X-Transbots MX-II Andras Review

X-Transbots Andras

X-Transbots have been facing a rising tide of criticism with each release drawing more and more concerns over poor quality control. I reviewed Ollie yonks ago, and quite liked him but there were so many problems with that poor fella that it put me off buying more X-Transbots figures. I handled Apolloyon, but when I'm too scared to transform a toy because a hinge looks like it is dying to snap - I know it's not for me.

The latest figure in their line of Masterpiece styled transforming robots is Andras, a name which calls to mind the final boss from Starwing rather than a Blue Space boat called Scourge. Andras is intended to be a fresh start for X-Transbots, a heads up that they have gotten all of their production problems under control and it's all a thing of the past.

But does it live up to that promise? Can it win people over?

The kind folks over at TFs Express have sent along a production sample of X-Transbots Andras for us to take a look at, and see if we can answer the many questions hanging over it.
So click below to see the full review.

FansToys FT-12 Grenadier Review

FansToys have become the go to company for third party versions of Masterpiece styled Transformers of late, with slavish recreations of G1 characters that we have not seen official releases for, with a level of accuracy that almost no other third party has been able to achieve. Yet somehow, this is only the first figure of theirs that I have owned?

Fans Toys FT-12T Grenadier (to give him his full name) dropped through the post the other week and finally gave me the Insecticon presence on my Masterpiece shelf that I have craved for so long. The Insecticons were a special group of toys to me as a child, with their own distinctive style and the fact they looked quite like their television counterparts.

So does Grenadier live up to the job of Insecticons mad scientist?

Continue after the jump to see the review

Perfect Effect PC-04 Pefect Combiner Menasor upgrade kit review

Perfect Effect PC04 Combiner Wars Menasor upgrade kit

Wahey, I'm back, dusting off the blog and resurrecting it from the dead (it wasn't dead). It has been a quiet month or two of toy buying- much to the delight of my bank account. Now things seem to be rolling again in the "Liam likes this enough to buy it" stakes, so there is probably going to be quite a slew of new articles on here as we hit November.
As Depeche Mode said - "I just can't get enough"

So what do we have here? An upgrade kit for Combiner Wars Menasor? Yikes.

Perfect Effect are the self appointed saviours of Combiner Wars. Busying themselves knocking out upgrade kits for each of Hasbro's combiners released thus far.

I reviewed the hands and feet sets here, and was not completely impressed by them. Then Perfect Effect moved away from the extremities and into the torsos of the first two Combiners with kits that didn't grab me for the longest time.

Clearly I have been swayed.

Hit the button below to see the full review

Combiner Wars Ironhide Review



Combiner Wars Ironhide and Prowl - ultimate badasses

Here we go again with another Combiner Wars figure, that is another repaint. It would be funny - if it was funny.
Combiner Wars Ironhide is a repaint of the excellent Off Road, who was retooled into First Aid , so this is our third release of this particular mold.

With a colour scheme based on the Generation One character, but a vehicle mode veering more towards the live action movies, have Hasbro succeeded in fusing all of the right elements into one small, deluxe sized, combining package?

Read on after the jump to find out

Past Plastic - Kenner Jurassic Park

Kenners Jurassic Park Toys

What better way to start an irregular series of articles than with one of the biggest, most enduring movies of all time about Dinosaurs eating people in a theme park. Yes, that's right pop the corks on your champagne bottles - I am starting a new feature, and kicking it off with Kenners Jurassic Park toy line.

Past Plastic will be an opportunity to take a look back at some vintage and revel in their nostalgia. Franchises such as Starcom, Transformers, M.A.S.K, Masters of the Universe, Thunderbirds Visionaries, TMNT, Batman:The Animated series and many others will make hopefully have their day.

I was obsessed with Jurassic Park. I was there opening night in a Jurassic Park T shirt and Baseball Cap and convinced my family to buy me as much merch as possible. Even stationary, because it had the logo bestowed upon it- so of course I needed it. So when Jurassic World came out, I was excited about all of the new merchandise that I would be able to buy. Even thought the movie is great, Hasbro sadly flopped at producing a decent toy line, I mean they gave us Velociraptor toys without their trademark claws.

So it inspired me to go back and take a look at some of the toys that were released by Kenner as part of the toy line that accompanied the original movie, and that kids around the world desperately emptied their parents wallets to snap up.

