5 comments about Star Wars Bounty Hunter: Zuckuss 12" Action Figure.

1. Zuckuss, another lovely member of the six ex-bounty hunter's guild members gathered in The Empire Strikes Back, takes the redemption-offering, fund collecting stage in this new release. He's actually a really impressive looking figure, too, one that, when viewed from the front, is undeniably Zuckuss and is truly needed by anyone who loves their cinematic, bounty-seeking companions.

   While shopping I happened across him quite by accident, the bland boxing attempt almost disguising this coveted figure amidst the throes of other newly released toys - as seen in many and many an overlooking nightmare since then. Still, when my eyes happened upon that face looking out through that plastic glaze, his nonmistakeable eyes meeting mine, I knew I had to have him. Out of the box I was delighted, too, only finding flaws in the way the back of the head and his coat meet and with the little chicken legs he has underneath that cover. Yes, the head looks more like a mask than anything when viewed at the wrong angle, and his legs are little bland stick-digits under his coat. Still, I rarely look at him from the top and I only curiously looked under his coat once(it covers him really well), so I was thrilled, the colorations meshing proportionately with his back/breather (not really removable) in a way that made my other figures envious and me forget any objections. He also comes with a weapon as well, something that he can hold quite well - a feat in and of itself - and he even stands up when the price is right.

   This is something most bounty hunter enthusiasts will like, plus its something for anyone wanting to pit the forces of the corruptible against the Rebel menace gathering against a poor, unfortunate, perhaps freedom-crushing empire.




2. I bought this figure just because I loved the bounty hunters when I was a kid. But in the original star wars, esb and rotj, this figure was refered to as 4LOM. Even the 4" figure was refered to as 4LOM, But this is refered to by another bounty hunters name, Zuckuss.
   Is this a fo-pa on hasbro's part? If it is, then this is a unique item to collect.
   Hey hasbro, if you make 12" figures this good, you should make another Boba Fett! I WANT A BOBA FETT!!! Good figure, buy it and leave it in the box, or buy two, play with one, and display the other! Kinda hard not to take him out an play with him!



3. I liked this figure. I have a large collection of 12" SW figures and this one, I felt, came out well. All the joints are tight and the likeness is very good. I was glad to see that they went the extra mile and made a shorter body to be more authentic instead of slapping a head on a standard body.



4. Bounty hunter fans rejoice! Now you can display all of the bounty hunters featured in the Empire Strikes Back. Zuckuss may have been one of the lesser known bounty hunters, but this 12� action figure is one of the best Star Wars figures ever produced. The detailed sculpting and outfit/accessories really stand out here. It also has good posability and holds his gun well. I still think Bossk is the best of the 12� bounty hunter figures, but Zuckuss is a close second.



5. This is the only 12 inch I've bought in a couple of years,He doesn't really hunt any bounty though,all he does is sit by my computer and scare 2 year olds.

No comments about Heirloom Doll Clothes for Gotz.

1 comments about Dolls and Accessories, 1910-1930 (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. I own the 2 previous books written by this author, (on the subject of "DOLLS AND ACCESSORIES"). Well, the 2 previous books by Zillner were much more complete. I would, thus, rate this "Volume 3" lower than the previous Zillner volumes on this subject.
   
   WHY? ... because when the author tried to tackle the doll Eras "from 1910-1930", I think she bit off more than she could chew.
   
   In my opinion she should have broken down the doll Era (ie: 1910-1930) in two parts and thus added more information. Either that, or she could have made this "Volume 3" more complete. The doll Era from 1910-1930 simply needed more coverage than attempted by Zillner.
   
   Zillner has a great writing style. Her photos are always wonderful. So my only complaint , as stated above, is that Zillner just needed to make this book a bit longer and she should have included more dolls and especially more accessories from this doll Era.

5 comments about GI Joe: The Complete Story of America's Favorite Man of Action.

1. I don't normally give a Five Star rating, but my god, this book is wonderful. The story is fun and indepth. The design is AMAZING and the images of the GI JOE figures are wonderfully shot.

   If you have even a slight, passing interest in GI JOE, buy this book, you won't be dissappointed!




2. Don't confuse this book with the "GI Joe collector's guides" that exist in various forms. This is a different animal - - gripping, well-written nonfiction, telling the story of a small family-owned business and its leap of faith on a brand new type of toy for boys, the now-ubiquitous "action figure."

   The story of the GI Joe product illuminates the story of the toy industry itself. I found this look inside the process of bringing a product to market and maintaining its value over the course of decades fascinating.




