Figure: Starfleet Crusher
Wave: DS9 Wave 2
Body style: Short & Smaller Chested Female FC/Nem uniformed body style (aka DS9 Wave 1 Ezri Dax)

  Let me first write that yes, everyone is upset that Kira was not produced in her Bajoran uniform.  It will be one of the most glaring disappointments of the DST/AA line if we don’t eventually get the Kira that we most recognize.  However, I love that we did get this Starfleet version of Kira.  I was planning on doing a custom of it anyway (because I just assumed we would get the Bajoran version automatically) and was really not looking forward to trying to change her hairstyle!  So I am going to tackle this review from the perspective of only this figure and not from a “what if” scenario where we should have received the Bajoran Kira.

   Another great sadness that comes from this figure is the fact that this will be in all likelihood the last wave to utilize the standard DS9/TNG packaging style.  The Worf/Gowron two-pack used the new TOS styled packaging.  Even though I like the new style, I am really thankful that this wave used the old style (for the MOC collectors since I open all of my figures).  I think it brings a little consistency to the DS9 line.

   This figures uses the same sculpt of the previously released Ezri Dax figure from Wave 1.  Let me first say that this leg style is way too short for Kira.  Nana Visitor is a pretty tall lady being listed at 5’8” over at imdb.com.  Also keeping in mind that she was always seen is heels puts her almost at the same height as Avery Brooks (6’1”).  In short, I and many others thought that Kira’s legs were just too short for how she was portrayed on screen and in real life.  Her torso and arms I thought were perfectly fine.  I also am not a huge fan of the Jadzia Dax body sculpt overall and am glad that DST didn’t just reuse that one.  To fix this figure, the torso/arms currently used on Kira needs to be placed on the waist/legs of the Jadzia Dax figure.  This actually gives Kira perfect proportions and height.  It is a relatively easy fix (boil and pop) that will do wonders for an out of the box display!  Now if only we could get Sisko’s height and proportions fixed!

   The paint scheme on this figure seems to be pretty solid overall.  I have seen a one instance where the eyes aren’t painted perfectly but I only saw this occur once from the figures I’ve bought and looked through.  My one complaint that I’ve seen pretty consistently is the pips on the collar.  Basically they are spaced way too far apart and it looks somewhat silly if you look directly at it.  Its one of those things that you really have to be inspecting the figure to see, but once you do it becomes a glaring error.  Everything else from the earpiece to the communicator looks to be consistently painted well.

   I’m still undecided on the overall look of the head sculpt.  I think it is a decent capturing of Kira’s likeness, but since we saw in so limitedly in this look, it’s hard to get used to overall.  One thing that is obvious to me is that the head is too big for the scale of the body.  I won’t go as far as to say that it’s a “bobblehead” look as some other previous releases have been referred to but it is oversized.  I really like her expression because it really captures her personality and most common attitude displayed throughout the show.  My final complaint on the head is that the Bajoran nose ridges are a bit underplayed.  Looking from a distance, its hard to notice the ridges are even there.  I think a little paint wash on the ridges would have done a lot to bring them out and add to the overall presentation of the likeness.

   DST once again delivered with Kira’s accessories.  Kira comes with a phaser rifle, dolphin phaser, Bajoran phaser, Bajoran tricorder, and the same video padd that came with Odo and displays the visage of Quark.  I know the phaser rifle would have been better if they chose the TNG rifle to add as opposed to the Nemesis version, but persoannly I like the Nemesis version and that is usually the one I display with my figures.  In this case, Kira will definitely be displayed with the first Bajoran hand phaser that looks just fantastic much like its rifle counterpart that came with Odo.  A few other things that I’d like to take this opportunity to point out is that the DS9 phaser rifle is different from previous releases in that it uses a brighter silver paint on it.  I think it gives it a much cleaner look as opposed to the darker gun metal grey that was used on mainly the Nemesis movie figures.  I also like the fact that the video padd and and other Bajoran instruments are two different colors.  It could have been very easy for DST to say…well the phased and tricorder are this color gold…lets just make the video padd that same color.  It just shows the commitment to detail that we routinely see with DST and their accessories.

   In conclusion, despite the obvious flaws in hair choice/color, this really is a nice figure.  I was very angry at first when I found out about the inaccurate hair and then even more angry when they went with a very dark reddish brown color.  I was really mystified as to what DST was thinking.  However, this figure has really grown on me.  The great paint applications really sold this figure and made it a standout in the overall lineup of the Nemesis figures which have had more than its fair share of screw-up’s.  From a customizer’s point of view, this Crusher head will probably be the one that is used the most because of its overall capturing of the likeness.  So in a one little figure I think we have a microcosm of what DST is all about, both what we love and what we hate about them.

Positives:

Good likeness

Great accessories including a Bajoran hand phaser

DS9 styled packaging

Negatives:

Too short

Head too big

Pips on collar too far apart

 

Rating: out of 5 stars.

As Always,