Tag Archives: kenner

Toyguide Update: VC98 Grand Moff Tarkin

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Grand Moff Tarkin (VC98) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Charming to the last. After nearly a half dozen iterations, Tarkin finally gets the super-articulated treatment and to top it off, he graces the Vintage Collection card back crossing one of those “must-haves” off the list. From an articulation and sculpt standpoint,  Tarkin hits all the right marks (thanks to recycling parts from past Imperial officers) but falters is some key areas that ultimately elicit a sign from collectors. Tarkin includes blaster and all new MSE Droid which is now in the proper scale and features rolling wheels/axles.

CONS: So close yet so far. Immediately upon reveal, collectors wondered what the heck was going on with his uniform color and those soft goods. We hoped and pleaded that it was because we were just seeing hand-painted prototypes, but sadly, what we saw is what we got. The soft goods skirt is the main culprit as the cut and color looks plain out of place on this figure. The outfit overall looks to be far too green and should be more drab. While the face sculpt looks good, the overall skin tone is very pale and make him look even more gaunt than intended.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: VC97 Odd Ball (Clone Pilot)

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Clone Pilot Odd Ball (VC97) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: We’ve seen many iterations of the Episode III ARC-170 pilot since 2005,and with this latest version, I think the word definitive is applicable. Gone are those funky looking “moon boots” as he now sports full ankle articulation. Not surprisingly, Hasbro has recycled many of the previous pilot parts but has tooled up new lower legs and helmet which, thankfully, is well-proportioned.

CONS: Oddly, he features Imperial emblems on its shoulders where I would think they should be Republic symbols. With distribution the way it is it might be some time before folks see this figures in the wild let alone its other Wave 5 case mates.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Lost Line Images at Sandtroopers

Our friends at Sandtroopers.com have posted loose and carded images of the 6 upcoming “Lost Line” Hasbro figures available at SDCC in the Exclusive Carbon Freezing Chamber Set (along with the exclusive Vintage carded Jar Jar in Carbonite). These figures will also be available in the TVC collection and this “Lost Line” look as UGH-style “chase” cards at retail. You can read the full details about them from our Toy Fair 2012 coverage here. Head over the Sandtroopers.com for the images.

Red Snaggletooth Jumbo Kenner Figure

Gentle Giant has updated this week and is now taking pre-orders for the Red Snaggletooth – their next figure in their Jumbo Kenner Figure line.

With a commitment to keep in line with the vintage Kenner theme, Snaggletooth comes packaged on a 1979 Star Wars-inspired blister card featuring original photos and “20 back” art work, including a resealable plastic outer clam shell to help protect and display this limited edition collectible.

Head over to Gentle Giant and pre-order yours today!

Toyguide Update: VC88 Princess Leia (Sandstorm Outfit)

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the our next Blu-ray deleted scene figure addition: Princess Leia (Sandstorm Outfit) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Hasbro goes to the popular “Slave Leia” well one more time with this release. This figure features an improved paintjob over the previous releases giving her a much softer appearance which makes this a far superior version in terms of likeness to the TLC and VC64 releases. The combination hard/soft goods work well here for the deleted scene attire as they keep the figure relatively unencumbered.

CONS: A great figure for the most part, but the plastic hair braid forces the head to always look to one side. Maybe Hasbro in the future can try to implement real hair akin to what they did in the POTF2 line’s Princess Leia Collection.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

ROTJ Sandstorm Deleted Scene Diorama

While shooting the latest batch of images for the toyguide, I decided to recreate the infamous “sandstorm” scene using the new Blu-ray deleted scene figures (Lando and Leia) as well as the previous Tatooine Sandstorm figures (Han, Luke and Chewbacca) from the Legacy Collection. It also gave me an excuse to finally open up my BMF! The scene above was recreated using a simple tan bath towel for the desert floor and some minimal Photoshop work. Click the preview above for a closer look and be sure to check out master diorama builder Stephen Hayford’s impressive recreation over at the Official Star Wars Blog.

Toyguide Update: VC91 Rebel Pilot (Mon Calamari)

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the our next Blu-ray deleted scene figure addition with the Rebel Pilot (Mon Calamari) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Instead of phoning in a quick head and arm swap on an existing A-wing pilot body, Hasbro goes that little extra and tools a substantially new figure for this release, only recycling the legs from the TLC B-wing pilot (Ten Numb) figure. The new tooling really works here as the flight suit looks very good and the new Mon Calamari head and forearms are equally as impressive. He’s got all the necessary articulation, even ankles, so he can fix in virtually any cockpit you put him in.

CONS: None really, but watch out for wonky eye paint apps.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.