eBay store fully restocked!

Every year I've tried to list some goodies on eBay the week of Thanksgiving. Well this year I was a little later to the party than usual, but as of today I've loaded up my eBay store with new Transformers figures, TF parts, Marvel Legends figures & Build-A-Figure parts and lots, lots more. In fact I've listed so many items I ran out of my free listings I get w/ my eBay store subscription, so more new items will be added next week. Some of the items were listed via auction format, but the majority are new stock that will remain in the store until they are sold.

Items of interest include an empty Energon Wing Saber box and even his hard to find pair of missiles! Several cheap Unicron Trilogy figures and Mini-Cons added too. Transformers aren't your style? Then I've got a few loose Gobots up for grabs and I've got the hard to find and equally awesome GI Joe Sigma 6 figure, Lockdown, on auction. In the Marvel section you'll find a few new Marvel Legends and a few BAF parts and even a few of the Disney Vinylmation figurines. I've also re-listed several loose M.A.S.K. figures and a few vintage Masters of the Universe figures and accessories. To round things out you'll also find a few Mattel WWE figures and some of those Funko Mystery Mini Walking Dead vinyl figures.

As always, you can find a link to the store in the sidebar to the right, or just click here! I ship fast, most cases the same day as long as payment is made by 12 noon to 1 pm! Find that item to fill someone's stocking or just grab something for yourself.

M.A.S.K.: Slingshot w/ Ace Riker

M.A.S.K. has always been one of those nostalgic toy lines I would love to collect, but it seems like every time I buy a toy from the series I find myself liking the memories of the toys, more than the toys themselves. While there are a few exceptions, this held true when I picked up Slingshot sometime last year.

Slingshot is a very dated looking recreational vehicle. I can't help but imagine what kid's impressions where when they saw this sitting on store shelves in 1986. After all, in the same 2nd series of M.A.S.K. you could have chosen the Raven, the slick black Corvette or even Outlaw, V.E.N.O.M.'s tanker truck headquarters. I'm sure though some kid out there was beside themselves when they realized they could own a transforming RV!

  

All joking aside the Slingshot does have a realistic looking form, complete with "Crusin" license plate on the front and back. The head lights and tail lights are stickers (as are the license plates), but the windows and the deco on the side are painted on the toy. Even after nearly 30 years, the chrome on this toy still looks pretty good. How comes this chrome looks so good, yet the chrome used on the Transmetal Beast Wars toys looks like crap now? What gives?!

Slingshot's transformation is very simple - just fold down the two halves of the RV and you've got yourself a surveillance unit complete with a Sonic Jet.

This form is strictly powered by imagination. Yes there are some stickers alongside the edges that give it a computer lab feel and of course you've for the launching Sonic Jet, but there really isn't much going on in this form.

The RV's front grill does fold out to reveal a dual pair of laser guns, but outside of the launching the jet what more is there to do here? I should also mention that there is a seat in the launching mechanism for the jet. Here Ace or any other figure can operate the attached guns.

The Sonic Jet is the real draw I would guess for most kids back in the day. When "launched" from the surveillance unit, the wings pop forward giving it flight. Underneath the jet is a Laser Tracer bomb that can be dropped with your finger and some imagination.

I've always thought this jet reminded me a bit of the old Cobra Firebat that launched out of the middle of the Terror Drome play set. More of a reconnaissance type craft than a fighter, Ace Riker can spy on V.E.N.O.M. unnoticed and report back to Matt Trakker.

Speaking of Ace, the included figure is one of the better looking figures in my opinion. I like the leather bomber jacket and orange shirt underneath. Ace seems to look a little older than some of the other characters and I like that. To me he gives off a tough guy vibe - reminds me a lot of Colt Seavers, the Fall Guy.

Ace wears the Ricochet mask. However I can't remember what it's exact power set is. I'm guessing it shoots some kind of ricocheting objects? 

I like the look of the mask. The exposed eyes, the silver breathing apparatus and how the mask cradles his shoulders and upper torso. I mush prefer these style of masks over the shorter masks that just cover the figure's head.

Slingshot is a fairly common M.A.S.K. toy and can be had in most cases for under $30 complete. The small Tracer bomb is the most commonly missing part. All of the M.A.S.K. toys are fun in their own right and while I do remember having fun playing with my friend's Slingshot in the mid-80's, for me it just doesn't have the same lasting power as some of the other vehicles.

New eBay Store!

