The sheer volume and number of Hot Toys Iron Man sixth scale figures released has become a bit of a running jokes with Hot Toys collectors. At this point, I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many dozens have been released, or even how many of them I own (it’s a lot). But even so, there’s at least one Iron Man armor that collectors have been asking for an upgrade to nonstop for over half a decade. And now, they’re gonna get it: the Hot Toys Iron Man Mark VII Diecast figure is now up for order!

When it comes to Hot Toys collecting, I was just a wee bit late to the party, as I really didn’t take any interest in 1/6 figures until I saw that they were going to make figures of characters like Nick Fury and Hawkeye for the first Avengers movie.

As such, I’ve got pretty good memories of the original Iron Man Mark 7 Hot Toys, as the first Iron Man MMS that I pre-ordered and didn’t pay a premium for. I’ve always liked that figure, but it’s ultimately just plastic.

Fans have been screaming out for a die-cast Mark 7, and from all indications, the one Hot Toys has going up for sale today should be the definitive version they’ve been waiting for…

While the original Hot Toys Avengers Iron Man Mark VII was a magnificent figure for its time—half a decade ago—the proportions, paint and heft on that figure are all clearly inferior to the incredible work that Hot Toys has done in the last two years with pieces like the Mark V, Mark VI, Civil War and Homecoming armors. It’s time for an upgrade—and HT has delivered big-time.

Any complaints about the proportions or the paint quality on the original Mark 7 have clearly been heard and accounted for in this new die-cast metal version, because this iteration looks absolutely perfect in every way. The battle damaged interchangeable armor pieces in particular looks absolutely mind-blowing this time out!

And as we’ve come to expect, there’s a top-notch Robert Downey Jr. portrait tucked away inside the faceplate. The portrait itself doesn’t sound like it’ll be a new likeness this time out, but it will feature updated and improved paint deco. And at this point, let’s be serious here: no one does better RDJ portraits than Hot Toys.

But that’s not all—this is also the first transforming Hot Toys figure ever. No, seriously! Remember when the suit flies out to falling-to-his-death Tony Stark in pod form?

Yup—this figure can be reconfigured to faithfully recreate its appearance from when the suit pod begins to transform into the armor we all know and love. Craziness!!

There’s an epic crapload of accessories and specs for this beast, so here’s the official blurb from Hot Toys that can run it all down more succinctly than I can:

“The designs of Iron Man suits have always fascinated fans all over the world with its incisive geometric forms and innovative designs. To celebrate the 500th creation of Movie Masterpiece Series from Hot Toys, we are delighted to officially present fans the diecast version of the iconic Iron Man Mark VII 1/6th collectible figure from The Avengers by Marvel Studios. With a more masculine, more progressive and a distinct exterior design, the integrated Suit of Armors promotes its beautifully engineered features that surpass its predecessor.

Inspired by one of the jaw-breaking scenes that presents the suit launching to wrap around Stark momentarily, the brand new Iron Man collectible figure successfully recreates Mark VII’s complicated yet distinctive alternative form – the large suit pod. This is also the first time that Hot Toys adopted the dynamic armor forms in its one-of-a-kind collectible figures, and it is surely a visual highlight that Iron Man fans have been longing for.

As one of the most popular armors in Tony Stark’s arsenal, the screen-accurate 1/6th scale Mark VII collectible figure is made with diecast materials and expertly crafted based on its appearance in the movie. The approximately 32.5cm tall diecast figure features a newly painted head sculpt of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, an interchangeable LED light-up helmet, movie-accurate proportion and substantive detailed armor design with great articulations and the unique suit pod mode, metallic red and gold painting on armor, interchangeable shoulder and forearm weapon-firing armor parts, LED light-up functions on eyes, palms, and arc reactor, as well as a specially designed diorama figure base!

Moreover, an exclusive SPECIAL EDITION will offer collectors a Mark VII suit pod hologram that is approximately 7.5cm tall as the bonus accessory and only available in selected markets!

