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The Vintage Collection / Re: TVC and Tariff Pricing
« on: May 8, 2025, 04:14 PM »
I've had more than Kenough of these tariffs.
Bringing Balance to the Force
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32
The Vintage Collection / Re: Andor Product Line Wishlist
« on: May 8, 2025, 02:49 AM »I was going to type a whole thing here after watching S2 7-8-9 arc, but I'll settle for...
Come on, Hasbro. *sigh*
Seriously, my list is so long.
33
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2025 TVC Streets of Mos Eisley Playset
« on: May 8, 2025, 02:46 AM »
Another good, but not great set. Overall, the sculpt was great and I like the included accessories/figure, but I have some gripes. 1) By far, the biggest detractor for me is the completely flat and lifeless paint application that has affected so many other offerings in TVC lately. 2) the connection points are somewhat unsightly and seem like they should be able to be hidden by the tall exaust accesessoy, but they can't 3) While it is cool that you get two versions of stairs to choose from, the large size makes it so that the wall cannot go directly against the back of the shelf. 4) The droid can be removed, but leaves an unsightly little nubbin behind. 5) I kind of wish we had gotten a street-level door matching the one that 3PO and R2 hide in. 6) The sculpt inside the archway lacks any texture.
I decided to try and fix some of these issues myself. I did a full repaint of the entire set, took a saw to the center of the stairs so that the facade can sit against the back of a shelf, and removed and plugged the droid ports. Overall, I'm thrilled with how it turned out, even if the walls are a bit dark. In the future, I may do more to hide the connection points and droid ports, but am happy with it for now. If this set ever makes it to clearance, I'll probably pick up a few more.
I decided to try and fix some of these issues myself. I did a full repaint of the entire set, took a saw to the center of the stairs so that the facade can sit against the back of a shelf, and removed and plugged the droid ports. Overall, I'm thrilled with how it turned out, even if the walls are a bit dark. In the future, I may do more to hide the connection points and droid ports, but am happy with it for now. If this set ever makes it to clearance, I'll probably pick up a few more.
34
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2025 Hasbro May the 4th Fan Stream Reveals
« on: May 5, 2025, 02:44 PM »In the TVC Facebook group one of the admins is stating that the Stormtrooper 3-pack was limited to 2300 units, and the Cantina set was limited to 3500 units for the May The Fourth drop on Hasbro Pulse. Those numbers seem really low to me.
I was somehow able to order everything, but it was confusing. I was 10 minutes late getting in, was able to find Obi-Wan and the Stormtrooper re-issue off the front page. Had a pain trying to find the multi-packs... had to individually search for them, but as I was searching for the Trooper 3-pack, the suggestion bar had the Stormtrooper below with a "sold out" note on it. Put the multi-packs in the cart and checked out figuring I'd have to adjust my order for the Stormtrooper, but everything went through.
Yeah, that'd be crazy low for the total production run. That would be a substantially smaller run than the HasLab Cantina pack-ins. I've gotta hope there will be more in a few weeks/months, even if they end up being $10-$20 more with the tariffs.
35
Disney Parks Droid Factory / Re: 2025 Disney Parks Book of Boba Fett Droid Factory 4-Pack
« on: May 5, 2025, 12:05 AM »
Yet another one I missed. I can't believe these ALL sold out today.
36
Disney Parks Droid Factory / Re: 2025 Disney Star Tours Starspeeder 1000
« on: May 4, 2025, 11:46 PM »I went ahead and ordered this assuming that I won’t get charged until it ships. I figured that will at least give me options for later if it sells out - I don’t think it’ll sell out though. I am assuming this one is going to be mass produced. If nothing else I’ll have time to figure out what the deal is with the figures and what the best way to get those is if I need to get them at all.
Just like everything else on Pulse today, this one also pre-sold out before I was able to grab one. It is sure seems like these are all being affected by potential supply shortages.
