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. 

 

Review- Bandai Legacy Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Black/Gold Megazord

It's been a long while! The motivation to write is at valley low as it is much easier to just snap some photos of my toys and share it over Instagram. I have been procrastinating about this post as there is just so much sentimental value to the toy I am reviewing today. Many years ago, when I was about 7 years old, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was introduced to Singapore and it took the young boys by storm. It was a near-religious experience as we would sit infront of the television every Saturday morning in anticipation for the latest episode of MMPR. Back then, I have not even heard of Super Sentai and the English series was fascinating as you see teenagers with attitude morphining into super heroes and summoning giant robots to battle the equally colossal monsters.   

I won't go into the details of the prized toys from the series but the most representative of the series have to be the Megazord. Most boys enjoyed the Dinozords as you have the elements of robots and dinosaurs (sure-win formula!) and your favorite super heroes get to pilot them. The Megazord toy was an instant hit as you get a set of five Dinozords that has some articulation individually and they combine together to form the tank and Megazord mode!  

Here is the part where I get way personal. As my family was poor, my father saved and bought me the Megazord after my good performance in the End-of-Year examination. You must understand the pursuit of academic excellence is a big thing in Singapore. My father saw it as a form of encouragement to motivate me to do well and I could still remember the euphoria I felt when I carried the Megazord to the counter for payment. You must also imagine my disappointment when I opened the box and looked into the styrofoam tray. Yup, you need to apply stickers on the Dinozords! Of course I was too young to do it and my father stayed up that night to paste the stickers so I could play with the set the next day. 

I still remembered walking past the aisle in the same departmental store a few weeks after getting the Megaord. The Black/Gold version was released then and I knew I couldn't afford it. I was also extremely contented with my set. Today, I no longer have my set with the original colors, but we are able to get our hands on the Legacy edition!  

Pterodactyl      
            

Sabertooth       
            

Triceratops      
          

Mastadon    
            

Tyrannosaur

 

Tank Mode!        
    

Megazord!

When I was young, I have always thought this is an evil counterpart to the original Megazord. The Black/Gold color scheme does make the Megazord look like an evil nemesis of the original Megazord. The aesthetic is cool-looking and does not evoke the kiddy feel from the original colors. The articulation is limited but there is a hefty weight to this figure. The company did not scrimp on the diecast parts and I like the solid beefy feel to the toy. 

Comparison with the 1993 edition

Here is the thing. If you have the 1993 edition or remembered owning/handling one, you will immediately notice the differences in size and proportion of the zords. While the 1993 edition is bigger, it has an almost clumsy feel to it. The Legacy edition has a better shape as the individual limbs are less chunky and has a better proportion in its overall look.  

The biggest difference comes in when you are adding the Dragonzord and Titanus to the Megazord. The 1993 edition has no diecast parts and it is designed to have the Dragonzord and Titanus combined with it. The 1993 Ultrazord is extremely stable and there is little to no stress on each component. On the other hand, the diecast parts are the downfall of the Legacy line when you add the Dragonzord and Titanus. The combination becomes shaky at best and the diecast parts stresses each component of the zords that many reviewers felt the design of the Legacy Ultrazord is almost like an afterthought. Classic example that too much of something good, like diecast parts, can become something bad.  

Overall, the Legacy line is of good quality and it is certainly targeted at adult collectors. I cannot imagine the horror of dropping the Legacy Megazord on my own feet. It would certainly warrant a trip to the hospital.  Now that I have a home of my own. I have the 1993 Dragonzord and 1993 Black/Gold Megazord on display too. :)  

They look well together!

 

Review- WeiJiang MPP10 Optimus Prime

I had my reservations when I read the news on WeiJiang MPP10 Optimus Prime and gave the preorder a miss. After all, I already have the original TakaraTomy MP-01 and 2 MP-10s (TakaraTomy and Year of the Horse version). Granted the price was very attractive. Heck, it was even cheaper than my Unofficial Gold Chrome MP Optimuse Prime. Then I watched the video reviews and I was really surprised by the unanimously positive feedback given to the figure. I mean these are the same people who owned other versions of the MP-10 molds. These are also the same people who were rather direct on highlighting the quality of toys produced by third party companies. By then, it was too late. I contacted a few guys who do preorder of toys and they couldn't even get enough stock for their orders on hand. The orders had to be fulfilled in batches and I looked to Taobao. The sellers were experiencing the same problem over at China as they couldn't meet the domestic demands too. 

