's 21st made.

Nothing will beat the interior though...  FOV is close to making a comparable tank for a lower price though.  $30 is affordable to do "customs".  I'd love a burned out Tiger I with GI's clamoring around it for souveneirs.  It's easier to hack at a $30 tank than it is to hack at a $50 tank. ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0618.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0617.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0615.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0604.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0602.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0601.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0609.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/IMG_0608.jpg)
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: CHEWIE on December 17, 2007, 03:26 PM
I saw the Tigers at Target today... pretty cool.

Got any pics of the Platoon figures?  I hear Darth Delicious got some as he's already using them for custom fodder.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on December 17, 2007, 04:17 PM
I think some pages back CHEWIE there are some...  Those and the generic Nam figures are out as well at TRU.  The Platoon ones just showed up this past week as well, I think.  I've yet to see any Nam guys though.  The generics have been out for most of December.  Along with the camo Quad .50 halftrack and camo Pak-40, which I saw the Pak, but cannot afford it this month.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: CHEWIE on December 17, 2007, 04:35 PM
I'll b euser to thumb through the Vietnam figures next time I hit TRU. Thanks, Jesse.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Darth Gamboa on December 21, 2007, 07:49 PM
Picked up a couple of  1:18 BBI M-1 Abrams and one wheeled vehicle in Lancaster Target for $12:50 each! Humvees were 10 bucks but I passed. Picked up a 21st C  1:18 P-51 at a nearby Wal-Mart for 10 bucks too.

All going to the nephews for Christmas.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Nirvana on December 27, 2007, 10:03 AM
I got the German PAK-40 Hanomag for Christmas. I absolutely love it. My only complaint is that I wish it could rotate/elevate a little bit more. I'm not sure whether to leave it as it is or customize it into a mobil artillery vehicle for my Stormtroopers...

I also got a German with an open coat- pretty cool, thouh I just wanted the coat for customs, and I also got one of the new Vietname figures. They're nicely made, the legs and arms are tight even after switching them out, and the accesories are very detailed. My only complaint is that the could've cast the the arms in a fleshtone- the paint is starting to scratch already, even on the fixed arms. :(
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: jedipurge on December 28, 2007, 03:16 PM
Awesome they finally have a guy with a luger, been wanting one and was tempted to go through Marauder.com to get one.....custom blaster for NJO era Han.  I also love the rifle that the Imperial Concussion Rifle is based on with the extra ammo drum on the side.  Gotta couple of my sandtroopers sporting those bad boys.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on January 2, 2008, 07:59 PM
I saw the Bravo Team/Force WWII guys today.

The figs have (had) potential.  The historical inaccuracies are way too glaring.  Army Collar Tabs with SS Sleeve Eagles, SS Camo, Army Insignia.  Don't ask about the ammo pouches.

The GI's...M43-ish Jackets with Some odd brown pants with Hip, Bellows pockets and Leggings..It is like they took one element from different US unifroms from 1936 to 1962 and slapped it on a figure.

I guess I am over critical, but before I sank that much into Molds and Tooling, I would sink $15 into a book or look on the internet.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 3, 2008, 01:49 AM
hah...

Well, I'm still into them...  But you're not too critical Paul.  I'll probably mod them best I can is all.  The German insignias won't really bug me much, and sometimes you can just "remove" them with a quick swipe of the hobby knife or a little goof-off on a fine brush.

The US guys sound much more difficult to fix however.

Glad these are surfacing, as I need a 1:18 soldier fix...  WM's got the same D-Day figures now for a month or so, no sign of anything new, and TRU is sort of dead at the moment.  Nam guys showing up sometimes, but not around me.

I'm pumped for the new figures from FOV though...  WOuld like to find the Tiger too in a week or so.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on January 3, 2008, 07:57 AM
I forgot to mention they had another Tiger and it was on clearance with all the other Bravo Force vehicles.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 3, 2008, 03:18 PM
What paintjob was it Paul?  I'm intrigued now. 

For the price, these are a steal, but the comparisons with 21st's Tiger really show all the lacking detail on FOV's.  Saw some figure pics last night and the Germans look pretty top notch really, but no American pics.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Jesse James on January 3, 2008, 10:51 PM
I got 3 Nam dudes tonight...  They're ok.  Nice sculpts, nice accessories, but the painted flesh tones are sort of unattractive and show green through in spots.  I also am disappointed in the pre-posed arms, as the hands are molded to the arms as one piece, whereas before I always used the trigger hand from these arms for the poseable set of arms.

The pre-posed legs though, that's a slick addition.  I won't use them, but as a collector, I can't help but point out how this kidn of innovation pushes 21st a notch ahead again, as this scale toy-makers go.  You can have a fully posed figure, or a super poseable figure, all for $4.99.  That's sick.
Title: Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
Post by: Paul on January 4, 2008, 09:11 AM
What paintjob was it Paul?  I'm intrigued now. 

For the price, these are a steal, but the comparisons with 21st's Tiger really show all the lacking detail on FOV's.  Saw some figure pics last night and the Germans look pretty top notch really, but no American pics.

Same paint job as the one I have...which reminds me I need to return that thing before my receipt expires.

You aren't disappointed that they have WSS sleeve eagles and Heer Collar tabs?  Two organizations with completely different supply chains, factories, insignia and philosophy.  I can honestly say I have never seen that combination of Insignia.  I've seen rare and random pics of Heer wearing SS camo, but not insignia.  If historical accuracy is the goal, they missed. 

The sculpts other than the innacurracies (if one can get past that...and apparently I can't) are fairly good.  But the sloppy paint on these and 21st figs (and BBI for that matter) really ruin what could be a great line.  I never realized how spoiled we were by hasbro with SW and Joe with their paint aps, sure an occasion figure gets cross eyed, but never droopy eyed or worse look like they are wearing makeup put on by a street walker (early 21st was the worst about that).

I still can't figure out what they are trying to do with the Pants on the US figure. Brown (so wool) with External Pockets (like Airborne or Mountain).  The Brown Pants and Green Jacket is common enough, but not the pockets.

Did you notice that FOV also has added extra pairs of hands to their WWII figures (to hold rifles and pistols/smgs)?  Nice touch.

You are right, Hasbro could take a lesson from these guys on "Extras" these two minor players in the Action Figure world for the SAME price point (I know they don't have to pay a license fee for WWII stuff).  In the recent figures we've gotten extra Arms (both articulated and not), extra Heads, extra hands, spare gear.  The most interesting thing I saw was 2 sets of arms, one ball socket, one swivel that could be put on the same figure, that is some engineering.
Title: Re: The Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc.)
Post by: Jesse James on January 5, 2008, 03:49 AM
Yeah, honestly the insignia bothers me the least, because it's something that can be removed...  I would say the pockets annoy me more.  Rangers had the pockets I was thinking as well though, didn't they?  The coats are a little extra green for my liking, and almost seem to resemble old WW2 movie inaccuracies, but whatever...  I'm pretty tollerant with the little stuff.

The gear is fantastic, the sculpts are nice if not accurate...  I'm ok, I just would like accuracy as well, but whatever.  The Germans just look better to me due to being able to remove the insignia, and basically have generic "blank" Germans...  If that makes any sense?  The Americans are a little mroe annoying to me I guess.

I hope for some new vehicles from them though.  Perhaps something in the small to mid-range like halftracks, smaller armor, Jeeps/Kubels, and maybe Artillery.  FOV also has branched into other nationalities with their other scales, so maybe we'll get some Brits or something too.  One can hope for that kinda stuff.

When you're into this stuff, pretty much anything is better than nothing...  BBI's not fast with anything, 21st is steady, but far from reliable distribution, and little in the way of "expansion" from what we can tell (same German/American standards).  FOV breathes possible new life into things, and competition means improvements I believe.

I agree on the paint aps too...  BBI's not that bad IMO, but 21st's lacking lately with their skin tones, and FOV's are good except for these paint inaccuracies with the WW2 guys.  21st, to me, is the crew that need to improve that aspect.  I think quality sometimes suffers for the "extras" with them.  FOV to me is offering some of the best stuff overall.  And the prices on all of the figures from any company are fantastic.  I mean, $5 figures are a dream to me... 

I'm hoping to see FOV improve accuracy, 21st improve paint aps and "diversify" their stuff some, and BBI just to crap or get off the pot (to put it bluntly) with stuff.  BBI did give us a Red Devil this year though. :)  That's a start...  And they're the only ones to deliver a Zero too...  If they'd actually put out new stuff, I think they'd be the force to be reckoned with in this hobby.

EDIT:

By the way, I changed the thread title here because, well, there's just too many companies to have it just be for 21st in the thread title...  I mean, technically there's also Admiral's Toys making planes too...  I forget about them as I'm not into the planes too much.  I've got planes, but man if you're into those, there's variations, repaints, and different models galore out there.  I would like an ME-262, and if they ever do the B-25 as they mentioned, I'm down for that.  I'd also like a nice cargo plane for my para's to stand in someday.
Title: Re: The Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc.)
Post by: Jesse James on January 6, 2008, 04:01 AM
Just in time for Indiana Jones...

2-Pack DAK...  Perfect army building with imperfect figures.  Yes, I see the ammo pouches Paul. :)  Plus people are bitching about the lace-ups, and want shorts, which I agree on both points there too... 
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/DAK_NAMdualpacks/full/1.jpg)

More Nam stuff, which I honestly could give a **** about...  Sorry, just not my cup of tea.  As it is, I sort of relent on buying modern, and don't army build it.  Just not my era I was into is all...  I worry about it pegwarming too, but who knows.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/DAK_NAMdualpacks/full/2.jpg)

And finally, final shots of the amazing German 88...  THe gun that EVERY allied soldier dreaded...  High time it got made because, well, it was used every friggin' place.
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/88_s1_sneekpeek/full/1.jpg)

And as you can see, the paintjob is all DAK tan...  Indiana JOnes would be ******** his pants if Belloq had one of these lobbing shells his way though.  :o

THat may be the slickest looking piece 21st has ever made in terms of detail.  I'm really anxious for simple panzer grey or winter white ones for Europe though...  But with 2-pack DAK figures, I will certainly have enough guys to crew this thing too.

Yay toys.
Title: Re: The Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc.)
Post by: Jesse James on January 14, 2008, 09:41 PM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/Pak40_S2_halftrack/full/1.jpg)

A new Pak-40 Hanomag...  In "Normandy Summer '44" deco...  But people are already saying Pak-40 Hano's didn't exist in the Summer of '44, soooooooo...  Well, I dunno.  I like it, but I do know they were used at the Bulge, so I'd prefer a whitewashed one for my BotB Germans to be manning.   :-\
Title: Re: The Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc.)
Post by: Jesse James on January 17, 2008, 01:35 AM
I got some 2-packs tonight...  For $8 and change, you get two figures...  That's a deal.

I got the two Camo Germans, and the two D-Day "Versus" figures (US Sergeant and German Corporal).  The camo's are quite cool, but as with many figures this year, the ammo pouches aren't matching up with the figure's weapon all the time.

Good paintjobs though.  Better skin tones.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 26, 2008, 03:06 AM
Yet more stuff...

Two new DAK (Deutsch Afrika Korps) figures pictured...  They utilize old bodies, however 21st is now giving their WW2 figures the same treatment the Nam figures got with a 2nd set of pre-posed legs.  The pre-posed legs are gonna go over like gangbusters for scenes like loading a cannon (PAK-40 or the upcoming desert camo 88!).

Still annoyed on the ammo pouches, but I am pleased to see both these DAK get unique headsculpts with removable field caps.  Yay 21st on that, and it's also nice to see the MP40 back...  Just would like proper ammo pouches as Paul would as well. ;)

The timing of the DAK are good too considering Indiana JOnes...  They'll match up well with Indy.

(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/DAK_preposedS1/full/1.jpg) (http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/DAK_preposedS1/full/2.jpg)

The artillery crewman's a pretty shrewd move since I guess the 88's getting released initially as a DAK paintjob and hopefully later with some simple grey paintjobs or regular camo...  I'd like a winter one too to be honest.  The PAK I got my fill of in grey I think, but 88's just deserve multiple camo's.

The rangefinder would be neat if he had some gear like a spent 88 shell, or something, but he's not bad as-is either.  Loves me some new-ish German guys though for variation.  This line's all about the army builders.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on February 5, 2008, 05:12 PM
Anybody seen this link yet?

http://www.unimax.com.hk/product_inside.php?cid=C41&type=toys

maybe somebody will get some pics at ToyFair.

I don't know enough history prior to 1860's to know if any of those particular figures were "opposition" forces....I guess I'll have to read up...

But Knight's, Romans, Egyptians and Samurai...not bad.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 5, 2008, 11:32 PM
All 1:18 Paul? 

Nice...  I...  Ugh...  *sigh* I'm sure I'll buy some of them.  ::)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: CHEWIE on February 6, 2008, 11:31 AM
Jesse, have you gotten the Platoon figures yet?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 6, 2008, 03:15 PM
I got two last night...  I don't feel the Dep figure looks like him really, and the DeFoe figure is so-so...  I got Berenger and Sheen, which are the better sculpts overall as far as actor accuracy.  Especially Berenger's sculpt.  Sheen's isn't bad though at all.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: ctonra on February 6, 2008, 04:00 PM
Paul
     They look awsume I will be adding them to my ever growing list of things to get this year,  I am thinking Target will be carring them for some reason,  Looking at the other lines this company has, they have all been sold at Target. Which is good cause if they are not a big hit they will go to clearence
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 18, 2008, 06:58 PM
Since there's 3 companies competing with each other, all 3 didn't show a lot at Toy Fair it seems...  ::)

21st did display the 88, and the King Tiger, as well as new re-uses of the D-Day figures with an MP44 German, a .30 Cal. US guy, and it appears figures will come with the "pre-posed leg sets" we've seen with the 'Nam guys now.  So that's cool, as it really helps with displaying figures around a machine gun, or loading a cannon/artillery piece, etc.  I still prefer poseable, but the pre-posed legs will definitely get some use out of me for displaying purposes.  I mean, Bazooka guys running up the beach are cool, but crouched with a loader slipping a shell in is such a cool looking set-up.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 4, 2008, 03:51 AM
(http://www.21stcenturytoys.com/area21/newsItems/DAK_preposedS1/full/1.jpg)

I picked this dude up tonight...  No range-finder was there though.  Dunno if they're not shipping together or what.

I hear the Nam 2-packs are being found, but not sure on the DAK 2-packs.  I'd love the range-finder and 2-pack though.

Indy guys may want to nab some Germans for their future Indiana Jones collecting needs.  TRU has a ton right now, and they're cheaper than Hasbro figures, so you can't go wrong there really.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Nirvana on March 4, 2008, 06:20 AM
Did anyone else see the new Forces of Valor WW2 US soldiers? I like their head sculpts and weapons better, but it seems that 21st Century is still on top with their sculpts and articulation.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 2, 2008, 02:07 PM
Ugh...  OK, so bad news for the hobby unfortunately.

Word on the street is that WM is knuckling down on 21st items because of poor sales of the recent planes, so may be down to 1:32 stuff and 1:18 figures only at WM now...  No hopes of KT or 88 showing.

And what's worse...  Sounds like Etailers are saying the King Tiger and 88 are coming in at a WHOPPING $100 each.  At that price I'm highly unlikely to get both, I'm 99% certain I won't get the 88 due to the DAK paintjob on it (not my favored area of collecting), and the King Tiger I'm torn on whether I'll get it or not.

No word yet if these both may show up at Toys R Us for a more fair/reasonable price though...  And honestly, nothing concrete says they won't show up at Wal-Mart either, it's just a rumor... 

I guess people are claiming they're going to make the line much more collector-only oriented and with fewer numbers in a production run.  What's really irksome though is a Panther repaint, the first German tank they ever made, is showing for $100 as well on etailer sites...  I paid $40 for mine, so I find that more than unreasonable and won't be buying any Panther for that price.

Good news though that FOV is at Target and perhaps they'll expand the 1:18 line further.  I hope...  :-\  And of course, TRU is still selling XD stuff so there is hope.  For $80 I'd get the KT and 88 both probably.  Not for $100 each though.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 8, 2008, 07:04 PM
Haven't had time to update this in a while...  Lots of stuff shipping/surfacing.

First, word is Toys R Us just got a shipment of unexpected repainted World War 2 figures from BBI.  All 4 of the original infantry and the non-jump paratrooper got repainted with unit insignias on the helmets and other deco changes.

-BAR Gunner
-Rifleman
-"Officer" (in D-Day landing vest)
-U.S. Paratrooper Rifleman

BBI's figures are among the best sculpted so that's a nice surprise.  Some variety to the ranks never hurts and all the BBI guys sit really well.

21st Century's first King Tiger/Tiger 2 Tanks have surfaced though it's sporadic and online sales only.  $100 pricetag is going to keep a lot of folks from buying.  People are actually moving towards some of the 1:16 scale RC tanks out there, as for $70-ish you can get a pretty outstanding RC tank that's compatible with the figures.  Usually they have sounds, many features (beyond RC movement) and just are really nice, plus they're upgradeable.

TRU's been getting lots of 21st's planes in.  Not my cup of tea generally as my ceiling is full already, but cool for plane guys.

21st's figures have been showing up in droves at WM and TRU both...  I just recently saw the new Vietnam and DAK 2-packs.  The DAK 2-pack is a huge deal to me and worth every penny.  They fill out Raiders dioramas nicely but the Raiders figures really don't match well and are very generic (as they are in the movie).  So I'm likely gonna keep them separate for the most part.  Plus as Paul's mentioned elsewhere, the Raiders Germans are pre-DAK formation even, but that just helps cover their genericness a bit.

And speaking of Raiders, the truck and German 4WD (BMW/Mercedes) have flown off shelves, as has the german with motorcycle, and tons are showing up customized in the 1:18 military world...  I've seen Western Front paintjobs, desert paintjobs, weathering, camo'ing, add-ons, etc.  They are perfect fits in the 1:18 world really, especially for the low price. 

Also the KotCS Russians are getting gobbled up for use as WW2 Russians.  They're shorter than most XD, BBI, or FOV figures, but they're pretty great...  No weapons, yet. :(

And lastly, the first sightings were reported of some figures from 21st that we got a glimpse of at Toy Fair.  A U.S. Soldier w/.30 on a tri-pod is one such figure and that's VERY needed...  He comes with pre-molded legs as well as poseable ones too, so he's perfect.

Also with him is a "sniper", though he simply has an M1, even with a bayonette on it, so he's hardly a sniper.  Maybe just a good shot. :P  Still, a US Rifleman on the pegs is OUTSTANDING as they've been missing for months.

Some areas still have D-Day 2-packs as well...  Mine is limited mostly to German 2-packs but I still find a US/German now and then and pick that one up.  The German set is great though and you get at least one field cap with it which I've been giving to some of my cold weather Germans.

Along with the old and new 2-packs, and the new basic figures, are a couple other basic figures I forgot...  A DAK German Artillery spotter with a shouting headsculpt is out, as well as two German infantry in basic wermacht green-grey uniforms.  The one has a K-98, the other an MP44, though in true 21st fashion he has no ammo packs for the 44.

Most of the newest basic figures feature pre-posed arms AND legs with the poseable arms and legs.  That's pretty outstanding and the pre-posed legs make for dandy artillery crewmen or ambush poses.

There's also a DAK MP-40 soldier as well, almost forgot him, so that's a good 6 or 8 DAK out right now I believe, and 3 or so Germans, and 2 or 3 Americans that can be found.  Not bad at all.

And on top of alllllllll that, there is Vietnam stuff abounding.  I'm not a Nam guy myself, I usually get one of every headsculpt, but there is the aforementioned 2-pack, a number of basic infantry at TRU and Wal-Mart stores, and then also there are the "Platoon" line of figures which have headsculpts for Willam DeFoe, Charlie Sheen, Johnny Depp, and Tom Berenger.  Berenger's is the best likeness, the others range from so-so to decent I think, but the paintjobs don't do the characters or sculpts justice.  If you're into the Nam though, now's the time to stock up on the green machine.

And that's about it... 

Oh and Forces of Valor keeps restocking again and again at my Target stores, and selling out again and again.  Great line...  I saw, for the first time, the camo Sherman...  THat's been out for months and months now and I've never seen it.  Nor have i yet to see a Tiger. :(  I'm bummed as I'd like one due to the variation of the plates sculpted on.  For $20 though, don't expect much.

And 21st's PAK-40 (camo), Quad-.50 Trailer, and a couple halftrack (Hanomags) variants are out at TRU.

Word is WM isn't going to carry 21st's planes, at least for a bit, due to their recent clearances of them.  Their own fault for buying umpteen of the same plane, but you can't tell 21st or WM a thing it seems.  They just both seem to feel they're doing the right thing all the time.  ::)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: CHEWIE on July 29, 2008, 10:58 PM
Jesse, I've been talking with a collecting buddy about working on an extensive Indiana Jones photonovel series... and the 21st century line seems like it might have some potential pieces that could be utilized.

However I'm not seeing any Russian toys... am I missing them, or do they not make Russian vehicles?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on July 30, 2008, 01:24 AM
There's currently no Russian line...  Some US stuff repainted would work (Jeeps, etc. were part of the lend-lease agreement with Russia), but the only Russian figures out are the ones from the IJ line...  There's a lot of nationalities not covered yet (British, Italians, Russians, Canadians, etc., etc.) by 21st, BBI, or FOV.

There's one Brit out, and he's all in jump gear so he's really not suitable for much more than standing in a doorway to jump out or waiting to get in the plane.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: CHEWIE on July 30, 2008, 03:24 PM
Gotcha... thanks for the info Jesse.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on July 30, 2008, 05:46 PM
Suitable for WWII Russian (EARLY war) would be:

Jeeps
M2 and M3 Halftracks (but not the M16 with Quad .50's)
Chevy or Ford Trucks (civilian style, not the Military GMC and Dodge)

That Staff Car in the INDY line could be Russian'ed up a bit though.

If you are looking for Cold War Era Russian stuff...you are WAY out of luck.

Unless you want planes.  There are a couple MiGs
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: CHEWIE on July 31, 2008, 10:23 AM
Yeah, Cold War era Russian stuff.  Thanks for the advice Paul.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 25, 2008, 03:01 AM
Bad 21st Cent. Toys news...  Sounds like the economic times have hit them hard and they're cutting employees and that WM isn't keeping the line going for similar reasons I guess.  Sucks but at least there's BBI and FOV still trying to stick with the 1:18 market...  I'm hopeful that continues.

TRU I guess is doing what it can with 21st though and is trying to keep a lot of the older items in stock.

I would at least like to pick up this last set of figures from D-Day (or at least a lot of the .30 cal soldier) but my areas haven't had a new figure in a while since some dual packs.  21st isn't dead, but they're certainly rethinking their strategy. 

Perhaps dipping their pen into too many wells killed them?  Hard to say...  1:6, 1:18, 1:32, 1:72 and other scales got mixed in there.  I always felt they should've stuck to 1:18 as their 1:6 wasn't ever anywhere near the quality that's out there in the competitive world of 12" figures...

Their 1:32 stuff was nice but again they're in super competitive scale there...  Why not dominate 1:18 and enjoy the profits?  They needed to become more consistant in a year with figures and put out a max 2 plane/tank formula.  Focus on some smaller vehicles (kettenrad, motorcycle, Jeep, "wagens" for the Germans, trucks, artillery, etc.), and sneak those couple tanks and planes out in a whole year, and you're set.  Instead, too many repaints combined with too many failures in smaller or larger scales.  Not to mention being in bed with Wal-Mart who are a pain to deal with anyway, much less being "exclusive" with them for some time...  Ugh.

21st may go the way of the do-do, hard to say right now, but that's fine.  One less thing to spend money on then.  I hope FOV picks up the ball and runs with it.  BBI too.  both make high quality figures.  Right now FOV has my atteniton bigtime, so I'd love to see them expand and improve.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on August 29, 2008, 07:16 AM
Marauder John has Wave 5 of his weapons in stock.

Aside from the MG34 and the Peacemaker, this wave doesn't interest me much.  But it is always neat to see what he has to offer.

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 31, 2008, 01:39 AM
Saw the new wave of 1:18 XD figures at Wm tonight and man they're pretty decent, plus they're shipping with some of the cool removable hat tankers from the D-Day assortment.

Anyway, I only got 2 .30 Cal guys because of cash flow, but all 3 figures had new heads which rocks.

I'm bummed the U.S. "sniper" only has an M1 though.  If he had a springfield with scope, that would've rocked my socks.  The German also lacks proper ammo pouches for his MP44, but he actually has the right footwear Paul! :)  And his headsculpt is top notch.  he's a good egg besides the ammo, which is at least customizable.

The Sniper's really just another rifleman, which ain't all that bad.  Love the .30 though.  Great new figure for the most part including removable sitting style legs. :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on October 5, 2008, 09:16 PM
JJ or anybody..

Did 21st (or any company for that matter) make a WWII US Soldier with the Canvas leggings that HAD ankle articulation.  It can be the most basic swivel, I just need the foot separate from the legging for a project.

I never got past the first few waves of Paratroopers with 21stC and I don't have any figs with Leggings.

Any help would be appreciated

Also looking for any good examples of Revolvers..old west style prefered...I snagged one from Marauder John..just looking for other examples..
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 6, 2008, 01:53 AM
-Revolvers...  Check out Big Lots if you've got one Paul, but if not let me know and I can look for you if need be...  They got in a ton of the "Golden Compass" figures, and each GC figure comes with a weapon, for the most part revolvers or other older styled weapons.  Sam Elliot's character has, I think, a Colt Navy Revolver maybe, as he's a Gunslinger type guy.  LMK if you need me to get you one.

The main hero character had a Webley-ish pistol, the bad guys had a Mauser...  Another had a larger Webley-like pistol as well, but it was significantly larger for some reason.  LMK if you want me to get any of those if you don't have Big Lots.  They're like fly **** up here.

About the Leggings...  Check your local Toys R Us for BBI's guys.  They have repaints of their WW2 figures out, and their infantry all had leggings with separate articulated shoes.  The leggings twisted at the top where they connected with the legs, and the foot then is ball/socket jointed into the bottom of the leggings.  Very poseable.  It's ONLY the infantry though Paul, not the Para's.  The Para's only swivel at their tops of their jump boots.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on November 14, 2008, 10:35 AM
New PTE stuff... this time it is Chinese and Russian gear for your OPFOR or Cobra troops.


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/China_Type_96.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/Chinese_Z-9_Westland_Lynx.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/Chinese_Z-9_Westland_Lynx_detail1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v331/pmundheim/SU_27_Flanker.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 14, 2008, 03:59 PM
There's other stuff too Paul, a small Humvee-ish vehicle (Chinese), and I'm not sure on that tank make/model but I really hope it's size is accurate.  I'd love something to sit next to my modern U.S. armor like my Abrams.

I am not familiar with the tank and  chopper to know how accurately scaled they are though. :(

Paul, where'd the images come from?  Do you know what store?  Big Lots hasn't gotten in the PTE this year like they did last year.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 14, 2008, 06:16 PM
That helicopter looks nice.  I can't place it as a direct translation of any military helicopters that I can think of.  It sort of looks like a Bell 222 which they used a modified version of for the show Airwolf.  But it also sort of looks like a modified version of a Lynx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lynx_helo_2.jpg) which is used by a bunch of EU countries like the UK, Germany and France.

If it's supposed to be Russian then I bet they're thinking something in the Hind family...but not really close.
   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Darth Gamboa on November 14, 2008, 06:37 PM
Looks like a Ka 60
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 23, 2008, 12:41 AM
Forgot to mention this a while back but BBI shocked everyone with their WW2 weapons packs at first, but then they did even more shocking by putting out new WW2 U.S. paratroopers.  They've got working chutes, but unlike all the other working chute figures, these new Paras come with removable jump gear so you have troops ready to fight or ready to jump out the door...  or even ready to walk into the door actually.

Pretty neat idea, and the gear looks fantastic.  Only flaw is it's tough to get onto the trooper properly.  I wish they'd do some German paras up like this, or maybe some Brits since they did whip up a single red devil in the last line of paras.

