Batteries' Limit

here's a late post..
it's about my discovery last week..
and a day after that, i underwent a surgery, that is why i was not able to post about it immediately...

anyway, here's the story..
i was performing the general cleaning of my room when i remembered about the batteries of my old version of Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi (my only battery-operated Star Wars unit)..
and for some reason, i just had the hunch that i need to check its status..
so i took the time to see how it is doing..
from the outside of the figure's battery compartment, everything looks fine..
the lightsaber's light is still functional as well..
but upon checking the inside, i was surprised to see that after a very long time of being there, the batteries had started to corrode...

let's see..
so this Ben Kenobi figure makes use of two (2) x 1.5 Volts A76/LR44 button cell batteries..
and it has been utilizing a certain Alkaline Cell GPA76 ever since i bought it..
i had this figure from as early as 1998, and i must say that it was really impressive that it remained operational for more or less 20 years..
but unfortunately, batteries don't last forever...

in a way i felt lucky that i had that hunch to check on it..
because of that, i was able to save my action figure from possible battery leakage..
i mean, i have seen it happened to other toys and devices before..
and it can be really messy and hard to clean or restore...

here's what it looks like when i disassembled the figure..
there were a few rust-like stains in the removable cover of the battery compartment, but it was still easy to clean though..
the corroded batteries had left a light greenish discoloration on the metal conductor inside the action figure (that greenish thing near the figure's left shoulder), and i was not able to completely clean it off..
the greenish discoloration is one of the usual results of having a corroded battery inside a device, and it is really hard to remove..
for the batteries, both had started to become a bit rusty, and one was a bit bloated already...

here's a closer (but blurred) look at those corroded cell button batteries..
thankfully, i was able to remove them on time...

Gungan Warrior Sold!

and there goes another one..
my 6th successful transaction as a seller on eBay ..
it was August 8, 2017 when me and the buyer were finally able to personally close this deal..
it was my 2nd time to do a meetup..
and now i only have 1 item left to sell...

Gungan Warrior..
another item which unfortunately acquired some mold-like formation inside its packaging..
i wanted to sell it a price not lower than Php 500.00, but i had some changes in mind since the mold-like stuff started to show up, so i lowered it to just Php 400.00..
i was about to adjust its starting auction price to Php 450.00, since the condition is not that bad..
but someone has already placed a bid for it..
and eventually, this item has been won through the auction...

its logical value is also Php 542.00..
but the circumstances has lowered it to only Php 400.00..
so that's a Php 142.00 loss for me...


my last statistics was:
Number of Units: 119
Total Value (in Php): 59,760 +
Estimated Rate (in Php): 502.18

and after selling my Gungan Warrior, my Estimated Rate (Total Value / Number of Units) went up again:
Number of Units: 118
Total Value (in Php): 59,360 +
Estimated Rate (in Php): 503.05

Orrimaarko (Prune Face) Sold!

so here goes my latest transaction as a seller on eBay , that's my 5th by the way..
it was July 24, 2017 when i finally let go of this item..
now that's just about 3 months since my last deal..
and now i only have 2 mint items left..
with 1 just awaiting for the instruction of its current buyer...

Orrimaarko, a classic Star Wars character, who has also been bought from my store numerous times..
but none of those previous bidders really committed to buying it..
i originally intended to sell it at a price not lower than Php 500.00, since he is a popular classic character..
but unfortunately for me, some mold-like stuff formed inside its packaging..
i thought to myself that, yes it is in MINT condition and the card still looks excellent, but who would want to buy it with those silly, dirty-looking stuff inside...?

and so i decided to lower the starting auction price to just Php 400.00..
its value is actually Php 542.00 if i'm to strictly refer to the bundle to which it belongs..
but Php 400.00, i think, is good enough for something that is no longer at top condition...


my last statistics was:
Number of Units: 120
Total Value (in Php): 60,160 +
Estimated Rate (in Php): 501.33

and after selling Orrimaarko, my Estimated Rate (Total Value / Number of Units) went up again:
Number of Units: 119
Total Value (in Php): 59,760 +
Estimated Rate (in Php): 502.18

i'm almost running out of items to sell on eBay..
and i'm thinking of what else can i offer online...

The Sweating Jabba

Thank You! :)

first of all, i would like to thank everyone for helping this blog reach 20,000 Hits..
i know i haven't had a good update for a while..
but that's because it's hard to search for my target action figures within my country, plus the latest 3 & 3/4 releases of Hasbro are not fully articulated...

