Doctor Who - Character Options

Posted by: @fac

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15 and Ruby up on the Character Options website and supposedly to ship starting Monday. Fairly expensive with shipping to the US, but so be it for a new Doctor and companion...

The shipping to the U.S. is ridiculous, but I'm a sucker, so I ordered anyway.  Also included the 15th sonic.

@jag2045 The forum won't let me like your post, thanks for posting the video.  The figures look really good, I'm looking forward to receiving them.

Pictures of the non-exclusive, alternate decos are making the rounds, have to get these too.  Hopefully they won’t be too hard to get in the U.S.  With the show on Disney+, maybe they will receive U.S. distribution.

https://twitter.com/Gallifrey_C/status/1849116680724553996

https://twitter.com/Gallifrey_C/status/1849116743131599245

https://www.facebook.com/groups/835580470579505/permalink/1801020050702204/

Wait, the first ones are "exclusives"? To whom? I ordered two from the UK and that shipping WAS ridiculous and I would have waited if I knew there were others. 🙁

Although I prefer the outfits I got.

@schizm The first set are exclusive to the Character Options online store, and I gather they represent a premium version with more detailed paint? The version @scottg10 is showing will be the mass release in the UK - I assume at the chain that seems to carry the History of the Dalek and Tardis sets each year. Retail will be cheaper but there will be no way in the US to order them directly, so would have to go secondary through an eBay seller or maybe WhoNA if they get some for their shop. So, I doubt the mass release would end up being much cheaper, if any cheaper, in the long run.

Huh. That's really weird to make the main costume colors the HTF website-only exclusive.

@schizm How are they hard to find?  Anyone in the world can literally just go and order them online.  In the UK, they get free shipping and next day delivery.  In the U.S., ordering from CO is a lot easier than trying to buy off of eBay, and even with the expensive shipping, it is generally cheaper.

@fac I don't know if B&M in the UK will be getting these, but at least they aren't exclusives like the previous releases from the last few years.  Forbidden Planet has them up for preorder now, but the shipping is, again, pretty hefty.  I haven't pulled the trigger yet, maybe there will be more availability after they release in November.

@scottg10 Interesting that FB is getting these - I just looked them up and at 18 pounds these are pricier than the B&M sets the last few years, and only about 10% less the Character exclusives.

Given the show is on Disney+, I wonder if these might make it to the US. Although I am not sure the new series was the hit that the Tennant and Smith years were, at least not yet.

@fac I too am hoping for US distribution, which is why I'm waiting a bit.  Agreed though, it doesn't seem like there is much interest in the US despite the Disney+ airing.

These arrived today, surprised how fast they got here. Paint apps are great on both figures, lots of detail. However, it appears they did not paint in 15's slight mustache on mine. Not sure they totally nailed Ruby's hair, but the likeness is pretty good especially for this scale. 15 might have been better served with a smile, he is a bit too serious looking. But hard to complain too much about a new Doctor and companion set.

I just ordered the repaints from Amazon UK for December delivery.  The price is still painful ($60 for the two), but almost 25GBP cheaper than Forbidden Planet.  Links are available from this site: https://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/category/toys/

If cheaper options for US delivery come up before December, I can always cancel the order.

Hallmark stores (US) have a modern Cyberman ornament that people have been hoping may be similar in size to the Character Options figures since the modern style of Cyberman - the kind that Missy unleashed on London - was never released as a normal-sized figure.

I will try to post a pic soon, but the short answer is good news - it fits in well enough! Maybe 10 percent smaller than Character Options figures. I stuck a slightly thicker base under its feet to give it a little boost. Well worth the $20.

Well that’s strange - there’s no way to embed pics in this new forum? 

Oh well. Check out the pic over here instead: https://www.reddit.com/r/ActionFigures/comments/1gmkegt/doctor_who_hallmark_cyberman_ornament_2024_nearly/

I did a little repainting on Ruby to help the likeness:

Added roots, thickened her eyebrows and added the cat-eye make-up. I smudged a bit under one of her eyes and couldn't get rid of it but overall I think it helped.

The Ruby and Ncuti figures are really nice, both versions. His likeness is great though I wish he looked less sad.