ChachiPower

Updates 2/20/2012

2012-02-20T20:11:00.000-05:00

So I know my posts are thinning out here on my blog, I've just been a tad busy. However my Youtube channels are still going strong. I plan to do more reviews here on the blog as soon as I get more time. To see what I've been keeping busy with, check out my Toy Fair V-log.

For you loyal readers, I try and fill you guys in on stuff I will review on my channels here before they go up on Youtube. So what do I have planned you ask?

Right now I'm working on a R.I.D. Prime Wheeljack review which is rendering as I type this and as my laptop burns my lap because of the processing power I put it through when making videos. Other stuff I am working on is:
-S.H. Monster Arts Mechagodzilla
-Chogokin 1975 Mechagodzilla GD-98
-R.I.D. Cliffjumper, Bumblebee and Voyager Optimus Prime.

For CollectionDX:
-Evolution Toy Jeeg (cant wait even though not a big Jeeg fan)
-Hercules written review

So as you all know I hit up Toy Fair so check out these cool vids I shot of the GX-61. Stay tuned for video of the Bluefin display, or just watch the Vlog Ep. 8 video at the beginning of this post.

Found a bunch of TF Prime RID figures

2012-02-12T18:20:00.001-05:00

Yeah so i found a bunch of TF RID figs including Soundwave with Ravage the morning before the Hasbro event and was going to buy the figures but decided to get them after the show. BAD IDEA. They were all sold out. Didnt think ahead enough to know everyone would run out of the event and hit up the Times Square TRU and clean it out.

Mattel Voltron at Toy Fair 2012

2012-02-12T18:19:00.001-05:00

Just got to check out the Mattel Voltron today. Very good presense. Very tall and bigger than expected. Make sure to check out collectiondx.com for all the details on Toy Fair coverage.

6" Thundercats classics Lion-o and Mumm-ra

2012-02-03T20:56:00.001-05:00

Didnt realize these were out already. These were the only ones left. They look REALLY cool. Can't wait to check em out and get reviews up.

Youtube 200 Subs giveaway

2012-01-27T21:13:00.001-05:00

As of right now, I have 195 subscribers on my Youtube channel. To celebrate the upcoming 200th sub, I will be doing a giveaway. I've narrowed it down to a robot-related giveaway, possibly a Transformer of sorts. I will be keeping the giveaway simple and non-expensive just to see how it goes this time. If everything goes well and I keep hitting subscriber milestones, I'll think about investing a bit more. For now don't expect a Masterpiece figure. I'm shooting for a deluxe class figure of a character I own here in my collection that hasn't been opened and that I won't miss too much if I give away. The important thing is that it's FREE and it's my way of thanking you guys for the support. There will be a tiny string attached which I will get into later on. The only way to get in on this action is to obviously subscribe if you haven't and keep an eye out for the upcoming vlog video with details. Stay tuned!

Bandai Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Heroes Action Figure - NRG

2012-01-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

Been almost a month since my last post. To be honest, I had a long post full of updates that just disappeared while working on it, so I let if be. Now I'm back to kick it off with some toy reviews. I will try to do aome more reviews in the future to keep things going.

Today to kick it off, I'll be doing NRG from Ben 10 since he is a pretty cool design.

NRG is a figure that to put it shortly is contained inside this specialized suit because his real form cannot be contained otherwise because he is a bundle of radioactive energy.


Bandai did a great job with the sculpt. Looks like he popped off the screen. This is not the small one that's available. It's a good deal bigger and features some gimmicks.


The back has some extra bits because of the gimmicks. There is a hinge visible for the hatch and the compartment for the button batteries used for the light gimmick.

A big disappointment is the articulation. While the arms do swing up and the legs swivle for no good reason, that's pretty much it. No elbows or knees. Not a deal-breaker but it would have been nice to have a bit more. The good thing is that it keeps the figure clean if you are a display-only collector like me.

One of the things that bothered me about the smaller NRG figure was the fact that the hatch didn't open...

...fortunately, this version does have an opening hatch that reveals his insides.

It is nicely detailed and lights up when you hold down the chest emblem!

A nice surprise was the included bar of clay(?) that is meant to be molded into whatever shape you like. It's meant to replicate NRG's tru form. So it's definitely not candy as made evident by the little warning symbol. I'm actually surprised this is included in this day and age of safety standards where anything could be considered dangerous. All it takes is for someone to plug up their ears with this or choke on it and it goes the way of the old-school robot missiles.

This photo cannot accurately capture how cool this looks. Trust me, it's awesome.

You can find this figure for $12-$15 currently. Check it out. Video coming soon.

Happy New Years everyone!

2011-12-31T22:21:00.001-05:00

Im blogging from my phone. Been a bit busy past couple of days with holidays and all but here is just some of the stuff you can expect early next year:

- RAH 1/6 Zaborger

-1/6 Tony Montana Scarface from Enterbay
-1/6 Tony Montana Scarface from Blitzway
- two more TFC Hercules figures. Dr. Crank and Structor
-SH Figuarts Barnaby from Tiger and Bunny
-exclusive Soul of Chogokin Energer Z
-6" Twilight Zone invader figure.
-Mattel Voltron Lance figure with red lion. I have a review of this up on my rocketpuncharmy channel. Its a prerelease figure so there are no accessories but you can check it out anyways.

There will probably be some more 1/6 stuff this year added to the already crazy amounts of robot stuff i will be acquiring this year.

So whats my resolution this year? To cut down on stuff that wont really improve my collection. Got too much stuff i dont need. Anyways Have a Happy New Year!

Fujimi Blade Runner Spinner model kit review now on CDX!

2011-12-29T20:42:00.000-05:00

Hey all, my review for the Fujimi Spinner kit is now up on CDX. It's about 95% done. Finishing it to 100% would take up a lot more time which I don't have with review/sponsor guidelines and all but it is complete enough to do a nice review for it. All I really need to do to finish it is paint the window trim with matching blue (ran out of paint) and apply window decals. The LEDs are optional so I didnt want to eat away at the review time which was already overdue by about two weeks as it is. I manage to pop in three LEDs to give it at least some lighting.

It's a great kit that can easily be modified to suit your liking and/standards of accuracy. There seems to be a third party aftermarket brewing also. Be sure to pick yours up at HobbyLink Japan who supplied the kit for CDX for me to review. Get yours here.

Make sure to check out the written review on CDX. Also check out the short video clip.

CDX Review Update 12/22/11

2011-12-22T22:57:00.000-05:00

For those of you who follow my stuff on CDX, here is what I got and what I have coming up. You get the inside scoop here.

Here is one of the most difficult reviews I've ever had to do..well not the review but the preparation for the actual item I am reviewing. After exhaustive searching for the right color I have started work on this project for CDX. It's the Fujimi Spinner model kit. You may know this vehicle from the movie Bladerunner. If not, check it out on Netflix or wherever you get your movies. Here is a sneak peak.


Yeah, Its all painted and decaled up right now, but this is all your gonna get for now, a primered body. It's coming out real friggin nice. Can't wait to show it off!		I

I've got Heavy Labor all queued up to go live after the Spinner review, in the meantime check out the review on my Youtube channel.

Here is another sneak peek at what I have queued up on CDX waiting to go live soon. If you can't wait to see the written review, check out the video on my Youtube channel.

Stay tuned for more!

Hasegawa Ultraman MAT Update 12/22/2011

2011-12-20T01:11:00.000-05:00

Interior is coming along nicely.

Body needs some further detailing and lamps still. Oh, and Bumpers

Here you can see the dashboard and door panels which mount on the body. That thin line around the steering wheel is a friggin water transfer decal. SO HARD TO PUT ON.

Here is a tease of what it will look like.

Godzilla (1964 Godzilla vs. Mothra) by X-Plus

2011-12-20T00:29:00.001-05:00

Strange...was watching Godzilla vs. Mothra and then I got a Mothra for reviewin the mail...then I saw this. Coincidence? Hope this shows up in the mail!

Godzilla (1964 Godzilla vs. Mothra)
XPLUS
11,400 yen. Jan. 2012

$$$ Ultraman BLING vinyl $$$

2011-12-20T00:25:00.000-05:00

If you have thousands burning a hole in your wallet, you may want to check these out. From Marusan and Made in Japan.

Ultra Jewelry Collection 01 Ultraman 450 Diamond Blue

A new series of figures in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the original Ultraman TV program!

Featuring a half carat blue diamond placed in the color timer area in Ultraman's chest and packed in an amazing Ultraman/Marusan gift box along with a gold vinyl Marusan Logo and Jet Beetle this is a luxurious present worthy of any Ultra fan.

The vinyl is, of course, made by hand in Japan.
Complete Pre-painted Model
Head, Arms and Legs are poseable
Size: appx. 230mm
Soft Vinyl
360,000 JPY

Ultra Jewelry Collection 02 Ultraman 350 Diamond Blue

A new series of figures in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the original Ultraman TV program!

Featuring a half carat blue diamond placed in the color timer area in Ultraman's chest and packed in an amazing Ultraman/Marusan gift box along with a gold vinyl Marusan Logo and Jet Beetle this is a luxurious present worthy of any Ultra fan.

The vinyl is, of course, made by hand in Japan.

Complete Pre-painted Model
Head, Arms and Legs are poseable
Size: appx. 230mm
Soft Vinyl

280,000 JPY

Want a cheaper alternative?

Ultra Jewelry Collection 03 Ultraman 450 Swarovski

A new series of figures in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the original Ultraman TV program!

Packed in an amazing Ultraman/Marusan gift box along with a gold vinyl Marusan Logo and Jet Beetle this is a luxurious present worthy of any Ultra fan.

The vinyl is, of course, made by hand in Japan.

Complete Pre-painted Model
Head, Arms and Legs are poseable
Size: appx. 290mm
Soft Vinyl36,000 JPY

Ultra Jewelry Collection 04 Ultraman 350 Swarovski

A new series of figures in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the original Ultraman TV program!

Packed in an amazing Ultraman/Marusan gift box along with a gold vinyl Marusan Logo and Jet Beetle this is a luxurious present worthy of any Ultra fan.

The vinyl is, of course, made by hand in Japan.

Complete Pre-painted Model
Head, Arms and Legs are poseable
Size: appx. 290mm
Soft Vinyl 28,000 JPY

Or hey! I got a great idea, grab one of these below and slap a piece of glass on its chest and call it a day!

Ultra Soft Series 45th Anniversary Celebration Ultraman 450 New Light Gray Soft Vinyl Figure

Soft Vinyl Pre-Painted Complete Figure
Size: Appx. 300mm Tall
Package: Paper Header + Vinyl Bag & Illustration Paper Base

7,800 JPY Now that's more like it. Seems like chump change after the previous ones.

RPA Updates 12/19/11

2011-12-19T23:55:00.002-05:00

Well, the year is almost over and I wanted to choose what I believe is the toy of the year of all the toys I reviewed since it's only fair I choose from what I've had in my hands. That will come later before the end of the year.

Let's see... video review wise on my RPA channel I did:

S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla

Hot Toys Superman

Bandai Chogokin AEGIS

TFC Toys heavy Labor

ES Gokin Baikanfu

Part 6 of Ultraman MAT build

Currently I have the written review on queue for collectiondx.com so make sure to check that out soon. I am also working on the Fujimi Spinner model kit... not my most fun project. Paint does not like cold weather and Tamiya paints officially suck from a spray can. I am sticking to automotive paint from now on. After all the friggin delays in getting the right color blue and I use right color loosely since it's still not accurate, but a little white balance adjusttment will do wonders for the final review.

I have the two Fewture gokins coming of Arale Chan and Toriyama. Was expecting them today since they were sent EMS and somehow they are not in the states yet. I usually get them in 2 days and its been about 4...maybe holiday delays.

I am also going to upload a review of two little vintage Seven toys based on Xabungle and Iron Gear. So keep an eye for that if you like those pieces. If you haven't already done so, subscribe to my Youtube channel to keep up to date with all my videos.

What's up with issues on expensive toys?

