17926
Saga Collection '06 / Re: 2006 vOTC (or vTSC) - now with pics!
« on: March 6, 2006, 11:20 PM »
Paul, nicely done man, nicely done... Thanks for sharing these amazing photos.
Bringing Balance to the Force
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17927
The Original Trilogy / Re: The Battle of Endor: Ewoks vs. the Empire
« on: March 6, 2006, 06:29 AM »
Exactly Paul, plus add to that #'s argument that they're at a backdoor entrance... I've seen the AT-AT element posed in arguments, but the AT-AT's IMO have never been even in the battle. They're at the big open field where the main dish is... It's where I think the Empire expected the assault.
The real battle was a small force at the (perhaps too convenient) secret backdoor entrance... Less troops, vehicles less effective in the growth... Perhaps not as convenient for the Rebels (I have this other theory of the bunker door to the control station being a VERY long distance, and time elapsing isn't represented well on film at all, but that's just me).
The Endor Battle really plays out well for me, but the thing of it is, is that you have to be looking at it from a certain POV from Earth's own historical conflicts, and you also have to have this ability to see beyond what the films show too, for it to be acceptable... I think the films are like lame highlight reels of a much bigger game, and you really don't capture a fraction of what actually happened or the timing of how it happened, or the scope/scale of these events.
The real battle was a small force at the (perhaps too convenient) secret backdoor entrance... Less troops, vehicles less effective in the growth... Perhaps not as convenient for the Rebels (I have this other theory of the bunker door to the control station being a VERY long distance, and time elapsing isn't represented well on film at all, but that's just me).
The Endor Battle really plays out well for me, but the thing of it is, is that you have to be looking at it from a certain POV from Earth's own historical conflicts, and you also have to have this ability to see beyond what the films show too, for it to be acceptable... I think the films are like lame highlight reels of a much bigger game, and you really don't capture a fraction of what actually happened or the timing of how it happened, or the scope/scale of these events.
17928
Other Toy Lines / Re: The Official 21st Century Toys Thread
« on: March 6, 2006, 06:24 AM »
Damn Paul, those are the biggies for me... And wouldn't you know that all my WM's are suddenly loaded with other waves. Just my F'n luck.
Those figures look gorgeous, did you see the trenchcoated US Rifleman? I LOVE that figure. I need dozens of just that guy.
Those figures look gorgeous, did you see the trenchcoated US Rifleman? I LOVE that figure. I need dozens of just that guy.
17929
Customizing Tips and Tricks / Re: Casting of the Twins - wip
« on: March 4, 2006, 03:55 AM »
Thanks Glassman,
And Glass's tutorial is pretty perfect with pictures too, so that's a great link to have handy to keep you going... Definitely helpful to casting if you've never done it. Very visually explainable which can really help.
And Glass's tutorial is pretty perfect with pictures too, so that's a great link to have handy to keep you going... Definitely helpful to casting if you've never done it. Very visually explainable which can really help.
17930
Titanium Series, Action Fleet and Micro Machines / Re: Titanium Series 3.75" Forged Figures
« on: March 4, 2006, 03:44 AM »
I'm almost tempted to get Fett just to cast the head and give the gun to my Fett VOTC figure... Almost.
$15 is way too much so I'll hope someone casts those parts... The head looked a lot better in shots I saw recently though with all the scars and stuff.
I'm down for Bossk and IG-88 at this point though, they look pretty nice... I'd sworn these off but now I gotta get at least those two.
$15 is way too much so I'll hope someone casts those parts... The head looked a lot better in shots I saw recently though with all the scars and stuff.
I'm down for Bossk and IG-88 at this point though, they look pretty nice... I'd sworn these off but now I gotta get at least those two.
17931
Saga Collection '06 / Re: VTSC Series 3?
« on: March 4, 2006, 03:42 AM »
VOTC Series 3... Hmmm.
-ANH: Death Squad Commander... I hope they don't do a cloth "skirt" piece on him but rather a sculpted (and flexible) one. Removable headset and helmet. I'd prefer they did him up grey on the VOTC card though, and later release the same figure in all black on a basic card. I DEFY you not to buy a dozen!
-ANH: Luke Skywalker Do-over... An all-sculpted Luke. Be cool if they included an apology Stormtrooper belt along with the figure.
