Toys loot - Tokyo December 2013

Wife and I went for our almost-annual pilgrimage (hee!) holiday to Tokyo. As usual, we took the chance to stock up on toys!

To start off, my Transformers loot!

Bishoujo Jaina Solo

I've been interested in the Kotobukiya Bishoujo (beautiful girl) series statues for a while now. Finally picked up my first piece - Jaina Solo from Star Wars!

Thor: The Dark World

"When do we start?" Tomorrow!!  :D


  

MMC Feral Rex: R-03 Bovis

Third-party company Mastermind Creations has a good rep for production high-quality products. So I was excited when they announced they will produce their first combiner based on none other than Predaking!

Of course, they cannot use the actual names because of copyright. So they have named their combiner Feral Rex. And after a long wait the first member - Bovis - is here!

Review: MP-17 Masterpiece Prowl

The Masterpiece series continues with the next Autobot car - MP-17 Prowl   G1 Prowl transforms into a Nissan Fairlady 280Z-T police car, and MP-17's alt mode is an excellent replica.

First Look: MP-17 Prowl

I got my Masterpiece MP-17 Prowl today! Here's a first photo of the box contents, except the coin which is Asia exclusive.



I'll post more photos and my review later. Watch for it!
  

Review: Toyworld TW-H02 Brainwave (part 1)

TW-H02 Brainwave is the second Headmaster released by Toyworld after TW-H01 Hardbone.  It is obviously homage to G1 Headmaster Brainstorm.
 

Jedi Duffy

Duffy the Disney Bear in Jedi Knight outfit - protecting us from bad dreams while we sleep!




His lightsaber is a Kotobukiya light-up chopstick lightsaber. Too big to fit 1/6 scale figures, I'm glad I finally found someone who can wield it.  :)


 

Red Panda, standing by

After the Optimus Prime T, another of Qwertee's design caught my eye. Here it is: "Red Panda, standing by"



I've always been a huge Star Wars fan. And that red panda is just so cute!
 

STGCC 2013 - my recap and musings

After skipping the previous two year's convention, I am SO glad I attended STGCC 2013! There are so many booths, events, panels, signings etc that any fan of pop culture will definitely find something interesting there.

Entrace to STGCC

Simone Legno's autographs at STGCC 2013

Wife and I were looking forward to meeting Simone Legno at STGCC 2013 since we are tokidoki fans. We even bought an extra tokidoki collaboration Pullip Luna last year specially to let him autograph at this convention!

STGCC 2013 day 1 loot

Posting my STGCC day 1 loot! Too tired to describe what I bought now. Will edit this post later with the descriptions.

I'm going back for day 2. Probably will not buy as many as first day... I think? XD

Updated with loot descriptions!

Things I'm looking forward to at STGCC 2013

I'm posting this to help remind myself what are the highlights, booths and displays to look out for, and of course stuff to buy while I'm at STGCC 2013. Don't wanna get too overwhelmed there and forget haha!

Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention (STGCC) 2013

One more week to STGCC 2013! It will be held on 31 Aug (Sat) and 1 Sep (Sun) at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Expo and Convention Center,

I did not attend for the previous 2 years because there weren't any exhibitors or merchandise that were enticing to me. But this year, I'm quite excited by the announced line-up! So I decided to 'indulge' a little and bought the VIP ticket. Priority entry into the hall is good I guess. And the 3x Fast Pass... is it for autograph sessions?

Gotta plan what booths and displays I wanna chiong to first to buy stuff and take photos. Then take my time to cover the rest of the convention.

For more info, check out their website:  http://www.singaporetgcc.com/
STGCC's Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/singaporetgcc
 

Sideshow Storm Shadow Sixth Scale Figure

Just after getting my Hot Toys Storm Shadow, Sideshow announced their own updated version for pre-order!

Review: Hot Toys Storm Shadow (part 3)

Continued from Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Storm Shadow welding his trademark katana! It has the Arashikage clan hexagram on the blade.

Review: Hot Toys Storm Shadow (part 2)

Continued at Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

More photos of Hot Toys Storm Shadow! I don't really like the 'skirt' of his ninja suit in the movies. But in the toy it can be posed as if being blown by wind, which I have to admit makes for some cool shots.

Lee Byung-hun strutting like a BOSS

Review: Hot Toys Storm Shadow (part 1)

I just got this Hot Toys Storm Shadow! Believe it or not, this is only my second Hot Toys figure LOL

Great boxart featuring Lee Byung-hun - the actor who played Storm Shadow in the live-action movies.

Tansformers Generations Metroplex

Fans of huge Transformers base toys have lots to be excited about recently. First, Fortress Maximus - the biggest toy in G1 series - was reissued in TakaraTomy's Encore line late last year. Then in February 2013, Hasbro upped the ante when they showed off the new Titan-class Generations Metroplex!

Painting Hasbro Metroplex's face

One thing I don't like about Hasbro's Metroplex is his white face. So I knew I wanted to paint mine silver as soon as I got him. Fortunately, this is a very simple mod that improves Hasbro's Metroplex for me.

Step 1: Remove his black 'helmet' by lifting it forward, then gently unhinge the bottom from the pegs on both sides of his face.

