Looks good to me.
I would love to hear a store report for Japan too! Have you been to the Kotobukiya store?
Japan, I am guessing might even see figures earlier too?
Well, I don't really collect the kotobukiya figures (although I've admired them in the store), so I can't really speak on the matter. As far as stores go here, you can find a lot of random star wars items at this chain "subculture" store called Village Vanguard, but it's pretty hit or miss, not much in the way of figures. TRU, while it does exist in Japan, is a pretty sad state of affairs if you're looking for US toys. When I first came over here about ten years ago, they were always stocked, but since the end of the PT's theater run, SW figs have been unavailable at TRU or any other major retailer as far as I know. The occasional scores I do make are mostly at secondhand shops, where I often find unopened POTF or later figs and snatch them up. One time I bought 20 or 30 figures in one shot, none of them costing more than a few dollars. That was a good day!
If I want newer figures I have to scour Amazon.jp for bargains, or order from an import toy shop where the average price for recent figures is about 1900 yen, nearly 25 bucks a pop! When your kid has really specific requests, sometimes you gotta bite the bullet. That's why I'm so hesitant to start chopping up these figures or buy lots of doubles for fodder.
Parts list for the trooper: coruscant guard from the battle pack that xame with Yoda, cape is from POTF Boussh, Boba Fett backpack (duh) and binoculars from Hoth Han, pauldron from sandtrooper. Cape and jetpack are stuck on with poster tack, one of the greatest substances known to humankind. Thanks Mando Assassin, I thought the cape looked pretty cool and I'm glad you agree! The beige goes well with the kind of rusty brown CG ensignia.
