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XL Review: Generations TNG crew


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#1 Redshirt#7

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 06:28 AM

Goooood Morning Trektoy! Or afternoon after my computer binned this review, twice.

 

This time, I'm going to break my own rules. Whereas I would normally review one figure, I'm going to review seven, and some of them (in other words, a lot) don't have their accessories, are loose, and are very dusty.

 

Anyway, the Generations figures (a review in four parts!). As I'm sure your aware, for TNG's first movie outing the production team wanted some new uniforms, and, for whatever reason, they where ditched at the last moment. They where to expensive, they didn't look right, too much change for the viewer, it wasn't feasible, just some of the stuff I've heard over the years. One uniform was made, Geordi's, Le Var filmed a scene in it:

 

http://i83.photobuck...able/GENuni.jpg

 

And it seems to have survived:

 

http://www.google.co...start=0&ndsp=19

 

http://4.bp.blogspot...ype uniform.jpg

 

Despite what I think is a very nice uniform, the figures have been ridiculed for the lack of articulation and the uniforms. At first, I was in agreement, then I bought one....More on that later, but first, to the pictures!

 

Part 1: Jean Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher

 

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Picard's card. It seems my Picard was an Italian import (FAS-BRO), the Worf's advertised are the wrong Worf's, and Lieutenant Commander Riker?!? Looks like someone got demoted.

 

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His bio. Slightly inaccurate, but not as bad as others.

 

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All figures in the Generations line come with one of these, a free poster! (shameless reuse of my stock material)

 

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A front view. I love these uniforms, kind of a TOS/TWOK/TNG combination, rank on the chest and the sleeves, a division coloured neck, and a "flap". One thing of note is how bad the quality control is on some of the figures in my set, smeared eyes, paint leakage etc.

 

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A close up of the head, the standard Picard sculpt. As you may have noticed, it seems Picard's eye is smeared (I do remember in an episode (Unification?) one of his eyes is slightly "off" in show)

 

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A back view. You can see the collar better here.

 

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Picard's accessories! His family album (an excellent accessory, as it was featured in the film), a TNG monitor, Tricorder, and Type 1 "Cricket" phaser, as featured in TNG season 1, "The Mind's Eye", and in Voyager's "In The Flesh".

 

 

Note: I don't have Dr Crusher's accessories or card back, she originally had a Med Kit, a Medical Tricorder, a flask, and a Type 2 phaser.

 

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A front view. Differences between the male and female uniforms include the lack of "flap", and a longer black area across the belly and around the back (as shown in the concept art: http://tinypic.com/v...=5#.VB0-YpUtDIU ). (Sorry about the dust)

 

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A close up of the face. Compared to my other Dr Crusher's, her face seems more "made up".

 

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A back view. 

 

That's it for this part, part 2 coming up in a couple of minutes!



#2 Redshirt#7

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 06:34 AM

Part 2: William Riker and Deanna Troi

 

Continuing my Generations marathon, Commander Riker, perhaps my favourite of the Generations figures!

 

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Riker's card. Admiral Kirk? ​Lieutenant Commander Riker? 

 

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Riker's bio. Reasonably accurate, though like the other bios I have it's obvious that this is based on an early script.

 

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One thing I particularly like about the Generations figures is the different bodies for each of the crew. No body molds get reused, so everyone has the correct proportions and the right height, as shown with Riker. Another great thing is he can hold a phaser properly.

 

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Out of all my Generations crew, I think Riker is painted the best. I've always liked the head sculpt, it, like the rest of the Generations line, is a reuse of the TNG head (accept for Worf, who got a brand new head with a new hairstyle)

 

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A back view.

 

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Riker's accessories, a tool case (it should be silver, not teal), "Starfleet Scanner" (it, like the case, is the wrong colour. It should be gold), Isolinear chips (they look more like Voyager's bio neural gell packs to me), and a type 2 phaser.

 

 

Note: Like Crusher, and Data coming up, I don't have the card or the accessories for her. Troi came with a portable computer, PADD, TNG monitor, and a Tricorder.

 

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A front view. Although at first I thought the body was the same as Crusher's, it is in fact different.

 

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A close up. The head is the same as the Season 6/7 Troi from the TNG line.

 

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A back view.

 

Part 3 in a few minutes!



#3 Redshirt#7

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 06:38 AM

Part 3: Geordi La Forge and Data

 

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Geordi's card. The mistakes present on the other cards are still present here, but no psychopathic Vedek's (yet).

