These are the Toys i`m looking for

Okay, sorry for the tongue in cheeck Star Wars reference, because Star Wars is that one thing I`m actually not looking for.

No, this list is all about the two vintage toy lines I`m trying to collect again to relive my childhood, MASK and StarCom.

While MASK is a bit easier (and more then a bit cheaper) then my favorite space guys, the first goals are the little magna-lock power deployed toys from Coleco.

The top of the list is of course, the mighty StarMax Bomber.  The main vessel of the good guys, and the one I`m trying to get together in my `bet`.

Because completing the bet succesfully, would also yield me number two on this list, Col. Dash Derringer.

Another neat little vehicle from the line is the M-6 Rail Gunner, the `sister vehicle` to the LaserRAT.  Piloted by Rick Ruffing, this is a high rising little car.

Talking little, the Mini Tank for the Shadow forces always had a certain cuteness to it.

But of course, the counterpart to the StarMax, the ShadowBat, is one other vessel I cannot stand to be missing out in the collection.

You might wonder why the exclusive mail away figure of Emperor Dark is missing here, but I *have* him, sort off.  I got my hands on a mint copy a few weeks ago, but I`m getting it as the anniversary gift from the GF next week normally...

The other line I`m so wild about, and always have been, is MASK.  A license on the rise lately (yeah, just my timing luck), they are far easier to find then StarCom as the line was more popular and well known over here, not to mention 25 years ago easier to get hold off in your run of the mill toy store.

The first one on this list is the Razorback from wave 3.  I`m rather certain I might get one before the end of the week, but as long as I don`t have him actually in my hands...

The other big one to get is the Stiletto from the final wave, where the vehicles split in two and they came with transparent clone projections to comand the second vehicle.  But this is the vehicle that includes Gloria Baker, the Shark will forever remain a missed model in the line...

The Jackhammer is another classic of the series.  The Ford Bronco piloted by Cliff had a rising back that contained a large turret, and was really sinister in the gleaming black colourscheme.

Volcano was a motorised vehicle, a monster truck rising and splitting to reveal a rotating turret.

The final vehicle of this `wanted` top 10 is the Wolf Beast, the main VENOM vehicle from wave 4 piloted by Miles Mayhem.  While I`m not that wild of it`s combat mode, the car looks awesome in it`s muscle mode...

So, those are the hunts, amongst others, that are at the front of my convention list for the year, but first, I`m going to make work of completing my Lego Tolkien sets though, as they are starting to become available in limited quantities as they will be retiring in all probability by the end of the year...

The Padawan Menace - Lego Star Wars movie

Okay, so `movie` is perhaps to big a name for this 22 minute long animation movie.

It`s a BluRay / DVD combo set that comes with an exclusive figure, so that is already a bonus, in this case one of the lead characters of the short film: juvenile kid Han Solo.

The tale is basically that Yoda get`s caught up with young Han while trying to foil a plan that threatens the Republic, while C-3PO and R2-D2 take the other kids along a forced field trip.

Like all Lego licensed games and films (like, on the Lego website) it is full of inside jokes and small gags (I for one loved the Sith Lord / Palpatine one), and though it`s `just a quickie` in your movietheque, it is a nice thing to watch with the kids for one.

And the figure is kinda cool as well ;-)

Gundam Build Try Fighters

The sequel to the Gundam Build series from last year, Try Fighters handles the same premisis.

Kids and adults alike build GunPla models and with them, they battle it out on a virtual battle field that brings their models to live.

Now, surely people will say this is just blatant commercialism to sell toys... but what where all those adhered 80s cartoons then?  I actually like this series a lot, for it features a lot of Gundam battles without the underlying politics and side changings that are usual in the franchise.

It just is a welcome break and zero brainer eye candy entertainment!

This time, the rules have changed and one no longer battles alone, but in teams of three.  Sekai, Yuuma and Hoshino are three young people who for various reasons get to team up, and decide to give it a shot to qualify for the U19 Nationals, which is actually a serious step down from the first series Open World Championships.