I just have a hell of a time accepting that first one. It's got a lot of good ideas, but man I want a single great SA Luke from ANH. Yeah, hate me for wanting to buy a 2nd VOTC Luke ANH for $10. 
-ESB Hoth Rebel Soldier... White uniform him even though the vinty is in a brown vest. He's still a soldier by the card's picture, so I say do the soldier up. I figure if it exists, there's at least a remote chance it'll reship at some point.
-ESB Hoth Han Solo... Despite all the arguing and 2 coat colors, they still f'd that figure up with a wide leg pose and action feature. We need a new figure of Han Hoth... A removable hood and hat would be fantastic.
-ROTJ Endor Rebel Commando... Same as the Hoth Trooper but sculpt it like the vinty figure with the half opened coat. Very cool figure.
Then I think it'd be great if Hasbro canned VOTC and just made super articulated figures a standard thing throughout the basic line and re-released all the VOTC on basic cards throughout the line's life. Finally do something sensible with these fantastic figures. Hell I'll buy almost all of them over again but I pass on Han Cantina every time I've seen him repacked... Gimme VOTC and I'm buying.
Of course...
I also see the argument for rounding out the first 12 and calling it quits if they'd wisen up and do super articulation (or damn close ala the AT-AT Driver) as the line standard too... Be good for that lame early bird display stand.
-ANH: Death Squad Commander... I hope they don't do a cloth "skirt" piece on him but rather a sculpted (and flexible) one. Removable headset and helmet. I'd prefer they did him up grey on the VOTC card though, and later release the same figure in all black on a basic card. I DEFY you not to buy a dozen!
-ANH: Luke Skywalker Do-over... An all-sculpted Luke. Be cool if they included an apology Stormtrooper belt along with the figure.
I just have a hell of a time accepting that first one. It's got a lot of good ideas, but man I want a single great SA Luke from ANH. Yeah, hate me for wanting to buy a 2nd VOTC Luke ANH for $10. -ESB Hoth Rebel Soldier... White uniform him even though the vinty is in a brown vest. He's still a soldier by the card's picture, so I say do the soldier up. I figure if it exists, there's at least a remote chance it'll reship at some point.
-ESB Hoth Han Solo... Despite all the arguing and 2 coat colors, they still f'd that figure up with a wide leg pose and action feature. We need a new figure of Han Hoth... A removable hood and hat would be fantastic.
-ROTJ Endor Rebel Commando... Same as the Hoth Trooper but sculpt it like the vinty figure with the half opened coat. Very cool figure.
Then I think it'd be great if Hasbro canned VOTC and just made super articulated figures a standard thing throughout the basic line and re-released all the VOTC on basic cards throughout the line's life. Finally do something sensible with these fantastic figures. Hell I'll buy almost all of them over again but I pass on Han Cantina every time I've seen him repacked...
Gimme VOTC and I'm buying.Of course...
I also see the argument for rounding out the first 12 and calling it quits if they'd wisen up and do super articulation (or damn close ala the AT-AT Driver) as the line standard too... Be good for that lame early bird display stand.
17932
Saga Collection '06 / Re: 2006 vOTC (or vTSC) - now with pics!
« on: March 4, 2006, 03:30 AM »
Anton, I saw you mention that subject "elsewhere" too...
The supposed "retail experts" at that dump though, I have found anyway, to be talking completely out their ******** about what they THINK they know about retail costs/prices.
For instance, I worked for JC Penney's around 98/99 and saw some costs on things via their catalogue department... Figures cost a fraction to JC Penney's of what they charged, and their retail prices were comparable to Target/TRU at the time + shipping... So I'd imagine that Target and TRU were probably getting even better prices out of Hasbro and still charging about what Penney's catalogue charged. Especially because JCP wasn't a major buyer of these products and didn't carry them all year, or even carry point-of-sale items you could just pick up off the shelf. I was friends with a guy at TRU corporate at the time and we'd compare crap routinely and basically TRU blew JCP's margins on the same items out of the water but that was to be expected due to the relationships the two companies had with Hasbro...
JCP had enough leeway with figure costs to cut the price by like 50% and still profit off the figure. It was generally set that you could use coupons and incentives from the store or the catalogue, and JCP still made a lot of money. It was rare anything at all in the store was even clearanced to the point that something wasn't made financially off the item.