 

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Geordi's bio. "[Geordi] stands ready for any crisis!". Kind of tempting fate with those words...

 

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A front view. 

 

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A close up. The VISOR on this Geordi is a slimmer version than that on the TNG Geordi. 

 

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A back view.

 

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Geordi's accessories. I'm missing one of the tools, and the two pronged tool is the wrong colour, but beyond that, you've got a laser tool, some more not so isolinear chips isolinear chips, and a multi ranged light source.

 

 

Note: I don't have Data's accessories, or card. Data had a hand held portable computer (like the one with DS9 Tom Riker), a "Data" Tricorder (completely flat and and a "hook" on the back, like the one with the TNG Data), more isolinear chips (did someone have a bulk buy auction of these things on the Enterprise?), and a type 2 phaser.

 

15269005816_da42989906_z.jpg

 

A front view. Note, the tricorder didn't come with him, it's off a Captain's Jacket Picard (ironic, the one figure who can hold a tricorder properly in the line doesn't actually come with a proper one...)

 

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The best painted Data head I own, a fantastic likeness of Spiner "the whiner".

 

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A back view. Nice creasing in the uniform.

 

Up next, Worf, and the last part, part four!



#4 Redshirt#7

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 06:43 AM

Part 4: Worf, random shots, and conclusion

 

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Worf's card.

 

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His bio. At last!! Another picture to laugh at! Not only does the prototype have a different head, he's waving his arm in the air, no doubt advertising some Targ breath Klingon deodorant, or perhaps a Romulan's lodged in the ceiling, thanks to Worf's overarm throw.

 

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A front view. Oddly, the neck isn't coloured like the others and he doesn't have his sash.

 

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A close up. I believe Dorn wasn't happy with the previous likeness and they changed it to this. I do like this over the TNG one, but to be honest the TNG wasn't that bad personally.

 

15288974871_573681cdda_z.jpg

 

A back view.

 

Now, for some reason, the photo of Worf's accessories doesn't seem to have taken, so I'll add that in later if everybody wants. He comes with a UV light source, a Tricorder, a phaser rifle (pictured), and a type 2 phaser.

 

You may have noticed, I avoided the articulation question more or less. I sure as hell would like more articulation, but their isn't, so in my opinion, theirs no point in whining and complaining about it to paraphrase Scotty, they are what they are. And finally, a demonstration of articulation:

 

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And a shot of them all on the TNG bridge:

 

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Would I recommend them?

Yes! Cheap! "Cool"! Star Trek! Playmates! Great parts source! Do I need any more justification?

 

Price?

I got all these at or bellow £3 each, so definitely something in anybody's price range, though some are harder to get than others.

 

Playability?

As a group, lot's, for example, an alternative universe TNG crew encounter the main universe counterparts. However, the articulation does limit it.

 

Any pictures, recommendations, comments, criticism, anything, just fire away!

 

Enjoy.



#5 Daysleeper

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 08:18 AM

Nice review. I too like Riker best. I think his proportions are right, and for once he isn't wearing a torn uniform and standing like he has to pee...



#6 Loggy

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 10:00 AM

Another great review, and quite enjoyable... RedSHIRT. Despite the controversy that surrounds this line, I personally love it. That said, my favourite Generations figure is not from this line, but is the movie uniform Data from the 7th Season line... just 'cause it was my first figure, the start of a (slight) obsession. I guess, in this context, it's like calling Galaxy Quest the best Star Trek film, but haters gonna hate. 

 

The hat has to be taken off to Playmates for creating an individual sculpt for each figure, it is sort of reflective of the old days when they were bringing out the first lines and had nothing to reuse, and I personally feel for the company that they got gyped by the uniform change. I'm in two minds about that new uniform, I'm a REAL fan for sleeve rank stripes, but I think they made the right call by keeping the TNG/DS9 uniform mix. Some think that it was like 'wear anything Tuesday' on the Enterprise in Generations, but obviously Uncle Jean-Luc was so cool that he was just like "wear anything, yo!" And having those two on screen at once was pretty awesome-- but just imagine if they did that on Voyager. That might've been a mistake. But if Janeway declared "TNG uniform Fridays", I would be all for that. 