2011-12-13T23:15:00.000-05:00

Having issues and problems with expensive collectible pieces has always been the nature of the beast for the most part. There's always a batch of good releases in between the bad ones so that takes the sting out of the whole thing. But what about getting three defective figures in a row that cost a whopping $450 when you factor in shipping? Is this in any way justifiable? Aren't we paying good money to receive a good product? I understand the cost has something to do with the amount of units made versus production costs, but it still sucks when I can pay $10 for a bulletproof Transformer figure but when you spend $250 on a Masterpiece Rodimus, panels are snapping off, parts are breaking, springs are getting twisted and who knows what else. Then Takara turns around and releases an updated version and basically says "piss off" to all the people who jumped at ordering the first release.

Takara's $250 first release version with trailer (not shown) and QC issues on left and my own customized $60 Hasbro version without QC issues on the right. FYI, I've never transformed the Takara one out of FEAR of breakage. The Hasbro has the updates and I still won't transform it cause I don't wanna mess up the paint.

My bad luck streak started off with the Hot Toys Superman. Now it's not that bad because mine only suffered a couple of problems instead of suffering 10 like other people. Mine had the shiny forehead and the copper cape wire that poked out of the cape. The cape was relatively easy to fix and I was able to source a replacement head (which ironically also has a shiny forehead but much less noticeable.)

OK, the issue with this guy was more from package design (plastic tray rubs on head) than factory defect so it's not too bad... but still. Should be a non-issue on a $200 figure.

Next came TFC Toys Heavy Labor which is part of their Non-Devastator Hercules combiner. I decided to do a shoot for CDX. Instead of doing my research first to make sure nobody suffered QC issues, I went ahead and opened it up. During the interview I decided to look it up in my phone and I read about the gear shearing action of the hip ratchets. Lucky for me I had already clicked the joint once. That means it can't possibly have broken right? WRONG. One racthet motion is all it took to shear the gear tooth. Awesome. So I decided to take it apart. This required messing up the screw plugs to get to screws. However folks, TFC Toys does not leave their loyal customers to eat elephant shit like multi-million dollar Takara. They actually keep customers up to date with issue fixes, include replacement parts with new figures and issue new parts etc. This is definitely much better than being stuff with a bum figure but at $100 a pop, this should not even be an issue. Not only does this hurt the small company's profits, it creates a bad customer experience and bad mouthing on the net...and we all know how TF fans can be. I mean if it only took one movement of the ratchet to mess it up (on EVERYBODY'S) didn't they realize this during testing? Donit they grab one off the assembly line and check it out? Or were they aware and shipped 'em out anyways to meet their deadline?

This is the ratchet gear piece that gets stripped. The opposing piece does not "give" so it shears the teeth. Luckily for me I did not try and move the other leg so this one is fine.

The last straw was during my ES Gokin Baikanfu review... wow did I love this set. I still do but it wasn't until I really started handling it that things got bad. You'll have to watch the review to get the full effect. Basically small plastic bits snapped, I found that the ankle on one of the figures had been forced on in the factory and I'm still not sure if the ratchets on the toes broke or if the initial ratchets I heard were just freak happenings. Oh and the chrome sword that looks like it was stepped on for a full work day..what the hell?

Oh, these are cool, yes, but don't tug the head too much or else.

The gray piece has a tab that snapped on mine.

I want to know who thought putting this in the tray was a good idea.. this is the side that face up on the tray! Way to go Artstorm. Glad you don't sell cars cause people tend not to buy cars with scratches all over them.

We live in 2011, going into 2012...how are the toys of today going to withstand the test of time if they fall apart within a couple of days after receiving them or suffer from QC issues? I have toys from my childhood still intact after rigorous play. All you MISB guys beware, not to make you paranoid or anything but what you think is in perfect condition may have tons of QC issues or missing parts...just sayin'.

Bandai Chogokin Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Aegis

2011-12-11T12:24:00.001-05:00

For info on this character, click here. For pictures and video, see below.

While not exactly what I tend to collect, it makes a great addition to my wife's tiny collection AND it has Rocket Punch! So we had to welcome her into our home.

The box is small and feels light in hand.

The back of the box shows the different face options and accessories included.

The tray is neatly laid out with all the parts. Out back you can see the included stand which is nice that they included. She also has the ability to use the stand arm to create a "tripod" feature but Bandai took the extra step to include the base for more aggressive poses.

The figure is rather nice and hefty once in hand. Don't let the lightweight box fool you. While not HEAVY, you can tell there is metal. The metal is made up of the gold bits and joints. The plating of these parts is done real nice.

Up close she still retains sharp detailing.

Here she is with an alternate face and hands with open fingertips.

Yet another alternate face.

...and another slightly angrier one.

Here is a closeup of the said stand.

The stand allows you to get her into poses normally impossible without the stand.

Her forearms are interchangeable with weapon options. This here is the rifle.

This is a good look for her.

(Insert record scratch noise here.) What? is this a full blown Rocket punch?!! With actual rockets on it?!

This is just too cool. No way this was going to not become a piece in my collection.

It is actually spring loaded! I didn't realize this until it accidentally fired while doing the shoot. That little forearm piece contains the firing mechanism. Awesome job Bandai! She is officially the first female recruit into my Rocket Punch Army.

Here's the video. No words, just Aegis.

Music by Kevin Macleod (incompetech.com)

Exclusive Human Alliance figures $8-$11 at Kmart

2011-12-06T22:23:00.001-05:00

I was at Kmart the other day and I'm gonna be honest...I am not a big fan of that place for many reasons which I won't get into here. However they have some good toy clearance sales if you're lucky. I got some Godzilla vinyl and some Tron stuff reall cheap in the past. This time I happened to see some Kmart Exclusive Human Alliance figures. I saw a silver Bumblebee..forgot name and an Exclusive Sideswipe. The sale was for 50% off sticker price. I saw a sticker of $16..To me that means $8

Picked up the Sideswipe with Sergeant Chaos and Icepick since the Bumblebee looked rather small compared to the Sideswipe and well....it's Bumblebee (Who gave Bumblebee the right to take the spotlight over Optimus Prime anyhow?!). Took it to the register after getting into a who-was-in-line first dispute with a total idiot and it rang up $11 (still a good price but NOT 50%) I thought "Here we go again". The lady tried to explain that 50% off $22 is $11. I thanked her for the math lesson and proceeded to explain that 50% off $16 is $8 and all the 500 other HA figures were marked the same so it was not my problem. After 73 overrides and 32 calculations the $8 price was reached. I paid and left. Good riddance. If you find these and they ring up wrong and not in your favor, let it be known you want it and you're "NOT GONNA PAY A LOT FOR THIS MUFFLER!!"..it is not your fault they can't key in the correct amount on the sticker device.

It actually looks pretty cool but movie figs are not my thing. This will be traveling a long distance to it's new owner in Colombia sometime soon.

See that sticker on the upper left next to the Mechtech logo? It would look good with a big FAIL next to it. I guess after taking these promo shots they got a production version in hand and decided it couldn't hold it's weapon. Oh well.

Transformers Prime Arcee

2011-12-06T22:00:00.001-05:00

I started to watch Transformers Prime but then I realized I'm not really big on watching cartoons..especially when the characters are too stylized. However the robot designs were semi cool for designs based on movie figures. One of the designs that stood out to me was Arcee. Finally, a new Arcee with two legs and a normal waist. The Movieverse Arcee was complete garbage...I honestly thought the design was a joke except it wasn't. Horrible toys were made and eventually they ended up in bargain stores with deep discounts...and even then they were peg warmers along with that Ice Cream figure.

I was returning some stuff the other day and happen to roll by the Transformers isle half expecting to see the usual wall of DOTM stuff when a nice blue packaging caught my eye...didn't flinch much until I said to myself...Oh wow, that must be the Prime figures!. I ran over only to find 5 packages of which 4 were Bumblebees and one was Arcee. I obviously grabbed Arcee. I left Bumblebee for a later time since he will obviously be the annoying figure that will litter the pegs when you try and go out to find new figures.

Immediately I noticed the higher end feel of the new packaging. The cardboard seemed to be thicker, the figure is displayed nicely and there is foil lettering on the packaging...almost as if it was meant to be collectible. And most likely it is because of the First Edition designation. Whether the First Edition means it's the first wave of figures or the first edition of the same future figure without the first edition packaging, I do not know.

Notice the foil "First Edition" running down the left side of the blister pack. See that "cool" stand? Yeah it's included. Don't get too excited, it's made out of cardboard. At least they cared to include it.

Although she comes out of the package in alternate mode, I wanted to show you guys robot mode first because I like robots. I have the arm blades on but they can be removed. I prefer to have them off myself.

She looks pretty good all around. I love how the front wheel hangs in the center out back. I also love how they got the rear wheel to split in two to make the back of the legs symmetrical.

Here is a side by side comparison with Animated Arcee.

Yoda: Adequate amounts of articulation she has, hmmmm?

I love motorcycles so I can appreciate the nice looking alternate mode.

From the back it looks a little strange to me, almost like the rear tire is too small or too far extended. What do you think?

Hot Toys Superman

2011-12-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

Review and Pictures by Chachipower

OH...MY...GOD.

Seriously, this thing is BAD ASS. OK, I don't own many Superman figures. Maybe two. However I am a Superman fan. How is this? Well I realized I was a fan of the the one Christopher Reeve plays in the legendary 1978 film. I got my Hot Toys Superman last night and I was completely blown away. It has been literally years since I had a hard time putting down a figure. I could not stop staring at this or looking at it. On the one hand I wanted to fly it around and pose it but on the other, I knew it was delicate.

I was careful taking it out of the box. I made sure not to snag the cloth on anything. Then I started to examine the face sculpt when my heart sank...the was a mark on the forehead! It was a shiny spot from the clamshell rubbing on it. Then I look at the clamshell. There is a bump that has been purposely molded into it that holds the head back or something. Yes, Hot Toys wraps plastic around the forehead but the rubbing was hard enough to leave a shiny spot. Honestly this is ok if it was a $20 figure. It should be non-existent in a $200 figure. After reading about numerous complaints people have with this figure, I was starting to think that Hot Toys dropped the ball on this one. I also noticed the wire was poking out of the cape. That was an easy fix but still. It's sad because part of the proceeds from the sale of these goes to the Christopher Reeve Foundation. Hopefully this release doesn't end in failure.

Aside from that, like I said, it is BAD-ASS! The box is overkill in a good way. It comes in a diamond shaped box with Fortress of Solitude design stand.

This is the box and the included FOS stand. (This photo was not taken by me)

I was absolutely stunned by the sculpt and painted detail. It looks like real skin. These pictures DO NOT do it justice. Not by a long shot.

It's like looking at the real Christopher Reeve. Check out the freckled skin! The eyes look life-like.

The "S" is nicely done out of a rubbery material. The black outline of the "S" is actually raised. The suit material is quite nice but prone to snags. It is also a bit reflective under certain light.

The boots are really cool. There is very slight airbrushed shading along the bottom. The feet seem to be completely rubber and give it a lifelike feel.


The only piece that keeps it from looking absolutely real is the wrists. but the hand details are great. The set does come with alternate hands.

Some people say the muscular body is bigger than what was seen on screen, but I think it looks darn good.

The cape is line with a copper wire so that you can put is as you like depending on the pose you choose. It allows the cloth to drape realistically over the shoulders. The "S" on the back is also nicely done.

I was being absurdly conservative with my poses during this review. The True Type Hot Toys body used allows an incredible amount of poses. However his arms cannot come straight down against his sides. This is my favorite pose.

If you buy one, keep a look out for shiny foreheads, crooked "S" on front or back, snags on the suit, copper wire broken/poking out of cape, rubs on necks etc. A must buy for Superman fans. The definitive version of this superhero for a long time to come.

There is an exclusive verison available from Sideshow collectibles with a metal Kryptonite necklace for the same price as the regular version, however the regular version has free shipping.

