To "cheong" or not to "cheong"

To "cheong" or not to "cheong" (Part 1)

 It is no secret by now that some fans of Lego dabble in bootleg brick toys. Before hardcore fans scream blasphemy, let me explain more on this observation and some proposed reasons for this rising trend. Oh, by the way, to buy a "cheong" product is a local slang for getting a bootleg. I need to make a clear statement that I do not support bootleg products and I also do not purchase bootleg products for the purpose of resale. Any bootleg product purchased were done with the intention to understand the products in its quality and design in order to share that information with collectors.   

By now, bootleg brick toys have already established themselves in the international market. Initially, companies in China produced bootleg Lego minifigures from existing popular superhero licenses such as Marvel and DC. Later on, minifigures from other licences like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Minecraft were added too. Somehow, the opportunistic companies noticed that fans were keen on characters and variants of designs not produced by Lego due to licensing and branding issues. They went on to release "original" variants  and minifigures based on exclusive events as well. The introduction of small sets centered around adding accessories for minifigures such as the Hall of Armour for Iron Man and even weapon racks/stand for Lord of the Ring and Star Wars minifigures.  

In recent years, bootleg brick toys companies hopped onto Lego sets, mostly starting from Star Wars: The Force Awaken to other Marvel and DC sets. We also see sets based on Lego's retired and even existing sets. In short, the bootleg companies are going after sets, especially big sets that were sought after and at the end of the line for production.   

So what are some possible reasons for the rapid rise of the bootleg companies?  

  1. Advancement in technology for toy manufacturing   

From design to production, advanced technology were utilised to clone and customise existing designs to capture minute details and the companies were able to produce bootlegs close to the original design in large quantity, at a very low cost. They were also able to improve their products to the point which the current printing and quality of bricks are very close to that of Lego. Bear in mind they are not exactly the same in terms of quality, but still close and getting closer with each new release. 

  2. Responsiveness to demand   

Believe it or not, the buyers from China's domestic market can just be as or even more demanding than overseas buyers. Most of the toy seller earn by selling high quantity of product and they aim to receive positive feedback on online social sale/purchase platforms in order to chalk up more sales. As such, they do look into feedback from buyers to improve on the next product quickly. If you think about it, they can do so in such breakneck speed as they copied the design and only have to work on the manufacturing process as most feedback revolves around the quality of the finished product. Furthermore, once they know of popular character variants not produced by Lego, they will sweep in to design and release these variants quickly.    

  3. Improvement in accessibility to bootleg toys   

From Amazon to Taobao, we see that buyers are able to access online sale sites that were exclusive to domestic markets because of shipping. Mail forwarders and 3rd party purchase companies have stepped in to meet the needs and buyers can easily purchase bootleg toys without even stepping out of their home. Online sellers are also providing preorder services to consolidate orders for bootleg products so they can negotiate for bulk discounts and save on shipping costs.   

  4. Low prices   

In many asian countries, Lego products are sold by licensed resellers. I do not know how it works exactly but basically we are paying way above the retail prices for Lego bought in western countries. Furthermore, products reach our shores much later from the released dates and in very limited quantity. You can sense the frustration when you are reading this and understand how it plays out. Parents who do not know the brands and products well may just purchase bootleg brick toys because they are cheaper and readily available. What is the price difference? A bootleg brick set may be as low as one tenth of an authentic Lego set of the same design. And readily in stock.   

What about Lego fans? Do they buy bootleg brick toys too? This is where it gets interesting. I believe some do. Based on my interaction with some Lego fans, they purchase bootleg brick toys too.    

  A. Low prices   

Huh? Again? Lego collectors often view bootleg brick toys as inferior but the low prices allow them to buy the bootleg brick toys to experiment with them. Some of us can't bear to open the authentic Lego products because of the rising resale value in our market. Bootleg brick toys allow one to enjoy the process of building sets without opening the precious mint in condition boxes. You can also enjoy exclusive sets and figures without breaking the bank. With the release of EOL sets, fans of Lego can also get their hands of EOL sets that they may have incredible difficulty in hunting down.    