 

On the TNG duty uniform Riker from the first line, I personally adore his 'rough and ready' stance. I mean, I despite the fact he never had his uniform torn in that fashion- and only tore it once in that terrible clip show at the end of season 2, and that was just his trousers- and there isn't a 'proper' Riker in the line, that 'groping' hand is great. Very accurate for the character.

 

I love the crew's whole-class shot on the bridge, too, I just see it and think that Riker and Deanna have been involved in some sort of 'program' that has left them paralysed and everyone is none the wiser. A golden TNG story idea. I also hear Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead in my mind as I look at that picture and stare deep into those cold, dead eyes of a slightly shell shocked Deanna Troi.

 

An afterthought; after having torn the arms from (poor) movie Geordi the other night to make a custom, it seems pretty easy to just remove the arms and legs of those figures and replace them with more articulated limbs. Paint some rank stripes on the sleeves of the TNG arms and swap out your legs, and you'd have a nicely articulated Generations line. Unless there are scale issues, I don't see why Playmates just didn't do that anyway.



#7 Section32

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 10:30 AM

Great stuff, Redshirt! Informative, too: I hadn't realised this line had individual body sculpts due to the new articulation, that's really cool.

I always liked the unused uniforms, honestly. I'm just surprised they never appeared in any subsequent TV episode, knowing how economical the Trek production team always was with costumes, props, sets. They loved to get their money's worth and pretty much everything got reused somewhere along the line, so it's odd that they paid to create new uniforms, decided not to use them after all and then just boxed up the lot and forgot about them. One obvious downside to the design though- Worf's rank pips would be covered up by his sash. Is this why they added stripes to the sleeves? And why the Worf figure doesn't have the sash?

 

Oh, and I had no idea the phaser rifle was a 'photonic concentrator'. Thanks Playmates :P



#8 Daysleeper

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Posted 20 September 2014 - 10:56 AM

As for swapping parts for articulation: Picard's torso can be combined with Tuvok/Paris/Carey legs, and Riker's torso looks pretty well with DS9 O'Brien legs. 



#9 Daysleeper

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Posted 22 September 2014 - 12:15 AM

By the way, I meant switching the legs at the hip swivel, so I don't know if the boil-and-pop method will work there...



#10 Jpatrik

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Posted 22 September 2014 - 02:31 AM

This line was a real head scratcher for a kid collector in the pre-internet 90s.  I had no idea what was going on with the uniforms or why the articulation was suddenly lessened, so I've always viewed this entire line as yet another Star Trek playmates oddity.

 

Viewed through the lens of collecting today, with movie accurate accessories, 3D face scanning and high end Hot Toys - these figures seem more intensely bizarre.  I mean - what were they thinking?  Did Playmates communicate their blunder with the uniforms to the fans somehow, perhaps through the action figure magazines at the time?

 

As to the review - superlative job as always Redshirt.  Great to see the unique body sculpts highlighted, as well as the new Michael Dorn requested head.  Strangely - my favourite figure in this line is Guinan - though even that appears to be based upon concept art for her costume while she's on board the Enterprise B.

 

Now, as an adult collector, the non-standard articulation doesnt bother me - its almost like a Star Wars Power Of The Force style done with Star Trek, and especially on the Kirk, Chekov and Scotty figures - it really allows you to see the beauty of the sculpt.

 

Nice work dude - cant wait to see whats up next

 

Oh...anyone got the Generations Trading Card Set?  On the reverse of one of the cards you can glimpse the back of Levar Burton wearing one of these unseen uniforms and being dragged away by Klingons!



#11 Redshirt#7

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Posted 23 September 2014 - 12:03 PM

Thanks all!

 

Daysleeper
Couldn't agree more! I've been remaking Riker from the original, but as I'm at the moment making a DS9 Tom Riker using the Generations figure, I'm getting more and more convinced that I might as well use the Generations body as the basis for my next attempt.

 

Loggy

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion! A strange coincidence,my first figure was Data in his TNG uniform, so I can certainly understand. Personally, I quite like the uniform (imagine a DS9 version, that'd be strange), but as you say, seeing both the DS9 and TNG uniforms at the same time in a TNG film was quite cool. I'd agree as well with that about Voyager (though some TNG uniforms did make it in some Borg flashbacks/hallucinations if I remember correctly).

 

How appropriate for a hand like that to be on a Riker figure...

