Hello everyone, welcome to a new review brought to you by the letters P and A and the number 3775!  Today we get to check out a VERY surprising piece of prop replica goodness all the way from Germany… and like the Shamwow, we all know the Germans make awesome crap amirite?  Read on and learn all about the gorgeous Predator bio helmet manufactured by Oxygen-Labs and see how the bar has been officially raised by helmet producers.

First things first, who is Oxygen-Labs?  Oxygen-Labs is a German company formed by some very talented folks that dip in to all things awesome… 3D designs, graphic design, concepting and interior modeling, web design and of course, who can resist sculpting!  You can imagine my intrigue when they shipped us a huge box containing the first piece of what will eventually a full costume design… I was absolutely blown away by what came next.

I open the box and inside is a professionally designed, glossy paper printed and plastic protected instruction sheet with details on how to change out the lenses, batteries and how to use the activation cable.  Under that is a carefully packed, plastic protected KILLER bio helmet with a definite Narin design flare to it and finished in a GORGEOUS copper and aged metal finish, and these sweet red lenses that look amazing.  I remove that from the box and find another small bag… in there you ask?  Get this… TOOLS!  Yep, the bio even includes the screw driver to remove the battery door and the hex screw driver to remove the chrome hex bolts that hold down the perfectly molded lenses.  Yes… you read that right.  The lenses aren’t cudely glued in, they’re not ripped out of sunglasses, and they’re not taped.  The lenses were molded and cast specifically for this helmet and are held in place with honest-to-god chrome hex bolts!  Mind has been blown…

This gets even better… the wiring is extremely professional, clean and secured properly with a sturdy battery pack and on/off switch, probably the best I have seen in these kinds of helmets.  And there’s more! See that silver round thing in the middle of the photo above?  That’s one of two earth magnets built in to the helmet, allowing anyone to attach this bio to their favorite Predator Mask with magnets installed within the mask (takes a few minutes to install).  No straps, no velcro, no screwing around.  Need more proof this is specifically designed for serious costume fans?  The helmet even comes with a cable that plugs in to the side of the bio like an air hose that has a long wire that can run down your arm with a pressure trigger you wrap around your finger to activate the laser shroud.

The packaging is so professional, even the plastic protective bag the helmet ships in has a small parts warning label on it! It’s a shame I never got a chance to review this on Predatorstuff.com because it truly raises the bar on product packaging and finishing. Here’s your chance to own one of these beautiful bio helmets…

Let’s check out some details on this piece shall we?  It’s cast in a lightweight but thick fiberglass resin with a great finish to a beautiful sculpt.  The paint is gorgeous… it’s finished in a weathered titanium silver and then accented with aged copper for a very realistic overall effect.  The lense is acrylic red as a stamdard size but Oxygen-Labs promises to make other colors available and it’s held in place with 3 hex bolts.  2 magnets are glued in to the bio for mounting and the shroud is wired up with a 3 point laser and includes a full length cable ending in a pressure SMD switch for activation.  The system is powered by 3 AAA batteries and the battery box includes an LED that lights up when the batteries need replacement.  The overall dimensions are 48.5cm x 36cm x 19cm and weighs in at 1.2KG (about 2.7 lbs).

This is apparently the first of many more parts coming from Oxygen-Labs as they plan to release additional parts and skins to build a complete Predator suit…  the next item coming out is the mask (date TBD).  If you would like more information on this piece of what to buy one, check out the Oxygen-Labs website by clicking HERE!

Ready for pics?  Check out more photos of this VERY impressive helmet by clicking on the photo icon below:

What do you think guys, you dig it?  Click the comment button below and let the world know what you think!

Peace,
Dan

Holy crap kids, take a look at this.  From my good friend Wataru at Psycho Monsterz in Japan, a 1:1 xenomorph skull trophy.