---o0o---

(you may not notice it due to the low quality photo, but those shiny things on his belly are the 'sweat')

and for the actual update..
i have some more bad news for myself, aside from the occasional molds.. :(
it was only this July 2017 that i was able to check on my Jabba action figure again, i believe 2016 was the last time that i did..
and i was surprised to see that its lower body was very wet, with water (sweat) droplet-like particles..
i'm not sure what it was, but it's only during this year that i experienced such thing..
what i noticed is that it's extremely hot now in our country during the Summer season..
probably the result of climate change and the continuous industrialization and commercialization in our city..
and for the past months, i unintentionally placed my storage cabinet near the window, and so it was exposed to sunlight..
the lower body of Jabba is made of rubber material, unlike its upper body and most of the Star Wars action figures..
in addition, the paint material also seems different..
so i'm assuming that the 'sweating' has something to do with the rubber or the paint, because it's the only part of Jabba that became wet..
i wiped it off my action figure, and the liquid substance kinda felt sticky, and it was also erasing some of the paint...

after that, i checked on all my other Star Wars action figures, and everything looked good (well, except for the occasional molds on some of them)..
as a temporary solution, i was forced to move my storage cabinet inside my room where it can no longer get caught by the sunlight..
i just hope that it will do the trick...

Luminara Unduli Sold!

it's already my 4th successful transaction as a seller on eBay..
that's only 4 months since i last sold one..
and i'm happy that all my LOOSE figures for sale are already sold out..
but i still have 3 more to go...

again, this is another action figure that has been bought from my store, like 3 times already..
the second to the last buyer who bought it was hard to communicate with..
he was almost not replying to my online and text messages when he did a BUY IT NOW..
but suddenly, a week later or more, he was rushing me to do a meetup because he happened to be in my area..
but too bad for that buyer, i was not able to read all his messages as soon as he sent them to me...

and regarding this latest deal..
it's the first time that i did a meetup, with me being the seller..
but it turned out okay, coz we did it in a bank, so i was less worried that anything bad might happen during the transaction..
i was able to sell this particular unit for Php 250.00, while it logically costs Php 223.00...


my last statistics was:
Number of Units: 121
Total Value (in Php): 60,410 +
Estimated Rate (in Php):  499.26

and after selling this Luminara Unduli, my Estimated Rate (Total Value / Number of Units) still went up:
Number of Units: 120
Total Value (in Php): 60,160 +
Estimated Rate (in Php):  501.33

now i'm already above my preferred average rate of only Php 500.00 per action figure, regardless of their size...

Sun Fac Sold! :D

after more than a year, i managed to sell another item on eBay..
it's only my third transaction there as a seller..
and only the second time that i sold a Star Wars unit...

actually, this particular action figure has been bought (or won through bidding) for 3 to 4 times already if i'm not mistaken..
but this is the only time that a buyer really ended up buying it..
i'm not sure about the others, they probably thought that my payment option was complicated (actually it's not)..
and the second to the last buyer (who was using a new account) seemed suspicious, like he was only waiting for me to provide him with all my (very complete) GCash account details, but he never contact me after that...

and regarding my latest transactions..
i've been selling my sellable Star Wars units at a cheaper price..
like my Mint Nien Nunb action figure, which logically costs Php 542.00 based on the bundle price, but i only sold it for Php 450.00..
and for this Sun Fac action figure, which logically costs Php 429.00 based on the bundle price, i decided to just sell it for only Php 250.00 since it is already Loose...


my last statistics was:
Number of Units: 122
Total Value (in Php): 60,660 +
Estimated Rate (in Php):  497.21

and after selling this item, my Estimated Rate (Total Value / Number of Units) went up again:
Number of Units: 121
Total Value (in Php): 60,410 +
Estimated Rate (in Php):  499.26

---o0o---

and i have some bad news (especially for myself :( )..
after the 3rd year of being stored, i noticed that my mint condition items (i still have 3 for sale) already have some mold-like stuff in their plastic (the bubble packaging)..
i'm not yet an expert action figure collector, so i don't know what caused it, how to clean it, and how to avoid it in the future..
the mold-like stuff are situated inside the bubble packaging (at the plastic itself), at the lower half of each bubble (around the leg area of each action figure)..
i suspect that it was caused by the changes in the weather condition, and also because these particular
items have a packaging design that has an opening (not glued to the card) at the bottom... :(