Anyway, good stuff out there if you see them.  A whole lot of bang for your $7 with these new paras IMO.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 2, 2009, 05:34 PM
I found a site online that I thought was marking figures down at a good deal, but you couldn't pick what you wanted...  Well, I got what was left, and ultimately I'm shocked at what I got.  I got 3 sealed cases (2 modern, 1 Japanese) today, for $39-ish.  That's 36 figures for $39.  HOly **** that's the best deal I've ever gotten, even if I don't want a lot of it.  The Japanese though, man I'm ecstatic.  I didn't get many of them when they were out and now I have a full case load of them.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on January 5, 2009, 10:38 PM
stopped in at target and they had these new 1:18 Navy Seal Sand Buggys for 15.99 i think, i looked for a brand but it looks like a brand i have never heard of. looked real nice in tan desert colors. Its wierd how these all of a sudden show up like those 21st century stuff that came out a week before christmas. the other cool item i saw was the NEW FORCES OF VALOR BRAVO TEAM modern paratroopers w/ working parachutes. they looked NEAT! upon close inspection they look like the reg figs but with the paratroop bags. I really hope you can take off the bags though, the packaging screams LOOK AT ME! the new year is looking good!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on January 6, 2009, 12:23 PM
so i went back for another look at the buggy and its actually 14.99. The brand is called, FREEDOM OPS NETWORK and you can supposedly enter a code online to use thier interactive website. The put out the freedom ops network figs as well but they looked larger than 3 3/4" more like 4 1/2" They looked cool, but not as cool as the FOV stuff IMO. I think those are the guys that are supposed to go in the Buggy. heres the link to their website:

http://www.freedomopsnet.com/

The site has aLOT OF LOADING as if it were a game or something WTF!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 6, 2009, 02:55 PM
I've seen a set of shots of that new line Vupa, and they're pretty bad.  And like you said they're 4.5" scale, for some unexplainable reason, so they're definitely not in line with the other military lines out there.  That's pretty lame given the company could've glommed onto the 1:18 scale and probably done better sales-wise.

The buggy looks nice for a buggy (which 2 already exist in 1:18), but the figures aren't great.  :(  The price makes them pretty horrific actually, at $8 a pop too, even if they were small scale.  The $8 pricepoint is what figures with working chutes and jumpgear are in 1:18, so that bites.

FOV's got new modern paras with removable jumpgear so that rocks.  I hope they branch out and slip in special forces somewhere, or maybe take a stab at German WW2 Paras next.  BBI's got the WW2 American Para front covered, so seeing some Falschirmjagers from FOV at Target would rock, especially if you can take their jump gear off like that.  German Paras are LONG overdue.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: ak on January 11, 2009, 08:13 PM
All of the 21st Century Toys threads have been merged into this thread, so if you got anything, news, thoughts, etc, here's the place to do it! 21st Century RULES!

As usual, Toys R Us had no new Star Wars figures, but as I turned around to admire the 21st Century Line, I realised that their entire initial XD line of about 9 figures (not counting Battle of Buldge figures) was on CLEARANCE for .90 cents a piece!

I snagged 12 figures in all, unfortunately someone had already snagged all the German Machine Gunners, and Mp44 Soldiers.... BUT, I got all the others (and a few doubles of infantry and BAR troops)!

Awesome score, and of course, I've got pics to proove it.  ;D ;D :-* ;D

21st Century owns Hasbro. I'm so happy, I plan on getting some of the Battle of Buldge figures too.

yes  ;)but where can i buy power team figures in canada(toronto)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 12, 2009, 02:06 AM
Power Team Elite figures?  Was that your question ak?

They were sold through J.C. Penney this Christmas, but otherwise the only place that generally gets them in is Big Lots here in the U.S.  Though the selection for Power Team Elite at Big Lots wasn't a fraction as good in 2008 as it was the past 2 years.  :(  Very disappointing, but ultimately it probably saved me a couple hundred bucks.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on January 12, 2009, 09:45 AM
I guess it wasn't just me that saw a lackluster turnout for Power Team at Big Lots.  In 2007 they had so much product that I had trouble deciding on only one or two pieces.  For 2008 my store had absolutely NO PTE figures.

I'm kind of ticked off because this year I was going to pick up a couple of the 12" sets that I've passed on the previous two years.  I thought it was just my local store as military toys don't do very well locally.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 12, 2009, 02:21 PM
It was across the country (or at least as far a BL's get across it anyway) E...

A buddy of mine in Cleveland who loves PTE figures (and I usually supply him with literally dozens and dozens of them) was really bummed.  He did see some more than I did, bridges and command centers, but every store had very little.

I saw mostly towers, howitzers, and deluxe single figure packs...  I saw very few Humvees, boats, and absolutely NO figure 3-packs which really sucks.  I like the 3-pack that includes the steel hedgehog in it, and couldn't buy any of that set this year.  Totally sucked.

I did get 3 Abrams tanks, which I use for SW customizing, and those come with 2 hedgehogs.  That was nice.  I got a couple towers which are a great toy for SW too, but ultimately this year with a massive bust on PTE. 

Now last year...  My god.  I got like 3 bridges, 2 command centers...  And that was just the big stuff.  It was a sick, sick year in 2007 for PTE. :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on January 12, 2009, 07:16 PM
The two sets that I kept looking at and putting off were the Trail Walker set with the mule and the Military Life set with the bunk beds and locker.

This year I was going to pick up a couple 3" sets I'd put off as well.  Now with KB gone, everything has dried up. 

I looked on the M&C Toys site and they list Dollar General as a US retailer but the list is old.  Maybe I'll poke around some other outlets and see what I can come up with.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 12, 2009, 11:55 PM
Try Big Lots E, that's been their "main" area for the last 3 years really...  This year though, again, slim pickin's at best...  I don't recall anything 12" in particular actually...  3" there's a TON of things they make, but nothing much was available this year.

What's really irksome is there's pictures of some Chinese/Russian vehicles that are NEW, and available overseas at least, and we're wishing we could get some.  One, a tank, is actually appearing to be to-scale and matches alongside an Abrams pretty well (a to-scale one like BBI's), and it sucks that the Chinese tank can't be picked up so it would look good on a shelf with the Abrams ya know?

I also wanted to get a COmmand Center, as I wanted to make a 2-level one out of a new one and the extra one I have...  The building has a lot of potential for Star Wars displaying I think, as most PTE stuff does, or GI JOe displays...  Their bunk set for 3.75" figures are the kidn of thing I would've gone nuts over as a kid, for in the Joe base.  Working footlockers too...  Very cool.  If I had a room I could just devote to collection display, like a full size 13x13 room or something, I'd have a massive set-up of just bunkers, and "daily soldier life" for Star Wars, using stuff like that.  A Stormtrooper Barracks?  That'd kick much ass IMO.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on January 13, 2009, 12:11 AM
Big Lots is literally 100 feet from my apartment.  That's where I've picked up sets before.  For Christmas 2007 they had a 12 or 15 foot long shelf section dedicated to 3.75" and 12" PTE sets.  They had pretty much everything that PTE released I think. 

Then 2008, not a single piece.  Like I said in that earlier post, I just assumed that my local store didn't get any this year because military toys don't seem to sell well here.  Ithaca is very liberal and anti anything like war, military, etc.  I just figured that they didn't sell well so BL didn't bother to stock anything this year.

That's why I was surprised to hear that BL in other areas didn't have as much as in previous years. 

TRU has some nice sets like that A-10, F22 and F18.  If I had the room and money I'd be buying this stuff and building displays like crazy.

Next time I cruise through the Binghamton area I might hit up the BL stores and a couple other places.  See what might be sitting around on a shelf somewhere.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 13, 2009, 12:31 AM
I don't think BL's do much demographic research from what I recall of their management business model (though that was at least 8 years ago that I learned anything about it)...  WM does a lot, but I think Big Lots stores are pretty vanilla and ship about the same general stuff to all stores.

Their PTE displays of a couple years ago, my god they were glorious.  That whole aisle dedicated to it was fantastic.  It just made my wallet weep at the time because even though it's all inexpensive, it mounted up fast.  I'm grabbing 3 $20 tanks, 5 $10 towers, etc.  :)  NOw I've got it all hanging around and no idea what I'mg onna do with most of it, but I'm glad I bought when I did because it's feast or famine with that ****, and that's what annoys me.  If you could count on it every year, I'd pace myself.  It's just great stuff.

If you want anything PTE, check out Marauder Gun Runners...  They have some of the accessories.  Not sure if they have a deal with the company that owns the molds in china or what, but they seem to get PTE gear in regularly at least.  Too bad they can't be a regular outlet for things like watch towers, the bridge, and hedgehogs.  I'd probably pick up some of each every now and then.  Same with the horses, camels, bunks/lockers, and the full size tent (which I don't have, and really wanted a few of it too).
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on January 13, 2009, 10:33 AM
I know what you mean about adding up fast.  Over the last week or so I've been scouring various websites looking for both 1:18 and 1:6 items for a couple projects I've been thinking about and the total runs up fast.

But the up side of that is that there are that many small etailers out there selling stuff I'm interested in.  Mauraders is one, Small Joes, Project ARE, Costswold, Good Stuff To Go, Monkey Depot, Tom Calhoun's site.  I'd love to be able to send them all few bucks to support them but have to pick and choose right now.  Same with the PTE stuff, so I'll just keep an eye out and if I run across it I'll pick it up.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 13, 2009, 01:08 PM
If you want a set of the modern military figures E, let me know.  I got a couple cases of them recently and a set is $20 for all 4 (21st Century's modern, which were only sold online).  There's 2 "Eastern Warriors" and 2 spec. forces guys.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on January 14, 2009, 09:02 AM
Thanks for the offer Jesse but I'll pass.  In the 1:18 scale I was thinking of getting a set or two of the camel set and maybe a horse or two to go with some Indy figures.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 5, 2009, 12:26 AM
Some cool deals came up for 1:18 stuff recently...  I wound up snagging some of the SS sets that used to be exclusive to SmallJoes for a paultry $9.95 each.  I also got 8 D-Day tankers for cheap too, and there were even better deals.  Series 2 Panthers were like $25 and the Series 1 PAK-40 Anti-Tank gun was like $10. 

The SS sets were something I wasn't totally interested in, but for the price I couldn't pass them up.  Owning SS guys in parade dress is meh to me....  I prefer the actual combat uniforms of WW2 soldiers and find that more interesting, but the sets are pretty big and you get a lot of figures.  For the cost of 2 full price figures I got like 12 or so figures in just one set!

The sets are sorta shoddy quality though.  Loose elbow joints abound, and the paintjobs are so-so...  Plus they used a couple grimacing/angry paratrooper headsculpts that simply look like hell.  They should've made them all using neutral headsculpts just with different hair colors if they had to use a duplicate headsculpt, but I digress.

So that's been it for 1:18...  I'm actually considering selling all my 1:18 armor, as much as I love it, and jumping into 1:16 scale armor.  There's a much, much, much, much larger array of items, and the scale difference isn't bad...  You can't display 1:18 and 1:16 armor together, but support vehicles and halftracks and whatnot look fine beside 1:16 tanks...  They make Sturmtigers, Jagdpanthers, Panzers of all kinds, Tiger I's, Panthers, and other tanks...  The variety is staggering, and to top it all off you get individually linked tracks, working suspension, lights/sounds, and the f'n things are RC baby!!!!  Some of them even smoke when they get "hit", and they kick back when their gun is fired.

How can you not love **** like that!?  If 1:18 tanks are going to $80-ish in price, why not shell out $20 more and get the same thing but higher quality in RC?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 5, 2009, 02:53 PM
And now, $30 88 MM cannons...

The black shroud has fallen over 21st I'm afraid.   :-\  Word is this is their liquidation through Monkey Depot...  I got 2 88's because, well, it's originally an $80 item at Smalljoes, so why piss around with that?  I'll hopefully land these 2 shipped for that same price!  I just hope I get both as I'd like a DAK colored one, and a Panzer grey for my figures since grey's the more common color.

Seems 21st may be on its death bed though.  Bummer, but I guess they've been struggling in these tough times, so chalk them up as another loss in a time of retail and manufacturing losses galore.  I'll be surprised if they come back in much of any form?  Their 1:32 stuff is popular, and their figures did generally well, so maybe they'll come back in a smaller capacity of some sort.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Morgbug on February 5, 2009, 03:22 PM
Time to change scale and start building models Jesse.  1/35 scale Tamiya kits are dirt cheap on ebay these days ;)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 5, 2009, 03:42 PM
Eh, I got into it because it sorta ran with Star Wars' scale well enough.  There's still BBI and Forces of Valor so I'm not "done" per se.  :)  21st isn't dead either, just nobody knows what's up.  Monkey Depot got tons, and tons of 21st gear dropped to them for a song it seems...  The SS sets we thought were a fluke, but then they clearanced what appears to be their own old stock, then planes and stuff, and then all of a sudden the new Panther tank repaint showed up for $25, and now the 88 which has barely been out any ammount of time (newest thing 21st's made for a while). 

The 88 kinda seals that 21st is either fading out totally, or they're scaling back and dumping all their stock.  Their 1:32 line did well, their 1:18 figures did well...  Really their armor did well too but their airplanes came too fast to retail with repaint after repaint, and I think that hurt them tremendously.  Most of this stuff fetches a pretty great price on the secondary market too, so I'm really considering selling all my tanks and going 1:16 for tanks only since they pair up with the figures and support items (cannons, halftracks, trucks, etc.) pretty well.

FOV still make figures for Target, and BBI still is putting out new stuff sparingly.  I'd be totally ok with just having figures to buy, actually.  The planes take up too much space, and the armor's fun but like I said above...  I'm probably phasing that out for some cash.

21st's figures are insane, so I hope they're still around to produce those...  They were having trouble financially last year after having gotten themselves out of a big hole several years ago.  Toys always take a hit in these times and I think 21st took a knock-out punch maybe.

The real bummer is their 88 is probably their best, most detailed piece ever...  It's a great way to go out I guess, but it leaves you wondering what they could've done in the future.  When the online retailers all had the 88 at $80 though, I wouldn't bite.  I'm sorry but it's nice but not that big to warrant an $80 price.  That's just retarded to me...  I think if 21st set that price, they set themselves and the etailers that bought them up for a fall because that's double what tanks used to cost, and tanks are bigger... 

Either way, I got 2 88's ordered, so I am very hopeful my 88's go through soon and ship to me because I'm geeked to get 2 of them for the $80 it would've cost me (before shipping) just for one of them a month ago.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on February 5, 2009, 05:20 PM
FOV seems to be picking up a bit... I saw a WWII US M16 Halftrack at Target the other day... the most BORING US Halftrack in my opinion and way overdone....they should do something cool like an M4a1 Halftrack....but that is just me....
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on February 5, 2009, 05:52 PM
i've always passed on the 21st Century 1:18 figures because Im more of a modern fan but i saw some of the PLATOON figs on clearance at WM the other day so i thought why not give it a chance. Boy was i glad i did, they may not be Hasbro quality, but they have their own unique style and look that im digging. The extra body parts are way better than some of the crap (mini holo's) that Hasbro has given us over the years. My favorite part are the ammo packs and canteen that you can stick on their belt, now normally you'd expect with cheap toys that you'd have problems with stuff like that staying on, but i really felt like those small pieces fit perfectly with no problems, best of all, the paint is real good. I also picked up the 2 recent BBI modern paratroopers, they are cool as fuk. whew!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 5, 2009, 09:55 PM
I don't consider 21st "Cheap toys".  They're just not licensed (generally) so the price is pretty fantastic.  Cheap is Chap Mei...  21st's quality has always been pretty top-notch.  The only figures lacking a bit were a couple pack-ins and the modern allied figures were "eh".  Not horrid, but they weren't the level of the WW2 figures either. 

Forces of Valor is the same price, and I consider their figures fairly outstanding.  They're a more "standard" body that has different heads and gear, but it's really nice work.  They do many things right that Hasbro rarely does, like flexible skirt pieces, extra gear, etc., etc.  Hasbro could've learned a ton from these companies.  In some ways I think they did take ques from them.

Paul, I totally agree.  The one thing they did do that 21st didn't, was raise the quad .50's so they dn't catch on the side armor.  21st missed that detail and so theirs lacks a little, but it's way, way, way more detailed.  I'd love to see a mortar carrier. ;)  Proper WW2 paint and all...  Maybe someday.  If FOV corners the market on 1:18 we could see new stuff.  They supposedly have a Tiger I out there somewhere, but I've never seen one, and it even has Zimmerit on it.  21st didn't do that... 

I'm really on the 1:16 fence though...  What say you Paul?  1:16 sound interesting to you, just for pieces of armor?  ;)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Darth Gamboa on February 12, 2009, 11:50 AM
21st C 1:18 figures dropped to $1 at the Wal-Marts here in the AV So Cal). Picked up about 2 dozen last night.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 12, 2009, 05:03 PM
Wow, I wish I'd had that many to find...  At $3 everything here pretty much disappered.  I only had some DAK to pick from for the most part too...  I bought a couple D-Day guys at one WM though that had the latest figures (.30 cal wave), but not many were available.  I got I think 2 snipers, which were great because they're just simple riflemen, so the $3 price on those kicked butt...  Other than that though I think the only other DDay guy I got was a German range finder...  DAK was all the rest I got on clearance, and even the light green uniformed, uber tan Germans were all gone...  And they sorta sucked.

I did get 8 D-Day tankers just yesterday for $30 shipped to me, which was a good deal on those since I didn't buy all the tankers, and need some full crews to man my tanks.  The BotB guys all look alike too, so some variety is nice to have.

Got my 88's yesterday too, and I have to say...  It's probably the most intricate piece they've ever made.  Lots of individual parts.  I'm still figuring out how I tilt the barrel up and down though.  I wish I had something to tow it.  I assume Hanomags were the preferred method to do so. ;)

If 21st is truly on its last leg (no word from them, that's just speculation from people), I'll be glad to get a 2nd 88 painted in grey and that I got both for $80 shipped, considering places like Smalljoes and others were wanting $80 for just one (not worth it IMO, despite the coolness of it).
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Darth Gamboa on February 12, 2009, 05:18 PM
I picked up alot at the $3 price too a few weeks ago. Then the stores restocked at the original price. I was really surprised to see them dropped so much so fast. They weren't even in the clearance aisle. It might be a good idea to check out your store to see if the restocked suddenly.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 12, 2009, 05:41 PM
Thanks DG, I'll have to keep my eyes peeled...  Be nice to get some D-Day guys cheap as they're really outstanding figures.  I really wish I could get more of the Wave 3 Paratroopers...  Man that was a good wave of figures and I just didn't go hog wild when I should have on those. 
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 16, 2009, 09:12 PM
Forces of Valor pictured today some pretty cool new figures...

-Spec. Forces in Green jumpsuits ala BBI's first series of Navy SEALS...

-Spec. Forces Delta Force guys, very cool...

-Spec. Forces SEALS in frogman suits.  VERY cool looking. :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on February 17, 2009, 04:33 PM
using info provided through here i went to some local WM's and found some XD figs sitting at the bottom of shelves with the 5 dollar price tag, an unsuspecting customer would have just kept walking but I; empowered with the knowledge gained from this thread, took the figs to the scanner and lo and behold, they were a dollar apiece! Im not an expert on the WWII XD stuff but i did get a few US machine gunners and soldiers and German officers w/ black coats?? wish i would have found some Nam figs but oh well, any of you guys want to trade modern or Nam era figs for my WWII finds? With the lull in Joes, i've also started to pick up the FOV modern figs from Jesse James reccomendation. I almost have the whole set of desert soldiers, kinda having trouble with the sniper guy and his hand, but for 4.99, its a pretty sweet deal. Those newer figs over at the unimax website have me excited, escpecially the divers and rangers! Ive also been lucky enough to snag some sweet 1:18 birds in trades that still have me saying OMG!

21st Century XD Super Cobra Helicopter Gunship MIB (cobra deco version)
21st Century XD "CIA" Huey Helicopter Gunship MIB
21st Century XD Huey Helicopter Gunship MIB
2x BBi Elite Force Blackhawk Helicopter Gunship
BBi Elite Force V.1 Little Bird
BBi Apache Helicopter Gunship

now the mission resumes for these

BBi KIOWA RECON Helicopter
BBi Pavehawk Helicopter gunship
BBi Apache (shark deco)
BBi Little Bird (desert version)
BBi F-18 (any version please)
BBI F-16 (any version please)
21st Century Huey Helicopter gunship (shark deco)

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 17, 2009, 04:46 PM
Interested in any modern land items Vupa?  I've got a couple I'd sell...

I found 4 Deutsch Afrika Korps figures at WM the other day for $1 a pop too...  I'd love more of the figures you found Vupa but I'm not finding much here other than some DAK guys, which aren't what you're after.  Let me know if you unload those WW2 figures...  The .30 cal guy is my favorite in the line actually.  Wish I could find a pile of those! :)

Oh, and keep looking because these DAK guys I got just showed up.  I'd cleaned this store out a while ago and they just surfaced, so WM's are turning things up out of the blue it seems.

BTW I love my 88's...  I can't stop messing with the one I opened.  Once I get the other one painted panzer grey I'll be stoked to have a nice ETO one on display.  So far though allt hose $1 DAK are looking sharp around the tan one I got.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: jedipurge on February 17, 2009, 07:47 PM
hey WWII lovers not sure if you guys have seen this b4 but found the site looking for dio stuff for SW, posted in customs section, and found this.  Lots of 1:18 size pieces.


Edit:  Thanx JJ


http://build-a-rama.com/
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 17, 2009, 07:59 PM
You didn't post a link JP! :)

I'm guessing it's Build-A-Rama?  They used to do tons of 1:18 but cut back in the last couple years.  I never did get a set of stretchers from them. :(
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 19, 2009, 01:24 PM
It seems very likely that 21st Century Toys is indeed dead.  Etailers are listing most everything from them as "discontinued".  This is likely why WM has clearanced out all 21st products rather than a lack of a deal between the two also.  The economic downturn really hit at a bad time for them, as they were just getting TRU back into the fold. 

It meant for some cool deals for sure though, and that's neat, but it seems 21st has flopped.  At least there's Forces of Valor at Target, and BBI at Toys R Us.  Both coming up with surprises now and then.  FOV's stuff is incredible to me, so I'm glad they're hanging on.  I just hope they make some new WW2 toys soon.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on April 6, 2009, 07:04 PM
got my pattons in from the MD sale, I like it even more than my abrams. This tank is HUGE!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 6, 2009, 10:07 PM
I believe it's one with an interior too...  I could be wrong on that though.  I don't own any post WW2 era tanks besides the Abrams.  Some really kick ass deals to be had, and this stuff's bound to go up now that the coffin lid is all but closed on 21st.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on April 6, 2009, 10:21 PM
i think thats the walker bulldog, but ill go home and double check anyways, makes me want to go out and get a sherman as well, The Patton puts the Abrams to shame
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 6, 2009, 10:42 PM
Sherman's nice...  Ihave the steel BotB deco ones and liked it a lot.  The Tiger I is my favorite they ever did...  Full interior, very nice tank.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on April 6, 2009, 11:35 PM
are you referring to the 21st tiger or the FOV, in your opninion, who made the better sherman?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 7, 2009, 12:35 AM
There's no comparison between the two company's tanks, 21st is miles superior in most every way.  That basically goes for all the vehicles.  FOV isn't even in the same league in terms of quality.  They are different enough to warrant buying both, and the FOV stuff is about half the price at basic retail, but 21st's is worth the price.

You can compare the two, and both have things that warrant a purchase though...  FOr instance, 21st's Tiger comes in various decoes, and there's a metal hull version (I have it).  It has a full interior as well, and comes with a figure (or two in some cases I believe).  There's a detailed engine, etc.  It's a really nice tank...  My favorite tank really.  I only own the panzer grey deco, in both plastic and metal hull.

That said, the FOV Tiger is uncommon...  I've never seen one.  And it comes sculpted with zimmerit on it, something all 21st Tiger's (and all German armor) lack.  The FOV tanks are also only like $20 or so...  But no figure, fewer opening hatches/details, tools sculpted to the tank, no MG I believe, etc. 

The FOV Sherman is more easily found, but like the Tiger I it lacks in almost every detail compared to the 21st Sherman, or BBI's.  I consider BBI and 21st's Shermans on par with each other in terms of detail, and the BBI Sherman has the larger cannon...  So it's a different model worth owning both IMO.  The 21st Sherman came in metal and plastic variants, and has a couple decoes (USMC version, original green, BotB, etc.).  FOV's Sherman came in green and green/brown camo.

Just a note, none of these models is "perfect".  The rivet counters are quick to point out every small flaw on each tank by any of the three companies. :) 

The same "gripes" apply to all the other FOV models too...  Their Bradley isn't in the ballpark of 21st's, but it's nice for the price.  Their .50 Cal. halftrack is nice, but not as nice as 21st's, and the prices on the halftracks is comparable...  I say go with 21st's.  FOV's only real improvement there is they have the low cuts on the side of the armor so the .50 turret can swivel 360 degrees...  21st neglected that and so their gun turret bumps the sides.

The best armor pieces I own may very well be 21st's halftracks though.  Their Hano variants are outstanding.  Some of my favorites easily, as is the first US Halftrack, which just was a great value.

Their Humvee is nice too...  I want to sell mine (woodland) as I'm not much of a modern guy, but really they make the best Humvee.  21st really did the best overall work and it's a shame they're seemingly going away.  I'm pondering going to 1:16 armor for the future now.  Not sure if I will, but there's more variety for a WW2 fan.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on April 8, 2009, 02:58 PM
thanks for the excellent breakdown, ill try my hand with the FOV ones first and see where that leads me. Im seriosly interested in the p40 tomahawks but i dont know how long i can hold off because ive got an Avenger coming in :o Also I've only seen the FOV 1/18 tiger once, i hope my eyes weren't deceiving me but i think im going to make a custom Audie Murphy and a 'Nam version of Robert Howard.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 9, 2009, 02:13 AM
I've never seen the FOV Tiger...  I wanted one, preferably the tri-camo as I don't have a camo Tiger anyway.

The FOV tanks are good, don't get me wrong, but I have teh camo Shermie, and it's just not on par with the 21st or BBI.  But...  Like I said, it's about half the price a 21st Sherman cost too. ;)  Can you really argue then? 

I'm seriously considering selling my 1:18 tanks off at some point and going to 1:16, but 1:16 has little U.S. armor unfortunately.  At least in affordable context...  The RC stuff is more affordable, and suits my tastes, but there's no Sherman available except maybe by a pricey company like Tamiya.  Sherman is my favorite, so I really would hate to not have one in the collection.  Their German offerings are vast though...  Panzier 3's, 4's...  Jagdpanther, Panther, Tiger I, Tiger II...  Even a Sturmtiger!  That's some crazy **** out there given the lack of variety in 1:18. 

1:18 has a lot of value though...  I hear insane prices for some of the 21st tanks.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 14, 2009, 05:01 PM
As feared, 21st filed for bankruptcy in California court this week...  Stick a fork in 'em!

Fun while it lasted though!  I loved the figures I managed to get, and I hope other companies jump into the WW2 game and that BBI/Forces of Valor both maybe step up with new stuff as well.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on April 14, 2009, 11:31 PM
It is sad to see them go, I had everything they did in both 1:18 and 1:6 scale for the first few years...  Then the poor paint aps on the figures and the sometimes "fanfic" vehicles they liked to do really got me off the wagon.  If it is BBI that takes up the slack, I will bet they don't do it for long, their figure release schedule is about 6 new figures a year.

My standards may be too high though.  I really expect perfections or damn near when my 2 favorite things (history and action figures) collide.

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 15, 2009, 01:02 AM
You know how anal I am about SW figures generally, and I tend to carry that over to historical figures too, but ultimately I try to take the stance that they're mass release, and fairly inexpensive toys too...  So the Tiger-I with mish-mash of late and early production details never bothered me much...  The only thing I was ever really truly annoyed with was that I couldn't rotate my quad .50 half-track's turret because they didn't make the angled cuts in the side armor. 

To me though they did great for $5...  They just didn't have good business sense.  They needed to focus less on putting out tons of $50 toys, and more on getting multiple figure waves out in a year, and focus on the $20 and less vehicles to back them up.  Vehicles that could be repainted, or chassis reworking could make it a "new" toy.  Unfortunately they were so fixated on putting out plane after plane, repaints, and the like, all at the higher pricepoints, that I think they hurt themselves with that.  Plus they never, ever, ever, made revisions to case assortments.  When you see Figure A stagnates, but B, C, D, E, and F all sold out immediately, you need to revise your assortments...  Drop the jeep driver, and put in another rifleman.

