Howdy figure fans, this time out we are taking a look at Hot Toys Third Quarter True Type base figures. I refer to them as Third Quarter True Types as all three that will be covered in this review hit the sixthscale market at approximately the same time during the third quarter of 2010.
Plastic people…
I should start off by clarifying what I consider to be a base figure. For me, a base figure is the scale anatomical form we use for our customs. It is the basic human shape that mixed media action figures have in common – whether you are talking about your sister or uncle’s Barbies, or the old Hasbro “Fuzz heads” you played with as a kid… The one thing they all have in common is a roughly sixthscale, or “Playscale” human shaped base body. A base figure is just that a base, so when I am deciding on parts for a custom, I almost always start with the base body and build up from there.
Over the years almost every major sixthscale company has taken a shot at making a base figure. Whether as a stand alone accessory release, or as a base on which to build their boxed figure sets. There have been some good ones, there have been some not so good ones. There have been problems with almost every major joint, and issues with almost every aspect of the anatomy… Too stiff, or too loose, too tall, or too short… No matter the case, almost every figure to date has had some sort of issue.
Form and function….
Varying levels of articulation and anatomical makeup have been key aspects that have dictated the function or limitations of a figure’s design. Some base bodies have had limited articulation, translating into a range of motion that allows for only the most rudimentary of poses – but have has a more realistic ( seamless ) human appearance. Some have featured close to 40 points of articulation, allowing for a more realistic range of motion, and more dynamic posing – but have had a more mechanical ( less seamless ) appearance to the joints.
Then there are the materials that base bodies are made from… Barring the skeletal structure, the human form ( anatomy ) is comprised of pliable structures that can compress, expand, and stretch allowing for a dynamic range of motion. So when you have an analog made of rigid materials there are sacrifices in articulation… Bottom line, it’s almost impossible to construct a realistic human analog from a rigid material like the plastics that we see used in sixthscale products. By contrast, if you were to use a pliable material such as foam rubber, you would run into issues with durability. And there is the rub… How do you combine form and function in a realistic human analog, while still having it be durable enough to stand up to normal use? That has proven to be one of the bigger challenges for sixthscale figure companies, and has been one of the areas where we have seen some of the more ingenious and clever engineering solutions.
In my opininon, customizers have been at the forefront of many of these solutions. Some have modified their figures to improve articulation. Some have modified their figures to imbue them with more realistic surface features or hidden joints. Some have done a little of both. All of this modification and tinkering has been in an attempt to achieve the most realistic and functional analog possible. It reminds me of the insatiable drive to refit and redifine materials that has been at the heart of many creative endevors. You see it with folks who chop cars and motorcycles, you see it with hobbyists and craftsmen… It is the fuel that drives innovation, and both customizers and manufacturers seem to be in an ever evolving race to see who can create the most realistic and most functional figure. And I personally feel that all of this tinkering and modification has ushered in some stunning innovations. Necessity is the mother of invention they say, and we have certainly seen many instances of this aphorism at work in our hobby.
Types of True Types…
Hot Toys first introduced their True Type figure around 2005 with their second UDT SEAL figure, and since this time they have made little tweaks to dial in the design. What we have as of 2010 incorporates many or the aforementioned qualities that customizers and collectors seek in base body human analogs, while at the same time minimizing the inefficiencies. Each time Hot Toys produces a new True Type, or even a new base for one of their boxed figure sets, there is always something interesting to take in. Even in cases where we see a recycling of a True Type type we still have a new head-sculpt to marvel at. The Hot Toys True Type in it’s sundry iterations is, in my opinion, the very best sixthscale base body/human analog out there. It has everything that I personally look for in a base – articulation, durability, and a bevy of realistic anatomical characteristics, including form, and proportion. True Types are also some of the cleanest looking figures out there ( again in my opinion ), by virtue of their construction fit and finish. Plus, you get an outstanding head-sculpt, and enough extras to provide customizing and display options. All of this for around $45.00, depending on the version you choose. Good stuff.