  B. Re-creating scenes for play and photos   

 As bootleg companies released variants not available from Lego, you can get hold of characters to re-create scenes for play and taking incredible photos that are closer to shows and comics. This is enough to make geeks wet their pants when the character hold a certain place in their hearts that outweighs their loyalty to a brand.   

  C. Improving quality    

Even at low prices, most fans of Lego still keep a wide berth from bootleg brick toys because of the perceived poor quality. It may hold true as the quality control is definitely not as good as authentic Lego toys. However, as the quality of bootleg brick toys is improving and online reviewers are providing detailed positive feedback, many are swayed to purchase them. Also remember point A and B?        

Conclusion 

While there are dedicated communities around the world who are loyal to Lego, much can be said for bootleg brick toys too. However, there are also those who are on the line, dabbling in bootleg brick toys with a clear sense of value and worth attached to the authentic and bootleg products. They don't mix both up and they certainly do not display bootleg because of the love, pride and value attributed to the authentic products. There are outcries among Lego fans for the company to do something about the bootleg companies but until then, we will continue to see them in the market. In the meantime, it does not mean I support bootleg brick toys. I think it is a wake up call for Lego to step up on their game and also do something quickly about their involvement with the asian markets and fans who are growing frustrated.

In the next entry, we will review some sets from a couple of prominent companies and compare them with authentic Lego sets too.      

 

Review- Titans Return Wave 1 Deluxe Scourge, Blurr, Hardhead & Skullcruncher

So, like I shared earlier, I do not have an immense wealth of knowledge and experience with Transformers toys and their long history. When I approach Transformers toys, I come from the perspective of an adult collector who appreciates the toys for what they are- the details on the molding, poseability, paint job, complexity in transformation, the quality of material used, and the value of money that I feel I get out of the fun derived from the toy.  

Based on the factors mentioned earlier, I need to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of fun that I got out of Transformers Titans Return Wave 1 Deluxes! What we have here are individual figures and characters that collectors can go for without shelling out a lot of money. Unlike Combiner Wars which requires you to get the entire wave to form the combiner, Titans Return is wallet-friendly as you can stop at any character/figure that you like. Of course, nothing is stopping you from getting the entire wave but you can always go slow and wait for them to go on clearance discount. It is better to have a complete character than to be stuck with a partial combiner! 

  Scourge

 

Scourge- Robot Mode

 

Headmaster Fracas

 

Scourge- Alt Mode

 

Pew!

Blurr    

Run, Blurr, RUN!

 

Headmaster Hyperfire

 

Blurr- Alt Mode

Hardhead  

 

Hardhead- Robot Mode

 

Headmaster Furos

 

Hardhead- Alt Mode

Skullcruncher  

 

Skullcruncher- Robot Mode

 

Headmaster Grax

 

Skullcruncher Alt Mode

Without repeating too much of what have been going on online, the most significant problem of Wave 1 Deluxes are the gaps and spaces in the underside of the arms and legs. I understand that the space may be necessary to fit parts during transformation but at least cover them up properly! It is mind-boggling that most of the figures utilise thin plastic flaps to cover up parts in the key design of the series but they weren't consistently utilised. This flaw is pretty damaging as the figures look terrible from the side and let's not even look at them from the back. I can already imaging 3rd party companies releasing upgrades to plug the gaps.

On the plus side, the transformation of the figures were intuitive and fun! I will highly recommend this wave to children and even those who want to start their very own Transformers collection. The transformation of the figures were easy for someone like me who cannot follow visual instructions and I am sure most of you will fare better. The figures generally have good articulation for poses but were severely hindered by the gappy limbs.

The modern and updated design is a big hit for people who like the cartoon and comic designs too. Pretty sure this is a much better entry point for old and new fans than Transformers movie toys... But before I start ranting, I must say that the paint job on the figures were really clean and neat! The colour scheme stayed true to the G1 designs and before you go on to say that they are plain and bare, please note that stickers will be released to add details on the figures. A bit lazy? A cost-saving move? I don't know for sure. But I must say I am starting to grow fond of pasting stickers on my toys and I wouldn't mind if the quality is good. 

