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Post by Bandalero on May 3, 2016 23:12:15 GMT -5
Like most of you, I too received my DM GAB Sting today. Yes he had the correct boots (thanks RSC!) and I did do some minor tweaks to the figure, but I still want to give an objective review of this figure now that I have it in-hand. Before I do, I think I have to let you know that Surfer Sting is my all-time favourite wrestler. I can't remember exactly when it started, maybe it was reading about him in UWF via those Apter mags, but definitely Clash of the Champions I solidified that he was my hero! Flashy tights, face paint, he was electric! Sure Hogan had "Hulkamania" scratched across his bandana and Macho Man had his iconic three-star trunks, but Sting had a wicked looking scorpion on the side of his tights, it was awesome! Now that most of us are adults here, I don't know if you can remember that feeling of being on the edge of your seat whenever your favourite wrestler was wrestling - that's the sort of response he elicited in me. Ahh kayfabe. So I couldn't wait for Mattel to crank out Surfer Stings when he signed on. I even started to make my own with available parts and Toybiz's head from his Evolution of Sting 4-pack. It might have been 10-15 years ago but they captured the essence of Stinger's expression nicely. You can see how my tweaked DM GAB Sting measures up with my old parts selections: So these long-tights legs are the ones Mattel also went with, a bit skinny in my opinion but it works. They also went with white Del Rio/Slater/Lawler boots much like I did with my yellow-tights Sting, however I do prefer the Ziggler/Gunn boots instead. I'm not sure why they went with a Batista torso because I felt either a Macho Man or SCSA torso was far more appropriate and scales nicely with the other existing NWA-Mattel figures like Anderson, Blanchard and the Road Warriors. The head is ever-so-slightly too big but that's nit-picking. What's not nit-picking is that this is a disappointing head scan. Even if they were going for his grimace/taunt they sculpted an overbite! DM-wise? The rubber jacket was insane to take off - I kept having flashbacks to Undertaker Series 1. And I don't care how much budget was allocated for the figure, but it's absolutely inexcusable not to include the big gold belt - my gosh that was the match where he won it for the first time after 2 years of running after it! So, not the best attempt by Bill and Co. in this humble fan's opinion. I promised myself I would collect every single Mattel Surfer Sting, even ugh Basics - again it's disappointing to see his neon-green tights in Basic when it would have been amazing as an Elite but the kicker for me is this funky head scan - it's not Sting and I hope they take another crack at it eventually.
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Post by Nivro™ on May 3, 2016 23:26:05 GMT -5
It looks perfect with that torso. Not a fan of the Ziggler/Gunn boots though. Whose torso did you swap with and how is the skin tone match?? (Camera flash isnt always accurate)
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Cyan
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jul 19, 2012 13:45:59 GMT -5
Posts: 1,135
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Post by Cyan on May 3, 2016 23:38:21 GMT -5
Thanks for the honest feedback on this figure. Especially because you're a Sting fan. It's so hard to be looking forward to a figure of your all-time favorite wrestler and have it be a let down or not quite live up to what you were hoping for. I haven't gotten this figure yet, but I am looking forward to it. Strangely, even though I'm mostly an elite collector, I'm more excited about the basic Sting than I am the GAB Sting.
Disappointed to hear that the jacket was hard to take off. you're not the only one saying that. I was hoping it was the same soft plastic that the Nasty Boys jackets were made of, but I assuming now it's the harder plastic?
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Post by Bandalero on May 3, 2016 23:48:43 GMT -5
It looks perfect with that torso. Not a fan of the Ziggler/Gunn boots though. Whose torso did you swap with and how is the skin tone match?? (Camera flash isnt always accurate) It's the most recent Elite Bulldog torso, but I had to switch the shoulder balls on the arms for smaller ones so they are random ones with a slight mis-match in skin tone. Actually I also think his arms are too large. Lex Luger was bigger and more cut so Sting should have more Cody bi-ceps instead. I may have to relook at those Lawler style boots since you mentioned it.
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Post by Bandalero on May 3, 2016 23:54:57 GMT -5
Thanks for the honest feedback on this figure. Especially because you're a Sting fan. It's so hard to be looking forward to a figure of your all-time favorite wrestler and have it be a let down or not quite live up to what you were hoping for. I haven't gotten this figure yet, but I am looking forward to it. Strangely, even though I'm mostly an elite collector, I'm more excited about the basic Sting than I am the GAB Sting. Disappointed to hear that the jacket was hard to take off. you're not the only one saying that. I was hoping it was the same soft plastic that the Nasty Boys jackets were made of, but I assuming now it's the harder plastic? It's not old-school hard like the first Edge elite jacket, but it's the downward angle of the arms. I feel sorry for those poor factory workers that had to put them on - definitely a tough day at work.
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JKLMD2002
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 15, 2004 11:36:55 GMT -5
Posts: 1,408
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Post by JKLMD2002 on May 3, 2016 23:55:47 GMT -5
Nice fix up Bandy and LOVE the Dudes with Attitude shot!
