Review : Aliens Creature Pack
NECA Aliens Series (30th Anniversary)
Wave/Series : N/A
Released : Summer 2016
Price : £22.99
One thing NECA always do so well is the dioramas they build to show off their figures both at shows like SDCC, but also on their packaging and promotional online images. Over the past year or so we have been able to get our hands on some of these pieces with the release initially of the Planet of the Apes Lawgiver statue, and more recently the Alien Egg 6-pack.
NECA have now taken these diorama accessories one stage further with their release of the Aliens 30th Anniversary Creature pack. This is essentially an accessory add on, perfectly scaled to their 7" Aliens range and can be used to enhance displays and dioramas.
Unlike most of the Aliens range from NECA that comes on a blister card, the Creature pack arrives boxed with a front window that shows off the contents of the pack. The familiar Aliens logo sits bottom and central to this window, with the "creature pack" text underneath. To the top right is a circular cut in that states "stasis chambers feature working LEDs".
All of this is set against a dark glossy background, which then turns into a grid-work pattern on the sides of the box. Each side repeats with the Aliens logo and the "creature pack" text and at the bottom of each side is a circular 30th Anniversary logo featuring the familiar Xenomorph head.
Round the back are more repeating 30th Anniversary circular logo's and another Aliens "Creature Pack" text flash. These are also set around a diorama image of 7" figures Hicks and Hudson (not included) inspecting the Stasis tubes as they do in the scene in the 1986 Aliens movie. Crawling around the Stasis tubes are a couple more Facehuggers and two Chestbursters. We wouldn't normally inspect the bottom of a box too carefully, but here it is worth noting that the instructions for changing the LED batteries is positioned on the box - so certainly one to check out or keep for future reference.
Once out of the box you have a single inner tray into which is slotted the two Stasis Tubes, and each of these have a Facehugger already inserted. To either side of the Tubes are more Facehuggers - the left facing upwards and the right facing downward. And next to each of these are the two Chestbursters.
Let's look at the Facehuggers first. All four included are pretty much identical, although paint applications may vary slightly. They are also a direct re-use of the Facehugger that was released first with Bishop and later with the Alien Egg 6-pack. Considering their size the Facehuggers are nicely sculpted, and with a suitably gruesome paint job, including that reddened underbelly that surrounds the mouth.
Articulation as such is provided by the tail being sculpted over a flexible metal armature. This allows the tail to be bent and curled around to your hearts content. As a watch out, the metal will fatigue over time and likely break if you are over using this function. I have also experienced the metal breaking through the plastic if over bent.
The Chestbursters are a new addition to the 7" Aliens line, and one I suspect we will see again at some point in future releases. As they stand they are also sculpted really well and painted to the same level as the Facehuggers. You can even make out the fetal under-developed arms and the premature teeth if you look closely enough.
Like the Facehuggers, the elongated tail of the Chestburster is over a flexible metal armature allowing the Chestburster to also be posed by wrapping or bending the tail as you see fit. As above, the same watch outs would apply.
So its now onto the main event, the two Stasis tubes with their LED function. First, let's take a look at the design - which is, as you would expect from NECA, a great match up to the actual props from the movie. The base is relatively simple with just three brackets around the perimeter. The tube is clear and crisp and gives a good view of the Facehugger within. The top contains a lot more detail with a cut out section, in which is a tapered top piece containing a number of controls and what look like pipe connections. Top and bottom pieces are cast in a brushed silver, and there are no paint applications to speak of. And if I am being honest, a touch of weathering or dirtying up these tanks might have added to the character.
The top and bottom sections are connected not only with the clear tube itself, but with three rods that slot in the bottom brackets and then into the top. Each rod is a bright metallic silver, and when you actually get hold of one you will find it is actually metal.
The top section twists and then pulls free to give access to the tube and the Facehugger within. As a practical piece this doesn;t work all that well as each of the three metal rods are loose within the two brackets, so removing the top causes all three rods to come away. In looks however you can see how NECA have designed the piece this way rather than going with a sculpted plastic rod that would have had to be attached to the tube itself and therefore would not be sympathetic to the original design.
The LED is controlled by a small switch on the base. This is not the ideal location, particularly when the tube is filled with water, but works well enough - but would have been much better on the reverse of the base.
The LED works well enough when the unit is empty, but comes into its own when the tube is filled with water (see the right hand tube on the images above). The same can be said of the Facehugger which looks good enough to start with, but takes on an eerie quality when submerged - accentuating the sculpt and the whole look of the piece. I must admit though it is a tricky operation to get the rods lined back up once the piece is filled, and you must also be careful turning the unit over to switch on the LED once the water is in place. Not having any clear instructions is also a bit of a pain and I wonder how many of these get broken by over enthusiastic collectors trying to unscrew the top or pull it open. As I mentioned at the top of the review there is some directions on the box to at least access the battery compartment
Overall, and for the same price as a figure, this is a very nice set. The Facehuggers and Chestbursters are great little pieces, and with that flexible armature tail they can be used within scenery or if you are feeling more adventurous you can pose them on your figures. The Stasis tubes are the main piece and work well. I would have preferred a bit of weathering and an easier to get at switch - but once they are filled and lit, they look superb.
Looking at the price and what you get for your money, I award the 30th Anniversary Aliens Creature Pack a 4 out of 5 score.
