I had actually thought that I had posted this already, so if I have please let me know! The recent (as in within the last 12 months or so!) release of Micro Machine Star Wars toys prompted me to grab some to add to my various Star Wars armies. Given that I am a big fan of speeder/jet bikes in Sci-Fi settings, grabbing some more was a no brainer!
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| From top to bottom: Old MM Rebel speeder bike , New Rebel speeder bike, Old Imperial speeder bike, New Imperial speeder bike. |
The new bikes are quite nice, and are clearly a new sculpt rather than a re-release of the older models. Does this mean that the molds for the older models have been lost or destroyed? Or could it be that it was simply cheaper to make new ones?
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| Left to Right: New bike, Old bike, New bike, Old bike. |
My plan is either put the new bikes into separate units, as both the rider and bike are sculpted in a quite different style to the originals (at least in my eyes). Still they are quite useable and it is nice to see Micro Machines back on the shelves.
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Left to Right: Old bike, New bike, Old bike, New bike.
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I have picked up some of the other figures in the new range, but the pricing in New Zealand has meant that without major discounting I am unlikely to buy more as they can be nearly twice the price (even allowing for a generous rate of exchange) of what I had seen them on the shelf at Wal-Mart or Target. This makes taking a punt on the mystery blind bags a little less attractive than it could be.
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| The new bikes will fit on the old stands. |
Another factor has been that there have been no 'army builder' style packs released. Being able to buy a number of basic troopers at once is always quite useful. My hope is that enough people do buy the range that making packs of of the various troop types from the various seven movies is viewed as being profitable by Hasbro.
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| The new bike is more streamlined, but the paint job on the rider seems a little unfinished. |
Of course, I am not the target demographic - so it is rather unlikely that this will happen! Fortunately I have enough figures to run the odd game, and to keep myself amused!
Brian - I have no comment to make on this posting, but I discovered that your previous one on the Semple Tank had slipped under my radar. I thought you might also be interested in a rather more convention homegrown design, the Schofield Tank. Designed in 1940, and improved after poorly performing in early tests, had it gone into local production, it might have given Japanese invasion forces something to think about. It was armed with a 2-pr gun and Coax Besa MG.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I am reminded of an autobiography of a Kiwi tank man of WW2 who never saw action, though shipped overseas with the 3rd NZ Division. Whilst training in New Zealand, his unit was issued with Stuarts (not sure whether the UK 'Honey' version, or the US).
He tells the story of a test run top cross a stream.
'Bit of a bank on the far side,' objected one of the lads.
'No worries,' quoth the tank man. 'You just rush the stream and that'll carry you up over the other side.'
So he rushed the stream. Buried the nose back to the first road wheel into the bank.
Took three days to dig the thing out again...
The author of this wee account was given the job as radio operator on account, he reckoned, of his admitted hearing difficulty. Finally, this affliction grew worse, he was shipped home.
I wish I could recall the author and title. One of the best bits was his putting straight an American GI on the merits of New Zealand's Constitutional Monarchy versus US Democracy. Funny, but eloquently argued.
Sounds like it would be a book worth reading! Lots of interesting stuff Ion!
DeleteVery useful, they are quite different arn't they? Swoops next?
ReplyDeleteH
Yes, and there are two different swoops made in the MM range! I am also yet to send you pictures of the tan and green Silver Corn figures, and haven't manged to dig the Silver Corn aircraft out of the stash yet.
DeleteAh, a tempting little project to be sure, to be sure. It has to go "on the list"
ReplyDeleteStar Wars is always tempting... and there are so many available options coming out at the moment!
DeleteAh, a tempting little project to be sure, to be sure. It has to go "on the list"
ReplyDelete