Now, I can't imagine that, between 1999 and 2006, that all of a sudden figures have just jumped in their margins for the manufacturer and the retailer to the point that the item's price can barely be fudged to where anyone's profiting. Total BS...
What I think Newforce does is give the best they can to be competitive while making the best they can while being competitive. I think EE's like Jeff said, that to an extent it's maybe some overhead issues but also that they probably consider themselves "premiere" on some level, which they are recognized for certain, so they can get away with that... They also maybe know that NewForce just doesn't do the same volume they do, and that they'll pick up those thousands of other sales that the limited NFC doesn't pick up (for whatever reason).
I have no doubt that Star Wars figures make retailers and Hasbro quite happy when they do well... like right now. I'm also quite sure these figures profit even when they're on sale, so I'm just glad to see New Force doing something for the fans by pricing stuff well... I'm sure that with their relatively small size that competing with Wal-Mart was a stretch for them, but still profitable or they wouldn't have done it (like you said).
Thusly, I have my order in there... I'm pondering a 2nd case from Rick even. I just hope I get my stuff is all. I haven't ordered for a while from there.
The supposed "retail experts" at that dump though, I have found anyway, to be talking completely out their ******** about what they THINK they know about retail costs/prices.
For instance, I worked for JC Penney's around 98/99 and saw some costs on things via their catalogue department... Figures cost a fraction to JC Penney's of what they charged, and their retail prices were comparable to Target/TRU at the time + shipping... So I'd imagine that Target and TRU were probably getting even better prices out of Hasbro and still charging about what Penney's catalogue charged. Especially because JCP wasn't a major buyer of these products and didn't carry them all year, or even carry point-of-sale items you could just pick up off the shelf. I was friends with a guy at TRU corporate at the time and we'd compare crap routinely and basically TRU blew JCP's margins on the same items out of the water but that was to be expected due to the relationships the two companies had with Hasbro...
JCP had enough leeway with figure costs to cut the price by like 50% and still profit off the figure. It was generally set that you could use coupons and incentives from the store or the catalogue, and JCP still made a lot of money. It was rare anything at all in the store was even clearanced to the point that something wasn't made financially off the item.
Now, I can't imagine that, between 1999 and 2006, that all of a sudden figures have just jumped in their margins for the manufacturer and the retailer to the point that the item's price can barely be fudged to where anyone's profiting. Total BS...
What I think Newforce does is give the best they can to be competitive while making the best they can while being competitive. I think EE's like Jeff said, that to an extent it's maybe some overhead issues but also that they probably consider themselves "premiere" on some level, which they are recognized for certain, so they can get away with that... They also maybe know that NewForce just doesn't do the same volume they do, and that they'll pick up those thousands of other sales that the limited NFC doesn't pick up (for whatever reason).
I have no doubt that Star Wars figures make retailers and Hasbro quite happy when they do well... like right now. I'm also quite sure these figures profit even when they're on sale, so I'm just glad to see New Force doing something for the fans by pricing stuff well... I'm sure that with their relatively small size that competing with Wal-Mart was a stretch for them, but still profitable or they wouldn't have done it (like you said).
Thusly, I have my order in there... I'm pondering a 2nd case from Rick even. I just hope I get my stuff is all. I haven't ordered for a while from there.
17933
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Top 5 Hotties
« on: March 4, 2006, 03:01 AM »That and the guy beating up the punk guy while in line to see E3 are two positives in our column.
Missed that. . .
I saw it talked about somewhere... It's in a documentary called, I think, Star Wait... About people waiting in line to see E3 at Manne's Chinese Theatre or some such. A punk group that I guess are part of a known band came by and started heckling the line when some big guy got out of line and basically called their bluff... the punk guys lost miserably.
Anyway, that one girl Hemish posted, is that Beth Ostrosky? If it is (looks a lot like her) you have to keep in mind she ain't short... She's Howard Stern's Girlfriend (and a lovely Pittsburgh Native), and matches his height quite well when they're pictured together. Definitely a hot pocket to me.
This image of her (showed earlier in this thread) has always floored me...
Oh what it must be to have a ****load of $ and get that.
