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.

Hmmm, don't think I caught this thread first time around...

Popcorn, Cherry Pepsi, and/or Snowcaps.  I pig out a bit at the movies.

At E3's premiere I had a lovely beer...  Not bad.

Happy birthday Name, have a good one man...

12 - 16...  For basics anyway.  That's been my experience in case ratios...  The 16 figure cases were in movie years in the past, I never really paid attention to them during the ROTS blitz however.

It's funny how tables can turn, but in my neck of the woods we're starting to see many more Collection 1 figures start to sit from, what I assume, was refresh assortments...  At the same time, Collection 2 Jedi are becoming less and less common here, though I'd say between all the major retailers that all of them can be had (save for Dooku who is just a hot figure still).  Clones, still non-existant on the pegs.  Even the Pilots are dwindling around here...  The Wookiee #2 also.

I'm seeing more Obi's and Ani's though...  No Mace Windu figures however.  He's kinda like Dooku in that he's a hot one since the line's debut.

They were avaialbe for retail online at a few places so I nabbed them.

They were vastly superior to their predecessors.  Hasbro proving once again that they can take an idea, completely botch it, then show they can do it right, but then cancel the idea because they simply don't "get it" usually. 

These sets, had they come out first, would've sold well.  The first sets with their lame-ass weapons, lame-ass gear...  They simply sucked.  The only one worth buying was the one that had a figure (the droid) in it.  That was fun to buy up for $.99 on clearance.

And ROTS Mas Ameda makes for some damn fine "Senator" standard articulation, though I think the odd softgoods guy with longrobes would be nice.  I dunno about you guys but I'd be all for a Red Robed Palpatine w/softgoods robes just so we could have the fightin' Palps in poseable fashion.

Anyway though, I really dislike the waist joints on Hasbro's G.I. Joe line, and I think it's entirely too noticeable for Star Wars...  For Joe's it's cool, it's their "thing", but for Star Wars it would really stick out like a sore thumb, especially against the other nicely sculpted figures.

For instance, the Senators would look a bit awkward when next to them is a figure with the hips and waist of a G.I. Joe figure...  It's something I'm not a huge fan of in customizing even (using select GIJ parts).  To me, SA Clones are damn near perfect.  They're the balance of poseability and aesthetics that the line should be delivering.  GIJ it seems like they don't care much about a balance since thier 3.75" line has had the same articulation, basically, since 1983 when swivel-arms were introduced.  It's more or less uniform for that line.  Star Wars changing to GIJ style articulation would almost be as bad as a scale change to me, as far as the way the line looks all together. (I stress almost)

Right now, I'm cool with the increases in articulation that are well hidden.  There's better balance there.

*Waits on Jason to arrive*

I'm riding this one out I figure...  I've had an order in for Evolutions at Amazon now for months.  We'll see how it pans out.  I don't pre-order much at all but I do want to have 3 (at least) guaranteed sets of the Clones/Stormtrooper. 

It's only a pain to keep bumping that outstanding order up every time I have to balance my checkbook.