Hit the button below to read the article

Transformers Masterpiece MP-18B Bluestreak Review

Transformers Masterpiece MP-18B Bluestreak - orginal Geewunner

After 4 waves of Combiner Wars, a handful of new toys for cartoon show toy line that seems to be listening to its last rites, and a smattering of Masterpiece releases - the end of the year, and Christmas, is on the horizon.

Fitting then that, with Takaras latest Masterpiece MP-18B Bluestreak release, it is something of a special gift to a portion of collectors who have spent 30 years wondering about this particular design, and wanting to hold it in their hands in a manner akin Indiana Jones holding the idol.

MP-18B Bluestreak is based on the Blue sided design we saw on the original toys box and instructions, that became a school yard myth where there was always one kid claiming to own it - and cartoon accurate Skyfire.

Now Takara have given Bluestreak a fresh new outfit in the hope of satiating a vocal element of their fan base - and making a few pennies along the way. A Takara Tomy Mall exclusive in Japan, it is still tougher to get than the regular Masterpieces, but not as impossible as its progenitor.

Hit the button below to see if Masterpiece MP-18B Bluestreak lives up to the hype

Maketoys - RM-07 Visualizers Review

Maketoys Visualizers - hangin tough

Maketoys Visualizers - who are they? (that was my best impression of the old 1980's Milk advert)

Well, they are Reflector, or more specifically Maketoys crack at a Masterpiece Relfector. In case you don't recall, Reflector was a character in the original Transformers cartoon who merged from 3 robots into one handily sized camera.
A character largely ignored by everyone for the last 30 years, it seems third party outfits have cast their lovelorn eyes in his direction and intend to make it a summer of Reflector love.

Maketoys RE:Master line continues with its follow up to the incredible Cupola, but can Visualizers live up to the high standards that toy set?

Hit the button below to see the review.

Transformers Combiner Wars Prowl Review

Combiner Wars Prowl

Look, we have a Combiner Wars Prowl! Just like the comics...sort of...not really.

Before Devastator landed at Castle Soapbox, I was starting to suffer a bit from Combiner Wars fatigue. It is not that the figures are coming out at such a rapid pace, or boredom with the line - but it has become so repaint/remold heavy.

Prowl, for example, is the 4th use of this mold and is a straight repaint of Streetwise but with a lovely new noggin planted on his shoulders.

This line is like an addictive drug, that is the only way I can explain why I continue to buy so many repaints with a grin that the Cheshire Cat would wince at.


Hit the button below to see the Toybox Soapbox review of Combiner Wars Prowl

Transformers Combiner Wars Devastator Review

Combiner Wars Devastator - vintage giftset style

Combiner Wars Devastator then - it is actually a real thing. In my hands.

Originally I intended to split this review into two parts, but thought I'd walk on the wild side and just do it all in one go.
So many words and pictures, this will be the longest article I ever write - but it was so much fun playing with these figures.

Hit the button below to see the full Toybox Soapbox Combiner Wars Devastator review

Transformers RID 2015 Sideswipe Review

I like the idea of the new RID TV show, much more than I like the actual show. It is not bad, and I love that they have produced a lighter, more fun show where most of the episodes are fairly self contained.
That is a very G1 approach, and I am glad they have gone that way for the kids.

But I am not big into the show, or the toyline. This is only my second figure from the line, with Takaras Nemesis Prime being the other, and neither has been great.

This review is only happening because I was so taken with the alt mode, as otherwise it was not planned.

So yeah, read on

Maketoys RM01 Cupola Review (Masterpiece Chromedome)

The third party trend for weird names continues, this time with Maketoys Cup holder. Cuckold. Cupola...even.

According to Radio Free Cybertron it means "Dome" which is an interesting a way of getting around not actually being able to call him Chromedome for fear of Hasbros dusty legal hammer (seriously, at this point third party companies may as just well call them their legit names and whack the badges on there).

This is my first Maketoys product, as their other offerings have been a bit too stylised for my tastes and have not floated my boat. But this, as a childhood fan of the original Chromedome toy, I saw this and knew like Wayne Campbell, that she will be mine.
Or he.

Here we have their first figure in their RE:Master series, which is effectively them hoping onto the Transformers Masterpiece bandwagon and making themselves comfortable.