S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla figure

2011-12-02T23:25:00.000-05:00

Holy cow, it's finally here! I've been waiting forever for this figure. Instead of going to the usual places like HLJ.com, amiami.com and BBTS, I got this from Amazon.com. I'm talking Amazon themselves, not some shady seller. Amazon gets these from the US Tamashii distributor Blue Fin so you can expect to pay fair prices instead of getting gouged by a reseller or waiting and paying for the trip from overseas. It also qulaified for free shipping. There was a bit of a delay in its release but it's here and I'm happy.

Box Front- The Godzilla head is glossy while the rest of the box has a soft matte finish.

Box Back

Box side

Box side with foil Godzilla lettering.

Amazing right out of the box. Pretty heavy too. A big chunk of PVC.

The detail is great. Each stroke of the sculptor's tool is captured to create an excellent piece.

The detailing of the mouth is very well done. Notice the texture of the tongue. Each individual tooth is detailed. While the eyes looked a tad off, they were very detailed.

This figure is highly articulated, look at how many seam lines are used for the neck alone. The base of the neck has another neck piece which can't be seen in this picture.

The scales are done well although depending on the pose, the scales may collide, so be careful when posing so no paint scuffing occurs.

Here he is in flight mode. I'm sure I could have done a better job at posing it in this fashion. Here you can see most of his articulaiton joints. Look at all those seam lines...especially the tail!

He comes with this effects piece which mimics him shooting from the mouth. The base has an icy look to it.

The effect is OK, but the stand deters from the look of it. When will invisibility technology catch up with toys? Overall an incredibly well done Godzilla. I was afraid the articulation points were going to ruin the look of Godzilla but Bandai managed to pull this off well.

Bandai GE-54 VF-25F Chogokin vs. GE-42

2011-12-01T23:16:00.001-05:00

I have to admit that the GE-42 VF-25F (ver. 1.0) was an impulse buy because it was on sale. I bought it a few months back and only opened it to check if it was complete. Never transformed it. Then recently it was released again except it was heavily updated and with a GE-54 designation. It is known as the Renewal version or V 2.0. I decided that I would tackle the video for the new one and I went ahead and did a comparison video. I am SO glad I bought the renewal. Having the original really makes me appreciate just how well done the renewal is. I mean I thought the original was OK, but the new one is just right and makes the original look old-school with weird proportions.

GE-54 box (Ver.2.0)

GE-42 box (Ver.1.0)

The following shows the 2 sets side by side with the GE-42 on the left and the GE-54 on the right.

Both come in a styro tray that is actually the same dimensions but different mold. The renewal is laid out on an angle.

Side by side they can be mistaken for the same set, but looking closer reveals many differences.

Gerwalk mode is OK on the GE-42, but not great, however the GE-54 is much better.

GE-42. Meh.

GE-54. Nice.
The GE-54's legs can be spread and angled out more than the GE-42. You kind of have to cheat with the GE-42 to make it look passable.

Never has the odd proportions of the GE-42 been more evident than when standing next to the new GE-54.


Stunning... now check out the video for more.

Super Robot Chogokin Dai Guard

2011-12-01T23:07:00.001-05:00

I finally got the video review done for the SRC Dai Guard. There was some extensive editing since I wasn't really in review mode that night so I had to cut a bunch of stuff I feel wasn't up to par. I was planning to snap up some shots of it but now it's in storage. This thing is pretty bad-ass. Small and heavy without being a brick. Any robot who can rip off his arm and toss it rocket-punch style is cool in my book and still earns it's place in my Rocket Punch Army.

If you wanna check out the Rocket-Punch sequence, watch this video.

CASSETTE MAN ! Taiwan Cassett Man bootleg (Soundwave)

2011-11-29T23:03:00.001-05:00

Ahh, there is nothing like a good ol' 80's Taiwan bootleg. Not all 80's Taiwan bootlegs were good, but many that were copies of existing Japanese toys. I'm sure we've all had some type of Taiwan version toy. One of my favorites is Daitarn 3 which borders on not really being a bootleg since it's licensed by Sunrise. We've also got the Godtron, Godbot, Lionbot and loads more. One that I would see as a kid was Cassette Man. I remember seeing these alongside Shockwave and Megatron bootlegs. I wasn't into them much because these were available before the Transformers craze started. The reason Transformers bootlegs were available before Transformers existed is because they weren;t bootlegged off of Transformers. They were bootlegs of Diaclone/Micro Change toys from Takara Japan and other toys. Sort of like how Lionbot was around before the Matchbox Voltron came out. This all cause me confusion since there was no internet to teach me the origins of these toys.

Years later I now have in my possession a Taiwan Cassette Man. I got it on eBay where it was being sold for about $130 with a "Make offer" I went the lowball route since I was broke and this is a bootleg...the offer was accepted. Worst that could happen is my offer being declined. It is bootlegged off of the Takara Micro Change Cassette Man. The box has seen better days and the Jaguar cassette robot is missing but the rest of the contents have been unmolested by small grubby hands. I made a video of this figure in which I transformed it for the first time in it's life. Although I didn't capture the transformation on video, you sort of witness the devirginizing of a toy.

It came with everything you see here except Jaguar. This Jaguar is actually a G1 Ravage filling in. Everything else was intact and unused.

This is how Cassette Man comes out of his box. He's an old-school cassette recorder. Back form the days when micro cassettes were considered high-tech. Notice the MC-10 markings just like his Takara version. They copied everything except "Takara". The included cassette is not even a cassette at all. It is a cardboard filler. I almost got excited thinking it was a Micros figure (Rumble/Frenzy).

It is actually well done, the feet and joints remain diecast just like the original.

Here he is next to a G1 Soundwave.

VIP Toys in Santafe' Shopping Center, Medellin Colombia

2011-11-22T23:19:00.001-05:00

One of my stops in Colombia was a new mall that was recently constructed. It is a big mall even by USA standards, loaded to the brim with really cool stores and a big food court. One of the stores which happened to grab my attention was VIP Toys. I knew I'd like it the second I saw a jumbo Mazinger Z vinyl in the entrance. They were kind enough to let me take photos. Let's take a look at what they offer.

This is what you see as you walk by. Who wouldn't want to go in and check it out? It's very inviting.

Hot Toys 1/6 figures were present and just as pricey as anywhere else. My friend fell in love with the Hellboy.

The mix of stuff offered in this shop is mind boggling. There is something for everyone.

I didn't pack my polarizing lens which would have helped tons in reducing the glare on the cases. Never leave home without it now.

From horror baddies to the king of pop. It;s all here.

This is the Mazinger that greets all that come in. It's machinder size, maybe bigger. Not sure who makes this huge sucker.

If monsters and robots aren't your thing, maybe a bit of Smurf or Super Mario figures will do you some good. Some pretty neat vinyl and PVC here.

There is a whole case dedicated to animals and some miscellaneous vehicles here. How do they pull off getting these things in the same case without looking out of place?

Crave diecast vehicles? There's a wall of that too. From motorcycles to construction equipment.

To the right of the diecast are the cases full of figures. From Saint Cloth Myth to Transformers and Revoltech.

The checkout area looks like the entrance to a Batman ride. Cool.

This wall had a wide range of stuff too. Wall E figs, Tech Deck, South Park, Simpsons and more.

I wonder if Robocop was for sale.

Rockstars and movie figs took up this case.

This case had what I like most, Star Wars and robots with a little bit of superhero stuff thrown in.

Doraemon and Bobbleheads.

Not sure if this was a finished display piece or a model kit, but it was huge.

My wife and I have been on a Mario kick lately having just acquired a Wii. I would have loved to get my hands on Wario.

Smurfs and M&Ms

I sware I almost bought this. Its a 1/6 Honda CBR diecast. I had the money out ready to go.

They also had smaller 1/12 scale which happens to make up most of my motorcycle collection.

I need my car seats wrapped in Vader

More diecast.

The red #24 Ferrari had some really nice weathering.


This was my view on the way out.

I have to say this was one of the nicest high end toy stores I've had the pleasure of visiting. The passion they have for these toys shows. I mean, even little toys we normally take for granted here were important enough to display. And speaking of displays, I want display cases just like these! They were all well-lit and organized. Did you notice the comic sound effect words on the bottom of some of them? Awesome. If for some reason you find yourself in Medellin, make sure you check em out. VIP Toys.

Is there such a thing as too much?

2011-11-16T22:54:00.001-05:00

Is there such a thing as too much when it comes to collecting? Lately, I feel like I am coming to a point where I am becoming overwhelmed. I get lots of people tell me how awesome it is to have so much stuff coming in. Well, the thing is, yeah of course it's awesome, but some part of me feels differently. I'll explain why. There are a couple of reasons. I have had to shrink my display area to make room for my baby daughter. This meant stashing away some of my collection. This meant deciding what I REALLY wanted to keep out. Well little by little my displays started to get overcrowded with new stuff. Some stuff even started overlapping with other stuff. I mean I have a phone Braver 7 standing next to a Scopedog! Some old stuff I don't wanna put away and some new stuff I absolutely have to display. Today I got fed up and started rearranging stuff. My main display consists of 3 Ikea Detolfs which I had side by side. Now only two are together and one stands off to the corner. I noticed they were a tad overcrowded and by that I mean they were very crowded. I had already put away some cool stuff like the SOC Baikanfu and Tobikage stuff so I didnt know what else to put away. My Daitarns have to stay, My Daltanious's, my Voltrons etc. Where can I trim some fat? It's like having to choose a favorite child to keep and the others to give away to an orphanage. Then I realized I have a few little vintage toys still in their boxes taking up a bit of space inside the display cases. I like them there because the boxes have a lot of charm. Today they had to go.

I managed to clear out a bunch of little boxes that ate up a lot of space. Most of these are not must-display items, but I absolutely love the box art. Unfortunately, it was time for them to move on until I get more display space (in other words, new house).

Off to storage they went. I shed a teeny tear, sort of like the indian dude in the old 80's commercials when someone tosses garbage on the floor. I stuffed them carefully in a box and they are now awaiting a slumber of an unknown length.

Aside from just not having the space to display, I am finding it harder and harder to keep up with this blog and my youtube channel. My goal was to do a small write up, not necessarily a review of all the things that come my way, but it is getting harder and harder to keep up. Some really cool stuff gets overlooked by some so-so stuff just because the cool stuff may not be available to me at the moment. The rest lies in boxes "in queue". Some may never even see the light of day. Not only on this site but ever. What I mean is that if I don't open up my stuff while it comes in to check it out, it usually gets pushed off to the side while other things come in, eventually it gets to be so much that I have to box it and store it. Those items never get opened and the write ups never surface. Of course CDX stuff takes priority since at the moment, this blog is purely "for fun". I always take care of those items first.

This is what my queue room looks like as of this afternoon. That is only what I haven't stored away yet.

yikes!

In the future, I will have to carefully trim out excess stuff that I don't need so that I can concentrate more on getting cool new stuff up. I've been feeling like a lot of my recent stuff has been rushed or done without the enthusiasm I shared in the past. Well, I do have a baby now, but I miss the days of opening a box, admiring the item, taking my time with it and doing a video review of it with special effects and stuff. Now, I'm opening, wiggling arms and legs videotaping it and boxing it away. Boo. Most of this backup was due to my 2 week vacation but I want to have fun with my hobby, not box it up for a rainy day which may never come. If one good thing comes out of this it would have to be the occasional visit to the storage room where I say "Oooh I forgot I had this!" Once in a while when that happens I grab that item to show you guys. It keeps things fresh and interesting. I've cut a few things out of my preorders so I don't get attacked all at once with stuff. We'll see how that goes. Maybe I will have to hire some writers...or give my little daughter a crash course in robot/figure collecting.

Charlie Brown and Baby Super Mario vinyls

2011-11-14T21:21:00.001-05:00

During my vacation to Colombia, I hit up a store called "Importados" that sells mostly Japanese themed stuff mixed in with other pop culture stuff. Sometimes they have some nice vinyls. I noticed they has a 2 for 1 sale so I grabbed a questionably licensed Ben 10 PVC figure for a little cousin of mine and that in turn set me up to pick something out for myself. My favorite of the lot was this Charle brown. I loved the sculpt and it was a nice size so it was to be mine. I also managed to pick up a small baby Super Mario vinyl from a little shop called Kimango which also sold imported toys.

