Visit to Singapore's 1:6 Guru Alex's Place

Revisiting an old post from way back 

Posted: Sunday, May 04, 2008 by a dear friend Shaun

I had quite the geek weekend, having attended Free Comic Book Day at G & B Comics on Saturday, followed by a visit to toy heaven holy city promised land Alex's place on Sunday.

That's no house, it's a toy museum

I first chanced upon Alex's collection via Cliff's post way back in October 2006, and raved about his amazing collection, which led to us striking up an online friendship.

Being quite the toy enthusiast and learning that he lived pretty close by, I asked him (nicely) whether it'd be ok to drop by his place to check out his cool stuff. Best Pal (who collects every toy) and Michelle (who collects 1:6 figs) were keen to come along too, which resulted in our long awaited visit to Alex's place.

Singapore Bruce Lee fan Jackson Yeo spent 44 years collecting martial arts star's memorabilia

This article appeared in The Straits Times LIFE section on Nov 14, 2020.
In the living room of a four-room Housing Board flat in Whampoa, two large two large figurines of Bruce Lee stand guard.
One has the martial arts film star in his Fist Of Fury (1972) get-up and the other in his iconic yellow Game Of Death (1978) jumpsuit.
The walls are adorned with framed photos and glass cabinets showcase endless rows of Bruce Lee memorabilia. Hundreds of magazines and books with the late Hong Kong-American star on the cover are stowed away neatly.
The flat's owner is Mr Jackson Yeo, an avid Bruce Lee fan and souvenir collector.

Ahead of what would have been the star's 80th birthday this month, Mr Yeo tells The Straits Times his love for Lee feels "like fate".

The 57-year-old hawker stall owner says he watched re-runs of Lee's television series The Green Hornet (1966 to 1967) since he was nine and was quickly enraptured.

Star Wars toys discovered in bin bags net £400,000 (US$525,000) for UK couple

LONDON: A British couple have thanked their lucky stars after a garage full of bin bags left to them by a neighbour yielded a trove of Star Wars toys worth £400,000 (US$525,000).

The couple, from Stourbridge in central England, were initially unsure what to make of the jumble of dolls and spacecraft their neighbour had spent decades collecting, the Times newspaper reported on Thursday (Nov 5).

Their son called in an auctioneer, who found a treasure trove of Star Wars memorabilia including action figures still pristine in their sealed packaging.

"A lot of them were a bit damp because of how they've been stored but generally it's the best Star Wars collection I've ever seen," Chris Aston of Aston's Auctioneers, told the Times.

"We had a huge amount of interest from all over the world and were always expecting the sale to do very well," Aston said of the auction.

Star Wars treasures to prop up auction

Specialist movie memorabilia retailer Prop Store's annual live auction is back this year, giving audiences a chance to fill their homes with cinematic treasures.

One of the key pieces is the screen-matched Tantive IV Stormtrooper helmet (centre) from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, expected to fetch up to £180,000 (S$310,000).

The auction, from Sept 30 to Oct 1, will be held at the BFI Imax building in Waterloo, south London. Prop Store will be auctioning off around 900 items, including a prototype Tusken Raider mask (right) and an Ewok mask (left).

(source: The Straits Times)

How to Get Your Superhero Game On?

Superheroes are in. From blockbuster movies that have been raking in millions for the last decade to new TV shows, there’s apparently a lot of crime fighting to be done, and we aren’t complaining about it.

What makes the idea of superheroes so poignant is that it breaks age barriers wherein people from all walks of life enjoy the battle between good and evil knowing that there is always hope on our side that can and will make a difference in the end.

Whether you are a comic book fan, a superhero movie watcher, or just an enthusiast take your superhero game to the next level.

COLLECTABLES
Gone are the days when collectables such as action figures were considered child’s play. For one, look at the prices of these models, which in some cases can go into hundreds of dollars. Then, there is the visible detail that goes into producing the figures. Action figures nowadays are no less than sculptures, creating a whole new genre for artists, that not only showcase the love for a character or a movie but appreciation for art as well. The choice though is yours in the end. You can get your superhero game on by having a few collectables featuring your favourites or as some people do, go all in and create a display that will make the most ardent of fans jealous of your collection.