Click below to see if Maketoys Cupola lives up to the considerable hype

Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus Review

Hasbro have continued to whack out toys influenced by IDW with perhaps the strongest example so far - Ultra Magnus. A leader class figure, not only is his design lifted straight from the pages of More Than Meets The Eye ,but it is the first time since Generation 1 that Hasbro have produced an Ultra Magnus toy the way it should be - a car carrier that turns into a giant armoured robot.

Read on to see if Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus can live up to the hopes and dreams of millions of fanbots (like me)

Combiner Wars Legends Rodimus Review

Careering out of left field, here before us we have a Combiner Wars Hot Rod Rodimus figure. But instead of being a Deluxe limb, or a Voyager combiner torso (as his ego would demand) Hasbro have distilled his essence into a legends class figure.
Well, if by distilling they mean giving Blackjack a new head and paint job.

He even has that ridiculous axe....sort of thing.

Just before I get on with reviewing this fella, I haven't updated this blog much lately, as I have been busy writing two articles for the good folks over at Masterforce....and also socialising a little too much.

You can read my reviews of Boldforms Lonewolf here and Combiner Wars Cyclonus here if you want to pass some time.

Please do. Pretty please.

Continue on to the review

Combiner Wars Legends Reviews - Powerglide, Bombshell, Blackjack, Viper and Groove

One of the best things to come out of Combiner Wars, has been the rebirth of the Legends class figures. More akin to the old scout class in terms of size and complexity, though sadly not pricing, we have gotten updated versions of old favourites in some new and interesting ways.

I am going to take a look at my 5 favourite so far, in one rolled up all inclusive super post.

Hit the jump to read the review

*Soundtrack - Dusty Rhodes WWF theme - Common Man Boogie

Warbotron WB-03-A Turbo Ejector (Afterburner) Review

Hasbro may be knocking it out of the park with Combiner Wars, but that has not slowed the 3rd party combiner onslaught down even slightly.

Turbo Ejector then, it is Warbotrons take on a Masterpiece scaled Technobot Afterburner, and is the first release from what will eventually form their Computron.

I will admit now that I had no plans to buy this until it showed in Masterforces sale, but the price they had it on offer for was far too tempting.

Hit the button below to read the review, unless I have died under an avalanche of combiner themed toys.

(I haven't, so please hit the button)

Perfect Effect Perfect Combiner PC-01 & PC-02 Review (Combiner Wars Upgrades)

With Combiner Wars fever pitch running wild, it was inevitable that a 3rd party company would take on the task of improving the two things that Hasbro did not get completely right.
The hands, and particularly the feet.

Perfect Effect have beaten everybody else to the punch, and created a set that is transforms into weapons, so you don't have to just move them off to the side, or break your brain wondering where these bits go in a fictional world.

At £25 a pop (that number rockets up when converted into dollars), the price is not cheap, especially if you plan on buying multiple sets for each combiner.

Do they do a good job? Hit the button below to read on.

Transformers MP-21 Masterpiece Bumblebee Review

I started writing this review in the week before Christmas and New Year, and never got round to actually finishing it.
There have been so many other toys, especially with Combiner Wars ploughing ever onwards, that it kinda just got pushed further and further backwards.

It has always been in the back of my mind to finish, especially each time I login in and see "DRAFT!" screaming at me (it's not the only one), so I thought what the heck, lets get it done....5 months later.

Some time ago Takara released Masterpiece Bumble, or as we better know him - Bumblebee. This is his story (review).

Hit the button below to see the Masterpiece Bumblebee review.

Combiner Wars Streetwise and Blades Review

The final pair of deluxe figures from Wave 3 of Combiner Wars are Streetwise and Blades. One is an almost complete remold, whilst the other is straight repaint with a shiny new head plonked on top like an angry faced Angel upon the top of a Christmas tree.


To see the reviews of Combiner Wars Streetwise and Blades, hit the button below.

Transformers Adventure TAV13 Nemesis Prime Review

Not one to usually care for Black repaints of Transformers, I am not sure how I ended up purchasing this figure.
Well maybe I am, I like the new Optimus Prime design from RID as it looks futuristic and Star Convoy like. Then the teal hit me like a time bullet from 1992 with G2 etched onto the side.