Some Beth O tidbits... She lived (and her parents still do) in Fox Chapel, a suburb of Pittsburgh with lots of the wealthy... I am through that way often actually, it's sorta nice. Craig Patrick (Penguin's GM), and Bill Cowher (Steelers Head Coach) both live there...
Beth O's mother was the first to learn who she was dating, but at first only knew it was a celebrity of some kind... When Beth told her mother it was Howard Stern, her mother hung up on her and didn't speak to her for 3 weeks.
Sorry to get off country chicks... Did Shania Twain get brought up yet? If not, she'd be a daisy right now... I hate her, but she's fun to look at.
17934
Feedback / Re: BrentS's feedback
« on: March 3, 2006, 04:35 AM »
Brent hooked up my Wookiee army a bit more recently with two new furballs.
I appreciate the help from Brent and his fast shipping and easy communications. Another great trade in the books!
I appreciate the help from Brent and his fast shipping and easy communications. Another great trade in the books!
17935
Titanium Series, Action Fleet and Micro Machines / Re: Titanium Series 3.75" Forged Figures
« on: March 3, 2006, 04:10 AM »
How do they look in person Jon?
17936
Toy Reviews / Re: New JD Review: Princess Leia (Boushh Disguise)
« on: March 2, 2006, 07:21 PM »
She has 'em Anton. That's one of my pro's to her actually. One of the reasons she got a positive review from me over a negative. To me knee joints are not expendable in this day and age... Even on lowly generals and officers that arne't "interesting" too much. The knee joint makes them a better toy, and so goes Leia as well. She's the best of the wave.
Her right forearm's sculpt is my complaint. It's so pre-posed it negates the positives of articulation almost completely.
But yeah she's gots the knees... I love the sculpt too, it's so superior to its predecessor. The helmet's oversized look is spot-on.
That's one of my pro's to her actually. One of the reasons she got a positive review from me over a negative. To me knee joints are not expendable in this day and age... Even on lowly generals and officers that arne't "interesting" too much. The knee joint makes them a better toy, and so goes Leia as well. She's the best of the wave.Her right forearm's sculpt is my complaint. It's so pre-posed it negates the positives of articulation almost completely.
But yeah she's gots the knees... I love the sculpt too, it's so superior to its predecessor. The helmet's oversized look is spot-on.
17937
Revenge of the Sith / Re: Buzz Droid????????
« on: March 2, 2006, 07:17 PM »
I would almost expect it at some point Guttersnipe. That's the kinda thing that just makes sense...
Wait, what am I talking about, when it makes sense they rarely do it.
Wait, what am I talking about, when it makes sense they rarely do it.
17938
Revenge of the Sith / Re: TRU 2-pks
« on: March 2, 2006, 07:16 PM »
Yeah it's a pretty good deal really. Jim, if your area happens to have any WOokiee Heavy Gunner figs on a 2-pack I'd be in to picking a couple up off you. They were non-existant out here, as were the 501st Clone. 
17939
Revenge of the Sith / Re: Target Exclusive Utapau Shadow Trooper
« on: March 2, 2006, 04:26 AM »
Damn.
I have a Bibble to trade for an Ascension Amidala if someone wanted to (loose). Eh, it's a thought anyway.
I have a Bibble to trade for an Ascension Amidala if someone wanted to (loose).
Eh, it's a thought anyway.
17940
Power of the Force 2 / Re: The Beginning of POTF2
« on: March 2, 2006, 02:48 AM »
I saw them for the first time at Hills... *sigh* Oh good times. I am amazed at moments how far this line's come in quality, and yet somehow I'm equally (or moreso) amazed at how Hasbro DOESN'T improve quality in certain ways across the board. They simply refuse to.
Still, they're kind of like vinty's in that they hold a special place with me... Ugly as they may be, they were all there was at the time and nobody knew if these were going to continue like they have.
I remember my customizing was turned around completely at the time though. That was one of the big things that came with the new line for me since I knew they weren't overall appealing, but I also knew they had potential.
Still, they're kind of like vinty's in that they hold a special place with me... Ugly as they may be, they were all there was at the time and nobody knew if these were going to continue like they have.
I remember my customizing was turned around completely at the time though. That was one of the big things that came with the new line for me since I knew they weren't overall appealing, but I also knew they had potential.