They JUST started to "improve" in that regard with reworking old figures with a new paintjob, but it was too late.  WM was basically on their way out of their deal with 21st, soured on all the figures that wouldn't move because of lack of revisions, plus the umpteenth P-47 repaint when there were still 30 of the original 2 paintjobs on the shelves...  Stupidity like that can only mean bad things in the future (not to mention they were dealing almost exclusively with WM, which is horrible, for some years).

Like I said, I wasn't 100% picky...  If they gave us Germans and they had the jackboots but were later war figures, I was ok with that.  It's a $5 figure, so I can live with a ****** paintjob now and then or whatnot, so long as we get more variety at some point...  Now though the line's kicked over it seems.

Forces of Valor did great WW2 figures IMO.  Lots of gear, good articulation and sculpts that I felt were on par with the best from BBI and 21st.  I'm hopeful they may continue their work with WW2.  I'm hoping for a wave of US and German paratroopers.  Their vehicles are not amazing by comparison to the other companies, but I'm going to move into 1:16 scale armor anyway.  It looks fine with the support vehicles I have in 1:18 now, and there's a ton more diversity in 1:16.  There's just no RC Sherman out yet for a reasonable price that I'm aware of, and I realy, really love Shermans and their variants.

I was never much of a plane guy, though I own probably 10 aircraft.  Not my cup of tea though, and 21st did the majority of what's out there, so I don't feel so bad about that.  I did really want that B-25 though.  Man that thing was gonna be sweet.  :'(  I think that, the last 2 large playsets they never made, and any future armor/figure possibilities are what hurt the most.  Only 21st had the balls to try that stuff.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on April 15, 2009, 09:10 PM
I used to like how cool my BBi vehicles were until i got an XD vehicle, although it was brief, im glad we met, goodbye 21st Century

its wierd, i went to my local TRU and they have had the same F104 smoke II there for the longest time ever but all of a sudden this weekend they dissapeared.. ???

well, if anybody decides to get out of the 1/18 scale, id be glad to pick up the pieces
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 16, 2009, 12:59 AM
Probably people speculating these going up in value now that the company's not around.

BBI's Sherman is as good as 21st's I think...  Personally I actually prefer their Mustang as well, and it's the only Mustang I own.  Their modern stuff (the armor anyway) wasn't amazing but they were the only ones doing modern at the time.  I still love the buggy, and their Abrams is as good or better than FOV's...  But 21st's Bradley is the tops as far as modern armor goes.  Nothing came remotely close to that.

21st's Humvee is also the best...  Vupa, if you want the original 21st Woodland Humvee, I've got one that's all yours.  I need to thin my modern stuff down to just figures I think.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on April 16, 2009, 03:12 PM
the 21st humvees are a not as fragile as the BBi ones i think. Once I get the sherman, im going to have to get a nice little squad of machine gunners and grunt. BAR guns are so cool
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on April 16, 2009, 05:01 PM
But 21st's Bradley is the tops as far as modern armor goes.  Nothing came remotely close to that.


As much as I bash 21st C...this is the one thing I cannot disagree with...the 21st Bradley and M113 are the best pieces in all of 1:18 Military stuff.  The "Motorworks" metal versions are even better.

I took one of their Desert Storm-ish M113's and peeled all the stuff off and it looks just like a 1968 Nam 113 once you fill in some of the holes.   Really good stuff.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 16, 2009, 10:37 PM
Yeah, I have the RC M113 in Desert Storm deco.  It's pretty slick if not fragile.

Still, the Bradley's a beauty...  Maybe my 3rd favorite piece of armor.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on April 16, 2009, 10:38 PM
so there was an rc version and a non rc version?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 16, 2009, 10:58 PM
Yeah I think...  There was also Woodland and Desert decoes too...  Not sure if there was a non-RC version of both.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on April 16, 2009, 11:11 PM
Yup Non RC Versions of both...

One in "Continental" aka Green color Scheme, the other in Desert Tan.


What I enjoyed about 21st was that they would do non-combat vehicles too.  The WWII US Truck (there were 10 times more trucks made during WWII than Shermans).

The problem I had is that everything I got from them in 1:18 scale was too fragile for what it was.  The stearing wheel of the halftrack broke off putting the driver that they included in the pack in the seat...I had to remove my Stuka Crews' legs so that they could sit in the cockpit with the canopy closed... and then there was the putting Uboat leathers on Infantry troops...  But all that does not take away from the coolness of that Bradley.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 17, 2009, 12:10 AM
The fragility was sort of a result of the double-edged sword of having your cake and eating it too.  People wanted inexpensive LARGE models with uber detail, and the result was cockpits that were a bit small for the figures they came with (even though both were properly scaled), and bits easily broken on some things.   I know I broke and repaired a prop on my P38...  Other things have broke and been repaired.  Sucks, but what you got for what you paid was outstanding...

The leather coats I have no clue about.  Maybe for rainy days on the Normandy coast?   ???

They were cool though!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 9, 2009, 04:41 AM
But Wait!

It's not over yet! :)

Word is that a company called JTI in Hong Kong has bought 21st Century Toy's molds...  Look for the Tiger-1, P-38, and Corsair to return to shelves in America this year...  Also a Tomcat is in the works.  No word on figures, yet, but hopefully they don't abandon those.

That said, it's at least something positive.  The Tiger I saw had a nice camo scheme.  i'm down for one of those even without Zimmerit (hey, life ain't perfect).

Could 1:18 be alive and kicking, maybe even better than before? 

I hope so!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 26, 2009, 04:58 PM
So, interesting stuff...

The new company taking over 21st Cent. Toys' toy line in 1:18 (at least), is based in China...  They're seemingly showing off a LOT of goodies at a toy expo this past week/weekend, and it appears a LOT of 21st mold's got retooled or they're going to put out entirely new product!

First up, all you Top Gun fans are going to be geeked at a 1:18 Tomcat...  "A bit large?" you think?  Yup, it's a massive plane and compared to other 1:18 items it dwarfed them all it seemed.  That's gotta be pricey.

However armor fans were not left out...  I saw LOTS of new and retooled new stuff, including:

-Sherman Tank with rocket launcher rack on top it.
-Hanomag with search light
-Hanomag with artillery gun
-Tiger-I WITH Zimmerit (yes, Zimmerit is in this season!)
-Panther Tank WITH Zimmerit

Also figures WERE pictured, so they apparantly have the molds to those as well, and included pics of anything from Series 1 figurs (blech) to Paratroopers, which bodes well for possible re-release of the German Falschirmjagers which I know I'd like about 20 more of those!

No Jeep pictured though, no Kubelwaggen...  I've heard those molds were lost/destroyed.

Also no 88's, not Panzer IV's or variants thereof, and NO King Tiger Tank was pictured.  I have my suspicions the KT maybe never was tooled up beyond a prototype/paint master anyway, but I have no clue if that's the truth or not, just my guess is all.  I was really hopng to see a grey 88 displayed, or a Panzer IV with side skirts on it or something.

However, the good far outweighs the "eh" in this situation so far...  Now where will they all be sold?  That's the tough question.

I'm geeked to get the Hano with the search light though.  That's sweet!  We need an AA gun to go with it now though!

I'm giddy...

Oh, and some older models are getting released as well, I guess, as the Bradley (one of the best piece they ever did) was displayed, as were the Walker Bulldog and Patton tanks I believe.  Also the US halftracks were pictured, however I'm hopeful we get a new variant of those too...  I'd love a tank destroyer one, or a mortar carrier...  That's one of their better models too IMO.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on May 26, 2009, 09:30 PM
  Also the US halftracks were pictured, however I'm hopeful we get a new variant of those too...  I'd love a tank destroyer one, or a mortar carrier...  That's one of their better models too IMO.

I dunno the M4 (and M4a1) Halftrack are SOOOOO boring... I doubt anybody would want a real one, much less a 1:18 scale one... ;)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 26, 2009, 10:32 PM
You know you'd buy it just to have in a glass case in the garage.  ;)

I loves me some US Halftrack variations.  I want a Tank Destroyer desperately, just for the sheer number of them since they were pretty heavily used for a while.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Russian paint variant of some US armor now and then too...  Not too often unless we get some commie bastards to go with them. ;D
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on May 27, 2009, 08:08 PM
I rely on you for this crap, Jesse, and so I'm buying a set of repro Sky Striker stickers to slap on to the new Tomcat for my Joes.  I'm as happy as a schoolgirl :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 27, 2009, 09:24 PM
When I get home I'll link some images so you can check it out.  To say it's a behemoth is an understatement.  My Avenger Bomber is big I thought, but the modern jets truly dwarf it...  That Tomcat just looks HUGE, and hanging it from the ceiling would be both challenging and fun.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on June 8, 2009, 11:26 PM
First up, all you Top Gun fans are going to be geeked at a 1:18 Tomcat...  "A bit large?" you think?  Yup, it's a massive plane and compared to other 1:18 items it dwarfed them all it seemed.  That's gotta be pricey.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3601891920_22c3f7c588.jpg?v=0)

Weekend of Heroes event yielded some photos, including the Tomcat.  You can check out the guy's full set of photos, including a bunch of other 1:18 scale stuff.  WOH Pictures (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhermesmeyer/sets/72157619262711059/)

  E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 8, 2009, 11:42 PM
If you're curious on size of that TC, you see that smaller plane on the bottom left?  It's a P-38 Lightning Interceptor, and I have one hanging on my ceiling.  Compared to the Avenger Bomber, it's the second largest 1:18 plane I have...  It's huge itself.

That Tomcat dwarfs that P-38.

Hasbro can't do scale ships?  Pffft.  ;D
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: jedipurge on June 9, 2009, 07:15 PM
whoa!!  I try to stick to just SW stuff, but I might have to break down for this one.

Better start working on a Maverick & Goose customs  :P
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 12, 2009, 02:06 AM
TKO over at the small scale boards let fly some figures which 21st was IN PRODUCTION with, when the company folded and sold its assets to JSI.

-British Red Devils....  Apparantly these were to be insanely cool, and accurate.

-Russian Red Army Wave...  Mentioned in particular was a Russian Sniper/Spotter 2-pack ala "Enemy at the Gates".

-A new 10-figure set of German Falschirmjagers that were going to include the pre-posed legs as well as teh articulated ones.  The pre-posed legs were going to go into more action poses instead of just prone poses, so people had the display options available.

-More 2-packs galore...  A US Watercooled Machine Gun team, German teams to match, a US GI with a US Medic...  I can only imagine mortar teams for all nationalities would've been next.  Also mentioned was the possibility of a pilot/ground crewman 2-pack where teh pilot was in his cap/coat and not ready to go up.

-The 2-pack format was going to expand the Nam Era by making a Huey co-pilot and door gunner with M-60 that mounted to the Huey itself.

-The Falschims were "to put to shame the current wave, in every way, and in every detail".

And I've heard a couple rumors of my own that expanded on this... 

I'm giddy that someone was going to try to do that, but nobody's now set up to do so.  JSI could surprise the masses, I dunno.  They have some good variants on Hanomags and US armor too, and Zimmerit coated Panther and Tiger-I tanks.  That's a start...

Oh, and TKO said the 88 was going to open the door to a US Long-tom (I'd love just a howitzer, but I digress).  Bigger artillery was going to happen though.

What could've been...  What could still be though?  Who knows.

Forces of Valor, if they do more accurate work, could really become a great player though.  Their first WW2 offerings were outstanding really, for $4.99.  Their GI's were not perfect but their Germans were pretty slick, and offered lots of extras that made it worth buying the figures alone for those.  The GI's could've used a better coat deco to khaki at least, but still they're decent and I bought some just for their sachels and weaponry.  I'm honestly disapopinted I can't find more WW2 figures right now, haha.  It's all modern here at the moment.  I'm hopeful WW2 paras are their next step into 1:18.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on June 12, 2009, 09:11 AM
  The GI's could've used a better coat deco to khaki at least,

Or perhaps the right pants.  No Brown Pants had pockets for US GI's in that period.

But I agree that their accessories were worth the price alone.

And if they can get the uniforms a little more correct US and German Airborne would be great.

Bummer about 21st C.  but they should have put that stuff out years ago.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 12, 2009, 03:33 PM
I can look past the pockets but the green (really green) coats bugged me the most. :(
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on June 12, 2009, 03:55 PM
well they are I assume M43 Jackets or at least an attempt, so that color is close enough.  The easiest way for them to  get you/us some WWII US Airborne would be to Paint the pants green too (then the pockets are more correct), give them Jump or Double Buckle boots and you get "Market Garden" and Bastogne Paras.

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 13, 2009, 04:07 AM
That I could dig for sure...  They'd be wise to reuse some of the modern headsculpts too, on the WW2 guys.  Their stuff's pretty universal in that it all plugs into one another, so that's a good deal there with kitbashing new figures, for them.

I really would like some of their Germans in the green, as I got some $.50 Nam guys who have great rolled up sleeves.  I'd like to make some Normandy Germans with rolled up sleeves, as I believe they don't even require repainting, just maybe a patch removal or something.  Fritzkrieg did some slick customs like that.  He also did some shirtless Germans using Mutt figures and shirtless Anakin, to make some kick ass German artillery/DAK guys.

Anyway, I'm hopeful FOV puts out something to satiate the masses...  And then we'll see what JSI offers.  Maybe they'll take 21st's ball and run with it all the way, and get into Fal's, and all these other nationalities like 21st was considering.  So far they've got no major retailer support, but I think that may change at some point too.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on June 13, 2009, 07:53 PM
i read over at hisstank that the new FOV delta guys have arrived. It was in GA

JesseJames,after doing a ton of reading, i would kill for that new Falschirmjagers wave, heck i would have loved all the new figures! Especially the Platoon stuff, i wish the HUEY wouldve came out. :(


PLEASE PLEASE JSI, have the molds!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 13, 2009, 11:48 PM
The Platoon figures DID come out Vupa, not sure if you knew that.  I have a set of all of them except "Gator", Jonny Dep's character.  Not a great likeness.  Neither was Charlie Sheen's though.  I thought Berenger's was pretty spot-on though.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on June 15, 2009, 04:07 PM
I have that plaoon set, i meant the plans 21st had for the Huey, pilot/gunner 2 packs, and othe rtsuff they had planned for release, I might have an extra "depp" if you are in need.

I picked up the set of 4 bbi WWII soldiers (big red 1 etc..) Now i need the airborne paratroopers. Such great deals!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 15, 2009, 04:39 PM
Ah ok...  Yeah I don't think the 2-pack and others were Platoon based, just random Nam stuff like those Airborne guys they put out last year. 

They did plan some vehicles in Platoon boxes but those never came out.  Eh...

Cool score on the BBI guys.  BBI's are some of the best and I loved the Airborne guys with the removable jump gear.  To me, those were their best ever, hands down.

No worries on Jonny Depp's figure.  I didn't care for the likeness on Gator so I passed on him.  I was more interested in getting Sheen, Dafoe, and Berenger, mostly for their headsculpts.  I'm not much of a "Nam" guy.  I get the figures mostly just to have a set and move on.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 5, 2009, 03:34 AM
Some updates...

So JSI has seemingly taken over 21st Cent. Toys' molds.  They're cranking a new F-14, which speculation is that it was tooled by 21st and so "new" is a subjective term perhaps, but that's the ONLY new thing they're doing...  so far.

And worse is that they're putting figures out online for a whopping $10 each, and using old molds to boot...  Even 1st series molds!  Yeesh.

Their Tiger-I came out and wasn't updated at all.  (IE: No Zimmerit mold updating)  THis has many annoyed that, beyond the paintjob, it's the same old tank.  Also, no pack-in commander, and no MG-42 for the Commander's hatch ring.  Yup, even less bang for your buck, but in almost Hasbro-like fashion, the price skyrocketed on the item as well.

This appears to be the standard with them, which I'm going to guess they're not going to last long if they don't change things.

And in equally bad news...

Unimax, makers of Forces of Valor, have focused their 1:18 line at Target only on modern figures/vehicles now, as that's what appeals to kids they claim.  World War 2 will now be an online-only line, and will increase in price.  This sucks, royally, as I personally loved their stuff.  Now, I'll get a set or possibly two sets when new (and I mean NEW, not repainted ****) hits,, but so far they're just re-releasing the first series WW2 figures, which I'd love to have more, but not at a price hike + shipping.  I loved grabbing one or two on a random stop at Target, but those days are long gone it appears.

In weird news though, they've put out a CHEAP line, that's out now, similar to Chap Mei.  Intended for kids, and customizers, there's not much interesting to it.  Figures are $1.99 or so, they come in 3-packs for more, and vehicle packs for a little more.  Nothing exciting.  Some ok headsculpts for customs, but that's it.

I'm disappointed in both companies so far.  Unimax, IMO, will survive...  JSI though, I have my doubts.  Price-hikes + product cuts + rehashed old **** we all already got, some on clearance, = bad business.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on August 9, 2009, 11:16 AM
Well I'd take those Market Garden Paras again if they would just stick to basic paint aps on the heads.  The "washes" they put on those things was...not good.

The Unimax stuff is really nice, I agree it is sad they are ditching the WWII guys.  The sculpts were decent, symetrical and fairly accurate.

That Cheap line they have has the singles in our local stores too.  I am pretty sure the head sculpts can be used elsewhere.

I don't blame JSI for the rehash, but they better get some new product out or teased pretty quick.  I wonder if it is the Market that won't support the stuff or if it is the business plans...wish we knew somebody with a Business degree....
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 11, 2009, 10:35 PM
Only ******** go for Business.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 3, 2009, 11:43 PM
Some weird stuff...

Power Team Elite, which I classify into this toy category, even though their stuff is usually "cheap".  I only say "cheap" with love in my heart though, as it's miles superior to Chap Mei's toys, and leans towards a real-world military theme.  SOme of their items are good in scale too, like their Humvee, Littlebird, and other pieces.

So anyway...

They've put out some new items this year, but only at select retailers.  First, a big ass playset that looks like a MIddle East, Mediterrannean, or Tatooine styled building.  It's 3 stories, has "damage", and looks more like something from a war than their "command center" set that looked like a Pizza Hut.

For a world that lacks playsets though, this is nice as a display piece.  The interior's devoid of detail but it's workable to add some "boards" around windows, some "closet space" to surround stair wells, and so forth.  I plan to get one of these from my trappers up North (I'm trading them Pemmican for it).  It's only being sold through Sears Canada, which is a big kick to the giant brass balls of the United States.  :(  I'd buy 3 if they were in the US.

They also are putting out a Chinese/Russian model tank, which is surprisingly to-scale.  A little narrow, but the length is right.  Also a Chinese Armored Vehicle I'm unfamiliar with, and a Chinese "dune buggy".  Some of these armor pieces are available at JC Penney, as is the Command Center and Bridge playsets from the past.  Not shabby deals either as I interned with JC Penney and know for a fact they ROUTINELY put things on sale.  Never believe that you have to pay full price there, haha.

I'm contemplating a 4th bridge playset, as it's just so nice and makes a nice "river crossing" set-up for World War 2.

So far JSI, FOV, and BBI are still fairly silent...  BBI revamped their website proving they're not dead, but nothing new was shown.  They seem to keep it close to the vest.  JSI and FOV, who knows.  Nothing new WW2 so far, but hopefully in the future we'll see some new items from the big one.  It's seemingly destined to be all online-only though, so prepare not to army build, more or less.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on September 7, 2009, 10:03 AM
Jesse we need some pics... I may need to find something here to trade for one of those playsets.

I have seen the pics of the Chinese Scout car, but can't remember the designation currently.  I will check it out.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 8, 2009, 02:41 AM
Joe Customs was the only place I saw pics of the playset, other than Sears Canada of course.  :)  A cool set though.  Very much a good modern military building, or good for Tunisia/N. Africa dios.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: CHEWIE on September 8, 2009, 12:06 PM
I looked at it on the Sears website.  I guess it's alright, but not on par with what I'd like to use for a display piece these days.  Maybe a custom paint scheme on it would improve my opinion of it.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on September 8, 2009, 02:13 PM
Here's the link (http://www.sears.ca/gp/product/B002LCQJB4/sr=1-18/qid=1252429772/ref=sr_1_18/176-3087511-9280266?ie=UTF8&searsBrand=core&mqnodeid=397890011).

And here's the image:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nSWu8rm2L._SS500_.jpg)

I'd pick up a couple of these if I could get my hands on them....
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 8, 2009, 04:42 PM
I'm hoping to get more I think, but once I get my "one" I'll see.  I'd like 3, to make a larger section of street/facade.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on September 8, 2009, 10:31 PM
I have been thinking about this stupid thing all day.  I want two, damn it.  If these aren't at U.S. Big Lots by Halloween, I am going to go on a murderous rampage.

You read it here first.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 8, 2009, 11:00 PM
Well you're reading it here by me first that you should lock and load my dangerously insane friend!  As most Big Lots stuff comes in once and doesn't restock.  :-X  Sorry man.  I hate it too as they've not had as much as they did the first couple years, and it sucks.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on September 17, 2009, 03:06 AM
To my surprise I actually found new PTE figures at my local Big Lots today.  They had both 1:18 and 1:6.  In the 1:18 line they had the Hummer, Helo, cargo truck and buggy.  They also had the attack boat and maybe one other thing that I'm forgetting.

None of the small packs though, with the horse or camel, and none of the buildings or watch tower.  If I have some extra cash later on this year I may pick up a couple of those sets but we'll see.

The local store hasn't had them for a couple of years and the last time they carried them they had pretty much the entire line that was out at the time.  I still wish I'd picked up a few pieces back then.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 21, 2009, 02:18 AM
Lately they've only gotten in sparse selection that varies by store.  It's been quite disappointing actually, as I really think that bridge playset is outstanding and I'd like another of them.  I'd take more towers, and more Abrams tanks for customizing, but at this point I've got PTE stuff out my ears in a storage bin waiting for future projects.  Probably need to ease up a bit, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 7, 2009, 05:37 PM
After much hastle on my Canuckia-connection's part, I managed to get the new Power Team Elite "bombed out" building.  And man, this thing's HUGE.  Biggest PTE toy to-date save for maybe the planes if you count the wingspan on them.

It's a really messed up apartment building with a mid-east design.  It would work as a destroyed building on Tatooine, or for a more earthy tone it would work as a N. Africa campaign building, an Italian/Mediterranean building, or modern military operations in Afghanistan or Iraq would suit it as well.  It's gorgeous, and honestly I'd love another one or two of them, to try and make a larger "apartment comlex" type deal.

It's techincally three stories tall, with outdoor and an indoor exposed staircase.  It's painted really nice as the stucco is destroyed away from the building at corners and other spots, and the brick underneath is painted red-ish brown.  There are destroyed window shutters and doors at just about every opening.  There are numerous small and large holes to indicate small arms fire as well as shots from higher caliber weapons and artillery. 

The interior is pretty well devoid of detailing, so some work may be needed inside to "clean it up" some and make it look more realistic.  I'm at the moment at a loss as to how I want to use it to display figures.  I thought a neat "house-to-house" diorama of Stormtroopers clearing it would be a nice diplay up on a higher shelf.  Maybe put some Tatooine-ish stuff around it.  Though I've also got an army of N. Africa figures that would look good with it.

It would also work well as an Indiana Jones type display.  Totally fits with Egypt and whatnot.

I love it... and I owe Dale for buying it for me, and shipping it, which was uber expensive.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on October 9, 2009, 01:36 PM
I'm crazy jealous.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 9, 2009, 04:03 PM
It literally cost me nearly $90 though...  You can rent it if you want.   :-\
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 26, 2009, 04:47 PM
JSI (bought out 21st Century Toy's molds when 21st closed shop) have announced and shown pictures of........

-Modern Flight Crews/personnel
-Prep vehicles (fuel/taxis)
-and a large piece of flight deck

All to display your modern jet!  That's petty slick and I'm down for some of the figures and the vehicle.  I doubt I buy the deck piece if I can avoid it, as I really don't have a modern jet, but the figures and stuff have me pretty excited.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: CHEWIE on November 14, 2009, 01:34 AM
Fritzkrieg found that playset at Big Lots about a month ago for $30.00 -

(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Building-1.jpg)

Looks better than I thought it would.  More pics here (http://www.yakfaceforums.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1344&start=180) for anyone interested.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 14, 2009, 01:42 AM
Yup that and the Russian chopper and the Russian APC have all shown up in the U.S>, but distribution is spotty so far.  Locally I've not seen it but I guess it's surfaced further west of where I'm at, and North.  I'm hoping to nab one or two more of them if I can.  It's really quite huge and makes a nice Tatooine building.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: CHEWIE on November 14, 2009, 11:38 AM
I think I'm convinced that I want one... that thing is very nice in size and the details aren't bad at all.  If I get one, I'd probably consider painting it and adding a wash to it.  Very nice display piece either way, you certainly don't see enough of that in toy lines these days.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 21, 2009, 01:31 AM
Yeah the interior lacks some umph but it's got very good potential and wouldn't take much to add details.  It makes a good Tatooine building out of the box, but with a deco it could fit in as a war-torn building on virtually any planet save a modern-ish looking one like coruscant.

I'd love 2 more of them to spiff them up a bit.

In other news, apparantly PTE's got a series of Chinese Soldiers out with removable helmets and new bodies/details.  Much superior to the generic white soldiers they've had out now for years...  not many re-used parts at all, smaller hands, nice headsculpts (about 3 I think), removable helmets, and so forth.  Not sure if they'll ever hit the US but it'd be nice.  Some of them come with the cool bomed-out wall sections too that are relatively difficult to find.

If I ever find more of the bombed building I'll post but locally those haven't shown up.  I'd like a couple of the Chinese APC's too, to convert into speeders.   :-\
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on December 1, 2009, 12:03 PM
I have been thinking about this stupid thing all day.  I want two, damn it.  If these aren't at U.S. Big Lots by Halloween, I am going to go on a murderous rampage.

You read it here first.

The world is safe.  These have hit Utah Big Lots.  It is sweet.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 1, 2009, 02:23 PM
Still nothing here.  I keep hoping. :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Dressel Rebel on December 1, 2009, 04:18 PM
I saw a Big Lots open up near my house this weekend - I checked it out for you guys but couldn't find the coveted playsets in there.

I was excited for you when I saw the store but it was a let down ultimately.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 1, 2009, 11:27 PM
They're in most areas, just not mine.  Oh irony. :)  BL has semi-spotty distribution.  They're usually not too bad, but the current PTE stuff is hit and miss.  It was this same way last year.  The year or two before that though, almost everyone got the same stuff in the same general quantities.  The new building is so nice I really want extras (I have one), but I'll live if I never see them local.  With PTE there is always next year, or at least you hope.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: vupa0101 on December 2, 2009, 07:16 PM
so if you had to choose, would you take the HQ set or the desert set?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on December 3, 2009, 11:09 PM
I'd say the desert set.  It's basically a cool display stand that doesn't take up too much space.  I've got the HQ set, too, and my 6 year old loves it, but the desert building thing suits my needs a lot more.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 4, 2009, 12:51 AM
Desert, agreed...

HQ's neat, and a modern looking building, but it looks like a pizza hut or old style McDonald's.

The Desert dwelling is more destroyed, more detailed, and just looks like a more realistic mid-east, southern european/north african style building.  Doubles as a destroyed mos eisley/mos espa building too.  More versatile like that.

The desert building is bigger too, overall.  Lots of holes for firing out of, windows, balconies, staircases...  That stuff's all cooler from a display and playing POV too, to me.  It also can be customized to be more "complete" too and less destroyed.

If the bridge playset is available, I highly recommend  it as well.  It's one of my favs.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 11, 2010, 09:09 PM
And rumblings are swirling from pretty reliable folks that 21st Cent. Toys is resurging as a new company, and will have some, if not most, of 21st's molds.  What this means for figures or other things, who knows, but the early word is a P-51D's the first plane (shocker ::) ), and that they're going to focus on a more adult audience.

Without armor and figures, I'm not totally interested...  JSI had me teased with their groundcrew gear, but I saw nothing of it coming anytime soon.  No pictures of this new company or their ideas makes me say, "I'll believe it when I see it", but it'll be nice if it is true since 1:18's currently spinning its wheels.

So far only Force of Valor's been reliable, and they're not putting much new out.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 23, 2010, 04:02 AM
Some pretty huge news in the world of 1:18 military toys...

A lot of the 21st Cent. Toys staff have apparantly reinvented the company as "All-Go Toys", and launched their site recently.

