If you’re looking for some replacement pieces for your 1979 vintage Kenner ALIEN toy, there’s a head and tail being auctioned on eBay right now. As such things are becoming increasingly uncommon, you might like to consider this. Bidding starts at US$100 for both pieces.
It’s important to note this sale is accompanied by a “Good News and some Bad News” caveat. Firstly, the “good news”. The tail is in excellent condition with very little to no issues. Importantly, the blunt spiked tip of these pieces can be broken.This one is fully intact and that’s great. What’s just as important is the presence of the serrated metal washer attached to the other end of the tail. As this item is needed to fit the tail onto a figure, it’s inclusion here is very welcome – and uncommon – so it’s more than a bonus. Loose tails like this one for sale usually lack this metal ring. Having it included in the sale means the tail is easily attached to the figure without the need for any improvisation. I say that’s definitely “good news”.
Now for the “bad” news. Unfortunately, the head suffers in a major way. Many of these old toys have been dropped and snapped at the neck. This is probably what has happened to this sample. It is broken at the neck and fitting it in place will require some improvisation. There’s a variety of ways of doing this. You can just glue the head onto the shoulders – it’s not recommended but it does the job and is an easy fix. Or you could go to some lengths to fabricate a replacement neck piece and screw the entire assembly together properly inside the toy’s torso. Not an easy prospect but still preferable to using glue. The head is also missing one of the tongue pieces from inside the mouth. That’s unfortunate but a minor issue compared to actually getting this piece mounted on a figure once again. Of course, the dome is missing but once again, that doesn’t affect any re-assembling of the head onto the torso.
A great pair of items, overpriced for sure; but the way prices on these things continues to escalate, this pair of loose parts will probably sell “as is” for at least the starting bid of US$100.
-Windebieste.
