Monday, February 18, 2013

Marvel Mondays: Review of the NECA 1/4 Scale Captain America!

The Basics:
Scale: a little over 18"

Price: $84.95 - 134.94 on Amazon, I have yet to actually find him in stores but id wager he would be from $75 to $85

Character Bio:
Physical augmentation from the super soldier serum allowed Steve Rogers to be preserved in Arctic ice for decades. Revived and reintroduced into twenty-first century society, the legendary Captain America longs for simpler times and the meaning he once found in fighting for a cause. Outfitted with a sleek new uniform by S.H.I.E.L.D., and wearing his trusty vibranium shield once more, Captain America's no-nonsense attitude and old-fashioned optimism make him an ideal candidate to lead Nick Fury's Ultimate Crisis Response Team, The Avengers!
Packaging:
Now I never usually focus on the packaging for a figure but this one is an exception. I just love the box design. So. Much.

23" tall box....Damn..


 
Now that we've admired it, let's get him free from his box!
 
35 twist ties later...
 
Sculpt and Paint:



 


The sculpt of this figure is truly amazing. He is perfect down to the last strap! What is truly amazing is that his costume actually looks like a leather-ish substance. The belt, from what I can tell is a separate piece glued on. The boots and gloves look amazing. Every strap, every groove, every piece of Kevlar is perfectly sculpted. Even the body as a whole looks like Chris Evans'!There's really nothing more to say than this sculpt is flat out amazing. All this and I haven't even gotten to the face yet!
 
                                     

 
That likeness is amazing. The helmet and straps look fantastic. I know it sounds like I keep repeating myself but there really is no other way to say it! Does it look EXACTLY like Evans? I think it's about as close as we will get, and considering this isn't Hot Toys , it is damn impressive!
 
 


 


 

As far as paint goes, I had no issues, I checked out other reviews, and I haven't seen anyone have issues. I'd say, like always, check the face, but considering I can't find this guy in stores, should you purchase him online, I wouldn't worry. Your in good hands with NECA.
This figure is just stunning and he is one of those figures where you can just prop him up and stare at him for hours. Hell that's what I did when I first got him open.

Articulation and Accessories:

I'll admit, at first I was a bit concerned about getting him because I'm an articulation junkie when it comes to figures, and from the promo shots it didn't look like he had much. Boy was I wrong. He has a ball jointed head, swivel-hinge shoulders, swivel- hinge elbows, swivel-hinge wrists, a ball jointed ab joint, a swivel waist, a DCUC style hip joint ( I think they're called "H" joints?), a swivel thigh, a swivel-hinge knee, and ball jointed ankles. 
For accessories, Cap comes with two alternate hands, one in a "Throwing his shield" gesture, and the other...not really sure but it looks cool, and he of course comes with his mighty shield!




OVERALL:
This guy is amazing. He was worth every penny. It's gotten to the point where I've had people come over, who don't understand the point of comics, and figures, and yet they were enthralled by this guy. It's a shame, but pictures don't do him justice. When you see him in person, then you realize how big he is, and how precisely detailed he is. If your willing to drop the cash, do it. You won't regret it. An overall amazing piece and a worthy addition, to ANYONE'S collection!
 10 OUT OF 10!!!





Saturday, February 9, 2013

Go-Figure Post #3!

Marvel Universe Dr.Strange
Supplies:
Red cloth, X-Acto Knife, Black Sharpie paint marker, crazy glue, and any fodder belt will do. I used one from the Prince of Persia movie 3" Dastan figure, and Boots of a Marvel Universe Steve Rogers.


So first, it started out as this figure, from a comic pack because I missed out on the original.

BUT I did not dig the all blue look. First order of business was painting the legs black. But then, I just said the hell with it and went for my own version of the Doctor here.

Let me tell you, finding a cape for Strange was a pain, and I can't cut a straight line on cloth worth a damn. Then, deep in the bowels of my basement, I found these scissors that leave a pattern as they cut, and I thought that it would be perfect for Dr.Strange! In my opinion, it looks sick! The cape can either be drawn over his shoulders, to cover his arms, or draped back, so that it wont interfere with posability.




Transformers Prime Powerizers Optimus Prime
Supplies:
X-Acto knife, crazy glue, Sharpie Silver Paint Marker.Sharpie Red Paint Marker, Sharpie Blue Paint Marker, and patience. Lots and lots of patience.


It started out like this:
It was based on this:
So I made this:
First off, the weapons. The sword is borrowed from a Fall of Cybertron Air Raid. The cannon comes from Transformers prime Rumble, but I repainted it in Prime-esque colors.

 

 
The painted areas are pretty clear when comparing with the base image. However the lights on his chest were cut and glued from the tops of his shoulders.
 


For his back, I couldn't even begin to tell you where to place the pieces. I just put them in places that felt right and looked clean. However If you try to follow what I did,  I suggest using some fodder bits to fill the gap as seen in the pic above this.

 
Finally, the area you see in light blue paint, was originally empty. That piece is from a Dark of the Moon deluxe Topspin. I added it to fill the gap, true in the CGI model there's no wheel there but I think it looks pretty cool!

Marvel Legends Ultimate Captain America
Supplies:
Captain America The First Avenger 6" wal mart Captain America, Marvel Legends Super Soldier Steve Rogers, X-Acto knife, crazy glue


This is the simplest custom. The shield, was just one that I personally prefer from my fodder bin. Was from an older Toybiz Cap if I'm correct. The head swap came from a youtube video I saw when the reviewer said the head looked too big, and looking at it, it did. So I tried the movie Cap head and I thought it would look cool. But then I thought, the vest kind of throws off the look, so I removed it. Next what bugged me from the start was the gun holster. As I mentioned in the review, it wasn't removable. So I X-Actoed that baby right off and glued on the one from the Cap movie figure! Works like a charm! I finally X-Actoed the excess pouches of his belt off. I also simply gave him Steve Rogers shoulder straps. Why? I dunno, they look cool on him.

 
 
 

Mark VII Iron Man V.2
Supplies:
 Iron Man 1 6" Mark III, crazy clue, X-Acto Knife, Iron Man 2 3" Mark III
Something was bugging me about my previous attempts at the Mark VII, seen here:
A repaint was too simple. So I remodeled. I gave him the shoulder pads of the Mark III, cut to match the Mark VII's a bit more, took those flappy things off of the 3" Mark III's accessory and glued them to his shoulders for his missile pods, and finally, cut and glued bits of the 6" Mark III's forearm guards for his forearm missile pods, and I went from what you see above, to this:







 
May not be perfectly screen accurate, but much more accurate than my previous attempt! That's all for this post!