181
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2024 TVC Wave 1 (New TVC Wave 33)
« on: November 16, 2023, 06:14 PM »
I got a notification that Hera is on the way from Amazon. In light of what happened with Krennic? I'm not holding my breath.
Bringing Balance to the Force
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182
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2024 TVC Wave 1 (New TVC Wave 33)
« on: November 15, 2023, 04:51 PM »
Same here. I was kind of expecting that this morning. The shipping update said it was going to arrive today, but when I checked the tracking first thing this morning there was no indication that it had even shipped. It leaves me wondering if Amazon charged my account for Krennic or not.
183
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2023 Last Figure Standing Poll
« on: November 15, 2023, 11:02 AM »
IIRC submissions of Top Ten lists are open until midnight this Friday night.
184
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2024 TVC Wave 1 (New TVC Wave 33)
« on: November 11, 2023, 11:37 AM »
I got a similar notification from Amazon, which was most welcome! Glad to be getting Krennic in a few days. But I'm still wondering when the Thrawn from the previous wave will turn up? The solid cases have been a generally good idea for online retail, but perhaps the demand for Thrawn was underestimated?
185
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2023 Last Figure Standing Poll
« on: November 11, 2023, 11:33 AM »
It's actually a different team organizing this particular poll. March Madness is administered by the guys that run the SWTVC Instagram page. This new poll is being run by the guys from BanthaSkull. I think they saw the heat that March Madness generated, and they wanted to offer a different take/approach to this particular poll. They also got a number of the top sites / social media pages to help promote this, including Yakface, Bossk's Bounty, the SW The Vintage Collection Facebook group and the SWTVC IG page. Hasbro is almost certainly going to take notice since I know they have been keeping track of March Madness.
This was my Top Ten. Almost all of them came from the Top 25 that I submitted for the March Madness poll. I was pleasantly surprised to get 5 characters from that list made or revealed since that poll launched. This was what I submitted for the LFS poll:
Palpatine - Office Duel / Jedi Arrest - ROTS
Han Solo - Takodana - TFA
Senator Amidala - Declaration of the Empire - ROTS
Baze Malbus - RO
Admiral Raddus - RO
Jedi Temple Guard - TCW
Asajj Ventress - TCW
Dedra Meero - ANDOR
Luthen Rael - ANDOR
Bannis Keeg - ANH
This was my Top Ten. Almost all of them came from the Top 25 that I submitted for the March Madness poll. I was pleasantly surprised to get 5 characters from that list made or revealed since that poll launched. This was what I submitted for the LFS poll:
Palpatine - Office Duel / Jedi Arrest - ROTS
Han Solo - Takodana - TFA
Senator Amidala - Declaration of the Empire - ROTS
Baze Malbus - RO
Admiral Raddus - RO
Jedi Temple Guard - TCW
Asajj Ventress - TCW
Dedra Meero - ANDOR
Luthen Rael - ANDOR
Bannis Keeg - ANH
186
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2023 Last Figure Standing Poll
« on: November 10, 2023, 05:08 PM »
I heard the Banthaskull guys talk about this on a livestream with the guy from MAKMCSWF on YouTube. Their general pitch was this:
Previous Fan's Choice Figure Polls had winners in fields of 5 or 25 contestant characters. The last example being a couple of polls conducted in cooperation with Hasbro, The Official Site and the defunct ToyFare magazine. The winner(s) would have something like 26% or 31% of the vote. That was enough to edge out the rest of the competition, but not enough to reach a 50% +1 level where there was a clear winner. Hence they're trying this elimination model of poll. The SWTVC IG page's March Madness poll certainly garnered a lot of attention in the social media sphere of collecting. This seems like a concerted effort to offer something different.
In the end I don't know if the results from this poll will make the whole TVC collecting community happy. That's because there will always be some sort of compromise where it boils down to an either/or scenario. And it's about which character(s) do you prefer over another - not which character is head and shoulders above the rest in the entirety of the community. To me that seems to be artificially guiding the process. And there's the potential for some participants to drop out because any characters they were interested in voting for were eliminated and they don't feel interested in continuing.
So what will it yield? We'll see.
Previous Fan's Choice Figure Polls had winners in fields of 5 or 25 contestant characters. The last example being a couple of polls conducted in cooperation with Hasbro, The Official Site and the defunct ToyFare magazine. The winner(s) would have something like 26% or 31% of the vote. That was enough to edge out the rest of the competition, but not enough to reach a 50% +1 level where there was a clear winner. Hence they're trying this elimination model of poll. The SWTVC IG page's March Madness poll certainly garnered a lot of attention in the social media sphere of collecting. This seems like a concerted effort to offer something different.
