The flames make it go faster
A photo by Yogi. (Creative Commons-licensed.)
Toy review roundup
Raving Toy Maniac reviews the Mega Bloks Neo Shifter Blaze/Axx set. Excerpt: “The toy itself straddles the fence between construction toys and action figures, and it works well in both regards.” (See also.)
Toy Talk reviews the Character Doctor Who 5-inch Doctor in Blue Suit and Glasses action figure. Excerpt: “The likeness to actor David Tennant is good … ”
Artemis reviews the DC Direct Shazam Mary Marvel figure. Excerpt: “… fans of innocent, wholesome Mary probably won’t be disappointed.”
yo go re reviews the DC Direct Last Son General Zod figure. Excerpt: “… it’s 2007 – a figure that doesn’t have a balljointed neck is a complete joke.”
yo go re reviews the DC Direct Last Son Ursa figure. Excerpt: “The 5¼” x 3½” base is Superman’s S-shield, though that hardly seems right, since three quarters of this series are his enemies.”
Chong Kah Fai reviews the Bandai Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite Psycho Gundam from the Z Gundam series. Excerpt: “The paint job is superbly done …”
Thomas Wheeler reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe 8-inch Flint figure. Excerpt: “… a very cool figure, with plenty of accessories …”
Toy Talk reviews the Hape International Quadrilla wooden marble-run construction system. Excerpt: “… a really impressive system and for those looking for a toy that combines traditional values with a certain degree of educational value, this really hits the spot.” (See also.)
Atom reviews the Kaiyodo Revoltech Macross VF-1A Super Valkyrie (movie version) figure. Excerpt: “… a fantastic value for the price … .” (See also.)
EVA Unit 4A reviews the Hasbro Transformers Movie Deluxe Dropkick figure. Excerpt: “… an unexpected favorite.”
Blast from the past
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1982 Popy Machine Robo Highway Robo figure. Excerpt: “Popy’s designs put much stock in simplicity, and that’s what you get here.”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1983 Popy Machine Robo Shinkansen Robo figure. Excerpt: “The alt mode is neat and smart, and the robot mode is functional, but the toy doesn’t make much of an impression.”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1984 Bandai Machine Robo Hot Rod Robo figure. Excerpt: “It’s pretty dumbfounding that Tonka felt the need to recolour such a great-looking figure, and pretty damning that they did such a poor job of it.”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1985 Bandai Machine Robo Fairlady Robo figure. Excerpt: “There’s not much wrong with Fairlady Robo, it’s a sound mould and the colours aren’t bad, but the Gobots version is just that bit more imposing …”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1985 Tonko Gobots Cy-Kill variant figure. Excerpt: “An interesting variant that nevertheless just falls short of surpassing the original.”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1988 Bandai Machine Robo Winner Robo Buggy Winner figure. Excerpt: “… it’s one of the best looking Winner figures across two modes.”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1988 Bandai Machine Robo Winner Robo Eagle Winner figure. Excerpt: “Eagle Winner manages to fail on most fronts …”
Tom Prankerd review the 1993 Bandai CG Robo Fire CG figure. Excerpt: “… he might not be the most original figure out there, he’s certainly a very impressive piece of work …”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1993 Bandai CG Robo Ambulance CG figure. Excerpt: “The robot mode itself is terrific, arguably the best of the CG Robo line …”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1993 Bandai CG Robo 4WD CG figure. Excerpt: “… unless found cheap he’s best avoided.”
Tom Prankerd reviews the 1993 Bandai CG Robo Dozer CG figure. Excerpt: “… Dozer CG conspires to be less than the sum of his parts.”
Thomas Wheeler reviews the 2006 Bandai Gundam Mobile Suit in Action Gouf Ignited (Heine Westenfluss custom) from the Gundam SEED Destiny series. Excerpt: “The level of sculpted detail, articulation, and precise painted detailing is nothing short of astounding …”
Rob Braun reviews the 2005 Bandai Master Grade Gundam RX-78-2 (ver. One Year War 0079) from the One Year War 0079 game. Excerpt: “… the Version OYW RX-78-2 Gundam is a nice reminder of the design’s importance to its legacy.”
Emote
A photo by antjeverena. (Creative Commons-licensed.)
Toy links
Super Gattai.
Most toy fans would have seen Sakio’s incredible Machine Robo Rescue fanmodes but they’re worth linking to again because of the sheer creativity, temerity and obsessivity of it all.
Attacktix Gobots Fitor custom.
A custom by Dave Van Domelen based on an Attacktix Chewbacca.
A case of mistaken identity.
See Laurent Libessart’s gallery for more awesome Transformers and Gobots illustrations.
Gobots and Machine Robo ads. [via]
They’re less flashy than Transformers ads. See the ad for the old Baikanfu DX set.
Gobots.net
A French Gobots site with English text to aid navigation. Among other things, it covers Gobots illustrations, variations, bootlegs and renovation.