The King Tiger is going into production, as are fully detailed (adult subject matter as well) planes.  The first plane pictured is a P-51 Mustang, OD green which looks fantastic, but with a full-nude noseart, as well as full swastika kill-markings on its hull which will be a first in this scale.  I may actually buy this plane as I love Euro theater planes and I love this deco...  The "adult" material is fine by me too...

The company also lists figures as coming soon.  Seeing the King Tiger though, it put a smile on my face. :)  It'll be cool if it is coming out.  I'm just curious what figures may be on tap now.

There's also a subtle picture on their site of a German wearing a gas mask, so I'm curious if that's just art for the site or a future release! 

Either way, the company seems raring to go, and I'm anxious to see more.  1:18's making a slow crawl from the edge of the abyss it appears. 
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on January 23, 2010, 08:15 AM
The company also lists figures as coming soon.  Seeing the King Tiger though, it put a smile on my face. :)  It'll be cool if it is coming out.  I'm just curious what figures may be on tap now.

 

If I had to guess on figures...

Market Garden US Paras, D-Day Paras, Vietnam GI's, 1 Viet Cong, Fallschirmjager (German Paras), DAK and German Heer (Army) wearing Uboat Leathers...All with horrible skin tones with over shaded areas and an extra set of non-articulated arms and legs.

But that is just a guess.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 23, 2010, 04:35 PM
You're no fun!

I'd be glad to see the Fals again...  Been ages and I only have a couple extras.  I would really love to see the D-Day guys back but improved if possible.  They're the best "generic" Troops from the line.

Market Garden...  meh.  I wouldn't mind seeing them start from scratch on MG if they want to go back.

Nam...  Not my thing so much.  I did get a full set of Nam guys from the last series though, and the Platoon guys.

DAK is another that I'd like to see them start over...  I like the DAK they gave us but I'd love to see some shorts figures, and someone for them to fight might be nice. :)  Like...  anyone really.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 4, 2010, 03:06 PM
All-Go Toys (formerly 21st Cent., pretty much), have unveiled yet another new piece planned for the near future...

Their "Passion Wagon" Mustang with full decaling (swastika kill markings are complete, not "x's" as in the past) and "adult" noseart (naked lady, duh), is on the horizon for about $90-$100...  The packaging is ornate (3-fold flaps covering a windowbox-style package), but they unveiled the good stuff today!

Sure sure, we know they have a King Tiger on their front page as "coming soon", but they unveiled this beast today:

(http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq61/tko211/tank1.jpg)

An awesome Jagdpanther! 

Your Shermans may not want him around, but the armor shelf sure as hell does.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on March 4, 2010, 06:00 PM
WOW.

That thing is very cool.   

Any chance of getting a crew too?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 5, 2010, 02:20 AM
These days, not likely.  At least not likely in with the tank.

All-Go is just starting out and that's, at best, a prototype tank too...  May not even be 1:18 scale, but nobody's sure.  Just sure it's what All-Go's hoping to do.  Their first item's the Passion Wagon P-51.

The Passion Wagon's going to cost a pretty penny too, and so I imagine this will as well.

All-Go is the company risen from 21st's ashes, and I guess their stuff's going to be aimed a lot at core collectors (limited production runs, etc.).

Unfortunately they're kicking off with a Mustang...  again...

Which we all have one.  And I guess they're basing a lot of the future on that items sales.  I personally won't buy a Passion Wagon unless I see it on sale only because I have a Mustang already and I'm not a guy who is fixated on multipel decoes.  To AG's credit though, Passion Wagon's is a FANTASTICAL deco.  Best probably of any plane.  I like my D-Day Donald Duck from BBI, but if I didn't have it I'd be all over Passion Wagon even without a pilot pack-in.

Now, all that said, if the Passion Wagon's coming in at $90 to $100, I imagine the Jagdpanther and King Tiger will also come in at the same price, and no crew at all.
 :-\

Personally I think, if they're doing figures (no sign yet really), they could slip a crew in for the $100 pricetag and I think they simply know people will buy them separate, but that's how it goes I guess.

I'm still looking at 1:16 RC by the way, regardless what may or may not come out in 1:18.  1:16 looks good and in general they're superior models, so I'm wanting to just branch out.  I wholely plan on supporting 1:18 items I want in my collection though, like the Jagdpanther...  whenever/if it's actually coming out.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 8, 2010, 08:20 PM
Turns out, according to All-Go reps I guess, that picture of the Jagdpanther is an actuall full size prototype...  That's pretty nice looking for a complete proto.  Now, will they actually deliver this to the fans or will it just fizzle out like past stuff has?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 10, 2010, 09:04 PM
Look at this behemoth...

It's a Tamiy 1:16 kit, but rumor is a 1:16 RC version for less money from another company will be happening...

I hope!

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd209/MG-42_photos/top.jpg)

THat's a gorgeous piece of firepower.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 16, 2010, 11:54 PM
Not cheap, but gorgeous nonetheless...

Here's some custom kits from "Grunt1" over on the Small Scale Headquarters boards.  To me, these are as good as production product.  They're resin though so prices are high on short-run kits like this.

First, a Nebelwerfer.  Pretty badass:

(http://www.sshqdb.com/images/nebelwerfer-final-1/nebelwerfer-final-kit-1.jpg)

(http://www.sshqdb.com/images/nebelwerfer-41-prototype-final/1sm.jpg)

And second, a Pack Howitzer:

(http://www.sshqdb.com/images/pack-howitzer-final-1/pack-howitzer-final-1.jpg)

I bought a German MG tripod for MG34-42's off this fellow for $20, and it's fantastic.  I'd like to see more smaller/affordable kits like that (German mortar team for instance, or a US water-colled .30 for my Marines).  Grunt1's a good guy to chat it up with and things.  The larger items like the Nebel cost a bit more but look worth every penny.  

Another chap named Pickelhaube does resin kits as upgrades/mods to existing 1:18 items like doorguns for the Blackhawk.  He also did a sdk222... a whole vehicle as a kit.  This was one of the more impressive items I think.

Here's tmanthegreat's finished/painted 222, but bear in mind this too is a resin kit and doesn't come all pretty like this:

(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/tmanthegreat/P2170845.jpg)

The resin kits coming out from guys are quite impressive...  They're also quite expensive again, but that's the cost of resin kits in general so it's not unprecedented.  It's just above many's ability to afford.  I know I can't justify the pricier items.  $20 or $30 I'm ok with, but when they're $80 to $100 I have to weigh that "4 or 5 tanks of gas" question. :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on April 1, 2010, 08:14 PM
Jesse,

Have you seen this?

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_9578951/tm.htm
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 1, 2010, 10:36 PM
I've seen 1:16 combat zones built for the RC tanks people run, and compete with each other, but I've never seen one so detailed...  I mean, the whole thing looks almost photorealistic in some of those shots.  B&W those images so they look vintage and I bet they'd fool some folks.  Check out those barbed wire obstructions?  Oofah.

Those are the kinds of tanks I'm planning to jump into this year...  THey don't come painted well generally, but in terms of detail they're insane.  Each track linked individually, functional suspenions, and so on.  And all the metal upgrades you can do (if you feel like it) can make the thing almost completely steel.

For $80 - $200, you can't beat that kind of stuff...  plus the sound effects, they smoke when hit...  Some fire BB's, others work off infrared... 

I'd love to get damaged ones to gut and put interiors on and have more static models, but the RC aspect appeals to me since that was a hobby of mine as a kid.

Short of owning one, I think this is the next best thing. :)

Those make most SW dioramas look pretty shabby though.  I mean, someone's got land dedicated to it...  Wow.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 1, 2010, 10:39 PM
BTW, I am friends with an asian based distributor for a new upcoming military toys company.  I think the figures are getting imported to the US by some small companies like Smalljoes.  Nothing B&M (yet), but they're really nice looking modern figures.  Some of the best basic "generic" looking US Army figures I've seen. 

They have molded-on sunglasses and some of their weapons look to be a snivit oversized (The M4 in particular), but the figures look simply outstanding, and their kevlar comes off giving you a troop in just his BDU's.  Pretty neat.  I hope future figures don't have molded-on sunglasses primarily.  I can replace the weapons with the bitchin' M4 from Marauder, or other small arms, so I really just hope for improved headsculpts in the future.

Still, sunglasses are common (probably moreso than not) so it's neat seeing figures with them too.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 14, 2010, 01:52 AM
I ordered my first 1:16 tank this week...  A German Panzer IV that comes in DAK tan, which I'll likely not custom up too much.  It was about $100 even shipped (slightly more), so you can't beat that.  I got Smoke & Sound as I've been advised NEVER to buy anything but Smoke & Sound versions...  Non S&S is $10 less anyway, so why not get the extras anyhow, ya know?

I'm also negotiating for some damaged RC tanks to custom up as static models...  We'll see what is available.  I'm hoping for a Jagd something or other because I like Tank Destroyers.  I mean, if there's one thing cooler than armor, it's armor made to destroy armor.  ;D

EDIT:

This is what I bought by the way:

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/yyqqcool/tank/79520-4.jpg)

BTW I think it's an F, but I'm by no means a Panzer expert...

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1979Anh.-001-10%2C_Panzer_IV%2C_Ausf._F-1.jpg)

Paul, I'm sure you know way more than I do...

I know the basic differences in a P1, 2, 3, or 4...  Once it gets beyond that it's obvious (Panther, Tiger, KT)...  It's the variants of the P1, or Panther and things that really start to confuse me.  If it ain't Jagd, I probably can't tell you what the significant differences are like the storage on the back of the turret, or having loading hatches or no loading hatches, or whatever...  :)  I start losing track of that stuff.  I'm probably the kind of guy rivet-counters cannot stand because I can't tell the difference between the early war cuppola or the late war cuppola, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 14, 2010, 04:32 AM
BTW...  I can't believe they make this, but even a SturmTiger...

Seriously.

(http://www.matorro.com/galerien/galerie46aca1de93126/sturmtiger-1.jpg)

I mean...  To me this is getting a little obscure, ya know?  :)  I love it.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on April 14, 2010, 04:40 PM
The box says it is a IV F-1... so why argue.

Hope you only have to fight RC Matildas and Soviet T-26's....

When the T-34's and Churchill Mark VII's start showing up, hide behind the King Tiger.

Does each tank had characteristics like the orginals?  Does it take more hits from a Stuart than it does a King Tiger?  Or is it a certain number of hits no matter what or where?   I


And,  it seems to have the right number of rivets, they are just the wrong shape and in the wrong places.  ;)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 14, 2010, 05:06 PM
I have no clue on the IR system (Mine will shoot plastic BB's), and if it is "realistic" in the regards of # of hits...  It has a working suspension and independantly linked tracks though. :P

When it comes to the P4's and below I start getting confused.  I'm sure someone will point out why it's not an F-1 when I decide to post pics elsewhere...  :)  And how I need to add a myriad of things, change a bunch of stuff, and why my paintjob's not accurate.

Actually I was wanting a plain panzer grey one, but couldn't find one for the price I was wanting to pay for my first tank, so I'm just rolling with the "DAK" deco for now.

Not a lot of Soviet stuff to go against...  T-34's and KV-1's are all I'm aware of.  Shermans this year too, but that's about it.  Looks like the P4's about to have its ass handed to it.  Maybe I'll just attack figures with it.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on April 15, 2010, 12:24 PM
BB's?  Ok, now I am interested...

Time to set up the Guns of Navarone Playset and let that Sherman go to town on the Monotone Military Men of Marx (the toy company not the revolutionary)

With your Pz IV and lower just remember the higher the letter the more desperate the German War machine was getting... your IV won't do much good much good against the T-34s until you get to G or H...but they are still undergunned and armored.

G and H vs Sherman would be a good matchup, except where there was 1 Sherman there were usually 7 others around.

The other consideration is to only have your tank battles on overcast days or indoors... the Jabos will get you every time.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 15, 2010, 04:40 PM
Yup, though don't expect BB devastation...  They're plastic like airsoft guns, hop-up systems.  Fun, but "You'll shoot your eye out" may not actually be as big a danger as with a red rider.

EDIT:  Check out the barrel on it Paul, it's pretty cool to see it tooled metal like that, for the BB's.  May not be the right diameter, but cool regardless.

If I find good video of them shooting and driving around, I'll post it here.  There are some I know, I just don't have them bookmarked.  I should do a compilation of the tanks they've made that I'm aware of and start posting.  Guys custom these up to look incredible.  I saw an SS version, East Prussia I believe, the guy had all the schurzen (saying that right?), he had a full crew of XD figures for it, stowage, camo foliage all over it, a great deco and decals he did himself, and he'd gone balls out to make his almost entirely metal...  Metal running gears, metal tracks, metal barrel, metal cuppola, and so on.  He'd replaced like 60% of the tank with metal aftermarket parts.  He said picking it up was an experience unto itself because it weighed so much that it made it more cool to him.  I believe him.

The only things I'm more impressed with than this hobby are guys into 1:6, and of course you owning 1:1 stuff...  The 1:6 stuff, half of it is actually all metal.  Usually Aluminum I guess, but you may know about that more than me Paul.  I see the custom stuff those 1:6 guys do though, and it's simply jaw-dropping.  Figures that are complete right down to working zippers and stuff, and socks and underwear, and pencils and letters/pictures from home...  All the way to metal armor that requires 2 people to pick it up. 

Color me pea green with envy.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 15, 2010, 09:00 PM
Just for Paul (well, and anyone else that wants to see one in action) here's an IR Sturmgeschütz Ausf. F8, which shows how the IR system works.  I kinda like the BB's as I don't foresee myself "gaming" other tankers with them since there's no organized group in Pittsburgh, however I think IR's cool too just for the simple fact it reacts with other tanks.

I'm wagering 5 hits to make a kill is standard on all tanks, which kinda sucks on Jagd things since you have to actually rotate the tank to make a kill, not just the turret.  Honestly though, RC tank gaming, to me, leaves a lot of realism out of things anyway...  I mean you can see the whole battlefield, where people are hiding and stuff.  What's the point then, ya know?  A real obstacle course would have AT guns everywhere, faster anti-tank platforms like hanomags and stuff sneaking around, infantry, mines...  I mean there's potential for coolness but fighting another RC tank would be kind of boring to me I guess.

I'd rather shoot the plastic BB's at stuff like the neighbor's kid as he rides his bike around. (j/k...  sorta)

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/3370147/9437221
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 17, 2010, 03:54 AM
My apologies to Paul, I did NOT get the Panzer IV...  I got the short-barrel Panzer III.  I posted the wrong image.  I thought I had ordered a III, but then I couldn't find the images again.

And...

It arrived today.

Paul, you know you want one of these...  Come on man.  Just plunk down $100 on one, and just buy one.  You don't need to collect them all.  Trust me, once you ahve one , you'll be having fun with it. :P

I just got back from going out to watch the Pen's game tonight, and was motoring mine around on the carpet the second I got it out of the box and tried reading the directions enough to know I wasn't totally f'ing up the thing if I just started tearing around with it.

It's quite interesting...  Here's some thoughts:

-It's got lots of sounds...  Machine Gun sounds, the cannon firing (and the tank recoiling from the shot) sounds, the tank idles when not in motion, it has a "start up" sound, and it also has a shut-off/shut-down sound when you're ready to turn it off too.  It has a loud drive sound as well, but there's a built-in volume-control that you can adjust too.  It was quite loud out of the box.

-Controls are sensitive and it goes entirely too fast if you jam the sticks...  No WW2 tank turned and backed up like this thing can. ;)  Fortunately, once you learn to be softer with the controls, it can be controlled at much MUCH more realistic speeds.  I'm told if you go metal treads, drive gears, and gear boxes, it slows down tremendously from its normal stock plastic bits.

-The 1:16 figure it comes with looks like a giant.  I think it's a little oversized.  It's definitely bigger than XD figures which for most are a tad large and more 1:16 than 1:18.  The figure's also basically a static model though you can pose the arms.

-The smoke effect I have not tested yet.  Tomorrow.

-The BB's I did test (yes, in the house).  I shot a plastic bag with rags for the wash...  I figured it would be a weaker airsoft system.  I was very mistaken.  It missed the bag with the first shot, hit the back door, and rebounded right into my nuts.  No damage thanks to my Penguin's jersey hanging down to cover the boys, combined with it being a rebound, but still...  This thing could really launch and hurt an animal or person.  I dare say it's as strong as the kid's airsoft rifles, which can break skin.  I'm sort of surprised to say the least.  I figured this thing would limp-wrist the BB's at best.  Color me impressed.

-Very little maintenance in the instructions, but some...  I'm wagering more would be wise, but the instructions really don't say much.  They do basically say to run it on flat hard surfaces and not much else.  That's a little disconcerting but I hear the RC Tank community can help you make sure it can tackle most any terrain.  I saw a guy's fording small streams, so I think almost anything's possible.

-Half-hour runtime it says...  Not sure if that's guaranteed or not, but from what I've heard, they do run a long time.  A lot more than my racing trucks used to, which sucked the juice down.

-The fully functional (just like the real ones) suspension is easily one of my favorite aspects.  It is so realistic...  That coupled with the individually linked tracks?  That's some damn skippy realism for what basically ammounts to a $100 toy.

-Deco is very plain...  Mine's DAK tan, and I like it actually, but zero weathering and it comes with stickers that I wouldn't put on.  I could see scanning them and trying to print out water-transfer ones, but not these peel n stick jobs.

-No Turret MG, but lots of other bits to put on.

-Lots of details are molded on...  Especially the tools like the shovel, prybar, etc.  And that kinda sucks...  I wish those were removable for painting purposes, and incase you wanted to make actual removable tools.  I think on some they are removable, but the P3 they're not I guess.

-Lots of opening hatches on the Turret, but none on the hull...  That is nice and not nice...  Nice to have the ones on the turret, but the driver and MG'ers hatches don't open.  I'd like at LEAST those 2 to open, ya know?

-Controls are tricky but that, to me, is part of the fun learning to control it.  I thought it would control ala a real tank of the era (2 control sticks one for each track), but the right stick actually controls the tank's movement entirely.  It controls more like a car than a tank that way.  It also makes it trickier and more sensitive that way.  The left stick controls the turret.

-Turret is pretty great.  You cannot rotate the turret 360 degrees, but I hear some guys have made theirs so they can.  ???  You also cannot move the gun up and down independantly.  You have to move it up and once it's all the way up it will move down then till it's all the way down, then it goes back up again...  When you push the other way on the left stick you're actually controlling the BB-firing mechanism.  So that's not entirely realistic on the gun elevation, but it's a minor thing, and if you want the BB mechanism I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles then.  I don't know if IR systems work the same or what.

-Overall it's been a blast the hour or so I messed with it.  Really it's the most fun with a toy I've had in a while.  :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 23, 2010, 12:42 AM
At first I thought I was let down by the oil smoking effect...  Turns out it was user-error on that one, so yeah it smokes.  Kind of weird how it works.  It can smoke quite a bit while it's sitting idling too, which kind of looks neat even though I guess it's not terribly accurate for German tanks to puff much white smoke out their exhaust.

Anyway, it's a neat feature...

I've been told NOT to buy anything but Smoke & Sound tanks too...  If they don't have smoke & sound, then they're an older and less stable board, and the difference in price is like $10 anyway so being that cheap isn't worth it.

Just a tip for those considering a buy.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on April 27, 2010, 12:04 PM
I got this from Corey at Smalljoes.....

If you are gonna pre-order, might as well hit him up for them.   He has great customer service and communication and best of all he is a collector like us. 

OURWAR====== Just a reminder than the new 1:18 scale (3 3/4") 101st Airborne figureofferings from Tieka Toys are also available for pre-order. We expectthese to arrive end of May/first of June time frame. We have confirmedwith the manufacturer that these will not be appearing at major retailchains. Please keep your pre-orders for the OurWar figures separate from anyResolute pre-orders so that we can ship them to you immediately whenthey arrive.

http://smalljoes.com/cgi-bin/pgen.cgi?CatId=89&Stage=5


Smalljoes is not a sponsor of JD.com.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 27, 2010, 02:53 PM
Plus $7.99's a VERY fair price for these.  They're highly detailed, very nice figures.  I know some folks affiliated with the company and they're really pretty spiffy figures.  My only complaint has been the non-removable sunglasses, and that's minor.

They're really some of the best modern military figures I've ever seen...  Fantastic stuff.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on May 6, 2010, 07:38 AM
My case of OurArmy figures are on the plane from HK right now.  So everybody expect a review from Jesse after I send him his the next day.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 6, 2010, 09:18 PM
 ???
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on May 16, 2010, 08:18 PM
They are here, but my contact shorted me, I only got a full set.  I will take some photos then send them out to JJ
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 2, 2010, 04:29 PM
I got my Sidecar kit to the IJ motorcycle...  It comes with extra wheels to replace the non-open-spoked IJ wheels too, and a back seat to the bike.  Pretty cool.  Plus the MG34 pivots/rotates just as it should.  A lot of work to get the kit ready to build though, as with all resin kits.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: margerison on June 2, 2010, 07:23 PM
Not cheap, but gorgeous nonetheless...

Here's some custom kits from "Grunt1" over on the Small Scale Headquarters boards.  To me, these are as good as production product.  They're resin though so prices are high on short-run kits like this.

And second, a Pack Howitzer:

(http://www.sshqdb.com/images/pack-howitzer-final-1/pack-howitzer-final-1.jpg)

The resin kits coming out from guys are quite impressive...  They're also quite expensive again, but that's the cost of resin kits in general so it's not unprecedented.  It's just above many's ability to afford.  I know I can't justify the pricier items.  $20 or $30 I'm ok with, but when they're $80 to $100 I have to weigh that "4 or 5 tanks of gas" question. :)
Love that Howitzer,its perfect for my project. is there any way to buy one or get in contact with the guy who make thems?
What other resin products does he make?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 2, 2010, 07:25 PM
Grunt made the tri-pod for the MG-34 as well...  I'm not sure if he's done making those or not.  The kits are usually short-runs before the molds are destroyed.  I'll see if I can get his contact info.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: margerison on June 5, 2010, 01:56 PM
I hope he still makes them, but if not thanks for your help anyways.
Is it possible to contact him by email or pm?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 21, 2010, 01:57 AM
I directed him this way if he's interested in making more...  It's my understanding, I think anyway, that he'd have to make new molds though.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on July 23, 2010, 12:09 AM
So I keep getting word that the "Our War" line of figures, which made modern 101st Airborne troops, is pretty darn close to showing off their 2nd series, World War 2...

I'm hearing they'll start basic, but I don't know the details so I don't know much.  I can't wait! :)

Their Airborne figures looked amazing, and so anything is going to be a boon to the 1:18 hobby which is currently dead in the water (though All-Go is re-evaluating their next step I guess, as the "Passion Wagon" P-51 was cancelled for some reason).

In the interim I'm doing a bit of research on a veteran from WW2, and just dreaming of what that 21st Cent. Toys B-25 would've/could've been.   :'(
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on August 2, 2010, 10:50 PM
I don't really know the lingo, but I'm looking for a 1:18 figure in military official gear.  Something like this:

(http://glwach.amedd.army.mil/cdrblog/CSM%20Milton,%20dress%20uniform.jpg)

Do any of you military 1:18 guys know where I could pick up something like that?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on August 3, 2010, 10:01 PM
Meh.  I settled on this guy:

(http://www.yojoe.com/action/04/images/generalflagg3.jpg)

But if there are any suggestions, I'm all ears.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 4, 2010, 03:21 AM
Well, there WAS a line in the 1980's, and it was all military figures in their dress uniforms (Army, Marines, Airforce, and Navy were all there).  They had articulation likek vintage Indiana jones figures with the knee joints but the arms just moved at the shoulders and whatnot.

They were some knock-off company but made alright figures actually, at that time, and they'd look ok today...  Damn I cannot for the life of me recall that lines' name or the company name even.  :(

I can't find them on Ebay either or I'd probably buy some myself.

Sorry Ryan...  The only other option I could suggest is maybe the Russian Officer from the Indian Jones line, modified a good bit.  :-\
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: margerison on August 6, 2010, 10:09 PM
I don't really know the lingo, but I'm looking for a 1:18 figure in military official gear.  Something like this:

(http://glwach.amedd.army.mil/cdrblog/CSM%20Milton,%20dress%20uniform.jpg)

Do any of you military 1:18 guys know where I could pick up something like that?
Stumble upon a Joe Marine in his Navy Blue class A's. hope that's some help
http://joeparts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12729&zenid=adaf2bbef2ab4755aefa25b18e337897
http://joeparts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=12730&zenid=adaf2bbef2ab4755aefa25b18e337897

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 7, 2010, 03:36 AM
BTW, Power Team Elite gear's showing up at Big Lots for its annual onslaught of cheap, but cool toys tha twork with GI Joe, Star Wars, and 1:18 military stuff in genearl.

There's some of the new Chinese hardware turning up too, like their tank and whatnot.  Pretty neat stuff.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on August 7, 2010, 10:02 AM
I just saw a tank, a helo and several versions of the Humvee at my Big Lots.  They also had a few flavors of the 12" sets.  My local store didn't stock a lot of that stuff last year but they have a good bit this time around.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 7, 2010, 02:30 PM
Yeah, they seem to vary their stock every year.

I'd like to have seen a lot of items, but my store didn't have the things I was hoping for (the new desert bombed out building, the Abrams tank, the old 3-packs with hedgehogs and other large gear). 

The Chinese tank is cool though and would make a great enemy vehicle.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on September 1, 2010, 09:57 PM
I guess this is old news, but I just heard about it.  SK Omega (http://toynewsi.com/article.php?itemid=15809) is a 3 3/4 military line created in part by some of the original GI Joe designers.  Anybody know if/when this stuff is going to be released.  Some of it looks really cool.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 1, 2010, 10:35 PM
I got the impression this stuff wasn't a definite, and was more looking for backing...  I could be wrong though Sprry.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 13, 2010, 02:29 AM
Good news for Power Team Elite fanatics...

First, lemme say their stuff translates well to Star Wars, super hero stuff, and of course G.I. Joe...  The figures are so-so, but really they're probably the best "cheapie" figures on the market ultimately.  The gear though, it's fantastic and the prices are unbeatable. 

Anyway, PTE has restocked now, a couple times over, at Big Lots stores...

My nearest store went from having:

-Humvees, Littlebird choppers, a few figure play packs,

to having:

-Chinese AFV's, Chinese Tanks, Chinese Dune Buggy/car thing, U.S. Dune Buggies, SWAT Deluxe Figures, SWAT 3-packs, Navy SEAL Deluxe Figs, Navy SEAL 3-packs, all the other military 3-packs, F-18 Fighter Jets, Deluxe Military Figure Sets (bivouac, horse, camel, etc.), Lookout Towers (my personal favorites, as these, with some paint, really look Star Warsy IMO.  Or really any military looks good with them), Chinese helicopters, and the biggie...

The bombed out Mid-East building!  For a cool $30, you cannot beat it.  But people are also reporting finding the "Pizza Hutt" looking command center playset as well.

So far though, no reports of the Bridge Playset, which is my all-time favorite item they ever made I think, and no reports of the Deluxe 2-Figure Sets...  Like the bunkbeds/footlocker, the full-sized tents, etc.  I miss those sets a lot.

Still though, I've probably spent $200 on PTE stuff in the last week, and sell the figures off to recoop a small bit of that back.  I use the gear with SW figures, and my military figures, so it works out.  I bought my second of the bombed-out building.  It looks awesome out of the box, but a little paint would go miles with it to spiff it up even more.  And if you wanted to go the extra mile, it could be customized a bit to look even more Star Warsy.  It's a very cool looking run-down Tatooine Building.  I use it to display a Sandtrooper Patrol inspecting the building and stuff.  I'm going to add to the new one, and build the inside up a little bit as it's sparse.  For $30 though, you get a big assed 3-story building with damaged pieces, windows and doors, lots of places to just display figures.  It's worth it for that alone.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 16, 2010, 02:31 AM
A dude in China got the last two Germans which were a bitch to find in the U.S., so I ordered two (Like $7 each or something, and good shipping from China), and they arrived today.  The one guy's late-war, splinter cammo, stubbly...

The other guy has the jackboots but has what I think are autumn camo pants on and a regular coat on top.  The figure sports a tan hat, which I think was to be autumn camo as well?  I don't know though.  It looks more like DAK to me, ultimately.

Either way, two figures done that I don't need to find anymore, not that I was looking hard...  I chalked it up to fate that I'd not get them.  So the score was nice.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on October 17, 2010, 11:32 PM
Pics?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 18, 2010, 02:48 AM
Sure thing boss!