I just want to say that I truly appreciate the consideration of play and fun catered for the younger buyers. There is so much interaction available for the headmasters and figures in different modes. It's a good reminder we don't always have to pay exorbitant prices to 3rd party companies for the fun we can get out of toys. I am not against 3rd party products but I am strongly against what we are paying these days. Of course, that's about expectation that differs with people. Oh well, another topic for another post. Anyway, thanks for reading and keep a lookout for more updates on toys from same wave!

   

Our journey so far... On Instagram and blogging

Unknowingly, this blog has went beyond the 21st entry! While it is not a big number, it is a good time to take a hard look at where we are and how things are moving forward.

So about Instagram and blogging...

I am kind of hitting 1900+ followers on Instagram over at @sgtoydude, but what does that mean? Truth be told, it means a lot to me in terms of the connection that I have made with people since the account was created. My close circle of friends don't exactly support the toy collection as it is still viewed as something mature adults would not do. Much less having followers on  an Instagram account on toys. However, I really enjoy posting pictures of the figures that I have and going into discussions with collectors from all over the world. I did not enter the toy-collecting scene early like most of the other collectors that I have spoken to. I am also not in as many social media platforms and communities as some are. In short, I am a small-timer in the hobby of giants. You get the reference to giants? You know, like Transformers and giant robots? Anyway, many have been gracious and kind in sharing their advice with regards to maximising the enjoyment of toy-collecting when this hobby is extremely heavy on the pocket and time.

Blogging is a platform for sharing my thoughts and I know most people on Instagram don't read. Actually, I am also not too sure who visits this blog but the viewing traffic shows people poping by. Hopefully they didn't come over here by mistake. But the fun and kick of this blog is really just releasing the stuff that goes on in the head and verbalising them to people who are following that writer's voice. Erm, believe me, I am not crazy! 

Are you chasing after numbers?

Believe me, while I am incredibly flattered even with this number of followers and readership, I am not here for the numbers. It's about self-awareness. Repeat after me, self-awareness. We have seen young people going into social media and calling themselves 'social influencers'. Let's face it, I am not a somebody. I am just a regular dad who happens NOT to grow up in terms of his choice of hobby and I just managed to connect with like-minded people. 

Are people persuaded to buy something just because I took photos or wrote a review? 

Of course there were people who did that! In collecting terms, we call it poisoning. Does that mean anything? Nope! I am not given free products to review and I may probably not be good enough because I am not a somebody in the media industry or someone with having over thousands and thousands of followers. Does that bother me? Nope! I mean it's nice to receive free stuff. Who doesn't like free stuff? I have received gifts but mainly from other collectors that became friends. Do I receive perks? Kind of. Some discounts here and there from sellers and having sellers to help me to hold on to preorders. Some share my Instagram and blog with others.

Does that mean I rave about a product or toy shop?

Obviously not. I always try to appreciate the positive qualities of products or services. If it's bad, you will hear it too. We don't need to criticise a product in order to sound honest in our opinions. I just hate to be another one of those who rant excessively on your feed on a product or service.

So what's next?

In this day and age, it's not difficult to get followers and readers. I don't say that in a way which devalues my followers or readers. I meant it in a sincere way that acknowledges my insignificance in a industry where people actually make a living out of the pictures and blog entries. 

But moving forward, it's about posting pictures of toys I like and sharing opinions on toys and the hobby because I truly enjoy what I do. If free stuff comes along, why not? If it doesn't, I will still enjoy this hobby for what it's worth. It has survived a relatively long time compared to the many hobbies I had when I was growing up and it has taken up a significant part of my house's design (my wife and daughter has to live with that). 

I will continue to look at toys from a casual collector's perspective. Why? I think one of the main thing that puts people off toy-collecting is the immense amount of information online and the geeky community that may seem intimidating. Sometimes, it's the simple and concise information or opinion will help someone pick up a toy.

If you have something to share or question for me, feel free to connect with me over Instagram @sgtoydude, email or comment below! 

