Gigatron
Sr Member
Hey gang.
Don't know if this really falls under props but it seems more relevant than off topic. Anyway, on with the review.
First off, this has got to be one of the coolest 12" figures I have come across in the 10+ yrs I've been collecting 12" figures (everything from star wars to military (not g.i. joe)). There are so many things "right" with it that it's hard to find fault with the things that are wrong.
First off, packaging:
The external slip cover has the really cool "holographic" look (actually chameleon color - think holographic in '80s terms). The internal packaging is very cool as well. Done in a flip box style, the artwork on the box is a non-reflective version of the slip cover. Once you flip open the box, you get a peek of the major components of the figure (but not the figure itself - and there's probably a very good reason) such as the armor, BDUs, rulse rifle, VP70 and other accessories.
Overall: :thumbsup nicely done and the packaging itself is display worthy. It would have been nice to see different artwork on the inside, but it's not that big of a deal.
Next, inside the box:
They used those formed plastic trays that usually keeps you from getting anything out without breaking them. Thankfully, this was not the case this time. The trays were formed so the pieces would sit where they're supposed to but come right out. No pinching trays and none of those god-awful plastic wire-ties.
There are 3 levels of trays, the top tray is the "keeper" (keeps things from falling out of the others - duh :lol). The second tray holds all the doo-dads and the figure itself. The third tray holds the mount/base/stand (whatever you'd like to call it).
Overall: :thumbsup Everything is nicely seperated AND easily removed. Other than that, what more can you ask for from a plastic tray.
Now to the good stuff :love
The body:
Oy, where do I start? It first seems like a standard Dragon or bbi body kit, but, you have to assemble the entire figure yourself. There's a reason this figure is labled as a poseable model kit. The chest comes in 2 sections (front half and back half). You have to insert the shoulder sections into the back chest half and the lower torso section also hangs on a post in the chest section. Then you have to try and snap the front chest half on while balancing the shoulders in the back half. The biggest trouble comes from how the front half snaps in to the back half. It's not simple posts. There's also some sort of clip, so the front half has to slide up from underneath to catch the clasp and then seat the posts. This part alone took a better part of 45 minutes (between trying to balance the shoulders while fastening the front half). Next, you have to screw the two halves together using the supplied screws and screwdriver. The screwdriver is the biggest waste of material known to mankind. The blade is something as strong as pot metal. It twisted out of shape just screwing the thing together. I ended getting one of my own 00 philips screwdrivers and using that. Next come forearms and calves. Thankfully, they just push right in to the arm and thigh sections that are part of the torso. You still have to add the hands, head and feet (already inserted in the boots - the smartest thing I've seen with a 12" figure)
Overall: :thumbsdown . Too much work for a fancy toy. They could have supplied you with a preassembled body (minus hands, feet and head) and saved everyone a lot of grief. This is definitely not a kids toy in this regard. It's going to take some serious adult intervention.
Armor:
The armor is amazing. The scale is absolutely perfect. Usually with these types of things, the armor is either too big or too small. Here, the scale is dead on. With the right camera, in the right setting, you would think you were looking at the full size stuff.
Everything is perfectly replicated from paint colors and scheme to the rivets on the backsides holding the straps. Every buckle is present and functional. The chest armor has the little door latch and padlock (which moves around and is removable - which I found out by accident). Even his little crotch key is there. The butt and ab armor is all one part of the torso armor.
The shoulder bells are 2 piece, just like the film and allow for absolute flexibility without any restriction of movement.
The helmet has the earcup on a strap so it moves as well as the lobstertail. The tail though, is all one piece as compared to 3 seperate plates. The earcup has the boom mic (which swivels) as well. There is a pull down IR sight in the helmet with cool little graphics on the screen.
The leg armor is done perfectly as well. The shin, calf and knee plates are all seperate pieces held together by straps.
The interesting thing about the armor is that the back of each piece is painted silver (to replicate the metal) and each strap is attached via a simulated rivet. Talk about going above and beyond the attention to detail.
The only thing I didn't like is on the back armor. There is a bracket for sliding the shoulder light (which I'll describe later on) on. The problem is is that there is a second bracket which interferes with this. It's way too close to allow the light assembly to slide on. I ended up pulling it off and gluing it back on after the light was attached. I'm not happy about it, but there was no way around it.
Only thing I would have liked to see done differently is the weathering - where is it? It looks like this armor just came from the metal shop. I may have to fix that with some silver rubn'buff
Overall: :thumbsup :thumbsup (It's that good, despite the back armor issue)
BDUs / clothing:
They perfectly replicated the colors and that wierd frog pattern. All patches are present and accounted for. And on top of that, they're even legible.
