So talking of figures that don't really fit into my collection, I recently moved a few figures around in my display, particularly where I'd just shoved some new stuff any old where, and I also put the Dinobots and Predacons in a more prominent position. I took down my old Energon repaint Superion and replaced him with his newer Combiner Wars update. I'm keeping the Energon version because it means so much to me, but also because I think it looks great, it's not G1 Superion, but it's a damn good set of figures, especially with the FP upgrade. I also think the way I've got it displayed is pretty awesome. I will display it with my Energon Dinobots and Terrorcons. (Incidentally, I'm not nearly as fond of Bruticus so will likely get rid of him once the inevitable CW version is announced.)
I had a rather good find in the Disney store this month, I found the new Marvel Infinite figures featuring Beast and Bishop. I think this is about the first time I've been amongst the first in the world to find the new Transformers and Marvel of a year, well based on what I read on forums as least. I am beyond thrilled to get Bishop, he completes the list of figures that I really wanted back in 2009 when MU started. Great head sculpt, but I feel the figure is lacking in the musculature department. Beast is a great sculpt, although a bit lacking in posability, but what annoys me is that his arms are either flush with his body or out at right angles without the ability to hold a pose somewhere inbetween. I've also got Black Cat but haven't opened her.
I haven't opened the AOE Evolutions Optimus Prime I bought a while back yet. I bought it because Fansproject showed pictures of an upgrade kit to turn the Classics figure into Powermaster Prime. There's been no more news of this despite the fact that a prototype was shown at various events last year. The funny thing is that if the kit doesn't happen, DX9 have created a kit to turn the AOE Prime into PM Prime. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised to see a kit to turn Combiner Wars Optimus into PM Prime as well. There could be options.
I found 4" Link from the World of Nintendo line, I haven't opened him either, but apparently Samus and Fox are on their way for a quality Smash Bros line up. I'm sticking with the 2-4" figures for the Mario characters, I'm happy with how they scale up, although DK and Bowser mess it up. (Also I've painted several Yoshis so that would be wasted!) If they put out a Captain Falcon then I'll be in for that, I think I might be in the market for a Jigglypuff as well. And Ness, I suppose...
I'm going to keep an eye out for the 6" WON Bowser, I think I might get the 5" DK from PopCo and see how that looks. The scale for Mario Kart and Smash Bros is different, but I think a DK bigger than the human characters, but smaller than Bowser works. I passed on a 3.75" Robotnik a couple of years back, with this new scale he would fit in quite nicely. Maybe they'll do some Sonic 25th anniversary figures. I could also be tempted by a OOT Zelda and Ganon figure if Jazwares really goes for it.
Apparently various Generations Voyagers have been found in various B&M stores around the country, I'm in the market for a Sky-Byte so have checked out a few stores to no avail. It reminds me of when some TK Maxx stores had the cancelled Iron Man 2 sets a while back, I had no luck at all. Bargain stores are a tricky proposition for figure hunting! Having said that the Entertainer does have a listing for Sky-Bye on their website, so maybe there's some hope.
I am trying to spend less at the moment, so I'm acquiring a long list of things I want. I've recently shipped a POL from BBTS, so I've got some cool things coming my way (including the remaining MMC Predacons, Dragonzord and FP Slag!), but this will be the last for the foreseeable. Some things are cheaper on BBTS (such as Legacy Tigerzord), but with quite a lot of stuff it's cheaper getting it directly from Asia and cutting out the middle man, particularly Masterpiece. Plus with the customs fees when it does arrive, I might as well just pay the extra initial cost. I've been using them since 2008 so it's quite a change, I like the pre-ordering system, but a few times something (like Tigerzord) comes in just a little too late to be shipped with your current POL which is really frustrating. Also it's often worth being patient in case it does turn up locally. Like Sky-Byte. Hopefully.
I've been watching some videos on YouTube called 'How it should have ended' (HISHE). They do animations based on various pop culture franchises, some of which feature the Villain Pub and Hero Cafe (which strangely is making me like Superman more). I highly recommend checking them out. I like the premise of the Villain Pub so much that I'm considering putting some figures together from the various lines I collect to create a similar eclectic cast of characters, maybe getting some additional movie and TV villains as well to round it out.
