For my 1000th video, a very special look at the test shots for Mech Ideas upcoming figures Apex and Geminus, the DEMOLITON CRUE. (aka Topspin and Twin Twist of Wreckers fame.)

1000th Video Extravaganza!!! - YouTube


Also, if you want to get a good look at them in person, xterry will be showcasing these at the San Jose Super Toy and Comic Book show this Sat. (Dec 1st)

http://timetunnelnews.blogspot.com/2012/08/san-jose-super-toy-comic-book-show.html

And you can check out the facebook page of the designer here!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Warner-Designs/409358595785629

Here's some photos for those who prefer them. First off, their vehicle modes. I understand that the wings and drills are a little on the small side here, but they look great in robot mode, so I'm willing to forgive it.



Before we get too far into it, here's the weapon loadout. Each figure gets two copies of their signature weapon, plus the three pieces needed to build their demolition sledgehammers:





The weapons can all be held by other figures with the standard 5mm pegholes. As you can see in the earlier picture, the handguns attach to the tops of the vehicles, the hammer separates and pegs in under the vehicle:



To start, you pop out the two handle pieces from underneath. They peg into the vehicle itself and also attach to the hammer portion via a couple of tiny posts.







Then just pop the hammer out and assemble. You're ready to move on! The first part is to swing the legs out to the side.



You'll want to be careful of the tiny tabs that help hold the legs in place in vehicle mode. They're mostly there to function as a guide and shouldn't affect anything serious should they snap off, but why take the chance?



Then just flip the feet up!





What's neat is that while they could have just left it like that, they've given the feet a dual hinge so you can get some great ankle rocking going on for wider stance poses.



Then untab and swing out the arms:



The treads also flip out and can rotate onto the back once the torso is in place.



The torso actually lifts up and swings up over the waist to tab into place for robot mode. It's a very neat little piece of engineering that's hard to capture properly in still photos.





Then you flip open the panel on the back and fold the cockpit down to reveal the head. What's neat is that there's a blank shield area molded in for a symbol of your choice on both the cockpit/chest AND the cover, so if you put a sticker in both places it looks like the chest piece actually becomes the cover plate, since one ends up right above the other in vehicle mode.





Now just open the arm covers and rotate the fists out, then close them back up:







Then close up the rear cover to lock the head in place and fold the rear treads/wings in to form the backpack. The wings on Apex rotate to sit properly in bot mode.



And then you've got them in bot mode!



The rest are just some shots to show scale and some of the incredible detail molded into these guys. I think aesthetically they fit very nicely with the Fansproject warbots and will make and excellent addition to anyone's Wrecker crew, or just look great displayed with your other figures. Can't wait for the full production versions!



























EDIT 12/5/12 - BETTER PHOTOS ADDED!

 

Nice! Congrats on all the good work! I'll be snaging those beauts.

 

I was completely oblivious to these guys. Will definitely get them.

 

Holy shit

 

The proportions on these guys look far better than the early CG, which I am thankful for. Can't wait to see painted versions.

 

  Cool review!!! And congrats on your 1000th video. Wonder if these guys (Mech Ideas) would consider doing Rack n Ruin and/or Impactor?

 

I love the articulation those feet are neat and a kinda involved transformation more than I was expecting. Another thing, where'd you get that shirt from homie?

 

Just when I thought there wouldn't be more new toys to spend money on!

Congrats on your 1000th video. Just want to mention that it was your VF-1s 1/60 Yamato review that really persuaded me to start my Macross collection as well as numerous other tfs as well  

 

Awesome! I love it when people mention my non-tf related reviews.

 

wow...drills WAAAY to small, wings to small too. Only disappointment.

 

Great review, better figures.

 

Added a photo step-by-step/mini-review to the first post.

 

Personally, I really like these guys. But it doesn't look like it would be too difficult to Shapeways some bigger drills and wings and swap them in.

Great review, by the way!

 

Well these are a must buy for me!

 

hopefully i have the money when these two come out. T_T

 

digging these..brings me back to 84.. as these were the two first transformers i had..bought WOAST

 

wow looks like a homerun for mech ideas

glad to see they are a little smaller than the impression i got from the 3d render.

they look like loads of fun

 

Nice preview, Peaugh! I'll definitely be picking these guys up for my Classics Wreckers display. Proportions look better than expected (wings and drills are on the small side but I'll be displaying in bot mode mostly so it's forgiveable). Really neat engineering and love how weapon storage is incorporated in alt mode. Looking forward to seeing the final colored figures!

If MI ever does a follow up, I second Rack-n-Ruin or perhaps Ironfist or even Guzzle (since FP hinted at Roadbuster or Sandstorm as their next Warbot release, while iGear teased a not-Impactor, however long it takes them to release those). HeadRobots needs to follow up their Drone/Whirl add-on with a Rotorstorm add-on for the DOTM Vortex mold. An add-on to turn the Inferno mold into Pyro could be doable too.

 

When I saw the word apex I though godbomber's American name

 

Congrats on 1,000 videos, Peaugh! And great review on these. If you have the chance, could we see a shot of them with some Hasbro Transformers? Thanks!