Ghostly Christmas

Egon turned up! I heard of a few QA issues and I thought after opening that I’d gotten away with it, but realised the joint on the foot wasn’t sitting quite correctly. Sadly after closer examination (and looking at the soles of the feet), he has/had two right feet! Luckily Mondo have said they’ll fix the issue. The feet are fairly symmetrical so it’s not really a big problem anyway, but glad they’re going to sort it. Anyway, looks great - I’m into uncharted territory now as I only ever had Peter as a kid.

Also got a bit more Kombat. I really like the extra accessories for the ninjas to differentiate them, Scorpion is great, can’t quite decide which accessories to display Reptile with (Sub Zero, Scorpion and Reptile have the distinct honour of going on to the shelf rather than into a storage box). I guess Sub Zero is the most festive because of the ice?! Because of buying the two-packs I ended up with P2 versions, but some lightning accessories for Raiden at least. I like him a lot more than Liu Kang.

I did another Transformers thing, got this on eBay as thought it looked pretty good. Certainly makes Carnivac shine. I wonder if they’ll do anymore pretender beasts? (Presumably not as headmasters.)

I actually did two Transformers things - I made a Browning custom. I went with the toy deco, I generally prefer the toy deco and it saves painting half the figure bronze. Casting the head was a real struggle - three attempts and it’s still a bit iffy in places. Overall, pretty happy though.

The other head I cast was Mace Windu. This was a slightly strange idea but when looking back over my blog I spotted a photo of the vintage collection figure and thought it could work as the Hood! (Not many bald man options in the toy world.) I think it works better than it has any right to. The cast wasn’t brilliant and one side came out a little squished but all things considered, happy.

Whilst casting the heads I also did some thighs for Shao Kahn since the 90’s version is really quite muscly. I used the Storm Collectibles version as a reference - very helpful as there’s not any pictures of him from all angles otherwise. It’s funny, 10 odd years ago I thought it would just be a matter of painting the red a bit darker and making the mask metallic rather than bone. Turned out to be more complicated than Goro. Probably good I didn’t realise. Somewhat appropriately for a boss I feel like I used everything I’ve learnt in the last 15 years - using casts to improve a sculpt (like Groot), making spikes using styrene rods (like the Terrorcons), plus all the painting and sculpting. He’s done! I’ve finished the MKI/II lineup of characters in 3.75” scale. Whoop, it’s been quite the celebration of Kombatness recently.

Feel like I’m running out of energy a little bit on my customs, down to three now (gave up on one to make T30 Jetfire look more G1 toy accurate) - time for a break before switching to some Transformers ideas I have (I’m starting to feel more enthusiastic about them in comparison). There’s also been quite a lot of life admin stuff I’ve been putting off so better get on with that now.

I watched a video on ‘Black Friday Shopping’ and whilst I didn’t buy anything, it made me think, and so I’ve decided to cancel Missing Link Ultra Magnus. I can’t quite explain it, I love G1, the idea behind Missing Link is great, yet somehow, I’m just not feeling it. For me it’s about 20 years too late, it was starting to feel a bit more like an obligation and that’s not a great place to be. I’ll keep Sunstreaker, and will gladly buy Sideswipe, and any cassettes or Dinobots they offer up but I just can’t justify starting another sub-collection.

Speaking of which; I’ve got my plan for slowing down my collecting, which is come up with a list of 10 ‘exceptions’ then stop buying everything unless it’s on that list. The ten is quite easy at the moment: Metroplex, Broadside, Defensor, God Ginrai, Road Caesar, Omnibots, Throttlebots, Thunderclash, Skyquake and Grandus. The more tricky part is if in the next couple of years we get any of those then I need to pick replacements. The replacement list is: Lego Baxter Building, Lego Wayne Manor, 1996 Maximals, Diaclone repaints, G2 Sureshot, G2 Archforce, Thunderwing, Mayhems (Octopunch and Stranglehold), Headmaster Jnrs, Targetmasters, Powermasters, Flamebots, Triggerbots, and Transmetals (Depthcharge and Rampage). I’ve got a couple of years though! (And maybe could cheat a little by grouping a little.)

It’s the end of the year! Eek. It’s been a fairly average year for Transformers, finished a couple of subgroups but nothing that really stands out in Generations. Devastator and Superion were better than expected but not amazingly exciting. My favourite has been Missing Link Sunstreaker - can’t resist a Lamborghini, especially a yellow one. I think the year has been mainly about Marvel Legends though - it has given me just about everything I wanted (I might have said this before): Chameleon, Ms. Marvel and Shanna at the start of the year, and Triton and Werewolf by Night to finish (Gorgon sadly bumped to next year). Plus Yellowjacket and Shuma Gorath in the middle who is my favourite figure for the year - it’s a six armed green inter dimensional creature with a posable eye, what’s not to like?! As well as the aforementioned trio, I also got a new Iceman and Gladiator. I can’t see myself getting too many more Legends figures next year (not really anything on the leak list) but I’ll definitely enjoy what I’ve got now.