Again, the stars are guided by Mr Ral, and he is one of the many cameo appearances, but perhaps the most intriguing one was who the heck the guy is that trained Sekai.

He uses a sort of kenpo centered around a burning fist... yes, I guessed it right, and in the final credits of the final episode, 25, the truth is revealed and it is indeed that all loved Gundam pilot of ages ago

Now, let`s hope another series will appear, though there will be an OVA movie in the future already confirmed.  But now, I`m going to watch another recent Gundam series first in the more traditional style.

But if you like mecha series with epic battling and few brabbling, Build Fighters is definitly for you!

MASK Haul

Two fresh vehicles have been added to my MASK collection earlier this week, and they are in great shape.

Found on the evilBay, they are not boxed (which is something I don`t care about anyways, they are toys, they need to be played with) but more then decent for something labelled as `heavily played`.

The first one is one of the vehicles I always liked, the Hurricane from wave 2.  A 57 Chevy, this was Hondo`s second vehicle in the series, as his first one, Firecracker, got destroyed.

It`s transformation causes it to raise itself and get a third pair of wheels, while a big cannon comes out of it`s front.  The roof houses another small gun and from the rear a saw portrudes.  The back wheel can launch off as well.

The second vehicle is the Iguana from the third, or `Racing`, series.  This small quad, piloted by Lester Sledge, has it`s front opening to reveal guns and a saw arm, while the seat pulls up to get the driver in a standing instead of sitting position.

Both are some great additions to my collection, and one step closer to completing it all!

Lego Elves haul

Yesterday, I got to open a small box from Lego, the one I knew was coming one of these days.

Well, it`s the Elves set I ordered, Azari`s Bakery, and the promotion pack that went with the march orders if you exceeded 30 euros, also with the little fire elf.

I purely bought this of course for the promo and to see what the new line is all about, and the purchase has nothing to do at all with it containing all kinds of shiny pieces and pastels.  Nothing at all I tell ya` ;-)

Lego Dino-Rider

Pharah Ran-Tutnesses overlooked the sandy plains, as he considered the options.  He had at his disposal one of his most fierce beasts of war, the golden scarab had been inserted to empower his wand of mind control.  The beast would thunder onwards, scattering those in front of him.  Today, he would relive his glory of ancient days, today, he would be a Rider of Dino again!

Okay, I admit, this is seriously inspired by the 80s cartoon of futuristic warriors riding big dinosaurs, battling it out with laser cannons.

So when I wanted to build a Guerilla build for the Guilds of Historica Kaliphin chapter of book 2, I had this idea of intermingling fantasy and the cartoons into one.

I had one of the big Triceratops models at my disposal, so in style of the old series, I added some armour to the beast, a platform and a big gun... which in this case is a balista of course instead of a laser cannon.

For the crew, since I`m in the Desert King faction, I went for a mummy wielding one of those typical rods the egyptians carried long ago.

Forward, beast of destruction!!!

Building my Family`s Christmas Gifts

Okay, so I didn`t actually snatched away their gifts to build them, I just made sure I had a copy myself.

These are those small polybags the local supermarket often has at discounts and I pick up a whole box by then, and during the holidays, I gave one of these each to some people in the family as a small attention.

The first, the Creator cute kitten, was given to the GF by the Smurf.  I had heard her talking about how cute she actually found it, so okay, se says, we remember and provide ;-)

Opening the bag, we get a nice selection of predominantly grey elements.

Kitty has a white chin, as the first thing we build up is the head. 

Looking at how it is angled and build up, we now also know where the Chima Legend beast ideas came from ;-)

The main body is short to give the impression that like a real kitten, it has a really big head.

A white pointed tail and white `socks` for it`s paws are then attached.

And as we put the head to the body, the first of the two sets I`ll be doing today is complete. 

It also leaves us with a nice stack of extra pieces to boot.