And this thing is huge – 31.5 inches long (80cm) yet it only weighs in at an astonishing 4 pounds (1.8 kg).  Wataru has used a very clever and unique strategy employing a hollow resin structure filled with a light weight hard foam.  The result is a whole lot of strength with very little weight.  You can mount this to your wall without fear of pulling it downl.

This is a limited run as each skull is handmade, assembled and painted.  It is not available as a kit yet but maybe if enough folks ask, he will rethink that.  Wataru is making a few of these available to followers of this site at an especially attractive price.  If you want more information, contact me.

Several months ago, I mentioned that Hot Toys had shown a prototype of the Samurai Predator at the Hong Kong toy show.  It was an instant success with all sorts of (bad) photos showing up on every Predator-related web site.  Well my friends, while we were all sitting around eating turkey (at least here is the US), Sideshow and Hot Toys launched this bad boy and it is awesome!  Take a look-

Shipping in the spring of 2012, this figure is 14″ tall and comes with a boat-load of features including newly sculpted head with both open and closed mandibles, moveable jaw, interchangeable hands, four (4) swords attached to the back, helmet and samurai mouth mask and so much more.  All of this mounted on a diorama base featuring a defeated Alien body and a broken sword piece.

This is the first entry in Hot Toys’ Artist Collection.  It is a unique collaboration between two Japanese sculpting legends, Takayuki Takeya and Yuji Oniki.  Don’t miss out on this one, it is already a classic, so go get it!

Holy Cow Kids, Sideshow is starting off the Halloween holiday Spooktacular with a new Predator that is…get ready…20″ tall!!  It is beautiful and here is the first photo.

That is the Sideshow Exclusive Edition that comes with the very cool bloody human head – how Halloween of them.  So this is the one we have been waiting for.  The original guy, the one who started it all from the 1987 film.  Check out the helmet view.

And don’t forget the classic close up with and without the bio.

One word of caution.  Don’t let this one pass you by, you don’t want to be paying 3-4 times on eBay in a few months.

On this site we tend to focus all (or most) of our attention on the Predators but there is a lot to be said for exploring the world beyond the Yautja.  This past week, I spent some time in the World of the Xenomorphs and came across some very usual, very weird and very beautiful items.  There are probably as many items made for the Alien collector as there are for the Predator collector.  For example, I made mention of a Predator Christmas tree ball a while back and, well guess what, there is one for the Alien as well.

But as I searched around this ‘Alien’ world,  I couldn’t find anything that quite matched  the life size or near life-sized busts of the Predator.  Sideshow has cranked out some righteous 1:1 scale busts and they usually sell out within a few weeks.  I just received the Sideshow Predator Legendary Scale Bust (review is coming) which is magnificent, so where is the xenomorph equivalent?  I think I found it.

Produced by Xeno Guy, an enormously talented sculptor in the UK, these heads come in two varieties;  with and without the extended ‘tube’ mouth.  The ‘Without‘ (on the left) is 20″ long by 5.5″ wide and 8″ high (57.2cm x 14cm x 20cm)and weighs in at a healthy 6.5 pounds (2.9kg).  The ‘With Extended Mouth‘ is equally massive  – 22″ x 5″ x 8″ (55.8cm x 14cm x 20cm) and 6 pounds.  As you can see, the sculpting detail is very impressive taking on a true HR Giger quality.  The paint is very cool.  Layers and shades of black, silver and grey are covered with a ultra gloss clear that gives the head that exquisite Alien slime look.  I have both editions in my office and they look sensational.  Could be the biggest and most unusual bookends in the world!  For more information and photos of the Christmas balls and the xenomorph heads, contact me.

Those of you who have been reading my posts here and in the newsletters know that I am a huge fan of Narin, the amazing Thai artist and sculptor.  So, I will save all the platitudes and tell you that he is planning to recast several of his most popular kits.  And here is the very cool part, they will only be available through this web site so you loyal readers will get first dibs on some of the gems you may have missed.

One of his most popular kits was the Narin Classic Predator.  It was one of the first kits he produced when he went out on his own and it sold out almost immediately.

