Some Acquistiions and IDW Trailcutter

Some recent acquisitions from a local seller.

IDW Trailcutter, ehobby Tigertracks, Million Publishing 2013 magazine, Ultraman Ace (my favorite ultraman since childhood!), Unique Toys Ironhead (not Headstrong) and Savagebull (not Tantrum).

Quite a few stuffs to talk about, i'll start with the simplest (in my terms), Trailcutter.

A deluxe size figure that comes along with an IDW comic. The cover of the comic serves as the Artwork for the card. in other words the card is plain. Didn't take a photo of the card though.

Instruction sheet is huge, unlike the usual deluxe figure tiny sheets where you have to strain your eyes. This one here, you can use the instruction sheet comfortably.

Some random pages of the comic.

Alternate car (SUV) mode. Somehow, i still miss those rubber wheels from G1 cars. Without rubber, cars nowadays can't roll half as well as their G1 counterparts. Ha! Newer and younger doesn't mean you're better! G1s are like more than 30 years now!

Light piping works well, when the head is not looking straight. When straight, the light is actually blocked by the launcher behind....what a pity.

Bot mode. Overall build is quite okay. I find the shoulders a tat too broad, but not a big complaint. G1 resemblance? Yes. See how the light is blocked from the light piping when the head is straight?

The rear canopy of the SUV is used as a battle shield for the bot mode. 

Overall, the figure is cool. Nice transformation. I like it. Nice toy to play with, nice toy for display.

As a handsome G1 face. Hasbro/TakaraTomy probably didn't think that light piping would be much of a concern...but they are wrong. If there's light piping light should be allowed to go through.

Hey, nothing's PERFECT!

Boton 2013 Machine Wars Starscream

This year's Botcon Attendee Exclusive figure, Machine Wars Starscream.

Here's the vintage Machine Wars Starscream...

As mentioned, this figure is given free to all Botcon Attendee, and me of course could not attend and therefore had to turn to ebay for this piece. Why? By now most should have known that i'm a Starscream slut. Except for Movie starscream, i would love to acquire every piece of Starscream out there...but i started too late...but that's besides the point, let's take a look at this Botcon 2013 Exclusive.

Like most Botcon figures, it comes in the double plastic bag, no box, the name of the figure on the outer bag.

Releasing the figure from its plastic prison...using the same mold as Hunt For The Decepticon (HFTD) Terradive, basically just a recolor...butthen again, which Botcon figure isn't?

This mold was also used for the TFCC club figure, Depthcharge.

I had one sent to me as a sample even though my membership with TFCC had expired. Strange.

Here are the shots of the black plane...

As you can see from the shot below, the weapon/axe/fork, whatever you call it,  is in lime green color, which matches the missiles of the vintage Machine Wars Starscream...they are all in lime green...

Bot mode. Color scheme wise, is very similar to that of the vintage Machine Wars Starscream. Don't blame for keep harping of the similarities to vintages...i'm a sucker for vintages!!

Headshot...not exactly a handsome piece....but i can understand. The mold was from HFTD which is a line of the Transformers movie...and generally, the head sculpts from the show are hideous!

Starscream holding his own Biocard.

Quite like the color scheme for this piece. But....in terms of mold, this has to be the bottom 5.

My most hated starscream mold would be Alternity Starscream. (yes, it SUCKS!) 

Fall Of Cybertron (FOC) Metroplex.

The highly anticipated Metroplex, the biggest Transformer ever!

Yes, Metroplex is slightly taller than Fortress Maximus.

The box is 1/3 smaller than Fort Max. No styrofoam, replacing it is the crappy cardboard tray.

Guess Hasbro didn't put in much effort in the packaging for this fella.

The right arm is dismantled and packed into the small tray. The space in the cardboard tray is really maxed out. they used every little gap they could use.

But on any day, i would welcome a big TF toy!

 Horizontal Boxart on the front fo the box.

 Veritcal back of the box.

 The sides....

The top and bottom.

 Mugshot of FOC Metroplex....

 Scamper with Metroplex...

 Playability is quite good, having 3 modes...The added "new age" articulation is also welcomed.

G1 version of metroplex is well represented here. 

Scamper in bot mode.

 Scamper in alternate mode.

 Put in 02 x AA batteries and the eyes and chest light up along with sounds.

 The instruction sheet is also Titan Class...I find this quite wasteful. Metroplex, whether G1 or FOC, is easy to transform and is very direct. there are no need for instructions, needless to say a titan class one...

 Sticker sheet and sticker instructions are also titan class.

 A size comparison with TFC Hercules....half the size...

 The battle station mode or as the instruction syas Vehicle mode.

 CIty mode.

 In this case, the Fort Max city mode is actually better than FOC Metroplex. For fort max, there is a lift where you can bring a small car up and another button to fire the car out of the cabin. For FOC Metroplex, there is only 1 slide. and the lights.

 Kiddo playing with Metroplex city mode.

As i've mentioned earlier, big TFs are more than welcome. Then comes the headache...where are you going to display him? Box is easy but the bot, to put him on display mode in some fancy poses, space is what you need. Please think carefully of where you are housing him...otherwise if you buy him and keeps him in he box....how sad....

Playability-wise, i would prefer Fort Max. Lights and Sounds add some points for Metroplex but still, toys are all about playability so Fort Max wins.