Toys Tales

Aayla Secura in Premium Format

2012-02-01T20:14:00.004+08:00

Sideshow's latest Star Wars Premium Format figure is the Jedi Knight Aayla Secura!

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition comes with an additional 242nd Star Corps Clone Trooper Helmet (or is it a Clone Trooper head?) and is priced at USD$349.99 (before shipping and other fees).

The Regular Edition is also priced similarly but will not have the additional Clone Helmet (or is it a Clone Head? Lol.....).

New Alien Warrior Statue from Sideshow Collectibles

2012-02-01T20:07:00.003+08:00

From the film Aliens, the Alien Warrior statue from Sideshow Collectibles will be up for pre-order this Thursday or Friday, depending on the time zone where you are located.

As with the recently released Dog Alien statue, do take note of the product dimensions so that you will know what you can be expecting in terms of actual statue size and scale. ;-)

Priced at USD$249.99 (before shipping and other fees), the Sideshow Exclusive Edition will come with an Alien Face Hugger.

Alien 3 - Dog Alien Statue Just Arrived

2012-01-30T22:54:00.004+08:00

I just received my shipment of the Sideshow Collectibles' 1/5 scale Dog Alien Statue from the FedEx delivery guy.

First impression? Underwhelming. This figure certainly does not seem to be 1/5 in scale. Based on my personal estimate, it is more likely to be 1/7 or maybe even 1/8 in scale. The size comparison with the 1/6 scale Hot Toys Dog Alien can be seen in one of the two pictures below.

Ignore the crappy pictures for now as they are taken with a cellphone camera in low light conditions. Check back this blog soon for more in-hand pictures of this Dog Alien statue.

Star Wars - IG-88

2012-01-29T13:38:00.004+08:00

From the original trilogy, we were introduced to IG-88, a droid who is also a bounty hunter. This awesome 1/6 scale figure of IG-88 from Sideshow Collectibles is finally part of my collection!

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition comes with an additional Vibro Axe. Despite the slightly higher cost of buying this figure direct from Sideshow due to international shippping charges, I still go ahead and ordered direct from Sideshow because I simply must have that Vibro Axe for my IG-88!

Here is a picture of IG-88 in its original packaging. I will need to find some time to take this figure out of its box, played around with it and write a review of it on this blog.

Star Wars - Chancelor Palpatine and Darth Sidious 2-Pack

2012-01-29T13:23:00.005+08:00

The Chancelor Palpatine and Darth Sidious 2-Pack 1/6 scale figures were released by Sideshow several years ago. How time flies!

I missed out on this set during its initial release. Recently, I managed to get one set (new in box) off eBay at close to its original retail price. With enough PayPal funds to cover one-third of the cost, I couldn't resist clicking on the "Buy It Now" button. A week later, on 26 Jan 2012, the postal delivery guy knocked on my door with a package shipped from the US and this set is now part of my 1/6 scale figure and Star Wars collection.

The 2 pictures below show Chancelor Palpatine. Darth Sidious is still in the box waiting to be taken out for display in my collection room. I am rapidly running out of space to display my growing collection!

Star Wars - 442nd Siege Battalion Clone Trooper

2012-01-29T13:10:00.006+08:00

I collected this Clone Trooper and the EPII Phase I Clone Captain from my local retailer on 19 Jan 2012.

Essentially, this 442nd Siege Battalion Clone Trooper is a straight repaint using the standard EPIII Clone Trooper base figure. Even the accessories are exactly derived from the standard set that comes with every other recently released Clone Trooper. However, this is still an awesome figure. I particularly like the green-color camouflaged pattern that comes with this figure. Took it out of the box today and snapped a few quick pictures with my Canon IXUS-1oo IS Digital Camera.

Here are two of the pictures I took:

Star Wars - Infantry Battle Droids

2012-01-14T14:13:00.003+08:00

My newly arrived 1/6 scale Infantry Battle Droids.

Exclusive Edition shipped direct from Sideshow!

Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Red Skull

2012-01-06T23:25:00.002+08:00

Currently available for pre-order at almost all collectibles retailers is the 1/6 scale Red Skull figure as seen in the recent movie of Captain America, The First Avenger.

Priced at around USD$200, the price is a tad too steep for me though. As a result, I will not be placing any pre-order for this figure even though I think it is a great figure with an awesome head sculpt that bears an uncanny resemblance to the actor who portrayed the Red Skull character in the movie. Instead, I will wait for the figure to start shipping before I make my decision whether to make my purchase. This gives me more flexibility in planning my hobby budget. :-)

Figure Review: Sideshow 1/6 Scale Clone Commander

2011-12-28T14:48:00.005+08:00

This 1/6 scale Clone Commander features the so-called Phase 1 armor as seen in Episode II, Attack of the Clones.

This figure was released in July 2011 as an SDCC Exclusive.

Sculpt

No additional head sculpt is included with this figure. The Phase I armor is all that comes with this figure.

However, the helmet is relatively well made with nice paintwork. Personally, I am quite pleased with the way Sideshow made the helmet, including the visor.

Accessories

The figure comes with a generous assortment of extra hands. These extras provided lots of display options especially if the figure is displayed as part of a diorama. Popping the different hands in and out of their respective sockets is a breeze. To me, this is a plus point for any figure. If I am going to have lots of problems replacing the hands on their intended sockets, then there is no point in me having all these extra hands! Thankfully, this figure has no such problems.

Also included as part of the package is the standard long blaster and a short blaster carried by all Clone Troopers on the battlefield! I particularly like the long blaster as the figure looks kind of cool holding this weapon.

Overall Figure

Compared to the armored bodies used on their earlier Stormtrooper and Clone Trooper figures, Sideshow has stepped up several notches in their quality control for these “new” Clone Troopers. The overall figure comes with tight enough joints that allow the figures to hold their poses well even without the figure stand.

Priced at USD$94.99 (before shipping), this is a well-made figure that is well worth its price point.

Overall Rating

An overall rating of 4 out of 5 (4/5, 80%) is a fair assessment.

For those of you still on the fence on whether to buy this figure or not, go get it now before it sells out!

Lego - Pirates of the Caribbean

2011-12-28T12:15:00.004+08:00

So far, I have limited my Lego collection to only the Star Wars series. However, I recently bought two awesome Lego sets from the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

A 20% post-Christmas discount on these sets were too much to resist and for about USD$266, I have now in my collection, The Black Pearl and Queen Anne's Revenge! 2 magnificient ships from the Pirates of the Caribbean series!!

No time to fix them up for now though and they will stay unassembled in their repective boxes for the next few months, at least. :-)

My New Signature at Sideshow Freaks Board!

2011-11-28T20:44:00.004+08:00

Thanks to the creative talents of a fellow board member (Blade3327) over at the Sideshow Freaks Board, I have a new Star Wars-theme signature based on the adorable Wicket!

New Additons to my Collection - November 2011

2011-11-13T21:31:00.005+08:00

Another new addition to my collection in November 2011. And it is the Premium Format Black Orc of Mordor a.k.a. Black Orc Scout, Exclusive Edition from Sideshow Collectibles.

The FedEx delivery guy delivered this today and while I did not have much time to set this figure up for display, I simply have to open the box up to check that the figure inside is good with no missing or damaged parts. And thank goodness, everything is fine!

This is an awesome piece. Another home run for Sideshow! Somehow, Sideshow has managed to nail almost every single Premium Format figure from their Lord of the Rings license.

Some quick pictures below to share for now!

Premium Format Dutch

2011-11-12T22:18:00.002+08:00

Sideshow has put up for pre-order, the Dutch Premium Format figure based on the character as seen in the original Predator movie (1987).

The Exclusive Edition comes with an extra head sculpt and is priced at USD$349.99 (before shipping, taxes and other fees). The usual 10% NRD applies upon pre-order. Click on the picture below to see more product details!

New Additons to my Collection - November 2011

2011-11-07T12:36:00.003+08:00

Here it is, the latest addition to my 1/6 scale Clone Trooper collection. The Utapau Shadow Clone Trooper from Sideshow Collectibles!

New Additions to my Collection - October 2011

2011-11-07T12:25:00.003+08:00

This arrived about 2 weeks ago. But I only have time to open the box today to perform a quick check to ensure that everything is good.

Fortunately, my Predator Legendary Scale Bust arrived intact and fine! And I couldn't be happier with this awesome piece. This really looks good in-hand. Absolutely no regrets in purchasing this at all!

Sideshow Premium Format Colossus

2011-11-03T18:54:00.008+08:00

Sideshow has finally bring to us, the Colossus Premium Format Figure.

Towering in at almost 24-inch in height, this colossal PF figure of the X-Men member is likely to be an eye-catching display amongst anybody's Marvel and/or X-Men collection.

The only drawback (in my humble opinion), is its relatively high price point at USD$399.99. But with a shipping date that is not due until Q2 2012 at least, there is definitely plenty of time to save up for Colossus. And of course, there is also Sideshow's Flexpay system to help out with dividing up the payment into smaller monthly amounts.

Think no more, pre-order this now! The usual 10% NRD applies.