The second set I`m tackling is this Lego City police vehicle.  I gave this to my brother in law, who is in law enforcement as my yearly `hehehe` gift.  He actually quit enjoyed building Lego, as he had actually never done that before, and I already saw the horror in my sister in laws eyes, fearing I had just created a monster... or an AFOL.*

Tearing open the bag, we get the usual amount of about 50ish bricks, and this set comes with a minifigure in the form of a police officer.

He actually has a pretty cool printed torso with the sheriff badge and all.

Based on the blue and white chassis, this atv comes with a high build up to comfort the big wheels later on.

The officer`s gear and the steering wheel are added next.

The wheels are then added, as are the police lights.

Putting the officer at the wheel, the set then stands completed.

But it has only a small amount of extra parts...

And so we have it, two small sets I gave to people as well during the 2014 holiday season (backlog? what backlog?  at this rate, the Guardians I bought in january will be featured in june...), something I tend to do often for non Lego people, just for coolness sake or a cute little sidegift (Nemesis also got a set, a TIE Microfighter, but I didn`t had it double to feature it as well... yet).

Next thursday, there won`t be a build report as I`ll be lying on my lame butt in the south of France, hopefully getting some of my books done.  But after that, I`ll be back with a few big sets to report on their builds, starting with something rather nifty ;-)

* to date, he is still resisting it, but his 5 year old is totally intrested in Lego, so it won`t take long anymore...

Today`s Lego Haul: a lot of freebies!

It is one of the final days local toy stores are running the easter bunny Lego promotion, so I had to hop by and get one quickly.

I know some Bart Smit stores already ended the action, but the one here still had it advertised, so the action is basically if you buy for 25 euro, you get an easter bunny set worth 10 euro on top.

Now, with the new Ninjago lines in store, there are some small sets I actually fancied.  Namely, the smallest two of the new wave, as they do not have some high tech vehicles, but DO have the anaconda warriors, ninja`s with usuable hair pieces and normal handy bricks for MOC`cing.

At 9 and 10 euro for them respectively, I took along one of the Sabretooth tribe packs as well, and I was set for the required minimum (and three fresh recruits for my Mitgardia force...)... so let the freebies rake up!

The first was of course the easter bunny.  A nice little seasonal set, being from the Creator line means it is just what everyone can use: basic bricks, and for me it is handy they are grey as well.  I also got the promo dvd of Ninjago with a few episodes of the new series (it`s the same one as the one with the Club Magazine this month) and a Ninjago poster. 

Always nice to have some freebies after all, and I never look a gifted horse in the mouth.

Add to that I crossed the street to visit the Kablamo! store, a small, mostly Funko orientated store to pick up an online purchase, and I found myself 6 small sets richer today.

And I *know* there is a delivery from Lego arriving any moment now, with the Elves new Bakery set (you know, `to give the line a try` *cough*) and the accompanying promo set.

But that`ll be for a post soonishly ;-)

Aldnoah Zero second season

Do not try to fight an Olympian sandstorm.

I loved the original show, and especially it`s hard and bloody ending, which was totally unexpected...

... and totally undone in the new series.  Everybody did survive after all.

Now, the war between the Vers Empire and the Earth`s forces of UFE is in full swing.  Slaine is rising in power as it is revealed that not only did he save the now catatonic Asseylum, but also the count Saazbaum.  Together, they are using the princess`s halfsister Lemrina to manipulate the war.

But it is all a rouse by Slaine, who through various machinations is ascending through the ranks to become the sole overlord, ruling from the moonbase, while being opposed by Inaho (now with a bionic eye) and the crew of Deucalion.

The series is raw and hard like the first one, and it is great to see how some real life physics like inertia are being taken in account in the space episodes and battles.  And the designs of the mecha`s, especially the unique kataphrakts of the Orbital Knights, remain pretty outlandish yet awesome.

All in all, it is a series almost as good as the original season, but, well, like I began this piece with... it would have been legendary had it indeed ended there, now I just rate it as `you MUST watch that`...