CASINO GAMES
What’s better than getting a chance to be entertained by your favourite characters and simultaneously make money? Living the life of a fan isn’t cheap. Everyone needs money for movies, comics, action figures, and what not, so it only makes sense to take this fascination with superheroes and include it into having some fun with online casinos. Now, once you are past choosing the right mobile casino for yourself, it is possible to play themed slots on it, that feature characters such as Batman, Superman and even the Terminator. A way to connect with the movies, having an online game is ideal when you are standing in line for Comicon tickets or just want to relax and appreciate the joys of earning profits from the comfort of your home.

COSPLAY
A more real-life way to indulge in superhero fandom, cosplay might seem juvenile but is a lot of fun. Dressing up as a cherished character is more than just about loving them, it is a way to demonstrate your creativity and also an excellent opportunity to meet with like-minded people. Cosplay events are a regular occurrence during many comic conventions, but if nothing is happening around you, simply dress up for a movie screening.

COMICS
It’s one thing watching all the superhero movies that come out, and an entirely different experience when you read comics. For starters, comic books are the base material for most of what we see on screen, and then they also make for great collectables that allow you to revisit stories any time you want. The good thing about technology is that you can now access digital comics and carry them with you while travelling, but having a unique first edition in your hands, and flipping through the pages discovering the origins of a superhero, is a remarkable feeling like no other.

Check out the pics from Calvin's Custom & Frds: OneSixth Collective Showcase - just WOW!!!

Having his first booth ever, the first thing that Calvin did was called upon all the original designer friends and ask if they could cross-over, something that is often said but needed a public exposure, the 2nd B.O.A.T (Both of the Art & Toys Fair) @ the 20th ACGHK (Hong Kong's animation, comics and game conference) 2018 is the perfect occassion !

With the support of gears, parts and even whole figure from six original one sixth brands from around the world, together with Calvin's insane speedy yet high quality finishing, they made this 1st ever non-commercial artistic exchange in Onesixth history possible.

Calvin would like to thank each and every supportive friend and brand:
Kevin Li @ Darkcrown Toys (China)
John McCormick @ Green Wolf Gear (U.K.)
Ethan Tang & Leow Kking @ JackalX (Malaysia)
Ting Yen Yao @ Pewpewgun (Taiwan)
Dorgmal Snow @ Snow Corporation (U.K.)
Ethan Chiang @ Studio Sundowner (Taiwan)

Truly a Onesixth Collective Dream comes true!!!

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Calvin's Custom showcases new 1/6th Futuristic Military Armor Set @ B.O.A.T, ACGHK 2018

Calvin's Custom was invited by Winson Ma @ Winson Classic Creation to take part in the 2nd B.O.A.T (Both of the Art & Toys Fair) @ the 20th ACGHK (Hong Kong's animation, comics and game conference) 2018.

Being the first ever branded Toy Fair booth in his career, Calvin spent 3 consecutive days with 2hrs sleep a day to create 10 brand new fully painted custom pieces for the showcase.

Despite the serious lack of sleep with an non-functional brain, he was very happy to have a mini gathering at the booth on the first day of the show, including designer friend such as Kevin Li of Darkcrown Toys, Kevin's buddies in the industry, Jiuan from Jiuan Studio (1/6 full metal 100% handmade Samurai Armor) and ZIPCOLO a.k.a Guangyu Shi​, fellow veteran on OSW, as well as Howard Chan the Great, J.C.Hong and his amazing crew and many new friends.

With the aim to give shelved old figures a "second life", Calvin is showcasing and will be releasing a set of futuristic armor set, available for preorder on his facebook page Calvin's Custom soon after the show, commission customs using the set are also welcomed.

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In the news: Lego artists build and transport replicas of S'pore landmarks for a heritage roadshow

This article appeared in The Straits Times newspaper today.

Honey, we shrank the monuments - Lego artists build replicas of Singapore landmarks

Brick artists Xyivie Wong, 34, Eugene Tan, 41, and Andy Goh, 35 were commissioned by the National Heritage Board (NHB) to build eight Lego replicas of Singapore landmarks for the Building History: Monuments In Bricks And Blocks roadshow. The models include the National Museum, old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, St Andrew's Cathedral, Thian Hock Keng Temple, and the former Nanyang University Library and Administration Building.

The public can view the models of the national monuments at the Central Public Library in Victoria Street from June 7 to 30, 10am to 9pm daily.

Pic above shows Mr Eugene Tan places an old Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train model onto the tracks of the old Tanjong Pagar Railway Station replica. The building is scaled to the size of the train model. The platform pillars are represented by small rods that are more commonly used to hold pieces together. ST PHOTOS: GAVIN FOO

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Toy soldier collection sold for US$50,000 (S$66,180)

And in yesterday's newspaper:

LONDON • A collection of miniature figures, believed to be the world's biggest, has been sold at an auction in England to an army of global collectors for about US$50,000 (S$66,180).

