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Launch Date: December 2021

RRP: £19.99

With how lengthy Character Choices have been producing Physician Who motion figures now, it is wonderful that it took them till the tip of 2021 to provide a set primarily based on The 5 Medical doctors. Marking the twentieth anniversary of the franchise, the story noticed the then-five incarnations of the Physician pulled into the Dying Zone – a dimension on Gallifrey the place combatants are pitted towards one another in “The Recreation of Rassilon”. The 5 Medical doctors (1983) Collector Determine Set was launched as a part of the second assortment of B&M Retailer unique units for 2021, and is notable for being the primary to incorporate a paint variant determine. Whereas the entire units included each the Third Physician and a Raston Warrior Robotic, the Cyberman was obtainable in each commonplace soldier and Cyberleader variants.

The 5 Medical doctors (1983) Collector Determine Set comes within the normal three-pack packaging Character have been utilizing for the Physician Who line for the previous few years, adopting a blue, gray and white color scheme with stencil-like TARDIS graphics and the trendy Physician Who emblem. In addition to that large window displaying off the figures contained in the entrance additionally options each the identify of the set and that acquainted gold “restricted version” sticker that seems on the entire B&M unique releases. In contrast to the Historical past of the Daleks units the again doesn’t function a narrative synopsis or any behind the scenes info, as an alternative choosing simply inventory pictures of the three figures. Observe that the field footage (and names) a typical Cyberman, and makes no reference to the Cyberleader variant that is additionally obtainable. Nevertheless one factor Character have introduced over from the Historical past of the Daleks units is the inclusion of background insert playing cards – this one that includes the cave the place the Physician and Sarah encounter the Raston Robotic earlier than it swiftly takes out a platoon of unsuspecting Cybermen.

The primary determine on this set is a brand new variant of the Third Physician, primarily based on the costume worn in The 5 Medical doctors. After all with there being a particularly restricted finances for brand spanking new tooling throughout the road the determine does not function any new components, however a mix of current components and a good paint job are sufficient to do the job properly. This variant makes use of the Jon Pertwee head sculpt used throughout the entire Third Physician figures (and as such shouldn’t be utterly correct to how he appeared in The 5 Medical doctors), with a purple jacket repaint of the tie-less torso beforehand distinctive to the regenerated Fourth Physician determine and the smooth plastic cloak used on each a variety of Third Physician figures and the Talons of Weng Chiang Fourth Physician. The cloak is detachable, and beneath the jacket has been totally painted. Credit score the place it is due the paintwork on the costume itself is great, however the colors on the top sculpt are undoubtedly a bit of questionable. Each the eyebrows and lips have a blue tint to them, which makes the Physician both look very chilly or very unwell. The detailing itself is nice, so it is a disgrace that the colors throw it off a bit.

You do not want to have a look at this determine very lengthy to know that the cloak impacts on the articulation fairly considerably, however beneath that chunky piece of soppy plastic is a determine that is just about in keeping with the remainder of Character’s Physician Who vary. The Third Physician sports activities;

The Raston Warrior Robotic is a brand new determine unique to this set, or on the very least as new as these B&M retools will be. Very similar to the Sensorites, Voord and a dozen different figures earlier than them, the Raston Robotic reuses the Humanoid Axon physique with model new head and hand sculpts. Within the present the Raston Robotic is a silver repaint of the black Cyberman androids that appeared in Earthshock, and Character have in flip adopted swimsuit by releasing a black model of this determine as a part of the Earthshock set included on this wave of releases. It is a particularly fundamental trying determine because it no has no discernible options, and although the Axon torso is significantly baggier than the skin-tight present costume it nonetheless does the half fairly properly. The brand new head sculpt includes a clean faceplate painted in a shinier silver than the remainder of the physique, and the palms have been moulded in show-accurate “firing” poses. It is a good trying determine, however there’s additionally a sure roughness to it as nicely.  There are seen seamless working throughout the legs, and the black put on and tear across the toes appears virtually like harm fairly than an intentional impact.

