captain_cbecker

For those who don't want to drop the $50-or-so for a full case with all the duplicates, buynow.com has the Razor dump case listed individually. You can pick-n-choose the singles for purchase. Price, about $5 apiece. Personally, I've got an army of modern cylons, so I'm opting for a 1-of-each on this set

What is a shame is that I lookked at the MMHQ "end of Days" picture about the cancellation, and realized that Jack Bauer's face would have been perfect to make Johnny from the Shining. Just missing a fireman's axe and typewriter http://minimatesheadquarters.com/

For me, I've grown up with Star Trek and have/had lots of ST figures and toys. I've always been a hardcore Trekkie, but the lack of variation of the toy lines (Multiple Kirks & Spocks along with wave after wave of the primary characters in obscure (and uninteresting) costumes has really made it hard to get excited about another toy line with the same themes. Playmates hit a lot of different characters, but ultimately got back to the Picard as a borg, Picard as Dixon Hill, Old Man Picard, Picard as a Romulan, Jacket Picard, old uniform Picard, New Uniform Picard, alternate timeline blue uniform exclusive Picard, Tapestry Picard, smuggler guy Picard called Galen, transporter Picard, Drag Queen Picard, Picard in a wheelchair with a suit (oops! Wrong movie) and so on.... you get the picture) I think BSG has done a better job of getting at the core of the license by getting a great variety of different characters with few duplicates. I also like that BSG has an edgier, more realisitic feel (probably a sign that I'm too old to be collecting toys) and less aliens with big ears and and ass-crack on their head.

Exactly my point... 24 has a solid following, but unless you were into minimates or comic books already, these never really made it anyplace where the public-at-large would have had a chance to see/buy them.

Sadly, I think this is a symptom of not being able to get the right product in front of the right people at an impulse buy level. DST has so many cool products, but they rarely show up anyplace but in comic book stores or internet retailers. I've heard more than one time from the comic book stores near me, that they really focus on the superhero, BSG and Star Trek products, since they are recognizable to their main client base and relevant to the comic book industry. It is perceived by the people who order for these stores that 24, BTTF, Rocky and A Fistful of a Few More Ugly Dollars don't really fit into their marketing scheme or their target market. Regrettably, I think Silence of the Lambs, Platoon and Desperately Seeking Madonna's Acting Career will fall into the same trap because there is no clear marketing channel that is a good way to combine TV/Movie themes with collectables. Internet retailers work well if you know what you're looking for (and know WHERE to look)... but for those who don't follow the trades or first-time buyers, there is nothing that works better than seeing it on the shelf. FYE/Suncoast would seem to be a great venue for these TV/Movie themed products (like the late Tower Records), but they stock so few of the licenses and it often hits shelves weeks or months after the release - if they even get into their stores at all. Personally I like the more realistic mates, but am frustrated that it's such an ordeal to find them. What would concern me more, from a DST-marketing perspective, is that I only know to look for these by reading at boards like this or from DST's website or Previews. If I were just shopping, it's unlikley that I'd ever encounter these.

You know, I would have found a way to get series 3, but with all the other cool licenses, I haven't broken any speed records to pre-order. It just hasn't been a high priority fom me. Likewise, the retailers didn't seem to show much interest. I'm a little disappointed, but it doesn't seem to be a show that has lent itself to interest in these type of collectibles/toys. It does mean that I'll have to run out and get an extra series 1 set for some customs and spares.

I managed to score an extra one so at least I have more than an "Army of One".... afterall, the other cylons need some fire support. I slapped the extra Kat head onto a spare uniform body, so I also have a dress-uniform Kat

For those who live in the SF Bay Area, Things from Another World's retail store in the Sony Metreon Complex has been a pretty good hook-up for minimates. Unfortunately, they're losing their lease and are selling down their stock between now and 4/27. Everything in the store is 40-90% (depending on the type of item) and will continue to be marked down. As of today, minimates are all 40% off (reasonable) retail prices. They still have some BSG 3 & 4, ST 3, Indie Mates, Defenders, Marvel and DC minimates in stock.

It's kinda disappointing that the BTTF line has been so hard to get... along with the many of the other sets. It seems that the LCS places want to focus on comic-based toys, and nothing else except perhaps the waves of BSG or ST. I got lucky that one LCS got a couple for sale... but they haven't gotten any 24, Rocky or other BTTF since. The other LCS I shop at frequently rarely gets box sets... They only got 2 of each of the Classic BSG only. I asked the manager about ordering others and, if you can believe this, he says he gets stuck with movie and TV toys so he won't order 24, BTTF, Rocky or A Fistful of a Few Ugly Dollars until the licenses prove that they can endure. (I'm pretty sure BTTF, Rocky and Clint Eastwood Westerns have proven they endure) He thinks the DC and Marvel stuff are far better sellers.... oddly enough, the TV/Movie stuff sells within a day or two of release, but he's got ample supply of the last 3 series of DC and the last 2 marvel series as wells as Zombies, Defenders and SF still on the shelves. - What a tool. That being said, I've learned to pre-order them or buy them as soon as I find them.

