Back in the mists of last year, NECA announced they were making an Ultimate Gremlin, we saw these:
There was much excitement and rejoicing. Then, mmm, not much actually. We waited and waited. NECA then gave us a release date. Rejoicing again! It was Christmas Eve..... bahh humbug! Anybody in the know will know that Gremlins is a Christmas movie, but, we wouldn't get the figures on the big day!
Early bird buyers, buying from NECA's site, began to get them, and the video reviews began to trickle in. Like this one:
There were a lot of stiff joints, and even one or two broken joints, but, I was undeterred. As he came with so many accessories, just the one figure wouldn't do, but 3 would. A few QC issues with badly fitted jaws also came to light. Still, I could pick mine from a bricks and mortar store and could get good ones.
Then I asked said store when they were getting them in, and the end of January was the answer. EBay stores said the 25th. I went the week after, no Gremlins! February began, nothing! Heeeeelllp!!! Finally, yesterday, I entered the store, and left happily with 3 Ultimate Gremlins! HALLELUJAH!!
When I got home, I began unboxing and checking each figure. Here's a breakdown of each one:
Gremlin 1:
The jaw was pretty straight and able to close all the way. The leg joints were locked solid, but he could stand up so I left them alone. The shoulder joints were stiff, but moved. Elbows weren't bad, they hinged, but the swivel was really stiff. The remedy was to heat them with a hair dryer, they freed up after that. The hands twisted, but the wrists wouldn't bend. Heat helped the left, but the right was locked solid.
I left him overnight to settle.
This is as he looked earlier today:
Closed jaws:
The fingers weren't good:
The legs and feet were fine:
Ear detail:
They are supposed to hinge back and forth and move on a balljoint, mine are solid with paint. Not going to move and ruin them.
Here's something you don't see much, a Gremlin butt!:
As the fingers weren't going to hold any of the accessories, I decided to make him the 3D glasses Gremlin. He will get a popcorn bucket to clutch when I get my Gamer Gremlin (More on him later.).
He's an homage to this:
Gremlin 2:
Pretty much the same story with the joints, same elbows, legs and ears and the same remedies.
This was as he looked:
Better hands:
Or so I thought, I couldn't get him to hold the cola, so I swapped hands with Gremlin 3. This led to my favourite look:
He cracks me up!
Gremlin 3:
Same few joints again. However, this one had a weak torso. I ran superglue into the joint while moving it and it's all good now.
This is how he looked initially:
Here he is with the joints fixed and hand swapped, another fave look:
There was a frantic moment when I thought I'd lost the cigarette. I took the accessories away to work on the torso, and couldn't find it! I searched the bed, the floor, everywhere! No joy! Then I looked in his mouth, the little SOB had eaten it!!
All in all I couldn't be happier with them, they are the best NECA figures I've had. That said, I will repaint them a little after I get set up. I want to bring them closer to the movie puppets and make them a little more individual. The plan is to move in May. Trouble is, that's when this guy lands:
He's the exclusive Gamer Gremlin. In the US you will find him in Gamestop, but, UK buyers will be able to get him from stores that stock the regular ones. I have mine on PO already.
Boy, that was quite some thread, I'm off to collapse now........
CHEERS!
PS (I didn't use the Brad Bites or the Doo Dah Bar as they weren't in the movie.)
There was much excitement and rejoicing. Then, mmm, not much actually. We waited and waited. NECA then gave us a release date. Rejoicing again! It was Christmas Eve..... bahh humbug! Anybody in the know will know that Gremlins is a Christmas movie, but, we wouldn't get the figures on the big day!
Early bird buyers, buying from NECA's site, began to get them, and the video reviews began to trickle in. Like this one:
There were a lot of stiff joints, and even one or two broken joints, but, I was undeterred. As he came with so many accessories, just the one figure wouldn't do, but 3 would. A few QC issues with badly fitted jaws also came to light. Still, I could pick mine from a bricks and mortar store and could get good ones.
Then I asked said store when they were getting them in, and the end of January was the answer. EBay stores said the 25th. I went the week after, no Gremlins! February began, nothing! Heeeeelllp!!! Finally, yesterday, I entered the store, and left happily with 3 Ultimate Gremlins! HALLELUJAH!!
When I got home, I began unboxing and checking each figure. Here's a breakdown of each one:
Gremlin 1:
The jaw was pretty straight and able to close all the way. The leg joints were locked solid, but he could stand up so I left them alone. The shoulder joints were stiff, but moved. Elbows weren't bad, they hinged, but the swivel was really stiff. The remedy was to heat them with a hair dryer, they freed up after that. The hands twisted, but the wrists wouldn't bend. Heat helped the left, but the right was locked solid.
I left him overnight to settle.
This is as he looked earlier today:
Closed jaws:
The fingers weren't good:
The legs and feet were fine:
Ear detail:
They are supposed to hinge back and forth and move on a balljoint, mine are solid with paint. Not going to move and ruin them.
Here's something you don't see much, a Gremlin butt!:
As the fingers weren't going to hold any of the accessories, I decided to make him the 3D glasses Gremlin. He will get a popcorn bucket to clutch when I get my Gamer Gremlin (More on him later.).
He's an homage to this:
Gremlin 2:
Pretty much the same story with the joints, same elbows, legs and ears and the same remedies.
This was as he looked:
Better hands:
Or so I thought, I couldn't get him to hold the cola, so I swapped hands with Gremlin 3. This led to my favourite look:
He cracks me up!
Gremlin 3:
Same few joints again. However, this one had a weak torso. I ran superglue into the joint while moving it and it's all good now.
This is how he looked initially:
Here he is with the joints fixed and hand swapped, another fave look:
There was a frantic moment when I thought I'd lost the cigarette. I took the accessories away to work on the torso, and couldn't find it! I searched the bed, the floor, everywhere! No joy! Then I looked in his mouth, the little SOB had eaten it!!
All in all I couldn't be happier with them, they are the best NECA figures I've had. That said, I will repaint them a little after I get set up. I want to bring them closer to the movie puppets and make them a little more individual. The plan is to move in May. Trouble is, that's when this guy lands:
He's the exclusive Gamer Gremlin. In the US you will find him in Gamestop, but, UK buyers will be able to get him from stores that stock the regular ones. I have mine on PO already.
Boy, that was quite some thread, I'm off to collapse now........
CHEERS!
PS (I didn't use the Brad Bites or the Doo Dah Bar as they weren't in the movie.)