Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!


Happy New Year to the world! Full of toys and days of fun, happiness and good health to enjoy every day! And remember... drink, don´t drive!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

True Heroes L.A.S.E.R. Storm

L.A.S.E.R. dropship, the main command vehicle for the Rangers!

 
Capable of transporting 5+ figures, and also Rockslide!


MISB, 2011. Toys"R"Us.


With awesome lines and a huge margin for custom artists, this aircraft seems to pick up some ideas from the UD4L Cheyenne Drop Ship, the colonial marines dropship from Aliens.



But just enough. Different, nonetheless. A spider-looking guy.


The whole body and tail design, the color and raw look... great!


Wings deploy to hover.


Wings retracted.


Included figures. One of each model. No accessories, though.


Included figure detail: Corporal Felix "The Eye" Ibanez. Reconnaissance Specialist. Highly skilled in determining location, composition, disposition, capabilities and activities of enemy committed forces.


Lights and sounds can be activated via 2 buttons producing the same sounds and effect. The sounds are the same as Rockslide and Nomad.


Aircraft opens up into command station!


Aircraft comes with a handle-like tail to perform flying moves and pick up Rockslide


Storm can transport Rockslide (sold separately)!


The big challenge was understanding how to snap them together. Storm´s claws (landing gear) are hollow. Rockslide has 4 points to attach and you need to pull Storm´s "legs" outwards to provide room for the connection. Could be better if it was a clip movement of the touch and go sort.


As a whole, this aircraft is very cool. Fresh concept that picks Aliens and Avatar ideas and transforms them both into something new.


Rangers ready for battle! 


Status: Available for trade

Sunday, December 25, 2011

True Heroes L.A.S.E.R. Rockslide

The L.A.S.E.R. troop transport. Looking like a scratched Aliens vehicle, is capable of taking up to 10 rangers to battle!


Comes with 2 figures, pilot and gunner.



MISB, 2011. Toys"R"Us.


Simple and curious. This vehicle will make it to customizers work tables, I´m sure of it. From a basic change in stickers to deeper modifications, existing as a 1:18 vehicle, is always a gigantic advantage.

 
Included figure: Sergeant. Klaus "Mad" Martens. Combat Specialist. Master in advanced weapon technology and close combat.


Included figure: Captain Jeffrey "Crash" Simpson. Leader of the L.A.S.E.R. unit. Elite fighter pilot with vast knowledge in air defense artillery.


When you first look at Rockslide, it may look just a little more than an armored and modified firetruck. But a deeper look will probably change your mind. Especially if you´re the customizing type. From riot control to battle, this armored car shows real promise. The colors, the lines, the intelligent simplicity...

  
Iy has lots of places for L.A.S.E.R. figures. The vehicle cannon has 2 control modes. Turret gunner and passenger. I figure if the gunner is wounded, another Ranger can man the gun without having to step in. How cool is that?  


Inside, 7 figures can be transported: Driver, gunner and 5 more. Outside, 3 more. Plus, there are 2 slots for weapons, which by the way, are not included. Strange thing to (not) do these days.


Lights and sounds 360ยบ rotating double cannon. The sounds are the same as Nomad´s. And turret can be removed.


If you were looking at the pictures and paying any attention, you may have thought "10 figures? Where´s the place for those extra 2?". Well, there are a couple of holding bars in this armored car. One on each side. And while you can´t move the figure´s arm to make it look cool since articulation is poor, any other 1:18 figure with a swivel arm stands nicely on the side of Rockslide. Anyway, Rangers can hold it anyway.


Waiting to be lifted! Storm (that big insect-looking craft) can transport Rockslide. One of the cool details of this L.A.S.E.R. line.

Coming up next... L.A.S.E.R. STORM


Status: Available for trade

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas everybody!

So we finally reached the most expected eve of the year! May all of you get lots of presents and enjoy them in perfect health. If you don´t, keep a star in your heart because things have got to get better! Look ahead into the future and reach for that star. Happy Holidays my friends!

