Quote from: Clone On Fire on January 12, 2006, 05:15 PM

Speaking of a nice SA trooper, how nice would it have been to get a Hoth Rebel Soldier instead of Vader or Riekken in this wave?

We did.

We did?

A figure with 10 points of articulation and no ball/socket joints, is not a good army builder to me.   Derlin's ok, but he's in dire need of ball/socket knees at the very least.  Beyond that he's ok...  He's not a good army builder by my standards, he's an ok figure overall, but I think we need something better though especially for the true "Trooper".  Sure it'd be the what, 4th sculpt of a Hoth Rebel Soldier we get?  But it's probably one of my top 5 resculpts we need in the line.  Actually, all 3 styles of Rebel Soldier in the films would be in my top 5 resculpts easily.  I want a Rebel Evolutions set personally, but yeah I wanna see all 3 redone with SA or damn close.

For me, it's not much.  I'm not the wealthiest fellow, and my life's financial complexities have increased since my personal life's gotten more involved, so toys I have weeded out over the years...

For instance I've cut the 12" line out completely though I'd LOVE to be picking up the SideShow SW line and LOTR lines. 

LOTR I cut off and should probably sell what I have that my brother doesn't want.

Starcom, a little line from the 80's I used to love, I've omitted totally, and should sell what I have there as well.  I keep thinking I'd get back into it, but I don't.

I've got my SW basic habit down to just the 3.75" figures.  I don't buy all ultra/deluxe ($10 pricepoint) items anymore...  Just what I really dig.  This saved me $20 just for the Palpatine and Obi-Wan figures for ROTS, haha. 

If Hasbro does go with Chase Figures for the basic line, I'm going to be cutting down to just what I like as well.  I refuse to pay above retail (unless it's shipping) on anything.  I haven't since the line began, I won't start now.  I'd feel defeated by the big H then.

Army building's a big part of my 3.75" habit so I'll be certain to do that this year if I can...

Customizing's my other habit...  I've been slacking all last year, likely will this year some too.

Other lines I'm going to be buying though:

-21st Century Toys and more particular, their XD 1:18 military line.  I've cut out ships/choppers on this line though, and I'll be sticking to figures, and land based vehicles (tanks, armor, artillery, playsets, and figures with army building a focus).  21st's harder to find than Star Wars though so yeah, another headache.

-BBI's Elite Force...  I missed on their tank, and I haven't seen the latest WW2 figures, but I buy the modern as I see them, have the WW2 Jump Paratroopers...  I'm going to be cutting out modern vehicles all together though, no doubt, and sticking to just modern figures.  WW2 will be my vehicle focus.  I mean, 1:18 tanks take up a lotta space as you get many of them. 

-Other random 1:18 military things...  I'd be happy to get other things to complement the last two lines I'm collecting.  That's more a "see it and buy it" thing though.  I know of no other planned 1:18 military lines.

And that's it.

My girlfriend has kids, and they've been into SW this past year, so that's cut into what I can spend on me...  I try to keep them up with some of the figures they really want.  Right now, finding 3 Boba Fett's for her kids and their friend is a bitch.

That's it for me though...

I'd love to have gotten some GI Joes, but I'm maintaining my composure and not jumping on that line.

I got an RC tank on clearance (1:18 XD tank) and holy **** this thing is fun.  I can't give up this line, it's too friggin' great.  It's all quality the SW line needs to keep up with.

Again, better late than never, and glad to have you on board.

You just don't want to hang out on the other phone while your 10 year old talks to her friends and interject a comment now and again?  I get ya.

Welcome aboard man, glad to have you unlurking and joining in.  Lots of good conversation in all forums so just jump in where you want and share your thoughts.

Have a good one, and ask any questions you maybe have that come up.  We're here to help.

JJ

I'm really surprised at some of the bests you listed, director.