A few weeks ago I went to an old co-worker's house to look at toys from her son's and nephew's past.  I had no idea how much they had, I just knew the boxes contained Transformers, G.I. Joe and more.  I was eager to see what kind of Transformers they had as the nephew was about the same age as my wife (early 30's).

Well in my excitement I forgot to take pictures so you'll have to use your imagination!  When I got to their house I was greeted with one of those large 15 gallon plastic totes, full of toys.  Then she told me she had 7 more on the back porch!  Looking back at me in those containers were G1 and G2 Transformers, G.I. Joe A Real American Hero figures (and parts of figures), TMNT, Star Wars and so, so, so much more.  We quickly agreed upon a deal and then I proceeded to load up my car to head home.

It took me a week just to sort through everything.  To this moment I am still in shock of some of the things I found.  The downside to all of this is the way these toys were stored.  Outside, in a storage shed.  The heat and humidity didn't treat some of the toys kindly.  I pulled out several toys that were badly discolored...and not just white plastic.  I don't have a count of the G1 figures I pulled out, but it had to exceed 75 at least.  Some of which were in better shape than some I had in my own collection (Sandstorm, Huffer) and a few I didn't even own (Blitzwing).  The real treat however was all the little loose parts floating around the bottom of the containers.  I found a Spike Headmaster, Vroom's small gun, Fasttrack's small orange gun, several Trypticon parts, two Megatron Action Master missiles I lacked and more.

I still haven't even touched the other containers save for sorting them.  I have so much I couldn't begin to figure out the best way to try and move them.  I thought about using some of the toy forums or some Facebook groups, but ultimately I decided to re-open my eBay store I had years ago.  This is a time consuming process, and time isn't something I have an abundance of.  However I will be slowly adding these toys and parts to the store over the next few weeks / months.  If you see something you want, send me a message letting me know that you follow this blog, or have 'Liked' my Facebook page and I'll pass along a small discount.  I'm not trying to get rich here, but all of this actually comes at a time when my family could use some extra money to help pay down some debt and pay some unexpected bills.

Random Toy Reviews eBay Store

While I'm not buying right now, I am leaving the option of trading open.  I lack just under 20 G1 figures now from completing the line and there are still several parts I need to complete various figures.  That said if you see something in the store you are interested in, let me know and we'll if we can work out some kind of deal.  If by chance anyone has any complete M.A.S.K. toys also let me know as I'd be interested in trading for those as well.

M.A.S.K.: The Collector w/ Alex Sector

Keeping the current theme of transforming toys we'll take a look at a M.A.S.K. toy that I unearthed from my crowded closet a few months ago while moving my collection room at home.

The Collector was released in 1987 as part of the 3rd series dubbed "Racing Series".  Now most of the M.A.S.K. toys were transforming vehicles, but there were a few playsets such as this one.  I know the idea of a transforming toll booth may not be the most exciting, but Kenner did a pretty good job with what they had to work with here.

  

The Collector came packaged with a new version of Alex Sector.  He was originally packaged with the toy Rhino (one of the best vehicles from the line).  His mask is the Disruptor which is basically the 2nd version of the mask he had w/ the Rhino set.

From what I can remember his used his Disruptor mask to disrupt VENOM's radio transmissions.  His Jack Rabbit mask that allowed him to fly was way better.  I always looked at him as the Wheeljack of M.A.S.K.

Kudos to Kenner for using real life companies for the Racing Series toys.  The Collector is a small tollbooth as you can see.  The gate can swivel left and right as well as be raised up and down.  Other than that there aren't any real play features in this mode.

Transformation into the battle installation is really simple.  Fold down the sides, lift up the room and extend the gun hidden in the arm gate.  The red gun and missile on each side are removable and can swivel a full 360 degrees.

Since Alex serves as the computer expert on the team its no surprise there are all sorts of 80's looking computers inside.  

There are two small pegs on the floor to hold the figure in place.  I guess I should've turned him around before I snapped the pic.  At least he would have given the appearance of working on the computer instead of standing here looking board.

I was a big fan of M.A.S.K. growing up, but thanks to my crowded box already full of Transformers and G.I. Joe figures I never owned many M.A.S.K. toys.  I only own one other toy (Raven) so I'm not sure why I still have this one, but for it's size and simplicity it still is a pretty cool toy.

