M'Kyuun

Your Twitch came out alright; the extra bit of paint helps. It's a shame that she, and other figs, don't come more fully painted from the factory, but I'm thinking they're squeezing every last drop out of the budgets as it is. Sorry to hear your Ironhide painting and cutting went awry. I wish you success without incident next time. If it's any consolation, I had started painting the stripe on my Ironhide prior to the Toyhax set being revealed. I wanted it to look smoother (I don't own a good airbrush and the old cheapy I do own is probably gummed up with old paint at this point), so I wiped the paint off and waited for the sticker sheet. Upon perusing said sheet, there were far more I didn't want than I did; a basic sheet with the stripes, some back windows, some red stickers for the bumper, and maybe some lights and license plate decals would have been perfect. But I get that some folks want the full G1 look, which, in most cases, looks too dated to me, especially a lot of the robot stickers. Anyway, I passed on the stickers and hand painted it, which looks a little rough, especially upon close inspection, but still better, IMHO, than he did prior. No one else has to look at it but me, so that's ok.

Twitch is the only Earthspark fig thus far released that has interested me enough to buy. I think she's an alright fig, but I have the same complaint about her chest not locking into place, as she's a little back-heavy with her rotors and the merest touch causes her chest to swing up and back. Not a good design by any standard. Her shoulders sit a little too low for my taste as well, but again, her design could have used tweaking before finalization. Regardless, as with Animated, I think her toony look has its charm, and though her alt mode is a made-up drone that looks like nothing real-world that I'm aware of, I still like it. It's different, but in an appealing way, I guess. Compared to Legacy deluxes, though, she reeks of simplicity and likely a lower budget despite her price tag being equal to those higher quality main line toys which in my mind doesn't make for good practice. Alas, that's life in the early twenty-first century it seems.

I didn't even think about Gundam markers, but that might've been an easier way to do it. I wouldn't use a rotary cutter for the reason you mentioned- too large a gap. I think a thin sharp hobby knife is the most effective means to keep the gap to an absolute minimum. Too, if your rotary tool slips, then you've permanently marred the hip skirt. I was a bit reluctant to cut mine, but I vehemently dislike how the single piece looks in a pose, and being inspired by a few others who cut theirs, I pressed on. Glad I did- time and effort well-spent. I figured one of the third-party upgrade makers would produce a three-part skirt to replace the single piece, but AFAIK, nobody has. I also figured they'd make a detachable back cannon. Hasbro made one for the WfC Siege Ratchet/Ironhide figs, but it would have been nice to get it with the version of the character for whom it's actually known. Oh, and I got payment notifications from Pulse for both Tarn and Leo Prime. I'll probably receive them early next week.

I used Testor's 1150 flat red enamel, Testor's flat yellow (Testor's Hobby and Craft acrylic 18 pack with a series of colors both gloss and flat), and a mix of Vallejo 70.991 Dark Sea Grey (FS36231) acrylic mixed with a bit of Testor's acrylic flat black (also from the 18-pack) to darken it to the approximate plastic color. I didn't get it exactly, but pretty close. I would have used flat red acrylic from that 18 pack, but both the flat and gloss red paints inexplicably cured into rubbery blobs that wouldn't resuscitate with water. It's quite odd, as they are the only paints in that set to have done so and both had their lids snapped closed. The only other comparable red I own is the flat enamel, so that's what I used. In hindsight, given the glossy appearance of Hasbro's paint, perhaps a gloss red would be a better choice. To cut the skirt, I used a brand-new X-Acto hobby knife; it still took a bit of work- ABS is tough stuff, but I managed to cut both sides while preserving the bits on either side of the center crotch piece that the pin goes through. I just followed the molded lines and kept scoring it while trying to keep the blade as perpendicular to the cutting surface as possible. Fortunately, I managed it successfully and without any impromptu blood lettings or amputations. I recommend caution if you attempt it. Too, if you go ahead and paint yours, I wish you more success than I had; initially, I masked the lines on the right side of the van but became overconfident and careless in my application and had to go back and do some clean up. After that, I free-handed everything else to better effect. Trying to get the paint looking right around those wheel wells is challenging, and I wish I'd done a better job of it. I suck at painting, though. Concerning your Earthspark Bee review, I don't think it's a bad looking fig overall. The huge intakes on the sides are a little detracting from the front, but otherwise look good from just about any other angle. Still, I think I like the Cyberverse design better, especially the bot mode. I don't own the Cyberverse fig and likely won't pick up the Earthspark version, so I get to enjoy them vicariously. I completely support your argument on the pricing of these figs as opposed to the superior Generations main line stuff. The price should reflect the quality, and anyone who's handled figs from Cyberverse or Earthspark and Generations knows there's a notable difference there in the build and engineering between them. Good review, Mike. Every success in your Ironhide improvements.

