Here’s a cool video review of the popular EZ TakaraTomy Legends Devastator.  No wonder so many people like him so much that demand far outstrips supply, and it’s made worse by a sudden ‘unexplained’ halt in stocks after the first batch sold out within a week of arriving in Singapore.  They first became available for sale here at selected collector toy shops around 2 weeks ago.  Secondary prices for him now is reported to be about twice his original retail value!  If we are patient, I think the Hasbro version will eventually hit our local departmental stores. 

Some other fans and collectors mentioned about this cute little guy to the staff at a departmental store that I frequent.  If the Hasbro ones are individually packed as well, then the store personnel might package some of their stocks to sell in sets of 7 Constructicons only.  If not some of their customers are gonna hassle them to call other outlets etc., to check for stocks availability and be on waiting lists; should any of the 7 Contructicons get sold out ‘unevenly’ through deliberate or coincidental purchases by others.

So far there have been no sightings of the Hasbro Legends Devastator available at retail in Singapore or at any part of the world.  Word on the street is that if they do become available at our departmental stores, it will be near the end of the year, probably quite close to Christmas.  Maybe before that, the re-stocks for the EZ TakaraTomy ones will be here.  For overseas buyers, you can purchase EZ TakaraTomy Legends Devastator online and this website ships internationally too!  Happy ROTF toy hunting!

In the latest wave of Deluxe Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) movie toys found at our local departmental stores now, ROTF Deluxe Dead End is observed to be 1 of the peg warmers, together with Blaze Master.  Please note and do not confuse ROTF Deluxe Dead End with ROTF Scout Dead End, a little red Decepticon race car.  ROTF Deluxe Dead End is a repaint of ROTF Deluxe Sideways, who is in dark grey color with bright red robot body parts. 

Upon seeing ROTF Deluxe Dead End in person 2 weeks ago, I find him better looking than ROTF Deluxe Sideways.  I’m surprised that fans and collectors are not giving him much attention.  Just because Dead End wasn’t in the movie makes him a pass for many people.  I’m thinking of getting him after seeing his toy review above.  What do you think?  Is ROTF Deluxe Dead End worth adding to your collection?  Do you have him already or plan to get him?  Feel free to share your comments here!

For the latest wave of Deluxe Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) movie toys to hit our local departmental stores, Deluxe Jolt is observed to be the second hot favourite among fans and collectors here, after the Ice Cream Truck.

ROTF Deluxe Jolt is on my want list and I almost got him last week, but nearly all the 10 pieces at the store had some form of painting defects on them.  So I passed them all and decided to get him when I chance upon a satisfactory piece.  As such, I realise that he’s quite as hard to find as the Ice Cream Truck!

In robot mode, ROTF Deluxe Jolt looks to have very limited articulation for his head, arms and legs.  His door panels tend to get in the way of his arms in robot mode.  But despite his shortcomings, he tends to grow on you once you see him in person and handle him.  If you are planning to complete your ROTF movie cast collection, then he’s surely on your want list!

Since Jolt transforms into a car, I have a feeling that he’ll probably make it to the Human Alliance (HA)series someday.  His likely human partner could be Leo.  Though they didn’t have interaction with each other in the movie (not that I can recall), most of the other HA partnerships weren’t a ‘right’ match anyway.  It’ll be interesting to see a HA Jolt, and I’ll want him!

If you are quite active in the collecting of Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) movie toys recently, you would be aware of this ‘mad rush’ to secure the “rare and hard to find” ROTF Deluxe “Ice Cream Truck” Skids & Mudflap action figures.  They are part of the latest wave of ROTF Deluxe toys to hit our local departmental stores.  This wave was first sighted here around 2 weeks ago.  Since then, the Ice Cream Truck (as it has been nicknamed in the forums by collectors), has been consistently “out of stock” at many places.

So why is this particular set of Skids and Mudflap so overwhelmingly popular with collectors here?  To recap, this vehicle and robot modes only appeared briefly in the ROFT movie.  The vehicle design also doesn’t seem to fit in with the more ‘modern-looking’ vehicles the other Transformers characters took on in the movie.  Is this Ice Cream Truck modelled after typical older truck models that can still be found in Shanghai, where the movie scene took place?  Then the words on the truck should be in printed in Chinese instead right?

The toy colors on the whole just reminds me of a little girl’s toy, because of the bright pink, that comes across as “Barbie Doll pink”.  Why is this set of twins so highly desirable?  Could it be that you get 2 Scout size robot figures that combine to become a Deluxe size vehicle, which makes it unique?  Or is it the short term shortage that causes ‘panic’ amongst collectors (who would usually take their time to buy it) to rush to get it now in case there is ‘no more’ stocks left for them at retail price ‘forever’?  Frankly, I just don’t see the appeal of this Ice Cream Truck.  I can only conclude that the most common reason to acquire it is to complete your ROTF movie cast.

How about you?  Do you own this Ice Cream Truck?  Or do you plan or not plan to get it?  What are your reasons and comments about it?  Feel free to share them here!

The annual San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC) 2009 just ended yesterday.  It lasted from 23- 26 July 2009.  As such,  the SDCC 2009 Exclusive 2-Faced Hero cum Villain Pony is now available for sale on Hasbro Toy Shop!  The current coupon code is MLP9 for 10% off!  The main drawback is that Hasbro Toy Shop ships to the US and Canada only, hence international buyers will require help from US residents or US-based agents to receive the pony.  In Singapore, we can use the services of vPost by SingPost.

The SDCC exclusive in the past years sell out very quickly (within days!) upon being posted for sale on Hasbro Toy Shop straight after the SDCC ends.  So if you are keen to get this ‘dual personality’ exclusive My Little Pony, make your orders today to buy at ‘original retail price’!  Alternatively, you can also get her from ebay all year around, but the prices there will tend to fluctuate.  It really depends on your preference.  Happy MLP hunting!

