Saturday, July 24, 2010

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (60) - KO Astroplan Sky Arrow 2 (Leader Class)

Got this while doing my routine groceries shopping... KO Astroplan Sky Arrow 2 (Leader Class)... Got 2 packs, the other package in Jet mode... like the one in Kotoys.com... very big, slightly slightly bigger than Leader class ROTF Optimus... Looks very nice, but have not open up yet, so not sure how the quality is... expensive piece too SGD $18...

Canopy window is not clear plastics, and think not much accessories, only some bombs only...

Restoration - KO Movie Breakaway

Bought this little fella thinking that this may be a better version of the KO, and cost a bit more is okay, but...

MANY SIMPLIFICATIONS!!!!! Obvious and frustrating ones are :
(i) Wings cannot swivel
(ii) no elbow joints
(iii) no knee joints
(iv) no heel spurs
(v) Front canopy cannot bend down

Anyway, tried to restore the first 4 simplifications... the last one will affect the bot mode greatly if do wrongly, so did not attempt...


So, after restoration, my KO Breakaway looks like this... not much difference in jet mode...


But now robot mode is more posable now!!!!!!


Added a permanent small heel to each foot, as it is too tough to cut out the heels...


took so long... but glad manage to restore it to 75% at least, A1, hahahaha.....

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (59) - KO Ultra Raker, KO Alternator Prime

Finally received my last 2 parcels from GO TaoBao Shopping...

KO Ultra Raker (slightly simplified)
Haha, this is the pioneer of the symmetrical docking gestalt, way before the Horyu, Enryu etc guys... Very very very very very old piece of KO, side of bubble is torn, and the staples doesn't seem to do a good job over the years, as the KO itself has a thick layer of dust... and the card has a WEIRD smell... decided to throw the card away after taking some pictures.... Surprisingly, most joints are tight... but... FACE IS CANNOT-MAKE-IT! Need to do something... Individual heads are also missing... but should be able to fix... nice piece...


KO Alternator/Binaltech Optimus Prime
Not sure if this is the Alternator or Binaltech version, feels heavy but did not really open up inside package to transform into robot mode... Anyway, just from observation, should be a very NICE piece of KO... What's interesting is the instruction is so close to the real Hasbro's instruction sheet (of course, they copy all the pics and just amend the title), even the same type of paper quality... Box in the pictures looks nice but actually is pretty worn out... but I won't care anyway...

Yeap, should be stopping KO hunting for some time... broke after buying so many...

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Restoration - KO Oversize WST Optimus Prime, KO Skullcruncher (Headmaster Grax)

Done some restorations, but mostly are just tightening of joints or repaints... So here are 2 of my favourite repaint and restoration (or bash, since is making a new headmaster)...

KO Oversize WST Optimus Prime
Got this little gem from KOToys last November... Extremely cute, cos it is the WST version but OVERSIZE!!!! hahaha... anyway, repainted it to look more like the real version...


Blue is still not dark enough... nevermind lah, can already... red eyes Prime, hahaha...


Yeap, rifle can be mounted on the back of cabin... though it look a bit out of place...


Trailer lacks the "station control with claws" but has the spring-dash feature... although the vehicle will just fly off... Originally intend to make the station control, but in the end, too lazy...

KO Skullcruncher (with Headmaster Grax)
Below is how the "headmaster" looks like after getting it out from package... Yeap, just a head, so decided to make a body for it...

That's how it looks like after having a body...

New (KO) Grax!!!!!!!!!!!!


Skullcruncher in its crocodile mode... yeah, seen a review that the alternate mode should be crocodile instead of its bio's alligator...

Mouth opens to reveal Grax!!!!!

Ready to transform &...

Head on!!!!!


Should not have colour the head black, looks nicer in green....

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (58)

Haul from TaoBao came... but still got 2 parcels not in... yeah, KO Ultra Raker & KO Alternator Prime... hope they come soon... Anyway, here's my haul:

(1) KO J-Decker (Yuusha Brave series)
A 'repaint' of the original J-Decker, should be same size, as this piece is very big. A bit disappointed, that it came without package, so cannot confirm if this is a 2nd hand piece or not... Yes, I am a hygiene freak who likes his KOs to come in package, as I don't know who has handle/play with 2nd hand toys before... The seller claims this is new but.... anyway, wipe the whole piece with wet tissue... thought is anti-bacterial tissues but ...


Edit:
Picture of J-Decker in robot combined form, after I use instant hand sanitizer to "cleanse" the figure, hahaha.... hygiene freak... It is around the same height as Masterpiece OP...



(2) KO Energon Prowl
Head is decapitated, hahaha... got this in a blur state of mind, just trying to get a normal size to 'replace' my KO Kabaya kit version... Like the all-silver chest, better than the police siren version...



(3) KO Animated Snarl
Again, bought this on impulse... sigh... but the bot mode looks cute lah, to be fair...




(4) KO Classics Ultra Magnus
Finally it arrive... now can form a real (KO) Ultra Magnus!!!!!!!!! (using the KO City Commander amour)...


Edit: Took some pictures of this new KO Ultra Magnus and his KO trailer.... of course, the best part is the armored Ultra Magnus form!!!!!!!




hmmm... BFG is too heavy... possible to convert it into a cannon or artillery gun???

(5) KO (Orange-Oversized) Insecticons
Impressive, silver-chromed parts and weapons, weapons!!!! This set of Insecticons costs around $20 only, only.... imagine $$$ need to fork out to get the real deal, deal... Really, if it is 'very hard to find' set, then I must be a very lucky guy, guy!!!! Sweet, sweet!!! Complete set of Insecticons, insecticons...




(6) KO Masterpiece Optimus Prime
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cost me around $62, which is around half the price of the real deal... plus long smokestacks too!!! ... Haven't fixed them yet... Very heavy... now realised why they say the waist is loose.. indeed the 2 magnets are missing... got to find some magnets... or such... Anyway, this piece is so nice that I am tempted not to paint his hands and feet to blue... Yes, it comes with the G1 Matrix, ion blaster, energon axe and the Megatron pistol!!!



Very broke but happy... hope the 2 parcels come soon...