TOY SALE From Mr R!

Friends and fellow bloggers,

I have decided to thin some ranks on my shelves and do some Fall cleaning.  I'm posting a whole bunch of sales on my ebay site and have included a bunch of newer Transformers (Universe/Classics), all my carded Bucky O Hares, some complete TMNT figs, go bots, Joe vehicles, Happy Meal Stuff (Muppets, Berenstain Bears, Bambi, Changeables) gobots, minimates, exo-squade and MUSCLE men and MOTU.  Most of this stuff is in lots FYI.  Take a look!  These will be going all week.

It could all be yours :)

If you see anything that wasn't listed, feel free to ask.



If a couple items catch your eye, I'm up for a combined offer as well.

Here's the link: Give it a click! http://www.ebay.com/sch/adamr1816/m.html?item=271081405252&pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item3f1db5fb44&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Hasbro 2012 Speeder Bike Review - Movie Heroes

 

I'm going to wrap up my weekend with a review of one of my favorite Star Wars vehicles from the series.  You can even test my love as the classic version  was my absolute first toy review.  This is a fine number I found at my local TRU today which almost put me in shock to see something new at Toys R Us!  Low and behold,  it's the new Speeder Bike from the movie heroes line.

I really must say, this is something that gets Hasbro way out of the hole with me (for now). Shortpacks and understocking aside, this is a great example of the company really delivering on exquisite detail and amazing touches of craftsmanship from start to finish with this model.

 

 

As much as I love the classic...

 

It comes in a very nice and compact package with a great image of a Scout on the front along with a clear plastic window showing the toy in an action stance with a nice forest scene in the background. It has a very adequate scene of the toy highlighting its various features on the back along with the pack in tri-pod cannon. 

 

 

Once out of the box, I was able to get a better look at this awesome vehicle. It is a totally spot-on brand new molded version of the Speeder Bike from return of the Jedi. If you want something that looks like the real deal, this is it. Every little issue or problem from the earlier Kenner and Power of the Force versions and later repacks is fixed. The clunky pedals, the weird upwards hand controls, the "exploding" feature; all gone and fixed. This now has movie-accurate pedals and sideways hand controls. The exploding feature and spring controlled exhaust flaps are gone and replaced with sturdy, connected adjustable flaps that you can position however you want. There also is a two pieced clear stand that hooks into the back of bike to make it look like it's flying.

 

 

 

There is a nice opening engine compartment that's a totally new feature. If you examine the undercarriage's tubing, it's actually made of rubber to simulate the feel of the cables! It's so nice to see them find things to add to such an iconic mainstay vehicle that's been made and remade for three decades.

 

  There also is a nice three-legged cannon that reminds me of the Imperial tri-pod cannon from the 1980 Empire Strikes Back (Mini-rigs). It's a decent feature that can be made into a mobile attack weapon that attaches to the bottom of the speeder for customization. 

 

2012 on the left / 2010 on the right

Included with the bike and cannon is an additional Biker Scout figure who is a brand new remold with broader legs to sit on the bike better. I checked with the Original Trilogy Collection figure I have (who is a lot more detailed paint wise) and he fits on the bike almost as good. In addition to the broad legged stance and ball jointed hips, he also has a double ball jointed nice so his head can be positioned perfectly for riding the speeder.

If you can find this vehicle, buy it!  Totally worth it and an amazing display piece.

League Assignment: State of the Site

PROGRESS REPORT TIME FROM COOL AND COLLECTED!

Write a “State of the Site” for your web site. How’s it going? What exciting things have happened this past year? Where do you want your site to be in a year’s time?

My fellow bloggerssssss....

Upon a closer evaluation of my site, I've been thinking a lot more about future plans.  Ultimately, I want to keep my posts frequent (no month offs like this past month)  and stay on top of reviewing older items from my collection besides the newer stuff that comes out that everyone seems to be reviewing.  I'll still do that too but honestly, a great deal of my outside-the-league traffic comes from people looking at older Joe vehicle or Kenner Star Wars reviews or my ramblings on 8-bit video games. 

The Tomahawk is coming verrrry soon!

