Few days back, I drop in my first post of 2017 with the best buy of the year. I supposed!
From now, I will do away with the review stuff as I think we have many good reviewers out there for us to enjoy.
After reading my own blog, I should be able to get back to the future without the time machine.
Today I bring you back to the past to February 2017 on my first purchase.
Anyway, who cares about what I bought on February?
Guess only my future self.
Mosquitor and Webstor from the Masters of the Universe Classics.
Both are sought after villains from the classic line of He-Man enemies.
Gone are the play features if you are familiar with this line of action figures and their vintage counterpart but the upgraded designs makes them looks better in any sense we look for in the MOTU figures, when we are a kid back in 1980's. Or you don't even exist yet.
Today I bought in my long awaited Masters of the Universe action figures.
Chance upon an App that trades toys. I type..." Masters of the Universe". Pop out a collector who is eager to sell. Wow! I saw loose figures of Beastman, Mer-man, Trapjaw, Faker and a few more.
Price is not right but I need to ask. No ask no gain.
30 minutes later, a private message from seller. " Negotiable with more figures to run along."
Then came the picking and negotiations. Finally giving in to my weakness, I plunge into the abyss of MOTUC again.
It started with 4 figures, then another 3 and finally, gather up 8 figures which I will release the surprises.
The excitement of purchase comes the decision to let go some of my collection. I have managed to reduced my damage by 50% by selling some toys and freeing some space.
Collection is not only about buying but also to learn to let go and reduce cost, control emotions. It's a package of fun learning of yourself indeed.
In the year 2003, He-Man and Skeletor have transformed into a bigger size enemy of fate in the new era of 2000X where size does matters.
Both figures are based on the modern creation of Masters of the Universe series in the hope to spice up new life for the fans and have indeed spruce up some excitement for the then and new fans of MOTU.
The new mold and creations actually spun great details and have become a unique breed for the series. The new classics line are highly anticipated by fans alike but for this older modern series, it may not share the same fate for the origins and that makes them even more unique until a day we see a remake of them. Until then, they became the new modern classics that may never be reborn and rarity shall be their prime.
For the only 12 inch figures produced through rotocast molding technique, which means both He-Man and Skeletor are practically light and hollow inside. Such rotocast molding technique is relatively cheaper and saves material costs. If you do not know what's rotocast molding, I have attached a link for your knowledge.
However, they still displays interesting details such as wrinkles on their hands and feet while on their armor adds on to finer details. He-Man even wore the snake mountain style armor.
Both came with impressive big swords but the only gripe is Skeletor's sword which cannot be split into two.
Through the adventure of hunting down toys, another best part will be taking time and delight cleaning the prize that you claim from your hunt and this is a pleasure all collectors will not reject.
Mighty years have passed and no one has ever seen the hairstyle or even hairs on Skeletor's skull. All thanks to He-Man, he can be proud without his cloak.
From the mighty classic series of Masters of the Universe brings us the He-Ro and he is the adopted son of He-Man transform by raising the Power sword from Prince Dare. Is that right?
The new classic line really did some justice to the figure with some quality touch of gold and added an exquisite staff that opens up it's gem inside which I supposed have some enormous power. Guess he is an upgraded He-Man who only have the power sword to scream for transformation.
So let's just see what a hero looks like.
And to show that he is a hero, he needs to triumph over another Super-hero and poor Iron Man suffers a defeat yet again. There is always a higher mountain somewhere, you just never knows.....
When it comes to toys, skulls are an element that still thrills us but not in reality. It makes an action figure looks cool and bad guys looks fearsome. To name a famous character will be Skeletor, but today I have SkullSplitter from the Spawn series by McFarlane.
This is one impressive sculpted figure which I had to show and he has so much details and materials that went into him.
As Easter is coming, it may not be an ideal figure to feature compare to Halloween but good things are meant for anytime.
Apart from the basic articulations he possessed, he comes with a highly detailed shield which shows details even on the inside while the sword he wields has some carving on the blade. A demon package deal complete with his cape.
I will let the pictures do the talking while Skeletor fights off for the One Skull title.
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.
As the 2013 is coming to near end in just 2 days away, I am running out of time to put in my last post of this year. Actually, I intended to stop at 120 posts but due to to holiday spirit, I think I should write another one more to keep the year going.
So here I am posting a figure which is a decade old from now, he is Mer-Man from the MOTU 2000 series which was produced by Mattel, and this series has brought on a height of excitement for all He-Man fans after missing at the end of the 80's, however, it meant some disappointment for some fans alike as they are expecting a re-release of the originals.This wish was somehow granted and materialized in recent years which gave us a long running of fantastic figures of reminiscence.
Back to our role model today, the 2000 series is not a very big let down and they do show some innovative details and still amazes me to date. From head to toe, he is has every detail on his body, legs and for his armor.
Although he is lack in size and leg articulations, the details of Mer-Man is unmistakeably better than his past and present self.
He has a gimmick at the back but it seems like mine isn't working well to let me know what he can do
With two detailed weapons on both hands, he is one bad guy that you can never miss in Eternia.
My very first Masters of the Universe after decades and I bought Chief Carnivus, not He-Man or Skeletor.
Got this figure at good price since his shield has dropped off inside the package and this figure can co-star in Thundercats as well. Two for the price of one.
Mattel has done a good job in putting details on the figure and done up a white mailer box package. Somewhat similar to what you will get when you buy and Apple product. A touch of class!
Encompasses the grandeur and excitement of owning a classic MOTU figure, is what you will anticipate in this line.
It's September !!! A month to rejoice as we are crossing over to the last quarter of 2013 soon and Christmas will be here before you know it. So before you start whining the year has passed, you still have three more months to accomplish whatever you have left off.
For now, I got to catch up with my posts and here is what I can share to you. MOTU 2000 !!!
After the masters of universe in the 1980, we have the arrival of MOTU 2000 which sparks off a new era of He-Man fans and old fans alike but somehow, it did sway off as many expected the remake of the old characters and not a rebirth.
That somehow costs some downhill run for MOTU which mattel tries to revive its formal glory of the characters.
However, things are not as bad since some collectors still claims their rights into this line with a different perspective though the power of Grayskull may not have exploded until the Classics line came upon.
Looking back, MOTU 2000 is actually better design in its way and details can still match up til today's standard though they lack some articulations in comparisons.
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.
From the infamous Masters of the Universe, Teela is one female whom you cannot miss. Why? There is only few ladies in it and let alone sexy outfit.
This is the original Teela figure I got from the original 1980's toy maker, Mattel. I got her loose as she is right here and She just popped by for an audition.
She does have some resemblance of Princess Leia when she was captured as chained up as a sexy slave next to Jabba. Another beauty and the beast example.
In her age, ladies somehow are projected for big hips and classical look.
She just cannot pose well and I just have to make adjustment to get her best shot. See if I have done the job.
