Man... I look at all these photos and I just weep. Why... why oh why didn't we have Bandai with the first Pacific Rim instead of Neca's bubblegum job?
Are the Japanese versions exactly the same figure we get here at TRU? Has anyone compared? I figure they are but after opening the two figures I have, they are nice but don't seem to be on the same level as my other RS figures. Plastic seems softer/cheaper on these and the articulation/joints aren't as refined.
Yes. Even the packaging is the same, IIRC. It's because they were designed from the start with a lower budget to meet domestic retailer prices. They may not be much cheaper than RDs you can get off Japanese sites, but those also don't have the big retailers taking a bigger cut. For the price point they're in, at regular retail no less, they're pretty great.
Yeah, way better than NECA, ML or BS figures for the same price. Just comparing to the RS line in general though. Your explanation makes a lot of sense. Thanks!
Looking at the model then the RD figure again, I never realized how much of the figure is under painted... easy to fix later.. for now.. I'm building! I LOVE THESE COLORS!
I was painting the piston in the hips and neck, and I got an idea... I started 'scraping' silver enamel and dry brushing. Honestly, never done a weathered model before. I'm using a Microbrush and just raking it against the part and letting the brush strike against the edges and creases indirectly.. Trying not to get too carried away anyway, but If it gets too splotchy, it comes off with the same thinner I'm using on the accent wash. EDIT: Okay.. talk about hubris.. handling the torso for a moment after wiping excess liner off of another part, most of my paint scraping rubbed off... but a plan is a plan and I'll redo it.
Stopped by my local TRU today. They had a couple of each of the first series. The liquidation sale starts on Thursday, but I didn't want to take the chance that they would still have them so I picked up a set. I has a $10 off coupon which helped. I've only opened Gypsy Avenger so far. I'm really liking him. These were most likely the last purchases from the store for me. I've been going there my whole life. My brother and sister worked there in the early 80's I still remember when they got me my Cabbage Patch kid and the G.I. Joe W.H.A.L.E. for Christmas. Anyway, I've got the second series on pre order from Amazon. Really looking forward to them next week.
Went by TRU on my way around town today, picked up Bracer Phoenix. Didn't have the same luck as other people who paid the Gipsy-Price, but it was the LAST Bracer they had. Also I picked some "Rub'n Buff" metallic wax buffing compound from Michaels (craft store) next door for working on my Gipsy model. Got the idea for this from an Adam Savage video.
Grabbed Titan Redeemer today. Last one, sharing otherwise empty pegs with a lone Gipsy. Asked an employee and they said they have more coming next week. Hopefully that’s Obsidian and co. Haven’t opened Titan yet but I like what I see. Again, the design may bore me, but the figure looks sweet. And he was the same price as Gipsy again, so for now at least is Canadians got a bit of a deal.
Welp, two out of three ain't bad. Titan is pretty underwhelming. He's still got a rock solid sculpt, nice paint, and the metallic green is very nice. But man, he is limited in articulation which is quite surprising. I get it with the shoulders given the design, but the hips are especially static. An I don't get it, because Gipsy and Bracer have crazy triple-ball-jointed legs that can suck up practically to the chest, and Titan can hardly pull off a walking pose. The ankles also can't really tilt forward. Everything else is fine though, neck, knee sand elbows are good, but it's like the most important sections are the most limited. Also, at least on mine, the shoulder is just ever so slightly too weak for the mace. And I'm disappointed he only has one (well, two counting the alternate) hand. Mostly because it limits poses even more, but mostly because I really was hoping I could swap it on to Bracer. But the connection is too deep and the peg too thin for me to want to risk it. So yeah, I'll try and get back next week and see if Obsidian and Athena are there. A least I got him for $10 off. EDIT: Actually you can finagle a bit more movement out of the hips using the aforementioned triple ball setup, but it's not really a free or collision free process. This figure almost feels like a filler to even out the waves. Spoiler And not unprecedented given what the trailers have shown.
Applied some gold paint to the neck pistons. and while my hands were clean I still managed to wipe off the silver wax. go figure. Best thing for me to do about the weathering is wait until AFTER I finish building this thing.
Lookin' good. You're really making me want to track down the metallic version. The wash just brings out the detail so well. But between the RD and standard colours DX set, I don't need three Gipsies. Also, I was wrong, Titan's mace does come out. But it's on a peg, not a ball, so while I can stick the end of it into Bracer's wrist, it doesn't look particularly convincing.
I saw the Metallic models listed on BigBadToyStore. They're asking $55.00 USD, which seems like the expected mark up. I paid $35 USD but shipping was $10 USD.
Nice review. That's kinda...disappointing. He's the only one I've seen in person besides Gypsy and Bracer, as I'm sure the TRUs in Houston aren't even getting anymore stock. I couldn't find this guy when I went to buy them at TRU, and was planning on tracking him down. Now, I'm unsure. I was planning on being a completionists for this line, but considering the prices and how he seems to be barely poseable, I'm starting to wonder if I'll have to be selective. Guess I'll make up my mind when I see him in person. As for pics...
After picking up a Bracer figure, I'm tempted to get the model... but I think I'll go for the standard release HG and not the Metallic version.
I wholeheartedly recommend the Bandai ones if you're looking for something to handle and display dynamically. The DS ones look like, to me, NECA done right. But despite the fact that they're on the lower end of the Bandai spectrum, the RDs still on the higher end of retail toys.
I love the articulation on the Bandai ones, and they look great, but brand new, and a little small as well, while the DS ones are bigger, with worn paint, and at least with Gypsy Avenger, have more accessories, but less articulation. Decisions decisions...