The sleeves come pre-rolled so you don't have to mess with that.
The cut, size and drape are perfect for this figure.
The boots are great. Real laces (though kind of hard to tie at that scale) and well done weathering - looks like they've seen some action
Overall: :thumbsup Anyone who has collected 12" Hasbro star wars figures can attest to how bad clothing can ruin an otherwise cool figure.
Weapons:
The Pulse Rifle is near perfect. The proportions seem to be dead on. Both triggers are present (sometimes the GL trigger is missing even on full size replicas). The pump action actually pumps and the stock really extends. The clip is also removable, but alas, no simulated 10mm caseless rounds.
My only 2 gripes with the PR is the sling in too short to function with the PR in the "rest" position (being carried at waist height) and the counter decal is white and reads 99 (instead of red and 95). Other than that, absolutely perfect.
The VP70 is very cool. It has a removeable clip but no other function. It fits well in the holster.
The Shotgun is kind of boring. The pump does not pump, but at least they used a close enough model.
The knife looks just like a knife (I don't remember seeing them use it in the movies) but it is removable from it's gravity sheath on the webgear.
It also comes with 6 individual PR grenades. Painted silver with a red stripe (though no red cap, so these suckers a ready to blow), they fit perfectly in to the web gear.
Overall: :thumbsup The functionality of some of the weapons adds a really cool "WOW" factor.
WEB GEAR:
This essentially is the 2 vertical straps for the grenades, a web belt, a holster and two pouches.
The VP70 holster is nice in that is exactly replicates that weird, quilted / upholstered look of the original.
The grenades straps are scaled perfectly and fit the grenades just right. Usually, you'll end up with elastic loops that are either too loose (so the grenades constantly fall out) or too tight (so you can't get them in there to begin with and you just give up).
It's nice to see that the two pouches are actually made of material instead of the plastic molded pouches you usually get with figures in this scale. I believe they're filled with foam, so I don't know if you can use them for actual storage.
The shotgun holster (I know, techinically not web gear but wasn't sure where else it would fit) Actually looks like fake leather with that weird stitched look. It also appears to have a metal buckle on the chest strap, but I haven't verified it. The closing loop doesn't work a damn though. It won't stay closed, but I guess nothing is perfect.
Overall: :thumbsup The grenade straps and pouches are the saving grace of the otherwise boring web gear.
The Doo-Dads:
This figure comes with an enormous amount of doo-dads, which could either be a blessing or a curse.
Included is Hicks' wrist watch / tracker. Nothing fancy, but you know what it is. You have to put this on his wrist before his hand, other wise, you'll end up taking his hand off later on. You also get the cylindrical tracker (the one Ripley uses to track Newt). Again, nothing facny; a black tube with some simple graphics.
You also get some little strap that I can only figure out to be an arm band of some sort
You also get the briefly seen welder/cutter. Since It's only seen on screen for a few seconds, I can't vouch for it's accuracy. But the screen moves and it has a strap for hanging it off the web belt.
Now for the afforementioned shoulder lamp. It's built and painted so it looks like it has a bulb in it. The first time I looked at it, I had to do a double take. The lamp head rotates back and forth,and pivots side to side. the lamp also rotates at the base of the unit. The handle also has a bit of movement to it.
And the piece de resistance, the motion tracker. It looks like a scaled down version of the MR tracker. The viewer rotates and has a decal that simulates the tracker screen. Every detail is present on that little sucker. Absolutely cool.
Overall: :thumbsup Just for the accuracy and sheer number of gadgets you get.
The Head:
It's deffinately Michael Beihn, no doubt about it. The paint application and skin tones are great. My only beef is with his eyes. The way they painted them (at least on mine), it looks like he's having trouble staying awake.
I'd say the likeness is 90% there. These things are never dead on accurate.
Overall: :thumbsup Even a casual observer of the movie would know who it's supposed to be
Directions:
:thumbsdown . The instruction sheet is nothing more than 4 hand drawn panels that only sorta, kinda show where things go. They show a picture of the body on the left and the accessory they're talking about on the right. Then they use arrows to show you where on the body they're supposed to go. Only those intimate with the Aliens universe would have a full grasp of where and how things attach.
Overall: Obvious :thumbsdown
Figure Overall: :thumbsup :thumbsup Once it's built (which could take the better part of two hours) you will have one of the coolest 12" figures mankind has ever seen. The only problem is that you might give up on it before you ever get there.
This figure is an excercise in patience and mecahnical know how. If you don't have one or the other, you may want to pay someone to build it for you. If you don't have either, stay far, far away :lol .
Anyway, I'll try and get some pics up tonight for your viewing pleasure.
