Ashley Wood & ThreeA & Microman?

Actually they announced the non-Asia suitless String Divers which come out very soon (5 colors, no suits but belts and mask accessories) and they also announced the line after that which will supposedly be in March although they have not detailed what the figures will be specifically although they have a new designation, not String Diver.

 

I had a chance to handle one of the jumpsuited guys at a friend's place recently...and it was just okay. Nothing particularly impressive. The joints were a bit floppy and the paint was globbed on in some spots. :/ I think if the joints were rock-solid (like a lot of larger 3A toys I've handled) and the paintwork was more careful, I'd like them.

The Sentinel LED guys seem pretty cool...but their head sculpts are a little over-simplified for my tastes. BUT...I hear their joints are really stable.

I know it's funny to complain about joints when the original figures were a bit floppy too...but that's kinda par for the course with much smaller figures made of harder, almost-brittle plastic. I think I'd be more into the String Divers and the Sentinel figures if they were actually 3-3/4". Their awkward scales put them, well, out-of-scale with pretty much *anything* I collect...

 

Maybe a different run? My 3A guys are all super cleanly done and the joints are really solid not fiddly at all. The Sentinel piece I agree is a bit simplified on the head but pretty amazing otherwise. I like them both and the 3A guys can always kind of hang out with Assembleborgs or almost Timanic guys

 

Weird. Quite a few of the guys on the Micro facebook group have reported the same problems with the paint and joints on the String Divers. Glad you got a nice one! I still haven't had my Julian shipped yet...hope I don't get a lemon...

 

Hope so too! Just picked up my Julian last night but I haven't opened it yet

 

Only issue I've had is the popping apart of the hoses and mouth piece any time I even glance in it's general direction, but paint wise and joints have been ok for me - although I haven't opened them all.
I believe the next figure or release will be Ash's take on the Hoodman - at least that's what I've seen mentioned around the 3A traps from Ash. I'd be well surprised if it was in March though...
Ash also mentioned other releases later in the year to follow so hopefully we'll see some Acroyear action... but Ash does tend to get stuck on the same note more often than not.

 

Well looks like I was wrong to doubt.
You guys see the 3A take on the Hoodman figure around the traps.
Looks set to be released mid May.

Not sure what I think on the massive jet packs - but looks fun.

Pics below from the Thailand Toy Show last week:

 

I thought these would be decent but according to the newsletter they're going to be $75. I don't like them nearly that much.

 

Yup -$75. I'd put that outta my mind.
It is a bit steep - especially seeing as I'm not 100% on the added parts that push the price up.
Certainly leaves buying more than one questionable.

More I look at those pics though, the more unsure I get.
The body looks a little dangly under all that armour...

 

Agreed. I liked the first guys from the start but these just had me feeling kind of underwhelmed I don't think I'll be getting any of these.

 

Hoodman always had weird proportions to me, but the clear armor offsets the upper body bulk. Making the armor solid and adding giant back canisters looks really top-heavy and not that good.

 

I think the main torso part (with a color clear visor) and weapons (loose all of the back rockets and weathered paint) for $50-$55 and I'd be in.

 

I don't mind the direction they're going in here (Hoodman's definitely an under-appreciated subline of the original)...but any toy that requires a stand just to...stand...can suck it.

 

It's all a bit heavy handed really.
The stand does say 'statue' to me.
When I first saw a peek at the photos I was pretty keen - didn't realise the massive rocket kit was part of it until a closer look.
The suit itself is a good take I think.