VOR-Tech: Battle Tracker ATV w/ Brad Logan

Be part of the VOR-Tech Undercover Conversion Squad, where things are not always as they seem! Enter a world where a team of ordinary people in ordinary vehicles use amazing computer technology to convert themselves and their vehicles into an incredible fighting force, dedicated to saving Earth from an evil power spreading a deadly plague. Join in this titanic struggle of human against cyborg, brother against brother, and machine against machine!

I first discovered this interesting line of Kenner toys in the late 90's as they were being clearanced out at both Toys 'R Us and KB Toys. I was able to acquire two pieces, but the inventory quickly dried up. Trying to find new VOR-Tech toys on the secondary market has proven quite difficult, but a few months back I found a toy that I didn't own, sealed too! I quickly snatched it up so I could offer it up in review form here.

Right off the bat most of you reading this should be able to recognize the uncanny similarities to the toy line M.A.S.K.. Kenner obviously decided to re-use some of the M.A.S.K. molds and tweek them for their new line. Sadly the line (and accompanying television show) didn't last past one wave / season in 1996.

Why the cartoon and toy line didn't make it past one year is beyond me. While some of the toys we just recycled older toys there were some new molds and ideas integrated into the series. What I've seen of the cartoon seemed to be just as good as anything else on the TV at the time. Let me get this back on topic though. We're here to look at the Battle Tracker ATV toy.

VOR-Tech toys came packaged in one of two ways. Boxed or on a blister card as shown above. I like the large colorful logo. I'm sure that stood out in the crowd of 90's toys.

The back of the card gives you several bits of information. There aren't any instructions packed in so this simple diagram shows you the conversion process of converting the ATV into hovercraft mode. Kenner also did little bios for the driver/vehicle which was an added bonus in my book. What good toy company wouldn't include a ad somewhere on the packaging for other toys in the series?

Sorry for the glare. I tried taking the picture from several different angles and I couldn't get rid of the stupid camera flash. I thought it was interesting that they list the cover occupation for the driver...in this case Brad Logan poised as a TV news cameraman.

" Called to action, Brad Logan drops his news camera and hops on the Battle Tracker all-terrain vehicle, ready to make headlines himself. Armed with his VOR-Tech helmet he converts the wheels of his ATV into jet pads, plus instantly activates dual front gun turrets and a rear laser cannon as his 4-wheel ATV becomes an awesome crime-fighting hovercraft. "

My first ever VOR-Tech purchase was the equally awesome Sonic Stinger sports car. I'll eventually do a proper review for the blog as the vehicle was one of the new molds Kenner created.

The Battle Tracker ATV itself is a pretty nice mold. It's much beefier than the M.A.S.K. toy it was based upon (Bullet). The plastic is of a good quality and the large wheels are free rolling. For a small toy there is a good bit of detail molded into the ATV, especially around the engine area. There are only 4 stickers pre-applied - the headlights and a gray sticker on the rear fenders.

I don't know if the figures are re-used M.A.S.K. figures or not, but they are in the same scale - small. The only articulation are in the hips, shoulders and to some degree the neck/head. I have two complaints about this figure however. 1) the hands are molded to grip the handle bars of the ATV and thus look odd when the figure isn't riding. 2) the head - it just looks off. It's too small and it the sculpt is plain goofy. Of all the VOR-Tech toys I own this is the worst looking figure of the bunch.

From a head on point of view the figure looks OK on the ATV, but when you look at it from the side you'll see that the figure seems to be undersized. You can cram it down a little bit more, but his butt still seems to hover over the seat (no pun intended). Once you do cram him down he's practically looking down at an angle. How can he see where he is driving or flying?!

His bio mentions his helmet. To me this thing looks more like a mask than a helmet. The small black helmet just snaps onto his upper chest and around the head. As you can see his red hat is still exposed. Unlike in M.A.S.K. I have no idea if his helmet has any special power or ability of it's own. From what I saw in the cartoon the helmet basically unlocks the conversion sequence of the vehicle. From a toy perspective this piece could have really benefited by some sort of paint application(s). It's just blah the way it is.

This is where this toy starts to shine in my opinion. The hovercraft mode is nice looking and offers up some fun play patterns. To convert the ATV you simply flip down the wheel assembly on each side to create the hovercraft jet pads. Slide the handle bars back to reveal the front mounted machine guns. On the rear of the vehicle is a laser gun that flips up. You can then position the gun facing either direction you so choose as it's mounted on a ball joint.

