Amidst the collecting chaos where collecting is waning in this period of uncertainty!
I crawled into a new line of collecting. Bandai monsters!
This year marks the first time ever I venture into buying my first vinyl monsters from Bandai.
Funny thing is the only figure I know is Godzilla. Now I bought 1989 King Ghidora, 1995 Gamera, 1985 Angeilas, 1991 Godzilla Ghido Goji (at 14 inches tall), 1994 Orochi (Eight Headed Dragon) and recent 6 inch Shin Gojira.
Span just over 2 month, I caught the fever with the cluster of 6 wonderful monsters and start learning about the history of these wonderful toys.
I hope to stay just on the low and budget end restricting to earlier Bandai figures that I like. Trying to keep focus and small.
With my recent prize jewel of Masters of the Universe stash, my project was to restore them to their formal glory since they suffered from the common leg disorder "disease" of all 1980's born figures.
It was not the first time I done this operation and all thanks for the good folks of Youtube sharing their ingenious idea on restoration for them which I am going to share it here even if you may have already know. It is for the benefit of many others and for my revision in future.
However, this is a fun ordeal for any toy collectors who are able to put their hands to repair their toys. It makes it very interesting for me to spend my private time with them proper again. It's a hobby not work. No stress just pure fun.
Before I wheel out the figures out from my operation table, I will include an example from Youtube for the repair for your reference. I will not be going through the whole process but just to highlight some tips which I came across during my operation that may help you better based on my experience.
Preparation :
Parts -
1) C-Hook Diameter 1/2 inch. I prefer to use an open-end hook.
2) Rubber "O" Ring used for plumbing Diameter. Some may use bigger size "O" ring.
Tools -
1) A pair of Pliers
2) A pair of wire cutter
3) Screwdriver (Use for digging out excess rubber and for support)
4) A string or wire
5) A drill bit (Dia 4.2mm) (Not necessary but helps to dig out the excess rubber in the leg)
Process:
1) Remove all excess rubber in the legs by digging using a screwdriver and / or you can hand turn a drill bit to remove the rubber.
2) Use a pair of pliers to hold the C-Hook and screw into both legs. One C-Hook for one leg.
3) Hook on the "O' ring and close the C-Hook using the pliers for one leg.
4) Loop a string or wire into the "O" ring with the C-Hook and string through the access hole inside the leg compartment and pull over the "O" ring
5) Use a screwdriver to support the "O" ring and use the pliers to hold the C-Hook to support your screwing of your leg further inwards.
Walah ! A Healthy He-Man.
Reference video for repair from good folks of Youtube.
Gotten a stash of vintage MOTU figures and Castle Grayskull, they are commonly suffering from a leg disorder disease. Battle has spewed blood with He-Man bringing down Skeletor to the grounds by slamming down gates of Grayskull.
Who would know Ram Man shall be the last man standing after all these years of battle.
My next mission will be to restore them to their formal glory and update them again in my posts.
In the year of the 80's, Ghostbusters were in town terrorizing the ghosts and times were great back then with the siren of ECTO-1 zooming around town to nail down the usual suspects.
You just cannot deny the response of ECTO-1. He is one Iconic ride amongst the other famous movies.
In the first decade of the new century, Hotwheels relive the vibe of ECTO-1 and gave us the die-cast version.
With all details and equipments of what Ghostbusters have put into it, this ECTO-1 is one ride you cannot look away. Toy being toy, there are some downsides which is pretty sad. One thing, I got pissed off is it's cheap plastic windows they put in. It is not even a hard clear plastics and they are like those hard films that we used for stationery.
With all the details in and out, they have smashed it with the cheap windows. This ride ain't come cheap and you just have to weigh it down yourself if you decide to get it.
This 1959 Cadillac ambulance was well decorated with the Ghostbusters equipment sets inside and even comes with a trolley that can store the proton packs. All doors and hood open with engine inside showing tubes connection.
Chrome front grills and rims makes this classic ride a sweet mobile.