In the end I don't know if the results from this poll will make the whole TVC collecting community happy. That's because there will always be some sort of compromise where it boils down to an either/or scenario. And it's about which character(s) do you prefer over another - not which character is head and shoulders above the rest in the entirety of the community. To me that seems to be artificially guiding the process. And there's the potential for some participants to drop out because any characters they were interested in voting for were eliminated and they don't feel interested in continuing.
So what will it yield? We'll see.
187
The Vintage Collection / 2023 Last Figure Standing Poll
« on: November 10, 2023, 11:29 AM »
The folks over at BanthaSkull.com are running a new Vintage Collection figure poll. It's called Last Figure Standing. The format is similar to the vote-off format of TV reality shows. The goal is to try to find genuine consensus within the TVC collecting community over what may be the most wanted new figure in The Vintage Collection.
Collectors are being invited to submit their own Top Ten lists for consideration in the poll. The Top Ten characters from those submissions will be offered up to the community in the vote-off format until it works its way down to the Last Figure Standing.
Check it out here: https://www.banthaskull.com/story/news-launching-last-figure-standing-a-vintage-collection-fan-even
Collectors are being invited to submit their own Top Ten lists for consideration in the poll. The Top Ten characters from those submissions will be offered up to the community in the vote-off format until it works its way down to the Last Figure Standing.
Check it out here: https://www.banthaskull.com/story/news-launching-last-figure-standing-a-vintage-collection-fan-even
188
Disney Parks Droid Factory / Re: 2023 Disney Droid Factory Figure Set – Star Wars Pride Collection
« on: November 10, 2023, 10:40 AM »
I was able to pick up another one of these sets at a Disney Outlet near me as well as the BB Pride droid and this year's Halloween droid AND the Obi-Wan Kenobi Droid Factory 4-pack for reasonable prices. It's nice to actually find some things in person, too.
189
The Vintage Collection / Re: 4” Epic Hero Series Figure Line
« on: November 10, 2023, 10:38 AM »Jayson has a new post saying the 4” scale is not a new scale, that what we call 3.75” and this 4” are both the same 1:18.
I generally don’t doubt him. I guess I’ll wait and see if they feel like they fit later and go from there.
I've got the GotG Epic Heroes figures. They do not come across as substantially larger than Star Wars TVC figures at all. I'm going to have to take some comparison photos to illustrate any differences.
Generally, I think people are getting hung up about 1/4 inch. I think for the purpose of talking about a figure line whole numbers are probably the easiest way to communicate that. Talking about 1:18 scale or 1:12 scale or whatever else isn't helpful for most people. And with The Vintage Collection there's a pretty wide range of figure heights from character to character. I would say the sky is most certainly not falling here.
If this line can bring us some new items quickly? Along with some vehicles that might not make the cut in TVC? Go for it! I think this could be a great way for Hasbro to deliver the Pirate Snub Fighters from TM season 3, or the fighters seen in AHSOKA without it breaking the bank. Does anyone here think those are an immediate priority for a TVC vehicle? I think they're low on the list there. But they could work in a medium vehicle line with a lower price point.
190
The Vintage Collection / Re: 4” Epic Hero Series Figure Line
« on: November 9, 2023, 12:04 PM »
Star Wars needs an introductory line for the 1:18 scale. How many 8 year olds are clamoring for TVC figures right now? Or their parents who are not existing collectors?
I’ve seen Hasbro’s Marvel Epic Hero Series figures. They’re not up to the standards of the old Marvel Universe line, but they’re not garbage. They’re an introductory series that can offer vehicles that won’t break the bank. In fact , I already have some of the Marvel Epic Heroes figures from GotG volume 3. I need to compare them for height with some current TVC figures. I think some people might be getting unnecessarily hung up on the 4” figure thing.
This line makes sense in advance of the release of the “Skeleton Crew” series. That’s supposed to feature a number of kids in the cast. A line like this seems like it could support that Disney+ series in real time and reach that broader audience.
Plus, this line could be a way to get more 1:18 scale vehicles back on the shelves of the big box retailers. Lots of collectors recognize what junk the electronic 12” figures are, but they’re keeping that lower shelf space that used to be occupied by vehicles. A vehicle line that consists of ships that are all priced above $100 is not friendly to the market. TVC vehicles have been amazing, but they get released at a very slow rate. A $30 to $40 assortment of vehicles is much more accessible to the broader market and has the potential to generate volume sales. I don’t think for an instant that this will replace the Vintage Collection, but it can definitely help build out worlds at a more affordable price point.
I’ve seen Hasbro’s Marvel Epic Hero Series figures. They’re not up to the standards of the old Marvel Universe line, but they’re not garbage. They’re an introductory series that can offer vehicles that won’t break the bank. In fact , I already have some of the Marvel Epic Heroes figures from GotG volume 3. I need to compare them for height with some current TVC figures. I think some people might be getting unnecessarily hung up on the 4” figure thing.
