Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of non-KOs (10)

Hahaha, succumb to the Great Singapore Sale yet again... Went over to OG PPK to collect the luggage bags bought last time, and jalan at the toy dept again... and unable to resist the cheap $19.90 for a voyager... and bought these 2... Universe Heavy Load and TFA Bulkhead...


Bulkhead
I initially struggle whether to buy this piece or not, as I got the KO Kabaya kit version, but it had a ENTIRELY different bot mode... But as I walk the 2nd round around the area, I was surprised to find the boxes of Bulkheads had reduced from about 3~4 to just 1 piece... So I just pull the last one out and hold it... Tried transforming it and found the wings a bit not able to transform properly... heck lah... Found out that its right hand has a lever that works like this: Straighten the arm and when you pull the black trigger, it flips the arm back to about 90 degrees... Of course there's the usual flying ball mechanism... $19.90 for a voyager is still buyable...


Heavy Load
Hmm... Cannot find this piece at all in OG Albert and tons of Dropshot there... and in OG PPK, its the opposite... weird... anyway, can't resist this Targetmaster wannabe, so picked him up too... not so nice bot mode, body is a bit too long and flat, and the weird front pieces in vehicle mode... and worst, head is visible from worm's view... sigh... voyager...


And I think I should not be getting Blades..... yeap, almost confirmed....

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (& non-KOs) (9)

VF-17 Nightmare(???)
Yes, I did manage to find a KO TF in Genting... Well, it is not really a TF... Its based on the maross VF-17... head is a bit big, chest piece is simplified in transformation, making it closer to the VF-1 type... wings are not swivellable in .... tail fin are added in but in awkward position... Will mod these further later.... Overall a good find, but a bad price (RM 39.90 after discount)

Real Gears - Longview and Speed Dial

For Longview, the colours are almost correct, but the mould is obviously based on the repaint version (can't remember the name) as the autobot symbol is the big type... Hope this pack plastic is not that bad... There's another type which has good plastic quality, which I got the Perceptor...

Oversized Legends - Movie Bonecrusher, Cybertron Hot Shot, Evac, Movie Optimus Prime, Movie Ironhide, Movie Brawl (Devastator)

This nicely package is so tempting, and also there are seldom seen Movie Legends, like Bonecrusher, Brawl and Ironhide....

(non-KO) Dropshot

Yeap, again, victim of GSS....

Heard Toa Payoh got pasar malam, will go tomorrow to hunt.... wish myself good luck...

Edit: No luck in Toa Payoh pasar malam... however, got this in Bedok to match my Shadowking... wait... maybe match Silverion, and let Landbison match Shadowking back... hahahaha .....

Toolking

A retooled of the tools in GoaGaiGar (I think), and this time the six bots combined into one... 2 basic mould each - Pliers x 2, Hammer x 2, Screwdriver / Saw. Long time ago already saw this set, but did not buy because find it strange... I mean, what will a plier be used in battles of robots? ... Later slowly get used (and bought the 2 Real Gears KO TFs... of coz another reason is also the cheap price...) so bought this set... not bad, although the heads are obvious in tool mode and gestalt mode... need to mod them....

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of non-KOs (8)

Yeap, bought non-KOs again... the temptation of GSS is too great... am trying hard to resist further temptations... but how can you blame me when a voyager TF (Animated, Universe 2.0) is selling only $19.90... Voyager leh! $19.90! Unbelievable... and OG has 20% discount for the Marvel Crossover TFs too (dunno if without OG card still have 20% discount or not), which saw its price reduce to $34.90 from the approx $50 last time... at only $27.90, it is irresistible...


(Marvel Crossover) Hulk
My all time favourite Marvel character, the Immortal Hulk Hogan... I mean the Incredible Hulk! Saw on some websites that the Marvel crossover has already gotten some KOs, but I couldn't find them... and so when I saw this 1 and only piece on the shelf, I quickly grab it, thinking that if I dun want I can put it back later... Cos this is the 1 and only piece, I am reluctant to buy, maybe it is returned product??? People buy and play before, and put it back??? Like in US, they can return the TFs bought with refund... But in the end, heck care, and bought it... glad I did.. cause it is 1 solid, beefy looking TF! Nice! Hulk Smash!!!!!!! oh, btw, think the picture in the back of the card mis-transform him, the arms is not folded out... same thing like the Universe 2.0 Blaster, the head is shown NOT pushed in-down....


(TF Animated) Lugnut
Ok, I did say before I will not buy Animated TFs... but I cannot resist this piece when I saw in 1 of the TF toys forum that Lugnut can become ... Scorponok! (See http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/233250-lets-see-some-fan-modes-thread.html ) So I give up the other Universe 2.0 Dropshot, and choose this instead... Long live Scorponok!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahaha...... (Actually was tempted by the $50 for 3 TFAs deluxe, luckily did not find Swoop, else may just pick him up with Snarl and Soundwave... )

Will I finally find some KOs in Genting? I hope so...

Edit: Pic of Lugnut in "Scorponok" scorpion mode

Kitbash - Targetmaster Firebolt (unpainted)

Long time not done any kitbashing liao, last one should be the Headmasters Cerebros(es)... yeap, for the mini and micro versions of my KO Fortress Maximus(es)...

Then, when I bought Henkei Cyclonus, which I tahan for a long time, trying not to be tempted by the Hasbro version but wait for the Henkei one, I thought " I have kitbashed Powermasters, Headmasters... possible to do a Targetmaster???" The new Nightstick was done extremely nice! Henkei Cyclonus becomes one of my all-time favourite Classics/Henkei TF... (actually it is easy to become my favourite TF; just let me transform it a few times and I will grow to like it, hahahaha....)

