Obviously this is not intended to be a mainline offering.  I think it's bound to be either an event exclusive or an online exclusive.  Because it's a collector focused item.  It's not designed to have broad appeal.  And given the state of the collector base right now, I am not completely certain that this is going to make it to market.

My guess is that it's probably not coming out until next year at the earliest.  Hasbro spoke specifically about trying to regain some focus in the movie line this year.  But I think they're trying to bring back some of the collector base back into the fold this year with the Vintage Collection.  If that's successful and collector focused items start to sell better,  then perhaps it will be a positive development for the Funeral Pyre Vader.

I never thought about it until a Galactic Hunter reader in a Q/A w/ Adam Pawlus pointed out that people would have a difficult time getting to desired figures waaay back in the shelves without the J-hook. It's a very valid point. Either those impatient enough are either going to 1. get REALLy frustrated while taking down all the figures to get to that one in the back, or 2. just straight up tear the package off the hook. It really makes you wonder. 

Those butterfly holes on the Vintage Collection cardbacks are going to be reinforced with plastic.  So tearing cards off of the pegs will be prohibitive.

Was wondering what you guys use to protect your camera from rains.  I'm planning on going on a cruise to Alaska this September and not sure what product is best to protect my D60 from the rain.  I have been looking at stuff on Amazon but not sure what actually is worth it or not to buy.  Thanks for any help.

You can protect the camera body with something as simple as a plastic bag.  This is something that the videographers in my company do as a matter of course when there's bad weather and they must shoot outside.  But if you need to change lenses, be sure to wipe everything down before hand and make the lens change somewhere that's under cover.

As for the lens, I'd recommend a few things.  First, get some filters for your lens.  I try not to expose the lens itself.  Hoya's filter kit is a good starting point.  I like to keep a neutral density filter on the lens of my Nikon D-50 whenever I shoot outside.  And a lens hood will help keep any water droplets from getting on the filter.  Last, keep a lens cleaning cloth with you.  You can try really hard to keep the lens dry.  But if you get some water on it you're going to want any appropriate cleaning cloth to dry it off.  And those are $10 or so.

Oh, and BrentS...AWESOME PICS!

I'm going to be selling off my GG animated maquettes very soon.  If anyone is looking for any of the earlier pieces feel free to drop me a PM.  I'll be posting a full list in the classifieds soon.

I see both Dooku and Jango as Greatest Hits type releases.  Hasbro stated explicitly that not all of the figures in the Vintage Collection would be all-new sculpts.  Jango would be a "make good" for the bad paint jobs.  And Dooku is a key villain that could stand to be re-released.  In that case the EVO Dooku/Darth Tyranus would be fine by me.

Got tickets for Eric Clapton's 3rd Crossroads festival in Chicago for this June.  Topping the bill are Clapton, Jeff Beck, the Allman Brothers Band, BB King, and a whole lot more.  An incredibly lineup for one day of music!

I caught this when it first aired.  It was very, very well done.  And it's also been issued very recently on DVD.