Whereas the Axon physique is likely to be getting round a bit of an excessive amount of with reference to those new figures, there is not any denying that relating to articulation it is one of many higher Physician Who figures on the market. Altogether the physique options;

– Neck, waist, bicep, wrist and thigh swivels 

– Swivel hinge shoulders and hips 

– Hinged elbows and knees 

Sure it might not look all that totally different on paper, however it’s wonderful simply how a lot totally different swivel hinge shoulders make on the figures. The power to maneuver the arms outwards makes a phenonemal distinction to the general poseability, and with out them the Raston Robotic would not be capable to pull off half of its signature poses. It helps that there is nothing on the physique to have an effect on posing and steadiness both, so the Robotic can simply assume all these outstretched poses to take down a platoon of unassuming Cybermen. Whereas the Raston Robotic is likely to be probably the most fundamental determine design-wise on this set (and along with the androids within the Earthshock set, arguably your complete vary), the poseability of this factor is sufficient to one of many extra thrilling items on this set.

The ultimate determine within the set is both a typical Cyberman or Cyberleader, relying on which model of the set bought. Why one among these figures could not have been included within the Earthshock set as an alternative of two androids (the place’s the logic in an Earthshock set with no Cybermen?), however I am certain Character had their causes. The determine reuses the 2012 Assault of the Cyberman model of the mould versus the 2010 authentic, which featured new boot components. Sadly, this determine nonetheless is not 100% display screen correct as mouth plate and chest unit are nonetheless clear plastic versus the strong silver they’re in The 5 Medical doctors. It is a minor nitpick, however it’s additionally a really minor paint utility that Character may have simply completed. What you’ll be able to’t deny nevertheless is simply how fantastically detailed the 80s Cyberman sculpt is, with the underneath swimsuit completely lined in moulded element introduced out with a wash of black paint. The pinnacle sculpt is simply one of many all-time greats of Physician Who, and Character have completed a marvellous job of capturing all that detailing at this scale and price-point.

It is likely to be one of many oldest moulds within the traditional Physician Who determine vary, however the reality the Cyberleader is not all that totally different to the remainder of the road relating to articulation is (for higher or worse) a testomony to how little it is modified through the years. Altogether the physique sports activities;

– Shoulder, bicep, waist, glove, thigh and boot swivels

– Swivel hinge hips

– Hinged elbows and knees

The lack of a moveable neck is a tragic however essentially sacrifice given the costume design, however as a replacement are a pleasant few additional swivel areas due to the glove and boot cuts. Having the ability to swivel the palms was a should in order that the Chief can correctly pull off that iconic David Banks ‘wonderful’ gesture. Although the chest armour does nullify the waist swivel considerably, all the things else works precisely because it ought to. The restricted articulation on these figures signifies that the Cybermen aren’t going to be pulling off probably the most extravagant poses, however on the identical time they don’t seem to be precisely that extravagant of their actions to start with so it suits them nicely sufficient. 

A set primarily based on Physician Who‘s twentieth anniversary story has been a very long time coming, and whereas on first look The 5 Medical doctors (1983) Collector Determine Set might have an odd selection of characters given how iconic the Raston Robotic scene is Character truly made a superb selection with the choice. There are some nice figures on this set, although none are with out their flaws – whether or not or not it’s the odd colouring on the Third Physician’s face sculpt, the tough paint job on the Raston Robotic or the swimsuit inaccuracies on the Cyberleader. The choice to make the Cyberleader a paint variant is not a terrific one both, given the restricted nature of those units and sure “collectors”‘ tendency to scalp them. Merely discovering them will be onerous sufficient for some individuals, having to fret about variants as nicely is only a step too far – particularly the Earthshock set may have simply included a Cyberman/Cyberleader as an alternative of two similar androids.