It stands about 7-8" tall although I'm eyeballing it. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that this was a Medicom vinyl figure. There were no retail tags but the bottom of the feet revealed it's origin. I also discovered that it is articulated! The head rocks on a ball joint as do the shoulders. Not bad. You can see some sloppy gluing around the waist.

The nice sculpt continues to the back.

This is a small baby Mario. My wife has been on a Mario kick and with us having a baby girl and all, we figured it would be cool to pick it up. I wasn't down to buy the baby Luigi and baby princess during this visit. I planned to save it for a another day which unfortunately never came. Baby Mario was to be alone. The cool part of this figure is that the head and arms are articulated. The legs however, remain in a seated position. I always thought Mario was born with a moustache.

I will have to get someone in my family to pick up baby Luigi for me since I am back in the states now. I don't know the manufacturer of this little vinyl, but it is licensed by Nintendo. This little $5 figure paved the way towards a purchase of a brand new black Super Mario Nintendo Wii for my wife for Christmas... only to later find out a new Wii lurks near with HD capability. Hopefully she won't notice the non HD gaming.

Toy Sighting: Reveal the Shield Grapple and Lugnut Voyager figures for $9.99 at TJ-Maxx

2011-11-14T21:15:00.001-05:00

I love hitting up these discount stores and unexpectedly finding some great stuff. This time around I went in to look for baby stuff and ran into these RTS voyagers I have been waiting forever for and never saw anywhere. Funny how I've never seen these in toy stores, yet they already been relegated to deep discount stores. What's up with your distro Hasbro? I found Grapple and Lugnut in great shape and for a great price. $9.99 each. That's cheaper than a deluxe. They had another voyager fig that I had no interest in. I went back to get my friend a Lugnut and unfortunately, someone else had snatched them up. Maybe one of you guys may be lucky enough to find these at your local TJ-Maxx.

Bandai Robot Spirits 103 Doraemon

2011-11-14T21:03:00.001-05:00

Today I wanted to show you guys this new Doraemon Robot Spirits figure. I won't go into too much detail since I will try and do a full review for CDX.

Box front

Box rear

Plastic tray layout

Doraemon out of the box.

The figure comes with variant faces and eyes for multiple combinations. The face and eyes are removable to accomplish this effect.

His propeller accessory attaches by use of a magnetic feature which avoids unsightly peg holes.

This wand also attaches with a magnet.

Magnetic ears...

...and a magnetic hamburger.

Little included PVC mouse.


The door-in-the-pocket effect is easily recreated and looks really cool.

Really cool and surprisingly poseable.

Fastlane R/C Hawk4 and Shen Hua HM0961G mini Gyro RC helicopters

2011-11-14T20:22:00.001-05:00

Oh my, where is this website headed? First robots, then Star Wars, Christmas poop figures and now radio controlled helicopters? Well, that's the cool part about this website, it's robots, robots and other stuff. This falls under the other stuff. I wanted to show you guys these helicopters because they are tons of fun. I bought the gunmetal one on the left below during my vacation to Colombia for about $25 which was at a 50% discount at the Falabella store. It is a Falabella exclusive supposedly but if you look hard enough, you will see that it is a Shen Hua HM0961G. The one on the right is much easier to find under the Toys R Us label Fastlane RC. It's called the Hawk4. They both feature a gyro stability feature which keeps it solidly pointed in one direction without swaying or spinning. The second you let go of the steering, they freeze in place. I bought it to compare the two since they are similarly built and I found the results to be interesting enough to warrant the ownership of both.

Left: Shen Hua HM0961G
Right: Fastlane R/C Hawk4

Hawk4 specs according to toysrus.com:
Product Description
"Take flight with the Fast Lane Gyro Hawk 4 IR Control Helicopter, a Toys'R'Us exclusive. This helicopter measures 7 inches from nose to tail, and it features counter-rotating rotors and a gyro for stability; it's so easy, anyone can fly it! Three channels mean you can fly forward and backward, and you can rotate with rudder control.

The Fast Lane Gyro IR Control Helicopter - Hawk 4 - Orange features:

Includes helicopter and transmitter
Double-joystick transmitter controls forward, backward, and rotary motion
Designed for indoor use
Counter-rotating rotors and gyro for superb stability
Transmitter range of up to 33 feet
Flight Time: 8 minutes; recharges from transmitter
Infrared (IR) transmitter requires line of sight
Rotor Span: 7 inches; Body Length: 7 inches
Helicopter Weight: 1.9 oz
Requires 6 AA batteries for the transmitter"

HM0961G specs according to xiongyetoys.com:

"Introducing the 3CH Electric RC Helicopter. Great for people of all skill levels, this bad boy features a coaxial rotor and a single rear rotor for precise control. The 4channel control will allow you to go forward, backward, up, down, left, right and hover. This RC helicopter has a metal body making it strong yet light weight so you don't have worry about breaking anything when you land it a bit too rough. This product is ready to fly out of the box, there is no assembly required. Just put in 6 AA batteries into the transmitter/charger and charge the helicopter and you're good to go. Be the coolest kid on the block by getting the 3CH Electric RC Helicopter!

Features:

Electric Powered
3Channel Control
Metal Body
Coaxial Rotor
Single Rear Rotor
Detailed Paint Job
IR Transmitter
Charges Off Transmitter
LED Lights
Easy To Fly
Ready To Fly

Includes:

Mini Screwdriver
IR Transmitter/Charger
2 Spare Main Rotors
1 Spare Rear Rotor
Mini Screwdriver

Specifications:

PRODUCT SIZE: 194.510 CM
PACKING SIZE: 40.5916.5 CM
MEAS.:	774152	CM
G.W./N.W.:	14.5/11.5	KG
CHARGE TIME: 30-45 MINS
FLYING TIME: 5-7 MINS
CONTROL DISTANCE: 8-10 METERS

Battery Requirements:

Vehicle: 3.7V 150mAh Li-Poly Rechargeable Battery (Included)
Transmitter: 6 AA Alkaline Batteries (Not Included)"

As you can see, the build is quite good. There is lots of metal, apparently of the aluminum kind which is durable and lightweight. You'll see the IR receiver chilling below the chassis. The fascia is stamped steel which will survive dive bombs. The downside to that is that is adds weight.

The Hawk4 features a similar chassis design. You will notice the support beams are squared instead of cylindrical. The fascia of this set is a very lightweight plastic which should survive a few nose dives. Not as strong as stamped steel but much lighter.

Here is the HM0961G with its IR controller. It's best to use it indoors where the sun cannot interfere with its infrared operation. The controller has a classic controller look. The throttle lacks a spring feature which is either good or bad depending on you liking. It is completely plastic, features gyro trim and uses 6AA batteries. The bottom of the controller slides open to reveal the charging cord which plugs into the heli. The balance bars above the top rotors feature a plastic construction with metal end weights. 3 Channels are available so that up to 3 helis can fly together. There is also a manual mode and programming mode. It seems programming mode steers on its own while the user provides throttle.


Here is the Hawk4 with its video game style controller. It features spring loded throttle return and gyro trim. 3 Channels are available so that up to 3 helis can fly together.

Here is my thoughts. The HM0961G seems to be the smoothest and quietest of the two. It also features LED "headlights" which alternate between red and blue and allows nighttime flying. Power delivery is smooth and exact. Hovering ability is excellent. I am able to keep it frozen in place. Forward and rear motion is smooth and precise.

The Hawk4 is also a good mini gyro heli. It is easily available at your local Toys R Us. My first experience with Fastlane R/C helis was a bigger white model that was absolute crap. Gears were not attached right and the copter spun around uncontrollably in my living room. Fortunately that crappiness does not carry over into the Hawk4. While it was a bit noisier and didn't quite have the precision feel of the HM0961G, it definitely surprised me with it's instant climbing ability, while both shoot upwards with urgency, the Hawk4 sounds a bit more pissed and is willing to shoot back up quickly should you back off the throttle and peg it again. Seems "torquier". It's forward and backwards motion is not as precise and the hovering, while OK, is not rock solid.

Charge time is about 20-25 minutes for about 8 minutes run time for both. Which is not too bad for the amount of fun they provide.The retail price on the HM0961G was $50 while the retail on the Hawk4 is $34.99 ($29.99 at the moment). My favorite of the two is the HM0961G although I always keep the Hawk4 charged up for when my HM runs out of steam. My next purchase is going to be the Syma S107 which is what these mini copters are based off of. The Syma seems to be the most popular with spare parts available all day long on eBay.

Micro Change Cassette Condor and Micro Cassette Robot Condor

2011-11-14T18:48:00.001-05:00

Today I have the Micro Change Condor which was part of the Microman series of toys. The figures in this line were based off robots that could turn into normal everyday objects. In this case, a robot condor would turn into a cassette which was all the rage back in the day with the Walkman and all. It was released by Takara at the time and of course Taiwan wasted no time in giving the less fortunate kids a chance to own their own bootleg version. If you are thinking to yourself that these look familiar, well then you must be thinking about Laserbeak. The charming little robotic bird that resides in Soundwave. I never owned either of these as a kid, however I did have the Taiwan version of Jaguar (Ravage). Let's take a look at these, shall we?

The Takara version is on the left and the Taiwan version is off to the right. Notice that at first glance, they are very similar in box design. Look closely and you'll notice the Taiwan version is in english and missing trademarks and company logos.

The back is also very similar with the exception of the english and the removal of the Microman figure photos and Takara logo. Notice the lower right hand corner of the Taiwan version, it has a "#1" hand-written on it. I have another Taiwan version and it is missing this number. Probably done at retail or by the previous owner.

Here they are out of the package and in their vacuum-formed trays. The Takara version on the left seems to have sharper molding on the tray. You'll also notice it has a cassette insert and an instruction booklet. The Taiwan originally did have an insert which was lost over the years, however neither of my Taiwan versions have instructions. I do not know if they ever did. Maybe someone can verify this. They both feature metal decals with cassette detailing. The original says "Takara" and the bootleg says "Micro Cassette". The chrome appears brighter on the Takara although the chrome seems durable on the bootleg.


Side by side you will see they are almost identical. The molding is clean on both. The Takara version features a bright red paint while the Taiwan version has a darker red. The Taiwan version seems to have a thinner coat of paint because it thins down on the panel lines. Surprisingly, the Taiwan version seems to have sharper diecast (red parts) molding although it does show larger gaps between the metal and plastic.

That's it folks, in the tired state that I was during the shoot, I forgot to snap them together in their robot Condor form. Probably a good thing as I would have probably broken something.

Colombia Vacation Part 2

2011-11-13T21:59:00.001-05:00

OK, so here is some more stuff from my vacation to Colombia. As you can see it's more food. I most definitely went there with intentions to get amazingly fat. However, the fat all went to my abs and maybe my head.

This is the McNifica. This meal cost $8888, which equates to roughly a little over $4US. Why on earth would I buy a McDonalds burger? Well, look at it...it looks Incredible! You can actually see the meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato! The bun even looks normal. I have never gotten a McD's burger this handsome in my life. By the way, it tasted awesome. The fries were delicious and the Coca-Cola was absolutely refreshing. Turns out, they use sugar in their Coca-Cola as opposed to High Fructose Corn Syrup. If anyone (companies who use HFCS) tries and tell you that non-cane sugar foods taste the same as HFCS foods, put your boot in their butt. I think when they say Colombia has the best Coke, they are talking about the soft drink.

Taking pictures of a McDonalds burger with a big DSLR in front of the locals does nothing to make me look like a tourist who has never seen a burger, not at all.

Here is one of the most delicious snacks on earth. They are called Buñuelos. Although they taste great anytime, the best is right out of the fryer when they are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Here we are waiting for a fresh Arepa con queso (Arepa with cheese). An Arepa is quite possible the most delicious corn food on the planet if done right. If you buy one here in the US and it's "meh" DO NOT assume this is typical. They are friggin' delicious. They are normally very thin, but these here off to the left are stuffed with cheese. The food with skewers are called Chuzos. Most "z" in spanish are pronounced with a "ss" sound. So Chuzos would be pronounced Chew-ssos. Above the arepas are monkey testicles. Just kidding... or am I?