This isn't my favorite VOR-Tech toy by a long shot, however there are a few redeeming qualities. The ATV looks good and the alternate form is fantastic. It's simplistic, but that is one of the things that I like about it. I remember playing w/ M.A.S.K. toys as a kid and I loved that you could switch from form to form so quick and easy. It made playing with the toys that much more fun. Where this toy fails is the Brad Logan figure. That shouldn't be a deal breaker for you though if you like the rest of the toy.

Trying to find this toy or any other VOR-Tech toys for that matter will prove to be difficult. Even though they were on clearance at some point there just doesn't seem to be that many floating around the secondary market these days. If you are a fan of M.A.S.K. and you've never heard of VOR-Tech or seen these toys then you owe it to yourself to at least track down one toy.

For a great look at all the VOR-Tech toys and what would've been in the 2nd wave check out the awesome Albert Penello M.A.S.K. and VOR-Tech site here!

M.A.S.K.: Fireforce w/ Julio Lopez

QUICK INFO:
Name: Fireforce w/ Julio Lopez
Line: M.A.S.K. (Kenner)
Year: 1987-1988

Transforming toys were all the rage in the 80's it seemed thanks in part to the success and popularity of the Transformers brand of toys.  Most children of the 80's will remember M.A.S.K. - Mobile Armored Strike Kommand.  Ordinary vehicles that transform into battle ready vehicles piloted by guys and gals w/ cool masks that each have their own "super power".  I loved these toys as a kid, but sadly I never owned many.  With the invention of the internet I was able to track down several of the toys that came out after my interest waned and this is one of them.

Fireforce was part of the Split Seconds line where the vehicle would separate into 2 different vehicles.  Each toy came with a clone of the included figure.  Today, these toys can be hard to find.  I was able to track down the Fireforce toy on a UK toy website a few years ago.  I'm guessing the interest was already starting to decrease by this time in the toy line's life and Kenner didn't produce as many toys thus making them hard to find on the secondary market.  It also doesn't help that the majority of the toys I've been able to get my hands on are inferior when compared to the first few years worth of toys.

 

Fireforce is a sharp looking black Pontiac Fiero.  Kenner did a good job with the toy in this form...if you can overlook the rear tires that stick out a little too far.  You can't really tell by looking at the Fiero form that this is a M.A.S.K. toy as all the other parts are well concealed.  Both the exposed engine and the wheels are a nice shiny silver chrome.  The trim and bottom of the car are molded in silver plastic.  You can tell this is a toy from the 80's based on the neon green lines all over the car.  Looks like you're looking at some medical monitor!

The car does feature an open sunroof.  To the best of my knowledge there was never a piece to pop in to close off the roof.  This opening does make it easy to place the driver or any other M.A.S.K. figure into the vehicle.

The license plate on the back simply reads Lopez.  This is for the driver Julio Lopez that comes packaged with Fireforce.  You can see just how far the back wheels protrude here...this is part of one of the Split Seconds vehicle that you'll see shortly.  Getting that Miami Vice vibe yet?

 

My specimen came with both Julio and his clone figure, but I only got Julio's mask - Streamer.  The clone figure is identical to the regular figure sans the neon green translucent plastic.

Instead of the whole vehicle transforming into one battle ready vehicle the Fiero splits into 2 different vehicles.  The top half of Fireforce becomes a flying car a la the Thunderhawk or Raven.  The side doors raise up to form wings while the wheels fold back and act has jet engines.  The front bumper extenders to give the car a more aerodynamic look.  When the back spoiler is depressed it drops an orange missile.  This part is usually missing and very hard to find (i.e. expensive when it shows up on eBay).

The bottom part of Fireforce forms a trike of sorts.  Again my specimen is missing a small, yet crucial part - the black handlebars.  Not much to say about these form other than it looks forced.  The rear of the trike is actually the front of the car.  It's attack mode is the front bumper can launch from the back acting as a big missile.

I have to be honest when I say this isn't that great of a toy.  The Fiero as a whole is pretty good, but the problems start when you split the vehicle.  None of the Split Seconds toys have impressed me outside their basic appearance.  To me it seems like the ideas started to run out which really hurt these toys.  When compared to my favorite M.A.S.K. toy the Raven there is no comparison.  One positive thing I can say is the Julio Lopez figure and his mask are very well sculpted.  Unless you can pick this up for less than $30 I'd say save your money and pick up the Raven or one of the other earlier toys.