A Star Wars Item Sold! :)

haha!
finally... :)

after having a lot of potential buyers who backed out upon being discouraged by my ONLY payment method.. :(
at last, there's one who committed to buy an item from my eBay store .. :)
honestly, it's as easy as sending money through a remittance center, & buyers will also receive a receipt for the transaction which contains my account details & which will serve as their proof of purchase (just like in doing a bank deposit), plus the communication is mostly done inside eBay so they can keep track of our transaction(s) for us...

it's my second time to sell something on eBay..
but it's my first time to sell a Star Wars action figure..
it has been a long time..
but my patience has been rewarded..
i hope to sell my other items soon... :)


my last statistics was:
Number of Units: 123
Total Value (in Php): 61,110 +
Estimated Rate (in Php):  496.83

and after selling an item, my Estimated Rate (Total Value / Number of Units) went up a bit:
Number of Units: 122
Total Value (in Php): 60,660 +
Estimated Rate (in Php):  497.21

---o0o---

and regarding the upcoming Star Wars The Force Awakens line of action figures..
it does have some interesting characters..
especially Kylo Ren & the First Order Flametrooper... <3

but based on the preview of the items to be released..
the 3 & 3/4 inch scale has less articulation compared to the recent 6 inch trend..
and the bad thing is that my collection focuses on the 3 & 3/4 inch category, and i don't really have plans on moving up to the 6 inch category..
how i wish they'd just stick to the more articulated designs.. :(
anyway, i just hope they come up with more articulated versions of those interesting new characters in the future...

Items For Sale!

here's a list of what i have in my ebay..
unfortunately, they're only available for local shipment...

first are my:

STAR WARS THE VINTAGE COLLECTION (TVC MOC - UNPUNCHED):
the following are still Mint on Card and are Unpunched..

ORRIMAARKO (PRUNE FACE)
Timeline: Return of the Jedi
Toy Line: The Vintage Collection - Wave 16
Placement Number: VC114
Manufacturer: Hasbro (but the former brand Kenner can be seen infront of the card)
Scale: 3 & 3/4 (or 3.75) inch
Year of Release: 2012

Contents:
- Orrimaarko Action Figure
- Removable Hooded Cloak
- Blaster Pistol
- Blaster Rifle
- Commlink

NIEN NUNB
Timeline: Return of the Jedi

Toy Line: The Vintage Collection - Wave 16
Placement Number: VC106
Manufacturer: Hasbro (but the former brand Kenner can be seen infront of the card)
Scale: 3 & 3/4 (or 3.75) inch
Year of Release: 2012

Contents:
- Nien Nunb Action Figure
- Blaster Pistol
- Blaster Rifle

GUNGAN WARRIOR
Timeline: The Phantom Menace
Toy Line: The Vintage Collection - Wave 16
Placement Number: VC74
Manufacturer: Hasbro (but the former brand Kenner can be seen infront of the card)
Scale: 3 & 3/4 (or 3.75) inch
Year of Release: 2012

Contents:
- Gungan Warrior Action Figure
- Gungan Farseein Binoculars
- Cesta (composed of 2 parts that are to be attached together)

MAWHONIC (PODRACER PILOT)
Timeline: The Phantom Menace
Toy Line: The Vintage Collection - Wave 16
Placement Number: VC71
Manufacturer: Hasbro (but the former brand Kenner can be seen infront of the card)
Scale: 3 & 3/4 (or 3.75) inch
Year of Release: 2012

Contents:
- Mawhonic Action Figure
- Rifle



and then, here's my

LOOSE ITEMS:
the following are Loose but are Still in Good Condition..

LUMINARA UNDULI (Revenge of the Sith - Collector Pack Version)
Timeline: Revenge of the Sith
Toy Line: Revenge of the Sith
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Scale: 3 & 3/4 (or 3.75) inch
Year of Release: 2005

Contents:
- Luminara Unduli Action Figure
- Lightsaber Hilt
- Lightsaber Blade
- Cloth Skirt

here are some additional photos:

and...

