This Week In Your Plastic Crack, Action Figures and Toy Collection 26 26

[Summydad1]

Vintage Tygra with original whip. 

[F For Fake]

Con Report!

This weekend was the inaugural GI Joe Winterfest, here in Louisville. This show is produced by the folks who do the Kentuckiana GI Joe Expo every summer. This year will be the 8th, and it's cool to see how the show has grown.

So, this weekend they thought they'd see if there was any interest in a similar winter event, a way to kick off the convention calendar for Joe collectors. Based on what I saw, the answer is a definite yes.

This was a scaled down version of the summer show, restrained to a single ballroom, whereas the summer show is spread across three rooms as well as some folks set up in the lobby. There was also no figure customizing contest, or Lobby Swap, like you get with the larger show. This was just about getting folks in a room to buy and sell toys.

I went to the preview on Friday night, which is where the hardcore people go. It's $20 vs $5 if you're just going on Saturday, however it gets you in both days, as well as early bird admission on Saturday. I like to go on Friday just in case there are any great deals to be found. The best buying is usually on the first night.

Friday wasn't very strongly attended, and I didn't buy much. In fact, all I bought on Friday night were some carded Marvel Legends and DC figures for $10 each. I should have bought everything he had, but I didn't want to blow all of my cash that night, in case something cool arrived on Saturday. When I went back on Saturday I decided to go ahead and grab a few more, only to find that the guy who arrived before me had bought the dealer's entire stock of boxed/carded Legends stuff. He got a sweet deal. I should have jumped sooner. Oh well, win some, lose some.

I didn't have any big agenda, as far as buying. I thought maybe I'd take further steps towards completing my Dreadnoks, if I found a good deal on what I needed. I wanted a Dreadnok cycle, and there were four in the room. Two that were incomplete for $25 and $35, and another that was complete for $45, which was more than I wanted to spend. Another dealer had one marked for $35, but it was missing one of the side flaps (or whatever you call him.) He was asking $35, but he told me I could have it for $25. So, I bought it, and then went to another dealer with bins full of parts, which basically work like a "pull a part" junkyard. Found the flap I needed, paid a buck for it, and completed the cycle.

And that's what makes these shows great. If you're trying to complete figures or vehicles, it can be a death by a million cuts if you're buying on eBay or FB. By the time you get all of the stuff shipped to you, you end up paying more than if you'd just bought the thing complete from the jump. But these shows always have dealers with bins full of parts, guns, backpacks etc for a buck each. If you're willing to dig in, you will be rewarded. So, I got that door, I got some guns and backpacks I needed to complete a couple of TARGATS and other figures, etc.  That's why I love these shows. Oh, and the guy I bought the flap for also had a Swampfire for $25, so I bought that and he threw the door flap in for free. Huzzah!

Otherwise, I didn't go nuts. I really love the battle stations and battefield accessories sets, so I like to pick those up if I find them cheap enough with the box. Got a pretty good deal on the Air Defense battle station, box is really nice. I bought the Forward Observer Unit primarily because I love that box art, even if the box is rough. It was missing a few things, but i've already completed it since last night.

I finally found a Walmart Baroness to go with the Scarlett that Buzz kindly sent me. I saw stacks and stacks of the Stormy and Snake, so I'm still not in a hurry to pick those up yet.

At long last, I've now completed my Command Ring set. One guy had some really nice ones with sharp paint, so I picked up the three I needed. I'd like to get the little insert/promo thing to go with them, maybe get a little ring case to put it all in. Happy to cross those off my list.

