Reviewing Fanhome’s ‘ET: The Extra-Terrestrial’ Build-Up Stages 75-80

Things are about to get wild. In just a few more months, I will have an Asogian botanist serving drinks in my home bar. Build stages 75-80 for my Fanhome ET: The Extra-Terrestrial Build-Up subscription* have arrived. Zrek is really starting to look like himself, after just about a year and a half of putting the little fella together piece by painstaking piece.

After last month’s assembly stages, it was pretty clear where everything was headed going into this month’s package. In previous stages, I assembled the left arm and hand (minus the thumb), and could see where a connecting rod (or cable as it were) would attach from the shoulder to the motor. Build stage 75 provided that cable and the retention screws and hardware that keep ET’s left arm attached.

Stage 76-78 contained the right upper arm, elbow joint, and forearm. Assembly was basically the same as the left arm, with the exception of the angle of the shoulder joint, and the inclusion of clips for the wiring that will connect to ET’s right forefinger, which has a red LED in it. This forefinger came way back in the first box, as a kind of teaser. In Stage 79, I finally got to attach that lonely finger to the right hand and hook up the cable that will raise and lower the right arm.

Stage 80 includes installation of an aluminum rod that will connect to the base of Zrek’s skull. There’s a plastic retention clip at the end of this rod that looks like it would be a pain in the backside to release, so while I set the head on top of the neck for photos, I immediately removed it so the substantial weight of this head doesn’t lock the joint in place just yet. While I don’t know exactly where the seams are on latex Asogian skins, I’m pretty sure at least one part will go on over the neck like a T-Shirt.

Opening this box had the same sort of feeling as opening that first box, where I saw Zrek’s face for the first time. Seeing the near-completed framework, finally attaching the one complete finger, and setting the head in place however briefly really drove home the reality that the finish line is right around the corner. 

This kit is not only my first Fanhome sub, it’s actually probably the first model of anything I have ever assembled. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’m really glad I went on this trip. The quality of the parts, assembly instructions, packaging, fit and finish, and overall experience have been amazing. I cannot wait to glue that final seam and crack a Coors Banquet with my little homie.

*Fanhome provides this subscription to me free of charge for the purposes of review.