Wirrn Figurine

I was surprised to receive a further figurine this week - one of the special editions. Must have already paid for this before my subscription was cancelled. The figurine is a good one - the Wirrn from The Ark in Space - so I'm glad to have got it. On screen we usually only saw these creatures from the waist up, as the actors' feet could be seen shuffling them about otherwise. Only the dead Queen prop had the finished lower portion with the pincer-like bit at the bottom. Otherwise, the full Wirrn were only really seen briefly in the unsatisfying model shots in the final episode.
As mentioned before, I will still be purchasing figurines, only just the ones from the older series that I really want, so expect the occasional update.

Figurines Update

I didn't do a figurines post in December, because I didn't receive any figurines in December. Today a larger box turned up with four figures, as you can see above.
This will actually be the last of the regular updates on these, as I have decided to cancel my subscription. I still intend to collect - only from now on I am going to purchase only those figurines I want, concentrating mainly on the pre-2005 ones. Of the set I got today, only two were ones I actually wanted - so I could have saved half the money.
The two I could have done without were those I should have got in late December - the red New Paradigm Dalek Drone with the shinier finish, as it appeared in Asylum of the Daleks, and the Santa Roboform (the version which appeared in The Runaway Bride).
Of the more recent creatures to feature in the series, the Ice Warrior Empress Iraxxa was a wonderful design, so I'm pleased to have her. The only Classic Era figurine is the original crude Auton from Spearhead From Space, with its blue boiler suit.

November Figurines

I was only expecting the two regular releases this month, but instead there were three. Joining the Cybus Cyberman and the Clockwork Droid is a Dalek - the Death Zone one from The Five Doctors.
This is one of those hybrid casings that was put together from parts of other Daleks. It has distinctive red lights on the dome, and gun 'petals' of the same colour. A nice touch is the broken slat on the right hand side. The casings were all pretty bashed about when this story was made.
It is surprising how long it has taken them to release the Cyberman. The Clockwork Droid is the blue-coated male one, and is rather finely detailed.

October's Figurines

This month's figurines have arrived a few days early. Along with the two regular releases, we have the latest of the larger special editions.
First up there is the Ogron, as they appeared in Day of the Daleks. Not quite sure what is going on with the face, as he appears to have pale rings around the eyes. With him is one of the Cheetah People from Survival.
The special figurine is Aggedor. Technically, this figure shouldn't really be a larger figure, as old Aggedor wasn't that big. Fur doesn't render well on these figurines - just look at Azal's legs a couple of months ago - so a smaller figure might have looked better.
Next time, we have the Cybus Cyberman and the Clockwork Droid. Forthcoming, we have a red New Paradigm Dalek drone, the Ice Empress and - just in time for Christmas - a Robot Santa. The next special edition will be a War Machine.

September's Figurines

Just the two regular releases this month. First up, from the classic Caves of Androzani, comes Sharaz Jek. Hard to go wrong with this one, due to the simplicity of the costume and the stance. Even though he's masked, you can see that this is Christopher Gable beneath.
Alongside him is the most pointless release to date. So many figurines from the classic era they should be going for, yet we get the Space Pig from Aliens of London. As Space Pigs go, it is a very good Space Pig, I have to admit, and if you wanted a Space Pig in your collection then this is the Space Pig to have. I just didn't ever want a Space Pig.
Normality resumes next month with an Ogron and a Cheetah Person. Coming soon, we finally get a Cybus Cyberman, plus there will be a red drone New Paradigm Dalek and a Clockwork Droid.

August's Figurines

Three figurines again this month - two regular releases plus the latest of the special editions. First of all we have the Professor Yana Master. An extremely good likeness of Derek Jacobi.
With him is Dalek Caan, as he appeared in The Stolen Earth / Journey's End, with the casing broken open. This is one of those figurines that looks odd out of context, being so brightly coloured. On screen it was kept in a harsh spotlight, in a darkened chamber.

The special edition figure is the Yeti, as it appeared in The Web of Fear. It is roughly twice the size of the normal figurines. Unfortunately, mine came with a couple of the talons broken off - that's three months running I've had to get the super-glue out. Either Eaglemoss need to improve their packaging, or my postman has to to go.
Next month we will be treated to Sharaz Jek, from The Caves of Androzani, plus - what it possibly the most pointless release yet - the Space Pig from the Series 1 Slitheen story. October sees an Ogron plus a Cheetah Person, whilst the next special edition will be Aggedor.