37
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2025 Hasbro May the 4th Fan Stream Reveals
« on: May 4, 2025, 06:19 PM »
Wow... I picked a great day to wait on pre-orders until the afternoon. I missed literally all of the new reveals. Hopefully they come back in stock in the next few days. :'( 
I have to confess Rob, the Catholic guilt is overwhelming me now....Ryan and I have been sneaking into your place at night and slightly yellowing your stormtroopers.You promised you wouldn't narc on us!!!
Since Matt confessed first, he gets the plea deal. Sorry Ryan.
38
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2025 Hasbro May the 4th Fan Stream Reveals
« on: May 2, 2025, 03:44 PM »
Well, I'm very surprised that we didn't see Han & Chewie but am very pleasantly surprised with the "Stormtroopers of the Empire" & "Cantina Adventure Set"! I really wish Hasbro had updated the Biker Scout's shoulders with new shoulder armor style, too, but the set still looks really nice overall. The Cantina set is a great throwback, but will also help add some alien variety to my displays.
It is interesting to see they managed to get the new Hammerhead onto a standard card, w/ a standard bubble. It is almost like the regular version didn't need to be a Deluxe figure at all...
Obi-Wan looks fantastic. Just like the recent Luke/Leia/Lando Hasbro nailed Sir Alec Guinness's likeness. I'm never going to complain when a stormtrooper gets repacked. I like the new cardback and will probably grab a few more to add to the army.
You promised you wouldn't narc on us!!!
It is interesting to see they managed to get the new Hammerhead onto a standard card, w/ a standard bubble. It is almost like the regular version didn't need to be a Deluxe figure at all...
Obi-Wan looks fantastic. Just like the recent Luke/Leia/Lando Hasbro nailed Sir Alec Guinness's likeness. I'm never going to complain when a stormtrooper gets repacked. I like the new cardback and will probably grab a few more to add to the army.
I have to confess Rob, the Catholic guilt is overwhelming me now....Ryan and I have been sneaking into your place at night and slightly yellowing your stormtroopers.
You promised you wouldn't narc on us!!!
39
Disney Parks Droid Factory / Re: 2025 Disney Star Tours Starspeeder 1000
« on: May 1, 2025, 01:54 PM »
Depending on price, I may be in on this one.
40
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2025 Hasbro May the 4th Fan Stream Reveals
« on: May 1, 2025, 12:31 PM »
I wonder if we will get any TVC reveals beyond Han, Chewie, & Obi-Wan (which they have to have been saving for May 4th at this point)? Hopefully, there are at least one or two surprises in there too.
41
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2025 TVC Wave 3 (New TVC Wave 42)
« on: April 30, 2025, 02:23 AM »
Shin arrived today from Amazon. She's good, but definitely not great.
The body sculpt and articulation is pretty solid, though her shoulder armor should have a few noticeable triangular accents on it that are sculpted way too small. Unfortunately, most of the deco feels pretty flat, she needs a paint wash to bring out the clothing detail and make it look more worn. I felt most let down with the head, but Hasbro didn't quite capture Ivanna Sakhno in TBS either. The likeness just isn't quite right, especially compared to so many other figures we've been getting lately. I was looking at the sculpt pretty closely, and I think it is mostly the nose and the eyes that feel off. The tip of her nose should be a bit more upturned and her eyes a little deeper set. The paint-app on the face doesn't help either; the eyes could have had more of a dark shadow to help sell them, and her beauty marks, while they are present, are so faint and small that they are almost unnoticeable. At this scale, I think Hasbro could have cheated those to be a little larger so that they are more visible, since they are a prominent feature of the actress's face. Shin's hair is also missing a paint wash to give her the darker roots and a bit of depth, as well as some detailing painting on her braid. And of course, there is the issue of the missing cloak.
All that being said, it is not a bad figure by any means and is still good to finally get Shin in the line. I'm going to grab an extra to fix the paint apps up a bit. I may see if I can boil her head and reposition the nose a little bit too, but I don't want to flatten it. Hopefully, that should address most of my issues with her.
