I gotta get on my own case about this, but a big thanks to Scott for the photos...

If it weren't for him, the reviews would look like crap because I don't own a camera.

So he makes that magic happen, and quite creatively as we can see.

People at Scum were asking about the fan shot, and I really just felt stupid for NOT ever mentioning where the figure is from, or who's snapping shots...

I got some revamping to do to my review technique basically, haha...    Sorry bout that Scott, you are owed some credit and I've shafted you, hehe...  Won't happen in the future though now that I realize I was doing that.

The only things clearanced in the line right now are the playsets...  Rightfully so, they're overpriced and even on clearance aren't selling.

I can't argue with that, and I'm even waiting them to go on further clearance here before I commit to buying the two smaller sets.

But, figures have only clearanced once (1st series, none of the rest), and that's a good sign...  Only a handful of vehicles ever saw a sale, and that was German items only generally.  

The line's staying power is surprising...  

It's not so much that I have a loyalty to 21st...  They screw up more often on "business" issues than many companies I have seen.  I'd say I'm more loyal to BBi actually because they make smarter decisions, and they're really giving 21st a run for their money (If they'd only branch out beyond modern stuff now!), but 21st's 1:18 stuff is just unbeatable in value when compared to Star Wars I think.

I don't really think of it as loyalty though.  I'm loyal to Star Wars though...  Just wish it was possible for other companies to have a crack at an action figure line for Star Wars.  That'd be something to see...  I think we'd see a vast improvement from Hasbro, out of simple necessity then.

Or they'd just say "F it" and give the line up to someone else...  The Hasbro "dedication" to the line seems shakey at best.

My recommendation is not to hate this guy selling his...  Hate the concept Hasbro came up with.  Hate the fact they are basically doing something to use up the Jedi Master Points without having to "give back" to the people who have loyally bought their half-hearted product just because we love Star Wars.

Hate anyone, hate Hasbro.  That guy just saw an opportunity, and I hardly blame him for what he's done.  

I'm personally keeping my JMP's...  Maybe another offer will be made, but the auction idea doesn't entice me at all and I have the figures they've mentioned so far and don't want any more of them, even if I could sell them for outrageous prices.  

Maybe someone who really needed them will get them...  I can hope.

It's just a whole sham to me...  I do see it as insulting to the loyalty we've shown over these years, and believing that we'd actually ALL get to use our points some day in a promotion that benefits the masses instead of just a select few.

Yeah, the "change" wasn't what the majority were hoping for...  Especially when way back some Hasbro reps said they were hoping to do an "FX TIE Fighter" at one of the cons last year, or the year prior...  Even mentioned the bigger solar panels as I recall.

If I get this, it's with the hope that I can somehow reproduce the cockpit over and over to "spoof up" the TIE's I have...  Maybe make my own Solar Panels for it some day then to have the standard fighter.

Another one of those "Who were they listening to, because it wasn't us" moments I guess.  

Now, give the OLD cockpit bigger solar panels (to-scale ones) and I'd be buying these ships up at  $30 a piece.  I'd want at least 3, maybe more...  12 would look damn dandy I think.  

Yeah I'm with Matt...

All 4 were tough to find, and it's yet another "WTF Hasbro!?" situation I think...

These things are a license to print money for Hasbro...  I may rag on that RFT but he'll still sell if they shipped the head variants.  The Impy FLIES off shelves generally.  The only 2 I found was one with a damaged card at Wal-Mart (blonde) and a brown haired one at the local collector group's summer social.

The black haired RFT I've seen multiple times, but he's the only one I've found regularly (And I mean 3 times when I say regularly).

If Hasbro released those IO head variants over and over I bet they'd always sell.  release them in grey uniforms and they'll sell yet again...

I'd buy those every time I walked into a store if I could, but nobody at Hasbro seems to realize how well that one figure with 3 head variants sells.  The POTJ figure even sold out immediately before anyone else in his wave.

Wish I could find more...  I'll be content with the one of each I got though (And multiple POTJ guys since he was actually semi-easy to get).

But right there the Gunship should've had a cheaper pricepoint then, if it had dramatically higher production rates than what 21st's product have been.  

Though I'm not sure I agree with that sentiment because 21st has utilized their molds over and over via repaints, so their production #'s are, quite possibly, close to what that of the Gunship is...

For instance, the Stuka was first released in the flying pig markings version...  Then the DAK camo version, then a spinach camo online exclusive, and now winter white is shipping to TRU's (And it  wouldn't ship if they weren't selling...  TRU is very picky with 21st about product moving).  

But, the idea that the Gunship had a higher production run means they had higher sales to retail establishments, so by all intents and purposes they should've made their $ back and then some (Hasbro that is)...  

Price point's are generally established early into production determined on the costs of course.  If 21st can create something larger and genuinely better (than the Gunship) for the same price, but not utilize the major costs of mold toolings and such by having a shorter production run, then Hasbro should be able to have had the Gunship come in at a cheaper price point in theory...  I honestly think that's why we saw it clearanced quickly...  I think it was overpriced to begin with (most items are in retail, but I think the Gunship was exagerrated in price more than the usual percentage increases to allow for "sales" and clearance).

Every companies motivation are to keep pricepoints as low as possible for their product offered, and to minimize costs while still making quality product (or services) to the consumer.  I think the thing I'm trying to say is that they can come in at the pricepoint they HAVE been coming in at and deliver a better, and to-scale product if they tried...

Other companies are doing it.

The excuse of the contract with LFL isn't holding up anymore either if you ask me, because 21st Century has multiple expensive contracts they've paid out as well, coupled with their being a private company that faced a buy-out within the last 2 years by Jakks Pacific...  They're paying out royalties to others just the same, to use the names and likenesses of various product and personalities.  

They're also nowhere near the size of Hasbro and have nowhere near the financial "ability", and yet they set the bar or standard Hasbro should work to attain but rarely ever does.

I think Hasbro's capable of more, but they're generally unwilling to bend.  It's not something I've come to expect from them.  It happens sometimes, and I think they deserve criticism when it doesn't, but it's really something I've just come to not expect of them as a company.  I really think it's part of the issue with the line's overall declining popularity though...  

The fact  that the Star Wars franchise as a whole is declining in popularity doesn't help either, but Hasbro's not helping by their refusal to admit that the toy industry IS a competition, and that brand loyalty isn't what it once was.

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.  



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.