DIY ALIEN ReAction Figure Mini Box.

It looks like artist Baptiste Coudert has had a busy week creatively messing around with ALIEN ReAction figures. Not only has he given us the wonder that is the improvised shoe box diorama (see post below), he’s also crafted a mini box in 3.75 inch scale to house and protect loose figures. The Kenner designed package is simply adorable in this scale. This is a complete emulation of the four decades old blue box Kenner used to package their nefarious eighteen inch tall action figure back in 1979. Even the red insert card within the box used to hold the figure in place is present.

Baptiste has been kind enough to freely share the files used to create this item. Here’s a link to his flickr gallery for you to easily download the images required to print out and make it. Fantastic stuff; and thank you Baptiste for sharing freely with us all.

-windebieste.

DIY ALIEN Nostromo Shoe Box Diorama.

Way back in 2014, Super7 released an egg chamber play set for their 3.75 inch ALIEN ReAction figure line. During the intervening nine years since its release, this item (there were two variants) has become rare, sought after and very expensive. It’s been disappointing to see this was the only ALIEN play set Super7 released. Some fans I know have been wanting a Nostromo play set for years. Unfortunately, Super7 no long produces their ALIEN line of toys. So, it’s unrealistic to expect one to ever be forthcoming from them. This dire problem needs to be rectified. It must be remedied! Luckily, we have been rescued!Baptiste Coudert has provided us with all we need as a solution. Well, maybe not everything; but the essential printable components to make a Nostromo play set for yourself is now a reality. Here’s a link to a set of downloadable images on flickr you can print out and assemble to make your own Nostromo play set. Oh yeah. You’ll need an old shoe box to mount the printed components inside. The truly great thing about this improvised play set is manifold. Not only will you be constructively re-using an old shoe box to use as a display for reliving great action setups including having captain Dallas being dragged away in the airshafts by the Alien but there are other benefits, too. You will also be able to put the lid back on the box and use it to stow your figures in a safe place.

Now that’s genius! Now you won’t have to buy one of those expensive Super7 ALIEN carry cases to stow your figures, either. That makes the Nostromo play set a fantastic all round money saver and every home should have one, especially if you have an abundance of old shoe boxes lying around the place and been wondering what on Earth you were going to do with them.

Go grab and empty shoe box and download and print the Nostromo play set files right now! You’ll be glad you did. Thank you Baptiste for implementing this wonderful idea.

-windebieste.

eBay – Kenner ALIEN Parts for Sale.

If you are looking for some parts to help bring your Kenner ALIEN up to more complete condition, it looks like another handful of loose parts have become available on eBay. These are being sold individually by the seller. Up for grabs are both legs, a tail and an unbroken set of “those weird tubie things on its back”. The tail appears to be neat, clean and tidy and also includes the serrated circular clip to hold it in place. The quad appendage piece appears to be a little rough around the edges but is otherwise complete; and both legs display no breaks but do appear to have been touched up with silver painted highlights on the toes and other areas of the lower leg. These pieces are priced thusly:

  • US$74.95 – Quad appendages still attached to plate.
  • US$84.95 – Tail and circular clip to hold it in place on the figure.
  • US$94.95 – Right leg with silver painted highlights.
  • US$94.95 – Left leg with similarly painted highlights.

Sure, these prices are somewhat high even by today’s inflated metrics but Best Offers will be accepted. I am going to have to “ummmm & aaaaah” ’bout that tail, though. I could use one of those.

-windebieste.

eBay – Kenner ALIEN Dome for Sale.

Up for auction on eBay right now is a fine 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy dome that will fit (almost) perfectly on the top of your old vintage toy. Bidding started on this item at US$3.99. CHEAP! Not that the bidding stayed at that point for very long. Right now the highest bid stands at US$36. STILL CHEAP! But wait… there’s more!Yes, there is more. That is, there’s still four more days remaining on the clock before this auction closes. At this stage, it’s difficult to determine what this item will sell for. As this much sought after piece is in very good condition and the sale started at a low US$3.99, the outcome is anyone’s guess at this stage. I’m thinking this dome could easily sell for upwards of US$100. NOT SO CHEAP – BUT THEM’S THE FACTS! It’s not a precedent, either, as they can easily top that mark. Nonetheless, the low start price will attract buyers and at the end of the sale, it will be the last hand in the air that determines its value. Will it sell for more than three figures? Let’s watch and see!