VINTAGE JAPANESE ULTRAMAN SHOOTER MOC

2011-11-13T21:47:00.001-05:00

VINTAGE JAPANESE ULTRAMAN SHOOTER MOC.

Got this bad boy on eBay. Pretty strange but a piece of Ultraman history.

The packaging is simple. Box art is not the best but fits the vibe. This was released in a time where it was OK to blind your friends.

Apparently, there are pellets included. I am not sure if they are metal or plastic. They kind of sound metal to me. Of course I could open the package, but I think this is one of those things that becomes completely worthless and loses 100% of its charm once it's open. It's probably a piece of crap toy. The blue part seems to be the wrist band.

Here is the actual shooter portion of the toy. It looks pretty bad. I'm wondering how much play value this thing has. Did anyone in Japan that owned this play with it for more than two minutes before realizing they wasted their life away fiddling with this? Or is it more pathetic to be the person who buys this many decades later only to leave it in the package? You know you want one.

Poor man's Hot Toys Bruce Lee 1/6 figure

2011-11-13T21:34:00.001-05:00

I have plans to own a Hot Toys Bruce Lee figure. However, they are pretty darn expensive. I am not a big 1/6 collector so $200+ for a figure seems like a lot to me. That's high-end Gokin territory. Anyways, I've devised a plan to piece together my own Bruce Lee figure. This way, it will be done to my liking and to my wallet's. For example, I won this Hot Toys head from eBay for $5.00 shipped. It is a great sculpt that comes from the Bruce Lee in Causal wear release. I would have preferred him not smiling but for $5 bucks I wont complain. eBay has tons of parts to piece this guy together. I have to find a body and some clothes...and hands and accessories. In the end it should be cheaper than buying the set. I will keep this project updated. For now the head resides on my little Megatron figure.

Hasbro Star Wars Transformers Darth Vader Sith Starfighter

2011-11-13T21:13:00.001-05:00

I really tried to stay away from the whole Star Wars/Transformers crossover thing but this figure came in at a nice price and features my favorite villain. At just $7.99 it was right up my alley. A transforming Darth Vader? Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

Here he is right out of the package with his light sabers attached to his Starfighter mode.

Upon flipping it over, I was shocked at how little effort was put forth into it's transformation. It already looks like Darth Vader! This is a full-blown shell former.

Not too bad of a Darth Vader mode although he has no cape. You basically fold back some panels and fold out his feet. Only for hardcore Darth Vader/Transformers fans.

South Park Deluxe Talking Mr. Hankey

2011-11-13T21:04:00.001-05:00

Nothing says "Christmas" like a talking Holiday Poop figure. That's right. Mr. Hankey comes in toy form bringing Christmas cheer. Mezco Toys has made it possible to offend your family during Christmas while still spreading the love of the Holidays. At first I was disappointed that he only said three phrases. It turns out that there is a demo mode with three phrases and a standard mode with even more phrases. Get yours now for about $19.99. The best part is that he won't leave your hands dirty.

On the back you can see the speaker holes. Right below is the three-way switch with "TRY ME", off and on settings. The round button activates the sound feature. I believe the arms are bendy.

Recent hauls

2011-11-09T23:19:00.000-05:00

Previous to and during my 2 week vacation, the boxes began to pile up at my house. Here's a bit of what I have in store for the future. Some may make it here and some may not.

Robot Spirits Doraemon
Sideshow Shadow Stormtrooper
Ultraman toy shooter
Super Robot Chogokin Dai Guard
Tamashii SPEC Tekkaman and Pegas
Ultraman DVD full original series
Golgo 13 #2 and #3
Transformers RTS Lugnut
Transformers RTS Grapple
Charlie Brown Medicom Vinyl
Nintendo Baby Mario Vinyl
RC Gyro Helicopter
Air Hogs Hyper Actives mini RC car
Yamato 1/60 Maximillian Valkyrie
Diaclone Condor
Bootleg Diaclone Condor
TRU Exclusive G1 Soundwave

During my stay I received what I consider to be one of the absolute coolest pieces in my collection. I'll give you a hint: It's a robot and it's heavy. You'll have to stay tuned to check it out!

HL Pro Hydargos Mothership

2011-11-09T22:53:00.002-05:00

This was an interesting review for me because it was simply the most unarticulated piece I have ever owned I think. That's due to the fact that it's not a figure but a ship. It is almost completely metal and heavy. It could probably kill someone in the wrong hands. If you watch Grendizer, you may recognize it as Blacky's ship. Make sure to check out my review HERE

Hydargos Mothership

Super Gobots Defendor and Warpath

2011-11-09T22:46:00.000-05:00

Although I had my share of Gobots and/or bootlegs of Gobots as a kid, they didnt quite do it for me although I did have a couple I toyed around with for a while. I never did get a Super Gobot of my own until just recently when I got 2 of them. The boxes were were in relatively good shape but the figures were absolutely pristine. So much so that I couldn't get myself to transform them. I tried but realized I may scrape something or break it so I left 'em in robot mode which is my preferred mode. Let's take a look at Defendor and Warpath.

WARPATH

Finally back from vacation in Colombia!

2011-11-09T21:58:00.001-05:00

If you watched my Youtube video about my vacation, you may have known that I went away for a couple of weeks to my place of birth, beautiful Medellin, Colombia. I was surprised at the amount of new structures erected in the city. I was last there 2 years ago and much has changed. While it has always been a bustling, modern city, it just keeps expanding and modernizing very quickly. While this little blog is in no way the be-all end-all tour of the city, I will share pieces of my little trip with you guys. Heck I may even throw in a couple of toy related bits. I was there to visit friends and family and of course eat. Which I did lots of. These pictures are not necessarily in chronological order.

This is the view out of the bedroom window I was in. behind those bushes is a soccer field.

This is the Oviedo shopping center. It has a big tree in the center which is nicely lit up at night. All the stores you could want are here.

To kick things off here at the mall, I stopped by Sushi to go where I picked up some sushi rolls. Nothing raw today for me, just some tasty stuff to prep me for dinner later that night.

My wife also got some rolls. One of which had sweet plantains on top.

Waiting to chomp these down with a side of lemonade.

After the sushi, I got myself a cup of coffee. The coffee here is not serve out of an old pot. Each cup is individually made to serve. Check out that foamy head. It is a teeny cup as you can tell by the plastic holder they clip to the side. Each little sip is heaven. Everytime you drink Colombian coffee here in the states, just remember, IT IS NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS WHAT YOU FIND IN COLOMBIA. I'm beginning to think we keep the good stuff for ourselves over there. $2,800COP ($1.20US)

Here is the tree at night overlooking the food court.

Here is the parking lot outside the Oviedo shopping center.

Another view off to the side.

Later on in the week, we head off to my aunt's house. She recommended stopping by not only to visit but to check out the view from here balcony... Awe inspiring.

Off to the right.

Here is my wife sitting off to the side enjoying the breeze and view.

Tired of teeny McD's burgers? How about getting 2 of these combos for the low price of $17,700COP (about $9US) at Presto? The burgers do actually look like the ones in the posters here.

Halloween was in full effect at another mall called Los Molinos (The Windmills). This is another popular trendy shopping center that was full of kids dressed up as their favorite characters. Ben 10 and Captain America were big hits.

This is a view down one of the wings there.

Here's a little McDonalds that serves coffee and ice cream lost in the shuffle.

Here is another mall called the Premium Plaza that was also bustling with kids in their favorite costumes.

One of my favorite ice cream places is Popsy. You absolutely must try there Chocolate Belga (Belgian Chocolate). Relatively pricey compared to other places (2 scoops $4800COP, about $2.50US.

Here is my half eaten cone. Those dark spots? HUGE rock-like chunks of delicious Belgian Chocolate.

Here is proof that Colombian Hot Dogs are huge! No seriously, the hot dogs here are insane. They are called "Perros" (dogs) and they also have a place that serves "Perras" (bitches-as in female dogs) which is just a bunch of bacon covered in six sauces: Barbeque, ketchup, pink sauce, pineapple and others I cant remember. Then there is salad on top, then teeny crispy slivers of potato and 3 teeny eggs (cornish hens?) and served on a cardboard holder. Halfway through one of them I thought I was going to pass out. Unfortunately, my android phone decided to take a crap and lost the pictures I took of the huge sandwich.

OK, I know I'm not supposed to be eating burgers when on vacation outside the US, but these burgers here are wonderful and they look like the ones on posters! This combo was from Don Jediondo. Notice the word Jedi is in the name. However the force was not with them this day as the bread was crumbly and the grilled taste was overpowering. It was DELICIOUS during the first couple of bites and you'll notice grill marks on the bread, but not one of the better burgers. My wife took two bites and left it alone. I however finished it all. I got 2 of these combos for $15,000COP (about $7.75US)

It was a pretty big burger too.

One of our last stops in the trip was to the Pueblito Paisa which is basically a little teeny town that is trapped in time. It houses little shops and has a few rooms where tourists can peek in and see how the typical Paisa live back in the day. Very quaint and cute. Always a must see. Especially up in the viewing area where the entire city can bee seen.

Here is another mall called the Sante Fe. It's one of the newer shopping centers here. They have two springs that shoot up about 5 floors...or is it 4? I forgot how many floors the mall has but it's huge. They also have a high-end toy store which I'll do a new post about.

Check this out, this is MALL FOOD. Try getting this at your local New Jersey mall. Damage about $40,000COP($20US)


Another view for your pleasure...oh and yeah those are sizzling hot metal plates they are served on.

Want to see more mall food? This was taken earlier in the trip at Oviedo. Cost me about $15 for all of it.

My aunt once again recommended visiting here to check out the view at night. So I did. Wow, wow, WOW.

There are so many more pictures that I have yet to sort through and post on here to show you guys. There is definitely more food pictures. Make sure to stop by for more updates of my trip and more stuff that I bought.

Oh and if you know anything about Medellin, you will know that it is known for it's women and nightlife, while I gave that up when I got married, you can get a glimpse of those 2 things here. There are links to pictures that were taken at various clubs and each is dated. So if you ever hit up one of these clubs you can always click on the club and the date you went and check out the girls you were to chicken to talk to that night.

BTS Toys Sonicron "Not Soundwave"

2011-10-20T21:39:00.001-04:00

As big of a fan as I am of Soundwave, I didn't jump on this. I thought it would be uncool to buy this without first owning a vintage one. Upon getting a vintage one, I still didn't jump on it. First of all, it's a third party toy and I knew very little about it and second, I didn't want to fork over 60+ dollars for it. But of course, I eventually found it on clearance and I bought it. I should have been suspicious about its sudden clearance price, but I wasn't. Even if I was, I would still buy it. I am not afraid of toys that get a bad rep for build because I dont play with my stuff, I review it and display it. Anyways, I tried to stay away from other peoples reviews so I could have a clear head when I got mine. I like it. It definitely has a third party feel to it. The box design looks fan made, nothing that would ever get mistaken for a Hasbro product. The box has a flap with magnets which is a really cool touch. The transformation is rather clever in my opinion and the detailing is more than expected. The fit finish leaves a lot to be desired but I am not going to say I regret buying it. It actually is a nice display piece. I can look past it's loose joints, misaligned panels and plastic flash. More picky collectors would probably stay away.

The box is rigid and has a nice matte finish to it.

I dont know if there's is anyone who would cut apart this box, but there are printed cassetes on the box that can be cut out and folded to fit into the alternate mode.

The flap swings open to show the contents.

There are a few accessories included, one of which is an alternate Cybertronian looking head.

I could have probably done a more dramatic pose, but the limp right arm voted against it.

Here is alternate mode. I believe Soundwave should ALWAYS be a cassette recorder. I don't care what year it is, Soundwave should always be a cassette recorder. That's just me. In a world of iPods and MP3's, this alternate mode retains the cassette gimmick.


