So I went to Hobbytown today and found this:


aquarium 3.28.12 001 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

Crappy glare, I know, but I was too excited to take a second one.


aquarium 3.28.12 011 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr
After being fully assembled as per the "instructions"

The consistency of the brick pieces is quite good, they feel almost as good as Lego, but a bit slicker. There's some transparency to the dedicated non-transparent parts, there's also the glitter or whatever that they put in the parts. However past the feel there's the usual overmold seams and somewhat poor fit in the parts, however in normal use it shouldn't cause a problem.

As for the consistency of the figure parts, they vary between somewhat rubbery to hard plastic, the elite's head and the grunts' arms are rubbery while the bodies are hard plastic. Both the grunts and the elite are quite detailed. The weapons are hard plastic and very detailed, in other kits the blamite in the needler and the needle rifle were painted pink.

More pictures:

aquarium 3.28.12 008 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

I think it's a bit gruesome having all those body parts hanging there.


aquarium 3.28.12 006 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

Grunts, now with rotating wrists, hip joints, and independent legs joints.


aquarium 3.28.12 012 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

Bit of a detail shot for the elite.


aquarium 3.28.12 007 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

The grunts hands come off too, also, assault helmet for the elite.


aquarium 3.28.12 015 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

With a bit of finesse you can make the elite hold the needle rifle with both hands and aim... Sorta, I'm not sure how an elite would aim normally.


aquarium 3.28.12 013 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

aquarium 3.28.12 014 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

Honor guard, entire reason I got this set.


aquarium 3.28.12 016 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

Possible replacement for the BA monopod, better durability too.


aquarium 3.28.12 019 by eziekiel snow, on Flickr

And perfect intermeshing with Legos.

As for other sets of this type, there's a UNSC and Covenant drop pods, I believe there are four sets of the type that I got, two for the UNSC and two for the Covenant, priced at $16.99. There're also single figure packs that come with a figure, a permutation, weapons and the fancy holder, again four of those, going for $9.99 each. Then there's surprise packs that have a figure and a weapons and a couple other things.

Ignore the names on the pictures.

That staff is amazing.

-Omi

Agreed, that staff is sweet!
How is the size for them standing against the Lego minfigs?
The Elite's extras are pretty cool. If nothing else those would make great model pieces ... for creating one's own.

The size is about perfect, the grunts seem a bit too tall, but it should be acceptable. Expecially around just ODSTs, S-IIIs, and Marines seeing as they're about "normal" size.

Nice. The grunts are bigger than we think, when in "normal" size like you said.