All,
Please be informed that TCracker's Toy Ark has moved to the following URL:-
http://tcracker.textmalaysia.com/
There will be no more updates in this blog.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
2 years later...
Damn, real life and alot of things got the better of me, but hey I am posting this because ROTF is coming and I am really stoked!
Got the new leader Prime a few weeks back and I am on a roll. Damn, it feels good to be a Transformers fan again. I hope I will update as much as I can from now on :D
Reviews will be up soon!
Got the new leader Prime a few weeks back and I am on a roll. Damn, it feels good to be a Transformers fan again. I hope I will update as much as I can from now on :D
Reviews will be up soon!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Voyager Rescue Ratchet to Ironhide Kitbash
I had this crazy idea - Since G1 Ironhide and Ratchet shared the same mold, I decided to use the Rescue Ratchet mold and kitbashed it to Ironhide. I will be using the same head from the KO Landcross. I always hated the movie hands, they looked like insect pincers, so I substituted it with extra Gundam hands lying around my home office.
There were massive repaint activity buzzing around him and alot of detailing done on this Ironhide. Rest of the mold will remained the same more or less.
This was be a joint collaboration between me and a good friend of mine.
Here is some of the shots of I took on the preliminary modification stage.
A full day job and I was really pleased with the result.
First of all, MAJOR PROPS and CREDIT must be given to my friend Hakim for the extraordinary job he has done with the overall paint job for this Voyager Ironhide. He is one talented dude. I only did the modification and the detailing but the whole paint works was done by him singlehandedly and it is very impressive.
The toy was taken apart for primering and color coating.
Pre-painted the head to get the feel and look of the color.
The color used - Gunze Sangyo - Number 79 : Shiny Red
After the 1st coat of paint
DONE!
It took from 10am till 4pm for the paint works to be completed and a further 2 to 3 hours on my part to finish up with the detailing and the decals. We removed the front kangaroo bar and the stretcher cum weapon to give Ironhide a distinctive look, different from Rescue Ratchet.
Decals (water-based) were used from ther 1/144 Bandai Gundam decal series - cheat at RM16 for roughly 100+ decals.
Pictured together with my Rescue Ratchet (Kitbased the head and hands).
Side view
Let's Roll Out!
All in all a fruitful project and looking forward for more!
There were massive repaint activity buzzing around him and alot of detailing done on this Ironhide. Rest of the mold will remained the same more or less.
This was be a joint collaboration between me and a good friend of mine.
Here is some of the shots of I took on the preliminary modification stage.
A full day job and I was really pleased with the result.
First of all, MAJOR PROPS and CREDIT must be given to my friend Hakim for the extraordinary job he has done with the overall paint job for this Voyager Ironhide. He is one talented dude. I only did the modification and the detailing but the whole paint works was done by him singlehandedly and it is very impressive.
The toy was taken apart for primering and color coating.Pre-painted the head to get the feel and look of the color.The color used - Gunze Sangyo - Number 79 : Shiny RedThe compressor - the thing that made the whole project worked
After the 1st coat of paintDONE!It took from 10am till 4pm for the paint works to be completed and a further 2 to 3 hours on my part to finish up with the detailing and the decals. We removed the front kangaroo bar and the stretcher cum weapon to give Ironhide a distinctive look, different from Rescue Ratchet.
Decals (water-based) were used from ther 1/144 Bandai Gundam decal series - cheat at RM16 for roughly 100+ decals.Alt mode pics!
Pictured together with my Rescue Ratchet (Kitbased the head and hands).Side viewLet's Roll Out!All in all a fruitful project and looking forward for more!
Robot Replicas Optimus Prime
After acquiring RR BB in the previous post/review, I had high expectations for this "poor-man's" revoltech. Priced at RM50 per piece, it is definitely cheaper than original revoltechs (priced between RM80 to RM90 - depending on character and availability)
Unfortunately the next RR I bought was Barricade and it was total crap IMHO. Lousy joints and lack the already limited poseability of the RR BB. When I came across RR Op, I was quite skeptical after my lack my faith in Barricade.
Now to the nitty gritty. The PVC quality is the same with the other RRs. But what actually turned me over was the mold detail.
First of all, the detail on RR Op is miles better than RR BB and RR Barricade. The details on the head is awesome and it replicated the details of the movie Op nicely. The same goes for the rest of the detailing of the whole figure.
