1992 Aliens Ripley Action Figure

For Alien fans out there, I'm selling an original 1992 Ripley action figure, still unopened and in its original packaging.

The figure comes with "Real-Turbo Torch" action to toast those pesky Aliens out there and comes complete with decals (I don't know if they'll stick or not). This is a real classic item and is essential for those collectors into Aliens/Predator figures or classic female movie action heroes.

Offer Price: B$30

1980 Star Wars Imperial AT-AT Pilot

Propelling the massive Imperial walkers over uneven terrain requires the skills of seasoned AT-AT pilots/drivers. These soldiers work in teams of two, operating the ground craft with deft skill. They also fire the vehicle's powerful laser cannons, carrying orders from a combat coordinator, also stationed on the AT-AT's bridge.


Piloting an AT-AT effectively is a difficult challenge entrusted to flesh-and-blood operators and not automation. A battery of simulation tests helps harden combat soldiers into the Empire's elite armor assault crews. For their high perches and protective cockpits of reinforced armor, the AT-AT pilots are often regarded with contempt by the foot soldier infantry. Such acrimony is not without some merit -- AT-AT pilot training stresses their importance, and successful soldiers are often convinced of their invincibility, making them insufferably arrogant to the frontline grunts.

Though not required in the pressurized environment of an AT-AT cockpit, the pilots routinely wear their life-support gear, not only as part of combat history, but to provide emergency protection against hull breaches in hostile environments.

The uniform of the AT-AT pilot is mostly similar to that of a TIE fighter pilot, except with some custom armor segments and a different color scheme.

The AT-AT Pilot was one of those many instances where Kenner made something that, inherently, you had to buy something much more expensive to play with. In this case, an AT-AT Imperial Walker.

The figure came on an ESB and then a ROTJ card, and came with a blaster rifle that could be slung over his shoulder. Like many of the Imperial helmeted figures, his head did not rotate - that's why the AT-AT's did. The only variation in this figure was that the Imperial logos on his helmet came in two different shades of red.

Before Kenner/Hasbro had came out with the new, same-scale G.I. Joe line, they still did not include pertinent figures like the AT-AT pilot with the actual AT-AT. While they never did this for the original Star Wars line, they did do it for G.I. Joe figures starting in 1982. When Star Wars figures were again made starting in the 1990's, there were no end to the ones that came with vehicles. The reissued AT-AT vehicle came with both the AT-AT Driver and the AT-AT Commander.

If you got both of these figures and your parents still didn't get you an AT-AT, call them up right now and tell them how they ruined your childhood.




Offer Price: B$20

1889 Genuine British North Borneo 4c Stamp

Recently, I was very lucky enough to come upon an unused 120-year-old postage stamp from British North Borneo (now known as Sabah) in pristine condition.

North Borneo was a British Protectorate and later Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, situated in what is now the province of Sabah, Malaysia. British involvement began with the granting of a charter to the British North Borneo Company in August 1881. The settlements were made a protectorate on 12 May 1888, and the island of Labuan attached from 1890 to Japan from January 1942 to 10 June 1945, after which a British military administration was in charge, until 15 July 1946. The colony joined Malaysia on 16 September 1963.

Initially, mail from North Borneo was sent via Labuan or Singapore, using postage stamps of the Straits Settlements. The company issued its own stamps in March 1883, using a design incorporating the coat of arms (a dhow and a lion), inscribed "NORTH BORNEO", and with the value written in English, Arabic, and Chinese. Initial values included 2c, 4c, and 8c, followed by large 50c and $1 stamps of an more elaborate design with the arms flanked by two natives.

State Ensign of British North Borneo, 1882-1942

In 1886 1/2c, 1c, and 10c values were added, and there was a demand for 3c and 5c stamps, resolved by overprinting existing types. At the same time, the printers (Blades, East, and Blades of London) produced a new design, largely the same but inscribed "BRITISH NORTH BORNEO", and joined by 25c and $2 values, also with elaborate frames. The stamps were redesigned again in 1888, to say "POSTAGE & REVENUE" instead of just "POSTAGE", at which time the 25c to $2 values also received minor changes. These were followed up in 1889 by even larger and more elaborate $5 and $10 stamps.

