Review : Ultimate T-1000 Motorcycle Cop Terminator 2, NECA Wave/Series : Ultimate Series Released : January 2017
£22.99 - £25.99
After the initial release of an Ultimate T-1000 figure from NECA, it was almost inevitable that the figure would be tweaked and updated for a further pack - making the most profit out of a sculpt.
The second Ultimate T-1000 figure was released in early 2017 and was the "motorcycle cop" disguise that the T-1000 adopted while chasing down John Connor.
Like all Ultimate releases, the T1000 is a closed boxed packaging - adorned with the Terminator 2 text logo and an image of Robert Patrick as the T1000 in his motorcycle helmet and sunglasses. The box is black around this artwork with a blue steel trim and name plate which confirms the release as the T-1000, Motorcycle Cop.
This same theme continues round the sides and onto the back. Here we now get individual steel blue frames containing images of the figure. There is then a text breakdown on the top left of the rear which breaks down the plot of Terminator 2 and the events of Judgement Day when Skynet started its war against the Humans.
The packaging isn't quite closed box as the front flap is an opening door held back by a Velcro tab. Behind this on the inner flap is a very atmospheric shot of the T-1000 figure.
Opening the flap also reveals the figure in a window. The T-1000 is front and centre with the array of accessories arranged around the figure.
The box opens by the top or bottom flap. The figure then slides out in a fully enclosed cardboard tray. The accessories are taped in place, and you need to be careful not to take off any paint when pulling the tape away. The figure itself is held in by black twisty ties.
The figure comes with the Robert Patrick head in place and this is a good likeness to the actor although it is a bit too thin and tall, a touch out of proportion Skin tone is quite bronzed but there are variations in tone to bring out the features on the face. The eyes are very intense and on our figure are painted a little cross-eyed/
Other details include the LAPD badges on each shoulder which are a decal of some kind. These are bright and easily legible, although there is a grey paint splodge on one of mine. There is also the more metallic PD badge on the front. This is a sculpted item and painted on top so is less clear in regards reading the text printed into this.
The rest of the body is well done. The motorcycle jacked is baggy as you'd expect being worn over the standard uniform. The trousers are trim and tuck down into the motorcycle boots.
While the radio in his back pouch looks like it is removable and is an accessory, this is actually sculpted as part of the belt and can't be removed.
When you line up this new T-1000 to the original Ultimate release you can clearly see the skin tone variation. Aside from this the head sculpt remains identical. It is also as we compare that we see this is far from a tweaked re-release and that the whole body has been resculpted, with only a few parts like the head and some accessories carried forward.
The figure has 14 points of articulation which commence at the head. This is not a traditional ball jointed head on a neck peg, but rather the head and neck are one piece with the ball set further down in the torso, The head clips onto this. Once in place it still rotates and leans forward and backward but this is arguably more realistic that the neck moves with the head.
Arms are ball jointed at shoulder and there is then a single rotating elbow joint. The hands are not pivoted and are simply plugged into the sleeve by a ball on the end of the hand. This allows rotation of the hand but not much other movement.
The waist can be rotated, but only on one axis. We have no lean forward or backward. The legs are ball jointed with the joints then hidden under the flexible rubber crotch that NECA use on most figures. THat makes the legs look more realistic, but does hold back leg articulation to wider stances only. The knees are a single joint which is a touch disappointing. We then get an ankle rocker and this helps the T-1000 stand very easily.
Being an Ultimate release there are various swap out options, starting with alternative heads. The whole head piece snaps off that internal ball joint and the new head can be clipped into position without much fuss.
For me the Motorcycle helmet is more iconic for this version of the T-1000 and is also a better looking piece than the original head. The helmet is smooth and glossy but does have a very soft sculpted silver badge. The visor is crisp and almost reflective, and the same can be said of the sunglasses which are painted in highly reflective, almost mirrored, silver.
The face, or rather than parts of it that are then visible, is a very nice likeness to Patrick and the skin tone is a more toned down and subtly shaded with the features of the face.
The other head option is the damaged version where the whole liquid metal head has been spit asunder. Again this clips in with ease. While similar to the original release, this is a new (or at the very least updated) head as the split is much more pronounced with each half at almost 90 degrees to the neck.
The inner centre is painted silver while the exposed skin and eyes are still painted in the same way NECA would paint a complete un-damaged head.
Your T-1000 comes with variety of armaments, starting with the very basic Police Issue pistol. This is the same sculpt as the original T-1000 but it has lost its paint apps and is now simply cast in a black plastic.
The gun is designed to fit into the T-1000 right hand with the trigger finger slotting into the trigger. When not in use this fits into the working holster on the T-1000 belt.
There is a second conventional weapon with the assault rifle, a new piece to this set. Again this is cast in black plastic with no paint apps. It also fits in the right hand with trigger finger slotting into place.
Now if you want to wield the weapons left handed, or indeed have a weapon in each hand, then NECA have you covered with an alternative set of hands that includes a trigger finger posed left hand. The hands pop out of the sleeve easily enough - a bit too easily sometimes.
There is also a set of hands where the pointing finger has been extended using that liquid metal into a sharp spear. These are a direct re-pack from the original. They are painted well with a neat blend from skin to the silver of the spike. Sadly they are misshapen due to the softer plastic used, even heating and reshaping makes little difference. It ends up looking less menacing, but more like the T-1000 has a very long badly bent fingernail.
What is more impressive is the left forearm piece. On the original release these were hooked for the scene where he grips onto the rear of the car. This time we only get the one but it is shaped like a sword. This is the toughest part to remove and change being very stiff and also sat on a very delicate part like an elbow joint. Once swapped the arm can still be bet and posed. It again is painted in silver, but a duller colour with less of a gradient between the jacket sleeves to the metal part. There is still some bending of the softer plastic, but this is an easier shape to even out.
There is no doubt that the Ultimate T-1000 Motorcyle Cop gives you a whole range of looks for display. From battle damaged to brandishing those liquid metal arm weapons, from full Motorcycle Gear to gun toting attack mode. Most parts swap in and out really well, and the difficulty will really be choosing what look to go for.
At a UK RRP of circa £27, this release is a few pounds more expensive than a basic release - but the additional parts certainly justify the extra spend. THis is essentially three figures in one box and you have to thank NECA for making it this way, and not doing what they originally did and to re-release a blister pack single figure of each of the T-1000 look.
The figure is not perfect as it has limited articulation in some areas. There are also paint errors like the face skin tone on the standard head, and the splodges on the decals. But you cannot fault the sculpting or the accessories. I score this updated Motorcycle Cop T-1000 an impressive 4 out of 5.
Comments