That said, I want to figure out how to streamline the site a bit better...I look at places like Rediscoverthe80's, Flywheels, Cal's Canadian Cave of Cool and Shezcrafti and they blow me away for each of their own different reasons.  I want to figure out how to categorize my stuff by brands, eras and genres.  Maybe start taking steps for video reviews so I can start promoting on a Youtube account as well.  (If anyone knows how to do this stuff and wants to help a brother out, I'm all ears!) Really, I don't know if anyone relates but blogging about this stuff helps me legitimize my collecting hobby so much more to everyone I know.  (including myself in some cases)   It really makes people look at it in a whole new light by seeing the organization, the research and time that goes into it.   I feel like I get way more fulfillment out of my items too by taking that extra time to shoot, correct, write and research each item or subject and often I find out so much additional information further educating myself on these great topics.

See anyone you like?  Ask for a review!

Actually since my last post, I took a step to better organize the site by reformatting all of my topics by giving new, more focused labels and listed the label system on my gadgets bar so readers can better streamline their experience by pinpointing my specific areas of interest be it G1 Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars or League Assignments such as this one.  All in all, I'm super pleased with the direction the site's been heading since I started it in March of this year and I'm pumped that I'm nearing the 10,000 hits mark... Woo hoo!  To think this started as a political blog that absolutely nobody read, transitioned to a cblog on Destructoid.com that very few people read to my blogspot pop culture/toy site that apparently way more people are reading.  To all of you reading, thank you.  To all of you who I read, I love your stuff and you inspire my posts every day.

Speaker of those I read... check out these sites of quality.

Memories of Toymorrow!
Rediscover the 80's! Happy birthday, btw!
Crooked Ninja Turtle Gang!
LasVegasYankee!   Welcome!

G1 fun! News and state of the collection!

There's just a ton of things I'd like to speak of regarding those who are more than meets the eye.

 

I was able to grab 4 targetmasters over the past weekend: Sunbeam and  Zigzag (still in the mail) for Needlenose (whose main bot I'm yet to get)  and Hairsplitter and Singe for Spinister who I was able to complete.  Honestly, there's nothing quite like the feeling of putting that last piece into place in an action figure set.  I get this feeling as I find one more piece of Jetfire's armor, that last helicopter blade for my Joe Tomahawk, the top glass bubble for Jabba the Hutt's playset.   It's just so fulfilling!

 

 So beyond finding these awesome little Targetmasters (whom I am liking more and more) I also was able to find Onslaught, Motormaster, Blades and Groove for very fair prices.  Although I will be looking for some better reprolabels off transformerkingdom.com if I can get around to it because, especially among the protectobots, they look pretty shot.  (I'll show them off once they are cleaned up and look a bit more presentable)  I'm also going to have to bite the bullet and invest in another decent sized shelf for the growing G1 collection...as of now I have 3 small shelves and a table top mostly for Joe vehicles that is sharing every free inch for Seeker Jets, Sky lynx, clones, Blaster and so forth.




A modern day excalibur...he will be mine...oh yes.

Beyond the nice additions to the collection, I saw the news regarding a whole mess of awesome G1 encore, masterpiece and reissue news over at BBTS.  First and foremost, Fortress Maximus will be getting an import re-release complete with massive Japanese Sword for 329.99 if you're willing to wait on longer shipping!  (the express will run you 399.99 but hey we've waited more than 2 decades for a re-release so what's a few more weeks especially if it'll shave 70 dollars off the price-tag?)  I'm all over this Holy Grail item and I cannot believe this is a reality...(my thinking is it he can be remade, what is stopping Scorponok, Trypticon, the Terrordrome, the USS Flagg???)   Hey, he IS a headmaster too so maybe we'll get a shot at scoring some more of those great figures as well?  Well, beyond that great news, commemorative Soundwave with laserbeak and ravage is available now for 59.99 and Optimus Prime is available for 69.99. I'm thinking about both since I only have the encore Soundblaster for now and Soundwave is one of my faves. 



