Special Modifications - The Legacy Collection SL21 Sandtrooper

The philosophy behind the Special Modifications feature is simple: to make small enhancements to 3 3/4" figures while remaining faithful to their original store-bought aesthetics.

For the most part, I've always been happy with my Legacy Collection SL21 Sandtrooper as the definitive version of this character. With fourteen points of articulation and a handful of great accessories, he makes for a fantastic little figure. That being said, there's always been room for improvement. For one, I've always preferred the orange captain pauldron over the black corporal design that comes with this figure. For another, he's just too damn clean. The 2017 Walmart exclusive Black Series Sandtrooper remedied both of these issues, but included a far inferior helmet sculpt. Today's mission, then, was to modify my old Legacy Collection sandtrooper in order to get the best of both worlds.

Before (left) and after (right).

Insofar as customisations go, it was a fairly simple one. I started by painting the pauldron with Tamiya Acrylic Orange X6, then hit the entire figure with a 50/50 wash of Tamiya Acrylic Brown XF72 and water. This had the added benefit of obscuring some yellowing that had started to appear on abdomen. Finally, to bring him closer in line with his Black Series counterpart, I armed him with a spare T21 blaster rifle I had lying around. Taken together, these small modifications make him a far more interesting figure on the shelf, and - I like to think - turn an already great figure into something even better.

Lego Brickheadz 41627 Yoda, 41629 Luke Skywalker, and 41628 Princess Leia

Over the last few months our collection of Star Wars Lego Brickheadz has steadily expanded. My wife picked up two of the latest releases from the line - 41627 Yoda and Luke Skywalker and 41629 Boba Fett - when we were back in Houston, and added 41628 Princess Leia shortly after we moved to Sydney.

The Yoda and Luke is the first two-pack we've picked up, and it's a great way of being able to introduce smaller characters that might not otherwise merit a full set to themselves. Despite his diminutive size, Yoda is admirably well-designed, and makes a great complement to the heavily-detailed Luke (I mean, just look at that hair!)

The hair sculpting is also the best part of Leia, who - while being an otherwise simple build - nevertheless makes a welcome addition to this line.

But all three of those figures pale in comparison to the Boba Fett - who, at 161 pieces - comes in at nearly twice the brick count of many other characters in this line. And it's easy to see where they all go. Boba's detailing is second-to-none, with every familiar facet of his armour carefully executed through the most novel uses of Lego bricks. His appearance is further enhanced by a staggering number of uniquely printed parts.

This quartet will go especially well with the Darth Vader and Stormtrooper we picked up earlier last year. There's no word yet of any future Star Wars Brickheadz release, but here's hoping we'll see plenty more characters represented in this great little line.

Special Modifications - The Vintage Collection VC25 R2-D2 (Take 2)

The philosophy behind the Special Modifications feature is simple: to make small enhancements to 3 3/4" figures while remaining faithful to their original store-bought aesthetics.

While I was initially happy with the weathering job I did on my Vintage Collection VC25 R2-D2, that satisfaction has waned over time. The weathering powder did a great job of providing some realistic 'grit' (and conveniently obscuring the disappointing plastic discolouration), but  it was never going to work well as a permanent solution. By necessity, the weathering powder needs some sort of fixative - usually in the form of a spray-on clear coat. Unfortunately, the design of R2 didn't permit this. I'd hoped some careful handling would be enough to maintain the weathering, but alas it very quickly wore off over time.

My first weathering attempt (left) using weathering dust, compared with my second attempt (right) using a 50/50 wash.

So a new solution was required. And after weathering our recent Xcavations acquisitions with a 50/50 wash of Tamiya Acrylic Brown XF72 and water, I decided to try the same approach on R2. I'm rapt with the result, and see it as a marked improvement on my first attempt. In fact, I already have plans to treat another figure with this exact same method...