July's Figurines

Three figurines this month - two regular releases plus the latest of the Dalek specials. All three hail from the Classic era of the series. First up is a Voord, from 1964's The Keys of Marinus. A preview picture of this figure seemed to be blue, but this guy is in jet black gear, the only other colour being a blob of white on the pommel of the dagger he is about to draw. The helmet is very detailed, particularly at the back. There's something quite fetishistic about him.
He's joined by the version of Alpha Centauri whom we first met in The Curse of Peladon. My photo has slightly washed out the colour - its cloak is more yellow in reality. The accompanying magazine has the making of the creature, but does not cover this story, suggesting that Aggedor or Arcturus is in the pipeline.

They are joined by what is termed an "Embryo Technician" Dalek. It's one of the classic silver / blue sphere models from Power of the Daleks, except that it has a longer arm with a basket at the end, containing the Dalek mutant. The accompanying magazine covers the making of the animated version of this story.

August sees the release of another Dalek - the wrecked version of Dalek Caan, as seen in The Stolen Earth / Journey's End. It is accompanied by Professor Yana, the human form of the Master as seen in Utopia. The next larger Special Edition coming soon is the Web of Fear Yeti.

June's Figurines

Three figurines this month, as we have the latest of the larger Special Editions released. Now before you wonder why Azal the Daemon is sporting a blue bracelet and finger ring, my figurine arrived in a damaged state. The right hand was off, and two of the fingers. I have had to make a temporary running repair with a bit of blu-tac, pending the purchase tomorrow of some super-glue. (Sending it back for a new one is just more hassle than it's worth). I have had other damaged figurines in the past - usually Daleks minus an eye-stalk or utility arm.
The two regular releases this month include the Roger Delgado Master, as seen in Terror of the Autons. The resemblance is a bit more caricature than realistic. He is posed brandishing his TCE weapon.
With him is a Tetrap, from Sylvester McCoy's debut Time and the Rani.

I'm not at all sure I like the Azal figure. The hair seems all wrong. I think they've used as a source an image of him where the hair has been cropped. The face should be rounder, with the hair shaggier. I dislike the colour difference between the chest / arms and the legs as well. Again, the source photographs may be to blame for this.
Next time - one of the alien Voord.

May's Figurines

Two figurines this month, both from the Classic Series, and both representing leaders of their respective races.
The earliest figure is the Black Dalek, from The Dalek Invasion of Earth. Not much to say about this. We have already had the Saucer Commander variant, with the alternate black and silver skirt sections, which formed a halfway house to the first of the Dalek Supremes. The accompanying magazine confirms that this was unintentional.
Then we get the Cyber-Controller, as it appeared in Attack of the Cybermen. It has to be said that they have allowed a little artistic licence with this figure, as he is much more svelte than he appeared on screen. The part was originally offered to David Banks, but he decided to stick with the Cyber-Leader role.
Next month, we have the Roger Delgado Master and a Tetrap. The following month sees the release of Alpha Centauri (Curse of Peladon version) and a blue Voord. The next special edition will be Azal, the Daemon.

April Figurines

Three figurines this month - the two regular releases plus the latest larger sized special edition.
The former comprise the Destroyer, from Battlefield, and the Veil, from Heaven Sent.
The Destroyer is bound with a flexible chain. He's a little more silvery than he looked on TV, though he was shot mostly in the gloom.
If you want to know what the Veil looks like under its shroud, forget it. The face is just a black blank. The oddest thing about this figurine is its misshapen feet, because these were never really noticeable in the programme. No wonder the poor thing walked so slowly.

The larger special edition figurine is King Hydroflax, from The Husbands of River Song. I wouldn't say this is a great likeness of Greg Davies. The head also looks far too big. Most of the time, the actor playing the robot body was looking out of a panel in the chest. This is a remodel of the robots that appeared in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, so you can see the scale is all wrong.
Next month, we get the Cyber-Controller from Attack of the Cybermen and, if the preview photo is to be believed, they've got rid of the paunch. Joining him will be the Black Dalek from Dalek Invasion of Earth. In June we hit issue 100, and that will be the Roger Delgado Master (Hooray!). He'll be joined by a Tetrap (Boo!). The next special edition will be the Daemon, Azal.

