droolicious : collectibles

Got $3,500 and a Star Wars Fixation? Relive Your Childhood Here

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Being the father of three Star Wars-obsessed boys, I'll always regret giving away my own Episode IV-VI action figures before the kids came along. And while I'm not suggesting a $3,500 toy purchase is particularly sane in any economy, if you've got the loot and are similarly nostalgic, this complete set of vintage Star Wars figures has your disposable income written all over it.

My personal favorites from The Empire Strikes Back are pictured here, but the 79-piece set also includes complete lots for A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, all graded AFA 85 (near-mint, for those of you not down with toy-collector lingo) and ready for your shelf.

Give into your nostalgia and figure out a payment plan at Brian's Toys. [Wookiee-sized hat tip to Uncrate]

Ho-Ho-Ho, Halloween's Over!

Aaron Burgess — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Not that the impending shopping rush hasn't been crammed down our throats since, oh, before the economy collapsed, but here's a nice, affordable little way to kick-start your holiday '08 toy purchases: Playmobil's Santa Claus figure/stocking stuffer, just $3.29, and it comes with everything you see here (except for the snow -- you can keep that, Old Man Winter).

$18K Darth Vader Statue 'Most Impressive,' Indeed

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:04:00 GMT

What to get for the Star Wars kid who has everything? Well, assuming you've got $18,000 that won't be going toward Junior's first semester at Jedi Academy, you could plunk down for this ultra-limited-edition Darth Vader bronze statue by artist and Star Wars superfan Lawrence Noble. Limited to 30 individually numbered pieces worldwide, this 1:2 scale (45") monument to the Sith Lord is the same piece visitors to Lucasfilm headquarters at the Presidio would see upon entering the lobby of the company's Building A.

Standing close to 4 feet tall and weighing in at around 150 pounds, each Vader statue also features its own individualized patina -- although for the price, we'd also like to be able to crack it open to find actor David Prowse inside.

Learn more at StarWarsShop.com.

1st Wonder of the LEGO World: The Biggest LEGO Set Ever Made

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:35:00 GMT

Just when we thought the $500, 5,175-piece Ultimate Collector's Millennium Falcon was as big and complex as a LEGO set could get, along comes the mother of all brick-building challenges: At 20" wide and 16" tall, the LEGO Taj Mahal may be a wee bit under the 22.44 hectares of the actual wonder-of-the-world after which it's modeled, but at 5,922 pieces (clearly not making it one for the junior builders), it's still a formidable piece of architecture.

Priced at $299.99, the LEGO Taj Mahal ships Sept. 15 -- preorder now and you may still have time to finish it by 2009.

The Force is Strong With This One: Star Wars Chubbies

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:32:00 GMT

These Star Wars Chubbies may look great on your desk, but given how well George Lucas' universe crosses generations, they won't stay out of your kids' hands for long. Similar to Russian nesting dolls, the six sets of PVC figures open to reveal the evolution of their characters; so, for example, you get three generations of Wookiees, Obi-Wan Kenobi then to now, and, as shown here, a Darth Vader who opens to reveal two episodes' worth of Anakin Skywalker. $12.95 per set at Firebox.com.

U.B. Funkeys: One Geek Toy to Rule Them All

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:32:00 GMT

Despite the kid-friendly allure of vinyl figures, older collectors tend to dominate the toys' audience. Radica's new U.B. Funkeys, however, introduce a world where little ones can get their vinyl-toy fix without worrying about shelf appeal or future market value -- although, with some of the 40-plus figures more limited than others, there's also plenty of room for serious collectors to get onboard.

The best part: Once the figure is out of the box, you're only halfway to enjoying it. Install the included software, plug your U.B. Funkey into a computer's USB port ("fun key" -- get it?), and you've got access to Terrapinia, the online world where Funkey owners come together to play games, explore different zones, earn credit toward in-game prizes, and customize and show off their Funkeys' virtual cribs.

Priced at $19.99, the U.B. Funkeys Starter Kit includes a hub, two figures and PC software; additional characters can be purchased separately for $4.99 each.

Check out the clip below for a glimpse at the addictive little buggers in action, and camp out at the premier Funkeys fansite for more videos, as well as forums, images, tips and tricks, once you've gotten started.