-windebieste.

Are XENOMOFOS Still Happening..?

I’ve recently had a few inquiries about XENOMOFOS. Some have come from visitors to this blog, curious about them due to the random header banners I use; and others who have been aware of the project for some time and have been seeking an update. The short answer is simple. YES! XENOMOFOS, after some delays, are definitely still alive and well!  They’ve just been put on hold as dictated by real life concerns; but soon I will be in a position to return to working on this project once again. …and I’m looking forward to it.But, hey… what are XENOMOFOS, anyway?

I’m glad you asked. XENOMOFOS is a project I’ve been working on for some time now and are tribute items dedicated to the weird and wonderful world of Mexican bootleg toys. It’s no secret Mexican bootleggers are renowned for their cheap knock-off product and XENOMOFOS will celebrate this clandestine industry with limited releases. Satire and parody are paramount with these unashamedly unlicenced reproductions of reproductions (of reproductions of reproductions…). The pair of 5 inch Three Headed XENOMOFOS shown above are early inhouse concept and viability studies for the project. It’s since evolved beyond this stage with fresh masters generated. I’ll have more information regarding progress later this year. Watch this space. XENOMOFOS are coming!

-windebieste.

eBay – “Vintage ALIEN Kenner 1979 … Rare Authentic” for Sale.

Living in France and looking to purchase a much sought after 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy? This appealing item may look like a good opportunity at US$550 but it’s always a good action to look a little deeper, do some important research and understand Kenner’s ALIEN toy has re-appeared in many different variants. This is one of those variants – and it wasn’t made by Kenner, either. So… what is it, exactly? Derived as it is from the older 1979 action figure, this listed item is a built version of Halcyon’s 1991 vinyl kit. It draws an indirect relationship with the Kenner ALIEN toy as it is a recast of the intermediate Tsukuda Hobby ALIEN repressing released in 1984. So, it’s not a Kenner at all but rather a third generation re-pop of the nefarious toy. It’s not complete either. It’s missing the (very) pliable rubber dome that should be present on the head along with the rear glans-like cranial posterior. These are both parts typically associated with this version of the 1991 ALIEN model kit. Continue reading

UPDATED – ImPerfect Organisms: Inverted Dog Alien Card Back.

As I continue to expand the site and its content, sometimes “good things” drop into my lap.Here’s a case in point. I’ve recently been fortunate and grateful to acquire this wonderful factory error sample. Some package errors are subtle, almost undetectable upon initial inspection. Take this suspicious looking NECA Dog Alien for example. It looks mostly to be perfectly fine. Mostly. Except the card back inside this clam shell figure is definitely incorrectly oriented. It certainly becomes blatantly obvious when the back of the package is inspected. This wonderful unopened inverted Dog Alien action figure now has a permanent home here on HIDEOUS PLASTIC in a section dedicated to faulty curios and other haphazard errors. Go check out that link if you want to see it and witness more head scratching ALIEN error items that really should not have gotten passed quality control.

-windebieste.

UPDATED – ImPerfect Organisms: Paint Anomaly Xenomorph.

Let’s add some more curiosities to the section on this blog dedicated to production errors, faulty goods and defective product. Let’s start by adding this 2021 Super7 ALIENS ReAction figure release that should have been painted gold (or maybe bronze?).While the items on the left and middle were released in correct colour schemes, the item on the right is simply inexplicably painted the wrong colour. As this curiosity may be an error (or potentially some kind of paint test/product development sample) it’s now been ceremoniously added to the page full of ImPerfect Organisms. That section is growing to be quite lengthy now. It’s almost time to start splitting it up. After all, more such “imperfect organisms” are heading to these pages very soon. Very, very soon…

-windebieste.

Mr. FORD’s Amazing Rehabilitation – Links Added.