The figures belonged to Mr Carmelo Mazzotta, who collected more than a quarter of a million toy soldiers over a lifetime. Mr Mazzotta lived in the city of Bristol until his death in 2016 at the age of 55 from leukaemia. His sister Anita said her brother always wanted to be a soldier himself. Speaking to reporters ahead of the sale of his massive toy collection at the Wessex Auction Rooms in Chippenham, she said: "He was a bit of a Peter Pan. He never wanted to grow up. So, in a way, he was enacting his dreams.

"He was like a general with his armies. He could pinpoint where any particular soldier was, and he knew all the different regiments."

The collection took up an entire double garage with a mezzanine floor in Mr Mazzotta's home, and has grown over the years since he started his collection at the age of eight.

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Mighty Jaxx's toy story is one of guts and glory

For Mr Jackson Aw, toys are certainly no child's play.

The 28-year-old is the founder of a multimillion-dollar toy design and manufacturing business. The business, Mighty Jaxx, began in 2012 as a $20,000 start-up. Today, it works with big brands like Warner Brothers and New Balance and is projected to hit $5 million in revenue this year.

Mr Aw's toy story is about following one's passion in school, even if it means taking a path less ordinary. After graduating from Nanyang Poly in 2009, Mr Aw started selling refurbished vintage cameras. The business was successful but he sold it off to a business partner in September 2012 to start something new.

After years of collecting toys, Mr Aw figured he should start a related business. He liked the idea of creating toys and not just buying them. So he visited some toy factories in China and was surprised to find out that the toys were made not by machines but humans.

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Exclusive interview with Calvin's Custom on Kickstarter Project: 1/6 scale MOTOPSYCLE: mGT, BORGHEAD & GUNRUNNER

Original design 1/6 combat motorcycle, advanced ballistic weapons and cyborg headsculpt by Calvin's Custom, a GATE TOYS Production. Available on Kickstarter (link HERE)

Project Timeline:
Dec 2016 – Calvin's Custom created two custom bikes for showcase at Toysoul 2016 in Hong Kong, one inspired by Mad Max, the other inspired by the Moto-terminator in Terminator Salvation (2009)

Dec 2016 – GATE TOYS invited Calvin's Custom to mass produce one of his custom bikes

March 2017 – Calvin's Custom designed a futuristic combat motorcycle under the title “Convergence” featuring a female rider

May 2017 – A public vote was conducted on Facebook to see which bikes was to be mass produced. The moto-terminator was picked

October 2017 – Prototypes under the working title “MOTOTERMIN8TOR” were showcased at CICF 2017 in China and TTF in Taiwan

12th December 2017 – Kickstarter project under the title MOTOPSYCLE: mGT, BORGHEAD & GUNRUNNER was launched.

Exclusive interview with Calvin's Custom on Kickstarter Project: 1/6 scale MOTOPSYCLE: mGT, BORGHEAD & GUNRUNNER by Alex @ Toy Haven with Calvin @ Calvin's Custom

Alex: Congratulations on the launch of the Kickstarter project! What is it like to run this year long project?
Calvin: Thanks Alex! Time flies... it feels like yesterday when I was on stage talking about the custom bikes with Mr. Bryan Lo of ACI Toys and SEVEN Toys, whom I would like to take this space to thank him again for inviting me to showcase my custom bikes, without which this project would never have come into being.

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It has been an amazing experience working with GATE TOYS. They have been totally supportive and gave me 100% creative freedom in the design and development process. Mr. Michael Zhu, co-founder of GATE TOYS told me to design whatever and however I like and let them worry about the production technicality. It felt almost like working on a film with unlimited budget, though time was limited as we were aiming at CICF in October 2017. Still, we managed to have prototypes of both 1/6 and 1/18 versions made for the show.

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And special thanks to Luka Zou of Figure Hobby Club in Taiwan and Ethan Chaing of Studio Sundowners, one of the MOTOPSYCLE made it to Taipei Toys Festival, an annual expo known for original design toys in Taiwan.

Original design 1/6 combat motorcycle, advanced ballistic weapons and cyborg headsculpt by Calvin's Custom, a GATE TOYS Production. Available on Kickstarter (link HERE)

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Aerospace engineer spends $70,000 on home fit for superheroes with $4,000 S.H.I.E.L.D logo

When he watched Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman 37 years ago, she became the first superhero he fell in love with.

