Anybody have Art Asylum Trek figures?

[davidb]

Did you consider buying the 1701 figs that PM released later in the 3-pack to try and make up for cheesing off people? Not like having them on card, but better than nothing, I guess.

I know from experience that this is the only way I ever got them, and I bought them because I was really wanting a Tasha Yar (I'd picked up the other one they released but couldn't bring myself to open her because her number was under 1,000).

[Sideshow Spock]

Maybe things were different by you, but the 1701 chase thing DID affect things by me, and my extra 'regular' figures became worthless. I wasn't selling on ebay, but I was trading extras to the comic store, and after the 1701 release they told me they wouldn't take any more because collectors were angered because they knew they couldn't get a complete set. I felt the same way then, and still do. I like to complete sets, just like with trading cards, and they made that pretty much impossible for an average person.

Sure, 1701 Picard is worth big bucks, but despite all the time and money I invested in that series, I would not even consider buying that figure now - I thought it was a crummy thing then, and even if I changed my mind, I'd still need the other 2 ridiculously rare '1701' figures'. Those kind of prices for a recent release are for people INVESTING in toys, not someone like me who buys them for fun.

I have no doubt that there were many completeists like yourself that were irritated, but I didn't personally know any collectors that abandoned the line because of it. I'm sure it did lose some, but it probably gained others in all the publicity the 1701s generated. Heck, I was only a casual Trek collector (usually buying stuff on clearance at my Kmart), and knew nothing about the 1701 figs - until I saw the Picard fig featured on TV! There used to be a collectible show on the FX Network called "Personal FX", and somebody brought in Picard for one of their appraisals. At that point he was going for more than $500, and that just floored me. An episode months later featured a 1701 Yar that was found by a lady at a Walmart in a small city that was coincidentally only a 45 min drive away from me.

I also remember 1701 Picard gracing the cover of White's Guide (a popular collecting mag at the time), and reading all about it there.

I never found any of the 1701 figs at retail either, but I did find the later 10K limiteds.

Did you consider buying the 1701 figs that PM released later in the 3-pack to try and make up for cheesing off people? Not like having them on card, but better than nothing, I guess.

Btw, this Trek toy ref site has a good entry about the 1701s:

http://members.aol.com/RDBousquet/1701.html

And also does a good job conveying the same feelings about them that cardbuff expressed..

[Cardbuff]

Also, Playmates Trek figs didn't become "worthless" after the 1701 chase figs.. demand at that point was already slowing for what was already a 5-year old line, and that's one of the reasons PM did it to begin with. The line managed to survive another two or three years and did some good work during that time.

It's true that PM 5" Trek has really tanked on ebay in the last few yrs, but that's just indicative of the glut of 5" figs out there and the general state of Star Trek and the apathetic public.

1701 Picard, however, still commands a very steep price. Usually around $400.

I think Playmates did great work making Star Trek figures and toys. I bought a boatload of them, including multiples of the 5 inch and 9 inch figures. I also was thrilled to get the Classic bridge set, and many of the electronic toys.

Maybe things were different by you, but the 1701 chase thing DID affect things by me, and my extra 'regular' figures became worthless. I wasn't selling on ebay, but I was trading extras to the comic store, and after the 1701 release they told me they wouldn't take any more because collectors were angered because they knew they couldn't get a complete set. I felt the same way then, and still do. I like to complete sets, just like with trading cards, and they made that pretty much impossible for an average person.

Sure, 1701 Picard is worth big bucks, but despite all the time and money I invested in that series, I would not even consider buying that figure now - I thought it was a crummy thing then, and even if I changed my mind, I'd still need the other 2 ridiculously rare '1701' figures'. Those kind of prices for a recent release are for people INVESTING in toys, not someone like me who buys them for fun.

I have many Playmates Trek figures here, 5" and 9" - if anyone is looking for something, LMK and I'll look. I used to buy additional figures just because the accessories were a different color, and I only opened ones I had dupes of.

[spamn]

The TPol set was released...at least in Canada. I picked a couple up when they were on clearance. They fit Megos better than the Art Asylum figures, so I have been using them for custom bridges.

I think it was the Mayweather helm set that got the short shift, and only a few of those hit the shelves before the line was axed.

Didn't know that, or if I did, I forgot. Is her bridge set identical to the Malcom Reed one?