Then I saw another of my favourite Classics TF, Hot Rod (or by Hasbro's name is called Rodimus... but I shall call him Hot Rod). In G1 cartoon, Hot Rod also later has a Targetmaster partner, and I treat Hot Rod as the nemesis of Cyclonus... so I made up my mind ... And presenting to you: Firebolt (unpainted)!


The top part of Firebolt is from a KO micromaster (I dunno who is he). The legs are from a KO (Victory Series) Star Saber.
As for the guns, I found the following gold-chromed guns and thought they may be good... Firebolt is a double barrel rifle, so need 2 of the guns... chromed... hmmm.... just nice, since Nightstick is also chromed, this will be a good match to it! Notice the tip of the guns are modified... looks nicer...


So I attached the guns to a swivel joint (that comes from the side of the legs originally), and it works! Guns now aligned with body, making it flatter... Wait, you say this is similar to Nightstick? Yeap, it is, hahaha... And I did not realised it until I almost completed it...


Removed the lower legs to work on...


Next I added:
(i) legs with swivelling feet (initially to cover head, but later used as part of the rifle-mode details)
(ii) shoulder pads and increase the thickness of arms and fists
(iii) chest piece (the round yellowish piece)
(iv) handle (back of body)
(v) Rifle-mode detail on (back of) thighs


Notice his left arm is even thicker now? Yeap, I added the arm armour to make him look beefier...



Firebolt's rifle mode!!!!


Attached perfectly to the Hot Rod's car mode too!!!!!!!!!


Size comparison with Nightstick.... same height!!!!!!! Luckily I beefed up his arms, else his arms look so skinny compared to Nightstick's arms...


Firebolt, the proud owner of a sleek new race car... In almost perfect scale!


Close-up view of the gun... which I added the fore-fins... Looks ok initially, but now I thought the size may be a bit too big.... should I trim them down a bit?.... Next time then see how....


Hot Rod's new partner and weapon, all in one!

Felt the worm's view of Firebolt's rifle mode looks better...

hmmmm.... will find one day to take Cyclonus out to take photo with Hot Rod... with their Targetmasters of course! .... but must also after paint Firebolt lah... black and gold... and gold-chrome scotch tape....

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of non-KOs (7)

Went over to Bugis this afternoon as lesson had to end early, so went to the temple and pray then go over to KO hunt with no results... found these at OG Albert instead... WOW! CHEAP TRANSFORMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Voyager Classics 2.0 at $19.90.... $19.90! Can you believe it????!!!!!! And what made me decide to buy is when I saw Treadbolt, the repaint of Classics Jetfire/Skyfire.... Skyfire at $19.90????!!!!! MUST BUY!!!!!


Treadbolt (Repaint of Classics Jetfire)
I remember buying the Henkei Skyfire for a hefty price, so when I saw this piece at $19.90, I decide to buy it in just 1 second... I think I must have missed this range of products when I bought the G1 25th Anniversary Optimus Prime last week... Just a reminder, the 25th Annv. OP is selling only at $39.90, cheap too!

Comparison of Treadbolt and Henkei Skyfire in jet mode...

Robot mode... don't quite like the brown colour of Treadbolt... Autobot Seeker brothers, unite!!! ...

Blaster (aka Soundblaster in this post)

Hmm... bought this too, as I have only a KO of the Legends version, and is Kabaya-style KO... and the rest on the shelves are not tempting to me...

Transformation is a bit difficult, but manageable....

Bad points:

(a) Legs are WOBBLY... there is a joint above the knee that is supposedly to help in the transformation in jet mode. However, it makes the leg bend like the bone inside is broken... Check the web and some say put in some rubber band... may try this next time with the transparent rubber bands...

(b) Jet mode difficulty to fit in properly... in fact, I heard a slight crack sound while transforming back to keep in the box... hope nothing cracked...

Good Points:

(a) $19.90 for a Cybertron Soundwave mould?!!! (Almost) A must buy!

June 09 Mods - Six Gun (Arms Repaint)

Feeling bored, I repainted the arms of the original Six Gun. Please see my earlier post ( Completion of Season 4 2008 Batch - Dag Shadow, Six-Gun, Clocker ) on how Six Gun looks like when you purchase Metroplex (which includes Six Gun, of coz)... No arms, basically... So I make some arms for Six Gun, ensuring that no damage is done to Six Gun itself... which means I can still plug in the guns as arms... but the arms are black, so decided to paint them to red, which will follow more closely to the cartoon version...

Below shows the black arms...


Below is the painted arms... the red paint pen I have is of the lighter red, couldn't find a darker one... but still close... ad looks nicer... cartoon version have red fists I think, but I'll just leave mine as black....


Pictures below shows how the guns are mounted in the cartoon version.... the guns are smaller in the cartoon version... Took this pic without flash, so that the red tones difference is not so obvious...

Six Gun definitely looks MUCH MUCH better with real arms than guns for arms... and best if the arms are red... hahaha...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of (non-)KOs (6)

Was in OG Albert today, after brunch in the vegetarian restaurant... bought a toy truck & toy phone for my baby nephew's birthday... and saw this, at an amazing price: $39.90.... 25 Years G1 Optimus Prime!... I don't quite believe the lowest price before is the original price tag of $129.90... nevertheless, $39.90 is a good price! .... Checking inside... how come the wheels on Roller are not separated as in the instruction booklet? ... Left top is the Autobot logo that when pressed, makes some transforming sounds (as heard in G1 cartoon), and Optimus Prime speaking his lines (dunno is it Peter Cullen's voice?)... And a comic included too... Wait, the stickers are Japanese! Weird.... but cool!!!

Never knew G1 OP is that big... and the mechanisms for the transformation is not as simple as I always thought... Sweet...