Customer Reviews

McFarlane Toys Alien vs. Predator: Scar Predator Action Figure

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love McFarlane toys. The detail is always immaculate, with not a square inch of plastic wasted. However, McFarlane figures are never meant to be played with for they tend to be brittle and not very posable. The Scar Predator (due to the mark on his helmet) is no different with one exception. With about fifteen points of articulation, you can actually pose the figure. Unfortunately, the base has no pegs so you can't actually make the figure stand up unless it's leaning against a wall. This is also true with the Celtic Predator I bought so I'm assuming the design was intentional. Strange... I also couldn't understand why the design of the figure didn't allow the mask to be removed since it was obviously glued on. Regardless, it's a pretty handsome figure. However, I wouldn't recommend it to little children since there are sharp and jagged edges and even a removable pointy sword, but for older geeks like me, it's the perfect companion to the movie.

**Those wondering which Predator figure (Celtic or Scar) to buy should be aware that the differences between the two are minimal. With only slight variations in the masks and different weapon accessories (staff and discus), there really isn't reason to buy both unless you're a die-hard fan. Furthermore, from the packaging, which clearly shows a picture of the Scar Predator with his mask off, I was given the impression that you could remove it from the figure. No dice. It's glued on just as tight as the Celtic figure.**

Most of this review is the same as the one I typed up for the Celtic Predator figure but there's a reason...it's the same toy...no really, 90% the exact some toy with only minor differences. Different mask, different left forearm piece with a computer rather than net launcher, a slight armor variation with mid-torso armor and different skulls on a string rather than necklace, OH, and a spear rather than a shuriken...ummm, oh and a different left hand...that's it. Most of the differences are minor.

In 2003 McFarlane toys acquired the license to Fox's Predator films and released the original City Hunter. The following year, Fox released AVP and McFarlane, having the license, retooled the City Hunter for use on three different Predators from AVP.

Even though these AVP figures were widely released, they became a sort of rare and sought after piece after awhile, mainly due to their fragility. See, back in the day, McFarlane Toys as well as several other toy companies such as Palisades and even NECA used recycled scrap plastics. One type, polycarbonate plastic, was used for several different parts on these AVP figures such as the blades, plasma cannons, ball joints and hinge pins. Problem with this is that the polycarbonate, while a very hard plastic, is also very brittle and will break like glass at thinner thicknesses, leading to these figures breaking...a lot, and McFarlane toys earning the fan slogan "McFarlane Toys, pre-broken for your convenience!" and a lot of these toys not surviving even the more cautious adult collector let alone many of the kids and teens that bought them, making them rather scarce and even rare in a more or less whole condition. Breakage points include the more delicate linkage of the plasma cannon mount, and the knee joints and sometimes the neck and ankle joints.

With that history out of the way it is easier to understand the higher aftermarket price these fetch, especially still in the package.