3. Excellent review of the life and times of America's Moveable Fighting Man. Especially interesting are the details of the conception and behind-the-scenes work in creating the prototype figure and marketing concept, an aspect of the story that may interest even non-Joe devotees. Collectors may wish to note that this is a much-expanded (and therefore more essential) version of the slender book included with the G. I. Joe Masterpiece Edition boxed figure.



4. A great read for the hardcore collector or the novice.

   Full of great insider info and eye watering photographs.




5. All other books about GI Joe take note: You have just been left in the dust. Michlig's authoritative and highly readable GI Joe: The Complete Story of America's Favorite Man of Action is the best single source of information about the origin of GI Joe that exists. Colorful anecdotes illuminate this exhaustively informative, definitive work about America's Movable Fighting Man. It belongs on the bookshelves of everyone interested in the history of playthings.

   Richard C. Levy
   Washington, D.C.

1 comments about Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll.

1. Japanese dolls are more than just collector's items: they've planed an important cultural role in Japan's society as talismanic figures, festival centerpieces, medical study tools, and more. It's surprising, therefore, that Ningyo: The Art Of The Japanese Doll is the first comprehensive book in English to cover antique Japanese dolls. Six categories of dolls - palace dolls, Girl's Day dolls, Boy's Day dolls, costume and theatrical dolls, and those connected with health, were made during the Edo period: color photos from private collections detail these dolls and provide historical background as well as lovely, full-color photos. A 'must' for any studying Japanese doll history and art.

3 comments about Coffee With Barbie Doll (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. Amazing scenes and fun read. This book brings back memories of being young but acting grown-up.



2. The pictures are nice, and funny, mine came with a defect that made me loose on 20 of them, and I am sad. Gives you nice ideas to display your dolls, but I think the pictures could have been a little better, don't know exactly why or how. I would buy it again. There is this one cute picture with a fashion queen that has her legs up in the air that says something like " 42 more and I can then eat the brownie I baked this morning" that made me laugh! :-)



3. This book is not worth the $4.00 it sales for.

1 comments about Antique Dolls.

1. I am 59 and have about 25 of these Dover Coloring books and really like all but 2 of them. (it is just a matter of what you like, though). When you buy these from Amazon, you get one free if you buy 3. I took the suggestion of several reviewers and bought a good set of colored pencils. I got regular and fine line. My daughter (also an adult) wanted to color some, too. I came up with the idea to copy them on my printer for her. Then I decided to copy all of them when I want to color. This way we can use the pictures over and over. It is nice to use a heavier printer paper. Be careful, we find it to be a very addicting past time!

5 comments about Trolls (Schiffer Military History).

1. I was very excited when this book came out,as there are only a handful of books on the subject.Upon opening this volume,however,I found a nice assortment of pictures with NO TEXT WHATSOEVER.The makers of some trolls were misidentified,such as a Nissan viking troll identified as a Dam troll.New and old dolls were mixed,with little or no info as to the decade of production.AS a collector for many years,I was SHOCKED AT HOW INACCURATE the pricing info was.Many dolls which can currently be purchased for a dollar or two were shown with grossly inflated values,while an extremely rare tailed troll was valued at only $65,a fraction of it's current worth.A notation in the front of the book by the author admitted her limited knowledge on the subject,and attributed the pricing to a friend of hers who owns an antique shop.This would seem a fairly questionable way to obtain accurate info.A little research at garage sales,flea markets and on-line auctions might have yielded more realistic estimates.While there are some nice photos,there is little else to recommend here.Both the Debra Clark and Pat Peterson guides are a better bet.



2. While Trolls, by Jan Lindenberger, has tons of high quality color photos, it has little else to offer to troll collectors. The majority of the book is dedicated to modern trolls by makers other than Dam. The author values these modern trolls way above their actual value, while the vintage Dam trolls that she does include are often undervalued. She mixes modern and vintage Dam trolls on the same page with little or no commentary. Many of the vintage examples are in poor condition, with no explanation of how the condition might affect the value. While she gives the size and brand of most examples, some examples have no size or an incorrect size. She includes many vintage Dam trolls in a section simply labeled unmarked trolls with no indication that they were made by Dam. In this section she prices a clearly modern troll with neon, non-mohair hair, almost three times as much as a 1960's, mohair, dam troll.



3. This is an excellent Troll Reference book, I use it all the time.



4. Excellent book for collectors & those that want to remember the little trolls of yesteryear.



5. This book was pretty much a waste of money. It includes pictures of fairly common trolls, not rare ones, and very little information. You can get almost as much information about trolls by simply browsing through E-Bay and you're likely to come across more exotic trolls in the process.

5 comments about Fashion Doll Makeovers III (Fashion Doll Makeovers).