SIdeshow - Predator Statue

2011-10-26T21:46:00.002+08:00

A new 1/5 scale Predator statue from the 1987 original Predator movie is available for pre-order from Sideshow Collectibles!

Priced at USD$299.99 (before shipping, taxes and other fees), this item is due to ship to eager collectors around Q2 2012.

The Sideshow Edition of the Predator Statue comes with a must-have item, an unmasked head sculpt of the Predator!! In addition, the Exclusive Edition also comes with a "bloddied" version of a human skull.

To pre-order the Predator statue from Sideshow, simply click on the pictures below:

Sideshow Originals - Bigfoot

2011-10-26T21:40:00.003+08:00

Sideshow has released for pre-order, the Bigfoot statue from what is possibly a new line from their Sideshow Originals Theme.

This Bigfoot statue stands at near 19-inch in height (around 1/5 scale) and the Sideshow Exclusive Edition comes with an extra Footprint Cast of the mythical Bigfoot as well as a Fine Art Print!

Priced at USD$299.99 (before shipping, taxes and other fees), the Bigfoot statue is targeted to be shipped sometime in Q2 2012.

Hop over to Sideshow's website now for more product and pre-order details by clicking on the pictures below:

Legendary Scale Figure: Darth Maul

2011-10-19T20:31:00.003+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has finally revealed the first figure from its new Legendary Scale Figure (LSF) line.

Up for pre-order this Thursday (20 Oct 2011, US Pacific Time), will be the Darth Maul 1:2 scale LSF! Priced at USD$1999.99, this will be the largest full-piece Darth Maul figure produced by Sideshow so far.

This iconic Darth Maul LSF, featuring the Sith Apprentice as seen in Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace will be an awesome centrepiece in the collection of Star Wars fans. Remember to drop by Sideshow's website at www.sideshowtoy.com this Thursday to see more product and pre-order details!

Sideshow - 1/6 Scale Commander Bacara

2011-10-15T00:32:00.003+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has released for pre-order, the 1/6 scale Commander Bacara as seen in Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith.

Priced at USD$134.99, the Sideshow Exclusive Edition of this Clone Commander comes with the usual Exclusive Clone Trooper Base. The Regular Edition is priced similarly but without the additional Exclusive Base. This cool figure is due for a Q2 2012 release as indicated at the time of pre-order.

SOTA Toys 10th Anniversary Ryu Statue

2011-10-01T14:58:00.003+08:00

The SOTA Toys 10th Anniversary Ryu statue is now available for pre-order from Sideshow Collectibles.

Slated to be shipped within the next one or two months, this resin statue is from the Street Fighter IV series and should be around 1/4 scale which makes itt in the same scale as most Premium Format figures from Sideshow.

Priced at USD$374.99 (shipping costs not included yet), a 10% Non-Refundable Deposit will apply if you pre-order this from Sideshow. Click on the picture below to find out more from Sideshow's website.

G.I. Joe: Desert Ops Trooper Officer

2011-09-19T22:12:00.002+08:00

Sideshow's latest 1/6 scale G.I. Joe figure is the Desert Ops Trooper Officer and this figure is already in-stock and ready to ship!

Priced at an affordable USD$99.99 (before shipping), the Desert Ops Trooper Officer is limited to a worldwide production run of just 1000 pieces.

Click on the picture below and find out more product details at Sideshow Collectible's website.

Sideshow - Big Chap Alien Statue

2011-09-17T15:16:00.002+08:00

Sideshow has began taking pre-orders for the "Big CHap Alien" polystone statue.

Priced at USD$249.99, this affordable statue features the iconic creature from the original "Alien" movie that scared most of us off our seats! And because of that, we fell "in love" with this stealthy and brooding monster whom we now affectionately nicknamed as "Big Chap".

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition of this polystone statue comes with a complementary Alien Chest Burster Accessory. Due for release in 2012 Q2, the Exclusive Edition is limited to a production run of just 500 pieces worldwide.

Click on the pictures below to find out more product and pre-order details direct from Sideshow Collectibles.

Sideshow - 1/6 Scale Boba Fett

2011-09-17T15:11:00.003+08:00

He's here!

After many long years of waiting, collectors can finally place their pre-order for the 1/6 scale Boba Fett from Sideshow Collectibles. Slated for a 2012 Q2 release, it will be a long wait. But there will also be plenty of time to save up for this awesome and iconic Star Wars character.

Personally, I already own the 1/6 scale Boba Fett from Medicom and Marmit. But as a Star Wars fan, one can never have enough of Boba!

Click on the Boba picture below to pre-order this Star Wars icon from Sideshow Colelctibles directly.

New Additions to my Collection - Aug 2011

2011-08-29T15:45:00.005+08:00

A couple of new additions to my collection in this month of August 2011.

They are the Hot Toys True Type Narrow Shoulder Body and the 2011 Fairs Exclusive 1/6 Shadow Predator.

Been busy with work lately and haven't got the time to take these out of the packaging yet. But they are now safely tucked away in my collection. No more worries about having to pay expensive secondary market prices for these. :-)

Great Ultorn Premium Format Figure

2011-08-27T20:02:00.002+08:00

From its Marvel license, Sideshow Collectibles has released the Great Ultron Premium Format Figure for pre-order!

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition of this figures is limited to just 500 pieces worldwide. It comes with a Fine Art Print and an extra hand for an alternate display and is priced at USD$324.99.

Pre-order the Great Ultron Premium Format figure from Sideshow by clicking on the picture below.

The Dead - Templar's Verdict

2011-08-27T19:58:00.003+08:00

Sideshow has released a new Premium Format figure from its "The Dead" line. This is the 1/4 scale Templar's Verdict.

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition comes with a Fine Art Print and an alternate hand with a crow. This Exclusive Edition is limited to only 500 pieces worldwide.

Click on the picture below for more product and pre-order details.

Leonidas Statue

2011-08-27T19:52:00.006+08:00

From ARH Studios, this is a 1/4 scale statue of Leonidas.

Overall, this is an awesome statue depicting Leonidas in a very dynamic pose. The armor plates on the statue are magnetically attachable/detachable. This allows for an alternate pose of Leonidas with or without his armor.

Click on the picture below to pre-order this awesome statue from Sideshow Collectibles now!

Anubis Statue

2011-08-27T19:49:00.005+08:00

The 1/7 scale Anubis Statue from ARH Studios is up for pre-order at Sideshow Collectibles. Priced at USD$184.99, this is a reasonably priced product with an awesome sculpt.

Click on the picture below for pre-order details from Sideshow Collectibles' website.

ARH Studios' Medusa

2011-08-27T19:44:00.004+08:00

Sideshow has put up for pre-order, the Medusa Statue from ARH Studios.

This massive statue is in 1/4 scale. Medusa comes with magnetically attachable and detachable Breast Plates which means that you can display Medusa in the nude, tehnically. :-) As this statue is in 1/4 scale, it is thus in the same scale as Sideshow's Premium Format statues and will thus make for a great display for Premium Format Collectors.

Click on the picture below to view more product and pre-order details from Sideshow's website.

Snow Troll Lumbers In

2011-08-06T14:53:00.003+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has released a Snow Troll Polystone Statue.

Priced at USD$324.99, this polystone statue does not come with an exclusive edition. This is due to ship in Q1 2012 and pre-orders will be charged the usual 10% Non-Refundable Deposit.

Click on the picture for more details from Sideshow's website.

Sideshow's Dinosauria - Stegosaurus

2011-08-06T14:46:00.004+08:00

Sideshow Collectible's original Dinosauria line continues with the Stegosaurus Maquette.

Slated for a Q1 2012 release, this massive maquette measures approximately 16-inch (height) by 11-inch (width) by 27-inch (length).

The Exclusive Edition is limited to 150 pieces worldwide and comes with a complemetary Stegosaurus skull.

Click on the picures below for more product and pre-order details from Sideshow's website.

Sideshow's Dog Alien Statue

2011-07-19T22:42:00.005+08:00

Sideshow has just released for pre-order, a Dog Alien statue! This is a 1/5 scale statue priced at USD$234.99 and is due to ship in Q4 2011.

The Exclusive Edition has a production run of 350 pieces and comes with a Queen Alien Facehugger.

Click on any of the pictures below to find out more about this statue directly from Sideshow's website.

Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Avatar Jake Sully

2011-07-19T22:15:00.005+08:00

Hot Toys long-anticipated 1/6 scale Avatar figures are finally up for pre-order

The first figure is Jake Sully! From the prototype pictures released so far, the likeness to the movie character is very good. This figure is in 1/6 scale and towers in at about 18 inches in height! That is almost the same height as a 1/4 scale Premium Format figure!!

This awesome figure is priced by Sideshow Collectibles at USD$314.99 and is due out in Q4 2011. Click on the picture below to pre-order this iconic figure from Sideshow!!

Hot Toys' 2011 Toy Fairs Exclusives 1/6 Scale Shadow Predator

2011-07-04T20:59:00.005+08:00

Hot Toys' second of three 2011 Toy Fairs Exclusives has been revealed.

This exclusive figure is the 1/6 scale Shadow Predator!