Also, if your interested in the Masterpiece Soundwave who still is on preorder, Takara wasted no time at all getting two sets of masterpiece cassettes out including Ravage and Rumble along with Buzzsaw and Frenzy Blue (show accurate) Rumble with amazing articulation and range of movement! All the better to fill the cassette deck that can hold three stong, I'm hearing.  I can only guess that Masterpiece Blaster isn't too far away now since we've unlocked the gates of players and cassettes.  Btw, theres a new black Convoy Optimus Prime editon on its way in March as well.  Frick'n sweet to see so much G1 love!

 

BS05 Eredoramu and BS06 Long Tsurafu Takara Beast Saga Figure Impressions and more related Battle Beasts news

 

Got home yesterday from work to the lovely sight of  a Bigbadtoystore box sitting on the porch.  I went in on a joint order with my buddy (whose G1 and He-man collection I featured in my Skywarp review) who got the commemorative Seacon reissue set, I grabbed two of the new Beast Saga figures and a used G1 Onslaught Figure.  I had my eye on the Takara edition of revitalizing the Battle Beast line.  It's actually been a good year for these little guys as numerous companies have been throwing their hats in the ring; be it Takara, Diamond Select or Glyos. I picked out the two current releases who by far looked the most appealing.

 

 

 The elephant  (BS05 - Eredoramu) and giraffe (BS06 - Long Tsurafu) were my two favorites so they were the ones I went with. These look like the contemporary upgrades to the original Battle Beasts "Sledgehammer Elephant" and "Rubber-neck Giraffe" respectively.   I have been seeing less than enthralling reviews of this new line over the past few weeks and I just don't see what the issue is. I really like everything about these guys from the realistic sculpts to the intricate artwork on the packaging. They come with a super detailed card and a pair of red and blue dice which can be launched from their chests to play into the more gaming side of the figures and franchise.   They have expertly designed little bone-like animal icons on the dice along with a set of number values to play the card game. Not my cup of tea but I think the chest piece designs work in lieu of the original hologram elemental rub-signs as there is translucence and luminescence which results giving a cool effect.   They come included with a edged weapon and shield (a bit too small in my taste) but it was refreshing to see the weapons received individual unique sculpts.

The paint detailing on the specific parts of these figures is a major part where the care shows through.  You can really see this on the skin patterns of the giraffe and on the elephant tusks and the cannons on his armor however I would have liked to see a more weathered look them.  One thing many reviewers and fans alike pointed out beyond the lack of rub signs was the lack of the monochromatic eyes as these figures have pupiled eyes.  This doesn't seem like all that big a deal for me although I noticed the Diamond Select Battle Beasts stayed true on the eyes.  Nothing makes an anthropomorphic animal warrior look ten times more badass than white slit eyes...I mean compare the Eastman Ninja Turtles to the animates...no question, right?  Another difference is the size because compared to the originals, they are bigger and bulkier with the added armor and newly articulated (and interchangeable) legs.  This makes little difference in pose-ability because they pretty much can just stand up straight. Overall: They are sweet new editions to an awesome 80's franchise and I cannot wait to grab the Alligator, Turtle, Kangaroo and Rabbit (to name a few) when theyroll out.

Speaking of the Diamond Select figures due out in what I'm hearing now is January of 2013.  I just saw some pretty impressive shots from the Battle Beasts facebook page and boy do they look a lot nicer than the SDCC peeks.   A shot of a new bat figure made it out and it is told he will be a TRU exclusive paired with a moose figure as yet unseen.  I know I made some less than flattering early impressions on this line but I gotta say, I'm throwing my hat behind them again.  The walrus, scorpion, snake, and hawk look pretty cool too especially not next to the human figures.   Also for anyone heading to NYCC for Saturday Sunday this weekend, Ulysses Farinas will be there to sign some Battle Beasts comic prints should anyone be interested.  (I went on his website and saw a cool as hell Cobra troopers print he's working on...love that fine, detailed, Geof Darrow style for any Rusty and Big Guy fans out there)  My buddy is heading there and (praying to God) might be able to snag me a signed print.

Could this be Diamon Select's answer to "Blitzkrieg Bat"?