In terms of poseability, it might be no revoltech, but after the debacle with Barricade, I was surprised with the joints and poses thet he can pull off. I begin to wonder is this a RM50 toy? Not bad.....
RR OP comes with his Pulse Blaster that can be attached on his right arm. No gimmicks here, just an add on. But it comes around nicely.
Now for the bad.
The paint job on his head is HORRID. There are no paint on the sides of his head and it is packaged in its PVC color - gray. I had to do some detailing on the head and other parts of the body to make it look serviceable. But even with this nitpick, the flames that adorned his feet came out nicely off the package and I was glad no touch ups are required. :)
Overall, a solid figure for its price and I recommend this to those who wants a TFTM actionmaster.
My score? A solid 7/10.
Unfortunately the next RR I bought was Barricade and it was total crap IMHO. Lousy joints and lack the already limited poseability of the RR BB. When I came across RR Op, I was quite skeptical after my lack my faith in Barricade.
Now to the nitty gritty. The PVC quality is the same with the other RRs. But what actually turned me over was the mold detail.
First of all, the detail on RR Op is miles better than RR BB and RR Barricade. The details on the head is awesome and it replicated the details of the movie Op nicely. The same goes for the rest of the detailing of the whole figure.
In terms of poseability, it might be no revoltech, but after the debacle with Barricade, I was surprised with the joints and poses thet he can pull off. I begin to wonder is this a RM50 toy? Not bad.....
RR OP comes with his Pulse Blaster that can be attached on his right arm. No gimmicks here, just an add on. But it comes around nicely.Now for the bad.The paint job on his head is HORRID. There are no paint on the sides of his head and it is packaged in its PVC color - gray. I had to do some detailing on the head and other parts of the body to make it look serviceable. But even with this nitpick, the flames that adorned his feet came out nicely off the package and I was glad no touch ups are required. :)
Overall, a solid figure for its price and I recommend this to those who wants a TFTM actionmaster.My score? A solid 7/10.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Preview - Voyager Class Optimus Prime and Deluxe Bonecrusher
More reviews coming up!
Here is a snapsot first, :)
Here is a snapsot first, :)
Monday, July 23, 2007
Robot Replica Bumblebee
I snagged RR BB and here are my thoughts:-
PVC quality - reasonable and not to shabby. Looks like can take a lot of punishment.
Paint job - very tacky and incomplete. Alot of areas not painted properly and some areas are not painted at all. Cost cutting measures by Hasbro definitely.
Poseability - I have only one thing to say : If you are spoilt by revoltech, these RR is a major letdown. There are no wrist movement, limited shoulder, knee and elbow movement. The joints on the head, shoulder, waist, ankle are quite spot on tho.
Accessories - Just one arm cannon that can be detached and attached to BB's right arm.
Overall - Dodgy paint job and under-utilization of the revoltech joints, this figure scored a 5/10 from me. But if you are looking for a display piece, this might be up your alley. Here is my advise cum 2 cents, save some moolah and get the Voyager Optimus Prime and Deluxe BB08 2 pack instead. Here is a comparative pic with the Deluxe BB08.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Welcome!
With the post mania that Transformers had weighed upon us, I have decided to take my chances into online reviewing of toys that I have so much passion for. Collecting to me has not even been a thought until late September 2006 where I have ignited my old hobby of buying cool looking and ass kicking mechas. Hence, this blog will feature reviews and opinion of the toys that I own and also the take on other toys that are besides Transformers.
I have been an avid Transformers fan since 1984. Due to constraints and budgeting (of the family kind), I was never given the opportunity to collect or to own and G1 of other incarnation of Transformers when I was much younger.
Now, working, independent and having some cash to spare, this is definitely a good trip down memory lane. Anyhow, I may not be a G1 (Geewhun, as the fandom might put it) but I am damn well pleased to know the kindred spirit I have with TFs.
Stay tuned, reviews coming soon. :)
Autobots! Transform and Roll Out!!
I have been an avid Transformers fan since 1984. Due to constraints and budgeting (of the family kind), I was never given the opportunity to collect or to own and G1 of other incarnation of Transformers when I was much younger.
Now, working, independent and having some cash to spare, this is definitely a good trip down memory lane. Anyhow, I may not be a G1 (Geewhun, as the fandom might put it) but I am damn well pleased to know the kindred spirit I have with TFs.
Stay tuned, reviews coming soon. :)
Autobots! Transform and Roll Out!!
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