This is the original Predator with a non-removable bio helmet.  Classic position with the armature knives fully extended it is truly the classic predator and should be the cornerstone of your collection – it is of mine.

Next up is the Death Warrior.  This is one of my all time favorite kits and I have lusted after it for years since I missed it on the first go-around.  But, good news for all of us is that it is back but in a very limited (read that as 10 kits) run.  Once he got beyond the 10th kit, the quality of the pour started to suffer, so the run was ended at 10.  I’m not going to miss this one and neither should you.  Dan Richard does a very nice review of this kit on YouTube, so check it out.

This is a stunning kit with a hunter standing over a pile of ‘deceased aliens’.  The attention to detail is amazing  and every aspect of the kit is crisp and top of the line.

I’m embarrassed to admit that the last two kits never made it on to my radar.  They are variants on the hunter with the emphasis placed on the weapons.  The Axertor and the Spearaizer (I’ll let you figure out which one is which) are both classic Narin.  At the risk of being criticized for using the word “detail” too many times, the detail on both is amazing.

The Axertor is an all resin kit on a 1:10 scales and is made up of 22 parts.  The kit is 8.5 inches tall (21cm)

The Spearaizer is 1:16 scale, comes in 8 parts and is 7.5 inches (18 cm) tall.

If you have any interest in any or all of these kits please contact me as soon as possible.  Letting me know you want one is not a commitment on your part, you can always change your mind.  Think of this as a pre-pre-order.  But once again folks, don’t waste time.  I’m still getting requests for the Hellboy and Alternative Hunter kits which sold out almost immediately—that is a hint not to send me any more emails about those kits, they are gone.

One additional note.  Those of you who are particularly observant will notice that the picture of the Axertor and the Spearaizer are different than the ones on the site earlier.   That’s because the first ones were wrong, my bad.  I apologize for any misunderstanding or confusion.

-Rich

It is here folks, the Big Daddy or Big Chap of the Alien world.  Just launched earlier today this monster is 16 inches high and weighs in at 7 pounds.  If you are able to get the Sideshow Exclusive Edition, it comes with your very own Chest Burster accessory.  Sales are being limited to one per customer so you know that at a run of 500 this awesome piece is going to sell fast.  I got mine and have leaned on a few friends to pony up and get me a few more.  Going to be a long wait until next spring but I am sure it will be worth it.  Enjoy!

Click here for more info and ordering instructions.

-Rich

We can’t let Comic Con roll by without me posting my not-so-famous list of cool stuff released by Sideshow during this amazing event now can we?  No, of course not!  What the hell were you thinking?!  Yes folks, I’ve practically vanished from the scene lately, but no one can deny the power of Comic Con.  In no particular order, here are my favorite releases from Sideshow announced during the show:

Alien Egg Prop Replica

From the 2004 release Alien VS Predator comes the Alien Egg Prop Replica, a full-scale reproduction of the Queen Alien’s spawn. Measuring over two feet high, each piece is individually painted and finished, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. The 1:1 scale Alien Egg Prop Replica is an incredible and detailed addition to any Alien legacy display.

Check out all the amazing pictures or place a pre-order by clicking HERE!

T-1000 Sideshow Exclusive Edition

From the sci-fi classic ‘Terminator 2: Judgement Day’, the T-1000 Statue is a stunning representation of the Skynet assassin. Each piece is individually painted and finished, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. The T-1000 Statue is an outstanding representation of the T2 villain, a stunning addition to any display.

The Sideshow Exclusive version of the T-1000 Polystone Statue includes a unique feature available nowhere else: Additional switch-out left hand for alternate display.

Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the T-1000 product page!

Dog AlienSideshow Exclusive Edition

From Alien3 comes the Dog Alien Statue, so named for taking on the canine characteristics of its host. Each piece is cast in high-quality polystone, hand-finished and hand-painted to exacting standards, then individually hand-numbered. Presented here in 1:5 scale, the Dog Alien Statue is an outstanding addition to any Alien legacy display.