This line makes sense in advance of the release of the “Skeleton Crew” series. That’s supposed to feature a number of kids in the cast. A line like this seems like it could support that Disney+ series in real time and reach that broader audience.
Plus, this line could be a way to get more 1:18 scale vehicles back on the shelves of the big box retailers. Lots of collectors recognize what junk the electronic 12” figures are, but they’re keeping that lower shelf space that used to be occupied by vehicles. A vehicle line that consists of ships that are all priced above $100 is not friendly to the market. TVC vehicles have been amazing, but they get released at a very slow rate. A $30 to $40 assortment of vehicles is much more accessible to the broader market and has the potential to generate volume sales. I don’t think for an instant that this will replace the Vintage Collection, but it can definitely help build out worlds at a more affordable price point.
191
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Toys R Us (Or: Die, Dinosaur, Die!)
« on: November 9, 2023, 11:25 AM »
The so called “flagship store” in New Jersey has been nothing but a disappointment. It’s like a high priced Ollie’s. I took these photos close to a year ago, and very little has changed since then. It’s a joke.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoQzw8lMZgR/?igshid=YjVjNjZkNmFjNg==
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoQzw8lMZgR/?igshid=YjVjNjZkNmFjNg==
192
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2024 TVC Wave 3 (New TVC Wave 35)
« on: November 6, 2023, 10:27 AM »
I would go ahead and do it.
This customizer came up with an amazing formula!
https://customsforthekid.blogspot.com/2019/07/tonnika-sisters-created-by-elias.html?fbclid=IwAR1uHDcRW-LtjYYTaaISyX0R96jZdPEhV6idst9r9YNqS_v8YunXlLdGMz8
This customizer came up with an amazing formula!
https://customsforthekid.blogspot.com/2019/07/tonnika-sisters-created-by-elias.html?fbclid=IwAR1uHDcRW-LtjYYTaaISyX0R96jZdPEhV6idst9r9YNqS_v8YunXlLdGMz8
193
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2024 TVC Wave 3 (New TVC Wave 35)
« on: November 6, 2023, 08:37 AM »We are straying way off topic but...I think the BTS photos of them being called Star Whores probably makes it tough for Hasbro to touch...
This pic makes me laugh every time...make them ambassadors, undercover agents, bounty hunters just like everyone else...
They already did - even gave them the classic EU connection to OT main characters....
https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-sisters
"The duo worked odd jobs for anyone who would hire them. They were in the cantina that fateful day on an assignment from Jabba the Hutt to bring in Han Solo. (The sisters were well-acquainted with the smuggler, as well as another infamous scoundrel, Lando Calrissian.)"
I think they even had them in the most recent EU book with Han and Leia getting married, whatever that was called.
I stand corrected regarding my theory!
I went to Providence, RI over the weekend for Rhode Island Comic Con. When I was at one of the hotels for a party I recognized someone in the lobby who was taking part in a GI Joe podcast. Lo and behold it was someone who used to work at Hasbro and has a lot of experience with the topic. He and I had a reasonably good relationship when I was reporting on Star Wars for a couple of sites, and at SDCC 2009 he made a point of showing me Hasbro's pitch for a Funeral Pyre Darth Vader that never came to pass.
Having said all of that...I put forth my theory about the possible reasoning behind the ban, along with talking about the scrubbed Official Site article. He was able to say definitively that was not the reasoning behind the ban on the T sisters. The hold on them is definitely coming from Lucasfilm. While the team at Hasbro has completely changed over the past dozen years, the licensing people at Lucasfilm have not, and the position does not appear to have changed. And Hasbro's goals of releasing 1 Cantina alien per year have been dashed by the shifts in the industry. He also mentioned that a big part of what has hurt the line was the demise of Toys R Us.
He was also aware of the current push from some segments of social media for the T sisters. And we discussed just how prominent they are in the scene, as well as having been in the famous Adidas commercial. But I think the point stands that they are are still a lost cause. All of that being said, it was great to run into someone who was such a driving force behind the line during what was a golden era for Star Wars collecting, and has always been really friendly and helpful.
194
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2024 TVC Wave 3 (New TVC Wave 35)
« on: November 3, 2023, 10:16 AM »Ok fine I give up.
I’ll get the Stan solo ones in a few months and that’ll be that.
I got tired of figuratively banging my head against the wall on the topic. And I think it’s time to try to find a custom builder that might offer a good Tonnikas kit. It would give a sense of closure on the topic.
195
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2024 TVC Wave 3 (New TVC Wave 35)
« on: November 3, 2023, 10:13 AM »And tooling dollars seem to be scarce, so we get more repaints and reissues.
This is not just with 3 3/4. As a Black Series helmet collector, the repaints are pretty frustrating. Potential repaintability definitely factors into their choices.
I can definitely appreciate that. I have to think that the Scout Trooper helmet will eventually lead to an Ezra Bridger helmet.