Everything Must go Sale!

Selling a ton of my collection to downsize, create space and generate some scratch for the summer.  Check my ebay profile or the sidebar for some nice vintage and modern items.

Lego Star Wars: A-Wing Fighter 75003 Review!

Here's a quickie review of the 2013 Winter Lego Star Wars Collection: A Wing Fighter...

Very nice to see lego paying so much attention to episode VI in these past waves with the Jabba's Palace, Ewok Attack, Endor/Scout Battle Pack, Desert Skiff and Rancor Pit...Wowwie Zowie! Not only do we have some quality sets at relatively decent prices (I just picked up Jabba's Palace off Amazon for 85 bucks priced down from 120, noice!) but we also are seeing some beautifully detailed minifigs!  The A-wing is no exception.

 

 

In this set you get a brand new Han Solo Endor General minifigure and A-Wing minifigure...I've noticed in the past few sets that Lego is doing some beautiful work on detailing the legs!  Check out Han's holster and Belt as well as the A-Wing pilot's Harness.  The A-Wing pilot's Helmet is a nice, wonderfully detailed model as well.  Admiral Ackbar is a re-release that you could have previously scored in the Mon-Calamari playset but it's a great opportunity to score one of my favorite rebel leaders.  Accessories are Ackbar/cup - Han/Blaster - A-wing/Wrench...btw, this new pilot mold puts the last version to shame which looked list a cross between an old school Lego Space and Lego City figure from the 80's complete with race car visor.  Oi.

 

 

The ship is a nice construction and very simple to build.  It looks very nice and true to the film with great decals that really seal the deal.  The cockpit is tight, it has flick fire missiles, and cool thrusters...the only "action features" it possesses are the missiles, a pop down front landing gear and a flip up cockpit.  It is adorned with the classic rebel red and white and has some nice extra decals on the wings and front sections to make it look beat up and worn.  An extra set of stickers would be good to for customization if you intended to buy a couple of these and at 25 bucks a ship, (20 on some websites) it seems pretty doable but this is a minor complaint. 

 

All in all, if you want to pick up another Lego Star Wars set but don't want to shell the exorbitant wad of cash that some of these sets will soak you, Go with the A-Wing, no question.  It's right up there with the Desert Skiff and AT-RT for some affordable sets with cool-as-hell minifigures.

Simply too Much awesome to count!

Hey folks!

I'm writing a half dozens pieces this weekend to make up for my month long break...break if you call 24/7 baby watch a break.  :)  He's growing and becoming quite the little crazy bear and it's absolutely wonderful but I've been literally sitting on a pile of news I want to talk about, toys I want to express my excitement to speak of, stuff in the mail that has been sitting in the corner, and a dozen new in box stuff sitting under my desk! 

So....there's a new Star Wars coming out?  With J.J. Abrams?  Luke and Han are reprising their roles (rumored???),  this on top of a spin off series of character driven independent Star Wars movies???  a new revitalized toy series is coming out with 6 inch beautiful figures????  They are redesigning Jabba's Sail Barge and Republic Gunships for the Summer Lego 2013 waves??? After seeing what Disney did with the Avengers, I am more than optimistic.

All I can say is, I hope to God I get paid through the summer with my job (I find out at the end of March)




New York Toy Fair came and went during the Snowmageddopocalypitacolopology...everyone from my personal friends to the guys at RebelScum and  YakFace.com to Mark Bellomo were lamenting the snow putting the freeze on their plans (wakka wakka)  but there were defintely some beautiful items displayed....I watched a whole god-damned episode of the "View" to see the New York Toy Fair section and it was all baby crap like puppet shows and flying fairies... However I found some other great things not featured by that brain-cell eviscerating show.

Castle Grayskull playset? check

GI Joe: Tomahawk remake??? Check (I already have the classic T-hawk but it's great to see Hasbro really delivering a much wanted fan piece that is - in my mind - a monster vehicle set)
Breaking Bad Action Figures???? Check Check


RockSteady and Bebop figures?  Definitely caught my eye!


Speaking of amazing yet nigh impossible Transformers I'd love to own, I saw the Fans Toys Masterpiece Shockwave AKA "Quake Wave" fetching a pretty 125.00 if you can find a site that isn't sold out!  What a beaut!



Transformers Fall of Cybertron: METROPLEX???? OH MY GOD, HE'S TWO FEET TALLLLL!!!!
On top of that I am really digging the deluxe Generations Springer and Blitzwing slated for release...I know I sold all my older Generations stuff but for a few keystone pieces these guys wouldn't look so bad Mint in Box for me. 
Star Wars: Black Series??? Um...Check and where the hell can I get my hands on these masterpieces at 20 a pop???