Recently I acquired a wrecked and incomplete 1979 Kenner ALIEN action figure and set about to restore it. I fully documented the process in eight installments as Mr FORD’s Amazing Rehabilitation. Now all eight pages are complete. For ease of navigation links have been made and a permanent shortcut to this lengthy article has been added to the sidebar at right for quick access. If you are remotely interested in the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy or want some tips on how to repair or restore one of these old action figures, you might find something very useful here. Go for it! Links are also available below.

Part 1: Recovery.
Part 2: Dismantle & Clean.
Part 3: Working on the Head.
Part 4: Attaching the Arm.
Part 5: Attaching the Tail.
Part 6: Replacing a Leg.
Part 7: Reattaching the Dorsal Quad Appendages.
Part 8: Final Assembly.

This task of taking a messed up and broken down derelict action figure relegated to council kerbside rubbish collection was fortunately recovered by a keen eyed passer by who recognised it for what it was. Transforming this ruined vintage toy into something worth much more than a candidate for landfill fell to me. Doing so was a ton of fun and it’s all there.  I’ll do this again sometime. Enjoy Mr. FORD’s Amazing Rehabilitation.

-windebieste.

Kenner ALIEN Rehab. (Part 8) – Final Assembly.

Welcome to the last entry regarding Mr. FORD’s rehabilitation. In this entry we wrap up his repairs with a final assembly and comparison images. The condition he was when I received him to how he looks now are dramatic to say the least. His work is finished. Well, almost finished. He’s as good as can be – for now. I simply don’t have all the parts needed to make him complete but that is a task for another time. This effort was a lot of fun! Later I will link all the pages together into a cohesive piece of work and it will be easier to read through the entire eight page article without coming back to the front page. Nonetheless, The final page of Mr. FORD’s restoration is posted and is now live.

-windebieste.

Kenner ALIEN Rehab. (Part 7) – Reattaching the Dorsal Quads.

We’re getting to the closing stages of Mr. FORD’s amazing rehabilitation! This effort is being made to restore him to as good as condition as possible and for him to become worthy of display. We’re almost there. At this point all that remains is simple. His quad dorsal appendages need to be refitted, straightened out and made secure on his back. Not a difficult task.All we need to do is return all four of those “weird tubie things” onto his back. Three of them are broken and will need to be repaired. We’ll do that by using nothing more complicated than a trio of common and easily acquired paperclips. How is this repair supposed to work? Good question. Check out Kenner ALIEN Rehab, Part 7 and find out.

-windebieste.

Kenner ALIEN Rehab. (Part 6) – Replacing a Leg.

Let’s address the issue of having Mr. FORD’s legs returned to his torso. Like everything else regarding this beat up old toy, neither of these limbs are in perfect condition. While damaged, his left leg is still intact and imminently useful. Unfortunately, his right leg suffers significantly more damage than can be easily repaired.It’s obvious this damaged limb isn’t going to useful and it’s a great thing these old toys can be disassembled. Mr. FORD will just have to have a complete limb replacement. This task is now documented in the latest installment (Chapter 6) of his rehabilitation.

-windebieste.

Kenner ALIEN Rehab. (Part 5) – Attaching a Tail.

Mr. FORD needs a tail! Hah. That line almost sounds like a children’s book title. Well, why not? Considering Mr. FORD is actually a children’s toy, intended for AGES 5 AND UP when he was originally made all the way back in 1979, it’s not all that inappropriate, really.

Anyway, above is the tail Mr. FORD needs to aid him in becoming “feature complete”. Let’s get it fastened in Part 5 of Rehabilitating a four decades old grotesque play thing.

-windebieste.

Kenner ALIEN Rehab. (Part 3) – Working on the Head.

Continuing with our endeavors to have this beat up old sample of the 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy back on his feet, we turn our attention to Mr. FORD’s head. It’s in generally good shape if a bit knocked around and scuffed. There’s also a nasty crack along the right hand side. While it’s now a feature permanently scarring the figure, it is causing other issues that can be fixed. Let’s tackle those.

There are other minor details worth having their attention drawn to. Without too much effort, we should be able to get the head into as good a shape as possible. These old Kenner ALIEN toys are a ton of fun to work with and restore. Let’s get stuck into it which means the third installment of this Kenner ALIEN Rehabilitation Project has been posted.