At this point I'd take either, especially if it was done as well as the upcoming Legacy Skyquake. That said, I'd still like to get my hands on the original toy or a nice update that maintains the Animated aesthetic.

I did some painting. I also separated Ironhide's uni-skirt, which IMHO, improves the look of the fig in dynamic poses. I waited for Toyhax's set, but it was replete with labels I didn't want or intend to apply; all I wanted was his yellow stripes, the red bits to fix his overpainted bumper area, and some grey decals for the top of his torso which didn't even come in the set, surprisingly. So, I took up brush and did my best to bring him a little closer to his toon look. I think he looks ready to start bustin' Deceptichops. 😉

Yeah, I'm thinking he's going to be stealing the show every time he has a bit of scenery to chew, pun intended. 😇

Great review, Mike. I'm one of those fans who was underwhelmed by the Hasbro toy, to put it kindly, but that line like many had its share of both good and bad figs, subjectively speaking. I consider Prime's Knockout and Dreadwing toys to be on the low end for their concessions in bot and plane modes respectively. Airachnid was due a better toy, especially since she was a recurring character who, much like BW's Tarantulas, often worked her own agenda apart from the other Decepticons and gave the show that extra bit of fun and intrigue. I should have a burning desire to buy this fig, but I don't. She's definitely an improvement over the original, and I don't mind the concessions to her helicopter mode, but it's just not grabbing me for some reason. TBH, I haven't been interested in any of the APC's Prime updates, as I'm fine with the original toys, which still adorn one of my TF shelves. I doubt anything better is going to come along, but for some reason, I just don't have much enthusiasm for her. I think my pique would be better served if they were making some Animated updates. In particular, Blackout, whose original toy I missed out on, and who goes for a king's ransom on the secondary market, would be wonderful. Unlike Prime, Hasbro has been mostly silent on Animated rereleases, updates, anything really; it's as if they want it to just disappear despite the fact that it was a really well-done show and there are many fans who would love to have a breadcrumb or two. I was hoping for some sort of special release on its tenth anniversary, but nothing. There is, however, a glimmer of hope that it's not completely under the rug, as in my rather minority opinion, Legacy Bulkhead was an update to the Animated, not Prime, character, and now we have an Animated Prowl fig coming. I continue to hold out hope for a Titan class Omega Supreme, but honestly, I don't want it G1-ified; I want a proper Animated-style Omega Supreme that looks like the show's version of the Ark when transformed. Given the direction of Legacy, I'm not holding my breath. 🙁

You can do far, far worse than borrow liberally from Ghost in the Shell. Wanna see it! This is gonna be a fun movie. I think my wife, who loves cheesy humor (Mel Brooks and the like), will really enjoy it.

I wish they'd put a cardboard box in Generation Zero- man that game's tough, especially going it alone.

Agreed, but what Boston Dynamics is already doing is far beyond what I ever imagined I would see in my lifetime; it's sci-fi wrought real, and it's impressive beyond the pale. I'm awestruck every time I see one of their robots doing some feat, be it climbing stairs, doing somersaults, or just picking up a box, carrying it somewhere else, and depositing it. Even if the robot drops its parcel, the programming and technical difficulties behind all those movements and coordination is staggering. So, given the current state of the technology, and the pace at which tech advances in this era, I'm reasonably certain that an autonomous AI-controlled robot will be reality, and possibly in some limited service, by the time I expire. I'm 51 now, and coming from a long-lived family, barring no accidents, diseases, zombie apocalypses. or nuclear holocaust, I'll likely live well into my eighties, and I hope to see it become a reality in a positive way before I push daisies.

😄 Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner are, thankfully, still with us, if a little grey, and it wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if both made at least cameos in the next film. They started the whole thing, Bruce is its namesake, and as long as they draw breath and TRON films/shows/games are made, I want to see both turn up in them somewhere, along with Steve Lisberger who dreamt the whole thing up and gave us one of the most visually and thematically distinct bits of science fiction in the history of the genre.