 

Review- Titans Return Sentinel Prime

The wait is finally over! Thanks to the community at the Planet Iacon - Singapore Transformers Fans Unite Facebook group, we have information that Titans Return Wave 1 has hit our shore last Thursday. Having reviewed the prototype/test shot of Blaster earlier, my interest for the series was piqued. From the pictures released online, the figure that had me all curious was voyager class Autobot Sentinel Prime with Infinitus. Before I go on, I know the same mold will most likely be used for Astrotrain, just as much as we were sure that Blaster's mold will be used for Soundwave. 

I would also like to address that because Hasbro Singapore does NOT send me stuff, these are independent opinions about the product. I don't rave about a toy for free products. I genuinely try to appreciate the works of others and I also understand that no product is and will ever be perfect. You are entitled to your opinions as much as I am entitled to share my opinions. :)

Front of the box

We are getting similar box packaging with those from Combiner Wars. Off the bat, you will notice the awesome box art of the headmaster Infinitus hovering above the torso of Sentinel Prime. This headmaster-hovering-about-the-torso artwork is consistent with other packaging design of the wave.

Back of the box

The back of the box provides a short description of Sentinel Prime and how Infinitus aids him in battle. I appreciate the simple summary of the transformations for the headmaster and different modes. It is also made known that you can purchase other bots from the same line to swop the headmasters around. Kind of like the swopping of limbs from Combiner Wars. 

 

Out of the box

I want to make it known that I do not enjoy removing the figure and weapons from the tray. It is a pain for an excited fan to cut the tough bands that were holding the content onto the tray. I am always panicky when I have to cut those bands with precision to prevent scratches on the paint. 

Bot mode

Sentinel Prime comes in the fiery-angel-of-justice shades of orange and red that seems to blind the enemies before he strikes! Jokes aside, the wings form a backpack makes him a little back heavy. The tips of the wings also hinder how far you can tilt the knees back when you pose the figure. It does help that the design of the feet allows you to tilt forward and backward which support the figure well enough for most poses.

Headmaster- Infinitus

 

Piloting!

 

Pew! Pew! Pew!

 

Headmaster Infinitus shares a striking resemblance to the overall design of Sentinel Prime. It is reminiscent of G1 Headmasters when you fold and unfold the headmasters to get them into the desired modes. Like I mentioned in the earlier review on Blaster, the fun part for children having this toys is the interaction you get between the headmasters with the modes and accessories! It is fun when your imagination can multiply the value of play with just a figure from the wave.

 

Shuttle mode              

The shuttle mode is a gem as it resembles the design of the Ark or other space shuttles in the Transformers universe. In the process of transforming this figure, I noticed that there is a similar design idea going on for Sentinel Prime and Blaster- Hasbro is heavily utilising plastic flaps to enhance the visuals of the figure without adding a lot of plastic in terms of volume. The plastic flaps help to cover gaps in different parts of the figure to ensure that they do not LOOK cheap and skeletal. This is a pretty smart move to hook children and most collectors as they can essentially nail the aesthetic of the figures without complex design in terms of molding and engineering. 

 

Space Train Mode?

 

This has to be the weakest mode of the figure. It's basically splitting the legs and turning the torso to straighten the arms out. And of course, unfolding of more flaps! I don't get the space train concept since essentially it kind of functions similarly to that of the space shuttle? One can argue on the physics on space travel or loading capacity for both modes but the space train mode is really redundant here. Or it's just disguising as a highly weaponised train on the railway? Erm. Ok...

  

Overall... 

This is not a sponsored post. I may like it more while some of you may absolutely hate this figure. We don't have to agree. I must still say that I stand by this figure despite of the weak train mode. I may even like this more than Blaster as Blaster's base mode hollowed the figure into a series of flaps. If you also look at the deluxe figures and leader class Powermaster Optimus Prime, there are lots of gaps in the under part of the arms in a cost-saving move.   It is highly inconsistent when Hasbro opted to use flaps to cover gaps and left the arms 'holey'. 

