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Collectibles => The Vintage Collection => Collect All 92! => Topic started by: Scott on December 28, 2010, 06:24 PM

Title: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scott on December 28, 2010, 06:24 PM
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard esb.jpg)

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard comparison.jpg)

Data

Vintage

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard carded.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard vintage.jpg)

Modern
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard carded2.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard modern.jpg)
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Paul on December 28, 2010, 09:55 PM
Loved this vintage figure.  The modern version is disappointing.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: EpicGon on December 28, 2010, 11:07 PM
The vintage version demands an update with a similar head, or more movie accurate (mustache, beard)
As Hasbro releases more versions the shade of the uniform varies. This alien bespin guard spots a clearer uniform, but some updates as the golden borders of the handcuffs are welcome.

I think Hasbro should mind this for a further vintage update of the white Bespin wing guard:

Leave a collar area white, bellow neck to match the way the jackey is closed, showing the neck of the longsleeved T-shirt.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Matt_Fury on December 29, 2010, 01:47 AM
Although I do like the modern ones...they do need to fix the hat.  A few more variants would be nice too.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Jesse James on December 29, 2010, 02:44 AM
I hated the Bespin Guards as a kid...  They were boring, and I still think they're just sorta "meh" to me.  The vintage figures don't even cost much, so that's a nice thing I guess. :)

Ironically though, the vintage figure is one of the finer sculpts in the original line, capturing the piping detail fairly nicely, and all the little details of the costume in general.  Plus, how obscure is it that Kenner did two distinct Bespin Guards, out of allt he army builder characters in the original trilogy?  That's just crazy.

Flash forward...

Hasbro's Bespin Guards have gone from pretty ******, to pretty detailed but not accurate (what the hell is that POTJ guard actually based on?  Is there any photo of a guard with his jacket open like that?), to accurate but absurdly tall.

I like the modern figure, except the height.  The hat fits certain figures better than others.  The guy it came with though, it doesn't fit.  I hate that too, and wound up giving him a POTJ figure's hat just so his cap wouldn't fly off.

I love the sculpt, the articulation, etc.  The details are nice.  However, I dislike the way they did the holsters, and his height is really gooney tall.  Hasbro really went overboard on this guy and he looks like a giant.  He's not easy to "shorten" either, like a couple other overly tall figures have been.  I'd like to see them re-use most of this figure's sculpt, but shorten his legs a bit at least. 

And obviously 2 clearly dupicated headsculpts of the vintage characters wouldn't hurt either.  I want the guy with the big stache the most, but it'd be nice to also get a generic white guy version as well.

I dig the alien figure that came in the EU wave the most though.  I had no idea he was actually in the movie somewhere but cut.  He's so Star Trek, but I love it.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Darth_Anton on December 29, 2010, 09:37 AM
Still don't know if I'd put these two together, but it seems like it's the best we're going to get for a while. I still think the POTJ one is a pretty sharp figure, considering the lack of articulation.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: 501ST on December 29, 2010, 09:52 AM
As a kid I liked that there were two different versions of the Bespin Guard. Never did find a black one. The POTJ one was not terrible IMO but certainly could be improved as evidenced with the overall sculpting of the newest reincarnation.

The alien character is all very well and good for EU fans but seeing the alien had no screen time at all he's really not the first version I think they should've gone with.

Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scott on December 29, 2010, 10:09 AM
I believe the POTJ version is more or less based on the dude behind Lobot

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bespin guards.jpg)

If you look closely in the background, the Fu Manchu guard is visible as well.  The vintage cardback picture shows a full bearded guard which the vintage figure isn't based on...

Getting right head sculpt should be fairly easy and should be able to be part of a battle pack or something...

I am with Jesse in that the Bespin Guards are lame as hell and it is really odd they chose to make two of them at all

Here is a better pic of the Vintage figure...

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bespin guards2.jpg)
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Jayson on December 29, 2010, 10:55 AM
I like the ‘80s versions of the Bespin Guards as I always wanted Lando & Lobot to have guys to pal around with and to carry the Han in carbonite from Slave I.  :)

I’m pretty lukewarm to the 2010 Bespin Guards mainly due to the god awful "Gene Wilder in Silver Streak" head sculpt they gave the first one. The alien version does nothing for me as well because of the ill-fitting hat (which the first one also suffers though to a slightly lesser degree. The height really isn’t and issue for me but I do see the point, what sticks out to me more is the overall color of the uniforms. Its far too bright and should have been a more subdued blue like the POTJ version.

Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Paul on December 29, 2010, 11:19 AM
I hated the Bespin Guards as a kid...  They were boring, and I still think they're just sorta "meh" to me.  The vintage figures don't even cost much, so that's a nice thing I guess. :)


I would have figured this figure for one of your favorites.  It is a very "Military" looking uniform (albeit French).  I knew this from a previous conversation we had, but it still seems odd.

I loved these guys and really want the new one in Vintage and Card correct versions.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Nooker21 on December 29, 2010, 12:37 PM
I think a big problem (beyond the poorly fitting hat) is the ruffled folds that are molded onto the new version.  Usually this looks pretty good with other characters, but if you look at the reference photos, you will see that those uniforms don't have that many wrinkles.  These new ones are pretty sloppy looking, especially the trousers.  The vintage figure has a much more realistic look to it, and I passed on both of these recent versions because they just look awful to me.  I'd rather they start from scratch if they put one on a vintage card, with a more pressed uniform, molded-on hat, and an actual African-American headsculpt instead of one in blackface...
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scockery on December 29, 2010, 01:25 PM
I still like the vintage ones are the best. Though they have cross compatibility issues themselves, the big difference in their head sizes.

Never owned the Freezing chamber playset one. Looks totally awful.