Offer Price: B$75

1993 Golden Globe Chrono Swatch Watch

In the spirit of the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards recently held on Sunday, I'm offering you Swatch Fans out there a vintage "Golden Globe Chronograph Swatch Watch" from the 1993 Spring/Summer Collection. This beautiful Swatch has a flex metal band and is still in excellent working and aesthetic condition. It is also water-resistant up to 30 metres/100 feet.

Offer Price: B$65

1997 Star Wars Imperial Snow Stormtrooper

I am offering a 1997 STAR WARS "Power of the Force" Imperial Snowtrooper action figure for sale. The out-of-the-box 3 ¾ inch figure is in extremely excellent condition and is very detailed with great weathering effects. The Snowtrooper has movable arms and legs, twisting waist and comes complete with its blaster pistol and removable back-pack.

Snowtroopers, also known as Cold Assault Stormtroopers, were Imperial Stormtroopers trained to operate in arctic climates. The snowtroopers were the successors of the Clone Cold Assault Troopers under Clone Commander Keller during the Clone Wars.

Snowtroopers were utilized on many different icy worlds in the Star Wars Universe, including the Imperial Garrison on the Planet Akuria II. Their most notable campaign was at the Battle of Hoth, where the Imperial Blizzard Force defeated the Rebel Alliance and overran Echo Base.

Assault on Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth

Snowtroopers were armed with the standard issued E-11 blaster rifles of stormtroopers, SE-14R light repeating blasters, two concussion grenades, and one frag grenade. Elite snowtroopers were given the DLT-20A blaster rifle as a replacement for the E-11, and two stun grenades. Snowtroopers commonly employed E-web heavy repeating blasters.

Snowtrooper armor was well suited to the climate extremes of frozen worlds such as Hoth, Rhen Var, and Toola. Like other stormtroopers, snowtroopers wore a standard black two-piece temperature control body glove. Over this was an eighteen-piece outer shell altered to include more powerful heating and personal environment units, and an airtight fabric oversuit for additional protection from the cold. Their helmets had built-in polarized snow goggles. The chest plate worn by the snowtroopers was constructed of a plastoid composite armor.

To facilitate breathing in extremely cold or dangerous atmospheres, a breather hood enveloped the snowtrooper's faceplate and fed into the suit liner. Each trooper was equipped with terrain-grip boots, a standard utility belt containing high-tension wire, grappling hooks, ion flares, additional blaster ammunition, a survival kit, and ration packs.

Offer Price: B$35

1980 Rare FED-5B "Moscow Olympics" Com­mem­o­ra­tive Edition vintage camera

I'm starting to enjoy collecting vintage cameras from the former Soviet Union. My newest rare find was a special version of the FED-5B rangefinder camera produced in limited quantities to commemorate the 1980 Olympic Summer Games in Moscow.

Back in 1980, the 22nd Mod­ern Olympic Summer Games were held in Moscow during the height of the Cold War. To pro­mote the glorious event, all cam­era man­u­fac­tur­ers is­sued one or more com­mem­o­ra­tive mod­els of their 1979 or 1980 cam­eras. This "com­pli­an­cy" was so uni­formed and planned at that time, it seemed to in­di­cate that they were com­mis­sioned by the Soviet gov­ernment.

Affectionately nicknamed the "Moscow '80 vari­ants" by camera enthusiasts, they're worth more than the stan­dard model and valued sub­stan­tial­ly higher in terms of its "So­vi­et mem­o­ra­bil­ianess".

Interestingly enough, The 1980 Moscow Olympics was perhaps most famous for the US-led boycott that saw only 80 out of 147 nations compete, the lowest number since the 1956 Melbourne Games. The boycott was made in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the year before, one of the many conflicts that took place during the Cold War years. US allies such as Britain and France also condemned the invasion but allowed their athletes to compete nonetheless.

Here's a bit of info about the maker: the FED was generally a rangefinder camera, mass produced from 1934 until around 1990, and also the name of the factory that made it. Named after Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Cheka (Predecessor to the KGB). It was his name that was given to the labour commune at Kharkiv (Ukraine) whose manager, Anton Makarenko, encouraged a workshop education for indigent children and who decided to copy the Leica in 1932.