Right side view - Super Hero Pony!

Left side view - Super Villain Pony!

Update: If you are buying Transformers toys from Hasbro Toy Shop, the current coupon code is TF2009 for 10% off!

Note: The discount coupon codes for Hasbro Toy Shop works for US orders only.

Here’s a request to all Transformers toy experts, gurus, fans, collectors and everyone who is familiar with these toys, I need clarification about a variant Transformers Movie Voyager Starscream that I’ve come across.

This is the most common version of Transformers Movie Voyager Starscream seen in almost every online photos of him.  Even video reviews of him on YouTube are of this version, which has light orange translucent eyes and back of the head, plus beigy colored legs.

Let’s take a look at a variant version of Transformers Movie Voyager Starscream with some slight differences in material or features, and color on him. 

Here’s the front view showing his black colored legs (the part between the knees and feet).

Then we look at the back view, also showing his black colored legs (the part between the knees and feet).

Next we take a closer look at his face, showing his painted red eyes and some variant colors of his face.  The normal ones I’ve seen in online photos have light orange translucent eyes, and the overall face paint are in lighter colors.

This is the back of the head, which is painted in opaque red like his eyes.

Hence do you happen to know if this red-eyed and black legged Transformers Movie Voyager Starscream is an official variant, or someone’s minor custom?  If it’s a real variant, could it be a Takara version, or was this a re-released version that came out as part of a multi-pack special edition with other Transformers Movie action figures?

Your info and comments about the above variant Starscream are greatly appreciated!  Thank you very very much!!

Here’s a short and simple toy collecting tip to share with everyone:

While most of us tend to remove our toys from their packaging to fully enjoy them, some of us prefer to keep certain pieces of our collections Mint-In-Box (MIB) or Mint-On-Card (MOC).  Many MIB or MOC toy collectors tend to stack up their collections on shelves, or stash them in the storeroom etc.

I also have some of my toy collections MIB and MOC.  To store them more conveniently, I pack them into carton boxes first before keeping them away.  Some of us use plastic storage or generic carton boxes bought from Ikea etc.  For me, I prefer to recycle and store my MOC and MIB toys in the carton boxes that were formerly used to contain the toys for shipment. 

And where do we acquire such toy cartons?  Well, I get mine from the collector toy shops and departmental store that I frequent.  When you know the store personnel well enough, you could ask for a couple of suitable size carton boxes to stores your MOC and MIB toys.  

Ideally, we would like to store our MOC and MIB toys in the same type of shipment cartons they came in, but if those are not available, other close alternatives can be considered.  For e.g., my Marvel Universe collection are stored in a couple of Star Wars cartons, the ones meant for the 3.75-inch single pack action figures.  They are a perfect fit!  Besides, recycling is a good practice and at no extra cost!

Hope this toy storage tip has been helpful to you! 

The Crazy Toy Sale at the Ngee Ann City Taka atrium is one that truly resembles a toy warehouse sale, but it’s not at a warehouse!  The following are some great stuff spotted there today:

Transformers Universe Voyager: SGD 20.00 each - Blaster, Heavy Load, Dropshot, Blades, Treadbolt.

Transformers Animated Leader class: SGD 30.00 - Bulkhead, Megatron, Ultra Magnus (very few).

Note: Don’t despair if you don’t see Ultra Magnus there, there are some going for SGD 29.90 each at TRU Paragon.

Transformers The Movie Battle Scenes packs: SGD 15.00 - Desert Attack (Scorponok), Final Stand (tow truck).

Note: This lot was sold out today, but we can hope for restocks!

My Little Pony Ponyville: SGD 10.00 - La-Ti-Da Hair & Spa Playset

Indiana Jones 3.75-inch action figures:

- SGD 5.00 for 5 pieces of single packs, or SGD 10.00 for 3 pieces of 2-packs.

Huge green Hulk smash fist gloves: SGD 5.00 per pair.

Hannah Montana single pack dolls: SGD 9.00

Other great stuffs: Batman, Justice League, Kungfu Panda, very old stocks of 1:18 scale die cast model cars, plus many many more.  There are also lots of young children’s clothes, shoes printed with their favourite cartoon characters.  This is truly a toy sale worth waiting for!

Excited parents were overheard saying that it’s a fantastic opportunity to stock up ‘branded’ toys for Christmas gifts!  Parents with kids in tow were seen being very generous to their little ones. 

The staff keep restocking the toys whenever the inventory runs low.  Sometimes they bring out the same stuff, and sometimes completely new items.  As the sale runs till 10 August 2009, I believe that there are many more treasures yet to be revealed.  You can only hope to be there at the right place at the right time!

Request: If they do re-stock the TFTM Battle Scenes Capture of Bumblebee, I’d appreciate if a kind person can pick up a piece for me, I’ll be most grateful to you!  I’m don’t mind having variants of Deluxe Movie Bumblebee in my collection! 

Happy toy hunting!

At last, this enormous Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) Supreme Devastator has arrived at some major departmental stores this week.  If you have pre-ordered yours from our local TRU, their stocks are in now.  My friend just picked up his from them. 

The entire box is slightly bigger than that of Ultimate Bumblebee. You can also test a switch on his chest to hear him ramble his name!  The local price for Supreme Devastator is SGD 219.90.  Overseas buyers can order this set online from Entertainment Earth.  They ship internationally and their stocks should be available soon!

I received news that there is a toy clearance sale at the Taka atrium now!  There are even Transformers The Movie (TFTM) toys like Battle Scenes going for a song there!  Variety available depends on your good luck and while stocks last.  So do make a trip there if you can to check it out.  I haven’t been there yet but will do so very soon.  Happy toy hunting everyone!