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...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (105) - Many KOs... & Bootleg???

Haul from TaoBao came tonight!!!!!

KO Miscellaneous Kabaya Kits
Very happy that finally can get a Universe (2003) Optimus Prime kit... Not very happy that the Spy Changer Mirage is packed with 1 piece of the Universe OP instead... sigh... Anyway... cost approx $3.45 for the 6 packs, so if even is $3.45 for just 1 Universe (2003) Optimus Prime kit is still worth it... for me...



KO Green Classics Mirage
... aka Acid Disruptor... Hahaha.... gotten this to replace my "hipless" old KO yellow version... Have not opened up, so not sure how is the quality... Cost is approx $3.40...

Edit: Joints, except waist, are quite tight!!!! Amazing... Plastic is a bit brittle though, but seriously who in the right mind expects superb quality plastics from a cheapo KO?? This Mirage on this packing comes in red and blue... Highly recommended...



KO Oversize DOTM Legends Crankcase
Upsized to about Scout class... Again, not opened up yet... Cost is approx $2.70...

Edit: A bit disappointing, feet is slightly simplified, ball joints at arms keep popping out, some loose joints and no small little hands at the arms... But the "middle finger" (aka Deadpool's sword blade from X-Men Origin movie, hahaha...) still remains...



KO Oversize DOTM Legends Topspin
Upsized to about Scout class... Again, not opened up yet... Cost is approx $2.70...

Edit: This is an amazing piece... When I lift it out from his plastic bubble tomb, he remain rigid like a statue... I mean, no signs of limbs of parts moving slightly... wow... Joints are indeed tight... and partly probably due the simplicity of the design... wow...simple...



KO Oversize Crossover Spiderman (Racing Car)
Wow!!!! Did not expect this to be an oversized piece, thought is original (roughly) voyager sized... Man, it is huge, around 23 cm... and it is BLUE!!!!!! Blue Venom!!!! Or Aqua Spidey!!! Hahaha.... Not open up, so not sure of the quality... Cost is approx $15.55.

Edit: Plastic is of near shampoo bottle quality... near, but not quite like it... Some joints are tight... and the leg joints, by virtue of the KO-ers missing out the ratcheting part, actually allow the legs to be a slightly wide and more natural position when standing, compared to the original one (that I saw some reviewers mention in Youtube)... Need to tighten the joints on the legs though... Not sure if the original transformation intend to let the hip-piece to be connected to the two long headlight pieces or not, because by doing so, the arms are easier to be posed using the shoulder joints only...



Bootleg DOTM Voyager Fireburst Optimus Prime
Wow, except for a few loose joints at legs, and an axe that needs to recalibrate the gears, all is fine with this bootleg!!!! Had fun and frustration transforming him just now... Cost is approx $28.50.



Now waiting for my other haul to arrive!!! KO Oversize G1 Hardhead, KO Overly-simplified Leader DOTM Sentinel Prime, etc...

Side-Tracked: Recent Haul of KOs (104) - KO Beast Machines Striker, KO Ironman & Batman Masks

Went to Bedok Central for brunch... and after that, jalan jalan... bought a KO Beast Machines Striker, a KO Ironman mask, a KO Batman mask, & a Ultraman lantern (which I did not take pictures) for my nephew...


KO Beast Machines Striker

This is the same series as the Lio Convoy which I bought earlier... De-tombed it and fiddled with it for a while...Had a hard time transforming to the dinosaur mode... Here's a quick review about the pros & cons of the KO quality (not the toy review):

Pros
Most joints are tight, as usual. Only exception will be the small pin-tabs at the shoulder -arms joints & dino's 1/2-body-to-body joints, might need to tighten / loosen... The colour scheme is approx 80% to that of the original's, save a few places (inner of legs, etc...)... The simplifications done do not hinder the transformation between the 2 modes basically...

Cons
Plastic is light (as usual too), so please handle with more caution. The simplified parts consists of the head no able to turn, so shows the head in dinosaur mode if you look from below (see picture below)... The spine blades are now molded to the dino's body (halves), no dino skull, but no big deal... Now the major ones I don't quite like are the fists are molded in the arms, making the arms short!!! The elbows are replaced by ball joints, but due to the re-design to show the "fists", the dinosaur cannot pose the front legs correctly... The tail is now a single piece without the "open-the-flower" gimmick, but think it can be better re-designed like that of the KO Lio Junior's tail-rifle...



