Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (109) - KO Build Team

Finally this set arrives 2 nights ago!!!!! Very very happy to receive it... The KOs are packed individually in boxes, and each would come with a instruction sheet... but not my Build Boy's... Doesn't matter really, as the instructions only show how to transform into the 3 gestalt modes... Cost me around $49.70 only!!!!

Build Hurricane
The 1st to be opened, as I am eager to rectify his hands that were probably swapped about to prevent legal issues... The picture below is taken after I switch the lower arms... Plastic quality is above average, can imagine how fragile Build King can be if the plastics used are too thin or brittle... Joints are reasonably tight, though still got some loose ones, but overall is considered good... Colours are also quite faithful, at least in the same basic colours... Workable weapon in the claw...



Build Cyclone
Head refuses to sit the peg into the hole in the body... should be the linkage that is causing the problem... doesn't really matter... but need to trim up the holes which fits the pegs of Build Boy when using Build Cyclone as main arms in gestalt mode... Workable weapon in the crane...



Build Boy
Heh heh, notice the G2-like Autobot insignia on his chest? Wow, so this is a "pre-RID" Build Team...



Build Typhoon
Spring for his "Claw" weapon is not working well... but at least it can stay in a 'open' state, right?


Back of the cardboard boxes, all showing the same picture:

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs & TFs (108) - KO ROTF Ransack / Red Baron, DOTM Daredevil Squad 2-pack, DOTM Leadfoot/Ironhide 2-pack

My haul today at Bedok Central (KO ROTF Ransack) & Carrefour Mega Sales (Expo)... Not de-tombed yet, due to laziness...


KO ROTF Ransack/Red Baron
Will be even better if there is more red plastic used, so no need to paint red too much... Yes, intend to paint it to red, after seeing someone repaint it to the "Red Baron"... Very nice... $3.20 (SGD)



DOTM Daredevil Squad (Grey/Yellow Bumblebee and Backfire) 2-pack
Nice translucent green plastics used on Backfire & BB... But still find BB a bit weird to have gray and yellow colours, too weird for my liking, but... its ok... Bought this as I have not had both these 2 molds... Ok, I admit, I bought this set because it is cheap, only $30...



DOTM Leadfoot/Ironhide 2-pack
Hey, the Commander Ironhide is different from the first Legends mold! Look ma, no fists (in vehicle mode)!!!! Leadfoot looks... fat... and stumpy... but cute, hahahaha.... $15...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of "TF"s (107) - Star Wars Crossover Commander Class: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi

Bought these 2 cute little figures at OG PP today!!! With 20% off, they cost me only $15.90/95 each! Sweet, considering that the DOTM Commander class figures are nett priced, in fact all DOTM TFs are nett priced, I believed...





Disappointment: Upon de-tombing, realized that they are actually shell-formers, and almost all robot parts can be seen from the bottom of the vehicle mode, including face, which I hated especially if is a flying vehicle... so was thinking of ways to try to cover up the face... well, maybe next time... and Obi-Wan's shoulder joints seem a bit loose...

Happy: Transformation is a breeze, simple. A few days ago, I was wondering why I preferred the G1 TFs over the recent TFs, especially the Leader class ones... Then I realized that it might be the complex transformation that actually makes me not willing to transform a TF again and again, which is actually THE selling point of a transforming toy! So, mow that these 2 TF Crossovers are simple to transform, I feel happy actually...

Anyway, went over to CSC this morning... Finally saw the forum-ers' description of the wrongly package DOTM deluxe figures, and saw the 2~3 large racks of DOTM Voyager / Leader TFs on clearance... very tempting... luckily, have already ordered my remaining Voyagers online, cheaper...

Hope my 2 hauls process smoothly!

Restoration - Brave / Yuusha Series : KO J-Decker

Just printed and pasted the stickers onto my KO J-Decker... For those who are not familiar, J-Decker is not a "Transformer", but a transforming robot from the Brave / Yuusha series...

Picture of the robot with ugly stickers that came with it:


After removing the old stickers:



First, the small robot, Deckerd:



He has a small six-shooter!!! Bam! Zam! ... opps, sorry, wrong figure...


Deckerd with the Armada Optimus Prime trailer's counterpart, J-Roader:



J-Decker... Did not really do much restoration, as he is quite ok... very very orange-ish... hahaha...



Yes, hoping my KO Build King / Landfill arrives soon, and my new order of DOTM Voyagers can go through smoothly...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (106) - KO Cybertron Overhaul, KO Oversize RTS Megatron, KO DOTM Leader Sentinel Prime, KO Oversize G1 Hardhead

Haul from TaoBao arrived just now... wow... fast delivery, considering only paid the 2nd payment in the late morning... Have no time to de-tomb all KOs, so only open up my most anticipated - Hardhead!!!!! (Note prices stated are current, as I am still waiting for the agent's reply on packaging issue...)

KO Cybertron Overhaul
Wow, a simplified Overhaul... and now he is lime green... immersed in acid???? hahaha... approximately $5.70
Edit: Joints are relatively tight, surprising... the head is not able to turn, so need to restore a bit, else face will show in vehicle mode... no elbow joints, so... else others are ok. Considered as "playable out from packing".



