Review of HT's NY Firefighter version B, AA

From JoeWorld-OnLine.com

Hot Toys
Review of HT's NY Firefighter version B, AA
By F106lady
Dec 4, 2004, 16:36

I'm not much of a reviewer, the fact is I don’t care for grading systems because personal tastes vary. I included a lot of photos, so each person can judge for themselves. I have wanted a figure like this since the day I stepped into this hobby, actually a set to commerate NY city's heroes of 911. The other figure being a NYPD figure.

This is my first HT figure, my over all impression (except for the body itself) is impressive.

HT Firefighter (v B)

Packaging:

Box art, I liked the front of the box

but I liked the of the back of the box even more. Something that warranted a picture IMO. You may not be able to read the names in the photo, but the words are the credits to the creators, just as if it were a Hollywood movie.

The box is large, a little over 15" square. The contents encased in plastic, sliding out like a drawer. Two photos to show items hidden in the bottom of the tray.

Gear/accessories:

crow bar
L-flashlight
axe
blue flashlight (not sure this MAY be a strobe)
bolt cutters (non-functional)
sledge hammer

fire hose
helmet
radio with microphone and case
lantern w/strap (red)
mask
oxygen tank
wood wedge

Whatever is supposed to be wood is wood, whatever is supposed to be metal is metal etc. For example the tape on the handles of the tools is that, real tape.

Figure:

This is what I felt like doing!!!

Because I busted it!

I had *assumed* that this might possibly be a new design because the joints seemed just as tight or tighter than DML figures. I was thinking what better way to show off the articulation than to have it sit cross-legged. Well that’s what I get for thinking! It was then that I broke the leg off the figure. It split right along the seam of the thigh, easy fix *whew*. Actually I feel like I got off easy as there is a white crease (looks like glare in the photo) where it could have snapped, but it didn't. Later, after the photos were taken, I was examining the figure more closely I noticed the seam on the right arm wasn't a good match. It looked like it had been repaired with super glue. As I was gingerly manipulating the arm (remember I had already busted the leg) it snapped right along the seam.

As for the headsculpt, it is the same ole Hot Toys headsculpt, nothing spectacular there.

I also wanted to mention (now that I realized I didn't show the head sculpt with the body) is that the skin color on the body is not same color as the skin color of the head. Not sure but this may be just limited to the AA figure. It also would have been nice to include an extra set of hands, ones that were regular ungloved hands.

Uniform/clothes:

jacket with quilted liner

pants with suspenders

boots

helmet

t-shirt

balaclava

What is lacking in the figure is made up for in the details of the uniform (like the accessories weren't enough!). The hooks on the are real metal and the jacket's liner is quilted and removable, again amazing detail.

If you look at the pants and suspenders I've shown that the knee pads are velcroed and removable.

I can't say enough about the helmet, it is beautiful! The tan flap you see in the back of the helmet is suede leather. On the inside of the helmet (in the front) are two hinged plastic flaps. I am assuming these are to protect the eyes. In addition I thought this part of the helmet deserved an extra photo, just to show the detailing on the back.

It also comes with T-shirt, boots and balaclava. Not sure if you can tell from the photos, but the helmet and boots have been weathered. The T-shirt has a logo on it.

Conclusion:

Over all the accessories and uniform are a work of art, it is the figure I am not happy with. For $100 IMO you should get a better figure. This leaves me with the question why can't Hot Toys just box the gear and leave out the figure? Well to answer myself “I don’t think folks would be willing to pay $90 for boxed accessories”. Was this boxed figure worth it? $100 is a lot of money for me, but I wish I had enough to buy version A (accessory variant). I am very happy that I passed over the other brands and waited on Hot Toys' version. I am also happy to be blessed with a mother (no, I am not a teenager) that is willing to buy one for me. But shhh don’t tell anyone I wasn’t supposed to open my gift until Dec 25th.