A Plastic Blog With a Fresh Coat of Paint
Every now and then (OK, we admit there are more thens than nows, thank the Maker) we get a figure from Hasbro that lacks that certain je ne sais quoi.
We can make suggestions all day, but we live in a visual age, so let’s see what we can do to show the guys and gals on the Star Wars team what we’d like to see when they inevitably re-release the character/figure.
Let’s pimp these figures out.
This figure concept is obviously based on the 1999 Queen Amidala (Senate) action figure from the Episode I action figure line. The figure in its original release was amazingly detailed and accurate, but the pose prevented Hasbro from including her faux-fur (Queen Amidala abhors fur) stately robe that lended a tone of severity and desperation to the saddened monarch.
This ‘figure’ is a composite made from the actual figure with a Photoshop robe. If Hasbro actually decided to pimp this figure, we’d recommend a combination of plastic (for the orange trim and shoulder structure) and softgoods to give it a nicely balanced flow.
The catch, and there’s always a catch, is that the arms of the figure would require some retooling to make them fit in this particular silhouette.
The robe itself would obviously be the figure’s main pack-in, but one of the Queen‘s many dressing trunks or one of Palpatine‘s evil little Sith statues wouldn’t hurt.
Below is a mock-up of what this figure might look like on a 2007-ish card. Of course, we would never suggest that Hasbro make Queen Amidala in, say, a Vintage super-quality style, but they’re always welcome to do just that.
August 28th, 2006 at 6:00 am
Great idea – do it daily like the fig of the day – i will hit the GH site even more than the 10 times i do now – always looking for great new stuff and news.But i dont remember this robe maybe u can include a screenshot to jog our memories
August 28th, 2006 at 6:34 am
I love this idea!! It’s almost like saying, "Hey Hasbro, if you’re gonna repaint and kitbash anyway, here’s some that might be quite welcomed." Plus, we can suggest the perfect accessories that they overlooked the first time!
Two came to my mind right away as what I would see as "quick wins":
1.) Take a saga Han Hoth and put a normal head on him and add a simple hood-down like sculpt snap-on for working on the Falcon inside the Hoth base. Then include some more falcon-fixin’ tools. The Chewbacca Mechanic sorely needs some help in my ESB diorama.
2.) Take a more recent Tatoone Luke, dig out the POTF2 blast shield training helmet and include the constantly overlooked remote training droid on a reused clear interrogation droid stand. Maybe they could even include some snap-in blast effects so it could shoot Luke in the tail just like in ANH!
August 28th, 2006 at 7:00 am
Personally there are plenty of kitbashes I’d love to see Hasbro do…How about the POTJ Ben Kenobi Body with Naboo Obi Wan Arms and Legs?Or how about a 25th Anniversary Chewie head on a Bespin Escape body?Or a Jabba slimed C-3PO!Or how about an E2 Obi-Wan Kenobi using the Battlepack head, Obi-Wan E3 Pilot body and ROTS Agen Kolar legs?All of these examples use existing tooling with no modifications. These are the kind of repacks Hasbro SHOULD be doing.
August 28th, 2006 at 7:30 am
Hiya… I think this is a very interesting feature and you should keep it up. Just wish I had the talent to do things like this.
August 28th, 2006 at 7:35 am
I love this new feature! Many times Hasbro gets it almost right, now it’s our chance to show them how is should have been done.
August 28th, 2006 at 7:36 am
Very nice!
If you wouldn’t suggest that they do Padme in a vintage style arrangement, let me! A full line of Vintage Prequel Trilogy figures would be super good. This is a good idea that you have done, though. I hope that you continue the good work! You are practically doing Hasbro’s work for them…if they are smart enough to listen.
August 28th, 2006 at 8:43 am
I like this kind of post. You should definetely keep it up. While your at it, tell Hasbro to take the super articulated Clone Trooper and pimp it out with some blue tac ops paint. That would be super nice.
August 28th, 2006 at 8:57 am
This would eb a great item to add to the blog. I’m all for it and can send some photos of customs as well.
August 28th, 2006 at 9:00 am
Nice pimping. Maybe you can get Hasbro to pimp out a good likeness of Ewan Magregor for an EpI Obi-Wan.
August 28th, 2006 at 9:09 am
Well speaking of pimping… I think Hasbro missed a perfect opportunity with the recent Shadow Stormtrooper of adding more "BLING" to him. Actually not the figure itself but it would have been great to add more "BLING" to the package, such as the UGH figures & the demise of Greivous. BRING ON THE CHROME!
August 28th, 2006 at 9:19 am
Good idea! I might have to take a few cracks at this myself. I think daily would be too often. Do it weekly with occasional guest features if they look good. I like that you got the font for the “pimp this figure” title, heh heh.
August 28th, 2006 at 10:14 am
You don’t have to worry about that. I try to space Blogger posts out to do something different most every weekday. (Sometimes I take Friday off, sometimes Monday… it all depends. Blogs aren’t necessarily a scheduled thing, right?)
August 28th, 2006 at 11:04 am
I dig the pimped figure idea. Could even take it further to new figure ideas, particularly EU of characters we already have.
Moo!
August 28th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
I still grasping how strange that new packaging will be. And the loss of stands for coins…and I bet they won’t even work in a vending machine.
August 28th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
I’ll add to the chorus by saying I like this idea (both the new figure and the way you visualized it). The mockup card looks really REALLY nice and is starting to grow on me. Definitely do more of these types of features, it’s a great way to let Hasbro see how it should turn out if they actually go for making it.
August 28th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
Cool idea. I’ll be looking forward to your updates.
August 28th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Figures that are outdated or need updating.The ones needing new molds.Your Queen Amidala from Episode I fits this.
Figures that could use some minor or major corrections to make them even better.The Snowtrooper is one example.The "ultimate" SA Clone Trooper–take all the best parts of last years Clones and put them all into one.
Figures that could be made easily with "kit-bashing".Generic Jedi and Sith,etc. made from other figures that could be made. Throw these into battlepacks or additions to the regular line.Forget the name at moment–but like the "Hammerhead" Jedi from the Clone Wars from a Momaw Nadon figure.
August 28th, 2006 at 6:41 pm
Awesome idea. I’d like to see more posts like this!
August 28th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
great idea, keep on posting this sort of stuff gh, WELL DONE, great idea by the way, i always hoped for one of these!!!
August 28th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
I too smother you/this idea with love and enthusiasm. More please.
August 28th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
I love this idea and definitely hope to see it continue… I think this amidala would be great, too. Perfect look without too much retooling work on Hasbro’s part.
I personally would like to see a multi-pack of mos eisley/mos espa (or coruscant) human citizens (exclusive somewhere since it would be very niche – especially if heavy on the humans) with figures made of old molds, but new-sculpt heads.
August 29th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
I like your idea of making mock-ups of figures that could have been or should have been, maybe it will get the attention of some Hasbro Executives. I would definetly dig the Queen as a Vintage style figure or Deluxe Fig with say a couple of handmaidens can you see Cinema Scene anyone ahh those were the days..
August 30th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
LOVE the idea, (as well as figure of the day & your blogs)!