Saturday, November 10, 2012

Dino Valley 2012 T-Rex

Dino Valley (series 4) came with the usual small sets of dino+figure. All reissues unfortunately for some, fortunately for other collectors who didn´t get the chance to add them to their collection before.


A slight variation from the previous color scheme.


MIB, Chap Mei 2012


Figure and accessories case. Figure is the same included with the Armored Car


Remember, you can stack same size cases!


Bigger than juvenile rex figures, still smaller than the medium-sized one, and of course than the big and the huge ones. Closer to the size of the Carnotaurus...


Action: Push down right arm and jaw closes.


Another fine crafted dino by CM!


Status: Available

Friday, November 9, 2012

Dino Valley 2012 Parasaurolophus

Dino Valley (series 4) came with the usual small sets of dino+figure. All reissues unfortunately for some, fortunately for other collectors who didn´t get the chance to add them to their collection before.


The Parasaurolophus with one of the brand new 2012 DV "riders".


MIB, Chap Mei 2012


Accessories: Weapons case, size S. Detachable.


Figure: Unnamed figure 3. Other than the head and chestplate color, the same mold of the previously seen


Dinosaur: Parasaurolophus. A repaint of the original dino. 


Action: Press the button and it moves head down.

Status: Available

Thursday, November 8, 2012

NFS Racing Motorcycle Power Crosskart

A work in progress, this Crosskart was a must when I looked at it during a trip to Sevilla, Spain. Lowcost and high potential for the 3 3/4" figures.


A quick glimpse is usually enought to know if we can make anything out of it. It was light, it was agressive and it´s on its way to become a monster!


MIB, (year unknown) WENYI (chinese company). Not sure if it´s a "borrowed" image, may very well be.


Vehicle: WY029 model Crosskart. Great lines, a working push and pull sort of engine. With nice chromes and very light, it´s almost perfect custom project.


The seat is very close to the right size, and in a way reminds me of the buggy models from GTA Vice City that I long to make a 1:18 scale version.


Engine (from a motorcycle, of course) looks fine and even comes with a tow ring.


Rollbars are sweet and the F1 steering wheel is awesome and even moves.


It´s easily taken apart (3 screws) which makes the customizing even more gratifying.


Floor is cut, which saves some work. Even though this is just a "preview", I´ll just cut the parts needed to create space for the figure´s legs... just so you get the idea.


Next step will be lowering the bottom end of the seat so the whole figure drops down just enough to rest the head and the handle ends up in its normal position for the driver. It may eventually need an extension to come closer to the figure´s chest, but it´s looking fairly good as a concept.


Obviously not finished, one can get an idea. I can´t wait to get my hands on this and properly develop this Crosskart. And give it a proper driver... any ideas?


Coming soon...

Status: In progress.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Dino Valley 2012 Armored Car

This new vehicle is an eye-catcher. Bulky enough to look strong, small enough to look fast. I had some expectations and I wasn´t disappointed!

  
A new genartion of dinosaur-snatching vehicles, and this is the way to do it. How else would a human vehicle be able to go toe to toe with a dino?

 
MIB, Chap Mei 2012





As for included figure accessories, no luck this time. The only accessory is another vehicle cannon, one of the best, by the way...


Included dinosaurs. 2 comebacks: Triceratops, with a new color scheme is one of the original set of dinos from Dino Quest. And the Baby Pteranodon, first seen with the Dino Valley 3 Mega T Camp Attack Playset.


Figure: Unnamed figure 2. Excellent head, but the body is the exact same mold of the previously seen. Different colored torso.


Vehicle: Armored Card. A Dino-snatching vehicle picking up ideas from some of the older models like the Longrope or if you feel really nostalgic, the original Dino Quest humvee.


And just like the Longrope from DV3, this is a softer plastic vehicle, but still pretty detailed and one of the best looking and well imagined.


Let´s get rif of the noose for a while and have a look into the actual car...


Filled with small details, it actually used the chassis from the outpost jeeps which were later recolored and included with some TRU sets like the Mobile Helicopter Base.


The plastic used makes it a light-weight but still looks amazing.


Cannon can be placed in 2 different holes. But the real question was: Does the rooftop open to place figures?


Indeed. This was the best surprise. This is the way to do things!


In such a vehicle, it makes a lot more sense to have such an interior when compared to the original jeep.


Front has bars and handles, holes and everything one loves about military-looking vehicles. Can´t wait to see the Soldier Force version!!!

Status: Available on eBay now. Grab yours now while can!


  

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Dino Valley 2012 Dino Transport

The last 3 months of the year have been the usual time chosen by Chap Mei to release their products in Europe. Last year, Soldier Force VII, this year, Dino Valley. While still waiting for the official Mega Dino Research Station (already on sale for the Animal Planet TRU line), this transport is the next best thing...


Seems fairly obvious that this truck will be recolored for the next Soldier Force line (series 8, hopefully this year), it looks very good, but the new figures (while greatly imagined as always) fail to continue the SFVII evolution in terms of articulation.


MIB, Chap Mei 2012


Included accessories. Other than the truck´s spring-loaded cannon dino-snatcher, same old accessories from previous lines.


Dinosaur: T-Rex. The same colors used in DV3.


Figure: Unnamed figure 1. While the sculpint is pretty cool (love the torso detail with dino-skin texture), the articulation is a backpedal from the last release, SFVII where arms and legs where articulated and figures had rotating wrists.  


Dinosaur Transporter. A very nice vehicle, a medium transport for medium-sized dinosaurs. Includes a dino-snatcher launcher and folding cage to contain dinosaurs and lowering ramp.


Both sides open and when closed, are locked by the ramp...


So that the "Rex" keeps its cool. 17.5cmX9cmX9cm usable cargo area (6.9inX3.5inX3.5in)


Chap Mei finally decided to return to the stickers instead of painting the logobrands for the series. After so much flak from the fans, this was an expected move. Some stickers are originally from the very first adventure series,  like Wild Quest.


360º rotating grappling cannon.


Match and Shoot!


Front grill opens to place the figure(s).


Spacious, doesn´t include any instruments... not even a driving wheel nor any steering handle! Oops... maybe it´s voice-activated and controlled... or not.

Status: Available