So how do what I have dubbed the Third Quarter True Types stack up to past True Types? Very well. In fact, there are some new features that bear mentioning… First off, there is the finish of the plastic used to construct the body. They have a matte finish which is a vast improvement over earlier iterations that had a high gloss finish. I have not handled other packaged True Type figures such as the Slim, and the first Narrow Shoulder for example, so I may be incorrect in describing the matte finish as “new”, but relying on what I have seen from pics on the boards I would say that hese may the first True Types to feature this finish. We also have the double jointed neck with the all three True Type versions, which has not always been the case with past True Types. I was pleased with this inclusion as I feel the two points of articulation provide a significant posing advantage over stiff-neck sculpts.
I should take a second to mention that each figure comes with 38 points of articulation as denoted on the packaging. And while on the subject of packaging, I want to add that I really like the way in which Hot Toys chose to package these. It is easy to open, and easy to close should you choose to remove the figure to inspect it and then replace it for storage. Great feature that. Graphically, the layout seems in keeping with previous releases… Featuring an almost “pop art” look with geometric accents, and either primary or tertiary color patterns to differentiate between the various iterations. I also liked that you could stand the packages on end in order to display the contents.
And of course one must take note that the figures are displayed in what I imagine is an itentional nod to Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.
Another new spin is the True Type Advanced… This version has a more muscular build than previous True Types, and even has detachable quadriceps muscle sleeves. Although not entirely new, the Advanced is at least new in this form. There was the 2009 promo figure which featured the Advanced anatomy with a Wentworth Miller head-sculpt… But that one had a very limited and exclusive release, and later sold for a premium on ebay ( think upwards of $100.00 ). So it was about as easy to lay hands on as a buttered razorback hog at a Bobby Flay’s BBQ. I had seriously considered shelling out the hundred for the figure, and had to talk my self out of it on numerous occasions, so when I saw the announcement for the release of the packaged True Type Advanced figures I was very pleased.
Before I forget, I have to mention a little something that I found after handling the Advanced True Types for the photo-shoot portion of this review. Both the African American and Caucasian versions have rubber buttocks. You didn’t read that wrong – they have butts made of rubber… I liken this to the rubber buttock/pelvic structure of Soldier Story’s S2′s – only in the case of the Advanced True Types the rubber is slightly harder. This is no doubt a component to improve articulation in the figure’s legs and hips. A nice addition to Hot Toys latest True Types. And no, the Narrow Shoulder True Type does not have rubber buttocks.
Familiar faces….
In the sixthscale action figure world head-sculpts are important. Not only do they add character to a figure, they can literally make or break a bash. These days Hot Toys has some of the best, if not the best head-sculpts out there. This wasn’t always the case, but after some trials and tribulations, Hot Toys seems to have hit their stride. In the case of the Third Quarter True Types we see some really great sculpts that go a long way toward adding to the appeal and impulse to purchase. The sculpts are so good that they are definitely on my loose parts purchase radar. I could go into the whole thing about the preponderance of celebrity likenesses in the sixthscale world ( licensed or not ), and some day I would really like to to sit down and compose a concise, in-depth discussion of the subject – maybe even tying it to our full scale, almost juvenile obsession with celebrity. Instead I will touch on the celebrity identities of each True Types in this review in the following para-graphical breakdowns…
List of features and features of the figures…
TTM 14 – Narrow Shoulder Version…
Some say this one bears a resemblance to actor Taylor Kitch in his Remy LaBeau – or Gambit role. I was a little puzzled as to why Hot Toys would choose this particular actor for a sixthscale likeness. And then I thought about the fact that Hot Toys has a license to produce X-men Origins Wolverine tie ins. Maybe this means that there is a Gambit figure somewhere on the horizon. If not, at least Taylor can stock up on a few for posterity sake.