Batman of Zul-En-Arrh.....comes forth as Planet X Batman in a most impossible costume selection of colors that a dark knight of earth will suit up.
He is bright with red and yellow and taking on his arch enemy, Joker's favorite color of purple for his tattered cape. While the cape is tattered with holes, his main weapon of choice is a baseball bat !!!
This batman is all wrong for the dark crusader whom we all use to know. He now don the same bright outfit like Robin. Who knows how long has he fancy Robin's outrageous color choice for his suit.
To kick in a punch for al these mismatch, we have Batmite as his sidekick. He is one angry pissed off mite.
This is one definite batman that all fans or non-fans should have. He is unique, weird, out of the normal and funny to have. The whole concept is weird to base on to the dark crusader image. That is one figure that should stand out amongst your collection.
His head gear and costume also shows stitches that tell you, the costume is self made and cheap. The Bat symbol is one out of the usual too but I personally like the design.The only advance device he has is the communicating device on his belt. Have you seen a bat holds a "bat"?
With all the colors and fun. Planet X Batman and Batmite is one heck of a mighty team in Zul-En-Arrh (Where is this place???).
At last, after so many years, they are finally able to stand up to this publicity and still around to be on the internet, in this blog.
When Masters of the Universe, first came out, it was about 1982 and we welcome them. They are so much fun and heroic in many ways for the kids back then.
Now all have grown up and Mattel has re-launched the classics line into collectors edition for the then children, who should be in their 30's now. With earning power and by the power of Grayskull, the action figures grown bigger, better and more costly. These figures are classified for adult collectors and children now, will not know who He-Man was and there is practically no play value to them. But we still continue to adore them.
With the on-going of the current classics line, the vintage line is still a fun collection to go with.
As age catches up with them, they have settled with disease on their legs or even end up in natural "amputation". However, with the new era, there are new innovation techniques to "cure" their disease and get them standing up again. All thanks to the good folks and fans out there, you can save your vintage collection action figures and put them back to their former glory again.
You may not get such quality of toys now as many will shun them. Featuring a basic five points articulation, cheap plastics armor and accessories, a rubber head, minimal paint job and out of proportions figure. Both cats are simple animal toys that couple with armor. All these are amazing back in the 80's and makes them an iconic vintage toys now.
Without much a do, let us welcome our favorite characters from the MOTU, He-Man & Battle-Cat, Skeletor & Panthor.
When something's wrong in the neighborhood, who do you call?
The ghostbusters have been laying down for a long time and seems like they have venture into monsters business as well.
A never been seen hideous species has appeared and somehow, Ghostbusters have been alarmed. Wrong number? Anyway, no time to lose, this assignment is given to whoever that can claim this monster. Doen;t look like Ghost.
Last seen in this photo is the successful activating of the proton trap and activities are slamming up in the ball room again.
Back in the early 80's, Ghostbusters Movie was a big hit and all are amazed with the effects of ghosts and sci-fi is a boom.
The most vivid scene to me is the library scene where we first saw slimer. I still prefer Slimer in the cartoon series since he is portrayed in a cuter way.
Amongst the gadgets used by the ghostbusters to capture the ghosts, the transport ECTO-1 is an iconic vehicle, a 1959 Cadillac Miller Meteor ambulance.
Toys have been went into collectibles and finally Mattel started to re-make the Ghostbusters franchise action figures.
Since the Matty guys are continuing to give us quality action figures but prices are plummeting into non-kiddish tags with inflation on the mark. No wonder, children gave up toys and grown ups took over the fun and collecting.
That is not the issue here, or rather let's talk about the four famous ghostbusters I have over here.
Peter Venkman, Dr Raymond "Ray" Stanz, Dr Egon Spendler and Winston Zeddermore.
Compare the older figures, this set are getting good articulations, great head sculpt and detail proton packs to go along.
Even feature a ghost trap with blazing effects to go along.
If you ever wanted a set of Ghostbusters. Get a set of four in their iconic jumpsuit and packs, that should be a good enough for a flashback collection set.