I’ve managed to stick to a proper budget this year - partially from selling, but also from almost entirely avoiding buying on eBay. I had a list of planned purchases which I really stuck to, the exceptions have primarily been Marvel Legends and McFarlane Mortal Kombat (which we only found out about this year). My aim is to carry on with this approach next year, though I haven’t got quite so much to sell.

Happy Christmas everyone!!!

Insecti-dones

Looking at my preorders/expected spending for 2026, and whilst it’s down on 2025 (ignoring selling), it’s not gone down quite as much as I expected. That said, it seems 2026 will be the end for a lot of the things I’m collecting (with the notable exception of Transformers). Ghostbusters and Streetfighter will be done. Lego minifigs look like they’ll be done. Lego builds, there’s a couple of potential things I would buy, but who knows if or when they’ll do them. Marvel Legends will be done in terms of ‘really want’ (there will be still be a few things I would happily buy - blue Angel, non powered up versions of Human Torch and Iceman, and a Thorbuster armour). Star Wars black and vintage are pretty much done, but again a couple of bits I would buy (Saesee Tiin). I don’t really know what’s happening with Mortal Kombat but if they’re focusing on MKII then there’s not too much. Non-transforming Transformers stuff I’ll be done once I get plush Swoop. It’s at the point where I wouldn’t be too worried if any of the lines got cancelled. That just leaves a lot of actual Transformers wants!

Excitingly Evan from the Transformers team confirmed there were plans for Throttlebots at MCM! Amazing news. They are the figures that have been on my wish list the longest so it’s great to hear they should be along soon. Also, should celebrate a little about getting all the (deluxe) Insecticons as they were on my wanted list for a long time. Dug out some old photos, here they all are! Goldbug looks a little lonely, definitely needs his mates.

Anyway, have finished my Poison Ivy custom (again), I changed the hair, gave her green lips plus a bit more eye makeup. The base figure was perfect, but the head wasn’t (it was a fairy type character). Definitely an improvement but not completely sure I’m happy. I also made a Harley Quinn - bit more happy with her, eyes very tricky though. That’s all my Batman villain customs complete! For my other projects I did a round of mould making and resin casting, but they didn’t work out. I always find it a bit stressful in case it goes wrong. I’ve added two new projects to the original 16 to make 18, but over halfway through them now.

Got a bit more Kombat - Sub-Zero. To be fair, he looks great. I’ve been giving which characters to collect a bit more thought. With my 3.75” figures I went for a Mortal Kombat 2.5 lineup - mostly MKII, but including the MK3 cyber ninjas and my Jax custom has metal arms. So with my 7” lineup, it would make sense to do Mortal Kombat 1.5 - mostly MKI (but the characters have their MKII designs), I’ll include the new earth based characters from II (Jax, Kung Lao and Smoke), and the most important characters from a story perspective (Kitana and Shao Kahn - a little nod to the 1995 film). 15 characters in total (slightly more than Streetfighter!), of which they’ve done six. So I need nine more. Regardless, I could be tempted to get the next few two-packs to complete my set of backgrounds. Sorted!

Here’s Jax, who I’ve added a belt to and redid his back - I’ve added a bit of sculpting so the metal parts are raised. My art teacher would be very impressed - I remember him pressing upon me the importance of making 3D objects look 3D (somewhat ironic since when the actor who played Jax was in costume the metal bits were simply painted on).

I did my first transformers custom in over 10 years (not including making Misfire a bit more IDW accurate). Waver(ider)! Just a bit of painting, looks a bit rough in the photo as it’s so small but looks fine in person. Finally, a complete set of Masterforce pretenders. I think if I got most of the figures on my current wishlist I’d probably end up adding the ‘88 gang to it, especially as there’s so many subgroups. The ‘87 gang is one step closer to completion as preordered Sureshot  (as well as the next two Combaticons). There’s a little part of me thinking about the Dr Wu Overkill and Slugfest just to properly finish it off. Okay, fine I’ll order them……

(Quite the improvement over the last third party ones I had!) I finally assembled Superion and Devastator. Actually pretty happy, they are to blame for such an expensive couple of months! Just need Defensor. Retro Brawn and Seaspray arrived, they look great. Just need Windcharger and Powerglide to wrap up the ‘84/‘85 Minibots (and Swerve, Tailgate and Outback for ‘86). If we could wrap up triple changers (Broadside and Octane) as well then as well as Metroplex that’s all the redos I want done.

And that wraps up Transformers for the year! Unless I suddenly have a wobble on something that’s done. Still plenty of Marvel Legends to come, starting with Shuma Gorath. He’s Gargantuan(os)…… he looks great, I’ve got him on my desk and I can’t stop looking at it (I think it’s giving me the eye), possibly my favourite figure of the year!

Back in custom land

I got the Marvel Legends Mandarin set. I understand why they’ve changed the design for the Mandarin character, plus my main reference for him is the MCU so it makes sense, but maybe they could have come up with something so he looks less like Tony Stark?! (Also, there still seems to be a rumour for a retro release, I wonder if that could be a cartoon version?)

I got the final two Constructicons, I really like them! After a KO G1 set, an actual G1, Classics, Crazydevy, Maketoys Giant and Combiner Wars, I’m done. Unless they want to do a set in Diaclone colours, or redeco half of them as the Autobot double Targetmasters! But Decepticon Devastator wise, I’m done.

