Dennis' Top Ten Toys (TTT) 2012

Top spot: Macross: Customised SDF-1

I had spent 3 nights on this project to save my yellowing toy gave me great satisfaction. Dedication to my passion of Macross as Macross still remains number one in my heart. 

2nd place: CMS Macross Collection Hikaru Ichijo Figure

 Highly sought Hikaru fixed pose figure in his flight suit, came with the pilot helmet. Great sharp sculpt and neat paint job by CMS.

Third place: Tenjho Tenge: Aya Natsume Figure

Always wanted the original production that is closer to the anime. Aya Natsume from Tenhjo Tenge, drawing her katana in school uniform, in an original paint scheme was designed by sculptor/designer Bome.

4th: MG FA Gundam NT-1 Alex

For the versatility to switch between Full Armour and normal mode. Epic scene from OVA 'War In Pocket' U.C 0080, showing the mines detonated on FA (Full Armour) Gundam NT-1 and the MS walking out from the smoke with the extra armour dropping but MS still functioning.

5th: 龙虎门 Dragon Wong Figure

Rare trading figure by Jade Dynasty that showcase what Hong Kong comic can achieve!

6th: Tamiya 1/35 RC Russian T-34 Tank

For the first time in my life I now owned a RC tank and first time on my blog I post about RC model tank. Because of the arrival of this new toy, I started watching a lot of WWII documentaries, especially on WWII tanks. T-34 medium tank 

7th: Robotech YF-1R Action Figure (Toynami)

An action figure which I bought back in 2007 and finally decided to open the toy to put it on display with extra effort to top-coat it with matt spray. Featured in 'Robotech Battlecry' game and YF-1R was the customised valkyrie when Jack Archer joined the wolf squadron.

8th: Full Metal Panic! Kaname Chidori Trading Figure

I managed to save enough penny for a 1/8 figure of Kaname, I shall settle with this budget, Full Metal Panic! Kaname Chidori Trading Figure. My first toy on Full Metal Panic!

9th: Lucky☆Star : Izumi Konata Swim Suit Figure and T-Shirt

Figure of Izumi Konata from 'Lucky☆Star', in her grade 6th school swimsuit. Konata made her appearance in this swimsuit, in episode 6 of 'Lucky☆Star' anime when the gals went on a beach vacation. The gasaphon had brought out the kawaii...ness in Konata from her mole, her lips to the Jap wordings on her swimsuit. 

10th: Banpresto Macross VF-1J

Compliment the toy for its articulation as the toy did pose well in Gerwalk mode as the legs can be spread nicely apart. Lose out because of fragile joints but good collection taking into considerate the low price. 

Time again to sum up what I had done this year for hobbies. I must say it has been another good year with more ups than downs. A year which I truly had sufficient time for hobbies and had managed to cover many significant events related to toys and model kits. Glad that I had exercised self-control when buying toys and being able to keep my toy room tidy till now. 

Most importantly, I had found new friends at my estate who share same interest such as Gunpla and those constructive occasional meet-ups. My new year resolution for 2013 would be building more model kits from my backlog and spending less. Without further a do, here's a recap of my Top Ten Toys reviews for 2012.

ps: Wishing all you guys & gals, an even better year ahead with lotz of love and prosperity! Good health and peace of mind! Play toys and no war : )

Vigna Zirah XM-07G Model Kit

Let's take a look back at a retro Gunpla all the way to July year 1992, from a side-story manga titled 'Mobile Suit Gundam Silhouette Formula 91, set in the timeline of Universal Century 0123. Vigna Zirah XM-07G is one of those rare Gunpla that Stanley was aiming for and with some luck we managed to find at Yahoo! Japan and have it shipped over to Singapore through a middleman. 

From a timeline, just 2 days after the event happened in the anime movie 'Mobile Suit Gundam F91', Vigna Zirah shared similar design to F91, like the beam shield and those thrusters cum beam cannons (Variable Speed Beam Rifles) that could be adjusted back and forth. A mobile suit for Crossbone Vanguard's Dark Tiger Squadron at Zebra Zone, it take the pilot of a certain calibre such as Shelf Sheffield aka 'Flame Tiger' to pilot the flamboyant vivid red MS.