This is an extension to an idea I had previously to put together some alien based characters as an 'intergalactic council', mostly a Marvel based thing but with some others thrown in. Having just villains makes a lot of sense because villains are often much more interesting. It would finally give me an excuse to get Dalek and Alien figures (who actually could have been on the council anyway)! I see there are some Gremlins figures coming out in the ReAction line which would also work, plus even a Jaws figure. I might have to start thinking about a 3.75" Shredder figure as well.
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Amazingly many of the characters I want to get for my villain pub are not only available in 3.75" scale, but are available quite cheaply as they've ended up shelf warming. I bought a Terminator and Mumm-ra online for a few pounds, my TRU still had a Rita Repulsa (shocking figure, definitely needs some attention with a paintbrush, someone online said it looks like a character from the film Coraline which is spot on). I also got a Thor 2 Kurse figure cheaply to try and make a Predator. I'm thinking about the Shredder custom, there's a version from the most recent iteration of TMNT where the helmet can come off so that might be a good start. I've also ordered the recent MP-13SW, not a bad price. Could be some exciting deliveries next week!
Having checked out a fair few B&Ms recently looking for Transformers, I spotted a Kreo pack with Ironhide and Devastator. I thought I was done with Kreo, but I am leaning towards the idea of getting rid of Sideswipe and Mirage and replacing them with Ironhide, that way I've got all of the main Autobots in brick form. They're a mix of G1 and movie which is kinda cool given I have virtually no movie stuff.
My pile of loot came in from BBTS, I got absolutely shafted for customs fees, but that's a rant for another day. My buying patterns will be changing! I opened Dragonzord first, wow, he's a lot heavier now with the die cast metal in him. He's got a great paint job and his face doesn't keep on slipping down on him like my old one. I'm really psyched for Tigerzord now, but will hold off for the time being.
I opened Mastermind Creations Rampage and Divebomb last night, I love these figures. I've just left them in robot mode for the time being, but will combine them into Predaking tomorrow! I've just opened Fansproject Slag and, oh dear, I've really got mixed feelings.
Slag was my first ever dinobot so I'm very fond of the character. First impressions straight out of the box are, wow, he's big. Next to MMC Headstong (who I always thought of as the Decepticon equivalent to Slag), he's got a heck of a lot of more bulk. He's got a red cap on his tail which wasn't a surprise, but it looks pretty silly. He's got guy liner in a kind of animated nod, but I can live with it so pretty good so far. The transformation is horrible, fiddly, and trying to get the leg sections to fold in properly was a bit of a nightmare. Admittedly I didn't use instructions, but I didn't need to, it was obvious what I was trying to do I just couldn't get it to work! There aren't many transformers I have a break during transformation because I'm getting annoyed. I eventually got him into robot mode and to my slight annoyance, he looks great. He's a real powerhouse of a robot. I've got him posed with his sword and he's just looks brilliant.
Comparing him to Sludge he's the opposite; Sludge had a great dino mode and a very forgettable robot mode, Slag has a great robot mode and an okay dino mode. I'm still contemplating transforming Sludge back to dino mode but I'm not sure I've got the space on my shelf. I think Slag has the bulk that Sludge should have. I can see that they wanted to get them to be the same height but with Slag's dino head he is taller and wider. I've got Swoop preordered, and he looks like he might go the same way as Slag in terms of great robot mode, but by the sounds of it, a much simpler transformation.
I have bought almost everything Fansproject have put out, and I think one of the places they often fall short for me is on the head sculpt. On both 3.75" figures and Transformers a good head sculpt and paint is vital for me, it's the reason why my customs are never as good as the real thing, also why Hasbro's efforts recently have blown me away, particularly the combiner wars figures. Slag however is one of Fansproject's better efforts, the lips are a bit pouty, but that is consistent with the Loyal Subjects version of the character. Overall, he's great looking but if I ever end up selling him I'm not transforming him back!