(http://i.ebayimg.com/16/!B4D8m+Q!2k~$(KGrHqIOKjQEyTngK7pCBMoemtnm5w~~_3.JPG)

This guy's my favorite, but mine that arrived had abnormally loose knee joints (and really, all the joints), and I really don't get the hat.  It's a very mustardy/tan hat, no camo.  It's very DAK.

The stubble's actually really neat up close.  Best on a figure I've ever seen.  The camo on the jacket and helmet is really nice too.  Of course, his gear doesn't plug into his belt well and will need drilled out by hand to fit in properly.  He's one of the more poorly made figures, which is to be expected since he's from the company's death throws.

EDIT: I'm having trouble finding the other guy, but my guy I got in the mail lacked a helmet.  :(  I'm bummed over that.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on October 18, 2010, 07:57 AM
(http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/sky-dress/Saint%20Seiya/figure%205/10588.jpg)

He has what appears to be Modern US 3 Color Desert Camo pants.  Wow, the Germans invented a time machine and THATS what they brought back?

I have not seen any WWII German Pattern that resembles that one.

But those are a couple of the best Germans I have seen from 21st toys.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 18, 2010, 01:05 PM
The top guy was first released in a camo like the bottom guy's pants, but with the helmet, jacket, and pants, all that camo.  At the time I thought you'd mentioned something about snipers having camo like that only? 

It does sorta look like Desert Storm camo, actually.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 5, 2010, 12:31 AM
I stopped in Big Lots tonight, first time in a while, and they had bunch more of the PTE stuff stocked than the last time I was in.

They had a bunch of the $3.50 sets including the parachute and kayak sets and, best of all, the horse and camel sets.  I'm going to stop back tomorrow and pick up one of each of those, I think.  They'll go good with the new 3.75" AT figs from the Joe club.

They had the $30 Mid East building as well as the jet and a new personnel carrier along with the tanks.  They also had the dune buggy and a rapid response vehicle which hadn't been there before.

Oh, and the watch towers!  That's the first time I've seen them and the building in person.  The towers are excellent.  The building is okay, but I thought there was more to it then there is.  I think I'd like Command Post better but they didn't have one. 

Anyway, I was kind of geeked to find all that stuff.  My local store had a big stock of stuff like this a couple years ago but it's been kind of dry recently.  The two sets I wish I'd gotten now that I passed on back then are 12" sets, they had one trail set with a mule and a barracks set with bunk beds and a locker.  If I ever see either of those two  sets again I'll probably snap them up.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 9, 2010, 02:47 AM
Got some weird photos from Asia of Power Team Elite figures, but they're nothing I've seen before.  I'm 99.9% sure they are PTE though, in the sculpt/style.  It's pretty distinctive.

(http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/4745_e13c279df93c10a21e5a56902a68ba6590650c76)

Looks like maybe adventurers, or generic "enemies" or something?

The PTE line is 100% unnoticed by so many for the quality stuff they crank out despite being a "cheap toy" brand.  Their figures lack some I think, at least from a customizing POV, but the gear by itself is more than worth the price for sets of figures and such.

I'm hopeful the PTE line will expand some.  It's got lots of room to grow.  If they sharpened their sculpts a little and did removable headgear as a standard thing int he line, they'd kill.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 10, 2010, 06:14 PM
A couple of years ago didn't that company make some 12" sport/adventure sets?  Kayak, mountain climber, that type of thing.  Maybe this is there 4" version of those.

If they pay attention to what Hasbro and the Joe Club do with the GI Joe line, maybe they're looking to tap into that Adventure Team area that the Club started this year.  If they make some cool stuff, it might be worth picking up to go with the Club AT sets.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 10, 2010, 07:40 PM
I'm hoping you're right E...  And I think they did do some 12" figures.

That one guy looks very military, the other guy, not so much.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 22, 2010, 12:50 AM
I finally got around to stopping at Big Lots again this weekend and picked up one each of the horse and camel $3.50 sets.  They were pretty decimated over what was on the shelf the first time I found them. I actually thought I'd missed out on the camel set but found one on a different shelf.  The bombed out building has sold well and so have the smaller vehicle sets.  I was kind of surprised.

The quality on the two animals and some of the accessories is well done.  The figures are okay for the price, but not really that great for anything I'd use them for.  I have two figures if anyone wants them; green camo/boonie hat from the horse set and desert camo/helmet on the fig from the camel set.  Free for the taking, otherwise I'm going to toss them.  I am keeping the accessories, though.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 22, 2010, 01:57 AM
No surprise here E...  They sell out EVERY year, down to pretty much nada on the shelves.  Around me the buildings have sold out, the Chinese tank has sold out, the towers have gone from (literally) 60 to about 10 of them, the Chinese AFV and Dune buggies are down to their last 1 or 2 of each, the single figure deluxe sets (horse, camel, etc.) are sold out here, the figure 3-packks have gone from (again, literally) 50 or so to 3 pegs worth and they're all mostly SWAT now.  No more Hedgehog sets for me. :(  I'm depressed over that because I intended to buy more of that set.

There are about 10 or 15 Humvees, about the same ammount of littlebird choppers, and about 3 of the new Chinese helicopter.

My store went from over half an aisle, plus a full endcap of stuff, to not much left at all really.  I'm getting a couple extra towers once I see how my Christmas spending decimated me this weekend, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 22, 2010, 09:21 AM
Wow, that's a big sell through.  The reason I was surprised is because of the local market.  Ithaca is a big liberal/hippie/anti-war/politically correct haven for nut jobs and anything related to the military or war usually doesn't do well here. 

The watch towers actually haven't sold that well here, but the vehicles all have and, like I said, the $3.50 boxed sets.  The carded figures have also moved but I wasn't really interested in them.  I'm still debating a couple of those towers, but don't know if I'll end up with any or not.

Still, I'm happy to have picked up the camel and horse sets.  If I had infinite space and money I'd probably wipe out a good portion of my store's stock.  The jets, Humvees and helicopters, not to mention the tanks, are all excellent pieces.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 22, 2010, 09:31 PM
I think some of it is kind of like the history of GI Joe...  War toys have times when they're up, and when they're down.  I think right now, they're up.  The secondary market for 1:18 military is pretty insane, to the point I've pondered selling all my planes.  I mean, my Spitfire alone would pay quite a few bills in one month.  I have the Avenger Bomber, P38, Stuka, BBI's Donald Duck Mustang, P-47, Spitfire, and the original ME-109...  plus the original BBI BLackhawk and Littlebird.

That's a lot of air power, and it's almost all worth more than what I paid for it, and some of it's worth 5 times its original price.  It's kind of insane.

Unfortunately WW2's taken a backseat to modern in the eyes of mass retail.  It's depressing because, Modern just isn't my thing really.  WW2's armor was vastly more interesting and varied.  MOdern armor's got variety, but it's limited in recognizability to most.  WW2 though, almost everyone "knows" it when they see it.  Fortunately there's 1:16 RC stuff which is just disturbing with the level of variety, plus it's RC...  I mean, the tanks even smoke.  It's too cool.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 6, 2010, 08:36 PM
If you had a rewards card to Big Lots, they've got a 20% off $10 or more on toys coupon floating around the net.  Not bad to pick up PTE items since the towers and whatnot are above $10 and it's not hard to pick up $10 worth of PTE you can enjoy.  My store has tons of the SWAT Deluxe figures right now, 3-packs, towers still lingering, and a few armored Chinese FAV's.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 15, 2010, 09:15 PM
BIG PTE sets are on BIG discount at JC Penney's this week...  Sets that were $60 are now $15, and good sets too like the bridge.  I picked one of it up but if it weren't Christmas time and other stuff needing bought/done financially, I'd probably have bought 3 of that set alone.

Good stuff for the price...  Hell, the Chinese AFV is $15 with a bunch of other stuff in the set, and that's $5 cheaper than even the AFV by itself with a couple figures at Big Lots.  Can't beat that with a stick folks.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 10, 2011, 02:33 AM
Early word is that Toy Fair maybe is going to unveil some new 1:18 this year...  Heard it before though, so believe it when I see it.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on February 10, 2011, 04:22 PM
From what companies?  Although they won't be at TF, I'm hoping the S.K. Omega line debuting online sometime soon.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 11, 2011, 05:35 AM
That's the catch, nobody's saying who beforehand, which makes me somewhat skeptical.

All-Go is the restructured 21st Cent. Toys...  I talked to them prior to last year's Toy Fair and they said they HOPED to attend in 2011.  A year's a long time though.

Then there's BBI...  They attend but what they show tends to be older molds, and there's a whole story there...  Kind of nutty stuff.  And they have something going on with this other company, or they are this other company, and having 21st's older molds like the Panther and things.  They've put some 21st stuff out as their new label, but also have questionable quality.

There's Forces of Valor, their parent company attends, but they've cut WW2 back and more or less resold the same modern stuff at Target last year.  WW2 was online only and I don't think it did great.

Our friends with Black Sheep Toys introduced the "Our War" line of modern US infantry to us last year, and supposedly there's World War 2 on tap from them, but I'm not thinking their company will be attending Toy Fair.

You never know who's going to see that, if managed properly, the 1/18 military market is ripe for people to jump into it.  Just about every piece I own in my collection I can sell for a significant profit.  I have some things that had quadrupled or more in value...  It's gotten to the point it's hard to hold onto some of it, honestly.  Should be interesting if something turns up, but I have my doubts is all.  The hobby's full of people who seem to like to tease with prototype images and rarely deliver.

At this stage, guys doing garage kits out of resin are vastly more reliable and the quality's outstanding.  I got an awesome MG tri-pod from a guy.  A tiny little item like that is great because nobody did one, and yet here's a guy doing them in resin.  Then the resin sidecar for the Indiana Jones bikes...  Outstanding stuff!

The one guy did an entire German armored car kit...  The crummy thing is the cost.  Resin work costs an arm and a leg.  One guy did a Nebelwerfer artillery piece and it just cost too much to afford for me, but it's really outstanding in every way.  I just couldn't justify it...  I had to just dream of owning one because that's a bad ass piece of German equipment.

Another cool one was the Whirbelwind kit you attached to a Panzer (if you had one extra lying about).  It's too cool.  A quad machine gun in this goofy turret that got slapped onto a tank's hull as a mobile AA gun.  Really cool looking, kind of odd and different. 

Gotta give a tip of the hat to the guys doing these resin kits because I work in resins and it can be a bitch to do sometimes.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on February 11, 2011, 09:19 AM
The Wirbelwind does make for a cool tank.  When I was a kid I did a lot of models and I built a small one of these.  I think I probably still have it somewhere.  I just remember thinking it was cool looking and not really knowing much about it.

It'll be interesting to see what, if anything, comes out of TF.  As I said, I'm actually kind of excited to see if Molten Monkey gets thier website up and has some protos of their S.K. Omega line.  All they've shown so far is some concept art.

I still see the Forces of Valor stuff at Target but it doesn't really seem like it ever moves. But, GI Joe is a slow seller here also and I think I've said before that military stuff really isn't popular with the local crowd of consumers. 

But, they did clear out all the PTE stuff from Big Lots at Christmas time.  They're down to like two camel sets and one or two of the larger APC vehicles.  The training towers, building, and smaller vehicles were cleared right to the bare shelf.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on February 12, 2011, 07:10 PM
True Heroes or whatever the cheapo 1:18 line is at Toys R Us has a cool Apache that I've never seen before.  It's molded in black and the cockpit seats two.  I picked it up to doctor into a 25th style GI Joe Dragonfly.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on February 13, 2011, 01:54 AM
I think there was just a thread on Hiss Tank about that.  They're the same company that makes that F-22 aren't they?  And they had a coll A-10 a couple years ago.  The vehicles from that company always look decent, but I've never bought any.  Probably should have picked up a couple things here and there but never bothered to.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on February 13, 2011, 02:23 PM
Yes, that's the company.  I've thought of getting the F-22 to convert into a Skystriker, but now Hasbro's saved me the trouble.

I have the Blackhawk from the line, it's decent.  I hate myself for passing on the A10, though.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 14, 2011, 05:52 AM
Those are actually Power Team Elite items...  Keep your eyes peeled as they turn up at Big Lots, Ryan.  The A-10 wasn't around this year but was around last year.  It's the only remotely close to 1:18 Warthog around. 

Not sure on an Apache though...  Got pics you could post in here?  PTE made a Blackhawk, LIttlebird, a Chinese one from this last year, the Raptor/F22, A-10...  That's it for aircraft that I was aware of.  This could be a new mold or from another company/line.

Forces of Valor's stuff does ok I guess.  OK enough that they phased out WW2.  They're big problem is a lack of diversity.  They had new stuff like SWAT and Firemen lined up to add into the modern line with their USMC and Army figures, and their Spec. Ops/Navy SEALS they did in the last series...  Then not a peep from them.  No commitment to any new sculpts.  Target will suddenly restock, and they slowly tend to sell through, sometimes have a sale/clearance, then restock again...  It's a very weird deal.  And the company's not overly talkative. 

They're doing some licensed stuff right now (Crysys 2 stuff, and Assassin's Creed Figures soon).  I think their production capacity is limited.

Their WW2 figures were pretty decent.  Americans were so-so, but the Germans were cool as ****, and to me they seemed to sell great.  Then poof, they went to online only and no new sculpts as well.  They even made a really nice Tiger-I with Zimmerit coating, and a later-production Sherman compared to the 21st Cent. Toys version.

Anyway, everything went to online that's WW2, and nothing new, and so its sales have to have slowed...  My targets couldn't keep Germans in stock and certain US sold out probably just for the gear and customizing (Paul always hated their pants.  I can't blame him as they weren't accurate but they had potential and rockin' WW2 gear).

At least FOV still puts stuff out...  21st Century is "restructured" and doing nothing but sitting with its thumb up its ass making claims as to what they're going to do, someday.  BBI/Merit/whoever the hell it is that I guess is involved in a dispute with 21st that they lifted some of their molds from the factory, have put out some recast 21st Cent. stuff, but nothing real exciting and all online...

Our War figures are the only thing current.  They're nice basic modern infantry, but non-removable headgear.

And so far out of Toy Fair not ONE thing has happened.

Bad Cat Aviation (a retailer) was making bold predictions that they somehow knew someone was going to come out of TOy Fair with new 1:18 scale news...  Nothing.  There's always rumors that don't pan out, the collectors get annoyed (like I said, 21st Toys stuff is selling for anywhere from its full retail price to many hundreds beyond its original price on Ebay, so there's a market there with money) because someone lied to them that something was gonna happen... blah blah blah.

To me, I am focused on 1:16 RC tanks to satiate my desire.  The figures match the tanks perfectly and the support stuff goes great with it.  I'm amazed more GI Joe guys haven't latched onto these considering there's some good sized modern tanks (not 1:16 but inexpensive customizable big-assed RC tanks since modern tanks are pretty huge compared to WW2 ones).  I'll collect these though, and if 1:18 has any life I'll get it.  To me, too many companies tried to make lines live on these huge uber detailed models.  They don't grasp that smaller things that sell in greater quantities and are less initial costs are what you need (and to keep fresh) to keep the lines going.  Instead of doing 5 planes a year, do 1, but put out 3 waves of figures in a year and keep them fresh with repaints and head variants and such.  Put out a couple tanks, but not a bunch.  Just maybe one larger armor piece and a smaller one.  Look into smaller vehicles like motorcycles and Jeep-sized vehicles or artillery.

Don't paint yourself into a financial corner by sinking tons of your money into multiple plane molds that you're going to rely on repaints to make up that cost.  Instead do your one, then another one next year, and again next year, then maybe repaint one and make another new one, and so on.

Sorry for the digression.  I just get frustrated since I actually really enjoyed collecting these lines, the figures and armor/ground gear anyway, and I really aim a lot of blame at the planes for why the lines lagged.  They're just too costly to do as many as they did.  And Forces of Valor didn't do planes and here they are still making figures and armor.  Hmmm...  Correlation? 

My collection room/office ceiling is FILLED with planes, and I wasn't vaguely a hardcore aircraft collector.  I bought some I liked and if I saw one on a great clearance I'd buy it (My Avenger was only $35, never even put out at full price.  Went right from the stock room to clearance, originally $70, and it's MASSIVE.  It puts every Star Wars vehicle to shame, in every capacity...  Even the AT-TE, AT-AT, Big Falcon...  They really just look like toys by comparison to this behemoth that's riddled with model-like details and features).  I somehow have more plane diversity though than tank diversity.  They're the most expensive items but more were made.  It's kind of obvious to me what at least one major issue was.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on February 14, 2011, 07:44 AM
My favorite part of the guys over at Warbirds is that Sunday before Toy Fair proper opened they were whining that nobody was covering anything but Hasbro.

Begin rant...


  Um dear Geniuses, Toy Fair doesn't start till Sunday,Hasbro is the only show in town Saturday,so go back to your collections of incorrectly adorned WWII Germans, your WWII US GI's with wrongly colored Vietnam era pants and your P51 with the wrong number of exposed rivets.  Oh and mix in some research on topics besides which paint 'huffs' the best, like maybe some actual pictures taken during the war not just an artist's rendition.  

Fin...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on February 14, 2011, 06:08 PM
Perhaps the Mortal Kombat figures from Jazzwares were the new 3 3/4 in figures that were being "rumored"?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 15, 2011, 09:10 PM
I found the whole, "Bad Cat Rumors" thing to be the biggest punch in the nuts of the collectors though...  Bad Cat shouldn't do stuff like that.  They should just kinda keep things tightly shut and if something happens it happens.  There is a lot of Hasbro bashing going on there right now and I think some of it is just reactionary to the fact that the 1:18 crowd basically got dicked over for yet another year.

Hasbro has some cool stuff...  Nobody knows what the IJ stuff will cost or how hard it's gonna be to find so the early reaction isn't really worth worrying about.  The details will emerge.  I'd guess they'll be pricey but it's kind of the well being capped on IJ stuff, so I'll take them.  I worry they'll be hard to find too, but how often are hasbro SDCC things to find?  Hasbro even seemed like the Excluisve Revenge of the Sith carded boxed set was the only thing that probably would be a tough item to get...  So IJ, a full wave of new figures, hard to find?  I doubt that, but we'll see.

I think the 1:18 military crowd is so starved at this point they'll latch onto anything as the next greatest toy in the world simply because even a repainted jet for $150 is something "new" to them right now.  I want new stuff too, and I'm ok with inaccuracies because I figure it's bound to happen (look at everything screwed up in Star Wars and stuff), but I also am not pulling my hair out that 1:18 is basically dead...  And it is.  I'm just going on to 1:16 tanks and when I'm done (or they're done or too expensive) then screw it. 

I really had a sneaking suspicion though that Bad Cat's "rumor" would ammount to basically nothing...  which it did.  Hell the thing that is even happening, may not.  How many times can these companies say they're doing this or that, and then simply it fades away?  I'll take a 1:16 RC King Tiger when it's available and forget that 21st ever teased collectors with a 1:18 one at this point.

At this stage, every toy company is letting me down to one degree or another, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: NightVyper on February 16, 2011, 07:07 PM
I like the warbirds forum most of of the guys are real good but some of the guys there are just knockers down. They want new stuff and they want every screw accounted for but don't want to pay for it, how they go about you would think they were nine years old. Like the A-10 I would be happy with a ball park size and nice detail ala BBI, but those guys want it to be this and and that and moan about everything in the mean time. Anyway Jesse and Paul you two brought something out of me from reading the last couple of pages and i had to chime in.

I am excited BBI is coming back to the fray the F-16 is nice and I pre-ordered 3. I hope they make some cool new Black Hawk Repaints personally (Like a light tan, grey or med vac) also they made a seal boat that was real nice that i would like to see come back into the world for my joes.

I was hoping Unimax would bring back the stiker they made the thing then cancelled it and i really want one of those they need take it off the shelf and bring it to market hard and fast.

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 16, 2011, 07:44 PM
You should look for the PTE Seal Boat...  Just on the assumption BBI won't bring theirs out of mothballs.  PTE's is insanely nice, even has a (cheap, but functional) "wave base" it sits on that works neat I think.  I have BBI modern guys and a couple FoV guys too, cruising on it.  It's not accurate totally but it gets the job done ya know?  Great for GIJ.

About the BBI plane, I'm glad for anyone excited for it...  I just think it doesn't mean 1:18 is back in any capacity.  I'm happy for anyone happy about it though, and all things said, it's probably a fair price for something of its quality at this point in the toy world.   :-\  Modern's not entirely my thing (I'm even tossing around selling off what I have except the figures) and so to me this was just another slap in collector's faces.  BCA teasing people that something big was coming from 1:18 at Toy Fair was, to be blunt, retarded.  They should've said what the truth was, that someone was bringing back an older mold and repainting it...  The people into it would've been happy and the people expecting any big splash would still be pessimistic and assume nothing was happening...  which is what happened, haha.

As accuracy goes, for me, I'm more about the scale being accurate than every nuanced detail (or "rivet counting", as it were) being accurate.  Kind of like the differences in Humvees between companies.  They're all pretty much to-scale and spot on between BBI, 21st, and Power Team Elite.  But there's a pretty clear hierarchey in detail that people then debate which is better...  Taking diversity out of the equation of course.

21st is generally regarded as the most accurate/hyper detailed.
BBI is usually the close second here.
PTE is the more toy-like.

So then it boils down to what style you want, like the open top, or spec. forces, or whatever.  Do you want the big cargo one, or a regular old Humvee?  What kind of deco do you want?  That kind of stuff.  Some guys like one over another.  I find most of the 1:18 guys seem to like 21st's unless they want multiples for a lower price.  To me, PTE's just as good as the others though.  If I were arming a Joe army, PTE would be my vehicle of choice since its cheapest...  I actually have a 21st though, and I love it.  I'm debating selling it, but I really love its details.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: NightVyper on February 16, 2011, 09:24 PM
I Actually have 2 PTE boats one with a machine gun and one with a spot light they are very nice but I really liked the BBI one and want it too.  >:D

I pick BBi over 21st anyday i like the weathering on bbi and that frail parts are made of rubber instead of cheap plastic so they wont break. I think BBI is the perfect blend of toy meets model. I would feel comfortable letting an older child play with it and not worry about damage. I like Unimax second for the same reason I like BBI. I could drop a unimax abram four feet and i am almost 90% sure it will be intact no harm no foul. i have 6 21st vehicles, 3 humvees for use with pickels 50 cal turret guard and 3 Cobra attack helicopters. Hey Wild Bill flies in style on my Joe team.

I found PTE stuff first and i liked them a lot too, until i found BBI and it was curtains for them after that. PTE stuff looks great against Joe stuff  though i think joe stuff is better detailed But i want my stuff to have some flare.

I really am excited about the f-16 but i didn't discover this stuff until a little more than 2 years ago so I am used to seeing 300-500 dollar price tags and have personally bid multiple times in the 250 mark to only get out bid on both f-16 and f-18s so for me they are cheap. in fact i had plans to bite the bullet and buy one as buy it now for around 400 bucks. i have a different perspective then a lot of the older collectors. I am however fortunate and the most i ever paid was 150 for and MISB cobra which included shipping. i was given a black hawk by a real cool collector and he sold me a f-16 and f-18 $100 each mint. I have been lucky for coming in so late in the game and having got so much. the only thing i never got that i wanted was a huey but they are way to expensive and now that merit is suppose to release one i will wait a year or two and save the money.

I am also excited about the halo Falcon that is sweet looking.
(http://betacache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2011/02/xlarge_halo03-w640.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 17, 2011, 02:33 AM
I bought 21st stuff the day it was released, so I was in this from day 1 I guess...  Got a Kubelwaggen and some figures.  Wound up getting a Panther the following week, then the ME-109...  It was never a line I bought all of but I wound up having most of it.  I only passed on Nam figures generally, and the P-51 and original Jeep/Sherman.  Wound up with later versions.  I didn't miss much from the line.

I've moved onto 1:16 RC tanks at this stage...  Till someone puts some stability back into 1:18, which nobody will so long as they don't A) make action figures the core products they sell, and B) cuts back on trying to do so many planes.  That's what really killed 21st and their deal with WM if you ask me.

Figures are where line stability is though.  You look at any toy line that's expansive and includes figures/vehicles, and you see that the figures are the core, and as things get larger and more expensive you see less of them.  21st shot itself in the foot...  BBI to some degree as well.

Forces of Valor is all that hangs on for the most part, and they have figures as their focus with a limited # of vehicles.  *shrugs*  Though they're stalled now too.

It's crummy though.  I'd love to be buying some WW2 stuff right now, especially armor, but it's not going to happen anytime soon I do believe.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: NightVyper on February 17, 2011, 07:55 AM
I am interested in RC tanks but i like modern stuff and mostly see WWII stuff in 1/16. WWII is just too blocky for me, I don't know I do like the King Tiger and the Bulldog though I think that is korean war, not sure. the rc 1/16 modern is expensive though, at least what I have seen. I really want 3 or 4 cool cobra tanks, I 3 Abrams I would like to have a cool cobra convoy. I thought about getting the red 332 Panther tank I don't love them so it is hard to justify the cost.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 17, 2011, 08:59 PM
I actually lean towards WW2 only for the most part.  I'll buy figures for any era though, but WW2 was where my heart was for vehicles.  Needless to say, losing 21st hit me hard then.  ::)

Modern's ok but I think if I were more a GIJ collector I'd lean towards it a bit more too. 
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 18, 2011, 03:21 AM
Go figure.  I am in one gear bitching about a lack of 1:18 figures, then tonight...

(http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/011Mil_NewGermans01_TN.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/image.pl?http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/011Mil_NewGermans01_Full.jpg)  (http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/011Mil_NewGermans02_TN.jpg) (http://www.jedidefender.com/image.pl?http://www.jedidefender.com/news/images/1-08/011Mil_NewGermans02_Full.jpg)
Clicky to check 'em out!

It's pretty awesome to see these, and they look pretty cool.  I like the haircuts on the two soldiers as they're pretty typical of the era for Germans (shaved around the side short and long hair on the top).  I'm really just pleased to see anything new for 1:18 realistic military figures, much less WW2 at this point!

And the next wave floored me...  rumor of course, but it really floored me.

And no, no vehicles yet.

I was told these are to represent German Wermacht around 1943 (Paul, what do you think?  I was thinking Russian offensive, no?), and as you can see the sleeves imply it's warm out at least.

The gear looks cool.  A functional sling on the rifle?  Nice!  And finally an ammo can...  I think In Toyz was the only company to make an MG ammo can, ever.  I have one, and it's a rare accessory.  Go figure right?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on February 18, 2011, 08:49 AM
The gear looks cool.  A functional sling on the rifle?  Nice!  And finally an ammo can...  I think In Toyz was the only company to make an MG ammo can, ever.  I have one, and it's a rare accessory.  Go figure right?

It looks like the stock is movable on the MP-40. I'm not sure if that's new on the 1:18 army guys. I know the weapons weren't as intricate when I had a bunch of 21st stuff when I was nine or ten.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on February 18, 2011, 12:03 PM
Those guys would be good probably for any of your 1940 and forward needs.

As prototypes I'll withold judgement for now, but hopefully the headsculpts get better.  It was the terrible Headsculpts and overzealous paint washes on them that had me abandon the 21st line.

I had intended to jump in here today and get into the 1:18 debate you guys were having, but I don't want to distract from this story, so I will defer for now.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 18, 2011, 03:34 PM
Greg,

A couple movable stocks were done, but this one almost looks like it will fold at all the points it should.  Dragon did movable stocks but the back/but part didn't fold down as it should have.  this appears like it would move where it mounts at the gun and at the but-end.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: NightVyper on February 21, 2011, 09:15 PM
So what was Paul going to say?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 21, 2011, 11:29 PM
Paul's old school from the 1:18 site, like myself, so I'm always intrigued when he adds thoughts.  Plus I've probably never met anyone who is as versed in WW2 material as Paul.  Any time I've had a hard question I go to him.  I'm curious too, what his thoughts are.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on February 22, 2011, 07:06 PM
Ok roll the clock back to Jesse talking about how you can't have a vehicle line without figures.

I was merely going to interject that the guys that are willing to pay $150+ for a Jet/Stuka/Lawndart really don't care what the pilot (the only figures most of them care about) looks like as long as he is wearing something that they may or may not have seen in a movie or some other fictionalized media.  I know it is not 100% across the board but more than 51%.

