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!



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 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.

Wrists won't do the figure any good without bicep articulation though...  They'd just swivel to point the gun up side down or right side up.

For knees, I think the RFT's legs are overrated...  Overuse of that articulation can kill, that's why 21st Century dumped it for more numerous points that aren't as noticeable.  It worked for the RFT because the pants are baggy, but I'd honestly still take the old hinge joint over that 45 degree cut...

The hinges on XD figures are built into the leg, and on baggy pants that looks great.  No pin like on the Hasbro figures, so it's much more hidden.

Like I said though, it's just "nice"...  Hasbro can do better though.  Much better for army builders I believe.

Solid (or even multiple part) "spirit of" figures aren't hard to create actually, so generally if you see one you've NOT heard of it's probably a big  ole fakey.

There's resins that, without even tinting, will turn out that hazey blue-green of holo/spirit figures...  Some of them are pretty cheap resins too, and would result in some pretty cheap figures.

But that was one Bogus auction for sure.

I just clicked the chat link, it started to load a page then...

I waited, it took a little while, then in the lower left corner of my browser it read "done" as if the page had loaded, but what I'm assuming is the "chat screen" was still not loaded (Looked like it WAS gonna load, but never did and the browser said done so my PC wasn't doing anything at that point).

So I have no clue what's up...  It never asked me to sign on with any name either...  I never got that far I guess.

Sorry guys, maybe chat's just not for me?  

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.

2 things I really wanted to be that were "dreams"...

Stock Car/Race Car Driver...  My father raced when he was young.  He did drag racing with his old corvette (I believe it was a '58) and he also raced a 1940 Ford Coupe at a dirt oval track around the Pittsburgh area called Lernerville.  He raced a couple other small local tracks as well.

He was going to build my older brother Sean a car when he got old enough, and at that time it was still feasible to go out and build yourself a car without needing sponsorship and a vast fortune.  

My brother, in his infinite wisdom decided to rebel against my father tremendously though, and my father didn't do this for him.  

I wanted a car too...  I am partial to sprints myself, or modifieds...  But, unfortunately when "my time" came the sport of auto racing became one that only the wealthy can enjoy (Even going to a race costs you an arm and a leg, and I'm talking LOCAL racing, and World of Outlaws shows, not NASCAR or the big game!)...  My father wasn't able to just hop into racing like he was with my oldest brother, so there was no chance of me going into it.

The sad thing is, I know I would've done well...  I'm not good at MUCH in this world, but I can push any car to its limits and beyond, and bring it back in one piece.  Unfortunately that just wasn't meant to be, what with all the sponsorship needs, and dramatically increased costs.

The second thing I wanted to be...

Play in the NHL...  This was a pipe dream if there ever was one.  I started to play hockey later in life, and professional hockey players are most often groomed to be professional players from the time they're born.  I didn't start till around 10/11 years old though.  

To top that off, I am not overly skilled...  My skill came in that I was a leader and a bruiser.  I didn't take much crap from other teams, and lead mine by example (Captaincy of 2 teams, and alternate on 2 others).  I played hard-nosed hockey by standing in front of the net and taking a pounding from the other team's D.  I got crappy BS goals that were shots that went off me, or rebounds...  Never had that moment in the spotlight when I had the gamewinning breakaway goal where I faked the goalie out of his skates because of my "dazzling" moves.    That just ain't me.

Still, I wanted to play in the NHL so bad, and still get a lil teary eyed every start of the NHL season, and every start of the cup finals...

Now I live vicariously through watching hockey on TV and live.  Hell I couldn't even last a pick-up game anymore the way I feel.  I still just love the game though, even if my Pens suck.    I'll always support em!

Yeah, definately cool work Michael, hadn't seen/heard from you in a while so it's nice to see you're still working on the bigger projects.

Imagine if you will for a minute...

New Hoth Rebel Trooper in the deluxe range...  Not a carded multiple head variant figure, but a guy able to hold binoculars or a rifle up to aim it...  Comes with a scarf wrapped all around his head.

What makes him deluxe?  His base (And in the same year you release a new carded Hoth Rebel soldier that's uber poseable, removeable helmet, the works...).  The base he comes with is a "trench" piece that can connect at EITHER end...  When connected  in various patterns they make a long (as long as you wanted/could afford to buy) jagged trench from ESB...

Include some accessories, like maybe the heavy cannon that sometimes just rested on the bank of the trench or whatnot.  

Would it sell?  

I know I'd buy it....  I know I'd buy a few...  I know a few other folks who'd buy a few or more...  Why doesn't something cool like that happen?  One can only fathom.