Well, give it time. We've been using unmanned, sometimes AI-controlled, drones to prosecute war for decades now. It's part of the modern landscape, as it were. People fear change and more so, what they don't understand, and more than that, preconceptions instilled in them by decades of cautionary tales in the form of fiction. That's not to say we should forge ahead without precautions; maybe I've seen Terminator one too many times, but real-world AI is still a burgeoning science, and we simply don't know how it will react should it ever become self-aware, or aware of its place in this human-run world. Caution is warranted. However, we have a historical tendency to project the worst of ourselves onto other things, be they natural or man-made, and that often colors our biases. AI may prove to be our salvation over time instead of our end, as we often pessimistically predict. It remains to be seen. I'm a fan of giving AI the benefit of the doubt, as there's certainly a use for it in dangerous occupations/ situations where a machine-run machine can spare a human life or lives, and maybe even save some in the process. I think it's worth finding out.

Well, Bruce Boxleitner isn't getting any younger, and I think they struck upon a great premise in Uprising by making him a well-damaged program who's still in the fight, but not quite what he was in his prime. Enter a new kid taking on the name and the fight, with guidance from the original Tron. Just from what I saw of the show, I thought it was handled brilliantly, and it didn't hurt that they had some talented folks providing voices, including Tron himself, Mr. Boxleitner. It's a travesty that Disney didn't promote the hell out of this show and get wider viewing/ more seasons, as it was top shelf stuff. It honestly wouldn't hurt my feelings if they stole that premise for a new live action film. The real curiosity though is who or what will serve as the villain in the next chapter? I'd rather they didn't rehash but came up with a new bad guy/threat to the Grid, especially one that's Machiavellian, perhaps making him/herself out to be a Tron-type all the while manipulating things to a sinister end behind the scenes. Even better, make them a zealot, in it for what they feel is a higher purpose beyond themselves with noble but misguided intentions rather than the tired old tropes of self-gratification and narcissism. The landscape of TRON, having had little in the way of expansion over the last 41 years, is still very much wide-open territory to explore various themes, as good sci-fi often is. Hopefully the producers use it to good measure and create something thoughtful and more profound than its surface beauty would suggest.

Yeah, Leto wouldn't be on my list of picks. Bring back Quorra. Or start fresh with a whole new cast, making references to Tron, Flynn, et al. Or like Uprising, let someone else take up the mantle of Tron to fight whatever new tyrannical force is trying to suppress the Grid. I've not seen the whole of Uprising yet, but everything about it was better than Legacy, and arguably better than the original TRON in some respects. Like the incredible Gargoyles show, Uprising seems to have been mostly ignored by Disney in lieu of promoting their usual trite fare. At least they're on Disney Plus where a whole new generation can watch them. Gargoyles remains, after all these years, one of the most well-written, produced, and performed animated shows I've seen. Like Batman: TAS, its maturity and quality of writing and characterization made it appealing not only to its younger target audience, but to adults for its depth, humor, drama, storytelling, art direction, and great writing/acting that brought the characters to life.

I dig the world of TRON as well. TRON was one of the few films I got to see in the theatre as a kid and I thought it was amazing, especially the visual aspects. It was completely unique- still is, really, as TRON: Legacy used completely different techniques and tech to achieve the look, which is much shinier and cleaner than the original. But knowing all the labor put into achieving the look of the original gives me a far greater appreciation for it. TRON was ahead of its time story-wise too, as I don't think society was really in the headspace of thinking about personifying the inner workings of a computer, which at the time was a rarity and inaccessible to the majority of people. From that perspective, as well as the duality of user and program, and using the actors to portray both, set against an evil master control program, essentially a dictator wannabe, was simple yet brilliant. TRON: Legacy, while prettier and more streamlined, didn't make as much of an impact on me. I like it, but the newness of ideas explored, as well as the visuals in the original set it apart. I've seen only disjointed eps of TRON; Uprising, but I think I enjoyed the toon more than Legacy. I just watched the original a few nights ago, intend to watch Uprising in its entirety on Disney Plus, and then rewatch Legacy. Not sure what they can do to expand the story, but I like the world of TRON and am open to see more exploration of it in film, tv, or even a new game. I hope ARES is well-done- I hope it surprises.