 

The Black Series which is being produced by the guys from HotToys are making what look like some of the best detailed smaller figures to date...these are on par with the size of the Marvel Legends of McFarlane toys but I gotta say look so much more spot-on in the detail department....Take a look at the Artoo or the Sandtrooper and tell me these don't look like still principal photography???  The fact that these are actually manipulable toys that you can display and play with only make it all the more enjoyable as the Hot Toy and McFarlane stuff always seemed to Statue-y to me.

I cannot wait to see what "wave 2" will bring as it seems to be focusing on the original trilogy.



The upcoming Lego Star Wars Summer Wave looks great too, although it seems to be almost entirely focusing on the Prequels and mostly the Clone Wars....I see some deathwatch in there...another AT-TE, a Republic Gunship...Spider Droid Walker and a Duel at Geonosis showdown...(actual names escape me at this point)...That Jabba Sale Barge though looks pretty amazing (although not quite as cool as the older model was, go figure I totally wasn't into collecting at all when that now 400.00 set passed me by...I actually remember my cousin getting it one Christmas at my aunt's house)

That's all I want to say about what's been going on in the world of toys...I do have some reviews and highlights coming up later this weekend so stay tuned...my son actually has a few toys and even a comic for him to read when he's able that he received at his christening.  He's definitely being steered in the right direction. :)

Featuring: Josh Bressi photographer

 A good buddy of mine and hell of a grand photographer has been shooting some various nerd properties and I must say they are pretty damn professional...Just want to spread some love and talent to the rest of my fellow readers...any feedback is welcomed as I'm sure he's always willing to hear how awesome he is. :)

"Ice to meet you"

If you didn't want to collect Lego Batman, you do now.

 

 

 

So, that's what all the hype on the weather report was about...

Toy Review: Lego Lord of the Rings / Mines of Moria

I have been having an on and off rekindling of all things Lego lately.  Mainly through my refound interest in the Clone Wars Cartoon Network series *midnight feedings have given me a perfect excuse to catch up on all of my on-demand shows the wife can't stand including TMNT, Adventure Time and Regular Show which I freaking love!* and my seeing "An Unexpected Journey".    Ironic because my wife already gave my Lego collection two previous kick-starts which stupidly I have since sold off and am kicking myself for....why did I sell that AT-TE that's reselling for 200 bucks these days?

I've been slowly picking up various Hobbit and Star Wars Lego sets within my price range...which has since shrank dramatically since the baby boy came about 4 weeks back.   But this set goes back a week before the delivery that I miraculously found on a Wal-Mart clearance shelf for 50 bucks priced down from I think 80 or so.  Score and a half, I'd say.

This is the LOTR: Mines of Moria construction set.  I gotta say, it was a blast to build although I kinda hate that Lego spoon feeds their sets anymore through the smaller numbered bags.  Screw that, I remember when it was luck of the draw with no tips at all.  Just you and your building skill all weekend. 

 

 

 

The set itself is a nice sectional rendering of the Moria scene; you get a Tomb of Balin with book and skeleton, a well with quick-drop feature along with skeleton attached to a chain and bucket for your two smaller pieces.  For the big "set-pieces", you get the gated doors with collapsible wall, torches and ax to jam the door and you get a columned, bi-level wall section with decals, hidden treasure and nice details.  The sets for the Hobbit can only do so much since they are trying to recreate ruins like Weathertop or the crumbling walls of Helm's deep so they don't have that "shiny" newer feel that the older Castle System sets have.  Lego is going for realistic so that is why the set seems to be a little lacking which I'm still a bit disappointed with.  Granted, I understand that costs are up and they can't build you a whole room but really, I remember 80 dollar Lego sets as a kid building you a 3 story castle with multiple rooms, features and passageways.  You just gotta swallow the pill that times are a changing and I love LOTR so it shall pass.

The minifigs are where a lot of us are compensated...you get some awesome staples including Legolas of the Woodland Realm, Gimli son of Gloin, Boromir of Gondor, Pippin Took, two Moria Goblins and a Cave Troll along with two skeletons for ambiance.  Along with a plethora of orcish weapons you can mix and match and a chain to harness the Troll who also get a nice smashing club.  You get a lot of options with the figs but I'll say articulation takes a back seat...examples are that halflings legs cannot move, the Troll is pretty off balance beyond one or two static poses and the hairpieces for Legolas and Gimli make their heads immobile but you do get the option to change the facial expressions on Legolas, Pippin and the Goblins which is a feature I love.

The action features are nice touches if not limited...you get a sliding treasure chest (filled with jewels) that can be hidden under the bi-level tier, the doors are movable. and the archway has a level which can knock down the wall section and the two pillars have levels in the back that can smash them down to recreate the Trolls mayhem from the movie.  This stuff really isn't for me but I do give Lego credit for being so true to the film.  The stickers are really well made and add a lot to the backgrounds and the ability to recreate the shattered stonework without making it look like a broken set is a feat within itself...(they also do this really well with the monster hunters sets)

Anyway, I like the set.  It makes nice vignettes and has great figures but I'm also really glad I got it for nearly 40 percent off.  If your a LOTR fan, you probably already have this one, if not but want to start a collection, I'd hold out for the newer sets coming in March/April like the Black Gate of Mordor or Council of Elrond.