I picked up a Killer WHALE as a fixer upper project. This was my favorite vehicle as a kid. I'd take it out to the pool, sink it, and watch the bodies float to the surface. I may have had...issues? At any rate, my original is long gone. Since then, I've picked up two more, which I completed and sold. I just like the vehicle. So I bought this one with the intention of fixing it up and keepig it, but ugh, the more I think about it, the more I think I may be over that period in my life. I may just part it out and put the money towards getting a nice one complete with a box. The vanes/tabs on the fans are such a pain to source anymore, and I also need an arm for the missile launcher box, which isn't cheap. So, yeah, I don't know why I bought this ha Just caught up in the moment. The guy tried to sell me TWO of them, and it would have been a good deal, but I don't know what the hell I would do with two, when I'm already regretting getting this one!

And finally, my favorite purchase of the day: The Bazooka Bubble Bath, which is still sealed and full! I've always wanted a set of these, but have been determined to find them in the wild, and not just hop on eBay. This is the first time I've seen one in person at a show since I started searching, so I couldn't get that $20 out of my wallet faster if I tried. He looks like a bizarre Academy Award.

And that's that. Fun show, a nice distraction for the winter. TIme to start saving up for the July show. I don't know if we'll set up to sell again this year, but either way it'll be fun. Thanks for reading!

Edited January 24, 2021 by F For Fake

[ADAMANTIUM]

awesome @F For Fake

[followtheleader]

Forward Observer Unit is a piece I really want to pick up in 2021. 

Patrick 

[Buzzetta]

For $20 shipped?  why not... 

However... you know when we ask the question, "Does it really mean anything to say, pet free, smoke free, air conditioned home?"

Yes... yes it does... 

This can soak for a good hour or two. 

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by Buzzetta

[Namtak]

1 hour ago, Buzzetta said:

For $20 shipped?  why not... 

However... you know when we ask the question, "Does it really mean anything to say, pet free, smoke free, air conditioned home?"

Yes... yes it does... 

This can soak for a good hour or two. 

 

Wow the picture you show was before or after? How much can the white can be whiter than yellowish and what do you use in the soaking water,im new in this its really interesting  plus im always buying in flea market could really help me thanks!

Edited January 25, 2021 by Namtak

[Buzzetta]

16 minutes ago, Namtak said:

Wow the picture you show was before or after? How much can the white can be whiter than yellowish and what do you use in the soaking water,im new in this its really interesting  plus im always buying in flea market could really help me thanks!

It’s the 1997 POTF2 A-Wing so aside from the removal of the electronics it’s a direct mold of the original from the 1983-1984 Star Wars droids line. 
 

This was... dirty though... it had pieces of hair attached to it and it had a dirty and grimy feel to it.    It was more the feel than the look as the ship is painted to be weathered.  So I removed the metal screws and took the ship apart letting it soak in a tub of warm water and dish soap.  Eventually I will rinse and wipe it down to dry and hopefully remove the grime.  Once done I will put it all together again.  

[Buzzetta]

All done... it's hard to tell in the pic but the plastic is smooth to the touch instead of 'gritty' and 'rough' in patches.   The canopy is a bit more clear.  The accents on the mold are sharper.  The thing must have been dusty and never cleaned or it got wet and then caked on.   It 'feels' cleaner.   

These things are far easier to take apart than put together.  I will tell you that. 

[bentbryan]

@Buzzetta Or anyone have experience with light kits for Legos? I was looking at some of these 

Light My Bricks

 

 

 

[Buzzetta]

15 minutes ago, bentbryan said:

@Buzzetta Or anyone have experience with light kits for Legos? I was looking at some of these 

Light My Bricks

 

 

 

I do not have any personal experience but after you tagging me in this I finally decided to check it out.  I was going to consider the light kit for the Ford Mustang and decided to check out the installation guide.  For the price they are asking and with the company themselves adding the disclaimer that the components are easily damaged I am hesitant.  

I do know though that there are multiple companies that offer these products: https://www.google.com/search?q=lego+lcd+light+kit&oq=lego+lcd+light+kit&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i13j0i22i30l2j0i22i30i395j0i8i13i30i395l5.4894j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I also know that there have been rumors for years that Lego was considering adding this themselves but nothing ever comes about. 