Like Gree I thought was attrocious because of his myriad of inacuracies in paint and sculpt, and I thought Chewbacca was so-so at best...  I think the VOTC could've been repacked with a new head and would have gone over better overall.  Not to say I can find one, but for a while he pegwarmed till the movie really took off.  Same sorta applied to Tarrful I felt, in that there was a lack of effort on hasbro's part with him.

The exclusives I wasn't real into either, I was let down by price mostly but also some were just seemingly dull.  The TRU Emperor for instance, and Yoda was meh.  I think a better sculpt could have been used to make a holographic Yoda, like the Younglings Yoda figure maybe, since he was sitting and all.

And for your worst you listed Mas Ameda...  Dull as he may be I thought he was one of the best of the year really, at least for non-Jedi...  I thought Hasbro went even a little nuts articulating him, which is cool but weird for a boring figure.  I was very happy with that one.  The tongue is cool too, even if it's not from the film's final cut.

Hey DD,

Yeah I just haven't been critiquing customs, but I have been futzing with some simple parts I've slapped together here and there at my house, I just haven't had energy to catch up on commenting around any boards...  Life keeps me from customs more than I'd like it to, but that's just the way it goes.

Anyway I'm trying to comment now on the previous update, and get the other one next...

Commander Seph...  A nice use of "parts you have lying around", I must say.  I don't have much laying about clone-wise but some Bacara bits here and there.  I even had to use the one right arm to replace on a Bly that came as a factory defect, so Clone parts just aren't something I have many of.

The paint's cool, and I can definitely see the sniper look...  The cammo pattern, but not too cammo (IE: Not all over or with a guillie suit or whatnot) makes sense.  He could teach snipers, sharpshooters, etc...    I wish I had that kind of random junk laying around though.  AT-TE Pauldrons aren't too common in my fodder bin unfortunately.  I like him and he's a good use of stuff you had extra to make yet another Clone Trooper style.

Ubiquitous Service Droid...  A fantastic use of, again, random parts...  But again I must say that I wish I had the WEG-1618 droid around for customizing, haha.  I was really wanting to build a small army of him, as he's one of my favorite droid figures in the modern line actually.  Hasbro went all out for detail on that one though.  The work you did on yours is equally impressive too.

The rust, grease, and general grime all over him are really nice touches to make him look like he's seen a long hard life.  The treadwell head fits it perfectly too and adds a look of classic SW simplicity.  Like the droids look in the classic films.  The EV-9D9 legs are equally simplistic forms of mobility for the droid.  I like that you took the time to paint the wiring...  If you'd wanted to, you could have added some bulk wirring from old electronic devices to the figure to change up his overall shape and add dimension to him.  I do this with some droid figures and parts as well just to have "ground fodder" for any set-up from Jawas to Tuskens to Imperial trash compactors.  Good stuff to think of.

I'm amazed how many different droids make up that droid...  Not a single piece is from the same figure save for the legs and arms matching as pairs.  That's great man.

Assassin Droid...  Again another nice use of parts though easier to recognize.  The way the Sith probe seems to match the body is really neat though, and really that could make an equally good simple protocol droid.  The grime and grit paintjob is cool...  I could have seen you going for something less base metal in color though and maybe a flat grey, or some other base military color, if he's a war droid...  If an assassin droid I could see a shiney black or gunmetal color, dark, with some nicks down to a bare silver base...  I dont' know why, that just comes to mind.

The red eyes on the head really stand out and look sinister.  Very much like the same items on Separatist battledroids, sot hat's cool, and the angled antenna is great.  Maybe a backpack would be in order for him too?  Perhaps even a jetpack?  Make him that slightly bit more deadly.

My only other thought is his gun seems off unless you're wanting him to be a Sep droid...  I could see a smaller gun, perhaps with something that braces it to his firing forearm so it aims easier...  Of course, IG-88 doesn't have that so I'm simply talking out my ass really.

I haven't seen Carkoon wave yet.  Just Bib and a Barada my mother picked up for me...  I'm still looking for 2 Fett's for my gf's kids, and all the others from that wave and now Hoth to deal with...     Thanks retail.