Section32

Seriously. This is the main reason why I've never felt compelled to collect the DS figures: I've got most of the AA Enterprise range and the Nemesis foursome, with their uncanny laser-scanned headsculpts*, and I also have Martok (badass) and DS9/ TNG movies Worf (less so tbh), but the majority of DS's models, for all their high quality detailing, etc, are almost totally unappealing purely because the likenesses are so lousy, Kirk being the worst example. I mean, who is that? It sure as hell isn't Shatner. And his face gets more distorted and less recognisable with age! TOS Kirk is just barely passable, but TMP Kirk, with his weirdly bouffant hair, is all wrong, and the various Wrath of Khan Kirk's look so unlike our James T, it's as if they've been modelled on someone else entirely.

I'm reminded of the Aliens toy line from the 90's, which boasted a minigun-wielding, Robocop-esque Bishop and a Ripley that was completely unlike Sigourney Weaver, allegedly because she doesn't like being rendered in plastic. 

The Spock figures aren't great, either. Most of the TNG crew suck, with Diamond having apparently decided that as long as the most famous features were present and correct (Picard's baldness, Riker's beard, Worf's Klingonness, Data's skin colour, etc), not much else was required. It's not that the DS line doesn't have its triumphs- Martok, as I said, is stunning- but overall, it amazes me that Playmates' famous Picard heads still reign supreme, whilst the best Kirk likenesses are arguably those created by Mego way back in the 70's.
 

OK, rant over...For now.

* Although comparing Nemesis Picard to the solicited prototype perfectly illustrates how a bad paint job can kill a good likeness

Unlicensed knock-off items are always fun, varying wildly in quality as they do and often popping up when you least expect. There's a market for them among certain collectors, too. Admittedly there aren't as many Trek bootlegs as there for, say, Star Wars, but if anybody has any interesting examples to share, please do.

I just happened upon this 'Space Revenge' Spock figure on eBay

http://www.ebay.co.u...016.m2516.l5255

Never seen this beauty before, nor do I know anything about its origins, but it's actually stunning. Terrific detailing, even comes with his burial robe!

I say best/ worst/ biggest/ craziest because often the Playmates accessories could be all of those things at once.

The most bizarre were often the most desperate, like issuing Orion Slave Girl Vina with a fountain, or just sticking a dilithium crystal in the package when they obviously couldn't think of anything else to include. My hat does go off to the Playmates people's imagination in giving Q a miniature Enterprise and miniature Earth (pity they never got to recycle it for a Gegen the Voth figure), which were at least conceptually appropriate.

Then you have the snap-together neutraliser chair thingy that came with the Andorian figure, which was both boring visually and rather pointless (also, I'm pretty sure it was too small to actually sit a Kirk figure in), although since the figure itself was a two-in-one affair, I suppose additional gear didn't matter too much.

Anyone else have favourites or least-favourites they'd like to nominate?

I've been wondering about this for ages.

If you look at the card backs on the movie figures, it says 'CLASSIC STAR TREK' and there's an illustration of the original 1701; it looks very much as if designed for a general TOS line and the movies range is just a subseries. I also find it odd that each of the TOS gang in the bridge box set comes with accessories and a display stand.

Given that TOS characters only started appearing after Playmates created the consolidated Star Trek line, and that the bridge playset and, later, bridge station figures were cancelled, I wonder if the company got cold feet, perhaps had some doubts over the viability of TOS toys with 90's kids? I could be barking up totally the wrong tree.

This is a concept I had for a humorous Trek encyclopedia blog a while back. My original intention was to update it with new entries every week, but at the time I was just too busy to put in the effort it demanded, so I abandoned the idea. The work I did finish I saved to my personal, only rarely updated blog, which I thought I'd share here. 

http://zombielovelet...incomplete.html

Fustier fans won't like some of what I have to say, but I hope you guys find it amusing. I only make fun out of love!