[bentbryan]

4 minutes ago, Buzzetta said:

I do not have any personal experience but after you tagging me in this I finally decided to check it out.  I was going to consider the light kit for the Ford Mustang and decided to check out the installation guide.  For the price they are asking and with the company themselves adding the disclaimer that the components are easily damaged I am hesitant.  

I do know though that there are multiple companies that offer these products: https://www.google.com/search?q=lego+lcd+light+kit&oq=lego+lcd+light+kit&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i13j0i22i30l2j0i22i30i395j0i8i13i30i395l5.4894j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I also know that there have been rumors for years that Lego was considering adding this themselves but nothing ever comes about. 

Thanks for the reply! They are a bit pricey for something that could break while installing. I have looked at a couple other companies but this one seemed to have the best lighting effects.  My nephew and I are just about finished with RoS Falcon and I’m pretty tempted to grab a kit. 
 

Im surprised Lego hasn’t produced them yet, especially for the expensive collectors sets. 

[Yorick]

19 hours ago, Buzzetta said:

All done... it's hard to tell in the pic but the plastic is smooth to the touch instead of 'gritty' and 'rough' in patches.   The canopy is a bit more clear.  The accents on the mold are sharper.  The thing must have been dusty and never cleaned or it got wet and then caked on.   It 'feels' cleaner.   

These things are far easier to take apart than put together.  I will tell you that. 

I've loved nearly every SW vehicle design.  This is one I want to find cheap and then re-paint (in some crazy off-color).  Maybe I'll pick up the ForceLink extended frame version, but I don't like that it doesn't have landing "legs" and just sits on the back fins.  This POF version might be the one I'll settle on....

[Buzzetta]

1 hour ago, Yorick said:

I've loved nearly every SW vehicle design.  This is one I want to find cheap and then re-paint (in some crazy off-color).  Maybe I'll pick up the ForceLink extended frame version, but I don't like that it doesn't have landing "legs" and just sits on the back fins.  This POF version might be the one I'll settle on....

This one is also on it's way to me for $32 shipped.  This was the tougher to find version with the retooled cockpit.  I think it was a Walmart exclusive.   The original Kenner design along with the SKiff are some of the only Star Wars toys that are still in production aside from a few minor tweaks (like paint deco and maybe a slight retooling like the console on the A-Wing and the alternate railing on the skiff).

Is there anything else out there?  The Falcon, AT-AT, AT-ST, Slave 1, and X-Wing were basically retired for their 2nd Generation counterparts around 15 years ago.  The Tie Fighter and Interceptor 'could' be considered but they have had a retooling with the cockpits and have received newer and more movie accurate and larger sized wings. 

Edited January 26, 2021 by Buzzetta

[TMNT]

20 hours ago, bentbryan said:

@Buzzetta Or anyone have experience with light kits for Legos? I was looking at some of these 

Light My Bricks

 

 

 

Those look pretty great. I've actually just started this build... going to take me a while. 

[Buzzetta]

Local buy $80 cash

Scarlett is a ninja force figure and NOT an o-ring.

Stormtrooper is to open.  My imperial troop transport arrived

Orange mini rig has been eluding me

I got my complete vehicle maintenance energizer.  I actually really liked this toy as a kid and the accessories are very hard to get complete.  The store was asking a price for a boxed sample that has been open but was complete for less than I can get a loose one without the box online... deal. Cash talks 

 

 

[followtheleader]

Worked out a deal to bring the whole enchilada home.

GPK 15th Series

Patrick

[MetalPSI]

Tell me how the gum tastes

[followtheleader]

3 minutes ago, IkewithMike said:

Tell me how the gum tastes

Probably like an old tire

Patrick

[followtheleader]

They threw in these with the deal. 

Giant GPS. 

I took a pic with the box to show how huge they are. 

2 classic characters.

Patrick

Edited January 30, 2021 by followtheleader

[MetalPSI]

That is fantastic. Always loved garbage pail kids