 

Updates!- 28/06/2016

This month has been a pretty busy month as my little girl is on school holiday. Like most parents in Singapore, you make the best of the school holiday to spend more time with your child during this period before going back to the hustle and bustle of routines. I was also tied up with hosting guests from overseas which meant less time for the hobby of collecting, reviewing or taking pictures of toys.  

If you are reading this or following me on Instagram, you will notice a shift in the subjects of the pictures. Yes, that's right! Lego! Before I go any further, I just want to make it clear that I am NOT abandoning Transformers! In fact, like other Transformers fans, we are eager for Titans Return! Having reviewed the prototype/test shot and actual product of Blaster earlier, my anticipation level is sky high. Like my rants earlier, I am running out of space at my home and the 3rd party releases are really not my thing.  Anyway, before I go way off topic again, here are some reasons why I am going into Lego even though I am late in the game:   

1. Minifigures are cute!

   

Disney Lego Minifigure Set

Yes, I know I started on my minifigures collection before this series but this has to be the strongest case for my point!    

 

2. Minifigures are easy to store and display!

   

Lego Minifigure Door Display

  

This is as space-saving as it gets for my toy display. My Transformers collection took up more space than this. And for the sake of my argument in case my wife reads this, we have received surprisingly awesome feedback from guests on this display. Hehe!   

3. Building Lego sets is therapeutic!

  

Ford Mustang

Here is a background to my history with building toys. I generally mess up when I have to build toys. I remember numerous projects when I was missing parts or the screwups with the stickers. I am also very bad with pictorial guides. Don't ask me why. I have no idea at all. But, I was pleasantly surprised that I had no such problem with Lego. In fact, I enjoy playing an episode of whatever show that I am following and work on a Lego build. Granted, the X-wing, Big Bang Theory set or even the Ford Mustang are simple, but I know it was a kind of a breakthrough from my fear of building toys.   

4. It is fun to use the minifigures and sets to tell stories!  

 

Captain America: Civil War

I am still learning the ropes on storytelling but I LOVE the works that I had come across so far on Instagram. I mean so long as you have the characters and bricks needed, the possibilities are endless.     

5. Connecting with a different fan base!  

 

Connecting with people!

I think one of the most enjoyable part of collecting toys is to connect with other toy collectors. It just make the collecting so much more fun and there is really so much to learn from one another.  If you are reading this, I would also enjoy chatting with you on toys! Comment below or follow me on Instagram! :)

Review- Battle Strike Team: Space Deleter Mechas

Unless you are collecting 3rd party Transformers toys or original toys from the older series, it is kind of a lull period for Transformers collectors. Most people I know are also selling old toys to fund the upcoming Titans Return line. If you are also a Super Sentai fan, it is no secret that the current Zyuohger mechas have been a bit of a letdown. Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy the theme of animals and the plot so far. The gimmick of the mechas, on the other hand, has been less than ideal. Toqger and Ninninger were bashed pretty badly for their mechas and I think Zyuohger is worst of the lot with Wild Zyuoh King having wimpy arms that do not even resemble those from the shows. The size of the mechas are also much smaller and the cubic design doesn't help the fact that the mechas have minimal articulation. In short, we are getting glorified bricks with springs. With that said, I do hope they pick up as it is still the 40th anniversary of Super Sentai and a significant milestone for the series. 

In this down time, I happen to chance upon the Battle Strike Team: Space Deleter series and had a go at it. To do justice to the series, I will NOT call it a KO Super Sentai series as I found it unfair for some reviewers to call it a KO. I rather look at it as China's attempt at tokusatsu. The perks of being bilingual is that I get to understand what I watched on YouTube and I did not enjoy the snippets of what I watched. Personally, I found the plot and dialogues too cheesy. The fight scenes and the designs of the mechas, however, are surprisingly impressive! It is also the design of the mecha toys that had drawn the attention of collectors and some brave souls had a go at the mechas, giving much positive feedback that emboldened me to give it a shot. But more importantly, the price was the biggest draw. The set of 3 mechas that forms the ultimate form, with shipping cost, came up to the price of a single official Super Sentai mecha!