SUN FAC (Republic Commando Delta Squad Version)
Toy Line: The Saga Collection
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Scale: 3 & 3/4 (or 3.75) inch
Year of Release: 2006

Contents:
- Sun Fac Action Figure
- Geonosian Spear

here are some additional photos:

kindly visit my ebay page for more details:
http://www.ebay.ph/sch/starwarscollector538/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

August 2014 Update - The Black Series Trio

so what can i say..?
well, this latest transaction is another dream come true for me..
i have been eyeing on the Bastila Shan figure ever since it made its The Vintage Collection debut..
but unfortunately, it was often sold as part of the set during those times, and as 'single' it was sold at a very high price..
thanks to Hasbro for releasing it again as part of the Black Series..
and also, thanks to Kramer for offering it in their store and for selling 'single' copies of it...

it was another brilliant and excellent deal with Kramer..
after they announced that they'll be selling copies of the Bastila Shan unit from the Black Series, i immediately inquired about that offer..
during that time, i was also interested in purchasing a copy of both Mara Jade and Luminara Unduli, also from the Black Series..
i asked them if they can reserve both units for me while we wait for the arrival of Bastila Shan, and they kindly did..
it took sometime before the Bastila Shan set finally arrived at their store, but it was worth waiting for...

we completed the entire transaction only through text (with some help via Facebook)..
and that's just a proof that Kramer is still very considerate and trustworthy as usual..
i think they're getting better and better with their work..
and now they even have their own website where you can preorder stuff, make reservation(s), and which accepts online payment through credit cards and more (kindly checkout the links in their Facebook page)...

and so i should say, thank you so much Kramer Toy Warden for fulfilling my Bastila Shan dream... ^_^
keep up the good work!
and i look forward to more interesting transactions with you in the future..
here's a related review about them: Kramer Toy Warden

this bunch of Black Series was delivered to me by LBC..
and i believe this is the first time that i and Kramer asked for their service..
i think a lot has changed now regarding their system..
and i believe it's all for the better..
it only took them more than 12 hours to deliver my package to me..
their website's tracking system seems to be more accurate and dependable based on my recent purchases..
and now, they are using some sort of electronic scanner device where the consignee of the package can directly input their signature...



JEDI ORDER:

Bastila Shan..
a Human female who served as a Jedi Padawan, from the planet Talravin..
she also briefly became an apprentice to the Sith Master, Darth Malak..
despite her youth, she was found to have an exceptional gift with the Force power known as battle meditation; which increased her allies' morale while demoralizing her enemies..
in addition, her allies would be granted perfect coordination and the ability to respond instantly and perfectly to the enemy's every change in formation and strategy..
so with this power she could affect the outcome of a battle by thought alone..
she wields a yellow double-bladed lightsaber...

she's my very first action figure who makes use of a double-bladed lightsaber..
and on the picture on the right, you can see her beautiful ponytail... :)

well, this version seems less-polished compared to it's debut version..
based on some review websites, this release seems to have a lighter and less-skillful paint job..
but i'm totally fine with that - as long as i can have a copy of Bastila Shan at an affordable price... ^_^

Luminara Unduli (new & better Black Series' sculpt)..
a Mirialan Jedi Master and an adviser to the Jedi High Council, from Mirial..
she is the master of Barriss Offee...

on the picture on the right, you can see that this sculpt of her is equipped with a removable headdress..
despite being a 'better sculpt', this version's boots lack in design and paint job unlike the previous version..
i still have the old sculpt of her..
but because of this new purchase, i might include that action figure of her in my For Sale list..
refer to this previous entry about her...

above is a comparative view of the new and the old version of Luminara Unduli..
and below is a comparative view of their respective boots...

above and below are comparative images of both new and old Luminara Unduli sculpt and Barriss Offee...

Mara Jade Skywalker..
a Human female..
during different times in her life, she bacame an Emperor's Hand, a smuggler, and later a Jedi Master who sat upon the Jedi High Council..
she was raised as a servant to Emperor Palpatine and became a high-level Force-using operative who carried out the Emperor's bidding; killing Rebels and corrupt Imperials alike with cold professionalism, even as a young woman..
later she served as Jedi Master to both Jaina Solo and Anakin Solo, children of Han Solo and Leia Organa...

though she's a Jedi Master, she'll probably spend most of the time with the Rebels, just like Luke Skywalker..
at first, i thought that i'd only have this unit just so i can have a partner/wife for Luke Skywalker (once i've decided on what version of him to buy)..
but after i have opened and inspected this Mara Jade figure, i'm just amazed on how good she looks..
she may look a bit of a retro, but this particular unit looks hot and will definitely make it to my Women of Star Wars list...

the above photos show the different holster options for this Mara Jade figure..
the top photo features her removable holster positioned at her right side..
while the photo below features her holster attached to the back of her belt...