-windebieste.

Kenner ALIEN Rehab. (Part 2) – Dismantle & Clean.

Success! I was able to remove the screws and dismantle this decrepit old ALIEN toy. Concerns about Mr. FORD not being able to achieve this critical stage have been alleviated. Here he is. Now in pieces, cleaned and off to a great start. You can read the progress of this unfortunate and broken old toy in the latest installment of his rehabilitation, Kenner ALIEN Rehab. – Dismantle & Clean. So far so good; and with the success of the critical disassembly out of the way, we are well on the path to completion and having Mr. FORD standing back on both legs once again.

-windebieste.

Kenner ALIEN Rehab. (Part 1) – Recovery.

I recently had the good fortune to purchase this 1979 Kenner ALIEN toy. Unfortunately, he’s definitely seen better days. To say the least, he is severely beat up, broken, missing parts and is coated in dust and dirt. So what of it. He’s perfect, I say. Perfect that is, for a makeover that will hopefully result in this broken, one legged decrepit old toy back standing back on his feet once again, without the need for a display stand to hold him upright. I’ve also decided to document my efforts in rehabilitating this less than stellar sample, bringing him up to display worthy status. If it is possible. I’ve finished what is (intended to be) the first page of his Kenner ALIEN Rehab. – Recovery. The ultimate goal of this exercise is to have it be the first entry in a much larger article, recording a running written documentation of his restoration. I will publish more completed tasks as we progress.

Let’s see how far we can complete this exercise before it comes to a grinding halt, shall we?

-windebieste.

eBay – Kenner Tongue Part for Sale.

There’s a lower tongue part for sale on eBay right now. The seller wants US$50 for it. The seller will accept a Best Offer. These loose items are becoming difficult to find so despite the asking price, this is great if your vintage toy is only missing this single piece.If you need an original piece to complete your Kenner ALIEN toy, this is an ideal opportunity. Otherwise, US$50 is probably a lot to pay for a small piece of plastic.

Some more parts have become available from the same seller. There’s a functioning ALIEN head (for US$75) and a complete set of dorsal appendages (US$55).

-windebieste.

UPDATED – ImPerfect Organisms: ReAction Alien.

I have added this curious item to the ever growing list of ALIEN products released featuring flaws, defects and other anomalous discrepancies. This item is Super7’s ALIEN ReAction figure released as part of the movie’s 40th Anniversary on ALIEN Day, 2019. The item on the left is the complete figure most collectors are familiar while the naked item on the right lacks the black characteristic paintwork which adorns the body. For this reason it has earned its place as a welcome entry among other ImPerfect Organisms here on HIDEOUS PLASTIC.There appears to be an abundance of Super7 ALIEN ReAction figures released featuring a variety of production errors. I’ve been able to document some of them; and more coming. I am thinking I will soon need to split the page dedicated to ImPerfect Organisms into two parts: One page dedicated solely to anomalous Super7 ReJection figures; and another page dedicated to everything else. I can see that happening in the near future.

-windebieste.

NECA – Ultimate Queen Alien.

NECA have announced their latest addition to their long running ALIENS line, the Queen Xenomorph Ultimate action figure. While NECA have already released HRH in a variety of colors appropriate to movies and comics she has appeared in, these have largely been the same sculpt. As this item is part of their “Ultimate” line of figures, this iteration will possibly possess fresh sculpting and improved articulation as such improvements have been regular features in their Ultimate line up.NECA has this to say on their recent Facebook announcement regarding this large size figure, NECA’s most massive and most ambitious Aliens figure ever is the terrifying Xenomorph Queen from the 1986 Aliens film. She stands over 15″ tall and is over 30″ long, with over 30 points of articulation, including a spectacular poseable tail. Bring some of the movie’s most thrilling scenes to life in realistic detail, because the Queen is completely in scale with NECA’s 7″ Alien action figure line. Includes a display stand and two different interchangeable inner mouths. Shipping is estimated to be in September of this year. No price has been set.

-windebieste.