2018 see's B&M stores release another batch of 5.5 inch Doctor Who figures. As well as the usual three figure sets we've come to expect, this year we are also getting a brand new TARDIS with the 3rd Doctor and TARDIS box-set. Read on for our review and gallery of the set.
While B&M have been bringing us Doctor Who 5.5 inch figure packs for a number of years, 2018 see's them expand to a larger set containing a TARDIS, and a classic 3rd Doctor TARDIS at that.
The set is slightly more expensive than the three packs, coming in at £19.99
The box uses the same colour schemes as the other sets with a varying cosmic backdrop that changes from a bright orange cosmic swirl up to a purple starscape and then round into reds and eventually blackness.
The box design is brand new with a window that is sandwiched between and upper and lower rail and then wraps round the left hand side. In the window the TARDIS sits to the right with the 3rd Doctor set back a little to the left. Like all of these sets the branding uses the generic TV Movie logo and the character name and features of the set are presented in deep blue inserts. Here we see the confirmation of the scale as the 5.5 inch collectors series, and the set confirmed as the Third Doctor and TARDIS. The final insert sells the fact the TARDIS has opening doors.
After putting out sets with no text or bio info on the back for a number of years, this boxset goes in to a three paragraph sprawl about the TARDIS and its ability to travel anywhere in time and space - it really is a layman's introduction to the Doctors time machine. To the side of the text is an image of the TARDIS and the Doctor. This is the promotional image we saw earlier in the year where the colouring of the TARDIS is very very light compared to the prop - and thankfully compared to what we actually get in the box. The colouring was obviously updated in the final factory run.
The box opens from the top or bottom and the entire inner section slides out. The figure is sat into an inner tray that itself is slotted into the cardboard backdrop and taped in place. The TARDIS is firmly fixed in place with what looks like a clear strip that comes down each side and disappears in the seem of the door
In actual fact the TARDIS is screwed into the packaging by means of a black packing bar underneath. This needs removing before the piece will come loose. You then find the plastic strip is protecting the doors in transit, but it takes some patience to feed them in the door so they can be released and the doors will then open.
The Doctor's tray is released from the card insert by removing the tape. He is then held into the inner tray with some clear elasticated ties like the other releases.
Looking at the figure first, and this is as good a likeness for Jon Pertwee as we've seen in the range. it is the same sculpt as used on all the 3rd Doctor figures, but the paint on this one is neat, the skin tone not as orange as it's been on other figures and the hair is a nice shade of white with grey wash.
The costume is re-used also from various Pertwees and is the breasted jacked with sculpted crevat and plain trousers with shoes. The red of the jacket is bold and bright and the shirt beneath this just as bright. The black trim is pretty neatly applied, particularly the very thin lining around the cuffs of the jacket arms and the breast pocket.
This outfit is essentially based on the one Pertwee wore in The Time Monster. The jacket is pretty much spot on (at this scale and price anyway) while the shirt was more a ruffled shirt than an actual crevat.
The re-use is more obvious when you compare this 2018 Pertwee with others from the Doctor Who line. These images also show the improvement in skin tone from prior released figures.
The Doctor has 16 points of basic articulation - fairly consistent with the Character line as a whole. You won't find expansive moving ball joints or pivots on this figure, instead the joints are more reminiscent of late 1990's figures utilising the large peg and socket joints. This all starts with the head which is cast as a single piece incorporating the head and neck. This then plugs into the torso allowing it to rotate only.
There is a joint at the waist hidden beneath the coat which is actually a rubberised section on top of the harder plastic torso. Like the neck this is simple rotating joint only. The legs are a t-joint type design that will swing out to side and out to front and this allows you to sit Pertwee down or to pose him into some slightly more action orientated stances. Beneath the hip is a thigh swivel, then a knee joint. There are no ankle rockers, although the figure stands easily.
Arms are a little more basic than the legs starting with a plug into the torso at the shoulder which limits the arms to rotating on a single axis only from the waist up past the head and round. A bicep swivel tries to help the arm move laterally but as the arm is sculpted quite flat any turning of this joint will throw the look of the arm. Under this is a basic elbow bend joint. The hand is plugged into the wrist so by default can be rotated.
Moving to the TARDIS now and this is based on the existing classic sculpt that Character have used previously to make TARDIS versions for the 1st, 4th and 7th Doctor. Each version had amended decor, roof section and light - and this 3rd Doctor TARDIS is essentially identical to the one released for the 4th Doctor.
TARDIS experts can and will point out numerous inaccuracies. But for £20 this is as good a TARDIS model as you can get and for me fits perfectly with the display.
The decor is much darker than the original promo, which is good, with a level of weathering and washes. The decals are black with white text and are accurate to the Pertwee era. The base is black and is based on the TARDIS appearance in Spearhead from Space where the prop had been placed on a black plinth after the original base had deteriorated.
As you rotate the TARDIS you will find the sound grill and battery panel that was used on the previous versions for light and sound FX. This TARDIS has neither sound or light effects and while not adjusting this rear panel will save money - I suspect it will confuse some buyers and I wonder if B&M will get any returns due to the TARDIS "not working".
The one feature that is kept is the opening doors. These work on a spring and clip system. You pus the right hand door open first and this clips back. The second can then be opened and clips in the same fashion. Inside the TARDIS all you see is the inner workings and the redundant battery box. While a nice TARDIS interior card insert would have been great - this bare bones interior is no different to all the prior classic releases.
Closing the doors in theory work the opposite way to opening them (obviously) but due to limited space it can be tricky. Once you release the left hand door, the space left is difficult to get your fingers in to clip back he other door - that can lead to some difficulties until you work out how to unclip the left door then hold it part way open while you release the other.
In my opinion this is one of the better decorated TARDIS models we've had and it looks the part for me being dirty and weathered as opposed to the cleaner brighter versions we've had before - as seen in the above comparison with the 4th Doctor release.
Posed with the figure the TARDIS can look a little small at times but I think that is because we are used to a larger TARDIS in the modern series. If you compare shots of the 3rd Doctor with the TARDIS then his head usually goes up to the top of the windows - which is the same on the model.
The door opening is also big enough to have the Doctor propped inside ,poking his head out of the door as though he is about to run off on another adventure.
I can find very little to fault about this release which gives you a well executed alternative look for the 3rd Doctor as well as a TARDIS to display with him. While some may point out small inaccuracies, you have to appreciate at the current time it is either these innovative but inaccurate repaints, tweaks and adjustments or nothing.
Casual buyers may be confused by the lack of sound and light when they see the battery panel, but there is nothing on the box to say these are included. I score the B&M 3rd Doctor and TARDIS box set a 4 out of 5. It is perhaps a cardboard console room insert away from being a 5 out of 5.