July 2014 Update - Naboo's Starfighter

about a week ago i had this very tempting offer from a local ebay seller whom i've had a few transactions with just by the end of 2013 and early this 2014..
he offered me the latest model of the Naboo Starfighter which used to be in my WishList, and so i immediately grabbed the opportunity to get a copy of it, upon verifying the authenticity of the unit...

the week that passed wasn't a great week..
a strong typhoon hit our area, there was blackout all over the northern part of the country, and the delivery of my item got delayed..
lucky for me, the courier still successfully delivered my package the day after that great typhoon..
so it's not a bad week after all...

my latest purchase is a vehicle..
so basically (again), it made my Estimated Rate increase..
but it's okay with me, because it was still a great deal..
actually, there are some items out there that can help me lessen my Estimated Rate value, but it's kinda hard to insert them in my 'to buy list' especially when my top-priority targets are coming in the scene...



REBEL VEHICLES:

Naboo Royal N-1 Starfighter..
sometimes known simply as the Naboo Starfighter..
a starfighter used by the government of Naboo for defense, patrol, and escort duties..
the Royal N-1 Starfighter featured the best elements of Naboo design, being aesthetically sound and adhering to Naboo's love for curves and aerodynamic shapes...

for the very first time, i featured a unit which is not fully-assembled..
i did not attach the tail portion of this starfighter because i'm afraid that i may have problems with its interlocking parts..
i have experienced that problem with my AT-AP unit, and i had to use force to separate the cannon on top from the main body, and it resulted to some minor damage on the interlocking parts..
for now, i still don't have a decent room for all my collection, so i need to put them back in their packaging after inspecting and taking photos of them..
and so, i need to be very careful and make sure that each unit (especially vehicles) can still be disassembled after...

on the upper right portion of the image above, shows how tall a pilot figure is compared to the starfighter...

here's a photo revealing the concealed proton torpedo launchers on the side engines...

the latest model of the Naboo Starfighter features a working compartment for the astromech droid..
the photo above shows a full-body R2-D2 unit placed inside the starfighter's back portion..

the upper image shows that a Vintage Collection Naboo Pilot can fit inside the starfighter's cockpit..
and the image below it shows that a Padme Amidala (disguised as a Naboo Security Pilot) can also fit inside..
i've also tried putting in an old version of Ric Olie, but it would require forceful methods to do so..
TIP: don't use the sliding canopy to put a pilot inside the starfighter, i suggest you open the upper part of the main body (the one which reveals the engine inside) and start from there...

here's a comparative top view of a Naboo Starfighter and a V-Wing Starfighter..
here you can see how long the Naboo Starfighter is (which is about 22 inches or 55 cm long), compared to a V-Wing Starfighter (which is about 14 inches or 35 cm long)...
and so this makes my new Naboo Starfighter the longest vehicle in my collection right now...




NON-MATCH FURNITURE:
and here's a short update for my non-match furniture..

glass chamber..
i'm not sure what this item used to be (it looks like a soap container to me)..
but, i'm planning to use it like some sort of transparent chamber for holding mid-sized bodies or entities...

February 2014 Update - The Rebels Finally Got a Starfighter

i got these new items last February 26, 2014..
i have mentioned on one of my previous posts that i'll try to lessen the rate of my expenses per action figure, after it has continuously  increased due to recent purchases..
but unfortunately, i found this drool worthy item on the local ebay, and so i was forced to commit to buy it immediately..
well, it did increase my estimated rate just because one of the items which i bought is a vehicle, but i think it was a good decision coz i think they're cheap considering their size and condition... ^_^



UTAPAU:
these are units that i'll assign to the planet, Utapau...

Clone Trooper 212th Battalion..
they are troopers assigned under Clone Commander Cody..
these troopers were distinguished by the orange markings on their Phase II armor..
they are particulary assigned to the planet of Utapau...

well, this one has a quite discolored helmet, that can be easily noticed if compared to the condition of its armor..
and the inside of that helmet seems to have a greenish staining substance (probably due to the paint that was used for this action figure's hair)..
but in a way, i find that defect helpful in distinguishing units of the same name and design (considering army-building)..
plus, this trooper got me a very nice clear plastic glass-like action figure stand, so it's not a bad deal after all... :)



REBEL VEHICLES:
these are vehicles that i'll assign to my Rebel Alliance...

