The eyes have it!

Blast Off is here! Slightly smaller box than I was expecting, but good first impressions based on the artwork. Blast Off is special (edition), he is the figure I thought Takara would produce when I heard they were making a shuttle version of the character. Brown isn't a great colour for a Transformer, but combined with purple is rather nice. The shuttle mode isn't fantastic, but having waited several years for this toy, I am very happy. He has the correct head and altmode, he is a toy accurate colour. These things make me extremely content.

I'm half tempted to keep the old Blast Off as Bruticus' arm and keep this new one separate in robot mode. Of the four superfluous figures for combiner wars, I only have Alpha Bravo (I had legends Groove, but never Rook), whom I use on Computron in order to have Strafe on my Lost Light shelf.

Repugnus is now also here! The box art is even more vivid. This is the figure I was most excited about of the trio, despite strangely being content with the Titanmaster figure. The Monsterbots (along with the Dinobots, Insecticons and Predacons) have a special place in my heart. Beast alt modes have always appealed to me, though it took me a while to get into Beast Wars.

Repugnus is a nice bright figure, I like the use of clear green plastic for the beast eyes. Whereas Blast Off seems bigger than he should be, Repugnus seems smaller (I guess compared to the G1 figures). I admire the use of the same base mold for the three Monsterbots, it makes him a little wider than he should be, but somehow it is made to work expertly. I swapped the head for the original Titanmaster one, it has more character because of the bigger eyes. Another great figure!

When I have discussions about collecting with people I often say that if I didn't collect Transformers I'd collect something else. Stamps, coins, anything. I need to collect. Transformers appeals because I am nostalgic for them, but I collect figures of characters I didn't even know existed. So why then? It occurred to me whilst thinking about why I like Repugnus is colour, I like the fact that Transformers come in virtually every single colour and combination. It seems weird to admit it to myself, but it also explains why I collect comic based Marvel figures and not movie. I've barely read any Marvel comics, I've watched every single film, but comic book figures come in more vivid colours. Stamps also come in a wide range of colours so I'll keep them as a back up option for a collection (coins not so much).

Thinking about deluxes, I know almost nothing about the Autobot Targetmasters and Powermasters. I've never read a story where they do anything and I can't remember what they (or their Japanese equivalents) did in the cartoon, but damn they are high up on my want list! The funny thing about them is that they could quite easily be repaints of existing figures, I just need them now! Completionism is a funny thing, though possibly not an actual word.

The third wave of Primemasters have now arrived. They are extremely simple, snap the weapon onto the shell, pop the Primemaster in and done. Admire. Particularly with Octopunch and Bludgeon I wish they came with the melee weapons they used in the old Marvel comics. (I also wish they came with Stranglehold.) It is nice to have Bomb-burst to complete the Deception Masterforce lineup though. I don't mind the small size, I sort of imagine that they have some ability to change size (particularly the Autobots who can shrink down to human size).

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I've bought a 3.75" figure, in a shop no less. Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars Black for a fiver. I don't really acknowledge the existence of The Clone Wars cartoon (I prefer the original Clone Wars cartoon, no 'the'). However, I do collect alien Jedi who appeared in media I've seen, and technically I did go and watch that CGI film at the cinema. She also has two lightsabers. So, she's alright by me.

The green eyed monster continues to haunt me when it comes to Marvel Legends, particularly with X-Men characters, Professor X and Gambit now. They seem to be releasing so much 6" stuff it's ridiculous. Will the bubble burst soon? I guess there were a few years when they weren't releasing anything so it will probably come full circle.

The new Storm Collectibles Mortal Kombat stuff also looks great, far too expensive for me, but I find pictures of them very helpful when planning my customs as googling MKI/MKII characters you tend to get somewhat blurry pixelated photos or cartoons, so it's hard to pick out the details - eye colour for instance (or lack of).

Some time ago I think I mentioned my plan to make 3.75" versions of all Mortal Kombat I and II characters. I'm using the Jazwares figures as a starting point, which since they also made the MK3 cyber ninjas, I will include them also. A Mortal Kombat 2.5 if you will since I plan to include a few characters and cues from later games. My only complete figures so far are the female ninjas (see: https://transformersandstuff.blogspot.com/2017/05/getting-old.html). I have a Goro figure which I am painstakingly making a copy of (by making rubber molds and then casting the parts in resin). This is somewhat time consuming and boring, but I'm down to a couple of pieces left (where the cast didn't work and I'm redoing it). Need to buy some joints.

I'm working on the male ninjas, I think the original Jazwares sculpts weren't actually all that bad. The head was probably the worst part so I'm replacing it with a GI Joe Storm Shadow copy. I think the very worst thing about the Jazwares figures however is the paint (the eyes stand out as being particularly shocking), so I will paint the figures again. Hopefully I can do a better job!

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I’ve finished Scorpion and Reptile. I found the perfect base paint colour for Scorpion, it’s a ochre which I think works much better than the original lemon yellow. Am very happy with the Storm Shadow head. In a first for a custom I’ve done, I also made an alternate skull head for Scorps. Two years in the planning and I’ve finally finished two of the male ninjas!

