April 17th, 2026 160 comments

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Full Details: Five Brand New ‘Vortex’ Sets Plus The Collect & Build ‘Yeti’

Character Options introduces its first Doctor Who Collect & Build range in 17 years

Character Options has confirmed it is to release a Doctor Who Collect & Build range for the first time since 2009. The line will be made up of five exclusive “Vortex” Edition sets, with each box to include a part of a buildable character. Fans who collect all pieces from across the five packs will be able to complete a scaled replica of the ‘Yeti’ from 1967’s ‘The Abominable Snowmen’.

These sets will be available exclusively through www.character-online.com and will be launched at planned intervals from July.

The 2026 Collect & Build offering recognises some of Doctor Who’s most memorable chapters, with five iconic Vortex Edition characters to discover – plus the buildable Yeti. In order of their release, the sets are as follows:

• 1. Cybermen Set -with Yeti Head
• 2. Fifteenth Doctor Set – with Yeti Upper Torso
• 3. Fourth Doctor Set – with Yeti Legs and Feet
• 4. Season Seven Set – with Yeti Right Arm
• 5. Wirrn Set – with Yeti Left Arm

The Collect & Build ‘Abominable Snowman’ figure

The Abominable Snowmen Story from 1967 introduced the titular character, also known as a ‘Yeti’ to an audience that would go on to become fans and collectors. It was so memorable upon its initial appearance, that it spawned a second story the next year and is still beloved by fans 5 decades later. Now figure collectors have the chance to collect this large figure standing nearly 16 and a half centimetres tall, with multiple articulation points.

The complete ‘Yeti’ buildable figure can be completed only by collecting the individual body sections spread across the five Vortex releases for this year. The figure has a lot of moulded in details, not least the fur effect that has been achieved using a base mould colour plus multiple sprays and washes. The head features the eyes and prominent fangs of the original Yeti that were near impossible to see on-screen, but were unmissable in a behind the scenes documentary of the story creation.

“Something bigger and better with a modern take”

Al Dewar, Creative Director, Character Options, said: “This is a very interesting year for the Character Options Doctor Who range. It’s the first time we’ve introduced a Collect & Build figure for over a decade and a half. Plus, for the very first time we are showcasing the sets that we will be releasing up front!

“The Collect & Build Yeti figure should be a great surprise to most folk. Yes… it’s been well known for years that we created a Yeti sculpt for the ‘1968 Web of Fear’ version but when we examined that sculpt, we realised the scale was wrong and some minor damage had occurred. So, it seemed sensible to go back further to where it all started, up in Tibet, near the ‘Det Sen’ Monastery in 1967, with the original Abominable Snowmen. The Yetis are ‘big ole beasts!’ and I think we’ve brought something bigger and better with a modern take that lends itself well to articulation and play.

“Of course, the Collect & Build figure is just one of many things to look forward to, with five stunning new figure sets coming through – all upgraded to Vortex levels. Even the pre-existing Liz Shaw figure has been refined to be as good as it can be! The team has put their all into getting everything ready in time, and we can’t wait to bring the collectors something that’s so completely different.”

Find out more

Further information on the collection is now available on the Character Online website, where fans can also register to receive pre‑launch updates. More details on each Collect & Build set will be revealed in the lead‑up to each release, with the first set launching from July 2026, exclusively via www.character-online.com
(RRP £44.99).

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