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4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - Printable Version

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4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - kaizu13 - 01-08-2012

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Was able to score four of these 18 inch Alien big Chap figs on New years eve for dirt cheap. The seller was auctioning them as a set but did not have descriptions so the bidding war didn\'t go that high. Luckily I knew what they were and this was a chance in a million so I watched the bid all week and snagged them in the last minute.
Each of them are over 20 years old and are in perfect condition since the seller had them only for display in his shop. 3 were boxed up with two unopened. The fourth fig was an added bonus an unpainted blank. The boxed 3 are from a Japanese company(defunct) called Tsukuda Hobby and the blank fig is from a company in the UK called Halcyon.
Halcyon??? Tsukuda Hobby??? I\'m sure some of these names don\'t ring a bell to some collectors so I\'ll explain. Smile
Back in 79, Kenner released the first ever Alien figure. Standing at 18 inches, it was the first time fans were to see the whole creature in it\'s full glory since we barely got to see it on film. For a kids toy it was extremely detailed due to the fact that Kenner had sculpted this piece from using tons of behind the scenes reference pics given to them by 20th Century fox. No doubt the highlight of this toy was the way they made the inner mouth pop out just like the film from gripping the back of its head.
[Image: alienbox_lg.jpg]
After the release, many parents questioned why a toy based on a R-rated film was manufactured for younglings. Many complained it was inappropriate and the Kenner Alien had vanished quickly from production. Still the most sought after Alien figure today, not just for its awesome inner mouth gimmik but for it\'s stunning accuracy.
Halcyon Era
In the early 80s, UK based modeling company gained rights to the Alien toy line and aquired the molds to the 18 inch Kenner Alien. Instead of releasing the exact same toy, they released their version as a vinyl model kit which you had to put togther and paint up yourself. They retooled the inner mouth and had it molded in to the mouth so when completed, the mouth was intact but sticking out of the outer jaw.
[Image: kit1.jpg]
[Image: kit2.jpg]
Those who noticed the similarities to the Kenner Alien quickly got in to it so a blank kit sells for a pretty high sum since it\'s basically a Kenner Alien you can build from scratch, minus the inner mouth gimmik.
Tsukuda Hobby Era
In the late 80s, prior to the release of ALIENS, the Alien craze had peaked in Japan. Back when the Kenner Alien was sold as an import, it was just too pricey for kids. When the Halcyon kit hit the shops in Japan, no one new how to paint up one since there were no good references, no internet. After Halcyon UK had lost the rights, Japanese modeling company, Tsukuda Hobby jumped into the Alien craze and they too aquired the Kenner molds. Like Halcyon, they too released their Alien as a Vinyl model kit and again the head was retooled but this time the inner mouth came as a second piece and was no longer molded in. Although the inner mouth could now be displayed by push/pulling it with your fingers, the downfall was that the outer jaw, like Halcyon kit was molded in opened.
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A few years later, Tsukda Hobby released a completed version of the same kit. Though the awesome details were there, they were painted cheaply, probably to reduce production costs and the clear dome often didn\'t fit well and were glued on extremely sloppy. They were offered in a variety of colors to attract collectors, which was actually a joke back then since there was only one big chap in the film.
[Image: P1100948.jpg]

4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - kaizu13 - 01-08-2012

So back to the original topic...
I recieved 3 Tsukuda completed Big chaps, each in a different color...Black, Spacey blue and a Toys \'R Us limited silver version. The Halcyon UK kit was already built but not painted. Seeing them side by side I\'ve noticed some differences in the sculpt and molds. The Tsukuda has accurate teeth and a more defined skull but extremely bad stock paint job. The Halcyon has an overall better head shape but with the molded in inner jaw which is a huge let down. Nevertheless, both are based on the original Kenner Alien and I\'m extremely happy with them all.
Halcyon UK
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4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - kaizu13 - 01-08-2012

Tsukuda Hobby Japan
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4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - IeatherfaceIX - 01-08-2012

Awesome scores !! I had one a while back. Huge Congrats!!

Michael

4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - IeatherfaceIX - 01-08-2012

That silver one is REAL hard to come by.

Michael

4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - kaizu13 - 01-08-2012

(01-01-1970, 12:00 AM)herfa link Wrote:That silver one is REAL hard to come by.

Michael
Thanks Mike!!
First time I actually saw a silver one in person :laugh:

4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - Michael_Myers H20 - 01-08-2012

Congrats on your new scores they look great.

-Sean

4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - CreepingDead - 01-09-2012

Very cool! Those are great pieces for sure.
The Tskuda and Halycon ALIENs are very similar to the Kenner ALIEN but they are at least a full inch shorter.

[Image: alienss.jpg]

4 Alien Scores And Long Introduction - kaizu13 - 01-09-2012

(01-01-1970, 12:00 AM)ping link Wrote:Very cool! Those are great pieces for sure.
The Tskuda and Halycon ALIENs are very similar to the Kenner ALIEN but they are at least a full inch shorter.

[Image: alienss.jpg]
Thanks guys!
Yeah I was told by an expert they may have used a survivng copy of the Kenner Alien and did a recast which may explain why the\'re smaller Confusedmile:
Did you paint your Tsukuda? Very nice!