Concerning Leo Prime's lion face, I much prefer the more realistic take over the derpy cartoon face. I thought it looked awful on the MP and was pleasantly surprised to see the more realistic lion head on the Legacy fig. I will say, however, that some additional paint, esp to the eyes, would have gone a long way towards improving the look. Appreciate the side-by-sides of the various Menasors. I think it goes without saying that the Legacy is the best overall take, although it's not without its warts. I never cared for the G1 combiners as they all looked stiff, lifeless, and generally lacked articulation, one of my major gripes about the vast majority of G1. The CW figs, accepting that liberal license was taken with their designs as opposed to being G1 updates, weren't too badly done in the bot and vehicle modes, but that combined mode, as with the majority, just left somewhat to be desired, especially in a line that was all about combining. I'm not a big fan of the frame with bots tacked-on approach, but it's more aesthetically pleasing and imparts a stability and strength to the joints that were woefully lacking in the CW line.

I've never heard of a UV resin pen. I assume it uses the UV light to cure it quickly. TBH, I wasn't really planning on doing a repair, but perhaps I should, if for no other reason, it would prevent the crack from potentially spreading. I figured at least one, and probably more (Dr. Wu comes to mind), third party upgrade kit makers will make Targetmaster figs with better articulation. I'll keep an eye out.

I'll be finding out, as I ordered this figure. It looks amazing- very much like the Flame Toys fig, only transformable, and that was the clincher for me. Too, I love the Asurada alt mode, so regardless of which mode I have him in, I'm gonna be happy with him. That transformation, though....I'm trying to mentally prepare for it. It doesn't look like fun at all for all the reasons you pointed out. I watched Skullface fumble with it, and I have a feeling my experience is going to be similar- I always seem to have issues with one side or the other not lining up, or being tough to tab, or some other obstructive issue. Fingers crossed it'll go smoothly. I'll almost certainly have a vid up by a competent reviewer who's adept at doing transformations. I got my kit today and installed it, and the elbow peg that goes into the car hood side of the right arm was so tight it cracked the post hole housing. Sorry for the blurry pic. Anyway, I disassembled the arm and sanded down the peg, but the damage was already done. What's odd is I had no issues with the left arm. As I mentioned above, I always seem to have asymmetrical issues with my toys where one side works perfectly, and the other side doesn't. Anyway, I like the articulation the kit imparts to the arms, and one wonders why Hasbro couldn't have just designed it this way themselves. I'd rather have had the full elbow bend over the little grill extensions it originally came with that restrict elbow bend to less than 90 degrees. I wish Nonnef had given us the bits to make a fully articulated gun dude for Pointblank; the one that came with him remains in the box, as I can't abide its lack of articulation. I don't care how small these things are- the same standards of articulation should apply regardless. It's 2023, not 1985. Evolution in technique, quality, and features should be equal across the board. I'll second on the Headmasters head sculpt, just not the gimmick. The Sunbow bucket head is not as appealing.

I collect the majority of Speed Champions, but the Nissan Skyline holds no interest for me- I've never seen any of the F&F movies and doubt I ever will. If a car in there interests me, I'll get it, but it'll be based entirely on the model's appeal by itself. This just strikes me a s a bit mediocre compared to some of the more exotic cars they do. The 2023 lineup is already looking pretty good. They're already doing a car from a video game in this next wave, and I hope that opens them up to anime, as I'd love to see a Mach 5 from Speed Racer and an Asurada from Future GPX Cyber Formula in this line. I don't plan on getting the Ghost Rider mech & bike set, but I agree on the playability- hope they do more like this with other characters.

Congrats, have fun building, and remember that there are far worse 'problems' to have than an affinity for LEGO. Enjoy!