Enjoy.
-Fred
Don't know if this really falls under props but it seems more relevant than off topic. Anyway, on with the review.
First off, this has got to be one of the coolest 12" figures I have come across in the 10+ yrs I've been collecting 12" figures (everything from star wars to military (not g.i. joe)). There are so many things "right" with it that it's hard to find fault with the things that are wrong.
First off, packaging:
The external slip cover has the really cool "holographic" look (actually chameleon color - think holographic in '80s terms). The internal packaging is very cool as well. Done in a flip box style, the artwork on the box is a non-reflective version of the slip cover. Once you flip open the box, you get a peek of the major components of the figure (but not the figure itself - and there's probably a very good reason) such as the armor, BDUs, rulse rifle, VP70 and other accessories.
Overall: :thumbsup nicely done and the packaging itself is display worthy. It would have been nice to see different artwork on the inside, but it's not that big of a deal.
Next, inside the box:
They used those formed plastic trays that usually keeps you from getting anything out without breaking them. Thankfully, this was not the case this time. The trays were formed so the pieces would sit where they're supposed to but come right out. No pinching trays and none of those god-awful plastic wire-ties.
There are 3 levels of trays, the top tray is the "keeper" (keeps things from falling out of the others - duh :lol). The second tray holds all the doo-dads and the figure itself. The third tray holds the mount/base/stand (whatever you'd like to call it).
Overall: :thumbsup Everything is nicely seperated AND easily removed. Other than that, what more can you ask for from a plastic tray.
Now to the good stuff :love
The body:
Oy, where do I start? It first seems like a standard Dragon or bbi body kit, but, you have to assemble the entire figure yourself. There's a reason this figure is labled as a poseable model kit. The chest comes in 2 sections (front half and back half). You have to insert the shoulder sections into the back chest half and the lower torso section also hangs on a post in the chest section. Then you have to try and snap the front chest half on while balancing the shoulders in the back half. The biggest trouble comes from how the front half snaps in to the back half. It's not simple posts. There's also some sort of clip, so the front half has to slide up from underneath to catch the clasp and then seat the posts. This part alone took a better part of 45 minutes (between trying to balance the shoulders while fastening the front half). Next, you have to screw the two halves together using the supplied screws and screwdriver. The screwdriver is the biggest waste of material known to mankind. The blade is something as strong as pot metal. It twisted out of shape just screwing the thing together. I ended getting one of my own 00 philips screwdrivers and using that. Next come forearms and calves. Thankfully, they just push right in to the arm and thigh sections that are part of the torso. You still have to add the hands, head and feet (already inserted in the boots - the smartest thing I've seen with a 12" figure)
Overall: :thumbsdown . Too much work for a fancy toy. They could have supplied you with a preassembled body (minus hands, feet and head) and saved everyone a lot of grief. This is definitely not a kids toy in this regard. It's going to take some serious adult intervention.
Armor:
The armor is amazing. The scale is absolutely perfect. Usually with these types of things, the armor is either too big or too small. Here, the scale is dead on. With the right camera, in the right setting, you would think you were looking at the full size stuff.
Everything is perfectly replicated from paint colors and scheme to the rivets on the backsides holding the straps. Every buckle is present and functional. The chest armor has the little door latch and padlock (which moves around and is removable - which I found out by accident). Even his little crotch key is there. The butt and ab armor is all one part of the torso armor.
The shoulder bells are 2 piece, just like the film and allow for absolute flexibility without any restriction of movement.
The helmet has the earcup on a strap so it moves as well as the lobstertail. The tail though, is all one piece as compared to 3 seperate plates. The earcup has the boom mic (which swivels) as well. There is a pull down IR sight in the helmet with cool little graphics on the screen.
The leg armor is done perfectly as well. The shin, calf and knee plates are all seperate pieces held together by straps.
The interesting thing about the armor is that the back of each piece is painted silver (to replicate the metal) and each strap is attached via a simulated rivet. Talk about going above and beyond the attention to detail.
The only thing I didn't like is on the back armor. There is a bracket for sliding the shoulder light (which I'll describe later on) on. The problem is is that there is a second bracket which interferes with this. It's way too close to allow the light assembly to slide on. I ended up pulling it off and gluing it back on after the light was attached. I'm not happy about it, but there was no way around it.
Only thing I would have liked to see done differently is the weathering - where is it? It looks like this armor just came from the metal shop. I may have to fix that with some silver rubn'buff
Overall: :thumbsup :thumbsup (It's that good, despite the back armor issue)
BDUs / clothing:
They perfectly replicated the colors and that wierd frog pattern. All patches are present and accounted for. And on top of that, they're even legible.