Sideshow 1/6 Scale Dusty from G.I. Joe

2011-07-03T14:20:00.003+08:00

Sideshow's /6 scale Dusty from their G.I. Joe license is in-stock! Priced at USD$129.99 (excluding shipping and taxes) but loaded with accessories and awesomeness, grab Dusty while its still available!!

Click on the link below to order Dusty directly from Sideshow Collectibles today!

Full Metal Alchemist

2011-07-02T20:23:00.006+08:00

Medicom Toy has announced 2 new figures from their RAH line. These new figures feature the characters Edward Eric and Alphonse Elric from the "Full Metal Alchemist" Japanese manga series.

Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Captain America

2011-06-18T23:29:00.002+08:00

A sneak peek of the Hot Toys 1/6 scale Captain America action figure from the upcoming movie is shown below.

Now the wait begins for collectors!

Sideshow's Latest Avatar Figure On Pre-Order

2011-06-10T18:12:00.002+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles and Legacy Effects have announced their "Neytiri" maquette from the blockbuster film "Avatar"!

Towering in at almost 35-inch in height, this representation of Neytiri is simply jaw-dropping! Also jaw-dropping is its price at USD$1599.99! And that price does not include shipping costs and other import duties/custom charges (depending on which part of Planet Earth you are residing in)!

However, every true-blue "Avatar" fan should seriously consider getting this awesome piece before this Na'Vi Princess is sold out.

Click on the picture below to pre-order this awesome piece of art today!!

Hot Toys 1/6 New Goblin

2011-06-10T18:06:00.003+08:00

Hot Toys has announced the second 1/6 figure from their "Spiderman 3" license!

This figure is the "New Goblin". This figure features a set of amazing accessories and a top notch head sculpt which is spot-on in likeness to the actor who portrays the Goblin character in the film.

Click on the picture below to view more pre-order details and product information from Sideshow's product page.

Hot Toys 1/6 Superman

2011-06-10T17:55:00.004+08:00

The Hot Toys 1/6 scale Movie Masterpiece line continues at an amazing pace as they finally announced the much anticipated Superman figure.

Priced at USD$209.90 (before shipping), Sideshow Collectibles is now taking pre-orders for this amazing figure.

Click on the below picture for more details from Sideshow's pre-order page for this Superman figure!

2011-05-21T19:39:00.004+08:00

The first item from Sideshow Collectibles' SDCC 2011 Exclusives is now available for pre-order!

Hop over to Sideshow's website to pre-order the Non-Attendee Edition of the G.I. Joe's 1/6 scale Cobra Viper Ninja now by clicking on the picture below:

Sideshow's new 1/6 Sacle Dewback and Sandtrooper

2011-05-21T18:36:00.003+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has announced their much anticipated 1/6 scale Dewback from the Star Wars license. And this Dewback comes packaged with its own 1/6 scale Sandtrooper rider!

Enjoy the sneak preview picture below and remember to visit Sideshow's website next Tuesday (24 May, US Pacific Time) to view the actual product pictures, price information and pre-order details.

Sideshow Priority Pre-Order for SDCC Exclusive 1/6 Scale Cobra Viper Ninja

2011-05-14T21:36:00.010+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles will be holding the priority pre-order for their 2011 SDCC Exclusive 1/6 scale Cobra Viper Ninja from their G.I. Joe license on the following dates and time:

Priority Pre-Order:Attendee Edition 10AM PT on May 19th
Non-Attendee Edition 10AM PT on May 20th

This will be the first of 4 PPO events for Sideshow's 2011 SDCC Exclusives.

For more information on Sideshow's SDCC Exclusives' product and PPO information, click on the following link to hop over to Sideshow's 2011 SDCC website:

Sideshow Collectibles' 2011 SDCC Exclusives

Figure Review: Sideshow ¼ Scale Premium Format Indiana Jones

2011-05-14T15:59:00.018+08:00

This Premium Format Indiana Jones from Sideshow Collectibles features the legendary archeologist, Dr Jones from the 1984 film, Temple of Doom which is the prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Figure Sculpt

The figure is generally, fairly well sculpted. However, when seen up in-hand and up-close, it is kind of underwhelming; at least in my opinion.

The skin tones of the body are too smooth, almost like those of a new-born baby! To me, this basically spoils the overall look and feel of the whole figure.

Considering that the pose of this Premium Format figure is supposed to feature Indy after the rough and rumble of fighting off Mola Ram and his followers, the even and smooth skin tones of the statue made the whole figure looked even more “unreal”.

Even the “dirtying” of the fabric materials looked “unreal”. Everything seemed too clean and brand new.

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt while admittedly good, is a real let down in person as the smooth skin tones and texture again spoiled the overall look and feel.

This figure includes Sakra Stones as accessories. These can be stored in Indy's pouch or displayed seperately on the base.

The Exclusive Edition of this figure comes with a standalone and so-called “Chilled Monkey Brains” accessory. This was taken from a scene in the film where royalties and their rich friends dined on this “local delicacy”.

This accessory is well-sculpted and display well on its own.

Statue Base

The base is probably sculpted with the intent for this figure to be displayed together with the Mola Ram Premium Format figure.

It was a nice base with good paintwork and texturing. The base is probably the only part of this whole figure which I think is really well done.

Overall Rating

Overall, this is one of those Premium Format figures which failed to live up to its expectations.

Ratings-wise, I can’t find enough good things about this figure to justify scoring it anything above 3 out of 5. (3/5, 60%)

This is probably a reasonably good representation of Indiana Jones, as seen in the Temple of Doom film, for the die-hard Indiana Jones fan. Otherwise, this figure is an easy pass, especially at a price point of about USD$310 before shipping.

New Thor Premium Format and Destroyer Maquette

2011-04-29T18:08:00.003+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles provided a sneak peek today for their upcoming Thor Premium Format figure and Destroyer Maquette.

Taken from the new Thor movie currently showing in cinemas worldwide, the Thor Premium Format figure and Destroyer Maquette will be ready for pre-order soon!

Here's a picture of the sneak peek taken from Sideshow's website.

Stalker Predator Mask

2011-04-23T21:06:00.004+08:00

The new Stalker Predator Mask from Sideshow Collectibles is up for pre-order!

Priced at an affordable USD$329.99, this 1:1 scale Predator Mask is ready for a 3rd Quarter Release. Considering that we are already in the 2nd Quarter, this cool mask should be taking its pride of place in the homes of Predator fans in a mere few months from now!

Click on the picture below to pre-order this mask from Sideshow Collectibles today!

Terminator Premium Format Figure

2011-04-23T20:56:00.004+08:00

Sideshow's latest product from their Terminator license is the T800 Premium Format figure!

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition features an extra Battle-damaged Head Sculpt and is limited to a production run of 750 pieces.

Priced at USD$324.99, the usual 10% Non-Refundable Deposit applies upon pre-ordering. This awesome premium format figure is due for a release in the 4th Quarter of 2011. Let's hope it arrives before Christmas!!

For more product and pre-order information, click on the picture below to hop over to Sideshow's website!

Hot Toys 1/6 Iron Man Mk II - Armor Unleashed

2011-04-22T19:52:00.004+08:00

Hot Toys has sprung a surprise on Iron Man fans by announcing the 1/6 scale Iron Man Mk II Armor Unleased Version from its Movie Masterpiece line.

This new 1/6 Iron Man offering comes with amazing details; at least that was what can be gathered from the prototype pictures seen so far. The Sideshow Exclusive Edition (and also Toy Hunters Exclusive) features a Holographic Forearm Gauntlet.

Priced at USD$209.99 for both the Exclusive and Regular Editions at Sideshow Collectibles' website, the retail price is inline with the recent increase in pricing for 1/6 scale figures from Hot Toys. But Iron Man fans would most probably agree that this is one value-for-money figure that is not to be missed.

Click on the picture below to spring over to Sideshow's website for the estimated product release date, product details and more pictures.

Hot Toys' DX Series Jack Sparrow Pre-Order

2011-04-10T23:10:00.005+08:00

The much anticipated Hot Toys' DX Series Jack Sparrow from the upcoming film, On Stranger Tides, is finally up for pre-order at Sideshow Collectibles.

Priced at USD$239.99, there is no requirement for any non-refundable deposit unless you pre-order two or more of this figure.

Click on the picture below to find out more on pre-order, product pictures and product information at Sideshow Collectibles' website.

Sideshow Coupon Promotion

2011-04-09T14:43:00.004+08:00

Click on the below links to order the following in-stock Marvel collectibles direct from Sideshow Collectibles and receive a 30% dicount using the Coupon Code "BOWEN30". Promotion expires April 10th!

*Customers will need to apply the Coupon Code upon Checkout.

This coupon code can only be used once per customer/account , while supplies last, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other site discounts, gift cards, shipping discounts, gift certificates, Rewards Points, or FLEXPay items. Codes are active through Sunday, April 10th, Pacific Time.

New Line of Predator Collectibles from Sideshow

2011-04-09T14:32:00.005+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has provided a sneek peek of a new line of Predator Collectibles that will be hitting the collectible world soon.

This new line features a collaboration between Sideshow and Special Makeup FX artist, creature designer, producer and director, Steve Wang.

Accompanying the sneek peak are pictures of the "Stalker Predator" including this picture below. Expect more product details from Sideshow soon!

