WING SABER TOYZ 2011 INTRODUCTION SPECIAL: Japan Family Mart Contest Prize 'A': ROTF Optimus Prime Clear Ver.!

7:35 PM in Clear plastic, Family Mart, Japan exclusive, JUST BOUGHT, Limited, OPTIMUS PRIME, ROTF, special edition

WELCOME TO 2011!

 I bid  a very happy 2011 to my myriad of followers from the world over! This is Adam @ [Wing_Saber-X] here, once again proud to present a special focus on my blog to kick things off in the new year. The latest and most anticipated addition to my growing list of Transforming toy collection needs little introduction. Although considered somewhat slightly tardy in obtaining this acquisition, nevertheless I am proud to have finally be able to get one of these Japanese Lucky Draw releases while out shopping last Christmas Eve, 24th December 2010, to be exact! 

FAMILY MART CAMPAIGN?!  


Family Mart convenient chain stores in Japan, together with TAKARA Tomy, had sought to organise an exclusive lottery contest in October 2010. The ultimate prize from this contest is the above shown 'Prize A' lottery consisting of one highly cool --remoulded in clear plastic parts- -Revenge Of The Fallen Leader-Class Optimus Prime figure. It's one of those exclusive toy prizes whereby you are given coupons and raffle for a couple of main prizes which were made available from a convenience chain store. The following pictures of the toy out of package is credited and linked to Higekuma toy blog.   Since the campaign was held last year, and the fact that I have not been able to travel to Japan, I thought Id lose hope of ever finding this rare toy ever again. 

WHEN CHRISTMAS IS LUCKY!

It does bring out a tear or two when the year finally ends, mostly because most of your unfinished resolutions have not been fulfilled, or just maybe we are just getting a sense and grip of the fact that we are growing a year older, and anticipating what shape the future might take in the forthcoming year. As for me, I thought I'd end 2010 on a rather good toy-hunting note, and strolled down-town to just have a jolly jaunt in and around the City Center's shopping malls with all those festive decorations in the air and display. 

TOY AND BOX

He is the standard released to death version of the Optimus Leader Class Prime mould,  albeit now made entirely of translucent plastic. As far as this version goes, the actual amount produced has been opened up to debate, with the suggestion that as many as 2,000 pieces were shipped  and distributed to the 200+ Family Mart outlets in the whole of Japan. Although relatively 'fair'  to obtain especially through online retail sites such as Ebay, Id say that trying to get one in the current condition and market will set you (--the serious collector)-- of course-- anything between a minimum of  USD $270 -USD $300+ give or take.  He is encased in his standard box, but it's tastefully done in a  cool monochrome-style, which I suppose is the only way to  set it apart as being 'exclusive'.  Add to this is the Gold fonts used, completing the look.
 If you guys like to see more comparison shots and other thoughts and reviews of this awesome toy, kindly click here and here! 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Worth getting if you are a completest. Personally, I love the mould and can't recommend this Clear ROTF Prime enough. There is the so-called exclusivity when considering dropping hefty but worthy sum when or if you run into this toy online or at your local Hobby specialist shops. As a little treat, WSX Toyz is showing this clear beauty beside the ROTF amazon DVD Exclusive Prime which was bought earlier last year! A++

Optimus Prime and Revenge Of the Fallen copyright 2009/2010 Takaratomy and Dreamworks/ Hasbro

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RED MIST! TAKARATOMY 'DESERT COMBAT' RAMPAGE (RED VER.!)

6:18 PM in Japan exclusive, Movie Accurate, Rampage, Red Repaint, ROTF

UPDATED WITH CLEARER (NON-CRAPPY) PICTURES! Hello there, to my ever present followers of my humble blog! Am proud to present yet another blog-post for your reading and viewing pleasure! Dont worry, the toy being featured is one which is not worth crazy amounts of money, but rather a little gem of a find.                  

 

Just another lazy Saturday afternoon here, and  just got back  about a couple of hours ago from  Berjaya Times Square shopping mall-- took some time off to see what the Chinese New Year spirit has managed to conjure up- it looks as though the locals are still not tightening their belts this festive season, as the mood for spending is still as undiminished as ever!               

 

Was browsing through the usual haunts to buy my toys, and I chanced upon the more "movie-accurate" version of the psychotic Decepticon Constructicon member: Rampage. As far as repaints go, I thought that this was a pretty neat find, especially because the shop which was carrying this Japan only "exclusive" had about 5 more MOSC toys on its hanging rack. Probably, had more stashed away..but no matter, as it was just sitting there, rather ambiguously to the casual shopper/ and the odd "so-called" toy collectors.         

*Courtesy and creditied to www.tfwiki,com      

Decepticon Rampage Desert Combat (Deluxe, 2010)

 Japanese ID number: RD-21          

TakaraTomy has gone further than Hasbro with their version of red Rampage, here called Decepticon Rampage Desert Combat, redecorating his shovel blade to match the one used on the Rampage prop vehicle seen in the movie (including horizontal lines to match the slatted look of the prop), and having a more screen-accurate colour scheme overall. There is some additional paint applications which add to the realism of a "rusty" copper/ silver coloured shovel. In addition, the windows are different to that of the Hasbro version whereby it is a light amber/ orange colour instead of the purple/maroon one used.        

Tech Spec
The stink of diesel fumes and hot tar follows Rampage wherever he goes. His treads are packed with metal shards stripped from his victims and the countless  scratches covering his chassis are testament to hundreds  of brutal battles. He lives to pound his enemies  into submission and thinks of little else.  His idea of beauty is the sun glinting off  the raw edges of shredded Autobot armor.
Strength	Intelligence	Speed	Endurance	Rank	Courage	Fireblast /Skill
9	3	4	9	2	8	4/4

 Jumped at the chance to get it on the cheap, just in case the price would most likely be way inflated in the next couple of months. Neat figure, and WSX wont be giving any mini-reviews, as there are tons of online write-ups on the regular yellow version of Rampage. 

OVERALL VIEW

Crab-like, naturally-- and  alludes to his Beast-Wars counterpart of the same name. 

"Dessert Combat" Rampage transforms from a red Caterpillar D11 bulldozer into one of two robot mode configurations, the first of which (his actual in-fiction robot form) is distinctly Vehicon-esque. It lacks movable, bendable functional legs, instead featuring a spring-loaded "jackhammer" assembly. When the figure is bounced along the ground in this mode, his Mech Alive feature is activated, and a pair of pistons that frame his head pump back and forth. The shovel can be removed in this mode and used as a stand.     

      If legs are preferred, his jackhammer splits and his elaborate kibble backpack unfolds, together forming four leg-struts to create a free-standing robot form that is rather Greek/ Roman warrior-esque in design. Though not mentioned in the instructions or package, the aforementioned backpack can remain folded in robot mode for a more movie-accurate, two-legged 'play' mode of sorts. He features real rubber treads which become arm-mounted whip weapons in robot mode. Unfortunately, due to this design, the treads themselves do not function in vehicle mode.     

A little trivia: Like several toys in the Revenge of the Fallen toy-line, Rampage has had a mold change done somewhere between his instructions being drawn up and the final version of the toy. On the final toy, the rear flap behind the cabin of the bulldozer runs into a screw section used to hold the robot pelvis together. This change also affects where the rear flap and the bulldozer shovel connect in robot mode. On the instructions, this flap is shown as folding flat against the back of the vehicle and said flap is also folded down much farther in robot mode to connect to the shovel. The mold change seems to account for the shovel connection issue in robot mode, but not the problem in vehicle mode. Unlike some others, this change does not directly affect any of the toy's action features or articulation. A+        

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