V-Wing Starfighter..
named the Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-Wing starfighter, but often called the V-Wing Starfighter or Nimbus Fighter..
it is a short-ranged starfighter..
the V-Wing were later succeeded by the Imperial TIE Fighter and its variants, as well as the Rebel RZ-1 A-Wing Interceptor, all of which incorporated aspects of the V-Wing into their designs (i find this a helpful trivia coz i really plan on getting some TIE Fighters and an A-Wing in the future)...

the photo at the top left shows the side view of the V-Wing Starfighter with its landing gear: 1 at the front and 2 attached to the wings (they require the wings to be folded in order to perform the landing)..
at the top right shows a comparative view of the V-Wing Starfighter and a sample pilot..
at bottom left is the V-Wing Starfighter in flight mode (with the wings open), and it also shows that a pilot can actually fit inside its cockpit..
and lastly, at the bottom right is a clearer view of the pilot sitting inside the cockpit...

because this is a generic starfighter, the astromech droid that goes with it doesn't have a unique or proper name...

this was the very reason why i made this latest purchase..
i thought it was cheap (only Php 50 higher compared to my Aayla Secura Jedi Starfighter), so i bought it ASAP..
this is the red and clean version of the V-Wing Starfighter(s) that are already available in the market..
although it has the Imperial Crest on it, i've decided to just assign it to my rebel forces..
actually, i don't have much vehicles assigned to the Rebel Alliance, and the A-Wing was my 2nd choice for their spacecraft (after losing interest on the vintage X-Wing), (my 1st choice being the Naboo Starfighter)..
but after recognizing the resemblance between the V-Wing and the A-Wing, i thought that the V-Wing would be a better choice for my army...

 

the photo at the top shows a comparative view of the size of an actual astromech droid figure (R2-D2 in this example) and an astromech droid attached to an Eta-2 Actis-class Jedi Interceptor (Aayla Secura's R4-G9)..
they are almost of the same size, though the starfighter's astromech droid doesn't have a full body..
and at the bottom picture, shows a comparative view of an astromech droid figure and an Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-Wing Starfighter's astromech-droid-attachment..
this time, the V-Wing Starfighter's astromech droid's head is smaller compared to that of a full astromech droid action figure...

and here's a comparative semi-top view of an Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-Wing Starfighter and an Eta-2 Actis-class Jedi Interceptor..
the compressed form of the V-Wing Starfighter (because you can actually pull the wing portions, thus extending the wings to the sides.. i'm not sure if it's actually meant to work like that since i haven't seen or read any V-Wing visual guide that discusses that, and also, extending the wings to the sides disables the wings' spring-open feature) is narrower compared to the Jedi Interceptor, but after attaching the front portion of the V-Wing Starfighter to its main body, it becomes quite a long spacecraft (longer than the Jedi Interceptor)...

January 2014 Update - Dreams Come True

now here's a better news..
i just managed to get some of my top priority target items in the local market..
i actually bought them at different dates this past December..
i asked some of my blood relatives to buy them for me..
and i just got them last New Year's day...



GALACTIC SENATE:

Padme Amidala (Geonosis execution arena torn outfit version)..
this is Senator Amidala's form in the Geonosian execution arena, after a Nexu slashed her from the back, thus ripping off parts of her nearly all-white outfit..
(the picture on the right shows the back view of  Padme, with her lovely bun and that fresh Nexu-inflicted wound)...

i wanted this figure very much because it's highly articulated..
and the sculpt, especially the head, looks more realistic compared to earlier Padme Amidala sculpts..
also, this design of her is from an iconic scene in the movie, so it's really a 'must have' action figure for me (being a Natalie Portman fan ^_^)..
even though it's a pre-opened item, i immediately bought it upon seeing it on ebay..
i've been hunting for it for months, and it was a long and hard search because most dealers only sell it as part of a set..
luckily, i still managed to get a copy of her before the end of the year..
and now that i have this one..
i guess i'll just use my Padme Amidala in Naboo Pilot outfit as a decoy-bodyguard for her...

at the topmost is a comparative view of Padme Amidala in her pilot outfit, Padme in the Geonosis execution arena, and her decoy, Sabe, as the Queen of Naboo..
and at the bottom is Obi-Wan and Padme in their very cool and pleasant-looking white-based outfit...