Big Chap Alien Maquette from Sideshow Collectibles

2011-04-09T14:25:00.004+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has released for pre-order, the Big Chap Alien Maquette! Featuring the Alien as seen in the original 1977 film of the same name, the Big Chap Alien Maquette is a relatively huge piece, going by the physical dimensions listed in Sideshow's product information page. This maquette measures 28-inch (height) by 14-inch (width) by 14-inch-(length).

Coming in at a heart stopping price of USD$799.99, the usual 10% Non-Refundable Deposit of USD$80 applies. Hop over to Sideshow's product page of the Big Chap Alien Maquette for more pictures, information and pre-order details by clicking on the picture below:

Premium Format Black Orc of Mordor

2011-03-04T21:00:00.004+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles' latest Premium Format figure from their Lord of the Rings license is the Black Orc of Mordor!

Priced at the usual USD$300 point, the Black Orc of Mordor looks stunning based on the product pictures that Sideshow has revealed. The Sideshow Exclusive Edition also comes with an additional head sculpt as well as a right hand that holds a war hammer (mallet) for extra display options.

The usual Non-Refundable Deposit of 10% of the retail price applies. I personally feel that the Exclusive Edition is the piece to get due to the additional head scuplt and the switch-out right hand (with war hammer).

Click on the picture below to hop over to Sideshow's website to pre-order the Mordor Orc or to view more pictures!

Star Wars 501st Legion Clone Trooper Life Size Bust

2011-02-05T22:10:00.005+08:00

The 501st Legion: Vader's Fist - Clone Trooper Life Size Bust from Sideshow Collectibles has been up for pre-order on Sideshow's website for almost 3 weeks now.

Its continued availability despite having been on pre-order status for 3 weeks already is due more to its price point and size rather than the appeal of this item. Well, at least that's what I perceive. :)

Coming in at USD$599.99, this item sure is no cheap collectible. But then again, its relatively huge physical size (being a 1:1 scale item) and details sure make this life size bust a cool item to have in one's collection.

Even without taking the price into consideration, one still has to factor in the space needed to display this awesome piece.

As for myself, I sure have no more space left in my collection room for this item. But still, I went ahead and pre-ordered this piece. I guess I will have some time to figure out how to make space available for this trooper as this is not due to ship until the 3rd Quarter of 2011.

Click on the picture below to view more details of this piece at Sideshow's official website:

Star Wars Emperor and Imperial Throne in Premium Format

2011-02-05T14:06:00.008+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has started taking pre-orders for the brand new Star Wars Emperor and Imperior Throne Premium Format figure.

This new Premium Format figure features a new dynamic figure body which allows some articulation in the figure to allow slightly different poses. How articulated and poseable is this new body is anybody's guess at the moment. We will all probably have to wait for in-hand pictures from fellow collectors to be able to guage whether this new poseability factor lives up to our individual expectations.

In addition to the poseability factor of the figure, this Premium Format setup also comes with additional hands for different display options as well as a light sabre hilt (belonging to Luke Skywalker). The Throne also features lightup functionality which should all add up to an impressive display.

The Exclusive Edition comes with an additional head sculpt/portrait of the Emperor himself!

Priced at USD$499.99 for both the Regular and Exclusive Editions, this Premium Format setup is a tad too expensive for my personal collection budget. But considering all the additional and new features and functions, the Premium Format Star Wars Emperor and Imperial Throne should be a hot seller.

Click on the picture below and hop over to Sideshow's website to pre-order the Exclusive Edition with a Non-Refundable Deposit of USD$50 and the Emperor and his Throne shall be secured in your personal collection.

Figure Review: Sideshow Styracosaurus Marquette

2011-02-04T00:46:00.010+08:00

From their Dinosauria line, Sideshow‘s Styracosaurus Marquette is an amazing representation of this Ceratopsian dinosaur from the Cretaceous era.

Sculpt

Details of this ancient dinosaur are intricately sculpted in the Marquette. This is evident in the amazing details of this statue.

The overall paint application is of a high quality. Although nobody will know for sure the exact skin tones and colors of this dinosaur when it was alive, Sideshow’s rendition of its skin tones and colors through this statue, are nevertheless quite surreal and gives a highly realistic “look” and “feel” to the Styracosaurus.

The statue stands at about 13-inch tall from the bottom of the base to the tip of its nose horn. And this Marquette is sculpted with both its hind legs and the right fore leg firmly planted on the ground (or base). The left fore leg is slightly raised. In my opinion, this is a very nice pose which depicts the animal in a very gracious and majestic stance.

In addition, with three legs on the base, this provides much stability to the whole setup. It also freed me from the phobia that the statue will topple over due to instability.

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition of this Marquette comes with an extra Styracosaurus skull.

In Sideshow’s words, this additional skull is for complimentary display to the Marquette. In my view, the complimentary skull is a spectacular piece that could more than hold its own as a separate display piece.

Overall Statue

This is a very well-made statue and with the awesome skull that comes with the Exclusive Edition, this Marquette is more than worth every cent of its retail price.

Overall Rating

Overall, I am rating this Marquette 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5, 90%).

For those who are looking for a high quality Styracosaurus Marquette, this piece might just be what you need for your dinosaurs collection.

Sideshow Springs Clone Surprise

2011-01-14T20:35:00.002+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has revealed a new 1/6 Scale Episode II Clone Trooper from their Star Wars license. Featuring the Clone Sergeant who is denoted by Green Stripes on his armor as seen in "Attack of the Clones", this unexpected annoucement was a pleasant surprise for Star Wars fans.

Priced at the usual USD$89.99, the Phase I Clone Sergeant comes with the standard gears that equipped Sideshow's Phase I Clone Lieutenant from 2010's SDCC. In addition, the Clone Sergeant also comes with a generous assortment of interchangeable hands that give the collector numerous display options.

Figure Review: Medicom RAH 12-inch Boba Fett

2011-01-08T22:34:00.006+08:00

From Medicom Toys’ RAH Series, this is the famous bounty hunter from Star Wars. And he is none other than the iconic Boba Fett.

Accessories

For a RAH 12-inch figure from Medicom Toys, this Boba Fett figure surprisingly comes with a lot of accessories. The many accessories all add up to a great amount of details for the overall figure, making this one of the best ever Star Wars figure from Medicom’s RAH Series.

Head Sculpt

There is no head sculpt beneath the helmeted head. And in this case, a head sculpt is indeed unnecessary. After all, we have never seen Boba Fett took off his helmet in all 3 episodes of the Original Trilogy.

The helmet itself is well-designed and well-painted. And I personally like the helmet very much including all its little intricate details.

Overall Figure

Figures from Medicom’s RAH Series are made to a standard 12-inch height. Thus, these figures may not be true 1/6 scale and for collectors who are particular about height and scale, RAH Figures are best displayed on their own or with other RAH Figures.

For me, I find the differences not too distracting and I do display my Medicom’s RAH Boba Fett with Sideshow Collectible’s 1/6 scale Bespin Luke, Leia (Boushh Disguise Edition) and Stormtroopers.

Overall Rating

Overall, this is probably one of the best 12-inch figure from Medicom’s RAH Series. The figure scored well in the details and in the many accessories that accompanies it.

A high rating of 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5, 90%) for this figure would thus not be an overkill.

Figure Review: Sideshow 1/6 Scale Sith Assaj Ventress

2011-01-08T21:16:00.006+08:00

Sith Apprentice, Assaj Ventress is featured in this 1/6 scale figure from Sideshow Collectibles. This figure was actually released almost 3 years ago; if my memory serves me correctly.

It is now sold out at Sideshow Collectibles and any collector looking for this figure now will have to hunt around in the secondary market.

Accessories

Assaj Ventress comes with 2 light sabers and both of these light sabers featured the signature red blades of the Sith.

The robe worn by Assaj Ventress as seen in the Clone Wars Animation Series is the one that Sideshow has opted for in this figure release. I must say that I am actually very impressed with the tailoring and quality of the fabric.

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt for this Assaj Ventress figure is well-sculpted. Despite this character not being featured in any of the 6 live action movies from both the Prequel and Original Trilogies of the Star Wars series, Sideshow has opted for the non-animated version of Ventress in their rendition of the head sculpt for this figure.

This is a major plus point for me as I am personally not a fan of the “distorted” head and body shapes of all the Star Wars characters as shown in the animated series; primarily those featured in the Clone Wars animations.

The Sideshow Exclusive Edition of Assaj Ventress features an additional head sculpt with the eyes filled in. As my figure is from one of the Regular Edition, I am unable to show any photographs of this alternate head sculpt.

Overall Figure

This is a very well-made figure. For any Star Wars fans interested in Sith characters in the 1/6 scale format, I would highly recommend this figure as a must-buy.

Overall Rating

In the overall rating category, I am ranking this figure with a high rating of 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5, 90%).

Figure Review: Sideshow 1/6 Scale Jedi Anakin Skywalker

2011-01-08T20:52:00.004+08:00

This 1/6 scale edition of Anakin Skywalker features the main antagonist of the Star Wars series when he was still a member of the Jedi Order.