The figure itself is reasonably well detailed if not particularly accurate. The large forearm blades on each arm were not originally a part of the Scar Predators design from the film, but when McFarlane cut the Predator known as Chopper from the line, it was decided that they would use the accessory blades on all the other figures whether they used them or not. The two blades on the right forearm that are traditionally a part of a Predators arsenal are correct as Scar was the only Predator to have double length blades in the film. The Plasma cannon is correct as Scar was the only Pred that lived long enough to use the plasma cannon but the mounting arm is way too long and again, very delicate. The cannon itself is nicely detailed if a bit oversized but it does have a nice two piece construction with a sort of "pump action" section that slides up and down the barrel of the cannon like in the film. He also comes with a collapsed spear on his back...glued permanently but that's OK, you can remove it which is also good because the spear tips break off really easily so you'll WANT to pull it off once that happens as it's an eye sore but he DOES come with the extended spear which is made of the polycarbonate plastic so mine broke rather easily. One thing Scar comes with that is really nice, is a feature that I think NECA should have tried, and that's the opening arm computer with self-destruct panel details. Awesome! Only other Pred in this line to come with it though is the Elder...not so awesome but then again Celtic was never shown to have one, just a net launcher in his left forearm. The display bases were cut back to save money as well and even though the figures include pegs, the bases don't have a way to peg the figures to the base however, unlike many posts here it is NOT necessary to lean the figure up against the wall, a little finagling with the ankles will allow a sure footed stance keeping the figure on his feet if you can keep from breaking the pin there. The rest of the articulation is surprisingly good. The shoulders can shift forward allowing his arms to move in front of him meaning if you take the silly giant blades off he can actually look like he's using his computer on his left forearm. The other shoulder joints are ball and socket and allow for a wide range of movement but the elbow joints are a cut joint system and that means the right arm can't really straighten out much without looking very awkward, and the left arm can't bend. The mid-torso joints add to the articulation greatly with a mid torso cut and swivel type joint BUT is hindered slightly by the way they added a strip if armor to his lower torso. There's also a waist joint and double jointed hips you probably won't use much because of how hard it can be just for the figure to stand upright anyway. There is also a very useful mid thigh swivel, knee joints and the previously mentioned ankle joints that are made up of a sort of Revoltech type joint though it isn't as useful as it sounds due to sculpting and severe lack of ratchets.

One note I have to make here is that the mask is NOT removable in any way whatsoever. All the product images shown for the Amazon listing are of the prototype and when the line was scaled back any removable mask features were removed permanently and all the heads were sculpted with the mask on so no, you cannot take them off. I don't even know why those stock photos were used at all.

In the end, this isn't a great figure for an adult collector that likes to take figures out for display, certainly not a good toy for a kid to play with, especially with the aftermarket prices so, unless you're a Predator completest, I can't recommend buying this let alone taking this out of the package BUT, if you NEED a figure of a Predator from this film, this is my recommendation as he was the main Predator.

I just got the scar predator it actually only took 1 week from the time it was ordered I would have to say it is awsome I was real surprised I have the celtic predator but this one I thought was better the detail the size the mask everything about it is really authentic a must have if you are a fan of the predator movies-I would give scar predator a 5 on a scale from 1-5 there is just something about it that seems to put you into the movie he looks like a real warrior which I like.
the celtic is good but I thought the scar was very good they both are worth having in your collection glad I bought it.

This is aa really cool toy.there are a few minor problems but it is still cool. On the box it shows him without his mask on and even on the website it does. I can not take off this mask. If anybody knows how please tell me. The extra arm blades on his arms are not in the movie but they sometimes get in the way. Also the two wrist blades sometimes get to close to eachother so i had to put some paper between it. The sculpt is amazing though. you should also tape the case for his dagger to his legs becuase it falls off a lot. The cannon is pretty cool but it iseasy to loose. I didn't loose it but my friend lost his. Always keep the cannon attached to the thing or else you are screwed. otherwise this is a great product. The predator spear doesn't expand and is made out of cheap plastic. The predator has a few minor problems but they can easily be fixed. Kids will love this product but before you give it to them you might want to fix the problems. If you want to see more pictures of scar predator go to www.spawn.com/features/avp/scar.html or type in avp scar predator on google and click on the second link. Predator is sort of short compared to other toys but he still is cool.

This toy is awesome it totally resembles the predator from the movie it is cool and fun

First of all Amazon has some really bad poses of these figures, so go to Spawn.com, in the search bar type Alien vs Predator, on the page you get scroll down and go to the figurette. It has places to buy, cool photos, packaging photos, VR featurette, and more. At of all the sites I've been to I say the cheapest place to buy these figures is Amazon.com. This toy is not very durable, in less than 3 hours of owner ship the plasma caster came off. Not the gun part but the extendion piece. What I did was take a twisty and rap it around it tightly. It works fine, but my answer to you is to take this figure out set it up carefully and pose it the way you want place it some where and pick it up by the base when you want to move the entire thing somewhere else. Over all this figure rocks, I hope the movie does.