Released at the same time as Figrin D’an, Nalan Cheel is an exclusive deluxe figure sold by Hasbro Pulse and Disney Stores. Nalan is essentially the same figure as Figrin D’an but this release comes with alternative hands and three new instruments to complete the Modal Nodes lineup. The Deluxe box is wider than its standard counterpart while retaining the height, depth and overall shape so the side artwork will line up if you are keeping these in box.
Like Figrin D’an, the figure itself is really well sculpted and is a fantastic-looking recreation of the Bith musicians we see in A New Hope, and all the subsequent Bith we have come across throughout the saga. The paintwork depth is focused on the head with black glossy eyes and some darkening skin tones around the mouth ridges and the central head ridge. The mouth is designed to be an actual opening, and this lines up and accepts the reids of the wind instruments - without looking too goofy if one of the other instruments is being played. The costume in contrast is quite plain, but again in line with the onscreen appearance. We have a cast black torso, grey trousers and gloss black boots.
This deluxe set allows for a wider set of instruments so it includes all three of the wind instruments included with Figrin D’an - the Kloo Horn, Dorenian Beshniquel (Fizzz), and Fanfar. We then have the larger instruments for the band - the drums as played by Sun’il Ei’de, the Omni Box played by Tech M’or, and then Nalan Cheel’s instrument the Bandfill.
These larger instruments are also cast in a base metal or grey colour like the smaller wind section. There is a set of black legs on the drums and you also get a tiny pair of drumsticks. The Omi Box is cast with a stand and a circular stool. There are also a pair of sculpted foot pedals and a base with some red/copper wiring running up into the instrument itself. The Bandfill is a brown base colour with grey sections to the side and front and a grey mouthpiece and a further reid that slots into Nalan Cheel’s mouth.
Nalan Cheel includes four pairs of hands to help handle these instruments. You get the standard gripping hands as included with Figrin D’an which allows the figure to hold all the wind instruments. There is a set of smaller gripped hands for the drumsticks, a flat pair for the Omin Box and a final set of partly open gripping hands that cup and hold the Bandfill. Articulation is sufficient for the figure to hold and perform with any of the instruments in question including being able to sit on the stool to play the Omni Box.
The way Hasbro has executed these sets, you can choose the extent of your Modal Nodes setup - having just a duo if you wish, up to the full complement of 7. The cheapest way of doing this is by sourcing 6 Figrin D’ans and then stumping up for just one Nalan Cheel whose exclusivity makes him a little bit harder and quite a bit more expensive to get hold of. If you do this you will end up with a raft of Gloo Horns and Fanfars in your bits box - but the final display will look awesome. At this stage, I have sourced four members and will see how I go with filling in at least two more so that all the instruments are used.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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