I'm not a fan of the newest ones for all the reasons listed for the new ones, ill-fitting hat, too tall, too many uniform wrinkles, weird "black-face". The dark-skinned one's right ear looks off, too low compared to his left (at least on the figure I have).

I like the Kenner guards, except the gold paint that rubbed off easily. I remember using the Kenner Bespin Guards as Cobra troops when all I had was 2 Cobra figures.

Between my brother and I, we had 2 white guards and 8 black ones. The black ones were peg warmers before anyone used the term "peg warmer"  and I recall occassionally find rows of him years after he stopped being made, especially in more obscure department stores. Certain figures were like that back then. Not many collectors, lots of figures made...if the general public didn't want them they stuck around even on clearance. Draco from Buck Rogers was like that, too, and some of the Indiana Jones ROTLA bad guys, as well. Crystal Ball from G.I.JOE was another one.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: SnTrooper on December 29, 2010, 02:39 PM
The alien version does nothing for me as well because of the ill-fitting hat
If the hat bothers you do what I'm going to do. Remove it. He doesn't wear a hat.
(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20051115101705/starwars/images/thumb/3/32/Imzig.jpg/250px-Imzig.jpg)
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Jesse James on December 29, 2010, 04:26 PM
Yeah, don't get me wrong Paul, as an adult I like the military look...  As a kid, the figures were dull because they really weren't important in the films to me.  They weren't warring it up, just basically were police.

I think Hasbro can do better...  But really I stick with the height being the biggest issue, though I'd agree that the first one's oddness is an issue too.  It looks like a white guy they painted black, and it just doesn't look right to me.  I've been meaning to do some headswaps with him to just make a more normal looking black guy.

The Alien's head transfers nicely with Needa though, if anyone's curious.  It gives a fairly generic white dude then at least.

I may ditch the hat on the alien thanks to SnTrooper's picture too...  If he doesn't wear it, then I do believe it's going to go in the pieces pile.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scott on December 31, 2010, 03:10 PM
Gregg
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scott on December 31, 2010, 03:11 PM
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard2 esb.jpg)

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard2 comparison.jpg)

Data

Vintage

(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard2 carded.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard2 vintage.jpg)

Modern
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard2 carded2.jpg)
(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/bguard2 modern.jpg)
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scott on December 31, 2010, 03:20 PM
I agree with Jesse in the fact that they didn't make any other army builders in any other form but someone thought it would be a good idea to make 2 distinct Bespin Guards.  The first mustachioed one is the weirder of the two as you really don't see him anywhere.  At least the black one is prominently seen in the movie.

The modern update is an abomination.  I agree with everyone who says he looks Caucasian...all one needs to do is take off his hat to see that

You almost wonder if they were thinking of making Merril instead and changed their minds at the last minute trying to avoid utter fanboy outrage

(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081027133759/starwars/images/a/aa/Merril.jpg)(http://www.jedidefender.com/collect92/merril comp.jpg)
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: RogueLeader on December 31, 2010, 05:59 PM
While Hasbro did do an obvious cheapout on the first guard, I'm not too hung up on the skintone because the figure does somewhat resemble a person of Indian descent, since many Indians have caucasian features along with darker skin.  I seriously doubt that is what Hasbro intended, but that's how it strikes me so I'm alright with it.  Not movie accurate in any sense, but plausible in an EUish sense I guess. Somehow I wouldn't be surprised if we see an Albino guard with black features, since Hasbro is capable of screwing up that much.  If that happens, they can initially claim that the figure is as intended, then fall back on blaming the factory for both screwups.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: EpicGon on December 31, 2010, 06:46 PM
Something I liked during vintage time was the eyes paintjob, we could feel as this toy was the closest reprensentation of a black guy. Now, I realise bespin guards were the slimmers on the mold, perhaps their head a bit wide for their shoulders, but looking slim gave them elegance.

In the tlc black guard, Hasbro should have painted the borders of the cuffs: gold or black to match the movie, and to compensate the paintjob on the alien character.

But Hasbro is evolving the line, without doubt, and as said lines below Merril could be the white incarnation of the black guy.
In that case, Hasbro needs to keep an eye on paint job to please collectors.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Carpeteria3000 on December 31, 2010, 07:52 PM
I've always always hated the wonky left leg of the vintage black guard. Hate it.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Paul on December 31, 2010, 10:10 PM
And his baby arm.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Matt_Fury on January 1, 2011, 01:53 AM
I never had the black variant as a kid.

For the modern I have the same gripe as I do for the alien one.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scockery on January 1, 2011, 01:14 PM
You almost wonder if they were thinking of making Merril instead and changed their minds at the last minute trying to avoid utter fanboy outrage


Why would that cause outrage? I'm missing something.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Scott on January 1, 2011, 01:34 PM
Because people have been asking for the vintage updates to both Guards since the modern line started...and if they went and made two Bespin Guards and neither of them were updates of the vintage version there would have been mass outrage
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: Pete_Fett on January 1, 2011, 05:46 PM
Because people have been asking for the vintage updates to both Guards since the modern line started...and if they went and made two Bespin Guards and neither of them were updates of the vintage version there would have been mass outrage

I guess I'm in the minority in that we should be more outraged over the fact that we got "Al Jolson, Bespin Guard" instead of Quentin Pierre (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Quentin_Pierre) as Sergeant Edian (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Edian). (and then Hasbro coming out in a Q&A session saying that the head sculpted matched reference photos of Pierre)

I would have preferred that they did give us Merril in the TLC line and then saved updates of Edian and the "Moustached" Guard for the Vintage Collection.
Title: Re: Bespin Security Guard
Post by: IncomT65 on January 22, 2011, 02:57 PM
Sgt. Bazooka has the perfect head for 'stache Bespin Guard!