Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KO (20)

Animated Voyager Megatron
Bought this in Bugis today... was supposed to buy a deluxe and scout, so go to OG, and really saw the sign board that says TF Scouts sized buy 1 get 1 free... BUT, when I look at the shelf, there lies only loads of ROTF Dirtboss... sianz... did not see any good deluxe too... like the whole rack all Universe Cheetor... loads of them too... anyway, this KO should be the Cybetronian mode one... Since this piece doesn't look too kiddish, I decided to buy it (I mean, it has about 95 % same colours, and only at $9.60, so why not?)... I still will not buy the Starscream... too kiddish...


Close up view... Opened up and tested the transformation... seems that no major simplification as the vehicle mode looks like the pictures on the web... except for the cannon, the blade is simplified that it cannot become the "bayonet" mode...

Till next time...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of non-KO (19)

Cybertron Dirtboss (aka Inch Up)
Bought this today after work... In the past, I used to think that this is a bootleg TF, then once upon closer inspection, realised this is the Takara version... the price of this Takara version deluxe Dirtboss cost only $16.90... Cheap for a legitimate TF! Box is not too torn, despite it being on the shelf which is placed outside the shop everyday...


The back of the box, some bend lines showing, but who cares...


Contents of the TF box... There is even a booklet to introduce the different toys... typical of Japan TFs...


Close-up of the actual TF... monster truck mode...


Bot mode.. according to website, the Hasbro version has the neck piece green plastic, so this Takara version is slightly better, as it is purple plastic... but frankly speaking, the plastic used feels more brittle than the past plastics I felt in real TFs... a bit KO-ish feeling...


...comparison with the KO Kabaya-style "Legends" Dirtboss... sidetracked a bit, just repair the Legends version today... sigh, took so long time...


... truck mode...


Overall is a good catch... So now I got to get a Deluxe and Scouts TF to complete my obsession of balancing the 2 factions... hahaha....

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KO (18)

Yesterday's haul... at Tampines... Was not intending to buy initially, but sine it transforms to not very kiddish modes, so succumb to temptations in the end... $1.50 per piece... plastic quality is not the rubbery, low cost type that was commonly seen in the previous Rodimus Prime (Kabaya-style) box-set, or the Cybertron legends (Kabaya-style) packet-sets... but still I suspect I will still need my Selley's Plastic Glue if I need to glue...

There's 1 more construction vehicle-robot that I did not buy... Initially I thought this series is Big Adventures Gobots, aka Playskool Gobots... very similar but somehow there's some difference.. so I search using the Chinese name in the packaging "百变机兽-洛洛历险记", and then I realised this is the toy series of a China made KO cartoon of the Playskool Gobots... yes, KO CARTOON OF PLAYSKOOL GOBOTS!!!!!!!!!!!.. They modified the existing Playskool Gobots and made a (3D I think) cartoon series, and of course the toys... So technically, this Kabaya style kits are KOs of KOs... Searched the web and realised there are better made version of this snap-assembly kits, sold in boxes... but to me, these are good enuff...

Below shows the 2 of the bots... Left one transforms into helicopter, but I am missing the base piece of the canopy, so need to make one. Also have to use Tamiya plastic pins to hold the arms instead, as these are supposed to be in the missing piece... The red one transforms into a nice motorcycle, but the turning parts need to touch up, they fell off when turned....

The 2 other bots below transform into flying-tiger (left) and plane(right)... some modding needs to be done before fully transformable, so I leave them in bot mode... The front 2 are the bots in the above picture transformed....

Overall, nice little pieces... They don't transformed into too kiddish robots, so still acceptable...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KO (17)

Today's haul... KO Special Edition Universe Deluxe Overkill (Oversize) .... what a mouthful...
So how does this piece of KO fares? Let's take a look...

First, packaging is lousy. Bubble is stapled few times at left side... but as long as overall looks OK, I dun mind... Price is SGD $9.90... quite okay price... its overized after all... Take note of the feet, it's painted black.. ugly in dinosaur mode, looks like dog more... so I scrape the black paint off with penknife...


Dinosaur mode with comparison to Henkei Grimlock (left of pic)... neck can move up & down, mouth can open, arms are ball jointed, legs are posable (but need to tighten up later...)... almost same as the real one, except for the tail, it is moulded 1 piece, with a bit of curl... Solid!!.. Oh, btw, the teeth are initially painted black too, but I painted silver over it.. else also ugly...

Bot mode... tail can be swivel back (jointed) without removing it for a weapon if you don't want to (see pic below) .... No shoulder pads! Makes him look like having a long neck, hahaha... Colours are very very similar to the Universe Overkill, not much needed to repaint, maybe only for head and some small parts.... Legs are hollow, as usual, for low costs KOs... think the manufacturers want to cut cost, dun blame them...

...with weapons. Missile is included to complete the bayonet-gun, but cannot fire. Tail can be used as weapon...

Let me compare this to the KO Oversize Classics Galvatron I bought earlier. This is a very good example of how KO makers can make oversize of TFs, simplify parts and transformation, but STILL retain the ESSENCE of the TF in bot or alternate mode! Transformation is made simple for oversize KO Overkill, way way way simple compared to the original transformation!!! BUT no aesthetics are sacrificed for both the bot and alternate modes!!!!! Looks almost just like the original!!!!! In comparison, KO Oversize Galvatron is.... sigh... (actually this series also have some other TFs, like Cybetron Scourge but is heavily remoulded until ugly; Classics Skyfire/Dreadwind but canopy cannot be folded up to form chest and etc... all cannot make it...)

So overall, this is a GOOD buy!!! (Side track: I saw this Animated Leader (??) Optimus Prime in Isetan Parkway today selling at $30, old price $100++, but didn't buy cos dun quite like Animated... )