Hasbro Transformers Titans Return Chromedome

I actually was planning to review Chromedome on my own, but Quinncat over at CollectionDX had one that covered all the bases.

My additional observations:

The IDW head really is the icing on the cake, and will probably make you want to get the new rewind figure to make up the Conjunx Endura pairing. Other than that, I love how the colors of chromedome in figure form gives it a Diaclone vibe. Sadly, the cockpit size of teh headmaster makes for a really big Seat, if you use the Dia-Nauts. It works if you think, as a friend said, that the Headmasters are over-sized extended power suits for the Dia-Nauts (thus marrying the two lines neatly, in headcanon).

Link for CollectionDX review: http://www.collectiondx.com/toy_review/2016/chromedome

Optimus Primal: Kong-errific!

Admittedly, I never liked the idea of having Transformers turn into animals - there's a bit of techno-organic horror there, probably because I grew up with stuff like Cordwainer Smitth's Instrumentality, where cyborg Scanners had horrible lives as people cut off from their own bodies, and interfacing with them through their implanted mechanics.

Still, this is one amazing toy. I like how they had the fur effect printed on the plastic, and how solid it looks overall. Optimus Primal is definitely the big gorilla of the MP line.

Article and photo from CollectionDX:
http://www.collectiondx.com/toy_review/2016/convoy_aka_optimus_primal

Mecha and Bricks

Hello all!

Most of my friends know I'm a person who's into a lot of different things.

My day job has me developing mobile applications for Android and iOS.  I also play bass for the alternative band Blue with Envy

As a self proclaimed geek I've gone through collectible card games (top ranked in asia for the late lamented VS), video games, books and various other geek pursuits.

As for Gundam I first got introduced to it via an unsubbed pirated betamax copy of Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories way back in 1992.  Before that I was huge fan of giant robo like Voltes V, Daimos, Mazinger Z and Mekanda Robot.

Before I got into gunpla I was heavy into scale modelling particularly jets from the 70s and 80s.  I was also a big fan of Lego. In fact my favorite toy was my large collection of Lego toys that started when my parents first gave me a set when I was 3 way back in 1978.

My first gunpla was an old 1/144 Wing Zero Gundam pictured below:

Picture from: http://joesgunpla.blogspot.com/2010/09/1144-wing-gundam.html

So I managed to get a couple of kits with a lot from the Seed series as well as the Double 00 mechas.  Along the way there were also a few from Macross Frontier.

But sometime in 2010 I was able to come across a few small sets of Lego on sale and it rekindled my obsession with the little plastic bricks.  Come 2011 I had to pick one hobby to maintain and Lego had won out.  Lego and other bricktoys have been more of an obsession of mine than gunpla ever was. It was put to a stop when I was in highschool and robbers broke into our old house in Muntinlupa.  We woke up before they were able to make off with our stuff but they did snatch my big box of Legos.  

With the burgeoning industry in China of lego-like toys and the amount of tie ups Lego had with other intellectual property like Star Wars, Marvel and DC Comics, it was a great time to get back into the toy that I most love.


Here are some examples of Lego and various brick toys:

Lego Minifigs retro robots

Hasbro Kre-O Transformers

Sluban Red Flamingo Transformable Fighter

But leaving Gunpla for Brick toys did not mean I would also leave my liking for Gundam because of stuff like this all over the intarwebz:


Lego V Gundam:

Image from: http://ravenrepublic.net/2010/02/11/most-awesome-lego-mech-ever/

And here's the original Japanese site: Lego V2 Gundam

Even Macross's legendary co-creator Shoji Kawamori uses Lego bricks to explore some of his mecha designs as chronicled here.

Image from: crunchyroll.com

So eventually I want to be able to build this:

Lego Macross Valkyrie that actually transforms

Image from: http://kotaku.com/macross-robotech-lego-that-transforms-i-can-die-now-473075192

Or this:

But for now I have to content myself with mecha kits from Lego and Chinese manufacturer Star Diamond like:

Star Diamond Super Blocks Deformation Soldiers

Lego Chima

I will be posting my reviews of Lego and brick toy mecha sets in these pages for the foreseeable future.  If you are interested in more Lego and brick toy reviews you can also check my brick toys blog: Brick Stories.


Until the next time!

*click here for more Lego articles

Toys: Darth Tater - Together we shall rule as Father and Spud!

Okay, this is quite possibly one of the quirkiest items my partner and I have collected.

It's from Hasbro's Playskool brand, and it's a Star Wars tie-in: DARTH TATER. It's basically a Mr. Potato Head with a set of Darth Vader parts.

It's so cute - and to be honest, what I find most amusing is that it's wearing black sneakers, haha!

*If you look at the item in the Playskool shop link, you'll notice that it's particualrly different from mine - I guess it's a different run for here in Asia? I also had different packaging, aside from a different sculpt of the Darth Vader parts and having no cape.

**EDIT/UPDATE: I've apparently lost the cape, somehow. BOO. Must make new, snazzier cape.