IMPERIAL VEHICLES:

All Terrain Attack Pod (AT-AP)..
is a tripedal walker that evolved from the AT-PT (All Terrain Personal Transport) and AT-TE (All Terrain Tactical Enforcer) walkers..
it is also called a Pod Attack Walker (PAW), and earned the nickname "sniper tank" due to its highly-advanced targeting systems..
considered as a two-legged walker, the AT-AP did have a third leg hanging from underneath the fuselage, that can convert it into a tripod..
it can be used during combat to provide stability to the walker, when overcoming rough terrain, and when firing its main gun...

this unit has been on my targets list ever since i've read about its 30th anniversary release online..
it's the very first AT-AP unit being sold (online) within the country for less than 2,000 Php, which i've spotted after a very long hunt (which actually lasted for years)..
i could have waited for the auction to end, and i might still get it for a much cheaper bidding price (Php 200 less)..
but i got too excited, and i just hit the 'Buy It Now' button after thinking it over for only a few minutes..
and so now i have my very first vehicle for my imperial army.. ^_^
i owe all of this great experience to ebay, because without it, my Star Wars collection will be doomed...

referring to the photo above..
at the top left is the AT-AP standing on two legs and in a much higher recon position (the other 3 photos showing the AT-AP on tripod mode and in a lower scouting position)..
at top right is a comparative view of the size of the vehicle compared to a Kashyyyk trooper..
at bottom left shows that a trooper can fit and ride its turret gun..
and at the bottom right shows that a trooper can fit inside its cockpit which actually has 2 seats...

here's a comparative view of all the vehicles that i have so far..
one for the droids, one for the empire, and one for the Jedi Order..
here you can compare their overall sizes, and also their respective heights...



these 2 featured units are the best year end gift that i received for 2013..
but after buying the vehicle, i got more than Php 10 increase in my overall collection's price rate..
actually, it has increased due to my last 3 purchases..
and so, i'll have to work on my next purchase(s) to lower it again...



WOMEN OF STAR WARS 2013:

this is my new list which is composed of 12 gorgeous action figures..
on the protagonists' side, my favorite unit is Jarael..
and for the antagonists' side, my favorite sculpt is that of the Nightsister...

October 2013 Update - Infiltration Units, Etc.

sorry for the late update..
my very own computer went down even before I could post this particular collection update a few months ago..
but anyway, here's what's new back then...



REBEL ALLIANCE:

Mouse (in Stormtrooper disguise)..
a Duros agent in the Rebel Alliance..
a specialist for demolition and sabotage...

Duros (or occasionally Durosians) are humanoid species native to the planet Duro..
years before the formation of the Republic, the Duros colonized the planet Neimoidia, giving rise to a genetically distinct "newer version" of Duros called the Neimoidians..
the Neimoidians retained many similarities to their Duros cousins including basic form, noseless faces, and green skin (though Neimoidians tended to be grayer)..
however, in contrast to their ancestors, Neimoidians possessed pupils that split horizontally, lumpy foreheads, and perpetually frowning mouths..
in addition, Neimoidians tended to be cowardly, greedy and fearful of death, whereas the average Duro was adventurous, gregarious and peaceful..
not surprisingly, one of the most powerful insults among the Duros was to be called a 'Neimoidian'...

here's a comparative view of a Duros and a Neimoidian..
the noticeable difference being on their facial or head structure...

Basso (in Stormtrooper disguise)..
a member of the Rebel Alliance from the planet of Ralltiir...

originally, i bought the Comic Pack in which these first 2 units are included..
first, because of the Neimoidian-like protagonist, Mouse (coz i've always thought that Neimoidians are bad species, without knowing about the Duros specie before)..
and second, because this is the Comic Pack variation where Basso gets a Sandtrooper pauldron...



JEDI ORDER:

Barriss Offee..
a Mirialan Jedi Knight, from the planet of Mirial..
she trained as a padawan under Jedi Master Luminara Unduli..
she's a skilled Jedi Healer..
and a practitioner of Form III: Soresu, also known as the Way of the Mynock, or The Resilience Form, which is the third of the seven classic forms of lightsaber combat that was recognized by the Jedi Council prior to and during the Clone Wars..
Soresu was developed during the widespread emergence of blasters as an offensive weapon..
essentially a development on Form I blast-deflect training, Soresu relied on tight bladework and subtle dodges to provide maximum defensive coverage, minimizing exposure to ranged weaponry..
over time, Soresu transcended this basic origin, and came to be considered the ultimate expression of non-aggressive Jedi philosophy...

Barriss Offee actually had a bad record as a Jedi..
so i'll just use her as a Jedi Padawan like Ahsoka Tano...

here's a comparative view between Barriss Offee and an old sculpt of her master Luminara Unduli...



