Video Review: iGear Mini Warriors Spray & Rager

Taking a different approach to my normal format for toy reviews - 2 video reviews for iGear's first two Mini Warriors - Spray & Rager.

Quick recap.  Buy them!  You won't be disappointed!

You're invited to take a 3 minute virtual tour of my collection

I mentioned a week or so ago that my Transformers collection was going to be featured on a local news program.  Well the producer and film crew stopped by the other day to record.  I'm still not sure at this time when the episode of Carolina Camera will air on local television, but when I know I'll post the details here.  Hopefully they'll put the segment online too so I can share.

Since the story is focusing on my Transformers collection the rest of my newly finished room was not videoed, I wanted to still be able to share the rest of the room with others.  I grabbed our Flip camera and shot a quick video.  You'll only waste 3 minutes of your life so go ahead and push the play button.  I also have a LOT of still photos of the room including my entire Transformers collection that I'll share once I finish editing them all.  So for now enjoy the quick virtual tour of my room I hang out in nearly everyday.

Anyone want RID Optimus Prime hanging on your Christmas tree next year?

While preparing my room for next week's interview/filming I ran across a small bag with some Christmas ornaments/lights.  Sometime after I was married my wife found a set of RID themed Transformers Christmas ornaments/lights and bought for me.  I think I only used them once or twice before being told we had a unified color theme for the tree (pre-kids I might add - now the tree is full of everything!).

Optimus is hollow and has a hole in the top of his head allowing for a light bulb to be plugged in.  The plastic is very light and translucent.  The ornament is about the size of a current Scout class figure.  Unless you are using LED lights they don't light up the entire ornament sadly.  Overall it's a neat little novelty item, but one that I no longer have a need for.  I'll be putting up all 4 for cheap on Crave soon so if you must have these on your tree next year here is your chance!

Lights, Camera, Action!

I just got notice a few days ago that the local CBS news affiliate wants to interview me and film my Transformers collection.  My mom put in a word for me with a producer from the local channel for a program called Carolina Camera.  I talked to the producer a few times back in late summer.  I wasn't sure if it was going to go anywhere, but now I know.  I've got a reporter and a film crew coming over on Tuesday, January 10th. 

Now I've just got to finish getting the final touches done to my new hobby room and make sure everything looks "camera ready".  That said I probably won't be doing much in the way of reviews until after filming has been completed.  I do have several things in the pipeline to share, but those will have to wait.  I'll try to keep everyone (who cares) updated.  It looks like they put some of the episodes online so I'll make sure to provide a link if that happens.

I of course hope to share my own pictures and maybe even some video of the room after it's completion.  I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!

Machine Robo Mugenbine: Carryeagle "Lucky Draw"

You may be familiar with the term "Lucky Draw" if you collection Japanese toys. From what I know the term coined thanks in part to contests that people could enter to win one of usually only a few special toys. Takara did this a lot with various series of Transformers.

In late 2003 Bandai continued the current re-imagining of the Machine Robo brand with the creation of Mugenbine. By the time 2005 had come around Bandai had created a figure for just about every letter in the alphabet. Through the company's official website (http://www.mr-club.jp) you could somehow enter a contest for several different limited toys. One of which was Mugen General 3. The toy is comprised of Airleon, Buildgiraffet and Carryeagle and each figure was made in a chromed silver. From what I could gather off the website at the time only 3 sets were made. Years ago when I was crazy about Mugenbine I ran across an auction for this silver "Lucky Draw" Carryeagle and I could resist the opportunity at adding such a limited toy to my collection. Because of it's limited nature I'm a little leary handling the figure much, but since I had to move my toy room I decided to do a proper post on this awesome rarely seen figure.

The box is rather boring being a plain white box with a black and white label. The box is the same size as the majority of the 'alphabet' series toys.

Inside the plain white box you'll find a plastic tray containing all the shiny chrome parts including the clear translucent Mugenroid figure.

The only paint apps on the figure is the lime green used for the eye visor.  The rest of the Mugenroid is entirely made of clear plastic.

The set came with it's own sticker sheet and other than the colors being different from the one included with the normal release of Carryeagle they are the same.  I of course had or have no intention of ever using these however.

There aren't any real changes to the toy other than the silver chrome so I'll just share a few pictures of each mode.  We'll start with the animal mode:

I was never too fond of the eagle mode.  The large wheel sections that double as the feet are just too big for my tastes.  You can tell that Carryeagle was one of the early Mugenbine releases as the modes got much better with subsequent releases.