I find it interesting how two fans of the original theme can have such different views, both valid. I can see where the changes to the design could be off-putting if you were expecting a more faithful homage, especially if you have strong attachment to the original. This set is certainly an homage more than a redo, and liberties were taken, some good, some not so good. I dislike stickers- they're a PITA to apply and try to get lined up perfectly, especially when there are symmetrical stickers, which is often the case. Putting the logos on the canted cargo doors was a pain. And speaking of which, those constitute a poor design choice. With all the new parts- brackets and slopes aplenty, they could have approximated the original's boxy covering and put it on the old hinge brick, also like the original. The bar w/ clip elements, due to the softer material of which they're made, don't have the same grip as ABS clips, and so those large flag elements used for the side doors tend to very easily disengage from the clips. Not the best. I neglected to mention that in my review. Too, speaking of the stronger grip of ABS clips, the little engine assembly is tough to remove from the larger module (w/ the trans-red lined arrays). I struggle with it, so I can't imagine an 8–12-year-old having a much easier time of it. Brick separator to the rescue. Those are really my only negatives. I personally love the reimagined design, the generous number of included accessories, the replicated robot, the back printing on the minifig, and though I don't like stickers, I appreciate how they replicate or homage the old prints. Moreover, they can be handy on MOCs as well. Mostly, I'm just happy to see yet another Classic Space design reimagined for a modern audience after 13 years of no original Space themes, and 44 years since the original Galaxy Explorer and 36 years since the Blacktron Invader debuted. There are many more old sets I'd love to see reimagined in like fashion, but I'm really hoping it opens the door to another new original Space theme. For this fan, there's room for both Star Wars and new sci-fi Space stuff in my heart, if not on my shelves.

