Note to readers: This entry concerns one of my fancies, and is thus really, really, really long (and geeky). I could have split it up, but that's just not me, so by all means read half, then go for a beer and come back for the rest later - it's all good. You also need to be able to view the photos for this to work, so if you can't do that from where you are now then please come back when you can. Thank you.



I love my movie collectibles, I do. All shapes and sizes. I'm dirty for them, you could say. But these days it seems that if you want quality, you have to be willing to shell out the big money. If only there were a company producing highly detailed large-scale models at a reasonable price...Wait, there is! Its name: Kotobukiya. By modelling their statuettes in vinyl instead of resin or metal, they are able to sculpt incredibly high quality products and sell them at a far lower price than other equivalent models on the market (approx. $60-$90 cheaper). The best part? A few years ago they acquired the license to produce a range of Star Wars figures. "Miniature statues of Star Wars characters modelled in soft vinyl! Surely that's crazy talk!" No, my friends, for while you were resting in peaceful slumber last night, scientists have transformed the drab world of the present into the sparkling utopia of the future! Behold!

If you haven't picked up on it yet, I am an unashamed fan of Kotobukiya's output. As such, I want to give you, the potential consumer, a comprehensive look at what to expect when you purchase one of these fine models. I plan to achieve this using my trademark disorienting banter and more photographs than you can shake a stick at. Incidentally, current estimates put the number of photographs an average human male can shake a stick at around the 27 mark, with women slightly higher at 35. Research continues.

Right, let's begin at the beginning. You get your new model home and start getting to work on the packaging, which is the boring bit. Do you want to know what the box looks like? I mean, do you really, really want to know? No, it's too late now, here it is. The back also appears much as you had imagined it, except possibly even less exciting. All the parts (some assembly is required) are held in a plastic tray and secured with those twizzly things designed to frustrate the elderly and infirm. Just be careful when you remove the parts, as I had a bit of an accident with my Boba Fett, which I will get to (much) later.

Now, these models are incredibly simple to put together. However, if you are the sort of person who has trouble tying your own shoelaces, then you will require the instruction sheet. Let's take a look, shall we? I see. At least it has pretty pictures as well. Seriously though, it could not be simpler to construct these things. Sometimes you have to use a bit of brute force to get an arm in its socket and so forth (meaning a wain may have trouble), but that's as challenging as it gets. This picture illustrates the sort of thing you can expect: Take head. Stick on neck. Push home. (Yes, that is the hand of greenandwhitejedi. Please do not all scream at once; I have sensitive hearing.) I love how the spiel on the back of the box tries to convince you that you have somehow participated in sculpting the model by completing this challenging exercise in construction engineering. Just to clarify: you haven't. Sorry.

You've already seen his head anyway, so I thought we would start with a closer look at the Clone Trooper. I think it's a nice touch that this model has a shiny lustre not possessed by the others, which reflects the look of the film. As you can see, he comes in a combat pose somewhat indicative of his Japanese manufacture; slightly stylized, but still true to the source material. The base is designed to resemble the blasted rock of Geonosis, which doesn't come out very clearly here. The Clone Trooper is a much less complex model than the others from a sculpting perspective, but I admire the clean lines and simple, two-tone colour scheme.
I have a couple of detail shots for you here; both of which show the blaster rifle. I think you will agree that it is remarkably accurate, even down to the smallest feature, which is really a good indicator of the kind of attention to detail you can expect from Koto (as I shall refer to them from now on).

Do I live in a strange world of pine and whitewash? No, it's just that I found the perfect place for taking these photos on a table on which rests my sister's dolls house from back in the day, hence the white backdrop.

This is Boba Fett. His backpack has got jets. I know this because there is a crap song about it. This was the first of my Koto acquisitions, way back last summer, and in many ways it is my personal favourite - not just because of the character, but also because of the pose and the variety of materials represented. Here, fabric and armour plates are modelled with equal exactitude, as are the Wookiee pelts. You can also see the Mandalorian markings and additional weapons and ammo pouches from the costume replicated here. He usually sits on top of my bookshelves, but I need to find a more prominent position for him. Really, really nice model, and that's all I have to say about that.
A few detail shots for you here, the first of which I specifically took to show off the incredibly realistic sculpting on the gauntlets. You can't tell from a 2D picture, but all of those buttons and the vents on the flamer are actually modelled, not painted on. This is just a head shot for the album. See the material effects on the belts and the texture of the cloak? Magic. This shot is again to show you the simplicity of construction. I should also assure you that although it may not look like a very secure fit, you'd have to throw the statuette around to make the jetpack fall off. "Don't throw it around" is the message, I suppose.

I don't know about you, but I'm going for that beer now. That statement stands regardless of which day or time you are reading this at.

I'm here to answer all your really weird and obscure questions about these models, so if you're wondering whether they can be displayed without their stands, I can make you happy. After comprehensive testing, I can tell you that, yes, they can in fact be displayed 'free-style', as the soles of their boots are all flat. I know you're not trusting sorts, so I exhaustively documented my experiments with this one photo. I can sense that what you also want to know is whether or not you can stick different heads on the characters bodies. The answer is, sadly, no. I tried - goodness knows I tried - but all the sockets are differently shaped, so no dice.