My Baylan is coming in a case from EE, hopefully he isn't too far behind.
The body sculpt and articulation is pretty solid, though her shoulder armor should have a few noticeable triangular accents on it that are sculpted way too small. Unfortunately, most of the deco feels pretty flat, she needs a paint wash to bring out the clothing detail and make it look more worn. I felt most let down with the head, but Hasbro didn't quite capture Ivanna Sakhno in TBS either. The likeness just isn't quite right, especially compared to so many other figures we've been getting lately. I was looking at the sculpt pretty closely, and I think it is mostly the nose and the eyes that feel off. The tip of her nose should be a bit more upturned and her eyes a little deeper set. The paint-app on the face doesn't help either; the eyes could have had more of a dark shadow to help sell them, and her beauty marks, while they are present, are so faint and small that they are almost unnoticeable. At this scale, I think Hasbro could have cheated those to be a little larger so that they are more visible, since they are a prominent feature of the actress's face. Shin's hair is also missing a paint wash to give her the darker roots and a bit of depth, as well as some detailing painting on her braid. And of course, there is the issue of the missing cloak.
All that being said, it is not a bad figure by any means and is still good to finally get Shin in the line. I'm going to grab an extra to fix the paint apps up a bit. I may see if I can boil her head and reposition the nose a little bit too, but I don't want to flatten it. Hopefully, that should address most of my issues with her.
My Baylan is coming in a case from EE, hopefully he isn't too far behind.
42
The Vintage Collection / Re: TVC and Tariff Pricing
« on: April 22, 2025, 01:26 PM »It does seem there was a pre-tariff price hike of some sort. I really like BBTS and have used them several times this year to catch up on all the TVC I could, so I don't want to be disparaging.
However, a few weeks ago I ordered one of those Heavy Battle Droids from BF2 and it was $9.99. Now it's $11.99. I doubt they are paying an import fee now for a figure that has been on a clearance sale for weeks.
Noticed the same with the Peasant Disguise Anakin and their own BF2 Arc Trooper. Looks like a $2 increase across the board, clearance items included.
I will support the hobby as long as I can. Having recently gotten back in, I already had to mentally adjust from paying $7.99/figure to paying $16.99/figure.
What I don't want to happen is that BBTS, EE, and others like comic shops have to raise prices now while Amazon weathers the storm and siphons the customer base away.
I just lost my 2 closest Gamestops and only 1 Walmart by me regularly restocks TVC. Amazon can be great, but I don't want a future where they are the only reasonable option.
Yeah that sucks. :-(
It could be a situation where they raised the price of everything, even the stuff they had already imported and have in the warehouse, by a little bit to spread out the cost increase and avoid sharply raising prices on just the newly imported stuff, in hopes that the tariffs will go away before too long.
43
The Vintage Collection / Re: 2025 TVC Wave 5 (New TVC Wave 44)
« on: April 22, 2025, 01:20 PM »I'm keeping the mustache because only a clone would shave that thing off!
Unless that's what the original wanted you to think and shaved his off to blend in.
44
TV-9D9 / Re: Andor (SPOILERS possible)
« on: April 22, 2025, 11:37 AM »
We started a rewatch too, but only made it through the first six episodes because we were splitting time with a rewatch of The Last of Us & playoff hockey. I'll probably rewatch the finale right before the new premiere tonight. I am sooo excited for tonight. I have (one of) my Andor t-shirts on today and will be listening to the score throughout the workday. Like Dave, this is the highest expectations I've had for a SW series in a while, going in (and I generally like most of the shows). Looking at some of the press tour stuff lately and trusting in Tony Gilroy, I'm sure they won't disappoint.
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The Vintage Collection / Re: TVC and Tariff Pricing
« on: April 22, 2025, 11:32 AM »
I wonder what that says about the actual wholesale cost of a TVC figure...