Accessories

Anakin Skywalker did not come with many accessories. In any case, Skywalker did not require that many accessories. Who needs when one is strong in the Force?

The accompanying accessories for this 1/6 scale figure does come with the standard Sideshow’s Jedi nuts and bolts, namely a lit and an unlit light saber.

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt for this figure is rather well-sculpted and in my personal opinion, it does bore a fairly good resemblance to the actor who played the role of Anakin Skywalker in Part II (Attack of the Clones) and III (Revenge of the Sith) of the Prequel Trilogy.

Overall Figure

This is a fairly well-made figure and considering its quality vis-à-vis its retail price point at the time of its release, the Sideshow 1/6 scale Anakin Skywalker figure is good value for the collector’s money.

Overall Rating

This figure should thus garner a reasonably good rating of 3.5 out of 5 (3.5/5, 70%).

Figure Review: Sideshow 1/6 Scale Sandtrooper (Black Pauldron Edition)

2011-01-02T21:43:00.003+08:00

This edition of the 1/6 scale Sandtrooper was the third be released by Sideshow Collectibles. It follows the earlier editions released by Sideshow featuring the White Pauldron (a.k.a. Sergeant) and Orange Pauldron (a.k.a. Commander) editions.

Accessories

This version of the Sandtrooper comes loaded with accessories. It features an extremely detailed backpack which is different from the backpacks that come with the earlier 2 editions.

In addition, the weapon that this Sandtrooper is equipped with; is also different from the earlier edition Sandtroopers. This is the DLT-19 Heavy Blaster.

Head Sculpt

There is no head sculpt that accompany this Sandtrooper. But that does not matter at all as Sandtroopers are supposed to be displayed with their helmet!

The helmet is similar to the earlier editions of Sandtroopers from Sideshow. And like the earlier editions, I personally find that the helmet sits a bit too low on the Sandtroopers body. This minor “issue” is easily resolved by cutting a small piece of sponge foam (3-inch by 1-inch) and inserting the foam into the helmet before fitting into the neck peg.

Overall Figure

To me, this is easily the best of the 3 different editions of Sandtroopers that Sideshow has released.

With the exception of the usual issue of loose joints seen in all armored figures released by Sideshow so far, this is a very well-made figure which is worth every single cent of its retail cost.

Overall Rating

I will this not hesitate to give the Sideshow 1/6 Scale Sandtrooper Corporal a good rating of 4 out of 5 (4/5, 80%).

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

2010-12-31T22:12:00.006+08:00

Happy New Year!

Figure Review: Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Predator

2010-12-05T01:03:00.010+08:00

From the 1987 Sci-Fi film, Predator, we were introduced to the technologically advanced extraterrestrial life who visited Earth regularly as a hunting ground.

More than 20 years later, fans of the Predator franchise finally get to own a piece of this awesome creature as a 1/6 scale figure.

In this 1/6 scale rendition of the supreme hunter simply known as Predator from the movie that started it all, Hot Toys has hit a home run with an extremely well-made figure that is down-right awesome.

Accessories

While the Predator does not come with as many accessories as Hot Toys’ previous Predators from the “Alien Vs Predator” series, it still packed quite a punch with whatever accessories it did come with. The standard Predator weapons are still present. This includes its Spear, Shuriken and the trademark Shoulder Cannon.

Instead of a regular figure stand, Hot Toys threw in a more elaborate diorama-type base that features a forest environment.

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt of the Predator is awesome. The details are fantastic.

Two sets of mandibles are included. These can be interchanged to display the Predator with “open” or “close” mandibles.

The helmet is well-sculpted and on its own, is among one of the best that Hot Toys has delivered so far. However, it does not fit well onto the head sculpt of the Predator. This could be due to a miscalculation of the helmet’s size vis-à-vis the Predator’s head sculpt. Thus, in terms of design, the helmet is quite a disappointment.

Overall Figure

This is a very well-made figure.

With the exception of the issue with the helmet design, which I mentioned above, I have no other complaints about this figure.

Overall Rating

In my opinion, the Hot Toys Predator figure easily garners a high rating of 4.5 out of 5 (4.5/5, 90%).

Figure Review: Sideshow ¼ Scale Premium Format Scout Trooper

2010-11-27T21:44:00.008+08:00

The Premium Format Scout Trooper from Sideshow Collectibles was released some time ago. However, I only managed to buy one recently at a very good price which is 25% off the standard retail price from Star Wars Shop (www.starwarsshop.com) during one of their sales in early November 2010.

Figure Sculpt

The Scout Trooper is definitely one of the most iconic trademarks of the Star Wars franchise. This is actually the second ¼ scale Scout Trooper released by Sideshow Collectibles. The previous release from Sideshow was that of the Scout Trooper on a ¼ scale Speeder Bike (a.k.a. the Biker Scout).

The pose that Sideshow selected for this Scout Trooper shows the Trooper holding his standard blaster in his right hand and pointed slightly skywards.

What impressed me is that the head of this Scout Trooper is adjustable. With slight adjustments, the Scout Trooper can be made to look to the left or to the right.

While not significant by itself, those who owned this Premium Format figure will know that with slight adjustments to the head angle, the whole figure can look drastically different. This allows a number of display options, which in my opinion, is an added bonus.

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt of the Scout Trooper is good. While I am not sure what other collectors may think of the head sculpt, it surely does look fairly movie-accurate as far as I can see.

Exclusive Edition Accessory

The Exclusive Edition of this Scout Trooper comes with an additional Sniper Rifle strapped across his back, the E-11S. While not a must-have, I do think the additional E-11S Rifle is really cool.

Statue Base

The base is both sculpted and painted to reflect the forest environment of Endor. The details of the base are amazing. You have to really see it in person to fully appreciate it!

Overall Rating

Overall, this is another great Premium Format figure.

Ratings-wise, the Premium Format Scout Trooper easily scores 4 out of 5. (4/5, 80%)

Figure Review: Sideshow ¼ Scale Premium Format Gandalf the Grey

2010-11-27T20:03:00.010+08:00

In the Premium Format Gandalf the Grey figure, Sideshow Collectibles has again delivered another stunning product from their Lord of the Rings (LOTR) line.

Figure Sculpt

The figure is well-sculpted and the paint finishes is beautiful.

The pose of this statue depicts the wise wizard, Gandalf raising his staff and looking slightly skyward. This dynamic pose can be perceived as being taken from several different scenes from both the LOTR movies and books. Which scene this pose is derived from, depends on the observer and this is the interesting aspect of the pose. To different people, the pose can mean different things and therein lays the “beauty” of this figure. It is unique to everyone!

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt of Gandalf is spot-on. Kudos to the talented artist(s) who sculpted this aspect of the figure.

The Exclusive Edition comes with a head-sculpt without the hat.

The figure I bought is the Regular Edition and it comes with only the head-sculpt with the hat. I would love to own the Exclusive Edition of this figure. But the cost of international shipping (if I were to buy the Exclusive Edition direct from Sideshow Collectibles) is simply too expensive for me to justify the extra head-sculpt. In the end, I go with my local retailer.

Statue Base

The base is again a marvelous addition. It was sculpted in a realistic setting. As with the pose, the base setting can mean be perceived as being taken from several different scenes from both the movies and books. This is proof of another smart move from the team who designed this figure.

Overall Rating

This is a great Premium Format figure and it ranks among my most favorite statues.

Ratings-wise, I un-reservedly rate the Premium Format Gandalf the Grey figure with a high score 4.5 out of 5. (4.5/5, 90%)

Iron Man Exhibition In Singapore, Oct 2010

2010-10-16T21:28:00.004+08:00

Figure Review: Sideshow Clone Lieutenant (SDCC Ex 2010)

2010-10-08T17:45:00.003+08:00

The Clone Lieutenant in Phase I Armor is one of the Exclusives released by Sideshow Collectibles to mark the San Diego Comic Convention 2010 event.

Accessories

As with all Sideshow’s 1/6 scale Clone figures, the Clone Lieutenant comes with a long blaster as well as a standard blaster. In addition, an extra pair of clench fists was also provided.

Apart from these, a new Figure Stand holder is included which is different from the usual “Round-Ring” type which wraps around the figure. The new holder is a “Double-C” type that holds the figure at the groin, similar to those used by Hot Toys for their 1/6 figures.

Head Sculpt

Similar to most Sideshow’s Clones, this Trooper does not come with any head sculpt. The helmet is a fitted-on type with a ball joint.

The helmet is well-designed and looks very balanced from all angles. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best part of this figure.

Overall Figure

Overall this is a nice figure which is an improvement to previous Clone Troopers from Sideshow. The weathering on the figure is not overdone and provides a good hint of some combat action. The new body suit used for this figure is also a major improvement over previous Troopers from Sideshow.

The only complaint that I have regarding this figure is that the looseness in the joints of the base body still remains. This of course means that the figure have problems holding poses and generally is unable to stand on its own without a figure stand or some other kind of support. After so many Clones versions being released so far, it seems that Collectors have to live with this “loose” joints syndrome if we are to continue adding Sideshow’s Clone Troopers to our collection.

Overall Rating

Overall, this is a very nice figure and is arguably one of the better 1/6 scale Clone Troopers from Sideshow so far.