KO Oversize RTS Megatron
RTS Megatron has grown!!!! hahaha... now that is more like it... hey, the tip of the gun barrel is still orange!!! hahaha... approximately $5.45
Edit: Like Cybertron Overhaul, this KO's joints are also quite ok, which is kind of unusual as KOs are usually very loosely jointed... Ok, maybe the waist joint is a bit loose but just be a bit gentle... Also considered as "playable out from packing".



KO DOTM Leader Sentinel Prime
The packaging is DAMN BIG!!!!!!! sigh... should not have buy this... why.... this is the simplified version, so will try to restore him back to less part-forming as possible... approximately $32.30
Edit: This is really lousy... very very simplified parts, so much so that it affects his standing stability (even if joints are tight)... need to mod something to act as his heels... The part-form cabin and side windows might be a major problem... sigh... "Cape" can only split for 1 side... sigh... Water hose is a one-piece-mold... sigh... Leg joints are loose... Considered as "not playable out from packing".



KO Oversize G1 Hardhead
Yes!!!!! Finally gotten a G1 Hardhead, and he is oversized!!!! I measure him, stands 23.5cm tall in robot mode (tip of head to bottom of feet)... Joints are generally quite tight enough... the canopy connector seems to be warped, and needs to loosen the screws slightly to allow the plastic to bend more... head cannot stay in place, keeps pooping out, will need to restore... and Sweet!!!!!... approximately $47.70



Hope my KO Build King / Landfill comes soon!!!!!

Restoration - KO Oversize G2 (?) Insecticons - Bombshell, Shrapnel, Kickback

Very very happy to have restored (the joints, mostly) the KO oversized G2(?) Insecticons, insecticons!!! I have already bought 2 KO oversized Bombshell and Shrapnel, which are slightly smaller than these, and are also slightly simplified, simplified (eg. Bombshell shoulders joints are replaced by ball joints, no cockpit for the diaclone drivers, etc, etc..).. But the most important thing is: I finally get a Kickback, kickback!!!! Yeah, yeah!!!! In 1 of the cartoon episode, I remember Kickback uses his powerful legs to kick roll a big log, and in another, I think he kick some TF off a plane, plane (can't really remember, remember...) or something, something... And these figures are in BRIGHT colours, colours!!!!! So G2, G2... hahahaha..... with open-able cockpit covers, covers!!!! Wow, wow...


KO Oversized Bomshell
He is the last on my restoration list among the Insecticons... as at that time still can't figure out how to make his lower legs stay in place... Oh, for those friends who bought this, remember to switch the thighs so that the 2 circular shape patterns are facing front, else the lower legs will not log... Absolutely amazing...




KO Oversized Shrapnel
2nd to restore, restore... and he is quite good-jointed (tight joints), jointed... except in the legs to hips area, area... and feet, feet... and rifle, rifle... But after restoring, restoring... Solid figure, figure!!!




KO Oversized Kickback
Yes! Finally gotten a Kickback! And he is OVERSIZE!!!! Hahaha... He is the first to restore, as he has many good joints... Really awesome TF, with a extremely fast transformation!!! The only thing that may make me dislike him just a little is HIS ROBOT FACE IS SEEN RIGHT FROM BELOW IN INSECT MODE!!!! but nevermind, for this TF, I will not attempt to cover his face, like I did to Classics Ramjet or G1 seekers, as I want to keep him as close to the original design as possible... also I remember in 1 of the cartoon episode also show his face in insect mode...




"Insecticons unite!!!! Prepare to munch on the electrons!!!"




In short, I feel this set is more worth to get than the recent reissue, price and size wise... of course the joints need touching up, and face might need some painting, and you might not get any reprolabels (but can DIY though...)... but I still LOVE THESE INSECTICONS!!!! Hahaha... Now looking forward to my haul... KO Build Team, KO Oversized G1 Hardhead... etc etc...

Restoration : KO Animated Snarl

... might have been a destruction instead... I was trying out with the angle joints piece that connects the head to the chest, way before I realized the correct way to fold in the chest in robot mode... sighz... now I may have made the dino head not able to collapse in properly... but nevermind, too lazy to open up the head again to reattach... anyway, the KO Animated Snarl has many simplifications, eg. the shoulder flames are molded as 1 piece on the shoulder pads, the lower legs have 1 lesser articulation, sides of dino head cannot flip wide out, horns are molded onto the head, etc... But ok, I can live with most of those, just need to restore... and after restoration, here's Snarl:

Dinosaur mode is not compromised despite the simplifications...


The blue transparent club weapon looks good... makes it look like blue energon instead of lava...


Dino head not pressed onto the body close enough as the original's... but good enough for me...


"Me Snarl follow leader Grimlock to smash bozo Decepticons... me strong... me... where is leader Grimlock????..."




p.s. Have restored KO J-Decker of the Brave Yuusha series, but stickers not printed yet, so will take pictures later...