The ones I saw are all pre-orders though, umless it's an import from the US.

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

I had pre-ordered some from a U.S. based toy store online. They emailed me Friday that mine were shipping out, so U.S. dealers have them. Shouldn't be too long until we start seeing them on shelves of the chain stores.

And when I do...I'm with Nick. I'll be getting 2 extra Windrix figures just for customizing. Gotta have those long sleeves and the flame units! Damn shame all they did was copy-paste Hudson's atypical webbing load-out, though. Rumor was it started out as an Apone figure but was converted to Windrix when the likeness rights weren't able to get worked out, so where is Apone's loud-out?! Oh well.

I need a Windrix for customizing too. The flame unit will go to my Dietrich build and the long sleeves will go for my mini-me. I've got rolled up sleeves on my costume at the moment, but once I own a real Spat blouse I'll be damned if I'll hide all that sweet camo by rolling it up!

I share your dismay about Hudson's load-out becoming the standard here, but a pair of snips will tidy it up a bit...

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Alright, just got my series 2 in! I'll do a photo shoot when I get a chance tonight and post tomorrow.

Initial impressions
-Blue Aliens Warrior: Cooler than I expected. If you had told me a year ago I would want the same figure in 4 different colors, I'd have said you were on drugs. They each surprisingly appeal to me somehow. Glad to have it.

-Giger original Alien: Like it MUCH more than expected. I was just expecting the newly articulated Aliens Warrior body with a new head and hands, but its actually clearly unique. Only the lower abdomen and torso (with tail and spines) are shared. Its MUCH improved over the first release I think. The hard core creature people out there always have things to complain about, but I like it a lot.

-Windrix: Oddly, there is NO reference to his story on the packaging! If you do not follow Neca's twitter or forums such as this, the casual fan would have no idea why this guy is a figure. Most will probably think he is "that guy from the video game" ("Winters" was the game character, btw).

Of course for the marine I do get a bit more anal...
Pros:
-Nice flame unit, nice story, love the long sleeves.

Cons:
-Copy/paste of Hudson's atypical loadout (as already ranted above). But come on! They even left on the eagle bolo and his sardine-can-key cod piece. Everything about his gear screems "Hudson and only Hudson". I'll be carefully carving things off all day!
-"fit and finish" issues I didn't have with previous marines like ultra tight or loose joints with very little in between. Also bulky droopy accessories (almost look like 'recasts' of series 1 accessories).
-No sling on flame unit while a comically large one on motion tracker.
-Same paint/color errors as previous 3 marines in brown jungle boots and 'forest green' accessories
-somehow the screaming eagle patch on mine ended up a blue and white blob (maybe bad luck, as the white border flag patch was sharp and accurate).

Took about a million pics, but these best sum things up.

Old Neca Giger figure vs. new one (new "35th anniversary" figure on right)



The Giger lineup over the years (Aoshima, MacFarlane, Neca 1st run, Latest Neca)



Blue Warrior (and his Neca Pals)




Windrix.


But we all know it was the body I'm after anyways. Here we go Crowe!!


Didn't want to disrespect Mr. Windrix too much though. Since I stole a helmet off a screaming Hicks, I had a replacement body to spare.

Um, does Windrix have a picture of himself on the back of his armour above the ice-cream-eating-penguin??

Thanks for the side-by-side shots of all the Aliens, they all have elements that I like and elements that I loathe. Oh well, I guess if they were displayed in a dark corner with just some minimalist red lighting they'd be awesome!

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

They need to do a smartgunner! I got to talk to one of the neca sculptors at NY comiccon and begged him to do a smart gunner

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Cpl Matthew Rendar. M56 smart gun operator. 2nd bat 7th colonial marines "Rendars Raiders "

They would be printing money with Vaz and Drake! Hell, they could do their favorite thing and do multiple versions of both at various stages and even recycle the M56 into an army builder or another 'tribute' figure.

I would love to be a fly on the wall for those likeness "offers" they claim the talent won't sign on for. Something about their "we couldn't get the rights" excuses while the talent says "they never contacted me" just doesn't add up. Man I wanna know the whole story...



The thread a while back titled "how much graffiti is too much graffiti" (or something similar) did instantly spring to mind

Glad about that.

Considering why they did it, I felt bad reading about people buying it just to take the head off to make a different one.

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

There's a Facebook page for Craig Windrix:

https://www.facebook.com/5000MilesOfCraig

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Just an fyi about the shoulder lamps, they are very delicate and will break if they fall from a shelf or display.

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PFC Mike Rizzuto MVM
USS Blackhawk
3rd Batt 12th Regt

Yes. Windrix is undergoing stomach surgery and the image of himself is from the '5,000 miles of Craig' fundraiser event.

Well then! Now that I feel like a nice big jerk, I got motivated to go ahead and transfer the armor as well as the head onto the suitable host body. Windrix has his place at the table (my shelf) in all his original personalized glory (just now with short sleeves).

Now knowing the story behind his face, I wonder if there are real meanings to the other seemingly random images?

Don't feel like a jerk. NECA could have made the backstory a lot clearer for folks, and we still don't know if a percentage of sales are going to him or not. I popped Hudson's head off first thing and I'm not feeling bad for Bill Paxton.
Clearly Craig is one of us in spirit and I'd like to know more about how to support him in his fight. Maybe if NECA had put a web address or QR code on the package folks could really get involved. As it is I feel like they've fumbled the ball.

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My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

Valid points to be sure. I was more feeling like a jerk for my "too much graffiti" cracks mostly. But your right, Neca could be doing more to convey what this figure was all about. Something on the packaging in place of the generic plot summery would have been much more informative to the 'average Joe buyer' who doesn't research his/her toys online.

In any case, I actually think the transfer looks good. The local TRU finally got them in, so I picked up 2 more of this figure. I picked out the best head and clearest graffiti'd armor of the trio and slapped it on a short sleeve body.

BigbisonT, or anyone who has the figures...how does Hicks helmet look on Windrixs' head/body?

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"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Same as Hicks. High up in the air. The stylish hairdos don't quite cooperate. Obviously it varies based on how much of the inside of the helmet material you remove, but to get a natural look you pretty much have to remove hair from the head as well.

I don't think anyone should feel bad. I only know because someone asked so I went looking. The heart that says 'Dao' is for Dao Pham, Craig's girlfriend. Craig's father died a year ago and the bowling emblem on the back of his armor is for Craig's dad, who was an avid bowler.

Just Tweeted by Neca:

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Loving it! Can't wait until Toy Fair!

Hey guys, ive recently bought the series 1 marines and alien but the aliens right leg is bent like a banana. Im pretty sure it isnt supposed to be like it? Ive read people putting figures in hot water to make the plastic supple. Could I do this to try and set it straight or would I do more damage than good?
thanks

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Happy Happy, Joy Joy

I'd return it to where ypu bought it for a new one.

More news on Twitter about the Alien Queen:

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

Wish I were kidding when I say they are virtually all like that. Its literally to the point I am starting to doubt its a flaw as much as an iffy design choice. If it bugs you the hot water water trick often does work. 1 minute for the water in a microwave and a 30 sec soak is all you should need

That's surprising to me. I figured 100 at least.

Not good news on Facebook about Craig Windrix:

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."