A higher rating of 3 out of 5 (4/5) is probably a fair score for this Clone Lieutenant.

Hot Toys Announces 1/6 Scale T-800 from Terminator 1 Movie

2010-09-30T20:19:00.004+08:00

Hot Toys has announced their latest upcoming 1/6 scale figure from the Terminator franchise.

Slated for a 2010 fourth calender quarter release is the T-800 figure from the movie Terminator 1 featuring the authentic likeness of Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800 cyborg from the movie. The figure will come with two newly sculpted head of the T-800; a normal head and a battle-damaged version for alternate display options.

New Sideshow 1/6 Scale Star Wars Figures Revealed

2010-09-17T23:19:00.006+08:00

The latest Star Wars 1/6 Scale Figures from Sideshow Collectibles is a 3-pack figure set featuring two Clone Troopers (Boil and Waxer) and the Twi'lek, Numa.

This 3-pack will be available for pre-order at Sideshow Collectibles from 23 Sep 2010. Price point for the figure set has not been revealed as yet. We will probably know how much these awesome figures will cost when the Sideshow's Production Blog is updated with more information next week.

1/6 Scale Commander Cody from Sideshow

2010-08-29T19:35:00.002+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles follow up their recent releases of Star Wars 1/6 scale figures which include awesome figures such as the Gammorean Guard and Yoda, with Clone Commander Cody.

This orange-colored clone is one of my most favourite of all the clone commanders from the Prequel Trilogy of the Star Wars francise. At a price point of about USD$125, it is a tad higher than usual. But I am not complaining. The inclusion of a head sculpt and helmets from both the Phase I and Phase II clone armor, makes this a 2-in-1 figure.

"2" figures for a price of USD$125. This is a bargain....... ;-)

New DX 1/6 Figure from Hot Toys - Bruce Lee

2010-08-29T19:10:00.009+08:00

Hot Toys latest 1/6 scale figure from their high-end DX Series is the Bruce Lee figure from the "Enter the Dragon" film. Dated almost 37 years ago, the film featured the legendary Asian Martial Arts artist at the peak of his popularity.

This 1/6 scale figure includes a generous amount of accessories such as alternate pairs of palms where collectors could interchange on the figure to re-create different poses. In addition, there are 2 new head sculpts included in the set.

However, my usual gripe about these 1/6 scale figures is their high price point which has been creeping up quite astronomically over the last year or so. Granted that 1/6 scale figures these days are a far cry from those released as recently as 2 years ago. But the fast increasing prices also mean that it is becoming more and more difficult to shelve out those dollars for this hobby.

For the time being, I can still afford to be in this hobby. However, as far as I am concerned, affordability and willingness to pay top dollar for a hobby are 2 completely different things. Very soon, I will be looking for a new hobby as the prices are fast reaching the "red line" beyond which I am not willing to pay for a figure.

But for now, my pre-order for this awesome figure is locked in and I am eagerly awaiting its release which will be sometime in the 1st quarter of 2011. :-) If I sounded contradictory, it is because I am really in a contradictory position. I love these figures. However, I am finding it more and more difficult to justify spending the ever increasing amount of money on this hobby.

1/6 Scale Falconer Predator announced by Hot Toys

2010-08-14T19:22:00.003+08:00

Hoy Toys has announced the 1/6 Scale Falconer Predator from the movie "Predators". The announcement of the Falconer action figure in 1/6 scale follows the earlier announcement of a 1/6 scale Berserker Predator from the same movie franchise.

For more details of the 1/6 scale Falconer Predator, hop over to the official Hot Toys website at:

http://www.hottoys.com.hk/index.php?target=products&product_id=534

Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Berseker Predator

2010-07-12T21:23:00.003+08:00

From the new movie, "Predators", Hot Toys has announced the 4th Quarter Release of the Berserker Predator; one of the chief antagonists in the film.

To see more pictures of the Hot Toys' 1/6 Scale Berserker Predator, click on this link to go over to Hot Toys' Website:

http://www.hottoys.com.hk/index.php?target=products&product_id=528

Sideshow Unmasks Berserker Predator

2010-07-10T19:57:00.003+08:00

Sideshow has unveil what is probably their first product from the new "Predators" film. This is the life-size prop replica of the Mask of the Berserker Predator!

I have personally yet to watch the new film but from the pictures released of the Berserker Pred so far, it definiteky has the "cool" factor written all over it. On a seperate note, Hot Toys has also unveil a 1/6 scale figure of the Berserker.

As all my Aliens and Predator collectibles are mainly restricted to the 1/6 scale line currently, I am in two minds whether I should pick up the Sideshow Berserker Mask. Chances are that I would......

Mogul Lord Premium Format Figure

2010-06-22T23:05:00.006+08:00

Sideshow's latest Lord of the Rings Premium Format Figure is the Mogul Lord a.k.a. the Witch-King of Angmar!

Click on the picture below to swing over to Sideshow Collectible's website.

Star Wars Clone Lieutenant - Sideshow SSDC 2010 Ex

2010-06-21T11:38:00.005+08:00

The Sideshow Collectibles' Star Wars Clone Lieutenant SDCC 2010 Exclusive will be up for Priority Pre-Order this coming Thursday and Friday. The schedule for the PPO is as follows:

Priority Pre-Order:

Attendee Edition 10AM PT on June 24th
Non-Attendee Edition 10AM PT on June 25th

All time stated are Sideshow Time.

The Clone Lieutenant is featured in Star Wars Episode II, Attack of the Clones. These Phase I Clone Troopers have their rank denoted by color stripes on their all-white armor. Yellow designates a Clone Commander, Red refers to a Clone Captain, Blue signifies a Clone Lieutenant and Green denotes a Clone Sergeant.

Medicom Toys had previously released the Yellow Clone Commander and Red Clone Captain for their RAH Series. This Blue Clone Lieutenant will thus fit nicely into the group. All that is missing now is the Green Clone Sergeant!

Figure Review: Sideshow ¼ Scale Premium Format Moria Orc

2010-06-05T17:13:00.011+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has consistently delivered stunning Premium Format figures in ¼ scale from the Lord of the Rings line and the Premium Format Moria Orc figure is another great figure from this line.

Due to the pose of the figure, the Premium Format (PF) Moria Orc does not “tower” over the other PF figures from Sideshow’s LOTR line. Standing at just around 20-inch tall, the Moria Orc is nevertheless a breathtaking statue.

Figure Sculpt

The overall figure is well-sculpted and painted. Excellent sculpting is reflected throughout the figure in the body contours and even the base.

The pose is dynamic and iconic. It reflects the Moria Orc poised to strike its enemy with its weapon ready and shield stretched perpendicular to its body on its left hand.

Head Sculpt

The head sculpt is another work of art and reflects accurately the facial expressions of the Moria Orc in both book and film. Fierce, determined and focus; the Moria Orc is truly a formidable foe to cross swords with in the battlefield.

The Exclusive Edition comes with a helmeted switch-out head sculpt for an alternate display pose.

I did not manage to get hold of one of the Exclusive Edition and had to settle for the Regular Edition when it became available on 2nd Chance Opportunity at Sideshow. I have however had the opportunity to examine an Exclusive Edition of this figure up close at my local retailer and I must say that the helmeted head sculpt is awesome.

Statue Base

The base is marvelous. It was sculpted in the realistic setting of middle-earth as presented in the LOTR movies.

The additional plus point is that the subsequent releases of the PF Uruk-Hai Berserker and Legolas figures followed the same base setting. Lining these up next to each other presents an impressive display in any LOTR collection.

Overall Rating

Overall, this is a great Premium Format figure and ranked as one of my most favorite statues.

Ratings-wise, I strongly feel that the PF Moria Orc figure should score high at a rating of at least 4 out of 5. (4/5, 90%)

Indiana Jones TOD Premium Format Figure

2010-05-28T20:25:00.003+08:00

Sideshow has just stared taking pre-orders for their latest Indiana Jones Premium Format figure which features the famous Dr Jones from the "Temple of Doom" installment of the Indiana Jones Series.

The Exclusive Edition of this PF figure features a 1/4 scale "Chilled Monkey Brains Accessory" and retails for USD$309.99. The Regular Edition (without the accessory) retails for USD$299.99. Both are expected to be released in the 4th Quarter of 2010.

Guardian Predator Will Be On PPO At Sideshow

2010-05-28T20:12:00.007+08:00

Further to my post on the release of Hot Toys' 1/6 scale Guardian Predator at this year's Tokyo Toy Fair, SSC has announced on its website that they will also be taking pre-orders for this same Predator as an SDCC Exclusive.

The dates of the PPO are as follow:

Priority Pre-Order:

Attendee Edition 10AM PT on July 1st
Non-Attendee Edition 10AM PT on July 2nd

So, mark those dates on your diary if you really want the Guardian Predator. I know I will need this Pred to join my other Predators. :-)

New Guardian Predator from Hot Toys

2010-05-27T22:19:00.003+08:00

Hot Toys has just revealed 3 new Exclusives for the Tokyo Toy Fair. Among these are the 1/6 scale Guardian Predator, one of the so-called Lost Predators from Predator 2.