March Figurines

Two figurines this month - both from the John Nathan Turner era of the show. From his first season comes a rather fine Marshman, from Full Circle. They've certainly gone for a realistic modeling, as the skin looks like a costume with its noticeable wrinkles.
Joining the Marshman is the Silver Nemesis Cyber-Leader, from JNT's penultimate season.
Next month's release will include The Veil from Heaven Sent, and the Destroyer from Battlefield. May will see the release of the Cyber-Controller from Attack of the Cybermen.

February's Figurines

Two figurines from the Classic Series this month. The first is Commander Azaxyr from The Monster of Peladon. Nearly 100 issues in, and this is the first Ice Warrior release from that era.
Joining Azaxyr is what is termed a "Suicide Squad" Dalek - from Destiny of the Daleks. It has the yellow and red bombs mounted round the bottom of the neck section. Of course, most of the suicide squad Daleks we saw on screen were the rough light-weight vacuum-formed ones. This figurine looks quite good in comparison. The accompanying magazine tells the story of the Dalek props that were available for this story, and explains why they looked so mismatched.
Next month is another Cyber-Leader - this time the one from Silver Nemesis. Then we will be getting a Marshman from Full Circle, and The Veil from Heaven Sent. I believe the next larger scale special edition is due out shortly as well - the King Hydroflax Robot.

January's Figurines (2)

Three figurines to round off the month. The two regular releases are the Carrionite witch Mother Doomfinger, and the Cyber Controller as he first appeared in Tomb of the Cybermen. Alongside these we get the latest of the special Dalek figurines, and what an odd one it is.
First up, Mother Doomfinger. Very well modelled, with lots of detailing in the costume. The features are good as well, and you could guess which of the two Mothers this is supposed to represent.
The only thing I would say about the Controller is that he is a bit too silver. On screen, he looked to be darker than his underlings.
The Dalek hails from Evil of the Daleks. As you can see from the pair of images below, there is something definitely amiss with the proportions. This so called "skinny" Dalek had a much smaller base for some reason.The makers, Shawcraft Models, had no records about this version. It is believed that the slimmer base was created as this Dalek would have to traverse a real Victorian house - and so fit through the doors. Up until this story Daleks had only ever appeared in studio or on external locations.
This is the Dalek that orders Victoria not to feed the flying pests, and it was last seen in the Thought Channel sequence in The War Games Episode 10. VFX maestro Bernard Wilkie salvaged it when it was then discarded, and it is now owned by movie director Peter Jackson.
Next month sees the release of Commander Azaxyr, from Monster of Peladon.

Note the single column of hemispheres on the back panel, instead of the usual double column.

January's Figurines

Well, technically these should be December's figurines, as the postman tried to deliver them on the 30th of last month. Anyways, what we have this time round is a pair of figurines from the Tennant era.
First up is the Hath, from The Doctor's Daughter, looking more impressive than it did on screen. A big chunky model, you can't really go wrong with it. RTD had a habit of producing aliens that were simply animal heads stuck on humanoid bodies - usually wearing a boiler-suit (e.g. Pig Slaves, Tritovores). Moffat on the other hand favours skull-like faces atop black suits.
Talking of black suits, the other figurine is the John Simm Master, as he first appeared in The Sound of Drums. He's striking a casual pose, and holding his laser-screwdriver. I wouldn't claim it as the greatest likeness in the world, but it is harder to do better with such a small scale figurine, and my model looks far better than the one they photographed for the accompanying magazine.
Next time we are still in Tennant territory, as we get one of the Carrionite witches.

November's Other Figurines

Wasn't expecting this pair until Thursday, when they would have been "December's Figurines".
Both hail from the Classic Series, and there is a definite black / silver vibe going on.
First up we have the Sontaran Commander Linx, from The Time Warrior.
A very good model, posing with his helmet. Said helmet and collar a bit too dark, however, and for some reason no toy / model manufacturer ever seems to get a Sontaran's features quite right - despite the face being a mask. Even the Linx at the Doctor Who Experience doesn't quite look like how he appeared back in 1973-4.
Alongside him is the Supreme Dalek from Remembrance of the Daleks - one of those 'only ever seen once' ones. This has the odd shape of the late 1980's Daleks - with the narrower, near vertical base. By my reckoning that's all the Supremes released now. We've still to get the Gold one from the early 1970's, but that was a leader rather than a Supreme.
Next month it's one of the least wanted figurines - a Hath.