Step 2: Unscrew the 2 screws at the back of his head and open up the head. The red visor can also be removed.

Step 3: Remove the face for painting.

Below photos show the original white face (left) and after painting it silver (right). I just used a silver marker bought at an art shop.

Brave Gohkin Mugen Calibur

Back in th 80's when Transformers was fast gaining popularity and Hasbro was running out of Takara molds to use, they obtained licences to use the molds of other companies' robot toys.

From the anime Special Armored Battalion Dorvack (特装機兵ドルバック) two of their mechas were used for G1 Deluxe Autobots - VH-64 MR Oberon Gazzette for G1 Whirl, and VV-54 AR Mugen Calibur for G1 Roadbuster.

VH-64 MR Oberon Gazzette

Everytime I'm on business trip in Tokyo, I try to find time to do a little toy hunting. :) During my last trip in March 2013, I manage to find this vintage VH-64 MR Oberon Gazzette from the old anime Special Armored Battalion Dorvack (特装機兵ドルバック)

Optimus Prime T from Qwertee

I bought this Optimus Prime T-shirt from Qwertee. It caught my attention because it has two toy series that I love - Transformers and Lego!

MP-10 checking it out. I think he approves?

Masterpiece MP-12T Tigertrack

When Masterpiece Lambor / Sideswipe was announced, every TF fan was certain the same mold would be used as all the various G1 recolours. Sure enough, MP-14 Alert was announced soon after.

The next recolour after that is yellow. Thankfully, it is not Sunstreaker, but Tigertrack instead.

Preview: Pullip Supergirl

Groove has announced another DC comic character as their San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) 2013 exclusive doll, and it is none other than SUPERGIRL!

Review: Toyworld Hardbone

Photo review of TW-H01 Hardbone from 3rd-party company Toyworld. This is obviously homage to G1 Headmaster Hardhead.

Superhero movies in 2013

May - Iron  Man 3
June - Man Of Steel
July - The Wolverine
October - Thor:  The Dark World

Represented by Lego minifigs


 

Happy Star Wars Day!

May the Force (Fourth) Be With You... Always

  

1 day more to watch Iron Man 3!

"Hurry up, Rhodey! We're gonna miss the opening."

"But Tony, these donuts are heavy..."


       

Can't wait to watch Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 is less than a week away! Have you bought your tickets yet?  :)

  

 

Tokyo Sakura Season - March 2013

I was on business trip to Tokyo from 24 to 30 March 2013. This year the cherry blossoms started blooming earlier than usual, and I was lucky to be there right when they were at full bloom! Here are some photos.

Toys loot - Tokyo March 2013

Wow, so fast and it's April 1st already! I didn't post anything in March 2013 because I've been on business trips. Good thing for me is the last destination of my trip was Tokyo. In between all the meetings and trainings, I managed to squeeze in some shopping time.  ;)

My Transformers loot bought during this trip!

Lego's new UCS X-Wing!

Great news for Lego Star Wars fans! Lego announced the next model in their Ultimate Collector Series is the Incom T-65, better known as the X-Wing Starfighter!

TFC Uranos: F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle

After giving fans the awesome Hercules/Devastator gestalt, the next TFC combiner group is another favourite of mine: the Aerialbots! TFC has named the gestalt Uranos. But we all know him as Superion!

As of this post, only 2 members have ben released: F-4 Phantom (Fireflight) and F-15 Eagle (Air Raid)

Happy Lunar New Year 2013!

Wishing everyone 恭喜发财 (Prosperity), 身体健康 (Good health), 万事如意 (Good luck in everything)

Have great year ahead!


 

Review: MP-13 Masterpiece Soundwave

When Takara Tomy announced MP-13 in their Masterpiece line is gonna be Soundwave, there was excitement among the Transformers fandom. Finally, everyone's favourite Communications Commander is getting the Masterpiece treatment. After a long wait (well, those few months felt long) he is finally released!

The box contents, except the coin and 2 extra energon cubes which are separate. The coin is Asia exclusive, and the extra energon cubes are Amazon.jp exclusive.

FansProject Warbot Assaulter: Carrier Mode

After reviewing Warbot Assaulter's bot and plane modes, I was supposed to touch on Assaulter's carrier mode but completely forgot! D'OH!

G1 Broadside is a triple-changer. Besides the bot and plane modes, his other mode is an aircraft carrier. Likewise, FP Assaulter also has a carrier mode.

More photos from Doll Carnival 2012

The Doll Carnival 2012 was held on 16 December, but Groove only start selling tokidoki Pullip Luna on 19 December onwards. Good thing wife and I were still in Tokyo, so on that morning we headed back to Matsuya Ginza to get her. Here are more photos from that day.

The new dolls that were sold only at Matsuya Ginza.

Vintage Takara G1 Blitzwing

Happy New Year folks! To kickstart 2013 here is a photo review of the vintage Takara G1 Blitzwing I picked up during my last holiday in Tokyo.

I found this vintage Takara G1 Blitzwing in a display at Nakano Broadway. Wife knows how much I like G1 Blitzwing, so she bought it for me as Christmas present!