Wednesday, April 23, 2008

ED-209 by Hot Toys

Just when you think Hot Toys have blown away the competition with their amazing stuff, they up the ante and produced this 1/6 scale ED-209 (Enforcement Droid Series 209) from the RoboCop movies. (Sorry folks, this is a preview. Check out this link for more pictures) ED-209’s primary weapon in all films are three machine guns - two on the left arm and one on the right arm. It also featured a three-round rocket launcher on its right arm and twin launchers for mortar rounds or gas grenades behind its head. The grenade launchers are never used in the movies, but were shown on models and schematics of ED-209. ED-209 moves a lot like the chicken walker or AT-ST in Star Wars. Kenner toys released an ED-209 figure in 1988 (more pictures here), Mez-Itz RoboCop line contained an SD (Super Deformed) ED-209 figure in its RoboCop figure pack, which also contained RoboCop and Officer Anne Lewis, Kotobukiya toys featured a figure line in Japan based on the RoboCop movies. ED-209 came in a singular pack which had to be assembled (pictures here). There was also Kotobukiya's RoboCop MK 2 (otherwise known as RoboCain - pictures here) from RoboCop 2 - haven't seen RoboCain anywhere else before, RoboCop (pictures here) and RoboCop with Flight Pack from RoboCop 3 (pictures).

RoboCain battles RoboCop in a climatic finish in RoboCop 2

RoboCop (1987) by Hot Toys 2006

In 2006 Hot Toys blew all our minds with their version of RoboCop. As with all their Movie Masterpiece Editions, this came in a lovely slipcase cover which is why you just don't throw away Hot Toys' boxes. The slipcase showcases the famous RoboCop getting out of his car (the Ford Taurus was used as the police cruiser in the movie, due to its then-futuristic design) scene.

The back of the slipcase is where the bonus factor kicks in - RoboCop's Auto-9 handgun can be stored in the mechanical holster which deploys from Robocop's right thigh, just like in the movie. 

After the slipcase comes off, you see RoboCop's headshot which is of the actual figure, a very good likeness of Peter Weller from the movie.

On the back of the box, another surprise awaits - ED209!!

Flap opens to reveal a very nice shot of the assembled figure on the left with RoboCop's body parts in a tray on the right (a la Hot Toys USCM Hicks). Hot Toys' Masterpiece Editions are all model kits because some assembly is required, not that you need to be a qualified engineer or genius to do it.

The tray with its contents, mainly extra hands

Hot Toys RoboCop all assembled and ready to: 1. Serve the public trust 2. Protect the innocent 3. Uphold the law 4. (Classified) which is later revealed as Directive Four: Any attempt to arrest a senior officer of OCP results in immediate shutdown.

A very beautiful piece of machinery/toy/action figure


Right thigh holster deployed. Some collectors tried to pry open the helmet to see if Peter Weller was really hiding under there. He is NOT under there and prying the helmet off is a Big "No! No!" coz the helmet will not fit back nicely again once it has been pried open. So consider yourself suitably warned!!

More pictures of Hot Toys RoboCop version 1.0 (link here)

RoboCop (1987) by McFarlane 2005

This is the 12" battle damaged RoboCop released in 2005 by McFarlane Toys. Yeah, I know, I don't really buy into this type of figures but RoboCop is a robot (not a dressed figure per se) with moving parts and the sculpting on this figure is just as amazing. And the little boy in me still likes toys in general. Love that battle damage effect!

At this point (i.e. 2005), this was a very nice RoboCop figure after the bulky one by Takara. And this one was really cheap to get. It also didn't look very plastic-ky.




RoboCop (1987) by Takara 1993

Part man. Part machine. All cop. The future of law enforcement.

RoboCop is a 1987 action/scifi film starring Peter Weller. Set in a crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan in the near future, RoboCop centres on police officer Alex J. Murphy (Peter Weller) who is brutally dismembered and murdered but subsequently re-created as a super-human cyborg, "RoboCop". Part of the charm of RoboCop was that there was no CGI and instead, we see some interesting 'old school' stop motion effects. Peter Weller was cast as Murphy/RoboCop as the bulky costume required a light-built actor (i.e. real skinny man) and he prepared for the role by studying bird movements while moving about in a padded baseball suit.

This figure was released by Takara in 1993 and unfortunately featured the bulky Hall of Fame body. His Auto-9 (essentially a modified Beretta 93R) is moulded into his right hand. In 1993, this was still quite a nice figure.




Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Vietnam War, 1959 to 1975

At the Battle of Dien Bien Phu between March and May 1954, the French were handed a stunning military defeat by the Viet Minh. On 7 May 1954, the French Union garrison surrendered. Vietnam was split in two: in the north, the Viet Minh established a socialist state and in the south, Ngo Dinh Diem was chosen by the US to lead South Vietnam. After Diem was overthrown and executed, US President John F Kennedy increased the number of US military advisers from 800 to 16,300 to cope with rising guerrilla activity. Kennedy also introduced helicopters to the war and created a joint US-South Vietnamese Air Force, staffed with American pilots. He also sent in the Green Berets. After the assassination of Kennedy, President Lyndon Johnson escalated the American involvement in the Vietnam War, from 16,000 American soldiers in 1963 to 550,000 in early 1968.

Dragon US 7th Cavalry Battalion Commander Lt Col Moore (played by Mel Gibson in "We Were Soldiers" (2002) and Radio Telephone Operator "Smith", MACV-SOG "Ron", US Army 25th Infantry Division grunt/newbie PTE Chris Taylor played by Charlie Sheen in "Platoon" (1986), US Army Special Forces Green Beret, USMC Infantryman "Russell" and behind him, USMC Senior Drill Instructor Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.

US Army Mine Detector by Action Man, M60 Machine Gunner by Hasbro, USMC Infantryman with M79 grenade launcher and RTO with M14, Helicopter pilot and gunner, GI Joe Green Beret.

US Navy SEALs - Stoner Machine Gunner (Hot Toys and 21st Century), M60 Shorty Machine Gunner (Hot Toys and 21st Century), MIKE Force (21st Century) and behind him, Action Man Green Beret by Tsukuda of Japan 

Viet Cong scout, Viet Cong soldier, North Vietnamese soldier, Vietnam War vet, US Army Combat Engineer, GI Joe MACV-SOG and Action Man Green Beret

The Vietnam War would be the longest military conflict in US history. The war ended on 30 April 1975 when the capital of South Vietnam, Saigon fell to the communist forces of North Vietnam. Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City on 1 May 1975 in honour of Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman, who was prime minister (1946–1955) and president (1946–1969) of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).

Monday, April 21, 2008

World War II - Beginning of the End

6 june 1944, D-Day!! Operation Overlord - The US and its allies land at Normandy, France and begin pushing the Germans back. 

From left to right: Dragon's General George Patton Jr., US 29th Infantry Div PTE "Mike Connolly" (lools like Christopher Walken), US Army 2nd Ranger Battalion CPT "Miller" (Tom Hanks of "Saving Private Ryan" - DAMN GOOD MOVIE), BBI 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles" Bud Norris, Dragon US 82nd Airborne Pathfinder "Tom" (looks like Nicholas Cage) and Dragon 82nd Airborne "Danny" (looks like Kirk Douglas).

From left to right: Dragon's 101st Airborne NCO "Tab" (looks like Barry Pepper who also starred in Saving Private Ryan), US Army 30th Infantry Division PTE "Hank", 1st Special Service Force Platoon Leader "Nick" and Bazooka man "Lefty" (looks like Leonardo DiCaprio) by BBI, and US Army Alaska Defense Command snow trooper by GI Joe.

US Army Special Mission Commander "Major Lee" (looks like Lee Marvin), US Army Automatic Rifleman, BBI US 2nd Infantry Indian Head Division Mortar Man "Red Parker", BBI US Army 29th Infantry Division Radio Operator "Sparky Parsons", GI Joe USMC Infantryman and Dragon US Army Tank Crewman "Mac".

GI Joe US Army Combat Medic, Cotswold US Navy Night Watch, US Navy landing party, GI Joe Patrol Boat Commander (John F Kennedy), Action Man 82nd Airborne Paratrooper, GI Joe US Army 1st Infantry Division SGT, War Photographer and US Army Airborne MP by GyperMan

GI Joe Mine Detector, USMC Marine Jungle Fighter, Action Man USMC Infantryman with canine/dog (K9 unit), GI Joe talking MP, Action Man Red Devils Paratrooper and Talking Commander (batteries not required!!)

The war ends in Europe on 7 May 1945 when Germany surrenders. The coward Hitler commits suicide rather than face the consequences of his actions.

World War II - The Giant Awakes!!

April 1944 - The US begins "island hopping" towards Japan in the Pacific. The United States Marine Corps are heavily involved in the fighting.

