Stalking the Skies

Did a bit of a head swap on Medusa. Prefer the bodysuit look over the leotard, but the new headsculpt/hair sculpt is much much better.

Also did a bit of Transformers upgrading, popped a new noggin on Kup (again), no question it looks much better, and now he looks a little more alive. Also put some stickers on Sunstreaker. I think I’m finally happy with this figure now (having changed the head as well).

Winston arrived. I always thought he looked the coolest as a kid since he had the mint coloured jumpsuit. Thankfully no incorrect parts this time. The figures seem to be coming quickly now after a big old wait for Peter. The team is almost complete.

In a slightly unexpected arrival, the corrected Haslab RID Optimus Prime/Fire Convoy (cab only) arrived without notice. I finally transformed it into super mode. Okay, it’s pretty amazing. To my mind it’s beast wars (according to Takara and the Japanese Beast Wars mook). Works for me. A fine addition to my leaders collection, it also came with an Ultra Magnus. I like the Optimus super mode more than the Omega mode so that’s how it will stay. I think his gun looks like a hairdryer mind.

I’ve started to catch up on MCU TV stuff - watched Ironheart (enjoyed the science/magic dynamic) and Marvel Zombies (dark). All good fun. Am going to rewatch Black Panther 2 then watch the Eyes of Wakanda mini series. (Then Wonderman.)

Got a Star Wars VC figure for the first time in a few years - Shaak Ti - it’s been less than a year since I got the BS version.

News month! Or not. Preorders for Powerglide and Swerve. Good to get them lined up. Watched a Marvel Legends panel and….. nothing I’m interested in (or I already have those characters), which set the scene for Toy fair: McFarlane are doing a Johnny Cage (to be fair new moulds were also hinted at). Absolutely nothing else of interest. There was a briefly a chance of a Lego Marvel modular but it looks like it’s going to be a Helicarrier. Bruticus looks decent but in truth I’m hoping for a toy deco (Swindle is very yellow), and he’s going to need a third party gun. There was a Sunstorm name drop in the recap which was encouraging. I listened to a podcast about the Transformers news, and again just nothing for me. I better get used to this.

Still going with a bit of customising, though slow progress. Managed to slow myself further by realising I needed to buy some new paints. Anyway, got there eventually - Skystalker! To quote myself from March 2009 (after putting in an order for Universe Countdown): “It would be good have a Skystalker for him to face off against”. Finally managed it.

Finally, a couple of new (old) figures to finish the month, Brawl! It looks pretty great (and so it should for a deluxe masquerading as a voyager), but I do apparently need to sand a bit down. Looks good though. And also in a dirty shade of green, Abomination! I had a part swapped version of this figure before but the head and body match properly this time.

Inhuman New Year

2026 is going to be a good year for completing things. Inhumans, A:EMH (finale) Avengers, Ghostbusters, plush Dinobots, and hopefully Lego minfigs. Maybe a few other bits as well. I watched the latest leak video for Marvel Legends and there’s nothing new I want - still want Doc Samson and that’s it. Marvel Legends is now like Star Wars black series - just waiting for a couple more figures but otherwise I’m not really collecting it anymore.

The first step towards that is finally getting Gorgon to finish off the Inhumans (and Medusa, although I already had the Walgreens version). He is huge! Taller than the Hulk. I’d rather he was a bit smaller but he looks great. The Inhumans are complete!!!

My resolution for the year I think is more of the same - I did really well tracking my spending last year so will do the same again. Hopefully a few less unplanned bits though.

Starting the year off with….. an unplanned thing. Sky Byte! I’d heard good things about this one and it was at a price which is hard to say no to. But, I prefer the greater symmetry of the T30 version and then it dawned on me - T30 is closer to the Cyberverse version of the character, and so that’s the one I will keep. Should have listened to that little voice.

I started working on a new custom - started by using rubbing alcohol to remove some paint. Very tedious. This is actually the second iteration of my idea for this custom but found myself thinking about the first again, and so re-bought the original figure I got for it. Which then also needs paint removing and the old UV treatment. Custom has doubled in work required.

My first proper Transformer of the year is Windcharger. The blue/green is a bit cartoon-ish for me but it’s a nice figure, and the transformation is quite surprising - it all comes from the legs. Am sort of hoping they do a toy deco release in the carded retro line.

The best present I got for Christmas was the Lego Game Boy. I’ve not built anything quite like it before but a really impressive build. Looks the business!

Thinking about my future transformers wish list - I think I may just have passed a tipping point where (assuming Throttlebots and Grandus do actually happen), I’m more excited about the prospect of certain characters being redone in Generations rather than G1 characters that haven’t had an update yet. Thunderclash aside, the prospect of an updated God Ginrai, Metroplex, Broadside, Dai Atlas, Defensor and Predaking is where the excitement is.

Talking about excitement - Missing Link Grimlock! Looks great, immediately put in a preorder. Also preordered Abomination, hopefully it’s not too long until we hear about Doc Samson.

So not quite the cheap January I might have expected but a good start to the year.