Large-scale production began in 1934, and in the same year the factory was put under NKVD (Secret Police of the Soviet Union) control and Makarenko was fired. Production continued until 1941, when German forces destroyed the factory during WW2, and resumed again in 1946.

From 1955 onwards, the factory made a huge volume of cameras that resemble the Leica rather closely (and are often altered, given "Leica" markings, and sometimes even sold as Leicas). However, the design was much cruder.

FED innovated the cameras further, combining the rangefinder with the viewfinder in the FED-2 and all its successors. The FED-3 added slow shutter speeds and on the later version FED-3 (b) the film advance was changed from a thumb wheel to a lever. The FED-4 (1964–77) added a non-coupled selenium exposure meter. The FED-5 marked the end of the FED rangefinder family, and was meant as an improved replacement for both the FED-3 and FED-4 that were in production at the time of its introduction.

There were three versions of the FED-5: the original FED-5 had an exposure meter, the FED-5B was a version without meter, and the later FED-5C had reflected framelines showing field of view of 50mm lens and an exposure meter.

All FED-5 cameras were delivered with an Industar I-61L/D lens. This lens replaced its predecessor Industar-26m. The optical design was improved, and a new, Lanthanum glass was used. It is sharp and contrasty, with smooth focusing action and the aperture click-stops.

Sadly, the production of FED rangefinder cameras ended in the mid 1990s. In terms of looks, this camera definitely stands apart from the throng of other Russian deadstock. And with it's Moscow 80's logo, it's definitely a gold medal winner in my book.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Film Type: all standard 35mm
Lens: Industrar 61 1:2.8 f=55mm
Focal Range: .75mm to ∞
Shutter Speeds: B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500
Aperture Settings: f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16
Flash Connection: standard hot-shoe, sync at 1/30

[see lo-fi pics taken by FED-5B]


Offer Price: B$225

Kaiyodo Revoltech Transformers' Starscream Action Figure

Today, I’ll review the latest arrival in my collection, it’s the Decepticon’s Starscream (of the Classic Transformers Generation 1 series) by Kaiyodo Revoltech. I just got this yesterday and only have the time to have a really good look at it today. Just like the other Kaiyodo Revoltech series figurines, this action figure is about 5 inches tall and retails for about USD$20-25.


Famous for his treachery and personality, he has become a fan favorite and has had many future characters within the Transformers franchise to bear his name, some of which share his desire to become leader of the Decepticons. Starscream has, at some points, had control over the Decepticons, but his actions usually lead him to being defeated, or overruled by the more powerful Megatron. Starscream makes no secret of his ambition to overthrow Megatron as Decepticon leader. He is more intelligent than the average Decepticon brute, ruthless, and cruel, but he is also unlikely to directly act on his ultimate ambition without the assurance of things going his way. He considers himself vastly superior to other Decepticons, hence has a really big ego and looks down on Megatron for being obsolete in his military strategy and tactics.

Starscream can turn into an F-15 Eagle jet and serves as the Decepticon's Air Commander, leading the other Decepticon jets, many of whom share his physical design. According to cartoon series, he can reach speeds up to Mach 2.8, and can climb up to sub-orbital altitudes of 52 miles (84 km) and nose-dive down to ground level in minutes. His arm is mounted with launchers (mounted under his wings in jet mode), which can launch two types of weaponry — cluster bombs, each of which can level an area 10,000 square feet (900 m²), and his signature weapon, the null ray, which can disrupt the flow of electricity in any circuitry it hits for brief periods, effectively rendering any electronic device or machine (including Autobots) temporarily inoperable.

The figure is still in its box; same as usual, great packaging with dusty finishes. The toy was put on a black plastic tray and covered by a clear plastic cover.There is a leaflet about Revoltech series, in Japanese, inside the box.

In terms of design and sculpting; this is a non-transformable action figure although it’s from Transformers. Kaiyodo’s Revoltech is always the Revolver Joint, a technology developed by them (Kaiyodo) that make the action figure abilities to pose in great ways. By scraping the transforming gimmick, the figure can be design to be more cartoon (anime) accurate. The selling points for the figure are:

• Accessories: 3 extra changeable fist, a Megatron in pistol mode and a stand.

• Colorings: great colors, looks metallic and shiny. No chipping or scratching.
  

Offer Price: B$40 B$35