A redeco of RID 2015 Optimus Prime in RID..whenever it was...Scourge colours- we have Nemesis Prime.

Hit the button below to continue with the review.

Combiner Wars Quickslinger and Brake-Neck Review

Even more Combiner Wars stuff, and this time it is the missing members of the Aerialbots of the Stunticons - Quickslinger and Brake-Neck!

Wait, that isn't their names, we are talking about Slingshot and Wildrider....right? Throughout this review, I will switch between their names-hopefully that will not confuse you too much.

Originally excluded from the Combiner teams line up, both were replaced with new characters who homaged them in some way. In Slingshots case, Alpha Bravo had a very Slingshot looking head, and in Wildriders case - Off Roads alt mode was in Wilderiders colour scheme.

Hasbro have finally relented to the demands of thousands of fanboys with repaints we all saw coming in some form, albeit most expected them to be from 3rd parties.
Relief.

These reviews will focus more on the differences to original versions of these molds. You can read Fireflys review here and Dead Ends here

Hit the button below to read the reviews of Quickslinger and Brake-neck.

Combiner Wars First Aid and Rook Review

Continuing my Combiner Wars wave 3 reviews, this time I am not just focusing on one figure - but two.

Here we have perennial Protectobot pacifist Ambulance type First Aid, and APC Hulk hand wielding newcomer - Rook.

Hit the button below to read the reviews

Transformers Combiner Wars Hot Spot Review

Rolling in to deal with the flames caused by the craziness of the Transformers Combiner Wars we have Voyager Protectobot Hot Spot.
As the combiner torso for Defensor, Hot Spot is one of the original Generation 1 gestalts, and a toy I believe most children of the 80's probably had.

Hasbro have finally relented, and for the first time since the 1980's issued a true, combining, update to the Lenor loving leader of the Protectobots - as a Voayger as part of Combiner Wars wave 3.

Hit the button below to see the full Combiner Wars Hot Spot review

Transformers MP-24 Masterpiece Star Saber Review

V!V!VIC-O-TORY!

Star Saber is of course, the star of Transformer Victory, one of the Japanese series that followed on from the Western G1 cartoon...sort of.
It featured some of the later toys that we got in the west like the Micomasters, but the Autobot leader, instead of being a Red truck, was a curiously Gundam-esque bright Red.White and Blue bot called Star Saber - who's toy did not get released in the west.

So here we are in the Back to Future 2 year of 2015. and Takara have deviated from the usual routine of keeping the Masterpiece line confined to characters from the first 3 seasons of the cartoon, and as a result of a fans vote we have got the incredible Masterpiece Star Saber.

You can probably gauge some of my opinions by the use of the word "incredible", but hit the button below to read the Masterpiece Star Saber review and see loads of pictures.

Transformers Combiner Wars Megatron Review

                 

Combiner Wars Megatron

For a character as important as Megatron, it is perhaps surprising that the Generation One incarnation of the character has had so few toys based on him.
Optimus Prime is iconic, as in virtually every iteration he is some form of Red and Blue truck.

Due to modern gun laws dictating that we will never see a replica hand gun version of Megatron again (Nerf gun style not included), Megatron has been everything from a hand gun, a tank, a stealth bomber, various alien jets & tanks to a flying hand.

So here we finally have a G1 style Megatron figure, with a Tank alt mode just like IDW or G2.

Is it all that we dreamed it would be? Hit the button below to see the full review and find out.

Transformers MP-23 Masterpiece Exhaust Review

Probably the most obscure Transformers character I have ever dipped into my wallet to purchase, Exhaust is a repaint of Masterpiece Wheeljack.

This time we have something a little bit more special though, as Masterpiece Exhaust is modern update of a Diaclone figure, based on the Marlboro version of the Lancia - previously know as "Marlboor" in Transformers fandom.

Exhaust has had a bit of rough time, with Phillip Morris Tobacco Company shutting down all sales by retailers outside of Japan, so it is quite lucky that I ordered mine from a Japanese store as soon as it was listed.

So now he has an official name, and a new toy which managed to avoid the clutches of the Tobacco industry - is it any good?

Hit the jump to behold the glory of Masterpiece MP023 Exhaust, or click here if you want a more in depth view review of the mold as Wheeljack