Nearly two years ago at Toy Fair 2014, NECA featured their Aliens Power Loader for the very first time. After tweaking and waiting and giving us the Ellen Ripley figure, NECA finally unleashed the Power Loader to fans this month. The Aliens P-5000 Power Work Loader is based on the iconic mechanized exoskeleton seen in the 1986 film Aliens. Intended to help the Colonial Marines load cargo and weapons, Ripley suited up in the final act of the film to battle the terrifying Queen Alien. This 7″ scale release is available now at Entertainment Earth and we have a full gallery and review.
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NECA Aliens P-5000 Power Work Loader 7″ Scale Vehicle
Pros
- Outstanding sculpt
- A ton of articulation
- Soft wires don’t get in the way
- Paint apps are excellent
- Hands to use for Ripley figure
- Figures fit perfectly
Cons
- None at all
Overall
When I first saw the packaging for the Aliens Power Loader (during a visit to NECA’s Studio), I thought there was no way this could be correct. It seemed way, way too small to fit such a massive item in it. But, with a nice bit of packaging magic, they did it. The box is surprisingly small, making it super easy to store and stock on toy shelves. However, once taken out of the package, the Power Loader is a sight to behold. The only assembly required are the two poles that sit atop the Power Loader. Right off the bat, the paint is pretty fantastic. The main body looks to be cast in the yellow, however, NECA covered just about the whole thing with a wash that brings out the sculpted details nicely giving it an aged look. There are also spots of scratched silver, making it appear used and worn instead of right off the assembly line. They seem like small things, but add to the cinematic look.
Standing upright and with the poles attached, the Power Loader stands roughly 11″ tall. It’s constructed of light, but solid plastic. The wires are a soft material that bends easily and don’t obstruct any of the articulation. The seatbelt in the cockpit is a soft rubber material. The joints throughout are super tight on the Power Loader, which helps keep the balance while striking poses. On the arms and legs there are working pistons for added realism. The claws can pinch, rotate and swivel. The arms of the PL can move up and down, swing out or swivel in, as well as bending at the elbows. The controls on the inside of the arms can slide back and forth, allowing figures to always hold into the joysticks. The legs have articulation at the hips, knees and feet. There’s a ton of flexibility in posing the legs, which could have easily just stayed static.
The canopy opens and the seatbelt unbuckles to place the figures inside. Obviously, I used the NECA Aliens Ripley figure for the review, but most any NECA figure should fit inside. I was able to place Ripley in the drivers seat with no trouble. Her feet slipped into the holsters on the legs, the seatbelt snapped back in place and the hands could grip the controls. The new hands included in the package work perfectly. For the review, I kept the hands, mostly off the grips themselves, as I was moving the arms a lot and it was easier to move the PL arms and Ripley’s arms independently. Ripley’s legs were able to move with the PL’s legs with no trouble, making it easy to pose and move around. Just about any way you want to pose the Power Loader, you can. It’s got a great balance to it and you’ll keep finding little pieces you can move.
I can’t think of anything I didn’t like on this. It was a blast to photograph and pose. Ripley sits perfectly in the cockpit and there’s tons of possibilities for displaying the vehicle. If you’re an Aliens fan, I’d consider this a must buy.
CompaniesNECAEntertainment Earth
Scale7 Inch