And you'll be happy to know that G1 cassettes fit. I was only able to test Ravage in it and the door would not close. Bummer. Stay tuned for a full review of this guy on collectiondx.com.

Star Wars The Birth of Darth Vader Battle Pack

2011-10-20T20:10:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it's hard to go toy shopping with my wife because we always go to Babies R Us and where there's a BRU, there a..well you know. So I always hit it up with absolutely no intention of picking anything up, but that would be a disservice to my readers now wouldn't it? So I saw the usual crap that I could hold off on because it's not a priority (although that Universal Monsters Dracula figure was soooo tempting). I walked by the usual Star Wars/Transformers isle and was about to leave when it caught my eye. The Birth of Darth Vader. What? my most favorite character has a playset that recreates the most awesome event of the 3 new/old movies? I grabbed it and ran off to show my wife like all little kids do in hopes of their mom buying it. Except my wife isn't buying it. I show her and she says I know you want it so get it, you bought more expensive things in the past, why stop there? Awesome. Gotta love credit cards. It wasn't ridiculous but it was $25 which buys a good amount of other stuff. Had there been others there I could have held off but too many times in the past I do that only to never ever ever find it again. Almost did that with the 14" Lion-O figure and that thing is IMPOSSIBLE to find in any store. Anyways here it is. I can't get myself to open it because it just looks so cool in the box. Like a peek into the movie.

Included in the set is 2-1B, Darth Vader Anakin damaged version with operating table and Galactic Chopper

Anakin's face is freshly burnt. The fat forearm is removable and so are his legs.

The helmet and chest piece are removable.

2-1B

Galactic Chopper

Even though the illustration shows a robotic arm holding Darth Vader's helmet, I don't think it's included in the set. Only the figures and the operating table.

Ultraman GA-95 Chogokin

2011-10-19T22:01:00.000-04:00

A diecast Ultraman...need I say much more? Even thought this one is in good shape, it's rather loose so exciting poses are out of the question...well as exciting as a toy from the 70's could pull off. I love it all the same.

He comes with three little rubber Kaiju figures that are much smaller than him.

Sort of a signature move...the best I could do without him flopping around.

He looks so vintagey. I wish I could tighten his joints but they are riveted.

I've been waiting a long time to get this guy into my collection. Now I have him. Yayyyy.

Takatoku Cyborg 009 Joe Shimamura gokin

2011-10-19T21:49:00.000-04:00

This is a neat little gokin that I unfortunately knew nothing about before I shot it for this post so I missed out on showing you guys a cool little gimmick.

Here you can see the gimmicks on the back of the box.

He comes with a little catalog, missile baggie and spring-loaded gun for eye-popping action.

You will notice the "buttons" on his chest looks like a separate piece of the chest. That's because they are. The chest flips down to reveal a cyborg inner chest that shoots missiles! Awesome. Not awesome is that I didn't realize it when I took the pics. You can see the chest gimmick on the back of the box.

I thought it would not be my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it. Look at it's excellent unplayed-with condition. Some Japanese kid missed out.

Mini Review: Gakken Genesis Climber Mospeada VR-052F

2011-10-12T23:46:00.000-04:00

After messing around with CM's Brave Gokin version of this, it was a relief to fiddle around with this figure and not have it disintegrate in my hands. It has more diecast than it's CM brother. Diecast is in the wheel forks, and legs. It is satifyingly hefty for it's size. Won't win any points for articulation though.

Mini Review: Takatoku Destroid Monster HWR-00-MK II

2011-10-12T23:15:00.001-04:00

This is the 1/240 scale Destroid Monster from Takatoku. It is a sweet little block of diecast. The barrels are plastic as are the arms and thighs, but everything else is good old metal. It comes in a nice styro tray. Stickers have already been applied although I dont mind too much since they were applied pretty good and it looks good with them on.

Although stickers were applied, the sticker sheet was still included. Would have been nice to get a good scan of this sheet to get repros made. Oh well.

I'm a sucker for toys like this.

My visit to Times Square Toys R Us

2011-10-09T00:23:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I decided to pay the NYC Times Square Toys R Us a visit since we were close by. I usually don't get too excited about what I find inside because it's always much more expensive than regular TRU stores. Deluxe figures range dangerously close to regular Voyager prices. Masterpiece figures are $69.99 (although I noticed Rodimus Prime is now $69.99 at my local regular TRU!). Because of those high prices, there was a nice amount of Rodimus MP's hanging out. It was pretty uneventful. Didn't find anything worth buying. Otherwise it was a fun day in the city. (As of 10/09/2011 there are NO MORE MP Rodimus Primes at the Times Square TRU)

Lot's of Rodimus Primes but very little buyers. How about lowering the price?

My daughter and I chilling in between Optimus Prime's legs.

Recent Haul

2011-10-09T00:11:00.000-04:00

Here is some of my recent haul of stuff I will hopefully get around to reviewing for my Youtube channel or CDX. It's a real random mix of stuff ranging from bobbleheads to Star Wars. I also grabbed some allegedly bad toys from the Tron movie...why? because they were darn cheap and look pretty cool. We'll find out if the toys are any good.

My collecting range is all over the place lately!

This is what $24 worth of clearance Tron toys looks like.

Takara MP-10 Convoy Masterpiece Optimus Prime

2011-10-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

I've been a little slow with info on this site, but I assure you it's for good reasons. One of those reasons is that I'm working on tons of reviews for CollectionDX.com. One of them is this MP-10 review. I am not 100% sure it will end up on CDX since I have other stuff I'm doing for them but hopefully I can post it up there. I gulped when I took it out of the package because it was light and plasticky but I like it WAY more than my MP-01 and believe me I love diecast robots. The MP-10 is just right in so many ways. I'm almost done taking pics and I am working on part 2 of the video review for RPA.In the meantime, here are some teaser pics and part one of the video review. EDIT 10/20/11: I will be doing the review for CDX!

Part 1 of the MP-10 Review

New Reviews coming: Wheelie Survivalist

2011-09-26T23:39:00.002-04:00

10/8/11: Wheelie Survivalist Review now live on CDX!

C-80 Wheelie Survivalist: This is like the Jar Jar Binks of the Transformers world, but he got the modern diecast treatment. Lots of people talking negatively about the size and amount of diecast, but he truly is a nicely done figure from a currently unknown to me third party company. I'm happy to own this fine little diecast transformer. Video is below, but make sure to check out the controversial written review I did for CDX.

*Wheelie comes with tons of faction logos, but I chose to use one from reprolabels.com

New Reviews coming: Brave Gokin 13 Mospeada Ride Armor Ley

2011-09-26T23:02:00.001-04:00

You get a sneak peek here but make sure to head on over to collectiondx.com when the review are done. This post will be update with any further info.

Brave Gokin Mospeada Ride Armor Ley: If you like fiddly teeny toys with lots of engineering, then you may like this figure. Sure it looks nice but it's just one of those CM's figures that misses the mark. It's labeled a gokin but diecast is very minimal. Great idea but poor execution. If you want it to look good on display, by all means get one. They are cheap and look great on display, but if you're planning on playing with them, look elsewhere.

CM's M.A.S. Mechander DX Version Technical gattai set

2011-09-25T23:40:00.000-04:00

There is a review I have been working on for a little while. It is taking me a long time because I am really trying my best to like this figure. The problem is, it is pretty bad. It looks so darn good though, I wanna like it. But every time I try and work on the review, I am reminded of how bad it is. I try and make up excuses for it, for example, in Japan, the culture is different, they understand that collectibles are more for display than play. That makes me feel better, but I'm sure there are a few pissed off Japanese who bought this set. It's retail was almost $150US!! and it is the lightest, weakest feeling plastic although I can't say for sure the plastic is brittle, it just feels like it. It would have been fine if they made it out of metal and used better plastics because the sculpts and molding is great and clean, but the material was lacking. It was more noticeable on the robot than his accessories which are actually quite nice although made of the same plastic. I will be doing the written review on collectiondx.com but if you wanna check out the video, check out my youtube channel and subscribe if you enjoy the videos.

14" Lion-O

2011-09-25T23:27:00.004-04:00

Has anyone been able to find this guy at TRU? I happened upon one a while back while shopping for baby formula. I grabbed the only one. I frequent TRU often and have never seen another. I am wondering if they are being horded or just not being distributed well. It is an amazing figure. It looks so great on a shelf. The sculpt is beautiful and the paint apps are superb. Well worth the $24.99 asking price. This thing towers over most things in your collection.

Here he is next to an 8" Classic Tygra

I got the Star Wars bug...again.

2011-09-24T23:27:00.000-04:00

I was so happy when I finally stopped buying POTF when it first came out. It was annoying trying to buy every figure and very expensive. Suddenly I just stopped collecting them for no apparent reason. Fast forward a few years later. I kept picking up Darth Vaders here and there never opening them. Then I bought a Vintage Collection Darth Vader and Stormtrooper. I decided to open them and then the bug hit me. These things were frigging awesome! I mean, last time I actually held a Star Wars figure out of its package was in the 80's. They had 2-5 points of articulation. Now they have like 14?! Wow. So then that started the process of buying up a few Stormtroopers to go with my Darth Vader on display. Then another, then another. I've lost count. Then I started contemplating buying other figures but thankfully I resisted. I only bought a couple of Snowtroopers cause they are darn cool too.

I actually bought 2 Vaders. 1 Vintage collection and a Saga Legends SL06. There is my old unplayed with real vintage vader hanging out. I couldn't resist a light and sound R2 for $5 (sale)

So the other day, I took a trip to Walmart and walked by the newly released Blu Ray movies. I picked up the IV-VI set because really, the "first" three just dont do it for me. Hayden Christiansen as the almighty Darth Vader? Anyways, I was about to put it back and thought.."Man, it would be nice to watch this in Hi-Def" so I took it with me. I walked a little further and found commemorative box sets of figures. A set for every episode. I grabbed matching figure sets... I done did it now. I have been fighting with myself the past few days...return it? or not return it. Can't decide. I really like the figures but I'm not ready to plop down 80 bucks for 'em. They would probably stay in the package anyways since I have no clue how I would display them properly. Stormtroopers are easy. 12 various figures? not so easy.

I am contemplating doing the review of these figures on collectiondx.com.

I could live without Lukes and Leias and Han Solos, but they are just so nicely done. Sure I could buy the single packs but I would end up spending way more. 4 figures for $25 isnt too bad when they are like $9 a pop seperate. They put in what I consider to be the best versions of each figure. The Leia one looks like Leia, the Darth Vader has a removable helmet, the Stormtroopers, well you know they rock. R2-D2 is chromed up, There is a Sandtrooper which I dont have yet and the really really cool Biker Scout. I have always loved Biker Scouts...can't find single packs of him so he is sort of keeping me from returning the set. It's so nicely done.

So today I found another reason to buy more Stormtroopers. It turns out they are updating the Vintage Collection Stormtroopers with a more accurate helmet and abs paint app. The eyes now look like eyes instead of goggles. Crap. I also noticed the helmets on the newer trooper are actually white instead of the yellowed look the other ones have. The helmets even look a bit less swollen. Of course, most of my army has yellowed helmets. From now on I will only buy the updated ones. I'll do a post showing the differences soon.

Notice the unibrow. New ones don't have that. The little buttons on his abs are now detailed. Note the yellowness of this helmet.

I can't help but think that Lucasfilm has implanted subliminal messages because I was not even paying attention to the release date of the Blu Ray movies and it just so happens that my buying frenzy started on the day of it's release and I had no clue it was release day...coincidence?

Hasegawa Ultraman MAT Vehicle Update (Mazda Cosmos)

2011-09-14T00:46:00.001-04:00

I have not forgotten about the MAT build. In fact I just finished the interior and chassis. I have however, not gotten around to taking some pictures. Hopefully tomorrow I can get around to it and maybe do a followup video too. Stay tuned. EDIT: Video below!