The dump truck mode is by far my favorite.  Being a big Transformers fan I would have loved to see this set released in neon green and purple!  You can see in both modes here that some of the Bine parts aren't chromed.  The silver pieces does have a metallic look, but overall it's more flat than shiny.  Surprisingly they fit in well overall with the silver chrome and the translucent Mugenroid.

Carryeagle comprises the top half of the Mugen General 3 gestalt so it's appropriate that his combiner head has the chrome treatment as well.

This is a fantastic toy in it's own right.  Throw in the silver chrome and the limited nature of being 1 of 3 in existence and it puts it over the top.  Since I acquired this piece I have sold off most of my Mugenbine collection so this figure can be had if you really want it.  Price is negotiable so if you are serious please don't hesitate to contact me.

The best Christmas gift ever!

I'm a very blessed guy.  I've got a wonderful family who loves me and they showed me this in part by the number of gifts I got for Christmas.  However one gift really stood of the bunch...a homemade gift from my 2 year old daughter (with help from my beautiful wife).  Take a look:

A homemade "snow globe" featuring a Lego Minifigure!  A few weeks before Christmas my wife was looking around in my room and asking me if she could have various small toys she was looking at.  I said no to just about everything she asked about, but I figured she wouldn't be asking if she didn't have something up her sleeve.  Thanks to the Lego Minifigures being blind packaged I had an extra Indian so I let her take it.  Several weeks passed and I forgot all about it...until Christmas morning with my daughter gave me a brown paper bag she had decorated herself.  I reached inside and pulled out this awesome creation!  Shake it up and you'll see specks of gold glitter float around in the water.

Thank you so much to my daughter and wife for the very thoughtful and well made gift.  I was the highlight of the Christmas gift giving season.

Fun with Zombie-Vipers

Reading and participating in various toy and action figure forums and message boards led me to start this very blog here.  I wasn't sure that I could contribute anything new, but it was nice to have an outlet to share my opinions.  It also gave me something else to do with my various toys.

One of the things about this toy community I enjoy is reading other people's reviews and admiring people's diorama skills.  One of the best pictures I've seen to date was found earlier today on the HISSTank.com message boards.  The Cobra Zombie-Viper has recently hit retail stores and it seems that it's an early on fan favorite.  Just take a look!

Now if only I could find these awesome Zombie-Vipers in my neck of the woods...not that I have the skill to create something as awesome as this!

Daigunder: Tri-Horn

Several years ago Takara tried something new - combining a video game with a transformable robot ala Transformers. The result was a series called Web Diver. I'm not sure what kind of success it had in Japan, but I'm assuming it was modest as Takara released several toys over a short period.

Daigunder is the successor to Web Diver. The premise of both line of toys is you have one larger figure that acts as the "game system". All of the other figures act as secondary items in the game itself. The larger figure attaches to a television with standard RGB cables and features infrared sensors to interact with the other figures. Are you following all of this?

I had the fortune (or misfortune depending on who you ask) of owning several Web Diver toys when they were new - including the leader and "game system" Gradion. The game itself was rather boring and the small controls on the back of the figure weren't all that responsive. As far as the other figures interacting in the game was just a well designed marketing scam if you ask me. It's kind of like this new Skylanders game that is hitting the current gen home consoles. You fork out a lot of money for the core game and then you have to buy additional figures to unlock things in the game. Instead of digitally downloading this content they make you buy a figure to get the in game content. Really smooth idea from a business stand point - but sucks for us as the consumer.

Getting back to Daigunder I missed the boat originally when they were released. I had seen plenty of pictures of the toys online, but finding the toys (especially here in the US) I found difficult. I remember seeing Daigunder himself at BigBadToyStore's table at a past Botcon, but I glossed over it.  Eventually these toys were popping up all over the place in Korean packaging and a fellow TFW2005 board member a gew years ago was gracious enough to hook me up with a few of the toys for super cheap.  One of these was an early favorite of mine, Tri-Horn.

Judging from the screen shots of the video game it looks to be a huge step forward from the Web Diver game. Looking at the health bars and time across the top of the screen I'd guess the game is your standard 2D fighter like Street Fighter...only with transformable robots.