Recently, I happened to browse through Carousell and I saw the item listed by one of my favourite sellers, jeslintok. I enquired, thinking I have to be put on the waiting list or wait for the second batch of production run. To be delight, there was stock on hand! I made the payment and it was couriered very promptly. It was also very well-packed to prevent any form of damage on the toy. I mean this is what you would get from a seller who is also a toy collector. They go the extra mile just to make sure you get your toy in the best shape possible.

 

 

The unassuming brown box

 

Front of the packaging    
                  

Back of the packaging                

The first thing that struck me when I was handling the packaging was the sheer volume of this toy. It was just huge. It kind of reminded me of the time when I handled the packaging of MP-01. It just feels impressive and I understand why many third party companies are in the race to produce oversized Transformers toys. It does impress collectors to get their favourite molds in a larger scale.

 

 

Out of the packaging

Once you have the styrofoam box out of the packaging (not very environmentally friendly I must say), I was overwhelmed with glee to examine the main figure and accessories as it felt like I had a magnifying glass over a regular MP-10. It was real fun and you need to have one right in front of you to fully experience what I mean! The people who designed the packaging made it a point to ensure that the figure and accessories were individually packed and have minimal contact with anything else in the box. This is evidence of effort to preserve the best condition of your product. How is that for taking pride in your work?

 

 

Mandatory Matrix of Leadership shot!

 

It was a climactic moment to open up the chest of the Prime to place an upsized Leadership of Matrix into him.   The paint job and finishing are astoundingly well-accomplished and I was thoroughly impressed. It is, however, light for a toy of this size. Perhaps my expectations were inflated. When I picked up the figure, I can't help but compare it to MP-01. The material used is just different. I mean MP-01 is packed with diecast parts. I know it is not fair. I just couldn't help myself with making that comparison.

 

 

Size comparison to the Golden Boy

 

I am sorry but my other masterpiece Optimus Primes are stuck way back in the display cabinet. Grabbed the next closest masterpiece Optimus for comparison. Feels like I have just placed an upsized meal beside a kiddy meal.

 

Hello from the other side...

 Here's are the things to consider in getting this figure:

1. Are you collecting Optimus Prime? If yes, just get him already. If not, you can still get him as he looks impressive with your collection.

2. Are you a die-hard official product collector? If yes, just get him as he scales well with official MP Grimlock, Megatron and Ultra Magnus. If not, you wouldn't mind a third party product like it to add to your official MP Primes.

3. Do you already have a MP-01 or MP-10 figure? If yes, just get him as you can consider him as a different figure. Size makes a difference. If not, just get him as he is still a good representation of those toys in your collection.

In short, just get him already!

 

Review- Transformers Decepticon Hunter Optimus Prime Vs. Decepticon Mini-con Bludgeon Set

By the end of Season One, we have so many versions of Robots In Disguise Optimus Prime that I have lost track of them. This is especially true when we have both Hasbro and Takara Tomy releasing their versions so close to each other. I am pretty fortunate to be located in Singapore where you can have easy access to both companys' releases. But this also means that as a consumer and collector, you pretty much have to make judicious decisions or you are broke when you try to catch 'em all.  For one, I am quite sure that toys from the line do not have high resale value due to their availability in the market. We will probably see the same situation as the prices of toys from Transformers: Prime. Once you wait out, departmental stores will probably dump these toys at a very low price to clear stock for the next series. It is also difficult to sell them on the secondary toy market without making a loss. The excessive space in the toy molds doesn't help as it seems to be a cost-saving effort by the company to cut down on material costs, thus making most of the molds feeling cheap and hollow.

 

Having pointed out most of the negative sentiments that toy collectors have on the toy line, one must also consider the strengths of the series. The designs of the robots are highly successful as the creators build on the success of Transformers: Animated to give us a  similar artistic style. The plot is highly questionable in its ability to engage older consumers but it did get better towards the end of Season One when we witnessed the return of Optimus Prime and the foreshadowing of a conflict much larger and more ancient than the rounding up of petty Deceptichops. We do understand, however, where the company is heading with the cartoon, comic and toy. They are targeted at children. Period. The concept of fun, adventure, complexity and durability of the series have met the mark of their target!