From the pictures, this "new" Predator looks to be re-using the body from the Predator 1 and armor from the Predator 2 Predators released earlier by Hot Toys.

Click on the preview picture below to view more pictures of the Guardian Predator at Hot Toys website.

Figure Review: Hot Toys Dog Alien

2010-05-01T19:23:00.010+08:00

From the movie Alien 3, this is the Dog Alien.

Standing at almost 16-inch tall (fully stretched), this 1/6 scale Dog Alien by Hot Toys is another must-have for Alien fans like myself.

Head Sculpt

Sculpted similarly to their representation of the Alien Warriors from the first "AVP" movie, the Dog Alien by Hot Toys comes with a clear dome. The subtle patterns within the dome skull could be seen quite clearly and this adds to the overall quality of the dome of the Dog Alien.

Unlike the usual problems seen in the "Aliens" and "AVP-R" Alien Warriors by Hot Toys, the Dog Alien is quite sturdily built. It is fairly easy to pose and the look and feel of the figure doesn’t give one the feeling that it is going to break apart at any moment. Thus, it is definitely an improvement over the Aliens and AVP-R Alien Warriors figures by Hot Toys.

Figure Body

The nice contours on the figure’s body are amazing. Whether it is movie accurate or not is something I am not very sure of. Thus, I shall not comment on its accuracy vis-à-vis the actual Dog Alien featured in the movie. What I can comment on is the amazing texture of the overall body of the figure and my personal amazement at how nicely sculpted it is.

The only thing I do not like about the Dog Alien is the difficulty I faced while trying to attach the leg to the figure’s body. While always in fear that I may accidentally break the ball-joint of the leg which attaches to the thigh, I still have to use a fairly large amount of force to try and snap the leg in place. This task is made more complicated and difficult by the fact that the ball joint kept moving out of place as I tried to attach the leg. In the end, I had to resort to placing the whole figure on a flat and smooth surface with a lint-free cloth in between the surface and the figure. And with an accurate and carefully applied force, snapped the leg in place. This was a pain and it always happens for every Alien figure from Hot Toys; except the “Big Chap” Alien.

The other thing about Hot Toys’ Alien Warriors that I am unhappy with, is that the color of the body usually tends to rub off on my hands as I “struggled” to fix the hands and legs to the body of the figure. This rubbing off of paint color almost certainly resulted in some parts of the figure’s body looking more matte than other parts. And the overall effect is that the whole figure will look “uneven” in terms of paint application.

Overall Rating

Ratings-wise (without taking overall production quality control issues into consideration), I am rating the Dog Alien by Hot Toys a score of 3.5 out of 5 (70%).

This figure is a fairly good representation of the Dog Alien with obvious improvements over the previous Alien Warriors figures released by Hot Toys. There are however, still room for improvements.

Sideshow's Latest 1/6 Scale Star Wars Figure is .....

2010-04-30T16:00:00.006+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has just announced their latest 1/6 scale figure from their Star Wars line. And this is none other than CPT Rex!

Fans of the Clone Wars Series should know CPT Rex well. He is the Clone Trooper assigned to Jedi General Anakin Skywalker.

This figure is available for Priority Pre-Order on 7 May 2010 at 10am (US Pacific Time). No indications as yet on what will be the "extra" item that will come with the Exclusive Edition. I certainly hope the "extra" item will be a Morrison Head Sculpt and now just another lame differently painted figure stand. But we shall all know on 7 May 2010!

Follow this link to see the preview picture of CPT Rex:

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/?page_id=15081&source=news-scroll

SSC Announces Spinosaurus Maquette

2010-04-30T15:47:00.013+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has just announced their latest offering from the Dinosauria line. And its a Spinosaurus Maquette!

No indications of the price of the new Maquette or its estimated release date yet. But based on their Dinosauria line so far, the release date should be around the 4th quarter of 2010. This can only be confirmed when the item is available for pre-order next week i.e. 6 May 2010.

Stay tuned!

Click on the following link to see the preview picture of the Spinosaurus Maquette:

Spinosaurus Maquete

Sideshow Reveals EPII Blue Clone Trooper for SDCC 2010

2010-04-09T23:25:00.006+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has just revealed a clutch of collectibles for this year's SDCC. And among these is the EPII Blue Clone Trooper (Lieutenant)!

Find out more by following this link to Sideshow's Website:

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/?page_id=8422

Bumper Months For My Collection In March and April

2010-04-08T21:55:00.002+08:00

March and April have been two bumper months for my collection. During these 2 months, I have added a grand total of 14 1/6 scale figures to my figures collection! The main reason for this massive spike in my collection is the many sales and promotions that happened during the past month or so. For a start, Sideshow Collectibles hosted their Fantacular 2010 event and the "Buy 1 And Get A Mystery 12-inch Figure" promotion somehow enticed me to open up my wallet because this offer was too good to miss. In addition, many other local retail shops were also having their clearance sales with many good figures going at incredibly low prices which were way below standard retail prices.

These are the new 1/6 scale figures newly added to my collection (in the order that I acquired them during March and April):

Star Wars Sandtrooper Squad Leader (Sideshow)
Big Chap Alien (Hot Toys)
GI Joe Snake Eyes (Sideshow)
GI Joe Cobra Commander (Sideshow)
Star Wars Qui Gon-Jin (Sideshow)
Star Wars Leia as Boushh (Sideshow)
Star Wars Bespin Han Solo (Sideshow)
Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi, EPIII (Sideshow)
Star Wars Shock Trooper (Sideshow)
Star Wars Clone Trooper EPII (Sideshow)
Terminator, T600 SSC Ex (Hot Toys)
RAH Blade (Medicom)
RE Krauser Transformed (Hot Toys)
RAH Venom as Punisher (Medicom)

After this "big purchase", I will probably stay off buying any more new figures for the next couple of months. New additions to my collections for the next few months will only be from those items that I currently have on pre-orders.

Sideshow 1/6 Scale Sandtrooper Squad Leader - Quick Pics

2010-03-21T16:47:00.005+08:00

Here are some quick pictures of my 1/6 Sandtrooper Squad Leader (a.k.a.Commander or Orange Pauldron Sandtrooper) from Sideshow Collectibles. I bought this figure direct from Sideshow's website months ago when it first went up for pre-order.

Even though the USD has appreciated over my local currency since then, this slight increase in cost of the figure itself is more than off-setted by the relatively lower international shipping rates that SSC has since negotiated with the international carrier. In addition, I used my Sideshow Rewards Points to further reduce the cost of this item. So, the total cost of this figure for me ends up to be relatively easy on my credit card.

Price aside, this figure turns out great. I would rate it slightly higher than the Sandtrooper Sergeant which SSC rolled out a few months ago. The Light Repeating Blaster is literally a blast and the armored body is no longer as floppy as it once was as seen in the SSC Stormtroopers. Overall, a good improvement although it will be fair to say it can be improved further.

This figure is listed as sold out on SSC's website but I believe it probably is still available with some retailers. And considering that it has only start to ship from SSC this month, those who missed out on the pre-order may want to try their luck on SSC's Second Chance Waitlist. I don't think there will be a lot of Waitlist conversions for this Sandtrooper but at least there is no harm trying! ;-)

Preview - Hot Toys 1/6 Scale War Machine from Iron Man

2010-03-19T23:22:00.009+08:00

Hot Toys has recently unveiled their most recent product from the Iron Man Series. This is the 1/6 Scale War Machine Figure.

So far, the pre-production pictures that were released with the product announcement look awesome.

Okay, I must admit that I am not really a big Marvel fan and I don't own much Marvel or Marvel-related action figures. However, the War Machine really looks so good that I may have to break from my usual collecting habits and plonk down some cash for this great 1/6 Scale figure.

Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Predator 1 - Quick Pics

2010-03-18T14:18:00.004+08:00

Here are a couple of quick pictures that I took of my Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Predator 1 Figure using my Canon camera.

New Dinosauria Diorama from Sideshow - Protoceratops VS Velociraptor

2010-03-14T00:05:00.003+08:00

Sideshow Collectibles has announced a new diorama from their Dinosauria line!

The Protoceratops VS Velociraptor Diorama is slated for release sometime in the third quarter of 2010. With the Exclusive Edition priced at USD$269.99, this is somewhat more affordable than the Allosaurus VS Camarasaurus Diorama. It must however be noted that this is likely to be smaller in size than the Allosaurus VS Camarasaurus Diorama.

The Exclusive item is a Velociraptor skull. So, does this effectively means that Sideshow won't be releasing a Velociraptor Maquette?

Personally though, I think the Protoceratops VS Velociraptor Diorama will turn out to be quite a stunning piece. Considering that the poses of the two dinosaurs in the diorama are inspired by an actual fossil find, this piece should be a classic.

Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Dog Alien - Quick Pics

2010-02-16T14:19:00.004+08:00

Here are some quick pics of the Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Dog Alien from the Movie Alien 3.

Anubis Figure Environment Just Arrived!

2010-01-16T20:16:00.004+08:00

I just received my 1/6 scale "Temple of Anubis" Figure Environment today and I must say I am more impressed with the in-hand product than from viewing the product pictures. This figure environment is much better than what I expect it to be! The details in this piece are stunning.