The Sideshow Exclusive version of the Dog Alien Statue includes a unique feature available nowhere else: Queen Alien Facehugger for complimentary display.

Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the Dog Alien Statue product page!

Spike Sideshow Exclusive Edition Statue

OK I admit it… I kinda dug Buffy back in the day and Spike was pretty much my favorite character… so here’s a shoutout to Spike fans!

Celebrating Joss Whedons long-running television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer comes the Spike Statue. This detailed sculpture presents William the Bloody in 1:5 scale, ready to take on the slayer. Each piece is individually painted and finished with unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. The Spike Statue is an outstanding addition to any collection, a must-have for all Whedon fans.

The Sideshow Exclusive version of the Spike Statue includes a unique feature available nowhere else: Additional switch-out ‘vampire’ portrait for alternate display.

Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the Spike Statue product page!

Lighted Display Case

Are you a Hot Toys or Sideshow 12″ Figure collector?  Well fear no more, Sideshow is now selling cases… FINALLY!  Check this out:

Sideshow Collectibles is proud to present this Lighted Display Case made by Maybang’s Collectibles. Handcrafted of thick acrylic panels and complete with mirrored backing, this stand is specially designed to display 1:6 scale figures, dolls, and statues up to 14.5 inches high. Boasting a total of 23 LED lights to showcase your collectibles at optimal impact, the Lighted Display Case is the perfect compliment to your collection.

The Lighted Display Case Display Case features:

• Hand made with quality acrylic
• 23 pc LED light features
• Powered via outlet plug or 3 AA batteries (not included)
• Mirrored backing
• Comes fully assembled ready to display

Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the display case product page!

Robocop Life-Size Bust

Sideshow Collectibles is proud to present the incredibly detailed Robocop Life-Size Bust by Fred Barton. This rotomolded bust is hand-finished in great detail to capture every aspect of the cyborg.

Product Size: 27.5″ H (698.5mm) x 16.5″ W (419.1mm) x 15″ L (381mm)
Product Weight: 10.00 lbs (4.54 kg) (pretty sure this is WRONG)

Manufactured by: Fred Barton

God I love full size busts… Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the Robocop Bust product page!

C-3PO Special Edition Life-Size Bust

Sideshow Collectibles is proud to announce the C-3PO Life-size Bust Special Edition, created in conjunction with renowned robot craftsman Fred Barton. Each piece is individually painted and hand-finished, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. Polished and unrestrained to receive his well-deserved reward on Yavin and crafted of fiberglass and polystone, complete with light-up eyes*, the C-3PO Life-size Bust Special Edition is sure to become the premier addition to any Star Wars display.

Best new pre-order of the Comic Con… Yes, I am a Star Wars fanboy… big time! Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the C3PO Bust product page!

Captain America Life-Size Bust

In celebration of America’s Independence Day, Sideshow Collectibles and Marvel Comics proudly present the Captain America Life-Size Bust, the latest addition to the Marvel collectible line. Each piece is individually painted and finished to exacting standards, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. Capturing true Avengers patriot Steve Rogers, the Captain America Life-Size Bust is a perfect addition to any Marvel collection!

Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the Captain America Bust product page!

Green Goblin Life-Size Bust

And finally…  Sideshow Collectibles and Marvel Comics proudly present the Green Goblin Life-size Bust, the latest addition to the Marvel collectible line. Capturing the maniacal Norman Osborn as one of Spidey’s most formidable foes, each piece is individually painted and finished to exacting standards, each with its own unique quality and detail that is the trademark of a handcrafted Sideshow Collectibles product. Complete with a removable and poseable real fabric hat, the Green Goblin Life-size Bust is a perfect addition to any Spider-Man or Marvel collection!

Check out more photos or place a pre-order by clicking HERE for the Green Goblin Bust product page

That’s it for now guys… now to sit back and wait for the Wolf Legendary Scale Statue to go up for sale!  What do you think of my picks?  You agree?  What are your favorites from the show?

Dan