IMPERIAL TROOPERS:

Clone Trooper Officer (Captain)..
this is a First Generation Clone Trooper..
there are clone trooper armors which are marked with color-coded flashes..
at the beginning of the Clone Wars, the colors signify rank (yellow for commanders, red for captains, blue for lieutenants, and green for sergeants)..
by the end of the war, the flashes come to identify specialized units such as the Galactic Marines and Shock Troopers...



NEUTRAL GROUNDS:

Lt. Dannyl Faytonni..
a con artist from the planet of Corellia, and friend of Achk Med-Beq..
he originally aspired to serve the Republic as an officer, but was conned into fronting a phony spice mine by a changeling..
on the run from the law, he decided to make a living as a con artist and teamed up with his inventive friend Achk Med-Beq..
they set off across the galaxy, gambling and conning their way to Coruscant..
upon reaching the galactic capital, the partners in crime were arrested and detained at CoCo Penitentiary, but not for long..
they made a newsworthy escape from the prison, and set up shop in the Outlander Club, where they constantly hunted and pecked for "marks"...

March 2013 Update - Awesome Nightsister Deal

yesterday, March 18, i received my latest Star Wars items..
i'm still preparing for the release of the latest Padme, so i only bought 2 units for the meantime..
my package was delivered by Air 21..
i'm not sure about my last Air21 delivery, but this time - the SMS update was there again, and i really appreciate that a lot..
they tell you when your package is about to be delivered, and they even remind you to be there at your posting address during that target date, or have an authorized representative to receive the package for you..^_^
it was sent during a Saturday, and took a little more than 2 days to complete the delivery (since they operate on a scheduled basis)..
anyway, i think they're still better compared to another courier service provider...

i bought it from a very good seller (and collector as well)..
they are known as Kramer Toy Warden..
they sell collectible stuff through ebay, Facebook, and also in their toy shop (or shops, haven't checked it out though since i usually order my toys online)..
what i especially like about them is that they can sell collectible items at very low prices..
sometimes they even offer 'out of this world' promos..^_^
they are definitely one of the best online sellers in the Philippines..
not to mention that they are very kind, considerate, and trustworthy..
you can even make your orders via SMS or Facebook without any worry..
those are the reasons why i highly recommend them..
if you're interested to check out their store, below is a link to their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/Kramertoywarden



now let's go on with my new toys...

NIGHTSISTERS:

Nightsister..
from the planet of Dathomiri..
Nightsisters were a sect of the Witches who embraced the use of dark arts within their Force-driven Magicks..
they were originally members of other witch clans who began to utilize the dark side, they focused extensively on the art of casting Force illusions, and Witches found guilty of practicing these heretical techniques were banished into Dathomir's wilderness and left for dead..
originally founded by the exiled witch Gethzerion, who united the wandering outcasts to form a new clan..
during the Clone Wars, Mother Talzin transformed her people into a mercenary society that trained in combat and Magick so that they can offer their services as bodyguards, assassins, and soldiers..
one of their famous members being Asajj Ventress...

she's my very first animated (Clone Wars-based) action figure..
i got her as a loose figure, but that's okay coz it saved me a lot of money compared to purchasing the entire Darth Maul Returns set..
it also saved me from the task of disposing unnecessary units..
i bought her, coz i find her skull-like makeup cool, plus the red feathery outfit..
she may look a bit scary but she's actually sexy, especially the way her legs are bandaged..
and i think she can blend well together with my non-animated collections..
now i can't wait to pair her with Darth Nihilus..
she's quite tall, almost as tall as TVC's Aayla Secura..
she closely resembles Mother Talzin from the Clone Wars era, but i don't think it's her..
i'm going to make their clan allies with the Confederation of Independent Systems, just like in the animated series..
another target brought down from my WishList Page...^_^



REBEL ALLIANCE:

Rebel Pilot (Mon Calamari)..
a Mon Calamari who pilots an A-Wing Starfighter for the Rebel Alliance...

here's a comparative view of a Mon Calamari Officer and a Mon Calamari Pilot..
the pilot's skin is a lot darker in color..
it may not be so clear in this picture, but the colored patterns in their bodies are also different from one another..
and in the bottom picture, you can see the difference between the size of their heads, and the orientation of their eyes, as well as the difference in their helmets...



here's another great deal that lessened my collections overall cost...^_^