 

Set of 3

You need the set of 3 mechas to form the 'Ultrazord' of the series. They came up to 5.4kg in shipping weight and any one of the box you see here made Zyuohking's packaging feel like a lunch box. 

 

Inside the box                                              

Auldey, the company that produced the toys, has adopted a similar paper cardboard packaging that is environmentally friendly and easy for kids to free the toys. The parts are wrapped in plastic and it came with a simple instruction manual.

 

Solar Saver- Vehicle Mode

The pink jet forms the shoulder and helmet of Solar Saver. The blue transporter, fully unfolded, is the longest vehicle of the lot and forms the legs. The badass looking red rocket forms the head, torso, arms and weapon. 

Rocket launching mode

Believe it or not, this was the mode that launched me into the decision of acquiring them. Ok. Lame.

Carrier mode

When Blue has to do all the driving around...

 

Gattai!

This is the true strength of the mecha design! The plastic quality is similar to that of Bandai and the joints are tight.  There is no gimmick here, just plain old space vehicles forming a huge robot that screams intimidation. The good mix of translucent plastic and helmet made me go crazy about it. I can't even bring myself to put Zyuohking's beside it. :(

The next 2 boxes...

 

Planet Saver- Vehicle Mode

The yellow drill tank forms the upper half and the green spaceship forms the lower half of the combined form. Simple and sweet.

 

Planet Saver- Combined form

I love the elbow joints. Come on, we don't get that often in Super Sentai mechas. Before you bombard me, I also forgot to flip up the silver blade/horn pieces on the helmet. Planet Saver comes up to the height of Solar Saver with a good mass too.  

Let our power combine...

Ta-da! We have Galaxy Saver! I will tell you upfront that this is the best form of what you can get from the three mecha sets. That's right, more does not make it better. With the exception of the red arms sticking awkwardly at both sides of the legs, the mechas come well together here. I like how the hulking arsenal is cohesive and does not come across as something messy and too much of a brick.

Uranus Saver- Vehicle Mode            

 

Uranus Saver- Robot Mode

Other than the need to come up with a better name, I find Uranus Saver the weakest of the trio. The main problem in its design lies with the dragon head that does not feel cohesive to the overall design. It is always something that sticks out like a sore thumb in ALL the modes possible. 

Size comparison

When everything comes together, it becomes too messy! I don't like the dragon head sticking out at the top and half of Uranus Saver is attached to the back of this form. This form is only good for people who like their mechas big and having parts stacked together. Personally, I also won't want kids handling this as it's over 5kg of plastic. Crazy heavy for a toy, especially if it lands on your feet.

Overall, I will strongly recommend Galaxy Saver. It's been a while since I have seen a tokusatsu mecha that impresses me so much with excellent quality of material used and design that blew me away. The large size is definitely something adult toy collectors love as the departure from large robot toys is disappointing. The final form is a tad disappointing but don't let it fool you in skipping this line entirely. Certainly, don't write it off because it is from China. In fact, I can't wait to see what they come up with next! 

Review- Transformers Titans Return Blaster

When the Titans Return toy line was announced by Hasbro, I was very excited because we are getting the updated design of many Headmaster toys based on the IDW comics. While I enjoy the G1 Headmaster toys, I do feel the need for an update to the design as that would add more articulation to the toys which would greatly enhance posing and play. Some of the toys in the new line were re-designed into headmaster and I thought it could be a creative and interesting take on existing characters too. I chanced upon Titans Return Blaster online and so here are the pictures and some personal thoughts on the toy after handling them!  

Titans Return Blaster- Robot Mode

This is easily the best mode given to us! Blaster has a good height to him, much like his G1 counterpart. Most of the design stayed true to the original take on the toy with many articulations that were added to the toy. You can pose him in almost any way you like and the toy has broad feet and ankle joints which made him very stable for posing.    

Titans Return Blaster- Headmaster Face

The selling point to this line is the interchangeable headmasters. Once you flip the helmet back, you can remove the head/face and replace it with another headmaster. There is no limit to what you can do with this gimmick and many of the fans are just waiting for third party companies to release more headmasters!  

