OK well here's what i think of em. It's the truth how i see it from my own personal fanboy point of view, i have no need to talk up Palisades - i want to give props where they are truly deserved :-
Scooter :- WOW - Absolutely gorgeous. You can actually see the texture on his face that looks like puppet fur. One quibble, theres's something about the little patch of hair that doesn't look exactly right - a little too rough perhaps but it's alomost there. Overall the likeness is superb. The jacket deserves a special mention just as the face did - it is top notch. Perfect job.
Zoot :- The sax is wonderful. I have mixed feelings about the scuplt. I think his facial features are good, they do look very 'muppety' lifelike, but his trousers clash with his skin color and the top isn't that great too. Very dingy looking, though to an extent thats how he's meant to be - very dark, moody and hippy - but he needs to be brought out more as a character that people would be drawn too seeing the figure in a package.
Swedish Chef :- Beyond perfection. All the detail is there, the scuplts great, the clothes are superb, the facial features are 120% correct - he actually looks like a Muppet which is excellent. The flesh tone is totally correct - i don't think a better job could have been done on this figure. The moustache and apron detail is wicked, the shirt design is above excellent - one little thing, maybe he has just a tiny weeny bit too much of a paunch, i was expecting something similar, but he looks pregnant. Anyway bang up Job Ken and all those involved - home run all the way !
Rowlf :- Not majorly impressed. The head is perfect, but the rest is average. There should be more detail on the tux, specifically the shirt (maybe a black bow-tie ?). I think all the black and lack of detail make his slouch look about ten times worse (although the positioning in the photo isn't flattering) and the jacket looks too shiny compared to the trousers.
Lew Zealand :- OK, people are really going to hate me for this and probably disagree with me. I think this is the worst Muppet action figure to be released yet on a parallel with Regular Piggy. The detail on the face is awful - it looks like someones made him out of sculpey and put him in the oven. The detail on the hair is very rough, and the mouth is very rough looking also, but maybe the prototype just got a bad paint job. The frilly collar is great, and the colors on the body and clothing look right, but overall the figure is very bland compared to the others. It could be because the photo has been blown up to a large size, but to me, that isn't Lew Zealand.
Chef's Kitchen :- Theres nothing you can say about this Kitchen other than it being ultimate perfection. All the detail is there, and theres so much of it. Just looking at the phone, clear cabinets, stove, clock/radio thing - all makes you drool. The color is perfect and very vibrant. There's nothing more you could want because it's all there ! *Applause*
I'm not particularly impressed that the bases are being done away with. I can understand the reasoning but i hope they will be available to buy as optional extras. The bases kinda made the figures something special - display pieces, wheras without them it's like having a Simpsons figure just plonked on your desk in some pose.
Anyway thats how i see it - the majority i was overwhelmingly impressed by. Seeing as they are prototypes i hope this is seen as constructive. The one's i will buy will be the Chef Playset and Scooter.