[Sideshow Spock]

I bought just a few of the first Enterprise figures that were easily found at TRU. The Away Team suits and equipment are very well done, I've still got Archer out on display.

Later, it seemed that they were too hard to find, and variations and limited ones annoyed me, so I just stopped. I've already got a ton of Playmates figures that became worthless after the 1701 fiasco, including dozens that are open and can be re-displayed whenever I want, so I'm just sticking with those now. They are more 'toy-like', which is more fun to me anyway.

The original Enterprise line was available at stores like TRU and Target, but not long after AA realized these figs were best offered via specialty markets only, and that's where they've been confined to since; comic shops and the like that do business with DST.

Also, Playmates Trek figs didn't become "worthless" after the 1701 chase figs.. demand at that point was already slowing for what was already a 5-year old line, and that's one of the reasons PM did it to begin with. The line managed to survive another two or three years and did some good work during that time.

It's true that PM 5" Trek has really tanked on ebay in the last few yrs, but that's just indicative of the glut of 5" figs out there and the general state of Star Trek and the apathetic public.

1701 Picard, however, still commands a very steep price. Usually around $400.

[Captain]

The TPol set was released...at least in Canada. I picked a couple up when they were on clearance. They fit Megos better than the Art Asylum figures, so I have been using them for custom bridges.

I think it was the Mayweather helm set that got the short shift, and only a few of those hit the shelves before the line was axed.

[Cardbuff]

I bought just a few of the first Enterprise figures that were easily found at TRU. The Away Team suits and equipment are very well done, I've still got Archer out on display.

Later, it seemed that they were too hard to find, and variations and limited ones annoyed me, so I just stopped. I've already got a ton of Playmates figures that became worthless after the 1701 fiasco, including dozens that are open and can be re-displayed whenever I want, so I'm just sticking with those now. They are more 'toy-like', which is more fun to me anyway.

[spamn]

I should also say that IMHO the best all around figure from the Art Asylum line is the Klingon from the Enterprise episode Broken Bow. He's 8" tall, articulated about as good as a Mego (maybe more like an LJN figure with a flatt-style head), and is sturdy and playable, unlike the rest of the classic figure line. It's the playability that makes him better than the TV show Klingon, Khan, Mirror Universe figures, Gorn, etc:

[spamn]

I dont believe they have done any other sets for those two series...although I'm hoping they do some bridge sets from the classic and Movie Trek bridges!
(If there was any confusion, I was referring to the play sets from the "Enterprise" television series. )

I don't think davidb knows about the bridge sets from the 'Enterprise' show. What's cool is that they interlock to form one big bridge playset:







Sales weren't good enough to release the vulcan babe one, but if you bought 2 malcom reed sets and put your T'pol figure in the right seat, you could have it, I think. I don't know how often they come up on ebay or how cheap they go for, but Big Bad Toy Store has the Malcom Reed set for $20 and I found a link online that has them for $30 apiece if you're interested.

[johnmiic]

I like them but I don't love them. I am determined tie get all the ST2 versions tho. Some resemblances are not that good. Kirk/Shatner's likeness seems to be a tough one for them to nail down. I'm not sure why. So many other toy lines have done an excellent job with that likeness and they still haven't got it.

The articulation is better. The seem a bit lanky tho. Too tall/too thin. I doub't they will ever have the range of characters ToyBiz had. They are trying but there are a lot of useless variant releases in the Next Gen lines.

[ScottA]

I have a good friend who collects ST and has ALL the figures that have been released so far. He personally loves them. The only ones I have is the convention Kirk with the rifle and the Troi/Riker 2-pack that I got one Christmas.

[BlackKnight]

I got the Kirk Boxed Figure...., Love all the Weaponry he came with. Thats All I got , & all I needed.

[Thadiun Okona II]

The thing that killed it for me was they aren't to scale w/each other. The Next Gen figs are slightly larger than the Classic figs. So, Riker & Picard really tower over Kirk & co. They're nice to look at....just like McFarlane stuff.

[Captain]

Have they done any more playsets for the original series or Next Gen other than just the captain's chairs? I've missed them and need to track them down if they have...

I dont believe they have done any other sets for those two series...although I'm hoping they do some bridge sets from the classic and Movie Trek bridges!
(If there was any confusion, I was referring to the play sets from the "Enterprise" television series. )

[palitoy]

I bought a few and sold them later on, I can't put my finger on it but they weren't fun enough for me.