As much as I enjoy and look forward to every new episode of the revamped Doctor Who series I still have a fondness for the pre-2000 run. The older series managed to tell entertaining stories in spite of the fact that the show was produced on a shoestring budget-at least compared to today's standards.
Albeit hindered by limited cash the special effects artists and set
designers still came up with some spectacular environments and memorable characters-especially
the villains.
Two such villains were the Dalek Emperor Davros (the originator of the Daleks
and the inventor of their mobile, self-contained units equipped with visual sensors
and powerful weapons) and the Imperial Dalek.
Underground Toys has
lovingly reproduced both the Emperor and the Destroyed Imperial Dalek in a
two-figure set modeled after their appearance in the Seventh Doctor's run from
1987 to 1996--specifically 1988.
Both figures come in cream-white mobile units decorated by gold half globes
on all sides. Three wheels are hidden
beneath the units: two stationary and one pivoting. When pushed the units seem to glide across any surface.
The Imperial Dalek's unit is missing its protective hood revealing the distorted,
gelatinous Dalek, with movable red claw, nestled in a bio-jell nest. Both gold weapon and sensor probes move just
like the real items. Davros' unit
flares at the top allowing room for the wire and tube covered Davros limited
room and a large field of sight.
His eyeless head is decorated with a hearing harness and a visual sensor
array and a silver wraparound microphone extends from his back. The lid of the unit can close so that only a
single octagonal clear portal is seen along with two gold input sensor
clusters.