The sleeves come pre-rolled so you don't have to mess with that.
The cut, size and drape are perfect for this figure.
The boots are great. Real laces (though kind of hard to tie at that scale) and well done weathering - looks like they've seen some action
Overall: :thumbsup Anyone who has collected 12" Hasbro star wars figures can attest to how bad clothing can ruin an otherwise cool figure.
Weapons:
The Pulse Rifle is near perfect. The proportions seem to be dead on. Both triggers are present (sometimes the GL trigger is missing even on full size replicas). The pump action actually pumps and the stock really extends. The clip is also removable, but alas, no simulated 10mm caseless rounds.
My only 2 gripes with the PR is the sling in too short to function with the PR in the "rest" position (being carried at waist height) and the counter decal is white and reads 99 (instead of red and 95). Other than that, absolutely perfect.
The VP70 is very cool. It has a removeable clip but no other function. It fits well in the holster.
The Shotgun is kind of boring. The pump does not pump, but at least they used a close enough model.
The knife looks just like a knife (I don't remember seeing them use it in the movies) but it is removable from it's gravity sheath on the webgear.
It also comes with 6 individual PR grenades. Painted silver with a red stripe (though no red cap, so these suckers a ready to blow), they fit perfectly in to the web gear.
Overall: :thumbsup The functionality of some of the weapons adds a really cool "WOW" factor.
WEB GEAR:
This essentially is the 2 vertical straps for the grenades, a web belt, a holster and two pouches.
The VP70 holster is nice in that is exactly replicates that weird, quilted / upholstered look of the original.
The grenades straps are scaled perfectly and fit the grenades just right. Usually, you'll end up with elastic loops that are either too loose (so the grenades constantly fall out) or too tight (so you can't get them in there to begin with and you just give up).
It's nice to see that the two pouches are actually made of material instead of the plastic molded pouches you usually get with figures in this scale. I believe they're filled with foam, so I don't know if you can use them for actual storage.
The shotgun holster (I know, techinically not web gear but wasn't sure where else it would fit) Actually looks like fake leather with that weird stitched look. It also appears to have a metal buckle on the chest strap, but I haven't verified it. The closing loop doesn't work a damn though. It won't stay closed, but I guess nothing is perfect.
Overall: :thumbsup The grenade straps and pouches are the saving grace of the otherwise boring web gear.
The Doo-Dads:
This figure comes with an enormous amount of doo-dads, which could either be a blessing or a curse.
Included is Hicks' wrist watch / tracker. Nothing fancy, but you know what it is. You have to put this on his wrist before his hand, other wise, you'll end up taking his hand off later on. You also get the cylindrical tracker (the one Ripley uses to track Newt). Again, nothing facny; a black tube with some simple graphics.
You also get some little strap that I can only figure out to be an arm band of some sort
You also get the briefly seen welder/cutter. Since It's only seen on screen for a few seconds, I can't vouch for it's accuracy. But the screen moves and it has a strap for hanging it off the web belt.
Now for the afforementioned shoulder lamp. It's built and painted so it looks like it has a bulb in it. The first time I looked at it, I had to do a double take. The lamp head rotates back and forth,and pivots side to side. the lamp also rotates at the base of the unit. The handle also has a bit of movement to it.
And the piece de resistance, the motion tracker. It looks like a scaled down version of the MR tracker. The viewer rotates and has a decal that simulates the tracker screen. Every detail is present on that little sucker. Absolutely cool.
Overall: :thumbsup Just for the accuracy and sheer number of gadgets you get.
The Head:
It's deffinately Michael Beihn, no doubt about it. The paint application and skin tones are great. My only beef is with his eyes. The way they painted them (at least on mine), it looks like he's having trouble staying awake.
I'd say the likeness is 90% there. These things are never dead on accurate.
Overall: :thumbsup Even a casual observer of the movie would know who it's supposed to be
Directions:
:thumbsdown . The instruction sheet is nothing more than 4 hand drawn panels that only sorta, kinda show where things go. They show a picture of the body on the left and the accessory they're talking about on the right. Then they use arrows to show you where on the body they're supposed to go. Only those intimate with the Aliens universe would have a full grasp of where and how things attach.
Overall: Obvious :thumbsdown
Figure Overall: :thumbsup :thumbsup Once it's built (which could take the better part of two hours) you will have one of the coolest 12" figures mankind has ever seen. The only problem is that you might give up on it before you ever get there.
This figure is an excercise in patience and mecahnical know how. If you don't have one or the other, you may want to pay someone to build it for you. If you don't have either, stay far, far away :lol .
Anyway, I'll try and get some pics up tonight for your viewing pleasure.
Enjoy.
-Fred
