(This list is made up of characters that I think would make good Play Arts Kai series action figures that haven't been made yet and or haven't been decided to be made by Play Arts.)
I noticed a couple more distributors taking preorders if anyone is still looking. It is more expensive though. They are both based in North America but they do ship internationally as well.
The first is Kid Nemo: $44.99 and estimated release is August 2010. http://www.kidnemo.fm/product/en/168/Vocaloid+Kaito+Nendoroid+Action+Figure.html
The second is Toys Logic: $41.99, however their release date is set for 11/30/2010. http://www.toyslogic.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=15983&products_type=1 I've had good service with them but they do receive items later than other distributors.
I'll keep an eye out for any other distributors but it is supposed to be released by today. Happy Hunting!
This seems about the best place I could possibly ask something like this, so I'm hopeful. I'm familiar with identifying Final Fantasy bootlegs rather quickly via their boxes, but I'm trying to help someone determine the authenticity of a Sebastian Michaelis. (It's a "friend of a friend got it from Japan" sort of deal, and we're trying to dis/prove the friend's friend's credibility. *snort*) Am I looking for anything other than silver, indented text and blurry/discolored text and pictures, as with FF Play Arts boxes? Also, is the box more of a matte finish? The only actual legitimate pictures I've been able to find are extremely small, not as well-lit as I'd like, and I'm worried that I won't be able to tell for certain. I mean, I'm assuming the face alone will be enough even through the plastic, but I've been surprised at the quality of some bootlegs lately.
Thanks in advance for anyone who might be able to help me out. (And probably a mountain of thanks after the fact, too.)
There was a bit of talk about the Stylized Power Rangers sets the other day so I thought I'd toss up a quick review
I'd upload photos as well, but the whole process is such a pain. At any rate, these things are kinda cool and pretty widely available (in addition to being discounted on the TRus website and at some Targets YMMV).
Should also mention that the Target-exclusive single-carded Imaginext DC Superfriends, which are on the same approximate scale (albeit a little larger), are also clearanced at some Targets (they were $4 originally (back when I picked up a Pengy and Freeze), since then they've been marked down to $2 (bought Two Face, Joker, and Batman) and now $1 (picked up 5 more Pengies, lawl) at my local Target).
If you're interested in that, check out this Penguin & Mr Freeze review
I also managed to pick up the (knight?) Batman and Etrigan Action League 2pack on sale for like $1.75 but haven't reviewed that yet. Those figures are a little smaller, I think.
As many toys as I have, I have not yet collected my first PVC figure :( I have been all over the place with "display figures" collecting everything from my beloved McFarlane dragons, NHL figures and a couple of 12" Steelers jobs, to Kotobukiya's amazing Armored Core model kits (I am misterMECHA by the way...)
With that being said, having discovered this site will soon change all of that. I have always loved the aesthetic of anime and import PVC figures, but I had just never taken the actual plunge. I am more draw to resin models, mostly due to my Warhammer love, but most of the affordable resin kits that I have seen are generally recast - and I'm staying away from those. Personal choice.
I caught a glimpse of the Black Rock Shooter figures and holy shit! One thing that will always get me going is a hot chick with big guns... I am not sure the official release date, but I am DEFINITELY picking it up. I am announcing now, that Black Rock Shooter will be my first model.
Just curious of those who have been around a bit: What was your first figure?
Recently I bought Sweety, which makes her my first designer/art toy. Hadn't seen the original version about so when I found this very pink one (Artoyz version) I snapped her up and tried not to dwell on the price + postage + packing costs.
A few shots of her packaging, which is lovely and feels very sleek. There's plenty of artwork of her and it's all decked out in pastel colours. The dodgy shot on the right in me trying to show the gloss/matte detail on the box, which adds to the whole package.
She's imprisoned in your typical plastic shell. With other figures you might pity them for this treatment. With Sweety's manic grin a cage seems like sensible precautions.
She's loose. And surprisingly light. As I was looking her over and twirling her 'ears' my doubts began to set in. I spotted bits of the paint job I wasn't keen on and a blemish. And she's really light. My mind goes back to her price tag. She's the opposite of a Stella and hardly reassuringly expensive.