Exciting exclusives

Amazon exclusives incoming! When I first saw the pictures of the new Punch/Counterpunch my first thought through my mind was we’re getting a new Pointblank!!! Actually I couldn’t remember which targetmaster has those diagonal shoulder pieces, but I was excited.

Wow, he looks great. As does Repugnus, though his beast mode proportions are perhaps a bit off. And Blast Off as well. What a set of exclusives! There will be the usual fun trying to track them down, but for three figures I didn’t think I particularly wanted, I can’t wait!

(I have Blast Off combined so a different head and altmode makes no odds, I have the TFCC P/CP and I have the Titanmaster Repugnus, which despite being a Monsterbot fan, I was also happy with.)

There's something particularly sneaky about the strategy Hasbro used on the four scramble city combiners, by not actually releasing one of each team (initially), they really built up the excitement for when they did release them as exclusives. But, in a slightly perverse way (since I've managed to get hold of them), I'm happier than I would have been with them. Sneaky.

There have just been a load of Amazon listings for the WFC stuff, nothing grabbing me too much though the Targetmaster angle looks promising. I don’t think I’ll get many Micromasters, though probably the Rescue patrol as they were in Victory. As I said before I really now want a complete 1987 lineup, Autobot Powermasters, and the Victory leaders. And a Leozack and Thunderclash!

Looking towards SDCC, as with every year I can't help but hope for some exciting reveals. Autobot Targetmasters, please!!! Actually I think I would be happy with reveals which could be pretools for the Target and Power masters. Have to take what you can get.

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Thinking about the reveals, Hound and Ultra Magnus? Maybe it’s because I’ve just watched the Machinima series (which was alright, but I found the Grimlock portrayal irritating), but weren’t they both on the vote for the next Prime list? With Shockwave also on the rumour list, does that mean Star Saber, Deszaras and Thunderwing might also be on the cards?! Please let it be so.

Well, the Hasbro panel has just happened and my bubble has been well and truly burst. I was hoping for at least one figure to get excited about, but nothing! The Micromasters do look good and, it’s funny that the reveals have been the set I said would get, the set I had as a kid (Race Car patrol) and the set I always wanted as a kid (Battle patrol).

Okay, so the grumpiness has died down a little and that Ironhide does look good, I will need to keep an eye on most of those figures! I think I was a bit spoilt by the Prime Wars trilogy in terms of character selection, but it's worth reminding myself that I was sceptical at the start of that trilogy as well - I was 'happy' with my Fansproject Superion and Menasor. Now I barely have any third party stuff left. I collect Transformers because I'm nostalgic for the 80's, but I'm now at the point where I'm fairly nostalgic for mid 2000's figures. Particularly when the figures have a significance to them, perhaps because I bought them on holiday, I'm reluctant to replace them.

As I think I’ve said before, for me the most important part of an action figure is the head sculpt and where a lot of the Universe Classics figures fall down is the head sculpt. The Datsuns and Sideswipe particularly, I wonder if it will be possible (though expensive) to swap the heads?

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I don't mind the Combiner Wars Buzzsaw mold, I therefore decided to pick up the Laserbeak as perhaps it's time to retire my Real Gear figures. I think he looks better than Buzzsaw because he's toy not cartoon colours. A toy deco Buzzsaw (Target exclusive) was also revealed at SDCC, so might try and get that. The set would raise the prospect of needing to get Titans Return Rumble since it also contains Frenzy. Initially I passed because it looked too much like Rewind, but it would be nice to have figures which are consistent with each other.

Power of the Primes Hun-Gurrr turned up today. This is one of my favourite torsos. It's amazing that he completes my S1-S3 collection, but also I love all of his modes. I'm genuinely torn about how to display him. This is first figure that I find the stickers are a problem for me on, might need Reprolabels. It will definitely need the Perfect Effect upgrade set.

Masterpiece news again, Hound is being released! I don't really care for the character, but I think a bit of green in the display will add some variety. I will hold off initially as I'm hoping for a toy accurate deco as seems likely with Sunstreaker. Just Jazz, Mirage and Trailbreaker left to complete the S1 cars! V3 Optimus Prime? Fascinating...... MP Dinobot looks great, though sounds like some issues with his shoulders. Am saving up for Predaking at the moment so will be a little while before I can afford Dinobot, hopefully a solution will have been found by then.

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I've bought MCU Marvel Legends Ant-Man to get a Paul Rudd headsculpt for my Giant Man. It's great! I think in my collection Ant-Man is now definitely Scott Lang and Yellowjacket is Hank Pym. Wasp is still Janet Van Dyne though, so no MCU Wasp just yet unless they release a Michelle Pfeiffer figure (prequel film perhaps?!).

I also saw Ant-Man and the Wasp today. I thought it was brilliant. I love the Ant-Man films, slightly lower stakes, but I love how they use the size changing power to great effect. Some great stunts with cars. A good fun enjoyable Summer film.

Picked up a super cheap (2018) BAF Apocalypse on eBay from Hong Kong. Hope he actually turns up!

For the Royalty!

