Of all the things that I didn’t expect to see at the 2014 Toy Fair last month–but saw anyway–a new line of Halo model kit action figures from Bandai America tops the list. Seeing as how McFarlane Toys has virtually abandoned Halo collectors without a word of comment, I wasn’t expecting any other company to start popping out Halo action figures of any sort. But Bandai America thought better, as their Halo Sprukits Model Kits figures are now available for order!

The Bandai Halo Sprukits Poseable Figural Model Kits that premiered at the New York Toy Fair 2014 last month were one of the biggest surprises of the show for me. Anyone who’s ever built Bandai Gundam models (Gunpla) should already understand how these kits are going to work: basically, you get several trays of plastic parts in each Halo kit that you can snap together (no glue required!) into a really cool Halo model action figure!

As with Bandai Gunpla models, these kits are intended to be detailed with paint by the builder, so they won’t look totally complete until you invest some time into adding all of the cool little details that the characters have in the games.

Each one of the Halo Sprukits model kits will be fully-articulated and include several pairs of alternate hands and weapons that they can be posed with. I’m big into Gundam model building and have a great respect for Bandai models because of it, so I’m anxious to give building these kits a try later this year!

In 2014, Bandai America will be releasing four Halo Sprukits model kit toys. Three of them will be “Halo Level 2 Sprukits” which will be about 5″ tall when built and cost $20-$25. Each of the three Sprukits Halo Level 2 kits will consist of 55-70 pieces. The three characters that Bandai is starting with for Level 2 Halo Sprukits are a Sprukits Master Chief (of course), a Sprukits Sarah Palmer and a Sprukits Spartan Thorne of Fireteam Majestic.

By far the most interesting figure Bandai is releasing–at least as far as I’m concerned–is the Spartan Gabriel Thorne Sprukits figure. We’ve never had a major action figure release of Thorne by any company, even though we got an incredible Halo 4 Play Arts Kai figure released last year.

Since these figures will stand about 5″ tall when built, the Sarah Palmer and Thorne figure may actually be able to stand in (for now) with the McFarlane Halo 4 line of figures!

In addition to the Level 2 Sprukits, one more larger, more expensive Halo Sprukits set will be released in 2014: Halo Sprukits Master Chief Level 3. This Level 3 Master Chief figure will contain 150+ pieces and take several hours to build. The completed Sprukits Level 3 Master Chief figural model kit will stand about 8″ tall, so he’ll tower over most other existing Halo action figures.

All four of the Halo Sprukits Model Kit figures are now available for order through BigBadToyStore. I have no idea what the distribution on these figures is going to be like and how many stores will be carrying the model kits, so this is an instance where you really may have to order online or else never see these figures at all.

What do you think of the newest and most unique Halo line of figures yet, Halo collectors? Is there room in your life for trying out building some Halo model kits?