Here we have Commander Bly, who got his big break in the film 'Revenge of the Sith', before descending into a drug-fuelled tailspin following several failed marriages. That might not be 100% true, but ho hum, that's the heady world of journalism for you. Anyway, I also have a particular fondness for this statuette - this time because of the way it effortlessly captures the look of the digital Bly in the movie. It's not something I can really express in words, but it just looks and - quite surprisingly - feels exactly like you imagine the Clones' armour would in real life. This is aided by the fantastic battle-scarring and weathering effects, which I think is one of Koto's strongest areas of expertise.
For detail shots, we'll start with this close-up of the SBD torso on the base (representing Felucia). Sorry it's a bit out of focus, but the point I'm trying to get across is look at the effort that goes into the stand, let alone the model itself. This one looks like a random choice of angle, but it shows some nice details on the armour and the 'body glove'. Check out the utility belt with this shot, or just stare at his crotch, whatever. Finally, you may have noticed that his helmet doesn't have the snazzy bins from the film on it. That's because vinyl models can't easily be given moving parts, so you instead get a totally separate head with the binos on. Why couldn't the first head have the binos modelled on top of the helmet? Ask Koto, because I dunnae ken. (By the by, I always keep the no-binos head on, because if his target is close enough to engage with pistols then he wouldn't need to be zoomed-in, would he? I'm smRt.)

You know these things are big, but how big? I mean, how big are they really? Well, what better way to show you than with these size comparison shots? Oh, right, by photographing them with a ruler. Well, I can do that. For once a 12" ruler was long enough for what I wanted to measure.

Goodness gracious me, it's the final statuette at last. This is the rather lovely Snowtrooper, which is quite pleasing to look at despite being of only one colour. Actually, one of the things I like about it is how many shades of white Koto have squeezed out of their palette for this boy. Another plus is the way you can get a look at parts of the costume which were not given a lot, if any, screen-time, such as the backpack. As a side note, the 'kama', or 'man-skirt', on this model feels like it might be made of some unknown rubbery substance (possibly rubber), as it is easily flexible, unlike Bly's one.
This close-up shows you the remarkable verisimilitude of the boots and gators, as well as the nice snow effect (the broken pieces are of an E-Web cannon, I think). Take a look at the stained backpack. I love that it looks like the actual 1980 costume, rather than what the model-makers thought it should look like. Finally, a head shot (very reminiscent of a stahlhelm, isn't it?).

Right, that's it for the model tour. I've been kissing a lot of Koto arse so far, which is why I want to do a short segment on some of the problems I've had with these statuettes. Remember when I said that I had a little bitty accidentay with Mr Fett? Oops. The vinyl is very thin at the top of the cape there, and it just snapped as I pulled him out of the packaging. I glued it together again without much trouble, but just keep in mind that these things are soft vinyl, not hard resin. The other issue with the Boba model is that a sculpting mistake was evidently made with the batch mine came from, and possibly others. His blaster rifle is supposed to have grooves running down it, right? Oops again. (The master model definitely has them, as you can just about see here.) It's not a hang up for me, but some of you might like to ask to see these models out of the box before you buy one, just in case. The final problem I want to mention is with the bases, or stands. Unlike the statuettes, these things are made out of simple plastic in China. They look good enough, but apparently quality control isn't such a high priority here, as they can often be an ill fit for the models' feet - either because of incorrect spacing or because the studs are too wide. The studs on my Bly stand are too far apart, causing the left foot to lift up when I stuck the right foot in its place. I keep the left foot fixed down with white tac.
Having said all that, I would definitely not say that such problems are endemic to Koto figures in general, as I have had no issues with the Clone Trooper at all. It does seem a bit hit and miss whether or not you run into bother, but it's never going to be a big concern anyway. I am perfectly happy with all of my statuettes despite their quirks, because in my opinion they are easily outweighed by the overall Sweetness Factor, which is the official unit of measurement on the Awesomeness Scale.

That should just about do it, I think. All that's left for me to do is to link the Kotobukiya website for you to peruse the full line of statuettes. They are available for £30-£50 ($60-$100) - depending on the character(s) represented - online, at speciality shops and occasionally in Toys 'r' Us. Perhaps I should also mention that the Princess Leia model in particular would make a very fine gift for any occasion. If you know of anyone who might appreciate it. *Ahem*

This is a shout out to DJ Maul, da colekshun masta. I kept telling him that I would do this thing, but I never seemed to get round to it, as I am slothful to a degree previously unobserved in the creatures of the world, except maybe the sloth. Big up yourself, DJ Maul! There's a funny story behind that photo, but this entry is long enough already.

Finally, here's a link to the main album on PhotoBucket so that you can scan at your leisure. There are a few more photos on there under "Hunt for Grievous" which were taken for a blog entry that I never finished, and some other ones which I took for unused gags whilst high on my meds. Enjoy! (Look, there aren't any photos of me in there, so stop raking for any, alright?)