Last year, Mr Jason Koh, 47, spent $70,000 renovating his five-room flat in Punggol into a superhero-themed flat. It even has a $4,000 S.H.I.E.L.D logo that is 2.4m high.It was so big that it had to be carried 12 storeys up to his home as it could not fit into the lift. A superhero fan since he was 10, Mr Koh decided on a superhero theme when he wanted to renovate his flat after renting it out for three years while working overseas.

The aerospace engineer had initially considered a Manchester United theme. Said Mr Koh: "I thought a flat based on one football club might be boring. And I have many friends who are superhero fans."

The flat features Marvel Comics and DC Comics superhero figurines, wallpapers and home decor items, such as bedsheets, cushions, a carpet and a clock. Displayed in a floor-to-ceiling cabinet in the living room are 21 superhero figurines bought for $7,000 from Hong Kong toy manufacturer Hot Toys. They include Batman, Superman, the Hulk, Thor and Black Widow.

Mr Koh also used a 3D printer to print unit-number plaques with the S.H.I.E.L.D logo. Said Mr Koh: "I am not young any more, so I want to spend my money on something that makes me happy."

He is not alone in splurging on his passion.

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EGGY by Minnimi - The all new Roly-Poly reinvented - Kickstarter Launch 17.07.17

Minnimi is a product design company based in Singapore. The team of four love vinyl art toys and after years of collecting figurines and designer toys, they wanted something different. Creating is their passion and they have come up with their first product: EGGY - The all new Roly-Poly reinvented, a fun and interactive collectible.

Inspired by the traditional Roly-Poly, EGGY is redesigned with a minimalistic feel and cuteness to it, a perfect balance between art toy and engagement. The self-righting characteristics of the toy has come to symbolize the ability to have success, overcome adversity, and recover from misfortune.

Campaign Launch Date – 17.07.17 on Kickstarter @ 9pm (GMT+8)

Don’t forget to sign up to their newsletter on their website and get up to 50% OFF retail price when they launch! Sign up at www.minnimi.com

Stay up to date on the latest news by following EGGY on:
Instagram – www.instagram.com/EGGYcollectibles
Facebook – www.facebook.com/EGGYcollectibles
Website – www.minnimi.com

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Check out ActionFigures.com.sg for past, vintage and rare toys / action figures and other stuff

There comes a time when one has to let go of things that one has accumulated over the years due to a number of reasons: moving on to other things, moving from a bigger space to a smaller one, running out of space etc.

Having amassed so many action figures after more than 25 years of collecting, alas space constraints of my new home have forced me to sell quite a number of them. That’s how ActionFigures.com.sg got started. It's a platform where I can post the action figures I want to sell and where you can check if there's any figure you want to get. We can discuss the price if you are really interested :)

I'll be putting many things up for sale: loose figures, back-in-box, mint-in-box, mini figures, books and publications; so do check back regularly for updates. Back-in-box figures are usually figures I took out for posing, photography and reviews. Some may have been put on display but even then, they are displayed in glass cabinets with minimal exposure to dust, smoke and sunlight. These are pre-owned by a passionate collector who has no choice but to let them go.

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Local firm marks 50 years National Service with a series of miniature figurines of Singapore soldiers

You can read the full article at straitstimes.com (link HERE)

He had a collection of 150 military figurines but none of Singapore soldiers. So Caleb Lin, a military buff, decided to produce his own miniature Singapore soldiers which he also sells online.

Miniature Stories comprises 18 designs of SAF soldiers in three categories - parade, assault infantry section and the standard obstacle course. Each hand- painted metal figurine is 6cm tall. The parade series consist of SAR 21 rifle-trotting soldiers wearing different berets and feature three races - Chinese, Malay and Indian while the assault series captures a section of seven soldiers in camouflage get-up, using weapons such as a Matador anti-armour weapon system. Besides third-generation soldier figurines, there is also a first-generation one in the classic Temasek Green uniform that was worn in the 1960s and 1970s, and a second- generation soldier armed with an M16 rifle. The first-generation one was introduced in April to coincide with NS50, a year-long celebration to commemorate 50 years of national service this year.

