In most cases, I agree with you. The ones I like best are the ones that have the least parts swapping.

Honestly, Bandai's Minipla is the ideal that Kabaya should be trying to vie for.

 

Never knew this existed

 

It just makes no sense.

 

A candy toy like this isn't always going to have the same amount of engineering as a normal TF. If it weren't a model kit, sure, but they have to manage all the separate parts for the model itself, too.

The reason something like Fort Max can pull it off compared to say, the Samurai GO! team is because the latter is way more complicated, not to mention they have to pull off the combination gimmick.

 

Yeah...not really. If they removed the articulation they could have easily allowed a lack of partsforming. And these are model kits, just a lot smaller. Besides, plastic content doesn't increase exponentially when they're on the sprues to begin with.

No, they're like that to make them simple for kids to assemble, despite the fact that kids can assemble them easily in the first place. Besides, there are examples of non-partsforming Kabaya kits such as Star Convoy and God Ginrai (except for the partsforming of the Godbomber parts, but that was on the original toy so it gets a pass).

There's no excuse for this. It's a design choice; plain and simple. I don't like it, but there's nothing keeping you from having a different opinion.

 

Wow, FMax metallic version does look better than the original. Will be interesting if they'll reissue all the previous one in the metallic version. My Encore FMax would sure love this little guy, lol.

The partforming doesn't bother me that much since this is a kiddy toy and I see the benefit which kid can learn to assemble the piece together like a lego or puzzle. My biggest issue with Kabaya is the amount of stickers that are used just to cover the toy and they don't stick well too. One of the examples is my 2010 Kabaya UM, love the mold, but man, his cab all three side of the panels require stickers. Color mold itself on that section would've been sufficient. Although I don't like sticker and since stickers are fun for kid, I believe they should've kept at the minimum like here and there.

 

Uh it's a model kit. They can't put paint on the sprues, or even if they can they won't. It's kind of the point.

But yeah, I can see why they'd use stickers at this size. I do with they'd make bigger, more expensive kits that you could actually transform without removing or adding pieces.

 

Kinda cool. Hope it come with a stick of gum while I'll open it lol

 

Yeah, we get it. You don't like the parts-swapping.

Although that doesn't apply to Fort Max.

Unless you're just here to complain about Kabayas in general?

 

Complain? No. Criticise just a tad? Kinda. All of them? Nope. Yeah this one's fine and if I can find him I'll get him. Star Convoy's also good and I hope to find a God Ginrai some day. I'm just a little curious as to why they insist on the gimmick when they can easily skip it.

 

I was thinking the same thing, Or even a Scorponok the same size to go with Him. I don't see the metallic being a much different look on him. Metallic works best when painted on. Adding it to plastic doesn't give the same effect and in some cases can make the plastic brittle. I hope this doesn't start a trend with Kabaya to go back and do this with more past kits instead of releasing new figures. If they want to reissue stuff they should reissue the 80's kits but im sure they cant do that, but would be great if they could and in proper colors when possible..

 

I don't have space, budget, nor approval from my wife for something the size of Fortress Maximus, but this one is a size and price I can work with. Preordered from HLJ. I like that it includes the Master Sword!

 

I have an extra complete set in hand (3x boxes) if anyone wants to buy it and be guaranteed to get the three kits.

EDIT. And its gone...

 

Titan Masters will work with no issue. Mold feels like it has been improved things tab in more securely,stickers are nice, headmaster has paint on his face, big face is painted, antenna are painted, have sticker options etc.

 

Sheeeeet, he looks good.

 

Wow,it is out already

 

This has to be one of the most impressive model kits ever. It practically looks like any other Transformers toy. The paint and stickers are an improvement over the first release. I can't beleive this thing has a more accurate city mode as a Voyager sized figure than the new 2 foot tall version. If I didn't already have Infinitor, this would be my stand in Titans Return Fort Max. I still might pick this up if I can get it for a good price.

 

Built this over the weekend, and I have to say I am very much impressed with these kits. The three individual bases assembled very easily, with only a couple of niggles (the spring in kit #3 is a bit of a pain). As little Micromaster-style bases, I like all three of them, although Command Base (kit #1) is my favorite of the bunch. Tiny Cerebros/Fortress is an absolute hoot, as are Windcharger and Powerglide -- appropriately enough I do not own either of them so its nice to get some "new" characters in the display.

Fortress Maximus himself is fantastic. Good size but not overlarge, excellent colors and details, and overall just displays wonderfully. I will never own a full size Fort Max, but this version captures the full size toy in a much more shelf, budget, and spouse-friendly form. I am thoroughly happy with this purchase.

Now, do I get the Gattai models... ?

 

Never say never. Many of us have thought this at one time, some of us for decades. Then all of a sudden, BAM.

But I agree this is a cool kit and was a lot of fun. For a gum kit, it is better than it needed to be. You can tell that the guys who designed it really cared.