Monthly Archives: August 2019

HIDEOUS PLASTIC – PREVIEW EDITION, V0.41, Now Available.

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UPDATE: This free excerpt has since been updated to V0.42 and is now downloadable.

Today is my Birthday. Let’s celebrate!

On my part, I will do so by releasing the latest public excerpt from my upcoming book about ugly old toys, HIDEOUS PLASTIC – In stores everyone can hear you scream. This version is Free!  It is also the final version to be released prior to publication.

This PREVIEW EDITION V0.41 is an updated 30 page excerpt from the current manuscript.  This Free! excerpt delves extensively into the dark and murky history of the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy when it was released 40 years ago. A decidedly strange children’s toy with a distinctly strange history.

Please let me know what you think of it. As I mention above, this is the last version prior to printing. Significantly, if any corrections are required this is the absolute last opportunity to implement any changes.  Once printed, it’s permanent.

Download PREVIEW EDITION V0.41 and discover why there is nothing normal about this toy. Did I say this excerpt is Free!? I did..? Good. Now go and download it.

Cheers! 🙂

-Windebieste.

Build Your Own LEGO Alien.

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While we are on the topic of unlicenced LEGO ALIEN products, you might like to take a pause to consider building your very own LEGO space monster! For only US$12, you can purchase the 70 page .pdf instructions for constructing this impressive 12 inch tall Alien figure directly from Build Better Bricks.  Of course, this is an unlicenced item so you’ll also need to spend approximately US$50 to purchase the 599 pieces required to build it.

Here’s some words from the seller “This model features a ton of detail and articulation as well as some really fun techniques and part usage.”  This does appear to be a lot of fun to make and a fine alternative to the substantially larger (and more expensive) Arvo Bros. LEGO item appearing a few years back.

More information and a video can be found on the supplier’s webstore page.  Have fun!

-Windebieste.

UPDATED – Bootlegs, Knock Offs and Other ‘Illegal Aliens’.

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I’m always happy to add something weird and wonderful to HIDEOUS PLASTIC.  Thankfully, it doesn’t get much weirder and wonderful than unlicenced product.  Today’s update adds a couple of new images of a pair of bootLEGO Alien minifigs to the section dedicated to such oddities.

This fine pair of specimens do look suspiciously like black and red xenomorphs depicted in Dark Horse comics GENOCIDE story.  Let’s just call ’em GENOCIDE bootLEGO ALIENS Minifigs.  Gah.  Way too many presses of the caps lock key.

Anyway, 6 fresh, new images of this pair have been added to the section on Bootlegs, Knock Offs and Other ‘Illegal Aliens’ Part 4: Unexplained Phenomena.  Check ’em out.

-Windebieste.

RUMOR: ALIENS ReAction Figures.

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Word from Power-Con held this past weekend in Anaheim, California is very enticing.  The convention is dedicated to all things Masters of the Universe (MotU). Super7, a licenced manufacturer of Official MotU product was an exhibitor at the event.  Word has it that Super7 will be releasing their first wave of carded ALIENS ReAction figures later this year.

Convention attendee, Abel Pinedo, talked to Super7 representatives and conveyed this little detail on Facebook, “Aliens is slated for the end of the year.”  he tells us.

It looks like 3.75 inch Colonial Marines for Christmas!  That’s only 4 months away, now.  We’ve known about the upcoming ReAction ALIENS line for a long time as they were revealed at New York Toy Fair earlier this year and I can’t wait!  I’m hoping the range of figures hasn’t changed as these items look fantastic.  Ripley, Vasquez, Hicks, Hudson, Bishop, Newt and a pesky Xenomorph are anticipated to comprise this 6 piece release.

While this News item isn’t an official announcement – and should be regarded as unofficial – it’s still welcome.  Thank you, Abel, for the information.  If anyone else knows more please let me know.  Thank you.

I am looking forward to a more Official announcement from Super7, which no doubt will be made soon.

-Windebieste.

New NECA Batman vs Joker Alien Images.

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Over at Bloody Disgusting, a set of images has recently been posted featuring NECA’s upcoming Batman vs Joker Alien 2 pack figures.  Quite a pair here; and a great follow up to NECA’s previous DC/Fox crossover, Batman vs Alien. This one time rumored to be cancelled mash up will be exclusively available to October 2019 New York Comic Con. Here’s a brief description of the two unlikely antagonists, “The set includes two brand new, comic book based figures, both with over 30 points of articulation. Batman features a fabric cape, and the “Joker” Alien has a bendable tail.” Sounds good so far. Continue reading →

eBay – 1979 Kenner ALIEN Tail Clip and Screws.

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Loose body parts for the 40 year old Kenner ALIEN toy frequently appear on eBay.  Listed currently for sale is a set of 4 screws and a tail connector clip. The asking price for these items is US$20 for the set of 5. Their important job is to hold the toy together.  The 4 screws are concealed within recesses of the figure’s back to hold the figure in an assembled state while the round serrated clip secures the tail onto the figure internally.

Is this set of 5 old pieces really worth US$20?  That’s a good question.  If you need these parts, yes, they are – but only under specific conditions; and these are very, very purpose specific items that do come with their own set of caveats.  The important question is: Who needs this 40 year old stuff, anyway?

Continue reading →

eBay – 1979 Kenner ALIEN Dome for Sale.

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UPDATE: This item sold for US$149. Well, that didn’t take long, about 24 hours.

Currently listed on eBay right now is a loose dome for your Kenner ALIEN toy.  It’s a decent looking part and the vendor is asking US$169 for the prize piece.

These features sit loosely upon the head of the Kenner toy and up to 90% of these 40 year old ALIEN figures now lack this feature. It appears to be a complete piece with all 4 nubs in place on the sides, no serious damage to speak off and looks to be free of warps and deformations.  There appears to be some blemishes and other minor marks on the surface that the piece has acquired over time but these anomalies may easily be removed with some plastic polish, gentle buffing and careful attention to bring it back to a fully, shiny glory.

Any domes that do become available on eBay frequently command a high price.  Usually they sell for around the US$100 mark.  Sometimes a little more.  This item is priced a little high but the vendor has included a ‘Best Offer’ option as part of the listing.  US$160 is definitely in the upper limits of what they usually sell for so it will no doubt go for less than that.

It’s a good looking piece and it will sell.  Demand for these loose head carapaces is high and these domes are sought after by many owners whose Kenner toy is missing this iconic feature.  Frequently, these loose items will sell within 24 hours of being listed.

-Windebieste.

Prototype Gallery Update: Call and Battle Scarred Alien.

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Another update made to the Prototype Gallery section of HIDEOUS PLASTIC.  Today’s addition fills in a couple of holes of previously unrepresented characters, including  early production samples of Kenner’s 1997 ALIEN: Resurrection Battle Scarred Alien and that movie’s female android, Call.

Once again, posting these images has been made possible by the kind permission of Derek Ho.  Thank you, Sir.

-Windebieste.