This seems to be the way it works even in 1:1 scale stuff as well.  When I would take the Halftrack places the guys in the Military Vehicle Preservation Association would spend tens to hundreds of thousands on vehicles, but would drive a WWII Tank in modern Nomex flight suits with Harley Davidson Boots, Wiley X sunglasses and modern Communications stuff.  It would drive me crazy.   They would spend $1000 to a have the right night driving light (and they never drove them at night) but they couldn't spend $250 on a 100% accurate reproduction uniform..

I think most people who focus on Vehicles (in any scale) don't really give much notice to the "crew" or the surrounding troops since they are just "flare" for the vehicle.

Guys who focus on the Soldiers themselves end up on the other end of the scale in most cases, they want troops with the correct uniform pieces, correct weapon (don't get me started on a rant about this) etc for their troops and they want their vehicles to be better than average but they don't have to be accurate down to the number of welds or bolts.

I find myself to be blend of the two, except I demand 100% accuracy for each (I accept less, but I always demand more)

I would have been a 100%-er for 21st but they were a Vehicle first company and really only did figures as an afterthought.  They did half ass research for the uniforms (I know Jesse likes U-Boat leathers on an infantryman, but that drove me insane) I also know how the military crowd likes the "exception" rather than the rule when it comes to their vehicles, they want the Porsche Turret on their King Tiger or the Easy 8 on their Sherman to have a duplex drive.

So I guess not really adding to the debate of all this just my .$002.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 22, 2011, 08:31 PM
I was just talking about this in a thread pertaining to the "worst 1:18 stuff", more or less...  Someone listed the 21st Tiger-I, which to me was the best the line put out.  It's far from accurate but I'm not the proverbial rivet-counter either...  It had late and early details, but also had no zimmerit...  Meh.  My view was, "It's $40, and you can get it in metal hull versions even!".  Now...  $60+?  I'm probably right there demanding more and accepting less.  Though, these days, I suppose I should adjust to $80+ for inflation.

Anyway, my point on figures Paul, isn't so much what collectors think or want...  It's more that business models need one or the other to succeed...  21st DID try too hard to look at vehicles.  They did ok with figures, I mean nobody was even in the ballpark for diversity in the figure realm, but they tried too hard on the vehicle front...

For me, 3.75"-4" is a great scale, but there are these companies who only want to do big planes, and expect to make a go of it...  I think Hasbro alone has proven that you need the figures to succeed.  The figures need need to be the anchor of the line.  The place where you can make a little extra to turn into the riskier, larger pieces...  I look at it kind of like an upside-down pyramid in importance...

................++++++++++++++++   <-Action Figures...  The most diverse, least expensive, easiest place
                                                          to build your line, and work up capital through sales to re-invest into your
                                                          overall line.  Like Legends, Repacks, and such are a necessity to make
                                                          obscurity, ultimately.
...................+++++++++++++       <-Smaller Vehicles/Artillery/Fixed Items (MG Teams, Mortars)...  Little more
                                                          financially, can be repainted and released more frequently because they're
                                                          still not the financial risk bigger vehicles are.  "Interact" best with the
                                                          figures though, the anchor of the line.  Like SW's deluxe fig w/vehicle.
.......................++++++++              <-Armor, smaller playset type items, etc.  More risky investment, certainly
                                                          more tooling dollars.  Repaint-ability is fairly diverse though, relatively
                                                          simple modifications can ultimately make a "new" variant of a piece too.
                                                          RC availability too, and ultimately not as costly as aircraft.
..........................++++                    <-Planes...  Biggest risk, biggest cost on the shelves, least likely to sell
                                                          many/multiple repaints because of their size and cost. 
............................++                       <-And just for fun/argument's sake, complex playsets...  When I mentioned
                                                           sets above I meant something very simple, possibly one or two pieces
                                                           comprising it.  Very basic, just to display stuff.  This last part, like sets
                                                           in Star Wars and other lines, have proven to not do great at retail to
                                                           broad audiences unfortunately, regardless of coolness.


Anyway, to me that's what the companies are doing wrong...  Focusing on things that are so big, detailed, and niche, that they don't build the base...  The smaller stuff appeals to the broadest audience because of price and collectibility.  How many planes can your average collector own before they burn out on space?  And how many can a company honestly sell?  And how tight are the margins going to be?  Figures the margins are looser, the prices are lower, their size makes them more collectible to a broader audience.

For my money, you put out one plane a year...  It's your AT-TE, or your AT-AT...  You put out lots of figures as your foundation of your line.  You try to do support stuff, small and affordable, collectable, but more than the figures.  Lots of diversity from Nebelwervers to Howitzers to tri-pod MG teams of 2, to Panzerschrek tank-hunter teams, to maybe even a sniper in a tree...  Lots of possibilities here.  From there you look at armor, support vehicles (trucks, APC's, and armor of various sizes for various pricepoints...  There's diversity here, repaintability to reinvest.  And from there are your planes and then above that is the traditional "playset" that's big and comprised of a number of parts, and not likely to happen anyway. ;)

I actually didn't LIKE the U-boat jackets by the way Paul...  I just liked getting something extra where it wasn't warranted really.  I enjoyed them for customizing and stuff, but I don't have a single figure displayed in them.  The nice thing was they were removable, and came with a set of arms.  I liked that.

I'm for 100% figure accuracy and accessory accuracy too...  But if the price is right I'm more than happy to accept some slip-ups.  At this stage, I'm happy to accept almost anything since nobody's doing anything really.  1:16 RC armor and expensive static models are it these days.   :-\  The only other people doing anything in any real capacity that is new are guys like Pickelhaube and Grunt1 doing resin garage kits and modification kits to existing 1:18 stuff.  Great stuff, but resin by its nature is expensive.  Far more than plastic.  It's why it's only ever used for prototyping stuff and one-offs or short-run kits.  I love the stuff those guys do but it's affordability and mass manufacturing is difficult.

I'm right with you on accuracy though Paul, but from a toy line perspective I think the companies are just going about things ass-backwards.  Figures largely get abandoned for riskier propositions, and the companies have clearly failed.  Successful companies (though it's difficult to compare some of them) have gone about things in the opposite direction and I think it shows that they have the right mode of thinking.  Even Forces of Valor is still hanging in there to some degree, and they put figures first (for a more fair comparison).  Their vehicles were very secondary and they've been very reluctant to even try stuff bigger than armor (and they cut down on details on their armor to cut cost).

The 1:1 thing makes me laugh Paul...  :)  It does seem funny to sink $100k into anything, then not want to put a little extra into a uniform to go with the vehicle.  I guess maybe they don't want to wear it?  But why wear anything even remotely military then if you're going to wear goofy stuff that doesn't match at all?  I dunno.  That's just weird.  I honestly never see 1:1 stuff around here.  A guy out the road from me has a BMW with sidecar I guess, and someone near him has a Willy's...  And someone down near Pittsburgh has a Dodge 4x4 like Patton's because I've seen it on TV in parade coverage on the news.  ALl neat, but never anything big like tanks or halftracks...  And other than that bike, I've never in my life seen something German in person...  and I've never seen that bike actually, i just know it's been at stuff like memorial day events and things from newspaper articles.

Oh and a guy has an unrestored Harley...  It's not in horrid shape but it needs work.  You can certainly tell what it is and it runs.  I think he doesn't have the money or desire to fix it up and just likes to show it at events like above.  It has the sheath for the Thompson and everything though, from what I could tell.  I've seen it in news articles too.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 24, 2011, 11:05 PM
Guy built this custom...  It's a 1:18 scale Skycrane...  Oofah.   :o

(http://www.largescaleplanes.com/Photostory/RonDenning/ch54b/images/01.jpg)

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/Photostory/RonDenning/ch54b/ch54b.php

Uh, yeah...  Talk about a humbling experience.  :-\  Kinda makes you wanna give up doing the stuff you thought was "really cool and detailed" when you look at something like that, haha.  I have plastic envy.

300 fabricated plastic pieces in the rotor assembly?  4 feet long I guess?  Wow.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 28, 2011, 02:06 AM
Well I caved this weekend...  After a weekend of not really doing/spending a ton, I decided I was pulling the trigger on another 1:16 RC tank...  This time I got the metal upgrade Tiger-I, which Tigers are among my more favored armor pieces from the war, and I couldn't pass up the price for one with metal tracks, running gear, and transmission.  It's just a much more heavy/cool look to it.

It was a toss-up on this and a Russian KV-1, which is kind of an odd item but it does exist...  and I don't have Russian anything, so that would've been neat.  However, my next purchase may be that, or a Stg III...  Or a Jagdpanther...  though that one is at the end of the pack right now.  The first two will have to duke it out I guess, haha.

Anyway I'll give some thoughts on the Tiger-I when I get it in.  Shouldn't take long.

I need to aim for Sherman and T-34 purchases but neither are cheap...  or not nearly as cheap as the stuff I have bought, so I'll need to dwell on those purchases a bit more.  I have buyer's remorse on anything over $50. :P
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 31, 2011, 02:47 AM
Little bummed out...  I went and got my older Panzer 1:16 out and some screw mounts inside the remote intended to hold the braces for the controls in place were broken.  The plastic was simply sheered because it's pretty shoddy/****** material.

Think yellow clone helmets piss you off?  Try plastic that just sheers because its not bonded properly and is just a weak material under any pressure/tension.

Anyway, I glued the posts, and we'll see if I need to find a new controller or not.  The tank is fine, and the controllers are notoriously chincy, but I was surprised when I got the remote out and all kinds of **** was rattling around inside.  Ultimately my remote to my tank that's on its way should, in theory, work if the crystals are the same...  and they probably are.

Still, I want my controller i got originally.  Such is life I guess.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 2, 2011, 12:16 AM
I got my Tiger Tank, and took it to the local Star Wars meeting that was held this evening...  I figure it's the only way I can bring something that someone doesn't already have, since my Star Wars collecting isn't that much of a "Wow!" factor to most people.

It's nice too...  big, heavy, and very detailed.  I'm always a little in awe of the quality, as you really get a lot for your money in these 1:16 tanks, but you also can expect flaws...  Some can be pretty severe like bad soldering, or even a broken piece here and there.

It's a sharp piece though.  I got the beast home and put some Germans on/around him.  I love it.  I almost hate to take the airbrush to any of these after I buy them.  I also haven't ventured into adding all the extra pieces they give you that you have to put on yourself, or the decals.  I'm concerned the decals won't look too hot once applied, and that the bits you need to add should be left off till you decide to paint it in the final scheme you want.

I'm now anxiously eyeing a StugIII...  But there's so many more tanks I want, and I really feel bad I don't have an RC Sherman yet.  It's the Tiger's contrast I feel, even though one-on-one they're completely mismatched.

Great piece though, well worth the money.  I wish I could buy these just without even thinking about it.  I'd have a room dedicated to WW2 armor alone I think, and customize them all.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 16, 2011, 08:58 PM
Unfortunately there was a good deal online that turned out to be too good to be true...  Company was selling sets of FOV US Infantry for $7 and change...  I'd bought 2 sets, but it turned out they shipped out only 1 figure for each set you ordered.  Ultimately it was probably a mistake on their part, but they advertised it as full 6 figure sets, so they messed up.

Anyway, they're doing refunds, but it's a bummer.  I'd bought 2 sets simply for customizing purposes, and now that idea is out the window.  Too good to be true. 
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 24, 2011, 08:36 PM
Found a lone US Paratrooper from BBI's last series at Ross for $3.99 Not bad.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on June 3, 2011, 07:02 PM
I hadn't really been looking for one, but I ran across one of the PTE Command Post sets on eBay the other day and put a watch on it just to see what it sold for.  Thought I might throw in a bid if it stayed low, but it ended up at $44.21 and still had $18.50 in shipping on top of that.

I was kind of surprised how high it went, but that's a better building than the one that was at Big Lots last Christmas.  If I run across one for cheaper I may pick one up.  Maybe BL will get these this year rather than the bombed out building.

If you want to check out the auction, click here. (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=110693481975&si=o0h5J2%252BFpf5SahLZrWek7fT6iaE%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3AWNA%3AUS%3A1123)

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 3, 2011, 11:58 PM
My advice on it is wait...  Wait for Big Lots to get in their Christmas stuff (usually between August and October), or wait to see what Penney's stocks/gets in.  They had the Command Center in over the holidays IIRC.

http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=16e86d3&DeptID=52440&CatID=77791&SO=0&PCatID=52440&CatSel=4294939233%7cview+all&NOffset=0&Ne=4294957900+4+5+1063+1008+8+18+904+949&CatTyp=RLE&Dep=Toys&N=4294939233&Pcat=Toys&Cat=Boys&Nao=0&PSO=0&CmCatId=52440|77791&sa=1

They've still got a number of other sets, and Penney's has coupons all the time.

That bridge?  It's the primo piece from PTE if you ask me.  And in that set you get the tower, the bridge, the "steel hedgehog" obstacles...  That set's friggin' great.

While I like the "Pizza Hut" Command Center, I would have to humbly disagree on it being better than the 3-story building.  Only because the 3-story building is more a realistic looking design...  It fits in with Tatooine for instance, or North Africa in WW2, or Italy in WW2, or basically anywhere we're blowing up right now like Afghanistan, Iraq...  It just fits in to so much, honestly.

The Pizza Hut rocks though, but it's a more modern looking building, and is smaller.  I got 3 of them in what I hoped would be an attempt to put them all together to form one big "complex".

What I really miss is this modular set from Eversparkle.  It was glorious.  I got two of them, and a few extras from a friend, and I feel fortunate to have those.  They make these really bitching little buildings, stackable or expandable in ANY direction.  Walls are just thin plastic sheets, but sturdy enough and featuring some detailing.  I go tthem years and years ago, they're long gone from the net now it seems.  And they were the inspiration for modular Star Wars sets in my mind...  I got these back when the FFURG Email Listserver still existed even, they're that old.  Cheap as hell figures, cheap as hell accessories, but the set was everything.

PTE continues to impress though.  They're cheap, they're almost always abundant around Christmas, and PTE continues to put out new stuff...  Every year they do something different (well, not EVERY year, but every other year they've pretty steadily delivered something new). 

Towers though?  I've got dozens and plan to use them all.  And that bridge is something to behold with a platoon of Japanese soldiers rushing across it, or some German infantry, battered and bruised, trying to limp back across the Rhine, or some cold-weather U.S. GI's making their counter-attack after the Bulge failed...  Lots of cool scenes that bridge is great.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Fritzkrieg on June 4, 2011, 06:34 PM
I have to agree with Jesse on the Bombed-Out building, the set is the Bomb!

Eversparkle?  What is that? I've never heard of it.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on June 5, 2011, 09:28 AM
I'd love it if they re-released the bombed out building molded in gray. 
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 6, 2011, 02:25 AM
Hands down agree with you Ryan, and actually I've thought of painting one of my 3-stories grey using plastic-adhering paint.  It's a simple enough design, i think it'd be pretty easy using a "gun" attachment to a can, to just give it a good spraypainting...  Paint a little detail on the exposed brick, and voila...  Instant new looking building.

Fritz,

Eversparkle was a company that did some cheap-o military stuff...  Not much to be found about them.  They did some 1:6 and 1:18.  Their 1:18 was great though.  It was just big playsets...  Not individual stuff like PTE, but their playset was modular, and is sorely missed by me.  I'd buy a dozen of their set if I found them today.  I'd even pay a little bit of a premium (I mean, they're "cheap" so I wouldn't pay a big premium, but I'd pay PTE playset prices for it despite it being a lesser product in terms of detail/quality).

The cool thing was the design...  You built the building, any way you wished, any direction you wished, and limited only in the number of parts you have.  It wasn't hyper detailed or painted well.  Walls were more like a stamped piece of plastic than something comprised of multiple parts.  It still looked really cool built up.  It made, to me anyway, cooler Star Wars set-ups than realistic military.  Cool for GI Joe or Star Wars...  Something with an element of fantasy to it, only because you could tell it was modular obviously.  Still one of the neatest ways to do a diorama for your figures IMO.

The Command Center from PTE is outstanding though, so don't let my bombed building praise sway you.  I just prefer it.  The CC is really awesome regardless though.  Neatly designed too, with a ladder/trap door to the roof and stuff.  I wish the windows were a little more "depth" than just a piece of plastic, and some side walls would've been appreciated, but it's still cool.

Now if PTE designed them to actually be stacked or connected side-by-side?  I'd poop my pants.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, Power Team Elite, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 12, 2011, 11:42 PM
NEW Power Team Elite images?  Oh my.

(http://www.peterkin.co.uk/Images/ocw/39010_500_500.jpg)

(http://www.peterkin.co.uk/Images/ocw/39015_500_500.jpg)

(http://www.peterkin.co.uk/Images/ocw/39014_500_500.jpg)

(http://www.peterkin.co.uk/Images/ocw/39012_500_500.jpg)

(http://www.worldpeacekeepers.net/images/81419_r2_c1.jpg)

Love the stuff in the top pics (except the jet, but for Joe fans that's a good new item).  The trailer is already getting people's juices flowing on how to use it for World War 2 and ditching the Mutt with it...  The new base/diorama stuff has potential.  

Whoever makes PTE stuff has an idea that it's a good cheap toy for kids, but it's also the kind of thing that's cheap enough for adults who buy more expensive figures in the same scale can pick it up, and improve it with minimal effort, and give themselves something insanely neat to display their toys with it.

I'm glad to see new PTE though...  They're always out of left field, but you can generally count on them making this stuff, and just hope you can get a good outlet like Big Lots to pick it up.

The Chinese boat is cool, and I wish they'd do removable helmets on their U.S. figures as well.  Love that about the Chinese guys.  I won't be broken hearted if the boat never shows up in the States, but it's pretty slick looking.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 12, 2011, 11:45 PM
Also changed the thread's title with my last post...  PTE is talked about the most these days, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 16, 2011, 12:01 AM
Apparantly someone has the 21st Cent. Molds for the 88 Flak Cannon, and don't really give a **** or not if All Go thinks they own the molds, as I guess there is a promise of grey 88's coming to etailers...

(http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-75496263108875_2163_35963478)

I got two DAK decoed 88's for the same price as one grey one, so I'm reluctant to buy a grey one.  I'd rather just take some Panzer Grey and go to town on one of my extra tan 88's, but hey...  grey is what it should be so I'mg lad someone is dusting off the molds and trying to do them.

All-Go is gonna be pissed though, especially since, word has it anyway, these are coming out in 21st Century Toys boxes!   :-X  All-Go swore they were going to block that from happening, and stop companies in China from using their molds...  Something fishy is going on with all that though.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 16, 2011, 04:55 PM
And the pre-orders that went up, now suspended?  Hmmm....  Interesting.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 4, 2011, 06:47 PM
New Power Team Elite toys at Big Lots...

A few new deluxe 3-packs of figures that include larger accessories like a rubber navy seal boat and stuff.  One of them has some Rangers, and the one ranger comes with a small RC Drone for recon on the enemy.  Pretty slick little accessory.  Pretty darn accurate too.

I'm hearing tan towers too this year, and Chinese vehicles, but I saw no towers at my store.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on August 8, 2011, 03:15 PM
Did anybody else see the C-130?  It is undersized (obviously) but a transport plane just the same. 

It is over on Hisstank.com but I dont know if it was linked from somewhere else.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on August 8, 2011, 08:11 PM
I saw that last night. It's kind of cool but would need quite a bit of work, I think.  The cockpit doesn't have windows and the cargo door in the back would only fit really small vehicles.  It would be a good troop transport, maybe turn it into a gunship or AWACS style flying tech control center.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 8, 2011, 08:36 PM
I missed this...  It's PTE?  Or some other company?  Not at Big Lots from all the reports I've read.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on August 8, 2011, 09:41 PM
Jesse, it is from whatever cheapo military line they sell at TRU.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on August 8, 2011, 10:15 PM
True Heroes I believe is the name.

Their western stuff makes me even more sad that the Dusty Trails Toys Western Line never saw the light of day.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 9, 2011, 09:49 PM
Hmm, may have to check it out...

At one time 21st was going to do a B-25...  I still sit and dream about that.  1:18 scale WW2 Bomber?  That thing would've been insane.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Sprry75 on August 10, 2011, 04:51 AM
I will probably pick one of these up if I see it. Pretty ambitious for for a toy. I really like the True Heroes Apache. Makes a nice Dragonfly.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 16, 2011, 10:38 PM
All Go (formerly 21st Cent. Toys) supposedly is "back" now.  When I see new product in people's hands, I'll believe it.  At this point though, I don't think they have much of a future.  Especially if they don't think a big retailer partnership is a viable option anymore...  They're doomed IMO.

Then again I also think 1:18 figures should be the anchor, and let the vehicles be the accessories...  Not just make a plane here and there, never any figures, and avoid armor.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on August 17, 2011, 01:44 PM
Anything new?  Or just re-re-re-releases of the same old stuff?

Have they figured out the Paint apps for figures yet?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 17, 2011, 05:02 PM
They seem to just be putting out some 1:32, so far.  I'll believe it when I see it, more or less.  Figures seem non-existant to them.  They just focus on the big stuff, not seemingly realizing you can make more by selling figures in bulk than you can by selling a few big assed $60 or $70 or $80 items.
Title: Chap Mei C-130 Photo Review
Post by: Fritzkrieg on September 3, 2011, 07:57 PM
I picked this up at TRU today, and snaped a few shots. It's underscale for sure, but makes for a fun toy. The Pilot is a custom using the C-130's pilot's head on a BBI body. Chap Mei has made some great head sculpts recently.

Chap Mei's True Heroes C-130
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules7.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules5.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules6.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules3.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules4.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules8.jpg)
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u27/Order66Customs/Hercules2.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 5, 2011, 06:25 PM
Pretty cool Fritz.  What's the price on it?  I was considering getting one to custom into a SW vehicle of some sort, but wasn't sure on where to go with it...  If it's cheap enough the interior alone could be worth the price.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on September 6, 2011, 12:55 PM
Pretty cool Fritz.  What's the price on it?  I was considering getting one to custom into a SW vehicle of some sort, but wasn't sure on where to go with it...  If it's cheap enough the interior alone could be worth the price.

I spotted the same plane at a TRU Express store at the local mall, and it was $43. I didn't realize the interior was somewhat furnished.. cool stuff!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 6, 2011, 02:20 PM
Little steep for me on the price, but it is a nice interior.  Those seats would work great for some SW stuff.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on September 21, 2011, 12:45 AM
Spotted that new burned out building you tweeted about yesterday, Jesse.  I didn't spend a lot of time at Big Lots but did see that and maybe a vehicle or two that I don't recall from last year.  But no large building or the command post, nothing new on the helicopter or jet front either.  They did have a new 12" figure on motorcycle, though.

I may stop back again in a month or so to see if they add any more as we get closer to the Christmas shopoing season.  Would still snag one of those command post buildings if I could find one.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 21, 2011, 11:25 PM
Guys are saying, along with the two $13 playsets, that they're seeing the Littlebird chopper now, and a rocket helicopter I'm not totally familiar with but recall something about it.

E, get that Bunker man!  It's great. :)  Avoid teh sandbag wall thing...  It's meh.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on September 22, 2011, 02:05 AM
Now that you mention it, I think I saw the Littlebird but I don't recall any other rocket helicoptor.  I think they had a sandrail type vehicle that's a little different than the one they've had previous years.

I'll take another look at the bunker when I stop back.  I don't think they had the sandbag set, though.  I think I know what set you're talking about, though, because it was on the back of one of the boxes.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 30, 2011, 05:51 PM
Forces of Valor putting out some repainted/repackaged modern guys at Target, and one new headscuplt (scarf/sunglasses).

It's sorta something new...  I guess. :(
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 22, 2011, 02:04 AM
Hey Jesse,
  Did you see that BBTS is taking pre-orders on a bunch of Power Team Elite (http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=1558) items?

They have the three helicoptors (Little Bird, BH and rocket ship) plus some other smaller sets.  No command outpost or shelled building but they do have the guard tower.

This was posted over on Hiss Tank and I was so hoping for the command outpost but no dice.  Still, BBTS is saying that if they do well on this they may import more stuff.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 22, 2011, 03:11 AM
That's great, but also bad...

It's great because PTE stuff is A) Underrated in terms of quality.  Seriously, it's maybe a knock-off toy, but the quality is superior to a lot of half-assed knock-off toys out there.

It's great because PTE stuff B) Flies under people's radars a lot of the time.  It's just not got a lot of exposure unless you're poor like me and frequent Big Lots. :)

But it's bad because (and I say this without trying to disparage a sponsor), their prices are kind of goofy on some of their stuff they're pre-ordering.  The tanks, choppers...  Not good prices on some of that.

Big Lots orders PTE every year, so does J.C. Penney (check their catalog online, they have TONS of good stuff and often run sales making it great prices usually for what all you get in these big sets they sell), and BBTS will have a rough time competing price-wise with these outlets for PTE goodness.

Likewise, if you want just some random bits from a set, you can buy from Maraunder Inc., which sells individual bits and pieces for fair prices...  Not sure how/where they get their supply, but I believe it's from manufacturers and not a middle-man type deal.  I could be wrong, but don't believe I am.

Some of those are great pieces though on BBTS and if you're having trouble tracking down the Chinese tank, or the Chinese IFV (Seriously, they're Chinese...  that's awesome in and of itself, and both are fairly well scaled 1:18 items!  The Abrams is a bit undersized for the scale), then they're good sources...  But Like I said, I have a Big Lots every couple feet and they're all pretty solidly stocked this year...

What's great about PTE also is they shock you with new ****.  The Chinese stuff came out of left field...  this year's mini-bunker and wall sets in the "mid-size playset" series were out of left field too.  They've done tan towers now as well, unexpectedly, and I believe one has a peaked roof to it in the one JC Penney set which is odd.

There was a company called "Eversparkle" that did a set, sort of like PTE but cooler.  I need to snap pictures of this thing.  People will collectively poop themselves and wish they'd had somethign similar with a sci-fi theme (leaving "Star Wars" off it, but clearly as its intent).  It's awesomeness and inexpensive all rolled into one.  I only wish I had more of this playset.  It was my initial inspiration for some custom ideas i've had for Star Wars stuff, many years ago.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 22, 2011, 03:32 AM
Eric,

I realized after I talked with you, and was looking up what's on JCP, that you meant the Pizza Hut looking command center right?  Not the 3-story bombed out mid-east looking building?  I haven't seen Pizza Hut in a while at any outlet.  Odd to say the least since it sold really well, but certain items have come and gone with them.

I keep hoping to see the bunks make a comeback...  It's a set of bunkbeds and an opening stand-up locker.  It's insanely cool, simple, and would work in Star Wars, GI Joe, or many other settings.  I have a nice group of them but never saw them after the one or two years they shipped.

Also they make a full tent (and a lean-to), which has never shown up again.  I never did get the tent.  :-\

JCP's sets are great, for great prices though, and a good example why BBTS's pre-orders may not do well.  $19.99 for the Blackhawk at JCP with free shipping to a store.   :-X  That's a deal.

Oh and if you want a Humvee army for your Joe Greenshirts to get their asses handed to them and have Clutch come in and a VAMP and save them?  Go PTE with those!  They make like 3 or 4 variations of the military Humvee including an open-bed and soft top one.  It's scaled right, detailed, opens up nicely, and is just all around bad-ass, and at a fraction of the price of a BBI or 21st Century one.  21st's is easily the most hyper detailed, but BBI's is nice too (and their SPec Ops one is grand and nobody else did one of it).  PTE's are cheap though, and very nice for what they are, and are just missing small details like lift supports on the back and stuff, and a less crisp deco.

Their Littlebird chopper is on par with BBI's as well.

Their Blackhawk is underscaled but nice IMO.

The Chinese chopper is very underscaled.

They make a great Warthog too which is difficult to get.  Very Wild Weasel-ish.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 22, 2011, 03:56 PM
I remember Eversparkle for their 12" items.  I think they did a tank back in the day that a lot of the 12" Joe collectors were going nuts over.  I remember it being somewhat hard to find in the US and then they were gone.  I'm not sure if Eversparkle exists as a company any more but they definitely did some nice work.

A couple years ago Big Lots had an entire 12' aisle of PTE stuff.  All the 3.75" and 12" sets.  I don't remember all the 3.75" stuff but know they had the horse and camel type sets and the tower along with some vehicles but I don't know about the buildings or other larger stuff.  I was mostly interested in the 12" items and this is back when they had the pack mule and the bunk set and a bunch of other stuff that I was wowed over.  But I didn't have the cash and ended up not buying anything at the time and my BL store hasn't had that amount of stock again since then.  I think JCP still has a couple of those sets now.

