Available in stores now is a Kenner tribute assortment of Terminator 7″ Scale Figures from NECA Toys. This wave features three figures, each inspired by Kenner’s Terminator action figures of the 90’s. Included are the Metal Mash Endoskeleton, the color changing White Hot T-1000 and the Power Arm T-800. They join the previously released Endoglow T-800 Endoskeleton, which was a San Diego Comic-Con 2015 Exclusive. Each comes packed on a specialized classic style card back. We picked up the figures from sponsor Entertainment Earth. After the jump, check out my review and over 70 photos of the figures.
Related Entertainment Earth Links: NECA Kenner Inspired Terminator Figures, Terminator Action Figures, All Terminator Collectibles
Terminator 2 Kenner Tribute 7″ Scale Action Figure Assortment by NECA
Pros
- Great nods to the classic figures
- The Power Arm for the T-800 looks great
- The color change features of the White hot T-1000 works very well
- The new light piping feature on the Endoskeleton is a nice touch
- Paint decos for the Power Arm and Endoskeleton are excellent
Cons
- The Endoskeleton sculpt is still a bit fragile
- Plasma rifle barrels tend to be a bit warped
Overall
The Power Arm T-800 and the White Hot T-1000 are packaged on classic Terminator 2 card backs, while the Metal Mash Endoskeleton is packed on a Terminator: Future War card. The back of each showcases a short bio for the specific figure, as well as a check list of previously released and upcoming Terminator figures. Each sits on a plastic tray, and has a few twist ties you’ll need to remove. The Power Arm T-800 includes interchangeable standard and robotic left arms and a plasma rifle. The Metal Mash Endoskeleton includes a plsama rifle. The White Hot T-1000 includes an interchangeable right hand, a pistol, and interchangeable hook arms.
Of the three, the Power Arm T-800 features the largest amount of retooling compared the movie figures. With that figure, you can swap out the left arms to use the Power Arm or a standard arm. NECA also took the bullet riddled jacket of the T2 Terminator and removed the sleeves to mimic the look of the old figure. The Power Arm itself is great looking in hand, and has some good range of motion to it. You can swap the front end pieces to be a claw or a missile. The arm swaps out easily, but I wouldn’t be surprised if most fans keep the Power Arm in place, as it gives it a very unique look. The paint work is pretty solid here. The head sculpt and arms are fully painted as opposed to translucent skin tone plastic. The battle damaged head is appropriately bloody, and the Power Arm has a nice brushed metal look to it. Articulation is the same as the Ultimate T2 T-800, and joints are fine here, if not just slightly on the loose side.
The Metal Mash Endoskeleton has an all new light piping addition to the head sculpt. This allows you to shine light through the back to make the eyes glow. The effect works really well. The rest of the sculpt looks to be pretty much the same as previous Endoskeleton releases. Like those, some of the thinner areas need to be handled with care. Thankfully, I didn’t run into the issue of the pistons popping out, but I was pretty careful when moving the arms and legs. The paint scheme for this guy, however, is fantastic. NECA’s sculpt has always been really detailed, and when painted up, really looks like a small metal Terminator. The bronze color scheme features a heavy dark wash that gives is a very worn look to it. That, mixed with the black pieces definitely make this a standout look compared to previous Endoskeleton releases. The joints are okay, not too loose, not too tight.
The strangest addition may be the White Hot T-1000. Like the original Kenner figure, this is a mostly solid color piece that changes color when exposed to different temperatures. When it’s at it’s coolest, the figure is nearly pitch black save for a few silver highlights. As it warms up, the figure begins to turn different shades of blue. Using a hair dryer, I got the figure as warm as I was comfortable with, and it becomes a semi-transparent, almost sky blue. Due to differing materials used, the colors may change at different temperatures. I found the softer plastic areas, such as the waist, got lighter much quicker. It’s a really fun effect to watch happen in front of your eyes. To get it back down to pure black, simply store it in a cool spot with no light, or even place it in the freezer for a few minutes.Outside of that, this is pretty much the Ultimate T-1000 with a few less parts. The hand and forearms swap out with no trouble, and those all change color as well. Articulation is decent here, and with no paint, there’s no worry of paint locking here.
This wound up being a really fun wave, that is hopefully a sign of more Kenner inspired Terminators coming in the future.The Power Arm T-800 is likely to be the most sought after. But, on the whole, it’s a very solid assortment that pays homage to the classics, and tests the water to see if the fans will be into this iteration of Terminators. Check out some select photos below, and see the full gallery after that.