I've seen it.... it looks close. The Mach 5 and Speed Racer have such cartoon dimensions, that it's hard to compare it to the Maisto stuff in that scale. It might be a little larger scale.

I have only two things to say, "cornerstore comics" and "Big Bad Toy Store", maybe "You Buy Now" honorable mention Yeah - I'm finding that AFX is only good for the stuff that they order in boatloads (BSG, ST, Marvel). Seems like everything else they order light, then hope to get more from DST if they can't fill all the pre-orders

Has anyone gotten a notice from AFX that the For a Few Dollars More mates have shipped. Everyone seems to have them in stock, but AFX is still showing 1-2 weeks.... they did the same w/ BTTF2.... never showed as ready to ship. I finally cancelled the order and bought from somewhere else. Sometimes AFX is really good with stuff like the BSG and ST sets and it goes out quick. Others items it seems to take much longer (from the Diamond release date)

I think I saw a guy dealing those at Wondercon... at least the gun packs. I hate to say it, but the terrorists and Nazis are sooooo not PC. I'm sure the people at the Lego mothership in Europe are not excitied about the prospect of using Lego to recreate WWII. That being said, I think the guns themselves are great... Colonial marine pulse rifle is a very nice touch as are the PPK pistols and the shotgun. Unfortunately, noe of it works on any of my big Lego project.

Schleich Fence Yee Haw they have a whole range of stuff I know that isn't a saloon but they also have a corral and what looks like and old west home and teepees and for LotR they have Castles and Catapults and travis sheys (I have no idea how to spell the real name) but I am talking about the things like catapults but with big weighted ends. Okay done being an ingnorant United Statesian. I've seen Schleich Cannons and pirate accessories as well as little smurf houses too... if you want the OK Corral to have a more.... "Mushroom-y" look. Lego used to have old-west themed sets... It might be possible to build one up to Minimate scale, if you're willing to find the pieces or old sets you need. I think Playmobil's scale will be too large for buildings and stuff... my son has some Pony's that might pass for Minimate horses - You might try model railroad... G Scale is a bit big, but might be passable And... for the record, the word is spelled Trebuchet

For all you Speed Racer junkies... Hot Wheels just rolled out some vehicles in the 1:64 scale as well as a larger Mach 5 that is designed for a 3" Speed... It looks about 1:24 scale and might pass for mates... the interior seating arrangement should allow for Speed and one other mate, though the seatbelts may need a little tweak. It has some opening panels and a shooting something-or-other. Quality is about the same as the AA Speed (colored plastic w/ decals & paint. It's not the BTTF Die Cast DeLorean, but it might be a better substitute than the Mach 5 that came with the mates. They have that yellow car too. I saw these at Walmart - no pricing on the shelves yet. Here's a couple links to auctions that have OK pics http://cgi.ebay.com/SPEED-RACER-2008-MOVIE...1QQcmdZViewItem http://cgi.ebay.com/NIB-hot-wheels-SPEED-R...1QQcmdZViewItem

Don't get me wrong, TOS is geat, but series wise, It's gotta be TNG. For movies, TOS. TNG has one really good movie (First Contact) , but the rest range from pure crap (Generations) to OK (Nemesis) TOS films, on the other hand, have good films (Star Trek 5), Great films (Star Trek 4) Amazing Films (Star Trek 6) And films that deserve tobe amongst the pantheon of film Gods (Of course, I'm referring to the legendry Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan. ALL HAIL KHAN!) Also you have the annoying films like Star Trek the Motion(less) Picture (where they haven't learned that a movie does not equal a very freaking long episode of a TV Show) and The Search for Spock (which had no point but to make Star Trek 4 possible. Star Trek without a Spockish character is not true Star Trek) So there you go, TNG is the best series and TOS the best movies. Wow, that was quite the novel. I grew up watching the Original Trek and the Mego Star Trek characters and bridge set were some of my favorite toys... however, most of the recent toy lines exploit the principal casts with endless variations, with few supporting characters or aliens - I really hated that I could never get a complete crew set of the Mego characters and the aliens were impossible to find (I remember getting so frustrated when a friend spread the rumor that you could get Chapel, Sulu and Chekov Mego characters in Europe, but not the US) I'd really rather see the waves focus on what made Star Trek unique... strange new worlds (that means cool aliens). There was nothing strange or new about Kirk dressing up as a Nazi, Chicago gangster, Native American or old-west Sheriff... I would agree that one of the signatures of TOS was low budget, and raiding props and costumes from other movies is about as signature trek as you can get - but I have no interest in collecting that type of character Besides the Rand & Chapel characters, I could see a few classic aliens (andorian, romulan) and Maybe Kyle (to get one of the guys in the work coverall)... but I think I'm at a point where I'd rather see other, unique characters from other casts (or movie uniforms) before getting crazy with the Amok Time, Piece of the Action, City on the Edge of Forever variations of the principal cast... I could have lived without the Gladiator Kirk from this last wave and woul have really preferred to see something better than the Dress Uniform Variants that also populated the wave. If we were to see any more TOS stuff, these would be my priorities (in no particular order): Andorian Tellarite Romulan Salt Vampire Transporter Chief Kyle Disposable Red Shirt Guy Koloth Battle Damaged Commodore Decker Bele/Loki Talosian Ruk And, under no circumstances, would I ever wanter to see "Dance with Wolves" Kirk in Native American attire.... though I probably rethink my stance on "alternative versions" if we saw a few of the characters in the silver, walking-TV-Dinner Spacesuits. I'm at the same place with all of the other franchises as well... give me one set of the crew with some of the secondary characters (Barclay, Ogawa etc) and lots and lots of aliens. Pass on Picard as Dixon Hill or Troi as a Romulan or All-good-things Data and the like. TO DST's credit, wave 4 & 5 look like a good start in that direction