Titans Return Blaster- Headmaster Bot Mode

So, the robot mode of the headmaster is supposed to resemble the big bot. You can see the tiny speakers forming the legs, similar chest design and head sculpt. Personally, I think that Hasbro has nailed the design of the headmaster and I am thrilled to have fun with the other figures from the line.

Titans Return Blaster- Accesories

The accessories to the toy are very simple. You get the tape that fill the chest cavity, ramps that fit onto the base mode and rifle. I remember the representative from Hasbro mentioning in a toy reviewer's video that the tape accessory was a given and you do not need to buy another Transformers toy like Legend class Buzzsaw just to fill the cavity of Blaster. I appreciate that gesture as they could have easily left that out to make you buy more toys. On a side note, the recently released Buzzsaw does fit the chest of Blaster perfectly.  

Titans Return Blaster- Base Mode

Hate it or love it? I do not need a base mode for Blaster. I am trying to reconcile my love for G1 Blaster with this new base mode. However, the child in me digs it! It brings me back to the days of Mighty Max where you can use the tiny headmaster to interact with the design of the base! 

 

Titans Return Blaster- Alt-Mode

The transformation to the alt-mode is fun and intuitive as you fold and squeeze everything together. It's compact and the mould is not boring at all! Rather than the flat and smooth surface we got from the G1 toy, the updated cassette player mould has layers to it. Sadly, you can only interact with a button to eject the tape. I wish they have added more moving buttons/switches in this mode.  

Titans Return Blaster- G1 rifle fits him too!

Overall, while the Combiner Wars toy line has brought us fun with the interchangeable limbs, different combinations and large bots, the Titans Return toyline may just be a big hit with collectors of all ages because of the updated bot designs and the interaction between the headmasters and different modes.  

Let's talk about toys... Toy scene in Singapore

It's a pretty amazing period to be a toy collector in Singapore. To qualify about the information in this post, I am considered relatively new to the toy scene in Singapore compared to some of the collectors that I know personally. So do note that whatever views presented here are very subjective, but they can also be good insights from observant eyes.  

When I was a young boy, around 5-7 years old, most of my toys were bought from the grocery shop under the block of the apartment. Back then I wasn't really aware that actually most of these toys were knockoffs or bootlegs made of poor quality. A toy is still a toy and I had a lot of fun. Looking back, I could tell that my parents couldn't really afford the pricier toys sold in shopping malls. I only received genuine toys during special occasions like my birthdays or Christmas gatherings. Of course, McDonald's Happy Meal toys were also great treats that I could expect quite frequently.  

Back then, information about new toys came from two main sources. There were heavy bombardments of toy commercials on the weekend television programs and you can also find the advertisement from Toy''R''Us's delivered to your mail boxes. If you read comics, especially those imported from America, you will also be dazzled by the toy advertisements littered in the pages of your favourite titles. And if your parents brought you out shopping, that's when you will be kept abreast of the new line of toys on the shelves. Children will often boast of new toys that they have seen when they were out shopping. I think those were the days when non-existent toys came into being because of some kids that tried too hard to impress their naive audience. 

Today, toys are still being bought and sold under the apartment blocks in Singapore and they usually cater to very young kids who just want to have simple fun with toys. To be fair, most of these toys are very safe and most young kids enjoy the toys for what they are. They couldn't really care if they are original products. But here's the big difference: original toys are no longer sold solely at stores in the shopping malls. You are find them online easily from reputable sellers. They are priced lower than those sold on the shelves of retail stores and you can even get them delivered to your door step as postage costs are also cheaper now. Some of the retail stores are taking a big hit as Toy"R"Us in Singapore has less outlets and some of their existing stores have reduced the size of their stores. If you observe the stock movement of toys sold in Metro, OG and/or BHG, there seem to be many leftover stocks placed at huge discount before the release of new lines of toy. Toy warehouse sales are not unheard of. You can blame it on the increasing rental cost, cost of hiring workers or online competitors. It's not a secret that the retail industry is taking a hit. With all these said, understand that parents/grandparents still buy toys for their children/grandchildren in shopping malls to please them and sometimes it's the physical product that attracts the kids most. Most consumers probably purchase the toys from stores because they may also not know about other alternatives. A familiar physical store that guarantees the authencity and safety quality of toys with good exhange/return policy is often the safest option.   

