Ah, it’s been a good few months since one of these crests for the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy have been available on eBay. When these things do appear on the service, they are always pricey. This one is being listed by the seller for US$125. There’s no “Make Offer” option, either. 
These things are in demand by owners of the Kenner ALIEN wanting to complete their 40 year old vintage toy that could easily be missing this part. Today, around 80% of samples of the toy are without this feature as it is easily broken off. US$125 is a lot to ask for an aged piece of plastic that is showing obvious signs of scratching and wear. Nonetheless, the vintage quality and increasing demand for diminishing supply of genuine items like this will only drive prices up. This item won’t stay listed for very long.
-Windebieste.
There are so many problems with these items, it’s not even worth listing them. Significantly, there aren’t enough parts between them to assemble a complete sample. You’d still be missing a right arm and the head dome. Though, disassembling them to build as complete a sample as possible is a viable option. However, for the cost of such an exercise, for US$400 you can purchase one in perfect condition and maybe score a box as well.
I am also very interested in publishing images of assembled versions of the kit. As assembled samples can vary wildly, it would be ideal to post a gallery of finished kit items in the article. If you have any assembled MPC ALIEN kits (from any year) and would like to have photos of them on display, please contact me.
This is one rough package, in so many ways. Nonetheless, the listing does include the box, the red insert card and the dome. Oh, and a severely beat up old toy with missing tongue parts. The poster is absent too; but at this stage with bidding already well under way, this listing is as good as sold. It matters little that the toy itself is dirty, battered, scratched and scuffed. A good wash in the kitchen sink and a rub down with some plastic polish compatible with the blended styrene this old toy is made will do wonders to improve the quality of its appearance. Just add some missing mouth parts – if you can find them online – and this four decades old ALIEN toy in its box will become the pride of someone’s collection. Currently, bidding sits at US$200; but by the time this item actually does sell, that figure will have easily doubled. Not bad for a dirty, beat up, incomplete old toy in a rough looking box that’s not even rare.
This is actually a very decent looking figure.The box is good and straight, too. That poster has a minimum amount of wear as well and it looks to be hardly creased! Such a great score for someone, indeed. It’s only disappointment (aside from the tall order price tag) is the fact this fantastic item is incomplete. What’s missing from this excellent item? The red insert card that would have once upon a time held the figure securely in place within the box is missing. It’s no big deal, but for completeness sake – and if you want to spend this kind of money on an old toy – you would want all parts of the figure and the packaging to be present. Nonetheless, this is still a great pick up as the content that is present is otherwise complete and in fantastic shape. Worth it, if you have the money to burn and can live without a sheet of red folded corrugated cardboard with a few numbers punched into it.
Admittedly, this one is in very good condition. Excellent condition, actually; but even complete figures such as this are still relatively common and do appear frequently on eBay. Even if it included a box and poster, it would still not be rare – unless my understanding of the meaning of the word is seriously out of touch with reality. Nonetheless, this a great figure. It’s complete, in very good shape with only minor faults – and even those aren’t going to worry whoever purchases this fine example of the old vintage Kenner toy. 
The dome appears to be in great condition, with no cracks, scratches, minimal blemishes and all 5 nubs present on the sides and back of the piece. The arm also appears to be in great shape although it is missing the rubber anchor that connects it to the central post within the figure. If you need a right arm, this one is a great piece and fabricating a means of connecting it to the toy is relatively easy.
He’s missing the usual pieces, the head covering, dorsal crest and tongue pieces but the rest of him is there – it just needs a little attention. It won’t take much to take this severed limb figure and make him a hit piece in anyone’s collection. A good clean and re-attach that right arm is a good and simple way to get him look fantastic again. Even the glue residue on his back where the crest is supposed to sit may be aged and perished enough to fall away with some careful chipping with a screwdriver or similar tool. A figure in this sad state may easily become a centerpiece on your trophy shelf and is well worth any bid you may make on this fellow. He’s a beauty and would typically sell for around US$120-US$150 mark, even in this dilapidated, broken and rundown state. There’s a biomechanical gem in the rough here that just needs a little polishing. He’ll still be missing a few parts but those can be tended to at a later date.
This figure is in below average condition and for the price being asked, you can purchase an excellent sample of this very same toy that will include the box AND poster. This one has a shopping list of problems you will want to be aware of before forking out nearly US$500. Let’s take a closer look. This is going to be fun!
This particular sample is missing at least four parts. The dome on the head, both parts of the tongue and the crest on his back. These features are frequently absent from these old toys and indeed they’re all missing from this sample. He’s a little dusty and a good clean wouldn’t hurt, either. Nonetheless its arms, legs, head and tail are all present and attached making this condition very common. For me this combination of commonly missing and present parts in this arrangement defines what constitutes an “average condition” Kenner ALIEN figure. There are many, many of them out in the world sharing this similar state but is he worth US$300, though? 
Yeah, he’s in a “not too bad” state even if his arm is severed as that issue is an easy fix. All of his other parts are present including the dome, shoulder crest and all mouth parts. He appears to be relatively clean, too. It will be interesting to see how high this item climbs as the clock ticks down. It’s a safe bet this fellow will eventually sell in access of US$200. Anything less than that will be remarkable. Anything above US$200 can be expected. Hilarious.
Aside from the heat damage on the lower, middle edge of the right side of the dome, it’s a nice piece. US$470 is a lot to ask for, though; and it’s a good thing the rest of the figure is complete and in fine shape. He also manages to hold a pose with his arms, which is quite a feat in itself considering the neoprene anchors used to attach the limbs to an internal post are as old as the toy itself. 
It’s a lot of money to spend on an old toy just to have a duplicate of the poster, though. Yet, that second poster can easily be sold on eBay for anywhere between US$50 and US$120 dollars. The figure itself is a good quality sample, complete with all components in place and has the added attraction of being able to hold a pose, which itself is uncommon. …but is it worth US$1,750, even with a duplicate item thrown in for added value? Probably not. Mind you, the vendor is willing to take offers on this item. So it will sell. That’s a certainty, despite the fact this item is neither rare nor in mint condition. 
He’s nigh on perfect, too, with only minor paint applied to the bulging details on the sides of his head to serve as a distraction from a near immaculate presentation. These look like an old customisation as there is some signs of chipping on the added finish. This is a good thing as the old paint may even be removed with minimum effort by just prying carefully at it with a pointed tool. Some paint won’t come off, of course; but this application looks like it might come away with ease. If you do want to remove previous custom paintwork from these old toys, remember(!) it’s important to use a non-acetone remover as common acetone based paint removers are harmful to the toy and will dissolve the styrene it’s made of. So be very careful if you choose to remove paint. 