Fanhome’s ‘E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Build-Up’ Stages 63-74
by Brendan M. Allen
The fourteenth package in my Fanhome ET The Extra Terrestrial Build-Up Subscription* has arrived. This box includes an ET backpack and build stages 69-74. You might be asking what happened to build stages 63-68. I definitely was. As soon as I opened the booklet for build stage 69, I realized I was out of order. Somehow, in my super calm, not at all stressful or overbooked schedule, I overlooked the arrival of the thirteenth package last month, and now found myself with twelve build stages to complete.
Off we go, then. Build stages 63-68 included shoulder mounts for both arms, the master circuit board, a whole mess of wiring, rib brackets, and the pieces that lock Zrek’s hips to his torso. We are well beyond the point where I can just plug this little battery pack into new components to make sure they’re installed correctly and working the way they’re intended. This makes me nervous as hell, because the wiring coming up from the base, through the leg, and into the circuit board came unmarked, and I have to rely on my own taping and marking to make sure they’re routed and connected appropriately. I was a flooring contractor, not an electrician, so I guess we’ll see.
Build stages 69-74 included shoulder supports for both arms, the left arm pieces, and the left hand and fingers (minus the thumb). Somehow, hanging that left arm on the left shoulder support made this model really start to feel real. I did find it a little odd that Fanhome sent me that right pointer finger in the very first package, but the left arm is the first assembled appendage.
This Build-Up subscription will be my first completed. There are 110 build stages total, which means there are 36 remaining. Thirty-six stages, six per package, should mean there are just about six months remaining before I have a fully functional, moving, talking Asogian botanist.
Get more info about Fanhome’s ET The Extra Terrestrial Build-Up subscription at this link. Other licensed Build-Up and model subscriptions include Star Trek, Marvel, Power Rangers, Transformers, Fast & Furious, DC, and various other film and TV fandoms.
*Fanhome provides this subscription to me free of charge for the purposes of review.