Star Wars Science Xcavations Creature Crates

It's no secret that Star Wars merchandise has suffered some sever distribution issues over the past couple of years. It's stymied my 3 3/4" collecting, and brought a complete halt to the collection of Micro Force figures my wife and I were building. The same thing very nearly happened with Uncle Milton's new line of Star Wars Science Xcavations Creature Crates. We'd awaited these Walmart exclusives with bated breath ever since their announcement at Toy Fair 2018, only to see the line be cancelled before we ever found them in stores. In a surprising stroke of luck, however, our local Sydney Kidstuff store recently managed to source a limited supply, and we were finally able to pick up a handful of crates.

At $19.99AU ($21.37NZ) each, these crates have a hefty price tag for blind bag toys - and it's still up for debate whether the price warrants the content. Don't get me wrong, the actual skulls are fantastic. Each comes in three pieces and requires assembly. Once you're done, you're left with an incredibly detailed - and thoroughly unique - display piece. While they look good enough in their original plastic colour, I hit ours with a 50/50 wash of Tamiya Acrylic Brown XF72 and water to really make the details pop.

An added bonus are the crates themselves. Modelled loosely after the cargo containers that appear on the back of the Imperial Assault Tank that debuted in Rogue One, these boxes make great reusable storage bins for Star Wars bits, and - with a little paint and modification - would also work excellently as diorama fodder for action figures.

But while the kits are labelled "Xcavations" there's a disappointing lack of actual excavating involved. Instead of encasing the contents in a solid sandstone-like block (à la all of those dinosaur dig kits we had as kids), the skulls are merely placed in some semi-kinetic sand and reveal themselves as soon as they're poured from the crate. It's a disappointing oversight, as making the skull removal more of a process may have made the high price-point feel slightly more justified.

The Rise of Skywalker Teaser Trailer Released

Today marks the first day of Star Wars Celebration - the biggest 'Wars themed event of the year. It comes as no surprise, then, that this morning's Rise of Skywalker panel concluded with the long-awaited (and long overdue) first teaser trailer for the final film in the Skywalker Saga. You can check it out below.

Given that it's a teaser, there's not a whole lot that can be gleaned about the film just yet. That being said, it looks like we're clearly in for another visually stunning entry in the saga. It's wonderful to hear Leia's theme taking centre stage, and - given what J.J. Abrams said during the panel - we can probably take this as a clear indication that Carrie Fisher still has a large role to play in the saga. It's also great to catch our first glimpse of Lando back on the big screen - and behind the controls of the Falcon no less. Of course, the big talking point here is that final shot of the ruins of the (presumably) second Death Star. It looks like our heroes are returning to Endor? As for that laugh preceding the title placard - well, let's all just remember that these trailers are designed to misdirect in every way possible.

Perhaps my favourite part about this trailer, however, is that it contains the first reveal of the title of the film - The Rise of Skywalker. It's something I've been hoping Disney would do ever since announcing the production of more Star Wars movies. Don't get me wrong - I've appreciated the early title announcements of the previous films - but there's something far more exciting about doing it in this way.

I've unashamedly adored the previous two instalments in the sequel trilogy - and for very different reasons. I'm now more excited than ever for December to role around, and to see how this epic nine-film saga comes to a close.

What are your thoughts on the teaser trailer for The Rise of Skywalker? Be sure to let us know via Facebook or Twitter, or by sending an email to relicsoftheforce@gmail.com!

The Hunt Is On - The Vintage Collection 3 3/4" Wave 4 Figures Found

It's no secret that Hasbro's reboot of the Vintage Collection has had a rocky start. I was rapt to see super articulation return to 3 3/4" figures, and - like many collectors - wanted to vote with my feet (or, rather, my wallet) in order to keep this line alive. Unfortunately, we haven't really been given the chance to do that yet. Of the fourteen figures in the first three waves, eight have been repacks of earlier releases that many collectors already own. This, combined with abysmal distribution, has made hard it to patronise the line. Fortunately, that all looks to change in 2019 - starting with the Vintage Collection's phenomenal fourth wave.

Accompanying Hasbro's impending Sail Barge, this wave focuses heavily on Jabba's Palace-themed figures, including Saelt-Marae (Yakface), Princess Leia Organa (Boussh), and Klaatu (Skiff Guard). I'm honestly still shocked that I managed to stumble across these figures in a brick-and-mortar store. A rumour of stock slipping into New Zealand saw me check out my hometown Warehouse while visiting in January. Sure enough, I managed to snag the trio - and no less than two months before their predicted release date.

