Pimp This Ugnaught!
I actually encourage, no dare, the folks at Hasbro to do some creative headswapping. Today, through the magic of Photoshop, I want to show our friends in Rhode Island how two figures long since relegated to history can become a fresher, newer figure.
Lucasfilm recycled costumes all the time. In the instance of Yoxgit, a background character from Jabba’s Palace, LFL took one of its surplus Ugnaught heads from The Empire Strikes Back, put it on an actor in a Snaggletooth costume leftover from The Star Wars Holiday Special and created a new character.
Here is an image of what could be a nice, cheerful little figure set. This is the way a lot of collectors would like to see figures ‘refreshed’ rather than straight re-packs of old figures on modern cards. There’s a wealth of choices out there!
I am happy to dole out $6 for something that Hasbro has officially upgraded (no, not $7.64, no thank you Target). I’m not so keen on the idea of re-packaged figures showing up en masse at my local retailer.
So what say you, readers? $6 for a "kitbash" figure, or $6 for a straight re-pack? Which is more likely to get your wallet opened? (I know, a few of you will say neither, but the lure of a new figure is just too much for some of us Star Wars nerds out there.)
Before anyone says it, yes, we all know that figures are more expensive in Europe, Canadia, Australia, and Iceland. So don’t rain on my parade with that one today, OK? Thx! Because, as Barbie once said, "Math is hard!" and that goes double for global economics. (And to our English friends, I pay triple the price you pay for a box of PG Tips, so it all evens out.)
Finally, happy National Coming Out Day to all of the GLBT readers out there. Talk about it!
(What does it have to do with Star Wars? Nothing, but that’s why this is a blog, not a column.)
October 11th, 2006 at 10:25 am
Hello…my name is Dave…and I’m gay! Also a huge Star Wars fan who would really like to see some of these pimped out figures made. Honestly, if they expect us to shell our $7.49, I don’t want it to be the 127th version of Darth Vader.
October 11th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
I’m not gay, but then I didn’t used to like asparagus either . . .
I would gladly purchase head-swapped figures, and I think the relative success of the different-headed Imperial Officers and Endor Troopers (and some Rebel Pilots) show that other people will, too. Even as a kid, I loved that the Bespin Guards were available in a couple of different likenesses. I don’t care if the body sculpts are the same, it’s nice to have as many faces in my diorama-ramas as I can possibly get. Doubly-nice on "troop builder" figures.
October 11th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Wait, did you say "Canadia"? Is that anywhere close to Canada, as in the true north strong and free?
I do like this idea but would like to perhaps see it as part of a fan vote similar to fan’s choice and the vote-for-your-repack we’re having now. I don’t think Yoxgit would necessarily be something I’d be interested in (simply because ugnaughts are not high on my want list) but it could work well for other characters. So long as it is more than just a headswap on an existing ball-jointed head (which any fan could do). Could they not do a Lando in smuggler’s outfit this way just by putting a votc Lando head on the VotC Han for example and repainting the hands and neck. I’d buy that…
October 11th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
I have nothing to say about Homosexuality, I dont condone or condemn. In fact I think everyone is a little bit gay, whether they amit it or not.
I’m here to talk about Star Wars. I like this figure in today’s "Pimp this Figure." although I want to point out that it looks like he is wearing Micheal Jackson’s jacket from thriller. I would still buy one for my Jabba’s palace diorama.
October 11th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
Perhaps next year Hasbro could combine the head swap idea and National Coming Out Day and release an old figure with a "new fabulous hairstyle!"
October 11th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Syzerman… two words: BEA ARTHUR.
October 11th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Yeah but up here in Canadia we pay upwards of 10 bucks per figure! And with the dollar the way it is that’s about 8.70 before provincial and federal taxes! So, well, yeah, I’m just sayin’ is all….
But yeah, I’d pay for kitbash. I just watched the original trilogy DVDs (the good ones with the matte lines and Dolby 2.0 sound) and I want the other Adam to push for another EE exclusive droid set using the new R5-D4 mold to make that yellow one that passes in front of the landspeeder in Mos Eisley just as they get stopped by the troopers, and the red and black one that’s the x-wing co-pilot of, I think it’s, Red Leader , and I think there’s an all white version at some point in the Rebel briefing scene as well and then there’s the black headed one in the Hoth hanger…that’s as far as I got, I’m sure there must be more! Would be great little set number 3!
Oh yeah, and about half the time I feel like I might be a lesbian.
October 11th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
Yay, I’m gay. A professional one, even. Woot!
I’m not sold on this particular kit-bash. I think my standard for these would be that they would have to use good body molds, if possible. I hate it when Hasbro uses POTF2 era bodies for kit-bashing purposes. If you’re gonna kit-bash, use good sculpts.
October 11th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
Throw one of these guys into a Battlepack and I’ll buy him.I’d rather drop $5 for him in a pack than $6-7 for him as a carded figure.There’s alot of kitbash figures I’d like to see made but this guy would be one from the bottom of the list.Rather have Holiday Special Luke Skywalker before this guy.
Kitbash some new Jedi and Sith figures and you’ll get my wallet to open faster.More Padawan Jedi as well.Repaint Kit Fisto blue or red and I’ll buy them.Throw Oola,Shakka,or Ayy Vidda heads on Aayla Secura’s body and I’ll buy those.Remember that Clone Wars Jedi Army 3 pack?I would have bought more if they had a repaint or more of them.
Troop Builders like Imperial Officers and Rebel Pilots with different heads.Flesh things out and make Rogue Squadron.How about the old Endor Rebel Soldier which Sideshow just announced?The Endor Soldier in Scout disguise?The Afro American Rebel Pilot?a Baron Fel–Imperial and Rebel Pilot versions?
More females–female Stormtrooper?Leia in Stormtrooper armor?Female Imperials,female Rebels,etc.A good seller would be a Slave Padme which could easily be done.
Kitbash us some new Mandolorians,Smugglers, and Bounty Hunters.Lando in Smugglers Outfit from ROTJ?Jaster Mereel?Jodo Kast?
Hasbro, if you’re running low on ideas check out the forums here as well as other sites.
October 12th, 2006 at 5:37 am
Sounds like a pretty good idea. I probably wouldn’t buy this figure, but it’s better than some of the straight repacks. Speaking of repacks, how about putting Snaggletooth back out there. I never saw him in the wild. Actually, I’d much rather have a carded Blue Snaggletooth.