My order directly from Fans Hobby's own storefront came out to $56USD shipped without even using one of the many coupons they sent me from previous orders, unfortunately it's no longer in stock there, but TF-Direct has it for listed $60USD with free shipping (comes out to $58.75 for me with "member" savings), so I'm not sure the added fun of going through TaoBao is worth saving $5-7USD for just this figure versus elsewhere, not even when it's sold out from so many other sellers.

 

Hey folks, I'm not allowed to link to it directly, but if you follow the link to TFSource's blog in my sig then the first part of my written Athena review is up.

 

@Sixo I didn't know you had a Youtube channel. In any case keep the 3P photos coming in these threads.

Your way is good. The Taobao savings for this is just if shipped alone. The shipping costs are lowered even further if you consolidate or ship together with other items in Taobao or Superbuy stash. On top of all that Superbuy offers additional coupons to lower the cost of shipping even further.

 

Yeah, was trying to emphasize for an individual order, because the savings are somewhat negligible then, especially with shipping being so unpredictable right now, but yeah, with bulk orders TaoBao can be a much better option, but definitely not an easily approachable one for inexperienced buyers.

 

I've already got Sheridan and Iceman waiting in the warehouse. Also waiting for my seller to get 2nd batch of Magnum in it can join them as well. Most of us in the USA are using EMS through Superbuy shipping option which is very economical for shipping multiple items at once. Currently it shouldn't take more than 2 weeks for delivery once shipped.

 

You've got way more faith in the USPS than I do of late!

 

All these pics look so good. Can’t wait for BBTS to get here in and for GoShuta to finally go up for PO.

 

I have fat fingers. I meant good

 

This'll be my first purchase of a Fans Hobby figure. How durable are their figures compared to, say, MMC's figures?

 

I only have one Fans Hobby figure but I thought the material quality was excellent.

 

I’m totally getting this and the other Jr’s and am in total regret passing on Power Baser.....

 

I feel like you can totally see that FP influence in the Minerva headmaster.

 

So far I own every release they've made, barring only a couple repaints, and my experience has been their material and build quality has been better than most any other TF company, Takara included, that I own. Easily as good, or better than MMC, better tolerances and durability than FansToys, better engineering and durability than XTB/KFC, and miles better than recent Takara, both in design, and especially in materials. I think a fair bit of that is due to the fact FansHobby doesn't use a lot of paint, and instead chooses to use a wide variety of colored plastics to achieve the look others do with paint, having utilized fewer parts than FH, comparatively.

 

Seconded. Like @Sanity Bleeds I own at least one of every mold they've made. While they could have better joint tolerances in some of their earlier figures (I have a v1 Power Baser that's fine on his own, but his knees and hips have trouble with the extra weight of God Armor, and their Monsterbots are a little loose), the overall materials and build quality are extremely sturdy. Fans Hobby makes figures you can play with.

 

I might have to get this to scratch my MP carbot itch, since my FT Wildrider order is awaiting the second batch of stock.

I agree on materials, quality and engineering. I own Archenemy, Overlord and Lightning Eagle. Everything feels solid, nothing fragile. Good engineering doesn't require complex transformation, but achieving the end goals of both modes with simple effective steps.

 

I only have Lightning Eagle, and while he’s great, a smokestack snapped off when combining him with the trailer. They're sending me a replacement part, but it was disappointing for my first try at this company. Didn’t stop me from preordering Athena and Machine Eagle, though!

 

I haven't had any issues with mine. They're work has been excellent. The only reason I sat out the Power-baser line (before Machine Eagle) was nothing sung to me.

 

Video Review: Fans Hobby MB-12 ATHENA

 

don't have any of their FH stuff, have a couple FEXT items (fans hobby extension) and the quality is good. looking forward to getting a nice new carbot, and headmaster femmebot one at that. the car lover in me hopes we get a redeco without stripes ...just like in silver or red or black. in fact i kinda wonder how hard it would be to remove the red paint on the car body haha.

 

This is all why they are one of my favorite third party companies, if not my favorite. Both FH and MMC have been killing it recently I definitely like their more recent stuff better than Fanstoys or Takara.