From left to right: GI Joe USMC Flame Thrower, USMC Mine Detector, USMC Heavy Weapons, USMC Navajo Code Talker (highlighted in the war movie "Windtalkers" - have the movie versions of Joe Enders (Nicholas Cage), Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) and Ox Anderson (Christian Slater) by Dragon but they are still in box (will have to wait for new place to display them), USMC Infantryman at Tarawa by BBI and USMC Raider with the .55 cal Boys Anti-tank rifle.

But it is only after two atomic bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ended the war on 15 August 1945, when Japan finally surrendered.

World War II - Russia fights back

When Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia unite on 23 August 1939 and agreed not to fight each other, the world is in shock! After all, you can't see the sneer underneath both their moustaches. So it was no surprise when Hitler broke his promise and invaded Russia on 22 June 1941. Russia is stunned but fight back. In the movie "Enemy at the gates", it describes the events surrounding the Battle of Stalingrad from 1942-1943. It is based on a duel between Soviet sniper Vasily Grigoryevich Zaytsev (played by Jude Law) and his German rival, Major Erwin König (played by Ed Harris), as they stalk each other during the battle. In February 1943, the Germans are finally defeated at Stalingrad and the Soviets begin their bloody push towards Berlin.

From left to right: GI Joe Red Army Anti-tank Grenadier, Action Man Russian Infantryman and Front Liner, GI Joe Army General, Navy Admiral, Air Force Pilot and Navy Shore Patrol.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

World War II - Desert Rats

4 November 1942 - the British drive back Rommel's tanks at the battle of El Alamein in the North African Desert. The tide is turning!!

Dragon's British 8th Army "Desert Rats" Reggie, British "Red Devils" Paratrooper "Ian", BBI British Army Commando "Peter Keyes", Action Man Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), BBI British Special Air Service (SAS) Captain "Douglas Caldwell" and Action Man Commando

World War II - Bombing of Pearl Harbor

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, it resulted in the United States becoming involved in World War II. President Roosevelt called December 7, 1941 "... a date which will live in infamy." Admiral Yamamoto is rumoured to have said, "I fear that all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant."

From left to right: World War II US Aviators - Flying Tigers (AVG) by Action Unique (2001), B-17 Waist Gunner by Aces (1996), B-17 "Memphis Belle" Bomber Pilot by Aces for GI Joe Collectors' Club (1996), Dragon's P-40 Pilot "Lt George Taylor" (Josh Harnett) and "Ben Cole" of the Flying Tigers (AVG) plus Cotswold's US Army Air Corps Captain. 

The Flying Tigers, also known as Fei Hu, was the nickname of the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) that operated within the Chinese Air Force in 1941 and 1942. They were led by Claire Chennault (NOT a girl!!) and were one of the most colourful group in World War II. This volunteer group was formed to protect China from Japan, without entering the war. The group first saw combat on 20 December 1941, 12 days after Pearl Harbor.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps, best remembered in the film "Memphis Belle" (1990) which starred Matthew Modine, Billy Zane, Eric Stoltz, and introducing Harry Connick Jr. in his screen debut. It is a fictionalisation of the 1944 documentary "Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress" about the 25th and last mission of an American B17 bomber, the "Memphis Belle", which was based in England during World War II. With the exception of the aircraft names and the basic premise (that of the first plane to survive its tour of duty in the air war over Europe), this film is fiction based on fact. The characters are composites, the names are not those of the real crew of the Memphis Belle and the incidents shown are taken from many missions. The final, 25th mission of the real Belle was to Kiel, Germany, but with a substitute crew, before being flown back to the United States.

Also check out BBI's Japanese World War II Zero Pilot "LT Sakae" (link here) and Dragon's P40 pilot "LT George Taylor" (link here)

World War II - GOD save the Queen!

When the Germans marched into Poland on 1 September 1939, Britain and France declare war on Germany.

14 June 1940 - Germans enter Paris. The French gave up without much of a fight. Remnants of the French resistance continue the fight underground. From left to right: French Officer by Polystil, Action Man French Resistance Fighter (Remember the British show "Allo, Allo!" and one of the famous lines spoken by the French underground "I shall say this only once!" and those French maids ooh-la-la!), Action Man French Foreign Legion, Australian Jungle Fighter, GI Joe Home for the Holidays and Airborne MP and DiD's 101st Airborne.

