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!
![](http://www.toymania.com/toyshows/tf2003/images/tf03bbi15.jpg)
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.