FIRST-GENERATION SOLDIER - Baby boomers who did their national service in the 1960s and 1970s would have donned the Temasek Green uniform, held a self-loading rifle and strapped on a skeletal battle order (SBO) - a belt consisting of ammunition pouches, a water bottle, toggle rope and bayonet.

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ToyHaven in the news :) Grateful and honored to be featured in a magazine with other collectors

I am both grateful and honored to be featured in a magazine along with other collectors :) In the latest issue of "Little", a quarterly family lifestyle magazine dedicated for parents with children age 3 to 12 years old, the publisher has chosen to feature collectors of all kinds: six personas and their prized collections. It's especially nice since this magazine feature will show my new home and the updated toy / action figure collection since the last feature a while back - check out the earlier coverage HERE and HERE.

I was approached some time back and the shoot was actually done in March but the magazine is only out now. We all understand schedules and how the whole publishing process works but I was quite eager to see how the picture turned out. Unfortunately, they couldn't cover the entire collection in one picture as I have a customised 98.5" L x 84" H x 19.25" D (2500mm L x 2134mm H x 495mm D) full glass display shelf which is not shown. The customised full glass display contains most of my Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series 1/6th scale figures plus other miscellaneous action figures (you can see the pictures posted HERE). For more details of the interview and other collectors showcased, read on or scroll down to see them :)

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Toy Haven 3 - Almost complete: check out my new place :) lots of action figures on display

continued from previous toy blog post...

Most of the figures have been put up at my new place (dubbed Toy Haven 3) and I quite like the look of it :) From Japanese anime / manga heroes like Astro Boy to Tokusatsu superhero TV serials (Kamen Riders and Ultraman) to Western TV / Film characters like Hit Girl from Kick Ass, Green Hornet and Kato, Iron Man, Wolverine, Batman, Superman, Russell Crowe's Roman General and Gladiator, Gerard Butler's King Leonidas from 300, Tom Hank's Forrest Gump and Saving Private Ryan, Johnny Depp's many characters (Edward Scissorhands, Captain Jack Sparrow, Benjamin Barker / Sweeney Todd, Tonto, John Dillinger), Brad Pitt's roles in various films (Fight Club, Fury, Seven, Troy, Inglourious Basterds, World War Z), Aliens, Predator, Marvel's The Avengers, Star Wars, Terminator, RoboCop... the list goes on.

That's the beauty of collecting 1/6th scale figures. After collecting for over 22 years, you realise that a lot of movie-related action figures have been produced and released over this period and I've been blessed with quite the collection and a wife who fully supports my hobby (some may say obsession LOL). She says the collection makes the house unique and is quite the talking point whenever we get visitors. Obviously, I agree with her totally haha. Besides the 13 IKEA detolf display cabinets housing most of the 12-inch collectible figures, there's also the customised 98.5" L x 84" H x 19.25" D (2500mm L x 2134mm H x 495mm D) full glass display shelf which has most of the Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series 1/6th scale figures I own.

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DC Superheroes by ToyHaven ᕙ(`▽´)ᕗ

Here's another look at the artwork designed by yours truly for my new place, ToyHaven 3 (shown earlier in my toy blog post HERE). This would go in line with the theme of the house having so many toys, figures and collectibles. I have always wanted to do a comparison of the similar superhero characters from the different universes and this was one of the best platforms to do it on :) click on the pic for a bigger and better view.

Check out the MARVEL Superheroes in the PREVIOUS post.

Marvel Superheroes by ToyHaven ᕙ(`▽´)ᕗ

Here's another look at the artwork designed by yours truly for my new place, ToyHaven 3 (shown earlier in my toy blog post HERE). This would go in line with the theme of the house having so many toys, figures and collectibles. I have always wanted to do a comparison of the similar superhero characters from the different universes and this was one of the best platforms to do it on :) click on the pic for a bigger and better view.

Check out the DC Superheroes in the NEXT post.

ToyHaven 3 – Work-In-Progress Report Part 2

continued from previous toy blog post...

I am most happy to report that the customised 98.5" L x 84" H x 19.25" D (2500mm L x 2134mm H x 495mm D) full glass display shelf which will be the centre piece of my new place (ToyHaven3) is coming along nicely :) Lots of stuff to put in and I'm not even halfway there yet LOL

The plan is to display Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series 1/6th scale figures because of the high quality finishing and superbly crafted pieces and it's going to take a while to get organised and choose which figures to display up front and which ones to be behind. The great thing about it being all glass is that I can also choose to display them back to back so that they face out on both sides. Still thinking about the many possibilities for display.

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