Wednesday, March 2, 2016

NASCAR, NHRA drivers come to life with McFarlane's hyper-detailed action figures December 9, 2014


McFarlane Toys' line of racing heroes makes for great gifts 10 years after release

Besides creating tremendously detailed tributes to NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL players, famed figure-maker McFarlane Toys also started producing action figures of auto-racing personalities with the launch of the NASCAR and NHRA lines in 2003. The Series I wave of figures featured NASCAR drivers like Rusty Wallace, Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on store shelves.
McFarlane Toys made a name for itself with its award-winning line of action figures for the "Spawn" comic book franchise in the early 1990s, and in the early 2000s they expanded their offerings to action figures of movie characters and professional athletes. The company's figures quickly earned praise for their hyperrealistic sculpts, poseability, extensive accessories and innovative packaging, and they continue to surprise with recent lines from TV series "The Walking Dead." Virtually all of McFarlane Toys' products were ahead of their time, and their expansion into the sports genre was welcomed by sports fans and action-figure collectors alike.
What was different about McFarlane's take on sports personalities were the designs of the figures and their obsessive attention to detail, even when it came to the smallest items on the figures and their accessories. So even tiny details like the decals on the racing helmets and the interior lining of the helmets are just right -- no corners were cut.
Just like the company's other lines, the figures featured very lifelike reproductions of the racers' faces, in addition to great action poses. About the only things that were lacking were the actual cars to put them in. McFarlane did a number of versions of each racer in different racing suits, and in 2004 Bobby Labonte, Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson were added to the mix.


Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/car-gifts/nascar-and-nhra-drivers-action-figures-come-life#ixzz41oVtuV8k

Action Figure News

Action Figure News
McFarlane Releases 2009 Basketball Sports Picks Photos

Seven-figure Lineup Available March 2009

Source: McFarlane Toys — Posted 12/23/2008
McFarlane Toys has released photos of NBA 2009. This seven-figure lineup features the Sports Picks Debuts for a trio of players, two All-Stars in the jerseys of their new teams, and brand new poses for two of the game's most dominant superstars:
LeBron James 5: "The Chosen One" is taking his game to new heights, and the re-camped Cavaliers appear poised for another run at the Eastern Conference title and the NBA Finals. LBJ's fifth figure offers a completely unique pose - with LeBron taking a moment during a timeout, planning out his next move...
Ray Allen: The 8-time All-Star arrived in Boston alongside Kevin Garnett, and helped galvanize the proud franchise. By year's end, the new-look Celtics were once again atop the NBA - winning the team's 17th championship.
Jermaine O'Neal 2: After eight years in Indiana, it's a brand new opportunity for O'Neal. An off-season trade brought him to Toronto, where he's partnered with Chris Bosh as the new "big and bigger" duo in the NBA.
Tracy McGrady 4: The Rockets put together an astounding run last season (including a 22-game win streak), and have a healthy Yao Ming and the arrival of Ron Artest to make the Western Conference take notice. McGrady remains the team's most crucial player - and sometimes being the leader means more than dunking the ball or shooting out the lights - sometimes it means you've gotta sacrifice your body just to keep that ball inbounds...
Andre Iguodala: Last season was a true breakout year for Iguodala, who set career highs in points, steals, blocks and 3-pointers. With the arrival of low-post threat Elton Brand, the wing is wide-open in Philly, leaving Iguodala free to work his magic.
Kevin Durant: The NBA Rookie of the Year has almost come full circle. After a standout career at the University of Texas, Durant headed to Seattle as the second pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Following his brilliant rookie season, the Sonics relocated, bringing Durant back to the Midwest as the face of the new Oklahoma City Thunder.
Zach Randolph: It's been a long time since Knicks fans had anything to be excited about, but the arrival of Mike D'Antoni had given the team a burst of energy. With his "seven seconds or less" high-octane offense, D'Antoni has redirected the team, and talents like Randolph are enjoying the freedom of the wide-open offense.
NBA 2009 is expected to arrive on shelves in March 2009.