 

It's also been a long while since we have an Optimus Prime in a convoy design that has the trailer so nicely and simply integrated. As an Optimus Prime collector, I knew I had to get different versions of the same mold. But as my chase went on, it began to feel tedious. So anyway, coming to the point of this review, if you need to get only ONE Optimus Prime from the series, the Transformers Deception Optimus Prime set is a must-get! We will take a look to find out why we are arriving at such a conclusion.

 

Packaging

 

Front of the packaging            

Back of the packaging

 

Usually the toy packaging of a new series or wave is important for fans as it gives us an insight to the designs and clues to the plot in the upcoming cartoon/film. It is definitely not a revelation that Optimus Prime will be joining the Autobot team on Earth to round up the Decepticon criminals who are on the loose from the previous season. Perhaps more will be introduced through space bridge travel or your regular space flight. Already we get an idea of a possible power-up and new mini-cons! Of course we are also getting a new mini-con deployer like Overload. We definitely can see the play value in shooting out a round Bakugan-esque bots that can roll real well. Already not appealing to older fans with the shooting and rolling bot design. 

Decepticon Mini-con Bludgeon

Ball-mode?

 

Robot Mode

 

You remember the traditional katana wielding skull face Decepticon with a badass tank for alt-mode? Well, you are not getting one. Instead, you are getting a prickly ball of armour that resembles the fruit that my countrymen rave about to their overseas friends- the durian. It does not have any spring mechanism in the transformation action and it is as simple as it gets. You, however, do not want to step on this guy in his alt-mode. Consider it a fair warning.

Decepticon Hunter Optimus Prime

 

Alt-Mode

 

Optimus Prime bludgeoning Bludgeon

 

Suit up!

 

Size comparison

Here's the thing. I think the hammar formed by the armour pieces is redundant. It's heavy and Optimus Prime can barely wield it properly. The true strength of this toy lies in the armour attaching to Optimus Prime. It is just so cool! I don't know if it is a power-up or some new technology harnessed to hunt for Decepticons. But I am pretty psyched up by this new look! The dual bladed long handle axe looks like a weapon right out of Games of Thrones too. The plastic quality of the armour set is highly durable and it  is not as brittle as it looks. And now to articulation, it does not lose to that of the warrior class mold. It is a fairly good size for display on your desk and it is certainly a good size for a kid to bring around. The play value is high and transformation is really easy. Like I said, this is probably going to flood your stores so you might want to wait out for the price to drop. But you will definitely want one for your Optimus Prime collection.

Review- Transformers Combiner Wars Pipes

Many of us like it big. The desire for having things big is innate and it's difficult to explain that yearning. On the other hand, the novelty of having things small is real as well. In case you are wondering, I am talking about Transformers toys here. As mentioned in my earlier posts, I did not enter the fandom and hobby with childhood memories of owning Generation One toys. I wasn't religious about the need to own Generation One toys. I was also not attracted to toys from the Transformers movies. In fact, I walked past aisle of 2007 Transformers Movie toys and not picked a single toy as I was put off by the excessively complex steps needed for transformation. 

 

The Transformers toys that gently eased me into my toy collection were the Legend class figures. Yes, you heard me right. The tiny figures that some collectors held in disdain. Some called it oversimplified toys for little children. Others just found them a waste of space and money. I would beg to differ. For an adult collector entering the fandom, the Legend class figures are great for handling as they do not require complex transformation that consume time. Time that most adults do not have to pursue their hobbies. The toys are also hardy as they have less moving parts and minimal accessories. They do not take up a lot of space and are great for display on your office desk. The Legend class figures scale well with toys like Metroplex as you can lay them out to create scenes from the cartoon or games. Last but not least, you get to own different characters at a low cost!

 

Legend class figures have certainly come a long way and we have seen well-articulated, well-painted and modern updates of characters that we love from the cartoon. Some Legend class figures released for the Combiner Wars line even interact with the combiners as they become part of the combiners or weapons wielded by the combiners. One of the molds that I enjoy greatly is the mold used on Legend class Optimus Prime, Nemesis Prime and Huffer. Of course, when I read the news on Combiner Wars Legend class Pipes, I knew I had to get it to complete my collection of the mold. 