While the Leia is a release of a sculpt from the old Black Series line, she now features a new Photoreal face - the first figure in the 3 3/4" line to be given this treatment. The result is a phenomenal figure which - if not for the permanently fixed thermal detonator in her hand - would go down as one of my all-time favourite releases in this scale.

Though both blink-and-you'll-miss-them characters, the Saelt-Marae and Klaatu will do an excellent job of adding some interesting eye candy to my Jabba's Palace display. Both figures feature some fantastic detailing, though Saelt-Marae's soft goods and shiny 'wet' nose make him something truly special. The pair also feature improved wrist articulation that I've not seen before. The hands no longer simply rotate as on previous figures, but also hinge back and forward - allowing for a whole new range of motion and display possibilities.

The Vintage Collection only looks to get better as this year progresses, so fingers crossed I get just as lucky finding the rest of the items on my hunt list!

Metal Earth BB-8 3D Metal Model Kit

Among my gifts from my fiancée's parents this Christmas was this phenomenal little Metal Earth BB-8 Metal Model Kit. I finally finished building him this afternoon, and I must say I'm mighty impressed.

On first glance, he looks to be a pretty straight-forward build - but the simplicity of his shape belies just how tricky it is to curve all of those metal pieces into a single sphere-and-dome combination. Nevertheless, I found him to be an incredibly fun build of just the right duration and complexity.

While I haven't picked up a huge number of Metal Earth kits, a strong droid focus does seem to be emerging. He'll go especially well with the K-2SO and R2-D2 I've previously built!

Original Trilogy-Themed Socks

As an extra stocking-stuffer from my parents this Christmas, I received this incredibly cool pair of Original Trilogy-themed socks.

I've always struggled to find men's Star Wars socks. In fact, these are the first pairs I've ever owned! As such. they'll make a very welcome addition to my wardrobe.

Chewbacca Notebook

Another Christmas present I received from my parents this year was this delightfully weird Chewbacca notebook.

I'm currently in the process of carrying out a thorough inventory of my collection - so this notebook will be a perfect way of keeping track of that!

Star Wars Official 2019 Calendar

It wouldn't be a festive season without a new Star Wars calendar to help see in the New Year - and this Christmas, my parents surprised me with this very cool Original Trilogy-themed calendar for 2019!

Each month features a classic character or vehicle painted in a unique watercolour style. As always, there's a very nice 'centrefold' image in the middle, allowing the calendar to double as a poster once the year is up.

Merry Christmas from Relics of the Force!

It's Christmas Eve here in New Zealand - so Merry Christmas everyone! Here's hoping you all have a happy and safe holiday season filled with Star Wars goodies.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who's taken the time to visit and comment on this blog during 2017. Your support and kind words mean the world to me. May the Force be with you!

'Tis the Season for Star Wars!

There's no better way to celebrate the holiday season than by injecting a little Star Wars goodness into your celebrations. Since 1996, Hallmark has been helping us do this with a range of incredibly well-made and well-detailed Christmas "Keepsake" ornaments - many of which also feature sound effects and dialogue from the movies. We add a few more to our tree each year, and it's now looking ready for even the grandest Life Day celebration!

If you've got some festive Star Wars pictures you'd like to show off, be sure to share them with us via Facebook or Twitter, or by sending an email to relicsoftheforce@gmail.com.

Hallmark Keepsake Praetorian Guard and Rey Christmas Tree Ornaments

My fiancée and I both have birthdays in the first week of December, making us prime candidates to receive Hallmark Keepsake ornaments as gifts. This year was no different, and we added two new additions to our collection courtesy of my parents - the Praetorian Guard and Rey from The Last Jedi.

As we've come to expect with items from the Hallmark Keepsake line, the sculpt and paint apps on these figures is second to none. Best of all, the pair combine to form a very nice miniature diorama on the tree together.

I'm especially glad to have some more sequel trilogy representation on our tree. They'll go very nicely with our BB-8 and Poe's X-Wing!