Toy OTD: Presspop's Raymond Scott Figure (2008)

Presspop may not be as prolific as other toymakers, but their choices are delightfully idiosyncratic. Whether it's their Bob Moog figure, or their Kaufman brothers toy set, Presspop projects are always out of left field. And what a great field it is!

One of their more recent releases is a Raymond Scott box set, commemorating the electronic composer/pioneer's one-hundredth anniversary. Presspop's toys are always top drawer, and this one is just as true to the brand.

Archer Prewitt designed the Scott figure (like Moog and the Kaufmans before it), and it's an appealing likeness. There's a great retro quality to the sculpt that feels really appropriate for the subject. The paint work is simple, but it's all the toy needs - the hair, facial details and pant cuffs are nice and clean. The figure has a good center of gravity, so it balances just fine. Articulation is understandably low - three joints (at the neck and both shoulders), possibly four (I can't remember if the waist turns).

For some reason, though, Presspop didn't just stop with a great figure - the box is loaded with extras! First off, a miniature Clavivox is included with the Scott toy. The sculpt and paint work aren't quite as strong as they are on the figure, but it's still a great accessory. Another wonderful touch is the figure's fabric jacket - it's well-made, and further supports the old-fashioned-toy vibe. The set also includes a five-song CD, decorated with some snappy graphics and nested in a spiffy cardboard sleeve. Most purchasers will probably be Scott fans already, so Presspop wisely made sure that two of them had never been released before! Nice.

To top it all off? Prewitt also decorated the box, and it's gorgeous. Front and center is a limited-palette portrait of Scott at his keyboard, and the surrounding artwork is just as well thought out. What a set!

Even better news is that not only is the box set still available, but it's on sale! You can buy it for $49.99 + shipping at toystoreinc.com.

Toy OTD: Presspop Gallery Sof' Boy Vinyl Figures - 4" and 8" Versions (2002, 1999)

Presspop isn't that prolific with its vinyl toys, but they make up for it in quality - each release is worth the wait. It's certainly true of their great Sof' Boy figures, dead on-model with Archer Prewitt's design! The sculpt does most of the heavy lifting, as there isn't much paint work needed. The biggest minus is the typical one - balance. These guys are tough to stand up, and the hip articulation doesn't help matters. Be sure to get some museum putty to display these toys!

As far as I know, this character is available in three sizes - four inches, eight inches, and a giant twenty-four-inch version! The big one is sold out (the 200-piece run originally cost $130 each, so expect to pay more if you find it), and I can't find the eight-inch version for sale anywhere (keep an eye on eBay), but you can buy the four-inch figure at forbiddenplanet.co.uk for £12.99 + shipping. Personally, I like the sculpt and pose of the mini-figure the best anyhow!

Toy OTD: Presspop Gallery, Archer Prewitt's Adaptation Figures

This has got to be one of the least intuitive toy ideas ever - who would make vinyl figures of the Kaufman brothers (both played by Nicholas Cage) in Adaptation? Who (besides me) would buy them? It's like an outtake from the end of Waiting For Guffman, except that it's real!

Archer Prewitt (the creator of Sof'Boy) designed the caricatures, and they're terrific. The sculpts, color choices and paint work are all really good, too. Prewitt also did the box art, which looks great (sadly, I recycled mine). There's not much for articulation here - just three points each, but it's really not about that - the joke doesn't get funnier if you could pose them better!

You can still buy this Cage-endorsed set at designertoystore.co.uk for $49.68 USD + shipping.