 

I only just realised how strange they look. Drugged, irrational, and those eyes on Troi... Thinking it over, I may actually have an answer. Looking at the way Picard's sitting, my guess is he passed wind, or "let it rip", and the deadly biogenic weapon has knocked out Riker and Troi, or at the very least left them catatonic. 

 

I may have to give that a go, I've found the Generations figures are fantastic for experimenting boiling and popping.

 

Section32

Thanks! And wow, I hadn't considered that the sash would cover the pips! I pity the fool who told Worf he couldn't have his sash in that universe.

 

Daysleeper 

Thanks for the info!

 

Jpatrik

I bet it was confusing. In fact, I had no clue myself when I started collecting!

 

I've often wondered myself. I do know that the whole blunder made it's way to "the vault" book, a modern book, that talks about the unused uniforms. (If you like, I can type up what it says on the matter) But beyond this, I've never seen or heard anything relating to the action figures, only among internet fan circles.

 

Thanks as always! Damn, I'd forgot about Guinan!

 

I'd never looked at it like that, looking at my Kirk and Scotty I can certainly see what you mean. 

 

I've got two crazy figures lined up, one's OK, a good figure, but I can't leave it at that, so I've got a limited edition crazy figure lined up, provided he turns up. Any guesses?


#12 Morgan

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Posted 28 March 2015 - 09:02 PM

This was the first real black eye for the manufacturer for obvious reasons, though I think overall the First Contact figure were received with less enthusiasm because of the new and incompatible format and a painfully predictable lineup. So the manufacturer had two major duds in a row, each for different reasons. A screen-correct Generations lineup and a 4.5-inch FC lineup with some surprises would have gone down much differently, I think.

 

There were some really good face sculpts here, but the costume thing, articulation, and some odd choices doomed this line. The design of the cards too was a little muted, too heavy on black colors. The figures actual articulation didn't matter -- you couldn't do anything with them -- you couldn't sit them on the bridge. So all you could do was stand them up and have them hold something. They couldn't even sit in the damn shuttle properly. Troi and Crusher would barely stand up. That was a major poke in the eye for the target audience.

 

I remember these were on the shelves for a looong time. But not all of them, just the TNG crew. Kirk, Scotty, Chekov, and skydiving Kirk were nowhere to be seen, period. I only managed to get the TOS crew and skydiving Kirk like 2 years later after the film came out, and I spent some major coin on them. Even in 1996 Scotty and Chekov were going for like $40 each and people were paying that money. (Can you imagine this?) Soran was perhaps the runt of the litter, along with Troi.

 

Missed opportunities:
- no John Harriman
- no Demora Sulu
- Engineering Playset was too small in number and was released a bit later from the major glut of figures, but this is the one major win in the whole lineup I have to say. That is a cool set.

- Enterprise-B the ship was made in too small a number. A lot of people at the time didn't even know this thing was out, cause it wasn't advertised anywhere.

- an Enterprise-B bridge would have been impressive and could have really created excitement for the lineup, especially if it had been done properly. That would have been an impressive item own if no corners were cut in the execution.



#13 djc242

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Posted 29 March 2015 - 05:39 PM

All your observations are spot-on Morgan.  Even when they issued the 4.5" TNG crew in their FC/INS/NEM uniforms they left Geordi out since they would have had to alter one of his preexisting head sculpts or tool a new one.  But they made 4 different versions of 7 of 9, three of which are catsuit variants.  It would have been nice to have had them make:

 

- Commander William Decker, Ilia in Starfleet uniform, Chekov from TMP, Spock in kolinahr attire

- the TOS crew in TWOK uniforms with the same articulation the VOY line had, Scotty in engineering suit, Capt. Terrell, Carol Marcus, David Marcus, Valkris, Priestess T'Lar, Amanda, Admiral Cartwright, Dr. Gillian Taylor, Sybok, Captain Klaa,   

- K'mpec, Nurse Ogawa, Lt. Cmdr. Shelby, Admiral Necheyev, Duras, Lt. Jack Crusher, Dr. Pulaski in the uniform she actually wore, Cmdr. Riker (season 1), O'Brien (season 1), Lal, Mr. Homm, Capt. Jellico, Data as Holmes, Geordi as Watson, Professor Moriarty

- Capt. Kirk in GEN vest, Zefram Cochrane, Lily, Picard in FC vest, Lt. Hawk, Anij, Ru'afo, Admiral Dougherty 

 

..to name a few!  :-)






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