The groundbreaking Iron Man Mark VII collectible figure is an incomparable addition to any Marvel fans collection!

Specifications:
– Product Code: MMS500D27
– Product Name: Iron Man Mark VII
– Height: Approximately 32.5 cm tall
– Points of Articulations: 30
– Special Features: Accessories for alternate Suit Pod style, A pair of attachable real-like red-colored lasers accessories,
– Artists: Head Sculpted by Kojun. Armor Painted by Lok Ho
– Head Painted by JC. Hong
– Head Art Directed by JC. Hong

The 1/6th scale Iron Man Mark VII Collectible Figure specially features:

– Authentic and detailed likeness of Iron Man Mark VII in The Avengers
– One (1) newly painted battle damaged helmeted head sculpt with authentic likeness of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in the movie and removable mask
– Movie-accurate facial features with detailed beard, wrinkles and skin texture
– One (1) interchangeable helmeted head with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated)
– Approximately 32.5 cm tall
– Over 30 points of articulations
– Contains diecast material
– Special features on armor:
– Metallic red and gold colored painting on the sleek and streamline Iron Man armor design
– LED- lighted circular-shaped Arc Reactor on chest (white light, battery operated)
– One (1) interchangeable battle damaged mask
– One (1) interchangeable battle damaged chest armor plate
– One (1) pair of interchangeable battle damaged shoulder armor
– Two (2) sets of interchangeable shoulder armors (normal and missile firing)
– Two (2) sets of interchangeable forearm armors (normal and laser firing)
– One (1) pair detachable forearm rockets
– Three (3) sets of interchangeable thigh armor (missile, armor & normal styles)
– Accessories for alternate Suit Pod style including:
• One (1) interchangeable LED – lighted chest armor plate
• One (1) pair of attachable specialized accessories for chest armor (placed under LED –lighted chest plate)
• One (1) pair of interchangeable calf legs
– Four (4) pairs of interchangeable hands including:
• One (1) pair of fists
• One (1) pair of firing fists
• One (1) pair of battle hands with light-up repulsors (white light, battery operated)
• One (1) pair of hands with articulated fingers and light-up repulsors (white light, battery operated)
– Articulations on waist armor which allow flexible movement
– Articulated flaps at the back of armor on legs
– Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Accessories:
– One (1) pair of attachable real-like red-colored lasers accessories
– Specially designed square-shaped road diorama dynamic figure base with movie logo and character nameplate

Exclusive Bonus Accessory for Special Edition:
– One (1) Mini Suit Pod hologram (approximately 7.5cm tall)”

As mentioned in the official description, Sideshow Collectibles is also getting an exclusive Special Edition version of this figure that will come with a bonus Suit Pod hologram figure. This is sort of a weird inclusion, but do I want it for its exclusivity and my OCD-level of completionism (and the fact that it comes at no extra cost)? Yes, I do!

Other retailers should have the Mark VII Die-Cast available in the non-Special Edition, but I’m good with collecting Sideshow Rewards Points and getting the most complete version of the figure, personally. No one’s going to sell it any cheaper, so I just don’t see the point to buying it elsewhere.

The Hot Toys Iron Man Mark 7 Die-Cast figure goes up for order this afternoon, and is scheduled to be released in late 2019. It’s a long wait to be sure, but I’ve yet to get a die-cast Iron Man MMS that I didn’t feel was WELL worth the wait (and the exorbitant cost). I’ve got high hopes that Iron Man Mark VII Die-Cast will be pure perfection as well.

Thoughts on what’s likely to be the final Mark VII Iron Man that Hot Toys ever makes, Marvel collectors? Is this definitive die-cast version of the armor from the first Avengers movie one that you’ve been waiting for, or are you content with the original plastic version of this armor permutation (or even just one of the eight zillion other armors Hot Toys has already released)?