Here is a quick picture of it. A review should follow shortly if I have the time. :)

1/6 Scale Figure Environment - Temple of Anubis

2010-01-11T22:28:00.004+08:00

My waitlist for the "1/6 Scale Figure Environment - Temple of Anubis" at Sideshow's Online Site just got converted.

Now, I am waiting for this item to ship to me. It will be my first collectible purchase of the year as well as the decade!

This piece is quite nice and will be good for display with my 1/6 Scale Lara Croft or Indiana Jones figures in a diorama format. Alternatively, this piece can also stand on its own as a single display.

Limited to a production run of just 450 pieces, this item should be quite difficult to find in the future. Thus, despite the high international shipping cost, I still go ahead with the purchase. Afterall, it is not every other day that one can find an Anubis figure in 1/6 scale format. And the fact that it is cast in polystone makes it worth the price.

New Dinosauria Diorama from Sideshow Collectibles!

2010-01-10T16:35:00.007+08:00

Sideshow has just released a new Dinosauria Diorama for Pre-Order! Slated for release in the 2nd Quarter of the year, the "Allosaurus VS Camarasaurus" Dio features 3 dinosaurs; 2 Allosaurus and 1 Camarasaurus.

If I am not mistaken, this is the first time that 3 individual dinosaurs had been presented in a diorama from Sideshow's Dinosauria line. The Exclusive Edition comes with 2 seperate Dinosaurs skulls for complementary displays; an Allosaurus skull and a Camarasaurus skull.

However, at a retail price that is almost $300, I personally think that Sideshow is pushing the price limits on the Dinosauria line. Considering that there are no licensing or copyright fees to pay, a $300 price per piece is the maximum that I would pay for anything from the Dinosauria line. Even then, at this price, I am still considering whether I will eventually be getting this piece. It is quite painful to part with so much cash for a single display piece. On top of that, being an International Customer, there is also the high international shipping charges as well as the related Import, Customs and Duties to be paid.

On the bright side, the rewards points for this piece at 5% will add up to $15. So basically, it means we pay $285 retail for this item when ordering direct from Sideshow.

Seriously, Sideshow may want to consider lowering the retail prices for the Dinosauria line. And if that is not possible, maybe to increase the rewards points for purchases on this line. Food for thought, Sideshow! I love this line and the great artwork that comes with it. I certainly loath to give up adding more pieces from the Dinosauria line to my collection for the simple reason that I could not justify paying the price for it. To be able to afford is one thing. To be willing to pay so much for a display item is another. :)

A New Decade Of Collection Awaits

2010-01-03T15:16:00.003+08:00

December 2009 has been a relatively busy month for me and that explained why I have not posted in this blog for more than a month! January 2010 will be another busy month based on my current work schedule but I will try to post in this blog more regularly.

For a start, the new year has arrived and this heralds a brand new decade. To start off my new collections of the decade, this is the list of items I currently have on on pre-order (in the order that I expect the items to ship):

1. 1/6 Figure Environment, Anubis (Sideshow)
2. Premium Format, LOTR Legolas (Sideshow)
3. 1/6 Figure, Blade (Hot Toys)
4. 1/6 Figure, Leonidas (Hot Toys)
5. Diorama, Dinosauria Deinosuchus VS Parasaurolophus
6. 1/6 Figure, Star Wars Sandtrooper Commander (Sideshow)
7. 1/6 Figure, Star Wars Sandtrooper Corporal (Sideshow)
8. 1/6 Figure, Star Wars Coruscant Clone Trooper (Sideshow) X 2

As the days, weeks and months wore on, I am sure I will add many more items to the above list. This is because I am very prone to impulse buys. I am also especially vulnerable when it comes to resisting the temptations to good offers. :)

But wth! Afterall, I usually worked "like a horse" for my money and its always good that I spend a little to cheer myself up at the end of a horrible day at work.

Figure Review: Sideshow Sandtrooper (White Pauldron Edition)

2009-11-29T18:59:00.008+08:00

Following the Stormtroopers, Sideshow Collectibles released the Sandtrooper as their second Imperial Trooper from the Original Trilogy of the Star Wars Saga.

And this first Sandtrooper offering from Sideshow features the White Pauldron edition. For those like myself who are not as well-versed in the minute details of the Star Wars franchise, a quick check on the internet revealed that the White Pauldron Sandtrooper represents the designated rank of Sergeant.

Accessories

This Sandtrooper from Sideshow comes well-equipped with many accessories when compared with other 1/6 scale Sandtroopers released previously by other manufacturers such as Hasbro/Kenner and Medicom.

The Sandtrooper comes with the MG-15 blaster rifle, complete with a blaster/rifle scope.

The detailed Backpack and Shoulder Pouches are major improvements over all previous Sandtrooper releases. Since the Backpack and Shoulder Pouches are iconic parts of a Sandtrooper’s equipment that distinguished them from the standard Stormtroopers, the details that Sideshow has worked into these Backpacks and Pouches are among the many reasons why this Sandtrooper stands head and shoulders above the Sandtroopers from other manufacurers.

Head Sculpt

This Sandtrooper does not come with any head sculpt. The helmet is a fitted-on type with a ball joint.

Personally, I find that the helmet sits a bit too low on the Sandtrooper’s torso. This is easily corrected by either not pushing the helmet all the way down on its ball joint or by fitting a small piece of rubber foam (3inch by 1inch) into the helmet before fitting it into the joint.

Overall Figure

Overall this is a nice figure. There are some collectors who feel that the weathering on the Sandtrooper’s armor is a bit overdone and while I tend to agree with this observation, it is just a minor distraction for me. No major negatives as far as I am concerned.

The only complaint that I have regarding this figure is the looseness in the joints of the base body. This means that the figure have problems holding poses and generally is unable to stand on its own without a figure stand or some other kind of support. Somehow, all figures using Sideshow’s new armored body seem to suffer from the same loose joints issue.

Overall Rating

Overall, this is a very nice figure and is arguably one of the best 1/6 scale Sandtrooper figures we have seen so far.

A relatively high rating of 4 out of 5 (4/5) is probably a fair score for this great figure.

King Leonidas 1/6 scale figure from Hot Toys

2009-11-27T21:16:00.008+08:00

Hot Toys has just released product pictures of their recently announced Leonidas 1/6 scale figure from the film, 300. This figure's estimated release date is targeted to be sometime in the 1st Quarter of 2010.

The King Leonidas figure uses the muscular body developed by Hot Toys. I presume this will be the same muscular base body use in the recently released 1/6 scale figures of Major Dutch (Predator 1) and Christ Redfield (Resident Evil).

Click on this link to Hot Toys' website to view more product pictures of this figure:

Hot Toys: King Leonidas 1/6 scale figure

November 2009 - Discounts Everywhere

2009-11-27T12:46:00.007+08:00

The month of November 2009 has been a bumper month for me in terms of my purchases of toys, collectibles and figures. Discounts everywhere amounting to as much as 40% to 50% makes these deals irresistible.

This is especially so when some of the deals are on items that I have been wanting to purchase for a long time but had held back from doing so due to their original retail price which is too pricey for my budget. Thus, when the discounts were applied, I simply have no answer to the temptation to jump on the bandwagon and click the "Buy" button!

And with all these purchases, I have to call a halt to my buying for the year as I have simply burst my hobby budget many times over. My next figure will be arriving around the 2nd Quarter of 2010 so that extra time gives me some respite from those credit card bills.

Here is a quick list of the additions to my collection for October and November 2009:

1/6 Figures
1. Star Wars, Endor Rebel Trooper (Sideshow)
2. Star Wars, Endor Rebel Pathfinder (Sideshow)
3. Star Wars, Yellow Clone Commander (Medicom)
4. Star Wars, Sandtrooper (Sideshow)
5. Indiana Jones, Toht Exclusive (Sideshow)
6. Indiana Jones, Henry Jones Sr Exclusive (Sideshow)
7. The Dead, Harbinger Exclusive (Sideshow)
8. Alien, CPT Dallas (Hot Toys)
9. Alien 3, Dog Alien (Hot Toys)
10. Resident Evil, Chainsaw Killer Exclusive (Hot Toys)

Statues
1. Dinosauria, Carnotaurus Exclusive (Sideshow)

In addition, I have also added a number of 3.75 inch figures and accessories from the Star Wars and Indiana Jones line to my collection.

For now, the buying has to stop for a while. I have enough figures to last me for the next few months as many of these are still sealed in their boxes and waiting to be opened!

Sandtroopers On The March

2009-10-31T13:32:00.003+08:00

My collection of Sandtrooper Busts. All 3 Busts are from Gentle Giant and the Sandtrooper with the Black Pauldron was an Exclusive from some convention. I can't rember which convention that was, maybe SDCC or something like that. It is limited to an edition size of 2500. The edition sizes for the Sandtroopers with the White and Orange Pauldron are 15000.

The Eagles Have Landed

2009-10-30T12:27:00.003+08:00

Here are 2 quick snapshots of the latest new additions to my collection.

1/6 scale Dog Alien (Hot Toys)

1/6 scale Sandtrooper Sergeant (Sideshow Collectibles)