November's Figurines

A couple of one-off aliens this month - creatures that we are unlikely to see return to the programme. The earliest is the Monoid, from The Ark. One of these did make an anachronistic appearance at Verity Lambert's leaving party in a deleted scene from An Adventure In Space and Time.
The Monoid was actually quite an effective alien design, with the eye ball in the actor's mouth. It was let down by the Beatles mop-top, and their shuffling gait.
The Vigil - from The Rings of Akhaten - are also a very good design. It is just such a pity that this design was wasted on this episode, where the Vigil simply didn't do very much at all.
Next month we are promised the Sontaran Commander Linx.

October's Figurines

A third figurine for the second month running. First of the two regular releases is a Dalek (from Death to the Daleks) - referred to in the accompanying magazine as a "Machine-Gun Dalek". The second figurine is a Vervoid, from Trial of a Time Lord Parts 9 - 12.
Accompanying them is the latest of the Special Editions - a Mechonoid from The Chase.
Looking at the Dalek first, this was the one-off silver / black colour scheme, which I personally always liked. The machine gun replaces the usual exterminator. This Dalek is the one with the orange dome lights. The Daleks in this story never had a designated leader who was obvious on screen, and it has always annoyed me that they didn't make it the orange light one.
The Vervoid is very detailed, with its leaf-covered body. No Nike trainers on show.
The Mechonoid, which is obviously to scale with the Daleks, has been simply produced - the scythe-like arms and flame-thrower gun are not extended.
Next month - drum-roll please - we are going to get a Monoid!

September's Figurines

Three figurines to add to the collection this month. The two regular releases are the fly-headed Tritovore from Planet of the Dead, and the Cyberman from The Wheel In Space.
The special release is the latest of the subscriber-only Daleks.
The Tritovore is a fairly bland figure. He's posed rather awkwardly, like he is suffering from a dislocated hip. The Cyberman represents the show's second major redesign for the men from Mondas. The accompanying magazine for this one shows how the original design was supposed to have looked - a grey plastic body with only minimal cybernetic enhancements.
The Dalek is clearly one of the multi-coloured movie ones, but it is presented here as belonging to The Chase. That's because a couple of static movie Dalek props, with their bases removed, were used in the background for a couple of scenes to swell their ranks. As this figurine doesn't have its base off, I am not sure why they didn't just present it as a movie Dalek and be done with.
Can't wait for a release of the Special Stealth Dalek from the same story - the one disguised as camera 5, seen lurking amidst the jungles of Mechanus.
Next scheduled release will be a Vervoid from The Trial of a Time Lord (Parts 9 - 12).

August's Figurines

This month we have just the two regular releases. First up is the Whisper Man, from The Name of the Doctor. The painting is a bit slapdash on this one, with the white face paint going over the collar and the underside of the hat brim. The accompanying magazine has some interesting things to say about their creation. As the masks were made from ladies' tights material, they were extremely difficult to cut, and the make up took longer than that for a Zygon. If the material laddered, they had to start all over again.
The other figurine is the Robot Mummy from Pyramids of Mars. Not a lot you can get wrong with such a basic shape. As that story was already covered in the mag accompanying the Fourth Doctor figurine, this issue just has a general article about the various races that originated on, or who have visited, Mars.
Next up will be another Cyberman - this time from The Wheel In Space.

July's Figurines

This month we have just the two regular figurines - and both hail from the 1960's.
First of all we get the Second Doctor as he appeared in The War Games. With this release, all of the Doctors to date have now been issued. It is a very good likeness of Troughton.
Beside him is the "Flamethrower" Dalek, from the epic The Daleks' Master Plan. This variant can be seen in the extant episode two - Day of Armageddon.
Silver, with darker blue spheres than the very earliest Daleks, it has a long flamethrower attachment in place of the usual sucker arm. And that's about all you can say about it really.
Next month we are back to the more recent seasons, with one of the Whisper Men from The Name of the Doctor.