RAF pilots by BBI and Action Man, B-17 pilot by Hasbro and Dragon's B-17 Bomber Pilot CPT "Skip"

British Officer, Infantryman, "Escape from Colditz" POW, Tank Commander and Royal Military Police by Action Man.

World War II - The Germans are coming!!

Thought I'll just post some quick pictures. I think it'll be a while before I'm able to put everything I own in detail here so I'll start with group pictures. Tune in to find out more as I blog along - ha! ha! First, the Germans (these are the ones on display i.e. out of box.) Am hoping that when I move to the new place, there'll be more display space for all of them. Man, I really need a bigger house.

From left to right: German Wehrmacht (Army) Officer by Hot Toys - looks like Ed Harrid from the movie "Enemy at the gates" which also starred Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and a small role by Ron Perlman (Hellboy). Behind him (hidden from view) a German Panzer Officer from Action Man, SS Sturmbannfuhrer "Hans Ulrich Grimminger" by DiD (obscured by him, the Action Man German Camp Commandant), Action Man German Staff Officer and two Action Man German Stormtroopers.

Dragon german wearing reversible pea pattern camouflage jacket and pants over regular uniform with fur-lined hat, Hasbro GI Joe figure dressed in Dragon's white-washed M35  helmet and white/green reversible parka and trousers, Dragon's "Karl" and "Johannes" (Wehrmacht Feldgendarme - German Army MP), Dragon's 1st Anniversary Hans and Hans wearing "Steiner's" outfit (German Wehrmacht Unteroffizier i.e. NCO)

Dragon PanzerGrenadier Officer "Viktor", Takara Combat Joe wearing Action Man German Fallschirmjager (Paratrooper) outfit by Tsukuda of Japan, Dragon German Luftwaffe PanzerGrenadier MG34 Gunner "Volkmar", Takara Combat Joe Stormtrooper and Officer, Dragon's "Hasan Malnar" - Handschar Mortarman and Dragon's German Wehrmacht Sniper wearing splinter pattern camouflage.

DiD's German Panzer Officer "Fritz Muller", Dragon's Wiking Division Panzer Officer (Obersturmfuhrer) "Fritz", HJ (Hitlerjugend - Hitler Youth) Div MG42 Gunner, Twisting Toyz Italian Marine Infantryman "Marco" and BBI's Figuretoy.com exclusive Fallschirmjaeger Lieutenant Colonel (Oberstleutnant).

Hot Toys Desert Fox Generalfeldmarschall Irwin Rommel, German Luftwaffe Ramcke Brigade "Leopold", Adolf Hitler, Deutsches Afrika Korps "Reinhart", Twisting Toyz Italian Paratrooper "Andrea", BBI' s German Luftwaffe Pilot Oberleutnant "Otto Schulz" and Dragon's Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK).

Dragon's German Luffwaffe Pilots "Major Krauer" and "Erich Hartmann", Kriegsmarine Warrant Officer "Georg" and U-boat Captain "Herbert" with Cotswold's Waffen SS Infantryman in autumn camouflage.

World War 1, 1914 - 1918

Just some WWI figures I have: Doughboy. Not too sure how the term came about but I understand that it is slang for an American infantryman during World War I. The helmet was called the Doughboy helmet, even though it was the Brodie helmet design used by the British army. At first, the term applied to only the infantry, but soon extended to the entire American contingent. This Hasbro GI Joe Doughboy came equipped with the Browning M1917 machine gun and tripod, springfield rifle, bayonet and sheath, gas mask and bag plus filter can, shovel, haversack but unfortunately, no doughnuts.

One of the many innovations of World War I was the use of aircraft for reconnaissance purposes and later as fighters and bombers. This would be the first war which involved a struggle for control of the air, alongside the battlefields of land and sea. This Hasbro GI Joe WWI aviator from the Millennium Series (released in 1999) comes with a base and the tail fin of a downed german aircraft.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Fujiko Mine, Femme Fatale

Fujiko Mine is Lupin's love (or rather LUST) interest. At times an associate in his schemes, other times a rival, she knows full well that his infatuation with her will mean that she can get away for double-crossing him. (They all have us wrapped around their little finger) Fujiko uses her feminine charms to get what she wants from any man. She is also an expert when it comes to firearms. While Lupin often knows Fujiko is only using him, she usually makes off with most or all of his loot.




She is armed with the Browning M1910 pistol.

But her chest is probably her most powerful weapon of all (peekaboo) - LOL. Sweet memories (or is it mammaries) are made of these :)