You're right on the building, I'm interested in the Pizza Hut style building.  Last year my store had the 3 story bombed out set but I passed on it, it wasn't what I was interested in.  The command outpost would be excellent for my 3.75" Adventure Team guys I'm putting together.  Although it's a lot more expensive, Schleich has some nice sets also, including an Animal Nursery set that makes for a good outback type farmhouse and they used to do a castle set.  But those are all over $100 easy.

I've seen the PTE Blackhawk and Warthog along with the F18 at various TRU stores and they're nice, but I don't have the room.  I picked up a camel and horse set last year at BL but that's it.  If I had unlimited room I'd be all over the guard towers and probably a Little Bird at least.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on November 26, 2011, 05:10 PM
Their Littlebird chopper is on par with BBI's as well.

They made police and fire versions that IIRC, were never available at U.S. retail, just online. One had doors!

They made a SWAT humvee, which I'd hoped they would reissue...seems like Big Lots had a picture planogram posted with it on it, but the store got just military ones.

Quote
Their Blackhawk is underscaled but nice IMO.

There was a olive green version once. I like the copter but hate that the two middle seats aren't accessible (they seem to be in the knock-off that TRU carried a year or two ago).

Quote
They make a great Warthog too which is difficult to get.  Very Wild Weasel-ish.

That set or one of the jets include a flight ground crewman figure not available elsewhere. There were also some civilian figures at some point and some "mountain" camo versions of the delta force guys. Though the figures are so-so, great articulation but sometimes they break right out of the box. It would be nice if the Chinese army guys were issued over here, even as "enemies". LOL.

The jeep with trailer is out here. If it were a desert version, I'd talk myself into it (since I have the normal one already, no trailer).
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 27, 2011, 11:46 AM
I thought the red and blue Humvees/LB's were made specifically for online retailers like Smalljoes to sell to Joe folks for "Cobra" stuff?  I could be wrong on that...  For some reason I was thinking that SJ had something up about them getting those specifically from the manufacturer that way.

There was a different colored Warthog too I thought, or maybe that was rumored and didn't happen?  It'd look sweet in all black as like Wild Weasel's squad or something, haha.

E, the Eversparkle set was really rare/limited it seemed, and was sold online only IIRC.  I'll try getting pics together and post if/when I can.  It inspired me to do modular style playsets for other lines/toys.  It's a cool display system if nothing else.  If someone did something like it, but generically sci-fi, they'd sell a buttload.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 28, 2011, 01:48 AM
BBTS added more stuff to their PTE pre-order list and the Command Post (http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=MCT10019&mode=retail) is now listed!!!

Pre-order placed.  $59.99 for it but it comes with some extra stuff and that's cheaper than I've seen them on eBay.

They also have the J-10 and SU-27 jet fighters listed now but I don't think they were there the other day.  I'd love to get the SU-27 and order up some October Guard stickers from Cobra Stickers but I think I'll have to wait on that.  The SU-27 is $50 but the J-10 is only $40 so if anyone was looking to do a Chinese plane that's not a bad deal if you compare it to the Sky Striker.

The A-10 and FA-18 are both up now also.  $50 on the A-10 and $45 on the FA-18.

I'm really hoping now that they are able to get this stock in because I want that Command Post.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 28, 2011, 08:17 PM
Congrats man, glad it showed up somewhere.

I was at BL tonight, and wow has their stock been nailed.  Almost all the Humvee's are gone, same with littlebirds/boats/jets.  No figure packs remain, at all.  The Mutt/Trailer and towers are the only things of quantity really....  Oh and dune buggies.  The Chinese and US. ones both are there in good supply.  They have 4 3-story buildings, and had probably 20 or more at one point up on the top of the aisle?

There's one jet left...  Only 6 towers so it's not there in good quantity either really.

I may nab a couple more tan ones, and a couple Chinese buggies.

Paint those up black or blue, and you've got a bitchin' Cobra dune buggy for AWE Strikers to destroy.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on November 29, 2011, 03:09 AM
What jet did your store have, Jesse?  The A-10 or one of the others?  I think my BL may have had the A-10 one year but I think the only place I've seen it on any regular basis is TRU. 

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 29, 2011, 04:20 AM
The F-17...  I've not seen Warthogs for a while.

They're all underscaled, by a good bit raelly, and some lack some details on the other side of the wings (basically they're one-sided molds IIRC), but they're good for "Joe scale" I think.

Scale jets are not cheap, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on November 29, 2011, 07:02 PM
I thought the red and blue Humvees/LB's were made specifically for online retailers like Smalljoes to sell to Joe folks for "Cobra" stuff?  I could be wrong on that...  For some reason I was thinking that SJ had something up about them getting those specifically from the manufacturer that way.

There was a different colored Warthog too I thought, or maybe that was rumored and didn't happen?  It'd look sweet in all black as like Wild Weasel's squad or something, haha.


Maybe about the little birds (at least as far as US distribution went), but I do remember seeing the SWAT Humvee on the planogram picture.

Yeah, that black or blue warthog was for Marauder Gun Runners store and never happened, IIRC.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 29, 2011, 07:23 PM
Could've just made the plan-o-gram pic...  PTE is so weird and unpredictable.  I don't ever recall a Humvee being at regular retail other than green and tan.

I was real tempted to nab an open-bed humvee this year but couldn't pull teh trigger.  I just am not into modern enough to want all these vehicles.  As it stands I've himhawed on getting rid of my Abrams, LAV, 21st Humvee, and spec ops dune buggy.  All good stuff but all too big and just not my era I enjoy as much.  Love the figures though.

Forces of Valor has some repaints of their modern guys out now too which are really nice as well.  Worth picking up another set with repainted heads to expand the modern group I have.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on December 4, 2011, 01:48 PM
I placed an order for two of these PTE sets from the JC Penny site:

(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f328/mister_palpatine/0900631b81d33d2cMtif-1.jpg)

I already have a couple of small sets (both Military Assault Units) that I purchased from Big Lots, but I couldn't resist getting some more set dressings for my GI Joe figures. I don't plan to keep everything, so if anyone here is interested in anything seen in the above pic feel free to shoot me a PM. I know for sure the watch towers, small vehicles, and some camp accessories will be up for sale, but I'll be sure to update with a definite list of what I am getting rid of once the sets are delivered.

Next up for my 1:18/PTE purchases are the bigger buildings. I'm leaning towards getting the Battlefield set from Big Lots, and tracking down the Command Post set on eBay. I would love to support BBTS, but there is no way I'm going to pay $60 plus shipping per set. Luckily I wasn't impressed by the tanks and planes, so that is saving me a bunch of money.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 4, 2011, 03:26 PM
Greg,

Keep me in mind for the towers, tent, well, and if you're letting it go, the concrete bunker thingie too...  I'm interested in all 4 I think.

Also interested in table, chairs, and map board...  hell, hedgehogs too...  PM me whaqt you're wanting to keep and what you're wanting rid of.  I may have some extras of stuff you want too, here.  I have PTE crap out the whazzoo.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 4, 2011, 03:52 PM
I bought this by the way. :)

(http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/mideatoys/3888A.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 12, 2011, 02:01 AM
Guess what arrived Friday? :)

Since I've been working a lot lately, and not home half the time, the above hasn't really had the close exam I usually give a new chunk of armor, but it's at the house itching to plow over whatever hapless action figures are on my customs bench and can be used as obstacles.

I looked at the tank a bit, my god it's huge, hyper detailed, and the paintjob in the pics is worse than it appears in person.  I know a couple guys not even repainting theirs because they feel that's a sufficient deco.

It's a beast though...  Far larger than my Tiger I (obviously).  Side-by-side, they'll be a sight to behold.  I want to get the Sherman then...  To have stood against one of these would've taken balls the size of churchbells.  Hell, any tank would be intimidating, but when you're used to seeing certain ones, and then this thing breaks out of the forest into a cleaing in front of you, I can only fathom what it would've done to morale...  Yet like so many other German weapons it was an overengineered nightmare...  and yet, it's a tank that held revolutionary concepts used in armor today. 

My tank shelf grows.  I cannot wait (and not even sure what choice to make) for my next piece.  This is toy crack.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 13, 2011, 11:04 PM
Jagdtigers on the way in 1/16 RC?  Soon to be it seems.   :'(

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqMOKooE32-(S)1-BODbNoFRIQ~~_12.GIF)

I can't afford to keep up!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on December 14, 2011, 02:04 AM
So after trying to track down one of those PTE Command Posts but failing due to cost and/or shipping prices (some were from outside the US) or just not being around, BBTS finally had them up for pre-order on this new endeavor they're undertaking.  So I preordered.

Then the other day doing a random search for something totally unrelated on eBay, I come across a Command Post set MIB and it's the larger one, with the helecoptor and a bunch of other crap.  So I toss a bid on it and sonuvabitch if I didn't win it for, with shipping, less than I'd pay from BBTS.  So, it's not here yet but I did get a ship notice.

If it comes through then I'm cancelling my BBTS pre-order but to support them in trying to get this stuff, I may shift my pre-order over to the SU27 or J-10.  Still, it's funy how that works out.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on December 20, 2011, 02:56 AM
My Battle Command Post came Monday but I was too busy to open it.  Have to clear off the table where I've been staging Christmas presents so I can get it open, the set has a bunch of stuff with it and I'm gonna need some room to spread it out.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 20, 2011, 01:52 PM
PTE is kind of like the post-Thanksgiving unbottoning...  You need more room to enjoy.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 22, 2012, 03:27 PM
Things have been slow on the 1:16 - 1:18 military front but I thought I'd post this pic of a guy's custom work to do a Michel Whittman Tank Commander figure.  I've never in my life seen anyone, outside of a professional toy designer, sculpt anything this realistically.

(http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w121/mondo30-pics/18%20scale/GermantankcrewG.jpg)

There are guys doing resin kits of tanks, support vehicles, armored cars, anti-tank guns, etc. as well.  Pricey but they're making the kit 100% from scratch.  Some are just variant kits to add to an existing 21st Century halftrack or Sherman or whatnot.

Like the sidecar I got for the Indiana Jones motorcycle for instance.

But that figure sculpt above...  Wow.  You have to be impressed.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 28, 2012, 12:32 AM
(http://www.fighting118th.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/bravoteam-hmmwv01.jpg)

A mystery Humvee turned up out West at Target...  GI Joe fans take note, it's a readily available Military Humvee, lots of extra gear.  Tad pricey IMO at about $30 but it's something to consider if you need to outfit your Joes with a new ride.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on March 10, 2012, 06:33 PM
I've read the a backseat doors don't open. GI JOE's versions did (from 2004-2005). PTE's did for like almost half the price. 

Seriously, what's the point of a detailed real world vehicle that can't do the simple things?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 11, 2012, 05:49 PM
*shrugs*

It depends how better detailed it is I think, to some people...  If it's much more realistic, that's a plus.  I personally think the PTE ones are great, and IMO the 21st Century and BBI ones are vastly superior and cost less (when they were out of course...  been a while since that).  I find the FOV one grossly overpriced.

If anyone does buy one and doesn't want the barriers though, hit me up. :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on March 11, 2012, 07:51 PM
I saw the humvee in person Friday morning and overall it was disappointing. The toy looks cool even with the non-working doors, and the gear is great (especially the barriers, which were larger than I expected based on the above pic) but the whole package is a ripoff at $30-$36 plus tax. Even worse is that the box looks two thirds empty, and a huge toy tank with barely any empty space in the box is right behind it on the shelf for the exact same price. I would love to get the humvee, but I won't consider it until it drops in price by about $10.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Fritzkrieg on August 3, 2012, 09:59 PM
I picked up the Bravo Team Humvee for $11 and change at Target. A great deal considering it comes with a Driver and some really unique accessories. I have been a little behind on the military stuff as of late, but I did see that this site is offering some great 1:18 kits.
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/battlegroundtoys (http://www.shapeways.com/shops/battlegroundtoys)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on September 20, 2012, 02:13 AM
Word on the street is new Power Team Elite have finally begun surfacing at Big Lots, and there's new "Arctic" sets perhaps in the mix with new headscuplts, new gear, etc.  I'm personally interested in some of the gear and fodder.

Not sure if the head's are new but I hear they may be.

Flies int he face of the theory that you always see PTE overseas first before you see it new in the US.  :)  These are outta left field sort of like some of the color and part variations in the JC Penney playsets offered last holiday season.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 3, 2013, 07:08 PM
Looks like some new Power Team Elite out this year...  and some oldies but goodies coming back like bunk sets, and tents.  Never got a tent.

Also picked up a 1:16 Stug III, German armor piece...  Been wanting one for a while and their prices have steadily gone up so I bit the bullet, or tank round as it were.

I think a Sherman, either HL's or Mato's, will be my next buy...  Though the HL Jagdpanther is appealing.

Finding room for the 1:16 armor is a real challenge though...  I have no clue how I'll display these.  They're simply massive.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 3, 2013, 07:09 PM
BTW some of the new Power Team Elite junk is "cold weather" figures and vehicles.  There's a Humvee with tank treads in place of wheels, and a half-assed snowmobile...  I love what they're trying though.  PTE is great custom fodder for Star Wars and GI Joe, so I stock up when I can.

I hope they put out more next year.  Their ideas area always slick.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on October 5, 2013, 07:39 PM
Cold weather guys and the weak sauce snowmobile were out last year here. Not the humvee though.

Yes, the tents and bunk beds are back for the first time in like 5 years. I couldn't pull the trigger at $8 for a bunk and a locker, though. No new humvees here yet...

Some people have reported finding this new vehicle

Amphibian (http://www.ebay.com/itm/World-Peacekeepers-Amphibian-Tank-aka-power-team-elite/290990999273?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D17514%26meid%3D1779752803025523526%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D8141%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D290990594036%26)

 TRU's True Heroes have a newer Chap Mei Chinook release in green camo with a newer jeep and 3 figures. The previous release was desert camo, had one figure and no jeep (used to include one years ago). The new one still scanned at $29.99.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 9, 2013, 09:55 PM
Yeah that "Duck" was the other new thing...  It's goofy but cool.  Not a very good military vehicle though, hehe.  Good duck hunter though.

The tan towers all sold out at my local...  Weird that only they went, but whatever.  I guess someone's doing some serious desert diorama'ing.

Still nothing different around here PTE...  Boats and towers.  I'm hoping to get to another BL though and check out what their stock is like.  I'm hopeful for 3 packs and 2-packs with large gear/accessories (bunks, tents, etc.).
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jayson on November 27, 2013, 03:59 PM
I hate these guys (http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/product.aspx?product=TIK10005&mode=retail) - Indiana Jones
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 27, 2013, 07:08 PM
Oh nice to preorder...  I know the company and they're gonna do Russiabs nect and US (I hope for some n Africa us).

Good looking figs
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 12, 2014, 08:01 PM
Bump...  Hiya Toys has released their "warm weather" Germans now, and are pushing other properties they're picking up.

So far I've been told/rumored that Russians are next, which would complement the Germans that are out nicely.  And after that, possibly US Infantry.  What theater, I don't know, but I'd appreciate some N. Africa or "warm weather" US guys myself.

Something wildly different from what we got would be swell, since 21st, BBI, and FOV have all touched on the US Infantry in some capacity, with a little variety.  Some GI's in shirts, or open coats would be neat, or even a shirtless guy or two would be awesome.  Artillery crews or whatever.

N. Africa needs some love now...  I'd love to see Hiya's take on N. Africa Germans after all this.  Shorts especially since 21st's were limited to pants and the lace-up boots.

The Russians will be interesting to see what direction they go.  Those should be next up!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Paul on February 14, 2014, 09:08 AM
Should be interesting.  Are there pics other than the BBTS pre-order?
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Keonobi on March 17, 2014, 06:17 PM
I saw that Bravo Team rereleases were shown at Toyfair; Tiger I, Sherman, plus some soldier single packs. Im new to these; my Wife bought me the Sherman and Tiger I a few weeks back. Here's to hoping these come to retail so they can do some new ones: Panzer IV, T34 or maybe a Panther.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 26, 2014, 06:47 PM
Bravo Team I believe was the stuff sold at Target?  I can't recall offhand what it was called but i think that was it, and the Shermie and Tiger I are old...  I'd say honestly you're really coming into this at a very, very bad time. :(

1:18 military stuff is ALMOST dead.  Hiya Toys is doing figures, and that's honestly it aside from Garage Kits that come out and are expensive and usually a mod for an existing piece.

1:16 armor's alive though...  I've transitioned to it.  The figures and support stuff usually look ok with it.  There's a T-34 just came out and is fairly priced.  1:18 though, it's virtually dead outside of fictional lines of course.  Costs in China really killed it off I think, coupled with changing retail landscape in the US.

I wish I'd bought more of it when I could've.

If you are really wanting into the line though I have some extra stuff I'm open to selling around.  Some modern, some WW2 (limited though).  It's one of the few toys I have seen actually bump up in price for the most part.  Kind of surprising.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on April 29, 2014, 11:25 AM
So uh... 36 hours left for this super-cool Kickstarter from Marauder Gun Runners:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1732159183/marauder-task-force-gaming-figures (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1732159183/marauder-task-force-gaming-figures)

Obviously getting it funded is not a problem at this point. Some of the "rewards" are great deals though, especially with the added stretch-goal freebies. I pre-ordered way too much, but I couldn't resist supplementing my Joe collection with a bunch of figures and accessories.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 29, 2014, 04:54 PM
Yeah those are awesome work...  The sculptors are pros though, so I'm not terribly shocked either.  These little kickstarter action figure companies making REAL action figures (not crap) are pretty slick.

Some are not just a kickstarter too, but just smaller companies already working in production...  Hiya Toys with the Aliens: Colonial Marines license for instance, or Acid Rain.

Cool stuff coming out.  Very different.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on April 29, 2014, 04:59 PM
It fills a space that is apparently not profitable enough for Hasbro, but worthwhile for the little guys. Honestly I'd rather pour my money into something fresh and new from Marauder, Boss Fight, and Hiya rather than similarly priced exclusives from the GI Joe Club. I'm glad other people apparently feel the same.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 29, 2014, 05:05 PM
Yeah I'm pretty excited to get some of Hiya's stuff...  from Our War line to the new Aliens.  I love anything 1:18 Aliens and they've confirmed to me they have the rights to do Marines and a Power Suit if the Alien figures do well.  Here's to hoping.

Acid Rain, they're a thing I want, but the price is all that's keeping me at bay right now.  The vehicles are just WAY too much right now.  I hope they manage to do well enough for these to come down but man, they're just kililng me because I want those big ass tank walkers so much, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on April 29, 2014, 05:15 PM
I can't wait to see (and buy) the Hiya Colonial Marines. For the time being the green armored troopers provided by Marauder will be stand-ins in my collection, but once the real deal becomes available I will upgrade.

As for Acid Rain I sorta want to get on board but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. The designs really lend themselves to army building, but unfortunately the prices don't. I'll still probably cave on the statue set and most recent trooper figure before too long.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 29, 2014, 05:16 PM
I ordered the 2 figures with the statue...  I've got so much to buy going forward this Summer between my house and cars and my gf's house and cars, that ordering one of the walker tanks would just not happen this year.  Maybe if they're around later, I'll get one.  Come Fall things should die down here finally, haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on April 29, 2014, 05:29 PM
Did you see the mobile base-lookign vehicle with extending wall pieces? It isn't up for pre-order yet, but I'm screwed whenever that happens. 

This thing:

(http://www.oritoy.com/news/13/acproduct004.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 29, 2014, 06:27 PM
I saw it but didn't realize it hadn't been even up for pre-order yet.  Figured I missed it.  Yeah...  I may cave for that.

Though that other piece that turns into a mech, my goodness.  I could so see Star Wars tech evolving into stuff like that.  It seems pretty static, but there's a leap there that I think would be absolutely believable in that galaxy.

Face it I'm gonna buy both those big sets, at some point.  I'm out of control.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on April 30, 2014, 09:14 AM
I ended up backing the Marauder Kickstarter.  It's the first time I've done it but after they unlocked a couple of the stretch goals, especially for the Spec Ops figure, I wanted in.  I donated at the price that gets you 3 figures and then threw on an extra $30 for two stretch options.  I'll get the Spec Ops figure but I'm not positive what else, either one of the other figures or an accessory set.  I'll make that call when the survey goes out.

I've been eyeballing the Acid Rain stuff but don't think I'll get into any of it.  Price is the main reason but also space, I can't be adding new vehicles to the collection at this point. 

I also haven't picked up the Hiya Toys Alien either.  I kinda want one but I more want the Colonial Marines figures.  I should probably bite the bullet on the Alien just to help show that there's interest so they keep going.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on April 30, 2014, 09:05 PM
Interest is what keeps it going Eric, I can attest to that...  They're not doing kickstarters and whatnot, so it's all going to be based on how things sell.  The Our War figures are on the same block basically.  They live/die by how fans support the line.  The Germans, I'm geeked to get them myself since I have a ton of WW2 figures in the scale already, and my friend there let me know which nationalities were up after (Russians for the first time, and probably American Infantry).

I'm geeked at the thought they may touch on Brits/Canadians/Aussies some day then.  I'd love some D-Day Brits/Canadians though, and Aussies for my Japanese soldiers to have someone new to shoot at.

I'd be into European "Resistance" fighters too...  Any nationality would basically work though most immediately think French.

For the Russians I'd guess they'll do Spring to counter the Spring Offensive Germans they made...  US, I'd like to see some "warm weather" guys in less gear just to mix it up a little from 21st and BBI's work.

Cold Weather Russians would be greatly appreciated too though since that's largely what their uniforms are remembered as, and would look great for Fall of Berlin scenes.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on May 1, 2014, 10:53 AM
The Marauder Kickstarter ended with a bit over $244000 from around 1200 backers. Crazy how such a small market was willing to shell out so much.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 1, 2014, 02:43 PM
Not only crazy, but it shows dedication where dedication (focused anyway) doesn't really exist among our group anymore...  Look at all these playset kickstarters not getting a fraction of that.

The last great thing collectors did in Star Wars was get Wilrow Hood made...  Seriously.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on May 2, 2014, 02:36 AM
I just got an email from Marauder that they're going to offer two additional accessory sets even though they didn't get unlocked during the run.

Four things with the Marauder Kickstarter; the G.I. Joe guys are a mixed bag of the cheapest collectors and those that don't seem to have an upper limit on expenditures.  Star Wars can be like that but it always seemed more extreme to me with the Joe guys.  The guys that'll buy at top dollar, those are the guys funding this.  The funding level works out to an average of $204 per backer.  While there are SW guys that'll pony up, I don't think a SW kickstarter would get a $200+ average.  Besides, all those accessories and extra figs in different decos increased the desire to pay more to unlock stretch goals, the Death Star didn't have any stretch goals and the Ewok Space trees had a $50 price before you got anything while Marauder gave you a figure w/ accessories at a $19 donation.

Second, and probably the most important thing, Marauder has a legit manufacturing company lined up to do these figures plus they were designed by pros, Boss Fight Studios, who have worked on Hasbro products and do work for the Joe Club.  Marauder already manufactures accessories with a known quality to them.  The Star Wars dios that I think you're talking about, Jesse, are being 3D printed by guys "in their basement."  Meaning, not professional manufacturing.  I'm not inclined to offer money to someone that's not in manufacturing and probably doesn't really get what all goes into it.  My impression, Marauder is doing retail quality manufactured toys while the SW dios are garage kits.

Kickstarter is the third thing.  Marauder has been there before and Kickstarter is the popular site for this type of thing.  The SW dios got funded but they used Indiegogo...I'd never heard of that site until Yakface started advertising the sets.  I don't know what their reach is, but that may have had something to do with it.

Finally, dios.  There is a segment of SW collectors that want dios, but I've always said that it's not as big as some people think.  I've had that argument with Chewie a couple times, especially on the playset vs dio angle.  Marauder is making generic military action figures that fit in with G.I. Joe collections and are playable toys.  A 3D printed dio may look good on a shelf but it won't interact with your existing fleet of vehicles and they're specific to displaying, usually, a certain type of figure.  Generic figures?  They go anywhere in a collection you want to put them.

I can't think of anything Star Wars related that could hit Kickstarter or the Indiegogo site that I'd back.  If Hasbro ever went the way Mattel did to get Castle Greyskull funded by offering pre-orders, and they were doing an amazing Death Star playset (not dio) or maybe Sandcrawler, I might be in.  But 3d printed?  No thanks.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 6, 2014, 01:18 AM
I'm there with you E...

And your point about "dio" vs. "Playset" is big...  I personally prefer "dio" myself, but that's not to say I don't appreciate playsets.  I have my Bespin one, and I was one of few who didn't bitch about that thing.  I love it.  I want to expand it, but I love it as-is, as a way to display my Bespin guys...  It makes them a billion times more interesting to look at, but that's just me.  I even enjoyed the goofy spandex block and "freezing" a figure.

It's far from a dio, but has a little of A & B mixed I think.

I like the realism of a dio piece, but I have a hard time seeing the point of endless hallways as a system of anything but a backdrop for your figures.  Kids won't want that, adults barely do...  The people who do are the guys who want something interesting behind their figure.

I am not opposed to 3D printed stuff, but I also have self-taught how to do my on work on that and you just need to know someone with a printer, or use an online one, to get that made...  Had a hard time seeing the need for kickstarters then.

Stuff like Acid Rain, a completely original idea, definitely have my attention...  Even the price, I guarantee I cave on one of those BIG walkers at some point.  I've not hesitated to drop more than that on my 1/16 RC tanks.  And while those are huge, moving, shooting, light/sound behemoths, I can totally get into Acid Rain's walker vehicles because the material crosses over to Star Wars well enough I can BS it into my Rebel arsenal or whatnot, and it's gorgeous manufactured stuff.

I think big accessories (step below a diorama IMO) have a little more traction but really, I think most people have that manufactured vs. garage kit mentality. 

I'm seeing that with a new model kit line I've gotten into...  Lots of resin kits coming out, and lots of resistance to those.  Some love them, despite the cost, and others just say it's not "real".

To each their own...  If all you wanted was a sci-fi looking hallway for a backdrop though, there's a model line already makes one.  It's interlocking, can expand any direction (up/down, front/back, left/right), and even has accessory arm things to plug into walls, it can be made to make large rooms or small rooms...  even octagonal hallways or square...  whatever.  I'm into that myself, but I know I'm the minority and I have to get it at a price I want to get it at for sure.  I have my ceiling on anything from Hasbro to garage stuff...  especially when I can make some of it myself, the same way, for far less.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Greg on May 6, 2014, 01:30 PM
Personally I will only buy factory-made toys. No resin figure kits or 3D printed dioramas for me. Factory-made toys are just what I have grown accustomed to so that is what I stick with. I don't want to worry about being gentle and delicate with more fragile pieces, otherwise I'd probably go for statues and high-end figures instead.

As for the success of the Marauder figures, I think a lot of that had to do with capturing what makes GI Joe appealing (detailed, highly articulated modern-military with a hint of Sci-Fi) while adding in the fresh modular aspect. The figures look close enough to Joes to fit right in with existing collections. The modular aspect is a cool looking feature that should appeal to troop builders, customizers, and people who always wanted to customize but don't have the time and/or skill (like me!). I certainly hope the figures perform well for Marauder once they start selling them thru there online store, and perhaps well enough to warrant real carded packaging and sales thru other retailers.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on May 6, 2014, 04:48 PM
I think there are, or have been, a couple companies that released the modular walls you're talking about, Jesse.  I know one of the releases, maybe more, was done for the Gundam collectors in mind and the Transformers fans bought into it.  But, yeah, I've seen guys use them as backdrops for taking photos and they work with 3.75" figures up to Deluxe, maybe even Leader class TF stuff. 

It doesn't even have to be that fancy, I've seen excellent dio stories that printed a sci-fi type wall on regular paper and glued it to foam core to make walls and floors and it looked fine.

I can enjoy a good dio as much as anyone, but I'm personally more of a playset guy and that's the turning point in the arguments that I've had before.  Hasbro is a toy company that makes playsets, or made them in the past anyway, while what a lot of guys on the forums want are dios even though they pay lip service to the "playset" idea.  That Bespin set?  I love that thing!