Personally, I'm attracted to the design of this MS especially the visor and antennas on the head, like a crossover between Gundam and GM. Too bad this Gunpla was released at an early era so the 1/100 scale kit somehow don't look proportional and lacked articulations. This review also incomplete as the assault rifle was missing. Just a loose Vigna Zirah XM-07G model kit from straight built with stickers pasted.

Super Mario Kart Candy Toy

This short insert post, inspired after having watched 'Wreck-It Ralph' to go inline with characters from video games from Jurassic era. Asked me about an 'Atari' mascot and my reply would be 'Pac Man'. 'Super Mario' for 'Nintendo' and 'Sonic' for SEGA' console. I remember Mario been mentioned in 'Wreck-It Ralph' but didn't see the character making its appearance apart the villain like King Koopa aka Bowser and other supporting character from the game. 

Anyway, here's Mario on kart candy toy that is similar to Pez candy dispenser. It's displayed in my living room for quite a while and one that my wifee won't give permission to give or sell it away. My son, Denz, is also eyeing on it but he won't get his hands and wreck it as the toy is safely inside the glass cabinet. Hee! Hee! Amazing to see how 'Super Mario' game had expanded from jumping around, rescuing princess to Go Kart racing on Super Nintendo or Wii. Iconic character from generation to generations.

Wreck-It Ralph!

I wanted to watch 'Wreck-It Ralph!' badly after reading ‘Toy Randomness’ blog. It’s a movie on arcade games characters and particularly, Ralph, who was programmed as a villain (often neglected and rejected) wanted so badly to get out of the role that he was been programmed as. Fortunately, my wifee and I managed to bring our three kiddos to the cinema to catch this movie by Disney on Christmas Eve.

The thing cool about this movie was that game characters from titles I had previously played, made their appearance in the movie. Retro games that were old and classic like ‘Pac Man’, ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’, ‘Super Mario Bros’ and ‘Street Fighter’. Though my kiddos were exposed to Sonic and Mario, these characters definitely had a greater nostalgias impact on me. You can expect some cyber action and speed racing as Ralph traveled outside his comfort zone.

Robot Damashii GNX-609T GN-X III A-Laws Type

Many thanx to Stanley again for lending me his toy, if not this review won't be possible. There is his Robot Damashii red GN-X III Mobile Suit used by the A-Laws in the second season of 'Gundam 00'. When you look at the box of the toy, it's painted as A-Raws! A-Laws or A-Raws? It doesn't really matter as the toy come sharply detailed for a 12.5cm action figure featured with well-articulated joints for a wide range of dynamic poses. 

It seems to me that there had been several releases of GN-X under Robot Damashii line. I guess the simple design of this mass produced grunt unit had its own fans and so can't be wrong even introduced in different variants. This toy comes in its most basic form from the figure straight down to the accessories. Weapons include a GN Beam Rifle, GN Beam Saber, GN Shield with movable Defense Rod, and a GN Lance that can switch between its Lance and Rifle modes. Good grip for the rifle as it attached firmly to the forearm. 

Needless to say the articulation Robot Damashii delivers, my only complaint would be the head movement as its restricted by the collar. The lance had complimented the MS well and the red/white colour scheme gave close resemblance to a crusader knight.

Fire Emblem Exceed A Generation Levn / Levin Figure

A successor to the throne of Silesia, Levn, English translation as Levin had once forsaken his kingdom to travel beyond the border for knowledge and wisdom. He came to realized his heavy responsibilities after the tragic death of his mother and assumed the throne thereafter. Despite so, Levn was unable to defend his small nation and was eventually slain. His pursuits of justice and fairness continued after his resurrection by Holsety, the divine dragon aka Wind God. Levn is a sage class that served as a tactician with magic as his forte. 

'Angels Puressanto Ltd' had done an excellence job in making this series of Fire Emblem Exceed A Generation figures with minor changes to the costume and sculpt for a more dramatic look. Levn was made with his removable cape and scarf blown upwards like gathering wind, defying gravity. The neat paint job even on the accessories on Levn and charming eyes complimented well to the overall likeness to the character. 

The Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu Character Figures aka Fire Emblem Exceed a Generation is a figurine collection that have the characters from Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu in Generation 1 in the first volume set, featured as a Trading Figure (Japanese blind-box figure). This figure stands 4.75" (11.5 cm) in height, with a 3" in diameter base. Packaged in a color box, with Japanese text. Requires assembly. It includes a textured, circular base, with an English label of the game "Fire Emblem" on the front. So far there has been a second volume.