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Post by PJ on May 4, 2016 5:09:38 GMT -5
I know you aren't a fan of the face sculpt, but I do like it. But yes that is the torso he should have had. And while I do like that they changed the boots I still say it would have been better with Lawler's boots and Sting's foot. I don't mind the arms because 90's Sting was a big guy, but in a perfect world I probably would have given him the DM Steamboat/E19 Ziggler/E20 Rhodes arms. This way he would have still been larger than the Horsemen, but smaller than Lex. That said and while I am happy with the DM figure and honestly it doesn't look bad with their parts choices.(torso) if I was creating this Sting with their parts library I would have gone - Torso - Austin Shoulders - Same Arms - DM Steamboat/E19 Ziggler Crotch piece -same Thighs - Hawk's Knees - same Shins - same Boots - Lawler's Feet - DM Crow Sting
But with the Blutista torso I might have given that to Warrior opposed to the Triple H one. Anyway now we just need the Steiners to complete that scene.
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Post by mikey1974 on May 4, 2016 5:38:05 GMT -5
Agree with everything you said - I like it,but certainly don't love it. Way too many mistakes. Also,here's a pic of him with the Gunn/Ziggler boots Bandy, just in case you decide to switch them later :
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June
Main Eventer
High Fives All Around!!!
Joined on: May 31, 2009 10:54:49 GMT -5
Posts: 4,457
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Post by June on May 4, 2016 5:48:39 GMT -5
Bandy, The toybiz head would look great on the torso you fixed your Sting up with.
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Post by PJ on May 4, 2016 5:49:36 GMT -5
Agree with everything you said - I like it,but certainly don't love it. Way too many mistakes. Also,here's a pic of him with the Gunn/Ziggler boots Bandy, just in case you decide to switch them later : I'm not feeling the Ziggler boots for Sting. There's to many strap/buckles on them. I do like the Flair I did the same thing with an extra pair of DM and HOF Flair figures minus the Von Erich hand.
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Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 10:43:53 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2016 5:59:34 GMT -5
The mouth bothers me, I see this more than I see Sting:
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Post by Glorydaysofwrestling on May 4, 2016 6:47:27 GMT -5
Some of you guys are so great at cracking torsos. I've literally spent over an hour heating/boiling/cracking and all I ever do is ruin the figs. He looks great with that torso.
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Post by PJ on May 4, 2016 7:39:00 GMT -5
Some of you guys are so great at cracking torsos. I've literally spent over an hour heating/boiling/cracking and all I ever do is ruin the figs. He looks great with that torso. Torso cracking has been hit or miss with me. For the 3 Hitman and a Snuka that came out perfectly there has been 2 Bushwhackers and 2 Macho Man torso attempts that failed epicly. That is why I decided not to try and put a Bulldog torso on Sting. lol
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Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 10:43:53 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2016 7:46:56 GMT -5
The face looks like a short haired warrior.
Other than that. I dont care about this figure
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kingokrap
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Apr 2, 2012 6:47:08 GMT -5
Posts: 101
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Post by kingokrap on May 4, 2016 7:56:35 GMT -5
I think the Drew Galloway boots would've been perfect. Two buckles towards the back side of the boot and a plain front. As an aside, if anyone gets a DM Sting with two left calves shoot me a message. I got the one with two right calves.
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Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 10:43:53 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2016 8:26:26 GMT -5
Thank you .
I agree, I have always not liked this face sculpt. The torso was a bad choice aswell. Yours looks much better bandy and honesty I think those toybiz heads are much better. I'm sure gentle giant will do much better on their next attempt at sting
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Post by mikey1974 on May 4, 2016 12:01:16 GMT -5
Some of you guys are so great at cracking torsos. I've literally spent over an hour heating/boiling/cracking and all I ever do is ruin the figs. He looks great with that torso. Torso cracking has been hit or miss with me. For the 3 Hitman and a Snuka that came out perfectly there has been 2 Bushwhackers and 2 Macho Man torso attempts that failed epicly. That is why I decided not to try and put a Bulldog torso on Sting. lol Here it is, yep! Same for me. I've ruined quite a few figures trying torso swaps, so I don't bother anymore. That said, I did give him Dolph Ziggler arms today, which are slightly smaller thnt what he comes with, and I feel it helps out. At least his arms and legs look in proportion now.
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Post by Mr. #1derful® on May 4, 2016 12:21:35 GMT -5
I'm curious to see how's Bulldog's torso looks on Flair and how Flair's torso looks on Sting.
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Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 10:43:53 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2016 12:38:40 GMT -5
That fixup is how it should've been released.
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ToxicTwistOfFate
Main Eventer
Joined on: Nov 7, 2006 0:16:23 GMT -5
Posts: 3,576
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Post by ToxicTwistOfFate on May 4, 2016 12:48:58 GMT -5
Those two customs look way better than the one Mattel put out. I honestly can't get over how bad that scan looks with the terrible overbite. It almost looks like he's got a big white mouth guard.
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