Relaxed right hand x 1
Relaxed left hand x 1
Pistol grip ( shooter’s ) right hand x 1
Rifle grip ( shooter’s ) left hand x 1
Wrist pegs x 4
Neck adapter ( DML/DiD – HT type ) x 1
Neck adapter ( BBI/HT type ) x 1
Figure stand ( crotch cradle type ) x 1
Muscle leg cover right thigh x 1
Muscle leg cover left thigh x 1
TTM 15 – Advanced Version African American…
The resemblance here being that of President Barrack Obama. Look no further than the stars and stripes background featured in the pre-release pics for confirmation. I don’t know whether permission was sought to produce this likeness – or the Barrack Obama figure that DiD released a little while back… But it seems like there would have to be some sort of permission needed to produce any likeness famous or no. Although the very term “likeness” provides a legal loophole through which to slip… ” It’s not actually intended to be the President, you see… merely a likeness that one may or may not interpret as the President… ” We have certainly seen this done time and again in the sixthscale world with celebrity likenesses ranging from Sean Connery, Russell Crowe, Brad Pitt, Mila Jovovich, and even Newport Warbone, Sir William Bourbonaugh, and Nikki Medallion of the American Funboys. I would like to know how Hot Toys approached this issue. Anyway, here is what you get with this one:
Relaxed right hand x 1
Relaxed left hand x 1
Pistol grip ( shooter’s ) right hand x 1
Rifle grip ( shooter’s ) left hand x 1
Wrist pegs x 4
Neck adapter ( DML/DiD – HT type ) x 1
Neck adapter ( BBI/HT type ) x 1
Figure stand ( crotch cradle type ) x 1
Muscle leg cover right thigh x 1
Muscle leg cover left thigh x 1
TTM 16 – Advanced Version Caucasian…
The resemblance here is to actor Dominic Purcell – most likely as a tie in to his Prison Break Lincoln Burrows character. Not much of a leap on my part as Hot Toys used this sculpt for their second Prison Break Lincoln Burrows figure. Again, an example of Hot Toys making the most of a license – think Wentworth Miller’s likeness pulling double duty for both the Hot Toys Prison Break Michael Schofield figure, and for the True Type Advanced promotional piece. On a personal note, as with the promotional figure, the Lincoln Burrows Prison Break sculpt was one of those items that I had chased around ebay lloking for a good deal – so I felt fortunate to have a shot at laying hands on two items from my sixthscale wants list in one shot. Here is what you get with this one:
Relaxed right hand x 1
Relaxed left hand x 1
Pistol grip ( shooter’s ) right hand x 1
Rifle grip ( shooter’s ) left hand x 1
Wrist pegs x 4
Neck adapter ( DML/DiD – HT type ) x 1
Neck adapter ( BBI/HT type ) x 1
Figure stand ( crotch cradle type ) x 1
Muscle leg cover right thigh x 1
Muscle leg cover left thigh x 1
The score…
Five out of five stars across the board for all three figures in the review.
In conclusion…
I am pleased that I had a chance to add these to my collection, and as I mentioned earlier, the sculpts are of such high quality for the price that I consider them to be a must add loose part item to my sixthscale shopping cart. This is the first time that I have done a review that will not include a section on what I did to improve or modify a subject. Partially due to the nature of the items in question, and partially because they are close to perfect as is. I did remove Remy’s shaggy hair piece to see what was underneath. I was pleased to find that the sculptors included ears that are not only well sculpted, but are fully painted, even though you don’t really see them under all of the hair. The only drawback is the head is sort of “chopped”, with a low profile that would need to be built up with a sculpting medium. In the future, I will most likely modify this sculpt by creating a shorter hair style sculpted from a poly-clay product like Sculpey or Fimo. I have included a pic of the Remy sculpt sans hair to help you decide if you want to mod yours as well.
Alright my friends, I thank you for taking time to read my latest review, and taking a gander at my latest set of snaps. I hope that you guys are enjoying these things…
-Mike
Thank you very much – means a lot to get feedback on these things. Thank you for the read, and my sincere apologies for not noticing that there are actually comments left until just now – I am not always quick to catch on, but am happy that you liked the review.
Best regards, Mike
I appreciate it