 

Pipes- In packaging

 

Like Huffer, Pipes comes packed with his rifle and an artwork of him firing his energon rifle. Similar to other Legend class figures of this wave, an artwork card and instruction leaflet is included with the toy. 

 

Pipes- Out of packaging

I am not sure about you, but if a toy can be posed in a position resembling that of the included artwork, I think the designers and makers of the toy are considered successful.

  

Pipes in Robot Mode

 

Pipes is very well-articulated and has little difficulty going into the pose similar to the artwork that he came with. His striking resemblance to Huffer did not deter me from getting him as I was happy to get another colour of this mold.

  

Pipes in Vehicle Mode

 

I think one of the main reasons, other than the robot mode, is that the vehicle mode for this mold greatly resembles the IDW design of Optimus Prime. The Voyager class Optimus Prime released for the Combiner Wars does not even come close to resembling the IDW design. It's a waste, considering how many fans would like to own a Voyager class version of this mold. Sure, we have third party products like Toyworld Orion and the upcoming Beelzeboss upgrade but having an official Optimus Prime toy designed closely to the IDW illustration would be nice.

 

On display!

They may be small, but Legend class figures go well on display. Especially when it looks like you are building an army of Optimus Prime there! For size comparison, it is very evident that the Legend class is bigger than the Legion class from the Robots in Disguise series. Keep a lookout for this little guy as they should hit our retail shortly!

Toy Collecting Resolution For 2016

Like most people, I have experienced a flurry of activity from December 2015 to January 2016. After the massive house cleaning from the Christmas and New Year celebrations a few weeks ago, I had time to take a hard look at my toy collection and reconsider how I approach the hobby of toy collecting. At least I have the upcoming Chinese New Year to act as a symbolic start of a new period for change. Here are some resolutions for 2016:

1. I will open my toys for photography and/or review 

 

I don't know about you but I am guilty of hoarding. To make matters worse, I have unopened toys that were meant to be opened. Duh! I am not a box collector. I do struggle with storing loose toys and as I can't put all my toys on display. This resulted in unopened toys piling up while new ones come in. Granted, I have slowed down on my purchase and I have made it a point to consider carefully before making new purchases. So this year, I am going to open them up! Let it rip!

 

2. I will sell MORE toys

 

If it's still sitting in the box collecting dust, I should sell it. I WILL sell it. Let's face it. Some of us do suffer from buyer's remorse. I should sell the toys that I no longer value in my collection. Basically this applies to toys that I have not looked at for a long time. They may even have faded out of my memory. The struggle is very real especially when you are deciding which toy should go and how you should price them. But I really need to remind myself that by selling toys that I no longer value, the hobby can fund itself. Or at least I hope.

 

3. I will learn to store and display my toys neatly

 

This will greatly enhance the collection as I can be more organised to ensure that the amount of space is maximised. Currently, I am at a loss on storing loose toys. This resulted in the need for Resolution 1 as I rather leave the toys in their packaging than having to deal with the storage later on. Sometimes the solution of a problem is further up stream. Or may be I should just sell a lot more toys and stop buying toys altogether? Nah, I need to be realistic with my resolutions.

 

4. I will experiment with different elements for my toy photos

 

Perhaps it means taking the toys from different angle or lighting? Or maybe I can bring the toys outdoor? I don't want the hobby to turn stale by turning lazy. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a hobby in the first place. I mean there are so many great toy photographers for me to learn from on Instagram. Trying new stuff from pictures I enjoy will be fun. It's about the spirit of adventure and fun. I think.

 

5. I will not take this hobby too seriously

 

The irony is that I should learn to take this hobby less seriously. Hands up if you are guilty of the incessant need to check for new preorders or news on the toy series that you love? I am sure many of you reading this follows Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, forums, and YouTube channels for the latest toy updates and reviews. Sometimes we find ourselves doing it multiple times a day, sneaking an update between conversations, meals, meetings, and even toilet breaks. It kind of steal away the fun of focusing on healthy relationships and fun activities that make toy collecting a hobby than an obsession. 

 

I don't know about you but I have been collecting toys for a few years. I think if I want to continue this hobby, the element of maturity should set in to bring the hobby to a deeper and new level. Otherwise, like other hobbies I had in the past, it might just implode and burn out by itself. 

 

What are some of your resolutions for toy collecting this year? Share with me on your thoughts as I like to hear from you guys. :)