Friday, December 23, 2011

True Heroes L.A.S.E.R. Nomad

The L.A.S.E.R. Mech is a beauty. Features: Articulated legs for walking, spinning rotor blade weapon and light and sound action.


A pilotable version of Orion´s ED209!


MISB, 2011. Toys"R"Us.


Using a not so rigid plastic, this mech becomes almost indestructible. With an amazing color (and color scheme) and heavy weapons, this baby is not a toy... well, it actually is.


Included figure: Lieutenant Adrien "The Brain" Leblanc. Tactical Specialist. Arranges the logistical and operational aspects of every mission.

Pilot and gunner not included

Nomad holds 3 figures. Pilot, gunner and one in the piggyback position.


Not the best angle to ride if they decide to retreat! However, a machine such as this one probably takes care of business as it shows. As you can see, there´s some sort of exhaust pipe mold near the figure´s station. I wonder how that guy would sustain the heat...


Pilot position. Tilt-over style.


Gunner station. Cannon moves left and right.


Mounted on ball-jointed articulations, these weapons are extremely effective...


All 3 L.A.S.E.R. vehicles share the same gun sounds. 


Now THIS is a scary uniform!

Status: Available for trade

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Galaxy Fighters by Sewco

 Altough already seen one by one, It may be interesting to input a couple more points on a global view of this line. The pros and cons and most of all, the nostalgic feel of these MOTU "companions".


With a cost of about 1/3 of a MOTU action figure, it was fairly easy to do the math and on any given occasion, these Fighters could look perfect especially next to Skeletor forces.


While Batoon looked a little like Blade from the "Masters" movie, Iguana and Walph were total strangers when related to the successful Mattel line.


Mace Ape was a good guy, but I remember using him as a Skeletor minion. Daton sure looked like a leader and many battles he won for He-Man. Magoon was a Grayskull sentinel and his weapon never allowed villains on his watch.


These guys had a tremendous advantage over original 80s MOTU figures. The left hand could hold weapons. This is also (probably) the most direct difference when comparing Sewco´s Galaxy to Sungold´s.


Articulation is basically the same as expected. Both Sewco and Sungold used Mattel´s recipe for success.


The accessories were very nice. Although one could only expect a mix between the 4 different shields (actually 2 molds with different stickers, which were great by the way), 4 weapons and 2 body armors, their design was so good that Mattel was put to shame.   


As a result, He-Man with a Sewco sword was a common sight!


And what you know? Looks good on modern figures too! Well, that´s the thing about quality...

6 of the original 12 Sewco Galaxy Fighters

These may have been cheap and to some die-hard MOTU fans, cheap-looking too. But when they show up these days, they beat many original figures in price and demand. Great figures! How I miss the 80s!

Status: Available for trade

  

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

L.A.S.E.R. line from Toys R Us

"One mission, one goal: protect the world". In the year 2099, government leaders from all countries banded together to create an elite strike force known as L.A.S.E.R. The Land, Air, Sea Elite Rangers are defenders of freedom. Their one and only mission is to protect the world against all threats, both foreign and domestic. Each ranger is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, and is highly specialised in multiple areas of combat and military intelligence. No task is too great, no environment too extreme. The elite rangers are trained and prepared to execute their mission at any time in order to keep the world safe.


Finally here to be reviewed. You may have seen them around, but you haven´t seen them yet... like you will.


L.A.S.E.R. stands for Land Air Sea Elite Rangers and they are the new True Heroes space fighting force. 3 vehicles and 4 different figures. MISB, 2011.

 
Storm, the big aircraft. Crew of 4 and capable of transporting...


Rockslide. A Transport land vehicle armed with a rotating cannon!


And Nomad, for all you mech lovers reading this.

So tune in for the next episodes and enjoy!

Status: Available @ TRU