Overall, still worth the $6.90 paid... in fact, worth more than the $6.90 (though might need to do a little more restoration than the KO Lio Junior...)...


KO Ironman / Batman Masks
Well... They should be classified as KOs, right?? Anyway, at only $1.50 per piece, I bought these 2 and washed them with anti-bacterial soap, now still drying... some plastic burrs around the edges, but can be easily removed with a penknife... The Ironman mask looks hilarious with the "nose", hahaha.... Oh, the packaging is the usual cheapo "T~O~Y~S" plastic bag...



Hope my Taobao haul comes soon... Bootleg Fireburst OP, oversized G1 Hardhead, KO Spiderman Crossover (racing car), KO Leader Sentinel Prime (overly-simplified version), oversized RTS Megatron etc.....

Restoration : KO Masterpiece Optimus Prime

This time restored the "cheap as hell" KO Masterpiece Prime! Hahaha... Opps, not really in the "cheap as hell" category, because still cost me approximately $62... hmmm... ok, for that price, I don't expect 100% quality like the original one...

I believe there are a lot of reviews (here is a good one ...) for this KO Masterpiece OP, so won't go into 1 (well, I also don't recall having done a decent review before, hahaha...)

Just some nagging... I remember there is an earlier version which more silver-chrome including the faceplate. The one I have here is the later version, with silver faceplate... I did change the smokestacks to longer ones, and tried to use the magnets to strengthen the waist joint, but not very good result... Oh, the auto-open air vents on his shins do work (when you press OP down on his feet)... But the ratcheting joint for his right leg was too tight, I had to repair the broken ratcheting ring and use a softer spring... a bit loose, but better than to keep repairing...

Vehicle mode... Gaps are evident, the most obvious being the front cabin (robot chest) cannot close properly...



Robot mode... painted the rifle with black metallic paint-pen.... not very good, due to the unevenness of paint effect of paint pen over large areas..


Surprisingly, this fella is quite posable... I thought it will be very unstable, but then realised it is still ok.... not that unstable...


Lastly, to clarify :
(1) I am a "he"...
(2) I used to go "out of the way to find and collect KO(s)" in the past, when I am absolutely crazy with KOs, but too lazy now to do (hahaha...)...
(3) I preface (title) "Side-tracked" in my posts whenever I buy ANY TFs (or such), NOT only when I bought "official/genuine" pieces... and finally...
(4) Yes, I am (and/or this blog is) meant to be hilarious and funny, and fun!!!!!! I am hilarious, so are you ¹ (you know who, =) ) Hahahahaha ² !!!!.... I like KOs (of TFs) , enjoy yours too!!!! ... Hahaha!!!!


¹ - reference title by a S'pore guy who has this program/course called "I Am Gifted, So Are You"... Is it (the program) "hilarious"?? You decide... hahahaha....

² - sorry, got into this crazy mode after seeing the post in the forum which you wrote, couldn't help laughing out loud... it's coming back... hahahaha....

Restoration : KO City Commander & KO Classics Ultra Magnus

Restored my KO City Commander and KO Classics UM recently... Again, used the polystyrene piece to tighten the shoulder and arm armour pieces, works like a charm... Gotten a green translucent sword for him too, to match up with his nemesis!!!

Removed the ugly red Decepticon (with mouth) insignia on his shoulders, tightened some joints, and some slight paint on his mouth-mask...




For the KO City Commander's shoulder and armour pieces, I super-glued a piece of polystyrene on each of the inner surfaces to reduce the space, making a tight fit when sliding in the shoulders and arms. Once again, thanks to the person who suggested this, sorry I'm not able to google out who you are. Works like a charm! BTW, I just realised that it might be that the KO Classics Primes are very very very slightly smaller than the real deal. I remember some people mentioned the KO City Commander fits slightly better on the real Classics Primes, compared to fitting onto KO Classics Primes... Doesn't matter...




The trailer fits well with the KO UM. Looks good... (yes, the sword is able to be stored inside the trailer like the Shadow's...)



Ultra Magnus!!!!! As the set came with a sword holder too, I use it to clip on to the new sword (gotten long time ago)... sweet...



Maximum firepower!!!! (Yeap, configure the BFG to the artillery cannon...)



John Woo style.... hahaha...



Took some time to shave off the sword's handle to fit into the fist-hole... Looks great!!!! City Commander's sword is slightly shorter than Shadow's, though doesn't really matter...




When 2 commanders meet....



On guard!!!!!



Next on restoration list: KO Masterpiece Optimus Prime..... !!!!!