Across the bottom of the box you can see the cross sell images of other Daigunder toys. Tri-Horn was part of the Dino Unit along with Bonerex (red tyrannosaurus rex) and Deathspector (blue pteranodon).

The side of the box shows you another way that Tri-Horn can interact with the main figure of the series. Along with Bonerex you can combine them both to form a large gauntlet like weapon. Prior to obtaining this toy I didn't know about this feature.

Tri-Horn is a very bulky and stout figure. With a little re-tooling it looks like he could be a ape with those large fists that just barely drag the ground. Most of the paint apps here are nicely done and feature a metallic shine. The light blue on the head and legs looks a little out of place, but I guess it works. There isn't much articulation to speak of. Standard points of articulation include the elbows and hips - not much else. I'm guessing the electronics inside the figure contribute to making this a brick of a figure.

If you look on the back you'll see the video game components - a thumb button that pivots right to left and a larger button with red chrome trim. I have no idea what these buttons do in game.

Takara did a nice job with the head sculpt. He has a large chin that sticks out which fits his stocky nature. The bone like helmet is also a nice touch as it gives the appearance of him being a tough fighter. The whole triceratops head comes off and forms a staff like weapon for Tri-Horn to wield in robot mode.  Simply fold the horns up and you have your weapon.

You gotta admit he looks pretty bad a in this form. From the large weapon to the massive fists he doesn't look like a robot I'd want to tussle with.

I was surprised to see that the triceratops is really small. I guess its the lack of a tail that makes the dinosaur look small and well...a little off. What I do like about the dino mode is how all of the robot parts are incorporated. His chest splits into two pieces and forms the front legs while his massive fits form the middle. Very clever design if you ask me.

Overall this is a fun little toy and lived up to most of my expectations. Thankfully with these Korean editions now on the market they are much more accessible if you want to track one down. There are usually a few sellers on eBay that routinely sell a decent selection of Daigunder toys.

More limited Transformers Microns

(from left to right)

Aimless, Fracas, Peaceman

Takara Tomy strikes again with more limited (i.e. expense) Microns.  Starting December 28th in Japan shoppers can get one of 3 different limited Microns with a minimum purchase at various retail stores.

Aimless is named after G1 Misfire's Targetmaster of the same name and is a repaint of Power Core Combiner Sledge's Micron partner Throttler.  Fracas is named after G1 Scourge's Targetmaster of the same name and is a repaint of Power Core Combiner Heavytread's Micron partner Groundspike.  Peaceman is named after G1 Pointblank's Targetmaster Peacemaker and is a repaint of Power Core Combiner Smoulder's Micron partner Chopster.

Now I'm a self confessed Mini-Con/Micron hoarder.  I love the little guys and I can't see to get enough.  However I must say these are unimpressive.  The best thing they have going is that they are cast in sold plastic as opposed to the clear translucent plastic Hasbro used in the Power Core Combiner line.  One day these may find a way into my collection, but if that day ever comes I don't think it'll be any time soon.

Bring back the mail-in programs

Am I the only one that misses the old main-in programs that the toy companies used to do?  While flipping through an old comic book this weekend I came across this old ad inside the front cover.  I vaguely remember filling out the order form to send in.  What made this program so different than the others was that you got to create and personalize your character.  I never was a huge fan of the Steel Brigade concept, but with the new 30th Anniversary version I'm starting to see why others have always had a soft spot for the Brigade.

What shocked me a little was the cost.  This program took place in 1987 so you would think a simple action figure such as this would only be a few bucks plus shipping.  Not sure if you can read the fine print or not, but parents had to send in a check for $7.50 plus an additional $1.50 for shipping.  You can buy a new 30th Anniversary Steel Brigade figure at retail for less than $9.00 these days!  True you don't get to personalize your figure and it doesn't come with the nifty patch.

In this day and age of internet these types of mail away programs are all but dead.  I however would love to see something like this be utilized again.  I know Hasbro tried a mail away program with their Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen line of toys...but the "exclusive" Ravage figure sucked hard.  Hasbro hasn't tried the mail away program with the G.I. Joe brand since the Joe vs. Cobra days with a Storm Shadow figure that featured a removable mask.  Correct that.  I forgot about the Doc program from the 25th Anniversary comic packs.  By the time I collected enough stickers to mail in the supply had been exhausted.  Boo!

Who else would like to see some sort of mail in program for your favorite line of action figures?  Sound off!