Stupid French. But we sure showed them during the American Revolution! God Bless the USA! Uh.... we fought (and beat) the British during the American Revolutionary War. I hate to say it, but the French helped us by providing ammunition, weapons and ships. It was probably the ONLY time that the French have helped anyone in any type of war or conflict. When it comes to war, the French are like a kick-stand on a horse. When it came to putting the French in their place, the British Navy paid them back, with interest, in about every sea battle. That is a greedy, lame-a$$ policy. I have one LCS very close to home with a similar policy that I (and many others) refuse to give business to. I occasionally go in to inform them of this and rub-in how much of my business/money their competition is getting from me (happy customer=loyal customer). I'd say "I hope they choke on their product", but everytime one closes as a result of this, it hurts the over-all community. Mine gives 10% off everything as long as you spend more than $10. Not much (basically pays for tax), but every bit helps and it keeps me coming back for more business and bigger orders. Yeah - I usually take my business elsewhere... fortunately there is a Things From Another World store nearby... they're more like a chain store, than an LCS, but they get comics and most minimates and other Diamond stuff without ordering. They also have sales occasionally - which is uncommon at most LCS.

Got my BSG Classic Sets and the Kat 2-pk... ...and the bonus was that my LCS had everything (including new arrivals) at 35% off Can't wait to get these home and crack them open

Looks like my LCS got the Kat & Mortar Cylon Pack & Few Dollars More this week. I saw them both but they were special orders... unfortunately to get in on the order thing, I've got to have 15 comic book subscriptions I guess I'm waiting for AFX. BTW, they both looked cool. Nothing on the Classic BSG though FYI - I'm on the West Coast

More good Titanium News! BSG modern basestar is coming in a future wave of Titanium vehicles. Entertainment Earth has a pic up. TO answer the question about packaging.... Hasbro has been only packing 1 BSG vehicle per case (which really sux)

Yeah - ouch! I just took a nearly $60 hit for the BSG-4 & ST-3 sets... Same here. I like the fact that everything is coming out now, but I wish they would advance notice like DC Direct when they move stuff up. I was going to use the $$ for other things, oh well. Fortunately I just ordered the hero set, but it was nice to have it spread out a bit more. On the upsdie, I wonder if this is a warning that we'll see lots of mates this year

Yeah - ouch! I just took a nearly $60 hit for the BSG-4 & ST-3 sets...

I'd like to get a few of these, but I really don't want a case. I hope someone will sell them loose or in partial lots when they hit... I could give or take the dead six and I only need one of the regular sixes. I'll take what I can get from the others.

Just got my BSG wave 4 and Star Trek Series 3 mates... another great job of character choice and likenesses. Keep 'em coming! 1. I know you mentioned that the Fistful of Dollars/Few Dollars More series was driven by your personal interest in that license. How many of the themes are driven by personal interest? 2. Lara Croft minimates. What do you think? (Face it, Lara Croft is the perfect convergence of attributes for this type of market... hot women, dangerous weapons, short-shorts and huge boobs) 3. What does it look like for more Back to the Future after the 3rd movie box set? Has the license run its course or is there enough interest to keep going? Thanks for taking time Chuck...

Good observation Winkerbean. Would allow for a nice Apollo in undershirt custom using the extra-Doc. And I'm sure you could find a quick custom use for the extra-Doc head. Thinking ... I was thinking the same thing - I already had a uniform body on reserve to make a dress uniform Cottle. I was planning on using the body to make a casual Apollo. Unfortunately the torso needs a little repaint to use as a casual dress Apollo (or other). The sides are painted white to cover the slits in the lab coat. Without the lab coat, there's odd patches of white on the sides of the torso.