Am I expecting too much from designer vinyl if gaps like these are a little disappointing to me? I wish the little edges of her gums were painted instead of left white. And that a different shade was used for her gums to bring her closer to the illustration and make her whacking great gob stand out even more.
Paintwork on her ears/twists/flippers. I hoped the paintwork would be as crisp as her form. But one ear's blurry. The other ear is crisp but the pale pink has been painted over the dark. Which is irritating, 'cause even a numpty like me could do that - light to dark man, light to dark.
Eh. I do like her, enough to make her accessories. But considering the price I paid and all these little niggles (the seamline running round her head at chin level- why there?), I'm not completely happy with her. Her grin goes a long way to making up for the negatives for me. That and my mum's reaction to her - "Oh no! It's hideous! etc etc" Heheheh.
Artoyz version Sweety, ~€35. 6/10
IKEA Spöka If I'm in IKEA I look forward to the kids bit, 'cause I find things like Spöka. There were two designs, short and fat or tall and thin. I got the short and fat dumpling one.
This is the package I picked up off the shelf. Creature, instructions and charger are all inside the bag, which is sewn and then tied shut, so it's not as insecure as it looks.
Spöka proudly presents itself and it's warning leaflet. Tall and thin Spöka is pictured on the booklet.
Cute stubby ears.
Side view. The material is smooth and rubbery and the creature has a nice weight to it. It sits neatly in my palm. A sweet, tactile handful.
It's tail and socket for the charger. Which is needed for...
lighting up. Almost perfectly smooth all the way round, a gentle bop on the head turns on the light. Here it's beginning to shift into it's red phase.
And looking miffed at the disturbance of it's lair during the blue/purple phase. The shift between the colours is gradual though the red is intense. Bright enough to be mistaken for a UFO. I'm chuffed to bits with it, it's cute without being saccharine, the simple shape and design is great and if you get bored of it and burn it then it might explode* which'd be exciting.
IKEA Spöka, £11.99. 9/10
*but probably for the best if you don't. And how could you chuck out that sweet/stern/pompous/cute face?
Currently I am in the process of sanding him down and correcting small errors. As soon as I get done with that it's off to primer and double checking for issues.
Here are some close up shots. Sorry for the bad lighting and fuzzy images. Ive been using my camera phone for lack of a better camera at current.
Yay! He stands on his own!
Well, sorta.... he has a bit of a forward lean so I will need to make some adjustments to make sure he stays put.... maybe making the peg leg thicker would do it. I thought about giving him a crutch of sorts to hold with his other hand to counter balance the weight but how would he hold his rum?
That's it for today. I hope someone out there likes it. :)
I was trying to get all artsy with the title but I think I kinda failed at that. Anyway I finally had time to take Anna, my ball jointed doll, outside this evening for a photoshoot and these are the results. Hope you enjoy them.
I was browsing through the recent posts on Tomopop and I came across a video post of one of my favorite Queen's Blade figures - the slime girl... I was a little - okay I was really disappointed with the review. It is a sexy, sort of hentai-ish character and the reviewer seemed to be ashamed to review the figure. I LOVED that figure and I have put it on my list of acquisitions.
I guess , in my rant, I would like to ask if there is a good hentai or adult figure review or reviewer? Is there a need for either one?
I took these photos a few days ago on a nice evening. I don't really have a story for them or anything, but I thought they turned out nice enough for me to share them. I hope you like them too!
First I saw a nice blue mosaic table that would make a great background for Drossel:
After she spotted the wind chime hanging from the tree, she was determined to climb up to the top:
The rusty old birdcage being used as a planter made a nice background for Louise:
Here she's standing on the door, it took some time to get her to stay there!:
Tako Luka is determined to be included in every blog post:
And finally a quick close up of Luka in a planter. It looks like she's exploring:
Bonus pic - since I wasn't able to buy Louise any new clothes right away, I tried to sew a dress myself. The fabric was from a little Chinese fan I had sitting in my closet. What do you think? Did it make for a nice first dress?
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