Information about new toys usually appear quickly on the newsfeed of most social media platforms. I find less toy commercials on television and even less on print. The occasional advertisement insert from Toy"R"Us found in The Straits Times newspaper is still something fun to look for but they are considered 'outdated' information on toy releases. The latest news are available quickly online and collectors are kept well-informed. People are not just talking about toys found on their local retail stores. They are also talking about toys sold in other countries. Video reviews often provide very comprehensive coverage of a toy and one can be very judicious in adding a new toy to the collection. One can also easily get hold of a toy before it reaches local retail stores and perhaps, at much lower prices. 

If you ask me, it is certainly a great period to be a toy collector. Not only are you kept well-informed on toy releases and can choose from a variety of stores selling toys, one can also easily connect with other collectors to trade, buy and/or sell toys. Second hand toys are gaining popularity because some collectors do take really good care of their toys are they let go of their toys at relatively low and reasonable prices. Unless you are a purist in collecting toys in brand new condition, it is quite common for seasoned collectors to prowl Facebook groups, forums and online shopping apps for used toys in excellent condition.   

Looking forward, the online toy stores may take the hit next as new online toy stores are popping up too quickly. While it's true that the cost of an online toy store start-up is cheaper than a physical retail store, it would also mean stronger competition. Your customers are actually very aware of the prices of products and the profit margins for toys sold are not as high as most stores have to keep their prices competitive. Some online stores actually require deposit for preorders now as they have customers who did not honor their orders, thus accumulating stocks that are not easy to get rid of. And like most online stores, the space you have to contain your stock is literally your apartment.  

Personally, I seldom buy toys from retail stores because of the difference in prices from that of the online stores. In fact, I have also cut down on my preorders and I only make preorders if I am a big fan of a certain series. Like many others, I am actually looking for used toys as I also enjoy the interaction with other collectors when I trade, buy and sell toys. But, I am conflicted too. When I have to buy a toy for my young daughter, retail store is still my first option.  

Review- High Proportion Super Sentai Series 1

In the last review, I mentioned that there are some prized items from the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers toy line. Other than the Zords, we are also talking about the Morpher and Dragon Dagger! Now, if you are struggling for space in your toy collection or can't afford the expensive Legacy series for the Morpher and Dragon Dagger, the High Proportion Super Sentai Series 1 is the way to go. They are basically very well-sculpted and well-painted, high-end gashapon toys that you can purchase as a set online. In short, you do not have to locate the gashapon machine and try your luck with many coins to get the complete set of toys that you so desire.

Dragon Dagger before assembly

 

The Dragon Dagger comes in parts before assembly. The parts are very easy to assemble as you only need to snap the blade into the handle of the Dragon Dagger. The other parts form the stand of the Dragon Dagger.

Dragon Dagger Assembled!

 

A little close-up shot              

The Dragon Dagger comes up to the size of your palm. The intricate details of the original Dragon Daggers are sculpted onto the dagger and the paint are crisp and well-applied. There is really great attention to details and I cannot stress how impressed I am with something this small. Of course there is no working electronic but the company provided a stand for the dagger! 

 

The Morpher with Power Coin and display/holder          

Back of the Morpher        

Green Ranger Morpher!

 

The Morphers made the fan in me go crazy! Other than the insane amount of details on the Power Coins and Morpher, you can actually pretend to morph by pressing the button to activate the spring mechanism. I must stress again that it is small, about the size of your palm, and the proportion is smaller than that of the Legacy release.  Again, there is no electronics too.

 

 

Set on display

 

Ultimately, I would not recommend this set if you like the size and electronic features of the Legacy series. But, if you are like me, who is struggling for display space, this set is excellent as they are sufficiently big enough for you to appreciate the details and they really go well on your office desk.