For the Royalty!!! I've bought a Beast Wars Inferno. I've decided to hold off on picking up more Beast Wars figures in the hopes that we might get modern versions, but I've made an exception for Inferno on the grounds that he's the right size (compared to say, Terrorsaur), he had an interesting personality on the TV show and he's the right size for 3.75" Ant-Man to sit on.

Not much else else happening in Transformers land at the moment. One thing that occurred to me is that we don’t seem to be getting a Power of the Primes Waverider which is strange given the proposed Grand Max shell was clearly a potential reuse of a Waverider figure. Would also be keen for a Stranglehold.

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Wave 2 Prime Masters have made it to Asda and have finally found them. I like these little guys.

I'm getting a bit worried whether we're going to see any more Power of the Primes stuff at retail and so (since they're in stock online), I bought the W3 Terrorcons. Decided to get Rippersnapper at the same time since he's also available fairly cheaply. The UK getting W2 seems more likely than W3 (though I still remember Combiner Wars and the Stunticons......).

On the day they arrived W2 deluxes and voyagers were spotted in Smyths. I think I made the right decision!

The Terrorcons look like oversized (and articulated) versions of the G1 toys. They seem very chunky. Perfect really! Rippersnapper is great, will be a tough decision deciding which mode to keep him in. Abominus mode is still a contender, but if that's what I go for then might have to consider the Perfect Effect hands and feet.

Sinnertwin looks rather generic in robot mode, his arms have one of the best arm to leg transformations I've seen on a beast transformer. His back legs could be the G1 legs as they're small so as to be a bit more inconspicuous in robot mode. Not bad, but he's no Rippersnapper.

Cutthroat is also pretty good, but Blot is the other winner with Rippersnapper. A nice satisfying transformation, the bit with the claws is great, and full of character.

Also popped in an order for Outback, have decided just to order W3 online. He's a repaint so nothing too crazy, but it's great to have him in his 70s colour scheme.

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Found Sludge and Snarl! Whoop whoop. I nipped into Smyths in between listening to football on the radio, what a day! Strangely they're actually about the same size as the G1 figures (though Sludge has a slightly shorter tail). Snarl looks a reasonable size in robot mode because of the way his tail splits on his shoulders (a bit like Slag with his dino head). Sludge is just too small though, more than any of the others he needs to be a voyager. I really like them though, it's great to have a complete set of dinobots. In fact, once I've got Hun-Gurrr, I will have every character from S1-S3 of the cartoon in classics form, that is quite the milestone.

I think the W2 dinos display nicely with Slag, less so with Swoop due to his cartoon blue. And of course Grimlock as a voyager is much too large compared to Sludge. I almost wish Grimlock was also deluxe...

My main focus is now on the S4/1987 cast, Scorponok is sorely needed. There have been a few hints that we’re done with the Titan class. I want Scorponok as a leader so it doesn’t worry me particularly, but it does seem sad that they may stop making large figures because people wait until they’re discounted.


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Deadpool 2! Yep, have seen it. I very much enjoyed it, really found myself laughing hard at some points. Good mix of action (plenty of arm breaking), humour and even some emotional (ish) bits. Josh Brolin is great as Cable. I'm a bit tempted to get a moped for Deadpool now!

(Also I think I need to make a custom Domino....)

Have hit a milestone - I'm done with buying Marvel 3.75" figures! Now of course, if they decide to release new figures then that's that's an entirely different thing, but I'm done with buying already released figures on eBay (and after getting Inferno this includes Transformers). The cheap figures from China seem to be drying up, so I think it's just in time. Domino just about scraped through. If I come across another character I want to make a custom of it's going to be raiding my parts bin and/or making resin copies. You can all be my witnesses! Jean Grey has the distinction of being my final figure, it’s quite a nice one but naturally she won’t stay as Jean for long.....

Any new stuff is fair game though. Speaking of which, I mentioned I bought some Jurassic World stuff. I painted up a raptor to look more like the original film. Pretty happy! Really enjoying my customising at the moment.

My Marvel collection is comic based, but I rather like popping MCU heads on them. Ant Man and Wasp are about the last figures I want MCU heads for, obviously Hasbro has given up on 3.75”, but I do have 6” figures for these two. They’re getting unmasked Legends figures, which for Scott Lang is cool (I have a Yellowjacket Hank Pym), but what about Janet and Hope? In my A:EMH focused mind, Wasp is Janet. Therefore if I'm going to pop an MCU head on Wasp it should be a Michelle Pfeiffer head! (Which if they did a unmasked Batman Returns Catwoman is actually feasible.) Anyway, I think it depends on how easily accessible the figures are and how much I have to pay to get them.

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I have used the head from First Class Jean Grey to improve my old Jean Grey. The hair colour is spot on and she actually has a sensible sized head.

I have upgraded my Absorbing Man and Drax with Hyperion thighs (painted AM's pupils as well), it always feels a bit risky when snapping legs apart, but I think they look pretty good. Extra articulation is always good.

I've made a second Luke Cage (no genuine Luke Cage parts were used - the head is a custom cast I made). I've also painted Jean Grey into (drumroll please.....), Crystal! I need to sort the belt out, but will probably leave it for the time being.