1. This book has great pictures, but is it seriously lacking in the how-to department. There is one small chapter on how-tos, however, the rest of the book showcases the creations of various fashion doll customizers. If you are not looking for much on the how-tos of fashion doll customizing and you want to look at pretty pictures and get some ideas, this book is for you. If you are looking for a book heavy on the how-to of fashion doll customizing, this is not the book for you. What little information that is in the book and more, can be found on the internet if you are willing to do the research. Trust me, I found it.



2. I wasn't sure what to think of this book; I'd seen good reviews and bad ones. Ultimately this purchase was a leap of faith, and I'm glad I jumped. While this is not primarily a how-to volume, there is a good, basic starter section in the back which shows how to re-root and style hair, do basic face paints, construct accessories such as hats, purses and jewelry.

   If you're looking for a project-based book, this sure isn't it, and you'll be bitterly disappointed by the fact that the bulk of the book is made up of photos of and information about the work of other doll customizers. However, if you're looking for inspiration along with enough information to get started on your own, then this is absolutely the book for you. It's a book to set you dreaming about what that $2.99 sale Barbie could look like with a little (or a lot) of work. It's a book that can provoke you to have fun as well as take on a lot of hard work.

   Most of all, it's not going to lead you through cookie-cutter projects. If you want a doll that looks just like dozens of other dolls, stick with what's in the box. But if you want to think, to create something truly one-of-a-kind, then give this book a shot.




3. Great if you need inspiration but it's short on how tos. Some of the artists featured here have created true masterpieces. I just wish there was more on how to create your own.



4. That is what you will find in the latest edition of Jim Faraone's 4th Fashion Doll makeovers. The book is filled with beautiful shots of fashion doll makeovers, bios of the artists and best of all, in the back, tips and tricks on how to do some of the things pictured. Enhancing molded hair creations, beaded hair, create a molded mohawk style, the making of fairy wings, fabric wings, appliques and gloves are all explained with clear, step by step pictures. This book is a fine addition to the series. With each book you can learn more and more about creating your own makeovers. The information is also helpful if you just want to make presentable all those poor dolls that your daughter decided to give a hair cut to.

   If you aren't into making over your own dolls you can still enjoy the pictures of the beautiful dolls created by some truly talented artists.




5. This is a really inspirational book, but it's not for those who think learning is doing exactly what teacher tells you. Jim Faraone shows his readers what can be achieved, and gives a run-down of tips and techniques, but mostly he allows the work of artists of all ages, nationalities and styles to inspire dreams and ambitions. Jim treasures the individuality and daring of the doll artist and his books help those who dream to dare. How do you "learn from the artists"? By looking at their work and by letting your own curiosity and talent take over, not by following step-by-step directions to a 'creative project' that looks just like everyone else's. The books are treasure troves of inspiration, and worth a place on any doll-lover's bookshelf. Thanks, Jim!

5 comments about Queen Mary's Dolls' House.

1. England's Queen Mary--grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth II--commissioned the construction of her extraordinary dollhouse (or "dolls' house" as it is referred to here) in 1921, during her own reign. It resides at Windsor Castle, as it has since being constructed there. Designed by Edward Lutyens (famous for his graceful furniture), the house is a reproduction of Windsor Castle right down to the last nail--almost literally.

   David Cripps' photography beautifully captures the interiors of this amazing dollhouse, from the grand to the plebian. Here is the linen closet, each batch of towels tied with different-colored ribbon to denote whether they were intended for the nursery, the staff, or the kitchen. Here is a lacquer cabinet with gilded stand, dovetailed working drawers, and gold-leafed decoration. Here is a bed, complete with pillows, bolsters, sheets, blankets, and even a tiny walnut-handled bedwarmer. The toilet, complete with toilet paper discreetly placed in a bowl alongside, really works. The toothbrushes are made of ivory and have bristles made from the hair of a goat's inner ear. In the cellar, bottles of Chateau Margaux are properly corked and waxed and labeled. The pantry shows real bows of Fry's Chocolates sharing space with McVitie & Price biscuits, barley sugar candies in hefty glass candy jars, and Frank Cooper's Seville Marmalade in squat jars tied with brown paper and string.

   The garage houses a miniature bicycle with brakes "in perfect working order," not to mention a Rudge motorcycle and sidecar, a seven-seater Rolls Royce limousine-landaulet, a Vauxhall, a "Sunbeam open tourer," and two Daimlers. Gorgeous royal crests are hand-painted on each. The house even has its own petrol pumps and fire appliances, as was normal for large houses in that era.

   The house's garden is splendid despite the absence of a single living thing. The lawn, made of cut green velvet, boasts several tiny mowers (both motor-powered and not), and the nearby garden has its own lovely benches, hoes, spades and the like. There is even a robin's nest, complete with eggs, and a tiny, tiny snail.

