Character Building Collectable Micro-Figures

[Darkdragon]

Well, it seems everyone is jumping on this collectable building figure polybag phenomenon.

Character Building is usually considered a UK brand, and the licence holder for Doctor Who. I've always been curious about them, but not enough to import some figures. Today at Toys R Us, in the "non lego" area, I spoted some familiar-looking yellow packets. When I saw they were CB, I had to pick a couple up to check them out.

The price is good at $1.99, but once I opened the packet, I was a bit disappointed by most of what I found.

Here's the front & back of the packet, looks very much like the LEGO version.

One notable difference is that the CB series only has 12 figures, so that's less money for parents to spend on the figures as well as less to collect the whole set (in theory).

The contents. We have poster, base, legs, torso, head/helmet, and visor. Yes, the head/helmet is one piece molded and painted.

Here are the instructions. What's interesting is they indicate the "rarity" of each figure right on the poster. Pretty helpful for collectors, I'd think. Seems like a lot of wasted space on the poster though.

I grabbed two packets, hoping to get two different figures but I got two of the same lame race-car driver. I was hoping for a night or ninja, but knowing that the helmets and head are one part, I might not even bother trying to find one.

Here's the whole thing put together.

Now for some thoughts on the actual product. The things I like about it are the price, $1.99 is the sweet spot and I wish LEGO had not strayed from it themselves. The base is really neat too, it's got a cool shape and embossed logo. I noticed on the one that came with my figure it has what looks like a wheel painted on it, so that got me thinking that maybe the base is unique to each figure. I think that's a really cool little touch to make them a bit more collectable, I'm sure many of us have hundreds of those CMF 3x4 modified tile in black and wish for other colors once in a while.

This might not be everyone's view, but as a photographer I really appreciate the dull finish of these figures. It was so much easier to snap relatively clean photo of this guy compared to the ultra-shininess of a LEGO minifigure. Not to say I dislike shiny, but when it comes to quick photos - that can be a problem.

Last but not least, the legs. What can I say other than: Why didn't TLG do a similar design for Friends minidolls? Each leg moves independently and yet it has the same shapeliness and similar footprint of a Friends minidoll. I really like the leg design on these figures. My only complaint about these legs are that they are about a plate too short compared to the torso. It makes the figure look kinda strange, but that seems to be the CB "look" just like the non-shape of the classic LEGO minifigure is the TLG "look".

Will I collect these? No, I definitely will not.

Has this adventured turned me off of CB figures? Nope! I think I will see if I can hunt down a set of Doctor Who figures for a decent price now that I know what the quality is like.

Here are some comparisons with LEGO minifigures and minidolls. The good news is that the heads are interchangeable and so are the weapons/accessories. That's it though.

[Spider-Man]

Interesting little review! The 12 figs in the series all seem kind of boring to me though. I mean we complain about getting two similar figs in completely different series and they have a bunch of similar ones in this one series. The only one that I like is the monster with his brain out number 7 does hold a resemblance to Stallone in the Expendables

[Big Cam]

A great review with some good comparisons but dd, please don't waste anymore money on these. They are terrible. Your great pictures only emphasize the poor quality.

[dr_spock]

Thanks for the review. I concur with you on the difficulty of photographing shiny plastics and dealing with unwanted reflections. On the other hand these CBs makes uninspiring subjects.

[The Joker1]

I got the 11th dr one of these free in the sun in a promo similar to lego. And to be honest i dont think its worth th 30p cost of the paper . The base is ok and can be used for custom doctor who figures but the figure its self is really awfull. (and it has a nose )

[Darkdragon]

The heads for the CB figures really remind me of Jack Stone figs. As a matter of fact, they look very similar when placed on a minifig body. Compare these two pictures, for example.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Cool review. This is the first time I hear about these toys. I just can't help thinking this is a LEGO rip-off, they look very similar to the Friends minifigures

[Darkdragon]

Cool review. This is the first time I hear about these toys. I just can't help thinking this is a LEGO rip-off, they look very similar to the Friends minifigures

Actually, the company has been making these style figures long before TLG made Friends figures.

[Greedo24]

I got 3 of these and they somehow all turned out to be the same knight!Actually I was pretty happy I got 3 of the character I can have a army of!

[BlueBrickTARDIS]

I have quite a lot of the Doctor Who mini-figures and sets. Love them all, very cool and very compatible with LEGO, in my opinion.

[JeagerEX]

Nice review! Anyways I don't want to buy all those figures that is waste of money and time.

[BlueBrickTARDIS]

This is how my Doctor Who CB collection is currently looking. :D

Can't remember if I already posted this photo on the forum or not, apologies if I did!

[Luke Styer]

Here are some comparisons with LEGO minifigures and minidolls. The good news is that the heads are interchangeable and so are the weapons/accessories. That's it though.

I don't really care for Character Building's human figures. The kind of cartoony proportions turn me off, though it bothers me much less in the not-human figures. I love that the weapons and accessories are interchangable, though. Anything that provides guns and such that my LEGO minifigs can hold is all right is my book.

It's my understanding that minifigure heads and minidoll heads aren't interchangable, which, I guess means that Character Building heads and minidoll heads aren't interchangable, which is too bad because it looks like those two kinds of heads are more in proportion with one another, and both have noses. It wouldn't help the lack of male bodies among minidolls, but even the same body with two different heads can look like two different characters.

Semi-related, I have only one Character Building brick-based set, which is the little TARDIS with the Eleventh Doctor and Amy, and I am very satisfied with the bricks. If that TARDIS model is representative of the general quality of their bricks, I'd be willing to try out bigger sets if I see them for a reasonable price.

[TheLegoDr]

Thanks for the review. I haven't heard of this brand. I don't think I'll be collecting any anytime soon, although the price point is right for parents. Those shields could be good for a LEGO army, maybe. I'm not going to buy any to find out though.

[brodey1]

These look interesting, but after receiving megabloks as a young child, I am eternally repulsed by building toys that are not lego.

[Hammerstein NWC]

I recently bought some of the Cb Dr who sets whilst heavily discounted on sale. There are some really interesting bits in there. I used some of their brown cables in a steampunk build and robbed the doctors sonic screwdriver for my own Dr Who project (whenever I get round to that).

The cables are great for steampunk I used them here in my WIP, You can't see them properly here but there are also some great "wheels" which act as 2x2 brick toppers, which I have put on the kneed joints.

People are quick to dismiss these clone brands but some of the parts are quite fun for non purists like myself. (the CB figs in the bags are quite horrible though IMO ). The Doctor Who figs seem of a far better quality for some reason?

There are some really cool and interesting parts I'd like to see lego make :)

Edited March 4, 2013 by Hammerstein NWC