RPA Preorder: Super Robot Chogokin Dai Guard [w/Campaign Bonus Effect Part]

2011-09-13T23:18:00.000-04:00

Super Robot Chogokin Dai Guard [w/Campaign Bonus Effect Part]
Bandai
¥4,800
Release: Sept. 2011

If you want the bonus effect parts, you can oly get them with the first issue release!

RPA Preorder: Dr. Slump EX Gokin DX Arale-chan

2011-09-13T23:09:00.000-04:00

Dr. Slump EX Gokin DX Toriyama
Artstorm/Fewture
ABS, PVC, Diecast
Release: October 2011
Price: ¥4,571

I can't wait for this guy, he is just too cool!

RPA Preorder: Dr. Slump EX Gokin DX Arale-chan

2011-09-13T23:03:00.001-04:00

Art Storm / Fewture Models
Material: PVC, ABS, Diecast
Release: September 2011
Retail Price: 9,800 Yen

RPA Preorder: Tiger & Bunny: S.H. Figuarts - Barnaby Brooks Jr.

2011-09-13T21:28:00.001-04:00

I really hope you guys have been watching Tiger & Bunny. I know I'm not an anime watcher but this show is actually pretty cool. Basically they are people with super hero powers. The twist is that they are sponsored by big companies and the goal is to capture the baddies while earning points. You have to watch at least one episode. There's no excuse not to because it's free on Hulu.com.

Anyways, It took me a little while to start watching and when I did, I immediately felt the urge to buy some of the characters, especially Tiger. You see, Tiger is a good superhero but he is also one of the oldest, so he is not as popular as the younger superheroes. He tries to give away his Superhero cards to kids but they don't care about him. If he complains at work, his boss tells him that if he doesn't like it he can just quit. I can;t help but compare Tiger to myself. I always considered myself a pretty good drifter (the type where cars slide around) and I was pretty well known amongst my peers, but time went by, younger kids came out of nowhere ripping up the tracks and I started to feel a bit "old". So I developed a liking to this Tiger character. Unfortunately for me, I waited too long and his S.H. Figuarts figure is sold out EVERYWHERE. At least everywhere that doesn't double or triple the price. However, I did manage to snag his young partner, Barnaby Brooks Jr who Tiger affectionately calls "Bunny" because of the ears on his superhero costume.

Stay tuned for a future look at this figure.

RPA Preorder: Takara Encore 20 Transformers Devastator Gift Set

2011-09-13T19:57:00.001-04:00

I know this is old news, but I got it on preorder so once it's released, I'll be showing it here. The news of this came out a couple of weeks after I bought my G1 knockoff, which is great by the way.

Takara Japan
10,000 Yen
Release: Nov. 2011

RPA Preorder: Hot Toys DX-08 1:6 scale Nicholson Joker

2011-09-13T19:39:00.001-04:00

Hot Toys DX08 - 1/6th scale Joker Collectible Figure
1st Qtr 2012
$264.99

The The Joker (1989 Version) 12 inch Figure features:

Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Jack Nicholson as The Joker from the 1989 Batman movie
Approximately 30 cm tall
TrueType body with over 30 points of articulation
Detailed hair sculpture
Parallel Eyeball Rolling System (PERS) patented by Hot Toys Limited
Highly detailed make-up, expression and wrinkles
Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted
Eight (8) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including:
One (1) pair of open palms
One (1) pair of relaxed palms
One (1) right palm for holding pistol
One (1) right palm for holding remote radio
One (1) right palm for holding magic stick
One (1) left palm for holding walkie talkie
One (1) purple hat
One (1) purple tuxedo
One (1) purple overcoat with turquoise scarf and poison orchid
One (1) orange shirt
One (1) turquoise vest
One (1) turquoise tie with dotted pattern
One (1) pair of white gloves
One (1) pair of purple and turquoise checker pants with suspenders
One (1) pair of purple shoes
One (1) long pistol
One (1) short pistoOne (1) remote radio
One (1) magic stick
One (1) walkie talkie
One (1) speaker
One (1) chattering teeth
One (1) mask
One (1) Joker card
Four (4) piles of US money
Light-up figure stand with Joker nameplate, the movie logo and DX series title

RPA Preorder: Hot Toys Keaton Batman

2011-09-13T19:33:00.000-04:00

Hot Toys DX09 - Batman1/6th scale Collectible Figure
1st Qtr.2012
$239.99


The Batman (1989 Version) 12 inch Figure features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Michael Keaton as Batman in the Batman (1989) movie Approximately 30 cm tall Newly developed Batman body with 30 points of articulation Newly developed head sculpt with three (3) interchangeable faces capturing the classic Batman facial expressions Parallel Eyeball Rolling System (PERS) patented by Hot Toys Limited Seven (7) pieces of interchangeable gloved palms including: One (1) pair of relaxed palms One (1) pair of fists One (1) right palm for holding grapple gun One (1) right palm for holding remote radio One (1) left open palm Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted One (1) Bat-suit with cape and Batman logo on chest One (1) utility belt One (1) pair of black boots One (1) extendable gauntlet One (1) batarang One (1) remote radio Light-up figure stand with Batman nameplate, movie logo and the DX series title One (1) grapple gun One (1) gauntlet Three (3) smoke capsules One (1) timer bomb Two (2) Ninja wheels

RPA Preorder: Medicom RAH Zaborger

2011-09-13T14:18:00.001-04:00

Real Action Heroes Series Denjin Zaborger
RAH 電人ザボーガー (Denjin Zabōgā)
Release date: September 2011
Price: 19,950 Yen
Medicom

Denjin Zaborger (電人ザボーガー Denjin Zabōgā), translated as Electroid Zaborger 7, was a Japanese tokusatsu television series that aired in 1974, produced by P Productions, it was their last Tokusatsu series of the 1970s.
Denjin Zaborger stars Akira Yamaguchi (Joji Yuki/Riderman in Kamen Rider V3) as secret agent Yutaka Daimon. The robot Denjin Zaborger has no personality at all, its Akira Yamaguchi as the wild warrior Yutaka Daimon who gives the series its heart.

Secret Police (Himitsu Keiji) agent Yutaka Daimon returns to Japan after learning his father was murdered by the evil Dr. Akunomiya, leader of the criminal gang Sigma (named after the Greek letter). From his father Yutaka inherited the robot warrior Denjin Zaborger which responds to Yutaka's voice commands. Zaborger has the unique ability to transform into a motorcycle, Machine Zaborger, for Yutaka Daimon to ride.

RPA Preorder: S.H. Monster Arts Godzilla

2011-09-13T14:06:00.000-04:00

S.H. MONSTER ARTS ゴジラ (Godzilla)
Release: November 2011 – Price: 5,775 Yen
Bandai

If I'm not mistaken, only the first issue of this figure will het these effect parts.

Bandai Mecha Godzilla small Japanese Vinyl

2011-09-12T23:31:00.001-04:00

I figured since I took out the Mecha Godzilla vinyl for the Mecha Gorilla post, I would just show you guys the figure. It is nicely done and very detailed. They can be found somewhat cheap, so if you like it, give it a whirl. I paid about 800 Yen.

For a small vinyl, it is highly detailed.

Raymundo Mecha Gorilla (Mechani-Kong) - Open Mouth Silver Version & Bomb Belt Silver Version

2011-09-08T01:56:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't like a Mecha version of anything? There's Mecha Godzilla, Mecha Gomora and probably a couple of others. Today I have 2 Mecha Gorillas by Raymundo. They are vinyl figures of a you guess it, mechanized Gorilla. More specifically Mechani-Kong from "Godzilla Escapes". Apparently they do not have the license to use that name. I bought these because they were on clearance and looked pretty cool. I had seen them before at their regular price of $59.99 but I didn't like it enough to bite. That's some big dough for a modern vinyl. However, at $16 and $17, it was a little more acceptable. I mean, two big Mecha Gorilla vinyls for just over $30? Why not. Well, I got them today and boy am I glad I held off for clearance pricing. These things are smaller than I expected, I was dreaming of 9" tall Mecha Gorillas. Smaller than Bandai vinyls which are much cheaper. Apparently, Raymundo does not manufacture these in the quantities that Bandai can, so the original price reflects that. Even at clearance they are more expensive than Bandai vinyl.

Anyways, on with the figures. Here is the first of the lot, the Open Mouth Silver Version.

Here is the Bomb Belt Silver Version.

Size comparison with a Bandai Mecha Godzilla.I'm not sure if they are in scale with each other. Probably not.

Both figures needed to have their arms out to maintain their balance. While I like the design and finish of the figures, I can't believe they retail for $60, even at $17, they seem pricey, but in all fairness, they are made by a small company in limited numbers so they need to recoup costs and make a profit. The sculpts are beautiful and it's a nice quality figure. If you like em, get em while they're cheap online at that big toy store. I don't know how many these silver versions are limited to, but the normal versions of these two are limited to 250.

To end this review off, I wanted to show you guys the header card it comes with. Interesting, no?

New Reviews: TFC Hercules Exgraver & Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Black Phoenix

2011-09-07T23:30:00.000-04:00

I got 2 new reviews coming up of the following two figures:

The TFC Hercules a.k.a. Non-Devastator Exgraver which forms his right arm. I did a write up of this figure for CollectionDX.com. I have also done a video review on RPA's Youtube Channel. Check it out below!

Bandai's Saint Cloth Myth Black Phoenix which turned out to be a really nice release. I would really hate to become a SCM collector, but some of these figures are to die for. Not literally of course because how then would you enjoy them? Video Below.

Project Rodimus Update: Detailing cockpit

2011-09-07T21:51:00.001-04:00

I got around to starting the cockpit detailing. I have a long ways to go, I have to touch up some parts, clean up others until I get it just right. I think it's coming out pretty good so far. Let me know what you guys think.

A little bit of touching up and some panel lining should do the trick.

I couldn't find a clear shot of Rodimus' interior but I did see that he has brown seats.

Stay tuned for more, cleaning up interior and redoing flames!

Bandai Ben 10 Way Big figure

2011-09-06T23:36:00.000-04:00

I was at Walmart and grabbed a 4" Lion-O and a Wilykat. Then I saw this Way Big figure. I already have a 4" Lion-O and Wilykat is sure to be a peg warmer in no time, so I dropped those and got Way Big. He just looked so cool in an Ultramanish way. I was also going to grab a NRG figure because he has a light up gimmick, but I'll put that on hold for now. Here is Way Big.

After taking him out, he wasn't what I expected. I don't really know what it is. Maybe I expected him to be more articulated or maybe I expected the growing gimmick to be don e differently. I almost was wanting the entire figure to be made of PVC. Instead, only his arms and ball-jointed hands are PVC. The rest is a hard shiny plastic.

When I looked at the back of the legs, they looked really weird. You can see where his thighs just fold against the back of the shins. His knees form the heels. I would much rather have him be all PVC with pull out legs.

To make him big, you pull the head and fin out, pull the forearms out and unfold the legs. The legs sort of snap in the extended position but aren't what I call sturdy.

In the tall form, you see the mess left over from the legs. OK, I know I love Transformers and they sometimes have hollow legs, but they are transforming from a vehicle into a robot.

Here is a side by side comparison to show the height difference. It is a good deal taller.

Overall it is a great looking figure from the front, but that's it. The only articulated parts are the shoulders and hands. That's it. The leg gimmick isn't solid, I can imagine this thing becoming a floppy mess after a couple of "growths" because the legs do not lock securely. Granted it is designed for kids who only pay attention to their toys for a matter of minutes and move on, but those five minutes are filled with a overly complicated floppy gimmick. Pull out legs done in the same way the arms were done would have been better, but it may have affected the sculpt. This figure is "meh" from the waist down. Now for us collectors, this thing does have nice shelf presence, it is a bright white, has a nice sculpt and looks darn good. Look to spend around $11-$15 for this figure.

Project Rodimus: Coming along great!

2011-09-05T18:35:00.000-04:00

The last few nights have been filled with paint, blood, tears, sweat, sanding polishing buffing, resanding, polishing and buffing. Oh buffing...especially today. My fingers are aching from buffing this paint to a glorious shine. I never got good paint jobs on my model kits up until recently when I decided to paint my stuff like I would a real car. That means, sanding then primering, the base coating, then clear coating x4, then wet-sanding, then clearcoating, then wet-sanding and finally laborous polishing to achieve a nice shine.