I'm not completely opposed to 3D printed stuff.  Sean Huxter, who is a 12" GI Joe (mainly Adventure Team) collector, has recently been printing some AT themed accessory sets for his figures that have the feel of the vintage stuff released by Hasbro.  Just updated for the modern world.  The stuff turned out really well and looks great but it's mostly one offs or maybe a short run for a couple of friends.  And they're small, he's not doing trees or large wall pieces, he did a bazooka and a flight backpack, that type of thing.  There's also a guy that did a 3.75" scale AT Mobile Support Vehicle that's nice but for the cost of a low run piece like that, I'm not really in.

There's definitely a market for both playsets and dios as well as new figures and toys like what Marauder just pulled off or what Acid Rain and Boss Fight Studios are working on, but the key is finding the right market and getting people to buy in.  When it comes to Star Wars specifically, I think the market is so fractured it would be hard to find a large group to get in on one or two characters if we're talking figures and I think it gets narrower when you start talking playsets and dios.  I mean, how many carded collectors are out there, are they going to be in the market for a dio when they have no loose figures?

I think 3D printing could be really incredible going forward, but I feel like it eventually will be more in the model of people that want dios and custom pieces investing in a printer and downloading plans, or making them, and printing them at home or, like Jesse mentioned, ordering online rather than backing kickstarters.  I'd rather have a printer and make my own stuff than throw $50 to a guy in Australia to print me a tree.  I live in the woods, if I want a tree I can take a saw for a walk...

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 6, 2014, 07:52 PM
Yup those were the things I was talking about E...  The walls.  I have some coming in with a big order I made recently, and can't wait.  I love stuff like that, but I can see OTHER uses too...  Interior fit stuff for ships, bases, etc.

I'm obviously not opposed to 3d prints myself since I've been working to teach myself that stuff for a little while now, and can do some pretty decent things when I want to, but mostly for myself or a friend, and we just order up a shipment and send them to ourselves.  So long as you can paint, it's a good way to avoid sculpting (which I'm NOT good at).  It's a bit of a learning curve, but really unless you're with Boss Fight, etc., you're not doing that level of work anyway...  Trust me, haha.

I like printing more for small accessories than entire scenes, but that's me maybe.

You should see some of the 3d print stuff I got for 1:18 military though...  MG tripod from WW2, etc.  The one guy even did tanks, and a Ketenrad.  Other guys used resin, but it's not really efficient, most people don't know how to work with it to create flawless casts (Again, something you learn with time), and resin's incredibly toxic so most people don't work safely with it either.

Everything has its place though.

Now if people could just figure out how to paint so it bonds chemically to plastic, resins, etc., ala the process in manufacturing, and replicate it, we'd be set.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on May 29, 2014, 05:36 PM
EDIT: Wrong location to post that, sorry.

Meant to post in the other 4" scale thread.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on June 28, 2015, 02:31 AM
My Marauder Gun Runners figures showed up Friday and I had a little time to play around with a couple today.  I ordered a set of 3 as my main pledge; black, grey and desert tan. I added on the red and green versions.  There was a bonus head with a painted balaclava, a MGR figure stand for each figure and a random pistol and rifle for each figure.

My order came with two extra tactical vests, tan and grey.  I'm assuming that was just a thank you type thing because I don't remember it being listed in any of the Kickstarter updates. The pistols were random and mostly the same but the rifles were all different. I received a Barrett .50,  FN P90, QBZ-95, FAMAS, and one of the old G.I. Joe style laser rifles.

Each figure has a head, a tac vest and a bunch of various pouches, holsters and knives to attach to the mount points both on the figures and vests.  The figures all have modern Hasbro Joe type articulation with the exception of the chest, these have waist articulation which works better with the web gear and vests.

The gear all seems to fit the mount points, I didn't have anything that had a post too large for any of the holes I tried them on. The tan vest that came with my figure did seem to have holes that were too large, everything kept falling off so I swapped in the extra and stuff fit better.  But everything is pretty loose, especially on the tac vests. It's even mentioned in a letter with the figures that if you're just displaying you'll be fine but if you're going to play with them, you may want to think about gluing stuff on. At least with a water based glue unless you're sure you want to make something permanent.  Getting everything on and arranged was a little finicky but looks good when it's done.

Of the two helmets I've looked at so far, the helmet on the green figure in the pics doesn't fit very well and is loose. The other is solid and I like the look of that type of spec ops helmet.  The vests are really nicely done and I like the number of and positioning of the mount points, you have a lot of options of how to arrange the gear.  Each of the figures have two pouches that will hold magazines but I didn't have any MGR rifles with removable mags to try out...but I'm assuming they're working pouches and that's a solid design choice. The holsters and sheaths all hold the pistols and knives correctly and are pretty stable so the whole assembly will probably fall off before your weapon falls out when posing the figs.

All of the joints on the figures that I've looked over so far work well but do take a couple flexes to limber up. They all seem pretty solid with two exceptions; the hips and knees.  The hips have a socket on the leg side and a post w/ ball on the torso. They're friction fit together and can come apart without damaging anything.  I'm fine with that but the black figure has a really loose right socket on the hip and the leg kinda falls off.  All of the figures have the same knee "issue" in that the plastic insert feels really weak.  You can flex the leg side to side because the plastic is so soft.  It seems to hold up ok with the little moving I've been doing but I'm worried that over time it could break down or I'll snap it not paying close attention or something.

These are definitely geared for collectors and are perfect for customizing by swapping heads, vests and gear or even painting them up. They'll work almost as-is with your Joes but you can also work them into sci-fi stuff and even Star Wars. Some of the parts are really small and easily misplaced if you aren't paying attention. They're not really designed to get on the floor with and play unless you want to get into gluing some stuff in place. 

Overall I'm happy with the figures that I got. I still need to get the grey, red and black figures out and assembled to get a look at the alternate tac vests and helmets with those figs. I was interested in the green as sort of an Aliens Marine figure and red as a Crimson Guard type character for my joes. Not sure yet what the other three will be for or where/how I'll fit them into my collection. They may just end up being generic Joe type figures somewhere.

I would recommend these for anyone that has a use for highly customizable figures in dios and that type of thing. Know what you're getting into with the accessories and you'll have a lot of fun with them I think.

(http://netenigma.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MGR-01.jpg)
(http://netenigma.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MGR-02.jpg)
(http://netenigma.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MGR-03.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on June 28, 2015, 07:01 PM
I've read the extra vests were because the holes were the wrong size, they corrected it and threw in the error vests as bonuses.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on June 28, 2015, 08:09 PM
That's interesting because the vest with my tan figure wouldn't hold the accessories but the extra worked fine. I haven't played with the grey vest yet, that was the other extra that I got.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 29, 2015, 01:26 AM
Definitely interested in some of the Marauder figures...  not a ton, just a little group I think.  Loved how they ultimately turned out.

Thanks for the breakdown Eric...  the knee issue I'd not heard of yet.  Hmmm
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on June 30, 2015, 09:00 PM
Curious if the helmets/hat fit Star Wars, since they are cheaper than casted stuff I've seen (and no painting required)

Got some figure that could use any decent head wear.  I ordered 2 Death Star Trooper from Hong Kong, and then...after years of selling those darn figures without helmets (but with lightsabers?) they dig up lots that include helmets. they were just waiting for me to cave in.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on July 7, 2015, 01:39 AM
Just a thought on the headgear, I'm betting they PROBABLY are slightly small.  Very slightly.  Most Joe stuff I've found doesn't swap easily with many/most STar Wars figure heads.  Of course SW scaling is all over the map so some of them are fine, but not many I've found.  GI Joe heads are kinda weird too though I guess.

Since this line (Marauder's line) is kind of GI Joe-based, I'd guess their headgear probably has similar issues?  Just a guess though.

Acid Rain's figures don't have many accessories that fit a Star Wars figure readily either and they have a GI Joe vibe to them (sculpt, articulation, design, etc.), so that's just been my experience I guess. 

BBI's gear though, I found swapped over a bit better and their "new" figures are on clearance at Target right now.  Some had the booney hats too iirc.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on August 11, 2016, 12:56 PM
Impressive. MOST IMPRESSIVE.
World Peacekeepers Military Base (http://www.sunshinecoasttoyshobbies.com.au/showproduct.php?product=79090&category=231)

Not that old one...it's THIS:

(http://i68.tinypic.com/5mg42h.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on August 11, 2016, 11:14 PM
I was JUST coming in to post about this too Scockery...

What shows overseas OFTEN shows here.  So here's to hoping.  I'd buy a good half dozen of those, seriously.  Rebels need Quonset huts.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on November 1, 2016, 05:29 PM
The CORPS aren't realistic military but lately they've been make some things that have potential, such as these amusing sets


(http://www.kmart.com.au/wcsstore/Kmart/images/ncatalog/f/7/42367857-1-f.jpg)
http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-cyber-kong-beast-strike-toy/1079802?intv_id=10151&cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-The+Corps+Elite%21+Cyber+Kong+Beast+Strike+Toy&catalogId=10102&mpe_id=36942&langId=-1&evtype=CpgnClick&storeId=10701&ddkey=http%3AClickInfo (http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-cyber-kong-beast-strike-toy/1079802?intv_id=10151&cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-The+Corps+Elite%21+Cyber+Kong+Beast+Strike+Toy&catalogId=10102&mpe_id=36942&langId=-1&evtype=CpgnClick&storeId=10701&ddkey=http%3AClickInfo)

(http://www.kmart.com.au/wcsstore/Kmart/images/ncatalog/f/6/42367956-1-f.jpg)
http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-jurassic-attack-beast-strike-toy/1079801 (http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-jurassic-attack-beast-strike-toy/1079801)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 1, 2016, 09:04 PM
Cyborg monkey FTW.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 21, 2016, 05:59 PM
Whoops wrong post.

Wanted to mention seeing the weird and somewhat cheap BBI multipacks at Kmart...  good fodder for fair prices.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on November 8, 2017, 11:32 PM
Quonset hut set, cheaper than going overseas for it.
Click N’ Play Mega Military Army Base Barrack Command Center Play Set With Accessories -74 Pieces. (https://www.amazon.com/Click-Play-Military-Barrack-Accessories/dp/B07612G93K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1510193406&sr=8-4&keywords=1+18+military+vehicles&dpID=61L72s-rDJL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on November 9, 2017, 01:21 AM
Saw!  Yeah that's probably as good a price as Big Lots would have on a large multi set like that.  There is like 3 sets there if you think of the figs vehicles barracades and the Quonset all as kind of individual stuff.  The large building is $40 or $50 now...  and that's it, with some figures, not with what amounts to some figure sets, vehicle sets and that small barrier set that was out
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jedi Idej on November 9, 2017, 04:20 AM
TRU has their BOGO 40% sale on True Heroes. I'm eyeing the hovercraft. https://www.toysrus.com/product?productId=57361346

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 1, 2017, 03:32 AM
Ordered the quonset hut for myself for Christmas.  Pricey, kinda, but it comes with just too much stuff for me to complain about it that much.  Would love a few.  They'd make an interesting Rebel scene of some sort I think.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on December 1, 2017, 11:16 PM
Ollies stores have those 2 CORPS Beast Strike sets, well mine didn't...but other people are finding them. Apparently they have newer figures with better articulation. (Not the ones in the pictures above)

Ollies also carries the BEAST BOMBER for $29.99.

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on January 10, 2018, 11:50 AM
Some glimpses of new Power Team Elite items.

Jeep with radar/drone trailer
https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26678577_1880794488897691_8376138258200869857_o.jpg?oh=ccf68fda1ebdaee62a2aff22af4ddb89&oe=5AB0C947 (https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26678577_1880794488897691_8376138258200869857_o.jpg?oh=ccf68fda1ebdaee62a2aff22af4ddb89&oe=5AB0C947)

Fire Rescue Boat
https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26233528_1880794528897687_9082396451105949339_o.jpg?oh=9c2916bcc7529246d22a1479e09971c6&oe=5AE9CA11 (https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26233528_1880794528897687_9082396451105949339_o.jpg?oh=9c2916bcc7529246d22a1479e09971c6&oe=5AE9CA11)

Military Defense Unit (security fence)
https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26232007_1880794555564351_7029837977551342873_o.jpg?oh=bd0ff8a8e17edfdb50b7ca9818c02418&oe=5AE74A2A (https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26232007_1880794555564351_7029837977551342873_o.jpg?oh=bd0ff8a8e17edfdb50b7ca9818c02418&oe=5AE74A2A)

Military Base Gate (a bigger play set)
https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26678411_1880794578897682_937580520494530400_o.jpg?oh=2cf45891563e4f850537d8f5ae8edaae&oe=5AF01563 (https://scontent.ford1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/26678411_1880794578897682_937580520494530400_o.jpg?oh=2cf45891563e4f850537d8f5ae8edaae&oe=5AF01563)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on January 11, 2018, 10:59 AM
Man, that Base Gate set has all kinds of crossover custom display potential.  :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 25, 2018, 01:23 AM
Thanks for sharing man.  The one with the Jersey barriers, if they’re not single sided, are gonna be awesome.  Otherwise they’re half awesome but yeah that gate set is great.  The Mutt w/Trailer is kinda meh but not bad.  F the fireboat, but the rest is all A+.  Love PTE display stuff.

I got the Quonset Hut this Xmas on amazon and while it wasn’t cheap it was worth it and looks like something Rebels would have.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on January 25, 2018, 01:02 PM
An odd thing. Someone at a GI JOE message board was finding BBI Elite Force Humvees at a Love's Travel/Truck stops for under $5. There's two locations not that far from me, but I don't feel like making the drive.  Someone else found them for just under $10.

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 26, 2018, 12:53 AM
I hope the new things start to surface at US retailers but it seems like it has been a while since new PTE was at Big Lots.  Just the same old same old for a while.  And even then some of the stuff hasn’t returned that I’d buy more of like the little bunkers or the bridge.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: efranks on February 9, 2018, 10:41 AM
My Big Lots had a lot less of the PTE stuff this year. They didn't really add much for the holiday season in general for toys though. But, what they did have was pretty much a repeat of previous years. They did have the large, tan building which they don't have every year. I'm not sure if they've ever stocked the bridge set but they had some of the jeeps and small sets, like horse and camel. I don't think they had any helicopters or large APC type vehicles this year (but have in the past).

Those sets linked above do look like they have some good stuff in them. The gate is probably the standout. Put that up with some of the towers and you have the makings for a pretty good dio for a decent price.

   E...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 19, 2018, 03:08 AM
(https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/019/996/686/26e59d9a128abf5fe7d28746e82fbf0f_original.jpg?crop=faces&w=1024&h=576&fit=crop&v=1518658305&auto=format&q=92&s=04a80eb3b4073b59cc78495ae315a248)

(https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/020/252/126/9aa0c69935729e3a4fc8ad3ea19f5d7f_original.jpg?w=680&fit=max&v=1518745992&auto=format&q=92&s=74fe739bf7f0b0a001380ce174a1dae3)

Just wanted to post for the curious, but Marauder Gun Runners are knee deep in their newest Kickstarter, which is all World War II figures and weapons!  They already are very well into stretch goals.  The project was funded within 24 hours and their stretches go from paratroopers and falschimjagers (German paratroopers), to Japanese, US Marines, North African British and German infantry, and so much more! 

This is an ambitious project with tons of new parts simply because there isn't as easy a reuse of parts across the different figures.  Lots of unique tooling going on, tons of new headsculpts, and weapons out the ying yang.

I think if you're at all into this era you're going to love this line!  Jump in now and support it!

https://www.facebook.com/Marauder-Gun-Runners-130280310343512/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1732159183/marauder-task-force-wwii-1-18-scale-4-inch-action
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 21, 2018, 09:00 PM
I wound up sticking my foot in the Maraduer Inc. door on their WW2 kickstarter, which got REALLY deep at the last minute and got all the Russians covered.  There's a German with a friggin pack of cigs with a loose cigarette to boot!  He's listed as a Grenadier but basically he's an SS Grenadier, and was a stretch goal unlock.  I wish they'd gotten to the N Africa figures.  Those Brits were amazing and I loved how well they were done.  But I assume Marader will just do another kickstarter later on all the stuff that didn't make the cut.

They're allowing me to basically buy into anything I didn't get and after the barge is paid up, I'll be in a better place to support this line.  I just wanted my foot in the door on it.

The Hiya APC is supposed to be a done deal too this year and that's $750 going out to toys in no time. :-\
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on October 4, 2018, 08:14 AM
The CORPS aren't realistic military but lately they've been make some things that have potential, such as these amusing sets


(http://www.kmart.com.au/wcsstore/Kmart/images/ncatalog/f/7/42367857-1-f.jpg)
http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-cyber-kong-beast-strike-toy/1079802?intv_id=10151&cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-The+Corps+Elite%21+Cyber+Kong+Beast+Strike+Toy&catalogId=10102&mpe_id=36942&langId=-1&evtype=CpgnClick&storeId=10701&ddkey=http%3AClickInfo (http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-cyber-kong-beast-strike-toy/1079802?intv_id=10151&cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-Ft_rv_prod-_-The+Corps+Elite%21+Cyber+Kong+Beast+Strike+Toy&catalogId=10102&mpe_id=36942&langId=-1&evtype=CpgnClick&storeId=10701&ddkey=http%3AClickInfo)

(http://www.kmart.com.au/wcsstore/Kmart/images/ncatalog/f/6/42367956-1-f.jpg)
http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-jurassic-attack-beast-strike-toy/1079801 (http://www.kmart.com.au/product/the-corps-elite!-jurassic-attack-beast-strike-toy/1079801)

Hey, only two years later and I finally found one of these in a store! Saw Cyber-Kong at Go! Calendars yesterday. No sign of the Rex set, but they did have the Rain Fire copter, albeit ridiculously overpriced.

I have gotten really into collecting The Corps stuff over the past year, so I'm pretty stoked to get another shot at these. Seems like I've been waiting forever for their Jurassic Clash line to hit here.

Hoping we see stuff at Ollies this year too.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on October 7, 2018, 05:51 PM
Supposedly new CORPS stuff has shipped including Jurassic Clash, but surprise, surprise Wal-Mart's pathetic distribution system isn't doing the line any favors.

The static posed legs and t-crotch figures are being phased out, there's a few more new style figures coming.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on October 8, 2018, 01:47 AM
I’d love to see the line improve some.  But yeah Walmart can suck the life out of any toy line it seems.  Target isn’t terribly better given I just now saw the Moloch figure and still haven’t seen a Gammie.  The imperial Trooper pack is barely visible here too.  Our stores are just meh in general.  Thank god for online stores right now.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on October 8, 2018, 09:02 AM
Supposedly new CORPS stuff has shipped including Jurassic Clash, but surprise, surprise Wal-Mart's pathetic distribution system isn't doing the line any favors.

The static posed legs and t-crotch figures are being phased out, there's a few more new style figures coming.

I heard that! Awesome news.

I found a listing for a "Primal Clash" Dino Wrangler on Walmart.com but it looks like just a placeholder listing and there was nothing else aside from that one.

If anyone spies any of these new sets at their local Walmart, I would love to hear about it! :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on October 8, 2018, 04:58 PM
Someone found this at Wal-Mart for around $20
(https://scontent.fdet1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/43159225_2013129872042707_9144086627038003200_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&oh=128424c8bee58dbd5aa8cfdece72b335&oe=5C4F0778)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on October 8, 2018, 08:50 PM
Ha! Is that from FB? I already bugged that poor guy for details, lol.  ;D

I can't find any way to search for it on Brickseek, and I don't even know where in the toy section they would put this. But man, I want it badly!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on November 4, 2018, 07:44 AM
Macho man on a giant chicken. These are odd enough they could be adapted as Star Wars mounts.
(https://i.postimg.cc/7PgNd19N/zu61654715-main-tm1541163255.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/pdpxrLrs/zu61655004-main-tm1541163255.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/qB9tdWbf/zu60495467-main-tm1538665664.jpg)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on November 5, 2018, 08:19 AM
Macho man on a giant chicken. These are odd enough they could be adapted as Star Wars mounts.
(https://i.postimg.cc/7PgNd19N/zu61654715-main-tm1541163255.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/pdpxrLrs/zu61655004-main-tm1541163255.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/qB9tdWbf/zu60495467-main-tm1538665664.jpg)

I can't see your photos but am guessing they are of the 4 new Dino Wrangler sets. Those are completely awesome, even though I found out the mounts are not articulated. They also have a listing now for the "Dino Commander" sets but these are labeled "Primal Clash" now instead of Jurassic Clash, which I found interesting.

Still have yet to see any of these in stores, not even the local Go!Calendars and Toys. Can't order them from WM.com either. I am more excited for these than anything else in awhile.

I did find the new Combat Strike vehicle 4-pack at Ollie's last week, but that thing has 2 repacks and a repaint, so not much bang for your 26 bucks.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 19, 2018, 12:44 AM
I’m on the Dino rides like stink on ****....

If they ever surface that is.

I’d be in on that playset wall for Jedha too.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on December 19, 2018, 08:06 AM
I’m on the Dino rides like stink on ****....

If they ever surface that is.

I’d be in on that playset wall for Jedha too.

The Dino Wrangler and Dino Commander sets should be showing up at Walmart in Jan/Feb, according to my Lanard sources. They both have listings now on Brickseek. (smaller mounts are only $6.97)

The Rock playset is still due to show up there at some point. I almost caved and bought one from the annual Lanard warehouse sale but the shipping was prohibitive.

The Dino sets have also been showing up at Go! Calendar & Toys if you have one of those near you. And a few oddball farm stores like Fleets and Runnings.

I ended up ordering a few off Zulily when they had a sale a few weeks back. They are really nice sculpts for the money. More articulation would be nice but I cant really complain. At least the figures are SA.

I fell hard for The Corps stuff this year...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on December 19, 2018, 05:54 PM
We had one, but my local mall is one of the ones that's becoming a ghost town and the store closed.  I'll wait for, hopefully, walmart to stock them.

The bird thing?  Totally ripped off from a 1/20 model kit btw.  :)
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on January 14, 2019, 10:49 AM
I’m on the Dino rides like stink on ****....

If they ever surface that is.

I’d be in on that playset wall for Jedha too.

GOOD NEWS!  ;D

Primal Clash has arrived and should be hitting a Walmart near you any day now, if they are not out already. I picked up all 4 Dino Wranglers and both Dino Commander sets on Friday.

This line is so completely awesome I think it will be a huge hit...tons of customizing potential for a bunch of different lines. (JOE, Jurassic Park, etc)

Cannot say enough good things, good luck to everyone interested in these!

ps - there is a ton of other product for the line that is hopefully on the way...
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 14, 2019, 06:25 PM
If you have time to post upcs feel free.  I’d like to pick some of those up for sure.

My Rebels need mounts for their planetary patrols. 🤔
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on January 14, 2019, 09:31 PM
Here are the SKU #'s for each, this works on Brickseek:

Dino Wrangler 318521019

Dino Commander 390306814

The smaller guys are $6.97, the larger mounts (Mastodon, Triceratops) are $14.92. The Mastodon could probably double nicely as a tricked-out Bantha.  :D
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 14, 2019, 09:54 PM
Nice, thanks man.  I’ll check out my area.  The bird is most interesting to me right now.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 14, 2019, 11:24 PM
Says they’re around but maybe not out yet as I’ve not seen em.  Soon tho.  Soon.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 21, 2019, 02:30 AM
Got the bird...  it’s def a cool piece for custom mounts for any Trooper really.  The price is pretty good too, however the rest of the pieces in the set are all pretty meh for me.  I’ve never been a fan of Corps figures in general though so I knew what I was going into here.  I just wanted the mount.

Let me be clear that the animal is awesome if not a sort of simplistic oversized accessory.  It looks like perhaps articulation was considered at some point and scrapped for a solid piece more or less.  The jaw moves and that’s it but that’s all you really need.  I got the bird btw.  I feel like a giant cat might kill its rider, and a velociraptor thing may do the same but a bird?  Why not.  I may change my mind on the others tho.

I do hope this line expands because it has some cool potential.

This line is pretty epic for custom Star Wars mount’s for sure...  the figure is going in my goodwill bin though where I toss PTE figs and other stuff like that.  It just doesn’t jive to me with Star Wars sculpts.😕  I’m eyeing the Mammoth set right now debating what I can do with it.  Thinking some fake fur glued on could make it an interesting relative of a bantha on another planet. 🤔
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on January 22, 2019, 11:21 PM
Cool, glad you finally got your hands on some, Jesse. The Mastodon and Triceratops are really solid hunks of plastic, on par with Moloch. The Mastodon can move its head up and down but that's about it. The other one just opens and closes its mouth.

There is a whole lot of other stuff in this line, believe me. Most of it has already been released overseas, but hopefully more makes it to Wally. The Dino Bunker playset is nuts.

Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on January 23, 2019, 01:00 AM
Thanks, yeah it hit in full force here...

I kinda wanna see the rest of the line at some point.  I’m digging the bird and may pick up more.  Not sure on the larger ones yet but even the smaller sets the beast is solid.  Very heavy!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on February 20, 2019, 02:55 PM
FWIW, Target is currently clearancing out their "Elite Force" military toys...couple of "battlepacks" and some smaller vehicle/figure combos. I was weak and bought all 3 of the 5-figure sets. and two of the vehicles.  :(
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on February 20, 2019, 03:20 PM
They’re ok modern stuff...  the vehicles are meh anymore but the days of a $50 1/18 tank are long dead haha.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on March 27, 2019, 12:26 AM
I picked up an Elite Force MLRS at Meijers for around $7 last month. It was too cheap to pass up, even if my enthusiasm for military toys fades in an out. 
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on March 27, 2019, 02:13 AM
I got one of those on Amazon with the intent of customizing it.  I’m sticking with that but it’s purpose is definitely changing at this point.  It’s way underscaled but it’s really nicely detailed and I’d like to use it as maybe some kind of recovery vehicle for acid rain or perhaps something similar to that world.

The rocket pod then, with some paint and stuff, makes just a nice large piece of equipment of weapon storage for any genre.  Just still debating the final purpose of the vehicle itself.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on June 9, 2019, 09:55 AM
I found the Elite Force MH-6 Copter set at ROSS on Friday for $15. Didn’t cave immediately but went back a few hours later and grabbed one. Would love to find that gunboat set too!
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Jesse James on June 25, 2019, 12:58 AM
Was pondering selling my 1/18 vehicles off to a degree and wow, didn't realize how in demand this stuff has become.  I mean I get it, they're out of production now and nothing like them is likely to happen any time soon, but wow.  I think the Marauder WW2 line might be driving some of this, but modern is up too these days I'm seeing.  I may have to try unloading my choppers now.  Even BBI Littlebirds (that PTE makes a nice one that's to-scale) seem to be up in price, but Blackhawks are definitely up in price.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on June 25, 2019, 01:10 PM
I found the Elite Force MH-6 Copter set at ROSS on Friday for $15. Didn’t cave immediately but went back a few hours later and grabbed one. Would love to find that gunboat set too!

I saw Kohl’s had some Elite Force stuff listed on their website with free shipping to my local store, so I picked up the gunboat set for $15.99.  ;D

Now I just need the Humvee and Rocket Launcher sets and ill have all the latest stuff.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: McMetal on July 9, 2019, 03:26 PM
I found the Elite Force MH-6 Copter set at ROSS on Friday for $15. Didn’t cave immediately but went back a few hours later and grabbed one. Would love to find that gunboat set too!

I saw Kohl’s had some Elite Force stuff listed on their website with free shipping to my local store, so I picked up the gunboat set for $15.99.  ;D

Now I just need the Humvee and Rocket Launcher sets and ill have all the latest stuff.

Picked up the Humvee set today!  :) 8)

Kohl's doesn't seem to carry the rocket launcher for some reason so I guess it's down to eBay or Amazon for that one.

Also been seeing a lot of US Army sets at ROSS lately, the ATV, Gun Tower, etc. Those things are too low quality to seize my interest though, even for custom fodder.

Lanard has slowly been trickling out some new stuff lately too. The Komotto Jeep is back, and some new vintage ;looking jet fighter.
Title: Re: Official 1:18 Military Toys Thread (21st, BBI, FOV, etc)
Post by: Scockery on July 10, 2019, 10:05 AM
Chap-Mei stuff is mixed bag. I found some vehicles at a garage sale for a few bucks each and got a couple. They usually disappoint, like the 6 wheeled armor car. It looks good, but the only figure interaction is one opening turret hatch.