Sunday, January 2, 2011

Hot Toys Iron Man Mark IV 12-inch figure REVIEW II - Close-ups and details

continued from the previous post...

This is my part 2 review with more pictures of the recently released Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS123 Iron Man 2 1/6th scale Mark IV Limited Edition Collectible Figurine - one post just isn't enough to cover all the beautiful details about this 12-inch figure from the "Iron Man 2" film.

We've seen the Hot Toys Iron Man Mark IV figure in its entirety in the post before this, now let's see the figure up close and examine all the wonderful details that can be seen with this figure. This latest Iron Man 12-inch figure has a detachable chest armor. Here's the figure with chest armor removed to show the inner workings underneath it.



Close-up of the Mark IV chest without armor but with the Micro ARC reactor on chest lighted up (white light, battery operated, batteries included)


Picture showing the back of the Hot Toys Iron Man 2: Mark IV with fully deployable air flaps at back of the armor with built-in metal flaps in place


Mark IV iron suit with air flaps fully deployed. Check out the built-in metal flaps underneath


Here's a close-up picture of the Mark IV armor (waist and hip area) with retractable countermeasure dispenser concealed and hidden from sight


Retractable countermeasure dispenser activated. "Active" countermeasures that alter the electromagnetic, acoustic or other signature(s) of a target thereby altering the tracking and sensing behavior of an incoming threat (e.g. guided missile) are designated softkill measures.

Hot Toys ingenious way of activating the retractable countermeasure dispenser is rather clever. Turning the disk anti-clockwise expands the dispenser automatically and simply retract the dispenser by rotating it and pressing it. Simple and hassle free - I like it!


An even closer view of the activated retractable countermeasure dispenser



There's also the airbrake system (articulated flaps) located at the calves of the Iron Man Mark IV suit.


And then there's also the detachable forearm rockets on both arms. Click on the pictures below for a bigger and better view of the sequence for transforming the normal forearm into one bursting with rockets. You have to make sure the arm is straight before switching to the forearm rockets.


Here's the left forearm with all its armor removed. There are four pieces in all.


And here's the same Mark IV left forearm with the rockets attached. It's all a simple matter of switching forearm armor. The parts are marked "R" and "L" for easy identification.


Here's the Hot Toys Iron Man 2: Mark IV 1/6 scale 12-inch figure with interchangeable missile armor


Let's not forget the much touted improved articulations on the Mark IV waist armor which allow flexible movement. You are supposed to extend the waist by pulling up the upper body slightly and then move it to the preferred position within 45 degrees.


Unfortunately, try as I might, I was unable to get it into the desired position (i.e. the iconic Iron Man pose from the movie posters) as shown in their preview pictures :(



You can see the slight bend of the spine in the next two pictures showing the side views of the Hot Toys Iron Man 2 Mark IV suit in a kneeling position. The figure can bend further but is just not able to strike the iconic post.


As Hot Toys has advised / cautioned: "The parts of the waist are with movable limitation, which could be damaged if inappropriately twisted and bent with excessive forces. Contrived damage will not be considered as product defect and hence replacement will not be provided". Paraphrased: "Don't EVEN think about it!"


Overall, I'm still very happy with this Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece 1/6 scale figure. Where else can you find something this close and accurate and true to the film version? This is as close to the real thing as you are going to get and no one's gonna get the real thing coz it's CGI! My eldest son Jared was telling me the other day that I killed his enthusiasm for toys because all the toys I collect are too COOL, too good and too real that whenever he sees another movie-related toy from the same movie on the stands or racks (usually carded and in the mass market stores), he just cannot get over how toyish they look compared to these figures. I tell him that toys are meant to be FUN and enjoyed, so if others still find the FUN in them, the toy has done what it is meant to do. So have FUN with your toys :) I'm certainly enjoying mine (although every time someone calls it a TOY, I have to correct them and say "Collectible". What's the difference? A "collectible" is an EXPENSIVE toy lah LOL XD)


Last but not least, this Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS123 Iron Man 2 1/6th scale Mark IV Limited Edition Collectible Figurine also comes with an additional square-shaped figure stand - it's more of an isosceles trapezoid - with LED light-up function (white light, battery operated - batteries not included. You'll need three triple A batteries for this). The feet clamps can slide to the sides (in and out but not up and down) but they don't really hold onto Mark IV's feet.

Hot Toys has included the button cell batteries for all the light-up features EXCEPT the triple A or AAA cylindrical batteries required for this base. This has been a trend and I noticed that the insertion of a plastic strip in-between the button cell batteries prevent them from lighting up whereas you cannot do that with the triple A batteries. Perhaps the cylindrical alkaline batteries are more prone to leaking.


In the "Iron Man 2" film, this is the base that the Mark IV is shown standing on in display within Stark's workshop along with other prototypes when Stark isn't using the armor. Here's Hot Toys Mark IV iron suit standing on display.



NEXT: Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark is Iron Man eats donut ;p

AFTER THAT - Comparing Hot Toys Iron Man Mark III with Mark IV: How they stack up!

3 comments:

desmond said...

Alex, nice and detailed review on Mark 4. Anyway, wish you and your family a happy new year 2011!!

Rocky said...

According to you, great review, thanks for your work is for us a valuable information. Waiting on mine a few weeks more.

alex teo said...

thanks Desmond :) Happy New Year to you too

hi Rocky ENJOY the Mark IV, it's a thing of beauty ;p