"Throw yourself in next time!"

"I think I'm getting the hang of this!"

League Assignment: Pirates / Toy Review Forbidden Island Lego Pirates

This week’s assignment from the League of Extraordinary Bloggers:
–
“Pirates.”

Spacemen, Spies, Cowboys and (by popular vote) Pirates! (I picked soldiers but whatevs)

For this assignment, I took a trip to the attic and dusted off the only vintage Lego Pirate set I still had.  Granted, I still have the Caribbean Clipper but I went along with the true 'pirate' Pirate set named Forbidden Island.  This seemed like a pretty standard issue set when it was released in 1989 and I along with many of my friends who played with Lego's all appeared to have this set.  The pirate sets in particular made me think of how much the price of Legos have inflated since this set was about 25 bucks and the Clipper was 30 on sale at K-Mart when I managed to get my hands on them.  I had a whole mess of smaller sets like the Renegade Runner or Shipwreck Island but my parents (the major purchasing partners in my household) really wanted me to just stick with one collection of legos which was the Castle System.

 

For the relatively cheap price, this seemed like a must have when you looked at it.  It possessed nearly every mainstay quality of any lego pirate set.  You got the treasure, the raft, oars, plenty of weapons, a captain with hook and peg leg, barrel, dungean, crow's nest, monkey, big pirate flag!!! phew! This is amazing with all of the beautiful touches this relatively simple set possessed.

 

 

 

I can't tell you the amount of play time and fun I had building (and rebuilding) this set.  Your minifigures were absolute musts for any pirate collector.  During this era, you didn't have many options for pirate minifigs.   You get the mustashed doo-rag figure, the first-mate tri-corner hat figure and the red-beard captain figure with swords, pistols and rifles galore.  You also get (not pictured) an imperial guard with backpack, shoulderboards and musket.  On top of this you get a parrot and monkey along with a complete weapon barrel and treasure chest complete with gold dabloons and a palm tree! 

 

 

The set itself is a quick build and resonates the feel of a makeshift, pirate fort from old ship parts and riggings with a crow's nest lookout along with overgrown palm dressings, a trap door covered jail and crumbling walls...it truly is a great set and captures the pirate collection wonderfully, just watch out for the shark!

The scalawags mixing it up with the royal navy

League Assignment: Spacemen

Are you starting to see a theme here? First we had Spies, then came the Cowboys, and this week we’ll be covering another far out pop culture genre. This week’s assignment from the League of Extraordinary Bloggers:
–
“Spacemen.”

Spacemen is one ever spanning topic approached by many from nearly limitless possibly directions. We've been fascinated with this subject ever since our ancestors were able to look to the heavens and ponder what existed beyond. Our contemporary culture came up with a little more "toy" and "cartoon" friendly imagery of both human, alien, robot and everything in between from the Day the Earth Stood Still to E.T.

Some of my most favorite spacemen are noneother than the Colorform Aliens and later Glyos Outerspacemen. I never had the cash to collect these great looking, super detailed little bendy sculpts which run into the hundreds per figure but I've always been a sucker for miniature figures from Pewter Ral Partha Battletech figures to Battle Beasts.

Speaking of minifigures, let's not forget some great 80's and 90's vintage spacemen from the Lego Space series...you had M Tron, Blacktron, Space Police and Ice Planet. Each team had its own special gimmick...my favorite being the magnetic effects of the red and black M Tron team. I only owned a few of these sets but I did get a lot of play out of them as my outer space soldiers explored in Pirate or Medieval times as I had way more of those guys to play with. Lego eventually did make an Aliens line but that wasn't untill relatively recently.



Then there are the great spacemen of the human variety and you can't get more rough and tumble than the Space Marine of all variety. Be it USCM colonial marines with nukes and knives, Wildcard Squadron of Space Above and Beyond, the Imperial Marines of Dawn of War or the Terran Solider of Starcraft...this is one genre of "space-man" who never gets tired. Big Armor, bigger guns, skulls, crossbones - do the math!

Other noteworthy spacemen from my recollection would be Ignigknog and Err, Toe Jam and Earl, Martians, Invader Zim and, of course, Darth Vader from Planet Vulcan.

Over at the Mos Espa collection they speak in much more detail about the great Lego Space Collection.

Goodwill 4 Geeks showcases possibly every space action figure you can think of, bravo!

MemoriesofToymorrow shines some light on the Psycho Circus.