Here is a before and after picture of the exact Rodimus I painted.

Well, I guess it paid off because Rodimus is looking darn good. It is REALLY difficult to keep pieces from touching each other and scuffing, but the clear-coat really does a good job at keeping nicks to a minimum. Transformation, while not impossible, would require patience to avoid scuffing the finish. Since I have plans on selling this bad boy, I won't attempt it. I am just happy at the way it came out and would like to experiment a little more on my next Project Rodimus.

Front of Rodimus.

Rear of Rodimus showing the gold flaked wing. Notice the gloss on the lower legs..yeah that's tons of buffing!

I wasn't sure how he would look with a chromed face, but I took a chance. That's the only way to find out!

I didn't want to leave the leg panels red, so I painted them Charcoal Gray. It has a beautiful metallic flake to it.

At the last second I decided the legs should be glossy to match the rest of the figure. It looked a little of with just colored plastic.

Oh yes, his Rodimus Prime face-swap gimmick still intact!

Again, I used a chrome finish for his Rodimus Prime face.

He still has his teeny Matrix which I will be applying a chrome finish to. The gold outer casing on the Matrix will be painted the same gold color as his wing.

Oh, my bad! Did I forget to mention he now has an LED Gimmick? Oh yeah. The best part is that his Matrix is still removeable. I was proud of this one. It works off a button battery with a micro switch which is conveniently located in the drivers compartment. Unfortunately, to transform him, you would have to remove the gimmick. Hey I'm only human.

I am SOOO happy that I was able to integrate an LED Matrix into this figure. The design does not allow much space to include the power-source, so I had to use a THIN button battery, a micro-switch that I lost about 10 times while putting it together, and the thinnest wire you have ever seen...literally one strand. Again, transformation is possible, but alas, the LED feature has to be removed to accomplish transformation because of the wires.

Overall, it is coming out great. I still have a couple of details here and there to finish so check here for updates. In the next few days I will also be detailing the drivers compartment. I almost don't want to sell it.

Oh and here he is next to Takara's version.

Project Rodimus : Second stab at customizing my Transformers.

2011-09-04T13:45:00.000-04:00

So you probably already know if you follow my Chachipower channel that I have taken to dismantling a Hasbro Masterpiece Rodimus Prime.

Here is my 2 week old Rodimus that has never even been transformed. In fact I haven't even posed it. Just like that I decided to paint it...

So far I have taken apart the figure. It is not as easy as one would think. Because of it's design and engineering, a good amount of parts are held on with pins. Small pins. Trying to take those pins out would not only consume all my time but it would probably lead to breakage of things. So I had to mask about 70% of the figure. The problem with masking is that it isn't perfect. However I am pretty happy with the results.

Any good paint job requires good paint and good finishing labor. Well I chose automotive paint because it resists handling. The finishing part requires a good deal of wet sanding to get a glass finish. Normally when you wet sand something, you are wet-sanding smooth contours. Rodimus has a lot of detailing that gets in the way so I can only wet-sand so much.

So far so good, all the paint is applied and all the misc pieces were clear-coated today. I remasked the rear section of Rodimus so I can apply some metallic yellow to his wings.

By far the most fun part was getting the LED function to work on his Matrix. I figured, hey if I'm crazy enough to take apart and paint an expensive toy, I can at least take the time to get an LED feature to work on it. So I did. I had to drill the Matrix carefully to accept the LED. Then I had clearance issues so I had to shave the back of the Matrix. In the end it looks good.

LED feature is cool but very limited space to figure out wiring and battery placement.

So why did I decide to do this? It seemed like a fun and crazy challenge. I am no customizer by a long shot, but I like painting cars and this is sort of one. I am not one to do crazy weathering on figures. I like to make them like they were just freshened up. Nice on the outside, slight wear on the insides. Just like the WFC Bumblebee I did.

There are obviously cons to this project.
A: Since 95% of the figure is painted, scraping of paint can happen (good thing it's car paint, just touch it up :)
B: Probably not a good Idea to transform him. It's possible, but you would have to have the patience of a saint to avoid scratches.
C: LED feature is not a full-time feature. It would have to be removed for transformation.

End result? It looks like it going to kick ass when I'm done. It's more of a display piece than toy. Which is why toys normally don't come painted. And the ones that do scratch up like crazy.

One more thing, I will probably put this up on eBay sometime. That way I can fund the next project :)

Bandai Thundercats 6" Panthro figure

2011-09-01T00:05:00.001-04:00

So, I don't know how far you are in watching the new Thundercats but if you are already watching it then good, if not skip over this paragraph, I don't want to spoil anything for you. SPOILER ALERT>>>>So yeah at the very beginning we find out Panthro is dead which was a bummer, but then all was fine when we found out he wasn't. That's a good thing because we get a nice figure of him.

He is probably one of the coolest designs in the line but he isn't perfect. Read on to find out more.

He comes in your standard Bandai Thundercats blister which wraps around the card and is easily opened with a hobby knife. Since there is no damage to the box this way, you can easily place the figure back in his blister.

Panthro is a very good 6-inch figure but his legs feel a bit noodly to me. It may me the weather making the PVC soft but they seemed warped and uncooperative at times. I can see that the articulation in this figure carries over from their high end Japanese figures.

Panthros Nunchakus can be clipped on the back. They seem loose fitting at first as if they were to fall off but surprisingly they stay. Turns out the clip has a wider diameter lip than the rest of the clip so that allows it to clip rather securely.


The updated Panthro still manages to look like Panthro but he also ends up looking like Jet from Cowboy Bebop.

Jet- Cowboy Bebop

He comes with an additional Nunchaku set that is flexible so you can pose it. Unfortunately, an $18 doesn't get you a plastic chain. Hopefully it won't fatigue with use and snap. I mean couldn't they even paint the darn thing?


Here he is demonstrating his great articulation.

Like I said, he' a very good figure, but not perfect...really, no figure is. My only complaint was the soft legs which weren't even that bad. I have heard of some Panthros suffering from loose ankles which is quickly remedied by using Pledge floor polish with Future Shine on the joints. Not sure how that works, maybe the residue is sticky? Anyways, recommended.

ChachiPower

Updates 2/20/2012

Found a bunch of TF Prime RID figures

Mattel Voltron at Toy Fair 2012

6" Thundercats classics Lion-o and Mumm-ra

Youtube 200 Subs giveaway

Bandai Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Heroes Action Figure - NRG

Happy New Years everyone!

Fujimi Blade Runner Spinner model kit review now on CDX!

CDX Review Update 12/22/11

Hasegawa Ultraman MAT Update 12/22/2011

Godzilla (1964 Godzilla vs. Mothra) by X-Plus

$$$ Ultraman BLING vinyl $$$

Ultra Jewelry Collection 01 Ultraman 450 Diamond Blue

Ultra Jewelry Collection 02 Ultraman 350 Diamond Blue

Complete Pre-painted ModelHead, Arms and Legs are poseableSize: appx. 230mmSoft Vinyl

280,000 JPY

Want a cheaper alternative?

Ultra Jewelry Collection 03 Ultraman 450 Swarovski

A new series of figures in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the original Ultraman TV program!Packed in an amazing Ultraman/Marusan gift box along with a gold vinyl Marusan Logo and Jet Beetle this is a luxurious present worthy of any Ultra fan.The vinyl is, of course, made by hand in Japan.

Complete Pre-painted ModelHead, Arms and Legs are poseableSize: appx. 290mmSoft Vinyl36,000 JPY

Ultra Jewelry Collection 04 Ultraman 350 Swarovski

A new series of figures in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the original Ultraman TV program!Packed in an amazing Ultraman/Marusan gift box along with a gold vinyl Marusan Logo and Jet Beetle this is a luxurious present worthy of any Ultra fan.The vinyl is, of course, made by hand in Japan.

Complete Pre-painted ModelHead, Arms and Legs are poseableSize: appx. 290mmSoft Vinyl 28,000 JPY

Or hey! I got a great idea, grab one of these below and slap a piece of glass on its chest and call it a day!

Ultra Soft Series 45th Anniversary Celebration Ultraman 450 New Light Gray Soft Vinyl Figure

Soft Vinyl Pre-Painted Complete FigureSize: Appx. 300mm TallPackage: Paper Header + Vinyl Bag & Illustration Paper Base

7,800 JPY Now that's more like it. Seems like chump change after the previous ones.

RPA Updates 12/19/11

What's up with issues on expensive toys?

Bandai Chogokin Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Aegis

Exclusive Human Alliance figures $8-$11 at Kmart

Transformers Prime Arcee

Hot Toys Superman

S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla figure

Bandai GE-54 VF-25F Chogokin vs. GE-42

Super Robot Chogokin Dai Guard

CASSETTE MAN ! Taiwan Cassett Man bootleg (Soundwave)

VIP Toys in Santafe' Shopping Center, Medellin Colombia

Is there such a thing as too much?

Charlie Brown and Baby Super Mario vinyls

Toy Sighting: Reveal the Shield Grapple and Lugnut Voyager figures for $9.99 at TJ-Maxx

Bandai Robot Spirits 103 Doraemon

Fastlane R/C Hawk4 and Shen Hua HM0961G mini Gyro RC helicopters

Micro Change Cassette Condor and Micro Cassette Robot Condor

Colombia Vacation Part 2

VINTAGE JAPANESE ULTRAMAN SHOOTER MOC

Poor man's Hot Toys Bruce Lee 1/6 figure

Hasbro Star Wars Transformers Darth Vader Sith Starfighter

South Park Deluxe Talking Mr. Hankey

Recent hauls

HL Pro Hydargos Mothership

Super Gobots Defendor and Warpath

Finally back from vacation in Colombia!

BTS Toys Sonicron "Not Soundwave"

Star Wars The Birth of Darth Vader Battle Pack

Ultraman GA-95 Chogokin

Takatoku Cyborg 009 Joe Shimamura gokin

Mini Review: Gakken Genesis Climber Mospeada VR-052F

Mini Review: Takatoku Destroid Monster HWR-00-MK II

My visit to Times Square Toys R Us

Recent Haul

Takara MP-10 Convoy Masterpiece Optimus Prime

New Reviews coming: Wheelie Survivalist

New Reviews coming: Brave Gokin 13 Mospeada Ride Armor Ley

CM's M.A.S. Mechander DX Version Technical gattai set

14" Lion-O

I got the Star Wars bug...again.

Hasegawa Ultraman MAT Vehicle Update (Mazda Cosmos)

RPA Preorder: Super Robot Chogokin Dai Guard [w/Campaign Bonus Effect Part]

RPA Preorder: Dr. Slump EX Gokin DX Arale-chan

RPA Preorder: Dr. Slump EX Gokin DX Arale-chan

RPA Preorder: Tiger & Bunny: S.H. Figuarts - Barnaby Brooks Jr.

RPA Preorder: Takara Encore 20 Transformers Devastator Gift Set

RPA Preorder: Hot Toys DX-08 1:6 scale Nicholson Joker

RPA Preorder: Hot Toys Keaton Batman

RPA Preorder: Medicom RAH Zaborger

RPA Preorder: S.H. Monster Arts Godzilla

Bandai Mecha Godzilla small Japanese Vinyl

Raymundo Mecha Gorilla (Mechani-Kong) - Open Mouth Silver Version & Bomb Belt Silver Version

Complete Pre-painted Model
Head, Arms and Legs are poseable
Size: appx. 230mm
Soft Vinyl

Complete Pre-painted Model
Head, Arms and Legs are poseable
Size: appx. 290mm
Soft Vinyl36,000 JPY

Complete Pre-painted Model
Head, Arms and Legs are poseable
Size: appx. 290mm
Soft Vinyl 28,000 JPY

Soft Vinyl Pre-Painted Complete Figure
Size: Appx. 300mm Tall
Package: Paper Header + Vinyl Bag & Illustration Paper Base