I'm cool with most of these.

1.Cal Alder
2.Toryn Farr
3.Wyron Serper
4.R5-M2
6.Derek "Hobbie" Klivian
7.Wes Janson
8.Captain Lennox
9.Captain Needa
11.Bridge Technician
14.Lieutenant Sheckil
16.Bespin Guard #1
17.Bespin Guard #2
18.Bespin Guard #3
19.E-3PO
20.Willrow Hood "Ice Cream Maker Guy"
21.Treva Horme
22.Utris M'Toc
23.Wiorkettle
24.IG-88 B
25.Princess Leia (Medical Frigate)
26.Luke Skywalker (Medical Frigate)
27.Lando Calrissian (Smuggler)


And I'd add a few more...
-Treat Williams as either a Bespin Guard or Rebel Trooper
-Rebel Trooper with Tauntauns
-Rebel Trooper in trench "We've spotted Imperial walkers on the south ridge"
-Rebel Trooper in trench w/ facial hair "Come on"
-SA resculpt of Snowspeeder pilot Luke w/ all his gear (holster, blaster, mine, grappling hook, lightsaber)
-SA resculpt of Snowspeeder pilot Wedge
-Hoth version of Force spirit Obi-Wan

The ludicrous thing that this thread screams out to me is that nobody is investigating WHY Hasbro felt the need to scale the Sith Infiltrator down.  And it all boils down to WalMart.  WalMart remains Hasbro's biggest account, is the US's largest retail outlet for toy sales, and as a result holds great sway over what Hasbro can and cannot sell.  If WalMart does not want a $39.99 Sith Infiltrator in their stores in a non-movie year, then Hasbro has to fall in line.  In fact WalMart holds that kind of influence with a number of manufacturers who want their products in WalMart stores.

So is there outrage over that part of the equation?  Not really.  Because people don't want to look that deeply into the issue.  Personally it makes me want to avoid WalMart stores at all costs.  And for the most part I do except for when they have an exclusive.  I'd rather shop at Toys R Us and Target stores.

Now did Hasbro miss the boat on the Sith Infiltrator?  Yes.  They had their window of opportunity and let it pass them by.  They should have produced this in 1999 when Star Wars was DOMINATING toy sections.  In 1999 they could have made the Sith Infiltrator in a scale that might be more appropriate, but probably would have been somewhat scaled down in order to sell at a $39.99 price point.  WalMart would have carried it at that time.  But like I said, that time has passed and I'm sure there are a number of people at Hasbro who wish they could do the EPISODE I line all over again.

It does seem like the vehicle case packouts are being steered in certain directions.  After all of the talk on a number of message boards complaining about another Jedi Starfighter repaint, look what we got in the most current assault vehicle case:  the Saesee Tiin Jedi Starfighter is one per case, and the white TIE Fighter is packed in that case in greater numbers.  In this regard it seems that Hasbro is listening to collectors, but they're still interested in getting older vehicles out to people who are coming late to the party.

The guiding force here seems to be Hasbro's desire to keep the major hero vehicles in the mix.  And the people buying those pieces don't appear to be the core collecting crowd that's out here on the web day in, day out.  Hasbro is going by sales numbers when they come up with reissues like the Obi-Wan Kenobi starfighter which has now been a part of three seperate lines.

Here's my personal hope:  that the talk of a hyperdrive ring in the Q&A sessions was real, and perhaps the reason we're getting these reissues is to have something on the market that could mate with that hyperdrive ring.

Any more reports of the ROTS wave being found in the U.S. of A?

I saw a couple of dealers with 30AC figures at the NY Comic Con over the weekend, but I haven't seen them at regular retail.

While I was speaking with one of these guys on the phone I overheard him telling the person who I think is his webguy to update the website with some sold out indications.  Oh well. 

It's probably going to have the same wings as the POTJ TIE Interceptor.  But as memory serves me, I think that version still had the battery compartment on the back of the cockpit.  This new version could have the resculpted cockpit as well as the new hatch that's on the new white TIE Fighter.  And if they pack in the OTC TIE Fighter Pilot I'll be happy.

Scored some TSC figures through various means this week, including 4 x Elite Corps Troopers, 1 x Combat Engineer Clone and 1 x Kashyyyk Camo Battle Droid 2-pack.

I was very happy to see The Black Knight in Hasbro's ML case last night.  But I really wish that the sculptors might have tried to get some texture in the chainmail of his armor.  It just isn't there.

As for the 5" Spiderman figures?  I have to admit that I'm somewhat impressed.  I took some pics last night and hopefully I'll get them posted soon, but these looked really sharp.  Whether or not they'll sell is another item entirely.