   Perhaps the most extraordinary thing in the house is the book collection. Famous authors were asked to contribute their own works. Arthur Conan Doyle obliged by submitted "How Watson Learned the Trick," an original 500-word short story done in his own handwriting. The bookplates for each of the books were designed by beloved Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator Ernest Shepard. Rudyard Kipling submitted not only two poems, but illustrated them himself as well. Other well-known authors who gave their own works to the Queen's house included G. K. Chesterton, Joseph Conrad, Robert Graves, Aldous Huxley, Hilaire Belloc, Rose Macauley, W. Somerset Maugham, and Vita Sackville-West. Topping off the fine works of this distinguished crowd are the leather-bound autograph books--one each for famous folks from stage and screen, famous folks from the military, and famous politicans.

   There is even a room for storing the scepter, crowns and other regalia--all featuring flawless gemstones!

   The details are endlessly fascinating and the house and its furnishings so well-constructed that without a tennis ball or coin or some other everyday real object, you easily forget that everything your eye falls upon here is miniature. For those who cannot get to Windsor Castle themselves to view the house in person, this book offers a very fine tour.




2. With a couple of corrections of the first review, I'd like to make sure that it's known that Queen Mary did not commission this dollshouse. It was the original brain child of the Princess Marie Louise, who spearheaded the creation of the house. Queen Mary was "extremely surprised" but agreed. The initial shell of the house was erected in Lutyen's office, then removed to the drawing room of his house in Mansfield Street in London.
   
   It was unveiled to the press, once completed, in the Mansfield Street house, then moved and reconstructed in the Palace of Arts at Wembley. It went from there to Windsor Castle, then to an exhibition at Olympia. In February of 1925, the house was returned to Windsor Castle. The Daily Mail donated a glass case through which we can now view the dollshouse in Windsor Castle.
   
   This wonderful book has photographs of the letters written by Princess Marie Louise to all the firms and manufacturers involved in the dollshouse creation, as well as numerous photographs of the interior and furnishings. Pictures of tiny dollshouse ledgers, keys, and even a garden snail grace this book.



3. To further correct the first reviewer, the Doll's House is certainly not a copy of Windsor Castle. It is nothing like it. Windsor Castle is a CASTLE - stones and very old, and big. The Doll's House is an "ideal home" of the early 1020's - albeit intended for royalty and not for your average Joneses.



4. I was so enchanted by Royal Collection Official Guide Book to Queen Mary's Dolls' House that I ordered this one figuring (correctly) that there would be other unique pictures. This is the better of the two books - nearly three times as long and filled with more pictures, especially detail shots of the tiny furnishings and decorations. I am charmed by Cripp's method of showing scale: he poses the tiny cricket bat next to a regulation cricket ball, and the little golf clubs next to a real golf ball. This also includes a section on how the house is aging: fading wallpaper, damaged paint, etc. All of the pictures, except for a few that are historic, are in color. This is unfortunately out of print, and may be more expensive, so the purchaser will have to weigh issues of cost and availability for themselves. I think that either would do as a souvenier.
   
   If someone is really interested, I would recommend getting both books. The Royal Collection Official Guidebook is a pretty good buy at $11.95 and a nice supplement to this one. A very few of the shots are in both, but not enough to make them redundant to the person who wants all the information they can get. Generally, the duplicate shots are slightly large in the S-W book. To compare and contrast the two, while the S-W book has more of everything, the RC book still has some unique shots. The photographs in this book take in the entire room, while the RC book often shoots the room at an angle, cutting off part of the room, but what is shown is sometimes in better focus and a bit larger. To compare the shots of the Queen's bedroom, the Stewart-Wilson shot shows the entire bedroom. The Royal Collection shot, at an angle , reveals some additional details such as the fire screen and the chinoiserie cabinet, but cuts off the exteme left-hand side of the room. (Her Majesty has apparently been rearranging her decorative items since the S-W book.) The S-W detail of the 18th century pietre-dure table concentrates on showing the design on the top. The RC detail shows more of the table and the objects normally on it. The historical sections, revealing how the house came to be built are the most different, and the RC book has more pictures of people who participated in creating the doll house and of the room in which it now sits with the Phillip Connard mural. The captions are overlapping, but not identical, and so one gains more information by having both.



5. Lutyens, the architect of Queen Mary's Dolls' House, also designed the city of New Delhi and the Viceroy's House, one of the largest and most unique palaces in the world. Sadly, he was one of the world's greatest artists, but is remembered only for this (comparatively) tiny tourist attraction.
   
   Tourists, architectural students, and historians should buy this book. This is the only thorough analysis of any of Lutyens' buildings, and as such, is an important historical document above and beyond its tourist appeal.