Retro Outback looks great (got a preorder in for it and Windcharger).

I’ve made a list of custom projects I’m going to work on. There’s Mortal Kombat, Transformers, Batman, plus a bit of Marvel and ‘other’. 16 projects, and I’m determined to finish them, then I think that will be it for me with customs. I’ll keep my paints just in case there’s something in the future, but otherwise I want to wind it down a bit in terms of stuff that I keep in storage for potential projects. I’ve just about finished working on Goro then I’ll work on Shao Kahn, and that will be MKI and MKII all done to a standard I’m happy with (hopefully!). Here is how Goro and Kintaro are looking together.

Speaking of Mortal Kombat they showed off pictures of the upcoming 2-packs - Liu Kang and Raiden are in their P2 colours. Bastards. I’m well onboard with Sub-Zero with ice arms, think I’m okay with Scorpion with blood stains, and think I’m okay with Reptile with clear legs, but Liu Kang and Raiden I’m going to need the single packs. Bastards. I’m not too bothered about the accessories, but for the ninjas they add quite a lot. Ordered Liu Kang off Amazon so got him first (quite appropriate I guess as he’s the main character). Looks pretty decent, slightly grumpy about the 7” scale but otherwise all good. That said, I feel like I don’t need too many figures at this scale - although I’ve ordered Kitana and Mileena, I’m not sure I need all the MKII characters - the ten MKI characters would be quite a nice amount. Also got my preorders in for Scorpion, Raiden and Reptile. I reckon the next wave will be two from Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, Jax, Baraka and Kung Lao - but they will fill out the two packs with Smoke, Noob and Jade as needed. My prediction would be Johnny and Baraka. (Also, each 2-pack has two backgrounds, there are four not seen yet - suggesting two more 2-packs before they run out.)

(Also got preorders in for the much better Jada figures - Balrog and Akuma.)

Mondo Peter Venkman arrived after several delays. Very glad to finally have a Real Ghostbusters figure, but wow, what a price tag for a 6” figure. I feel like Super 7 were the gateway drug - I was paying Marvel Legends prices, then suddenly Super 7 came along with Turtles and Thundercats and almost doubled the price. But I figured for a handful of figures (just wanted the core team), it was okay. Same logic, but another doubling of the price. Peter does at least come with Slimer so won’t be paying for him individually like Snarf with Thundercats. (And Ray comes with a mini Marshmallow Man so I think I’m okay there as well.) The trap with ghost is a tremendous accessory though.

NYCC Marvel Legends, the remaining two Inhumans and Werewolf by Night! Wow. Gorgon seems to be fairly huge for some reason in some promo pictures although less so in the packaged images. With the rumoured Doc Samson, the only other character I really need is Yellowjacket and so I ordered the 2007 figure. It has the old style hips, but is actually pretty solid - mostly I think because you can’t see his eyes so it’s not that obvious from the top half that it’s an older figure. Plus I very much like the idea of being done (ish). What incredible reveals. I also put in a preorder for Secret Wars Iceman, I wish it had a bit of blue but it does look remarkably ice like. Also preordered Werewolf by Night, Triton and Gorgon.

Have been busy with the customs, I’ve got everything laid out so giving everything a bit of thought and actually making some progress. Painted Voldemort’s cloak (it was green) and whitened his face a little. I made a custom Ra’s Al Ghul. It’s Doctor Strange wearing a suit, quite happy with my beard work if not the smoothness of the paint. (Said Doctor had wonky eyes to start so had to repaint those as well.) Also finally made a hammer for Ronan - it was actually from a cheap movie Ronan figure I picked up from the time of the first Guardians film. Not strictly a custom but I also managed to find a sword for my Surtur custom (I’m not actually sure where I stored Surtur so it might be a while before he can try it out for size), Johnny’s helping out though.

I also went back to the Bane figure I did in 2016 - I made custom knees since the upper leg is from a Hasbro Marvel figure (Ares) and the lower leg is from Mattel Multiverse (Bane). I never actually added the pins so I did that plus painted the skin better - it had something of a dodgy wash to it. It doesn’t look much different in the photo but it does feel like an improvement.

I painted the MK3 (cyber) ninjas. I think it’s an improvement - a bit of battle damage makes a bit of sense, so I used a black wash before a bit of dry brushing. I made Cyrax’s paint a bit more vivid. They’ve all got a bit of metallic paint in the mix I used although that doesn’t really show in the photo.

Venom and the last two Aerialbots arrived. I really like Venom, he’s got funky colours and completing the deluxe Insecticons feels like a milestone (it wasn’t that long ago that they were always on my wishlists). So unless they care to have a stab at the Diaclone recolours, I’m done with Insecticons. I’m also done with Aerialbots, although if anyone (nonnef) fancies a crack at a more toy accurate Superion head then I’d be interested. For me the weakest part of the set is the individual headsculpts, I mean I guess they’re achieving what they’re trying to do I’m just not a fan. Not a problem though as they’re going to stay as Superion for the foreseeable. That said, I have quite got round to combing them yet (not Devastator for that matter).