Howdy all! I hope the new year is treating everyone well. 2023 became infinitely better when LEGO unveiled the new 40580 Blactron Cruiser GWP set, and being an old LEGO space nerd since the 70s, it was an opportunity I couldn't, nay wouldn't, resist! So, three rather expensive orders later, I now have three of these lovelies in my possession. but is it worth dropping $190 just to get it in your cart? For me, absolutely yes. Let's take a look at it. Apologies beforehand for the photo quality- someday I'll get a better camera. The box art does a lovely job of mimicking the original Blacktron Invader's box deco down to the robot with a hammer in the foreground. So here it is, the updated Blacktron Invader, now called Cruiser for reasons that have yet to be made clear. As with the original Blacktron sets, and the Invader in particular, the new Blacktron Cruiser can also separate into modules. The Cruiser is in the foreground and the original Invader behind it. Not only does the Cruiser break apart in similar fashion to its predecessor, but the engine section further breaks down with an additional two modules. Unlike the original set which used Technic pins to lock the various sections together, the Cruiser uses a combination of a new 1x2 round brick with posts in the center, a piece that is sure to find extraordinary utility going forward, and horizontal clip pieces. I like how the yellow striping is consistent between modules as well, even in the areas that can't be seen when they're assembled. Like the original, the central module is a container, each of which carries a brick-built robot, a hammer, and the old classic wrench. The Cruiser, however, further carries a cargo box with drop-down door with two black ingots within. Original 2023 Box Robots. New on left. Since the old control console piece that comprised the body of the original robot was retired years ago, designers used a clip and this small pistol element originally created for the Overwatch sets to make the body of the new version while maintaining the stooped posture. Cockpit. Although the cockpit sections are similar in overall length, the canopy used on the original was much shorter. As a result, the pilot is situated closer to the nose than on the update, which uses the new canopy developed for Buzz Lightyear's XL-15. (Thanks Angus!). The original featured a hollow area behind the pilot's seat which inexplicably was never utilized, as one of those cargo boxes would have fit (I tested it! 😉) On the update, due to its shape, there's more storage area ahead of the pilot, and the designers utilized it by giving us a metal detector. A sticker replaces the printed control console slope used in the original and a trans-yellow tile affixed within a couple clips provides a nice HUD. Every print on the new set is provided by a sticker; there are eight in total. I'm not the biggest fan of stickers, but given its GWP status, and the fact that it's yet another Classic Space update within several months' time, it's a concession I will gladly accept. I hope they keep putting these out every several months henceforth. They're a long time coming, and for us old Classic Space junkies, a breath of fresh air over the monotony, or should I say monopoly, of Star Wars as the only sci-fi space LEGO available on the shelves. Additionally, the 2023 set gives us one of the old large camera/ space gun accessories and a smaller brick-built gun/sensor/ whatever you want it to be. These are stored on the top flap of the three-way opening cargo box. The Pilot. The new fig is on the left. The white paint is a little brighter and his eyes only a smidge larger and very slightly closer together than the original's on the right, but otherwise, they are nearly identical. Until you turn them around and remove their tanks. This is the first time a Blacktron figure has sported back printing, which will likely make the value of this fig soar on the secondary market. Another great touch by the designers in upgrading and updating the original set. And with that, I'll wrap things up. Coming back to the question I asked at the beginning, is it worth paying $190 just to get this set? For me, absolutely, and I paid it three times over just to get three copies. I'm flirting with the idea of getting a fourth. Anyway, Blacktron was one of my favorite themes- the black and yellow color scheme hinted at something darker, more nefarious, something LEGO generally didn't do in those days. There was no conflict, only exploration. When Space Police was released and we saw Blacktron figs as prisoners, it was the start of something new- confirmed bad guys in space. Too, the modularity aspect of Blacktron was cool, especially if you were lucky enough to have a few of the bigger sets to mix and match the various modules. I had the Battrax, the Renegade, and the Message Intercept Base, and I loved them. Too, Robocop came out the same year; it was a movie I adored (still do!) and I used to love closing the visors on my Blacktron figs so only the mouth was visible like a certain cyborg cop. Good memories. So yes, nostalgia has me in its tight unwavering grasp, and virtually anything that will appease it has exceptional value to me beyond just dollars. That said, if you're not into Space or sci-fi, then this set is likely not for you and not worth the price of admission, as it were. I'll add, however, that I wish this had been a wide retail release to share shelf space with the 10497 Galaxy Explorer. The cool designs and juxtaposed color schemes would have popped, and at a likely $35-45 price point, would have been much easier to swallow if one was simply curious and bought a copy. The $190 threshold is a bit steep and will likely prevent a lot of fans from acquiring it, which is sad. We've waited so long for CS to make any kind of comeback, and when it does, many simply won't be able to afford it. I'm grateful that I was able to get not just a copy, but several. They'll find a good home among my other classic Blactron and other assorted SC era ships and vehicles. So, obviously I had to buy a fair bit of LEGO to get my Blacktron sets, and I'll share a little of that here too. First, the Monkie Kid Combi Mech. So this set just released on Jan 1, and I thought it looked pretty neat. There's an additional feature, hence the 'combi' part of the name, that I can't show since I didn't buy the other set that combines with it. The year's not over yet, though. 😉 Anyway, the articulation that this thing possesses, relative to the oft limited elbow articulation and lack of knees endemic to most of LEGO's mecha models, is superb. As you can see it can even kneel, and due to how the ball and socket joints were arranged, the arm articulation is fantastic. The hips and shoulders are Technic ball/socket joints, the elbows are made up of the small ball/socket joints (Mixel joints), the knees are ratcheted hinge joints, and the ankles are also Mixel joints. the shoulder pauldrons are also moveable, attached by clip joints. After handling this model for a bit and putting it through all sorts of poses, I can't help but think that this should be the template for all their medium sized mecha. Alas, it's not. Endgame Hulkbuster So, this also released on Jan 1st, and it is the most accurate Hulkbuster model at this scale. I love how the designers put those upper torso bits on an angle to really bulk up the shoulders- it just has a presence that past models lacked, although being a Hulkbuster fan, I have all of them (except the new UCS- not crazy about the proportions or the price tag). Articulation-wise, the shoulders are on ratcheted joints, the elbows are made up of the old hinge plates, the wrists can rotate on Technic pins, and the fingers can all rotate independently. The shoulder pauldrons/armor can swivel out to make clearance at the shoulder The range of arm articulation is very good. As usual with these System-scaled HB models, the head does not rotate; it can swivel up to reveal Dr. Bruce Banner at the controls (or lack thereof in this case). The hips are also on ratcheting joints, the knees are fixed, although clip joints are used at the back of the knee and removing the robot arms which make up the mechanical detail at the front of the knee will provide a bit of knee bend. The ankles are large Technic ball/socket joints and the toes are attached via clips. The toes have enough requisite strength to hold the weight of the model and compensate for the minimal range of motion possible at the ankle, as you can see in the photos. Despite its few articulation shortcomings, I love this model- it just looks amazing. Since it's LEGO, the articulation is something I may consider modding at some point. But for now, I'm just enjoying it as-is. Avatar: The Way of Water From the very first instant I saw a pic of the Crabsuit, I was enamored. Seeing it in action in the actual film only increased my love of this cool mecha, which looks and moves like its namesake. LEGO created a set featuring both the Crabsuit and the Tulkan, a whale-like creature that features prominently in the film. Much like their Avatar sets based on the first film, LEGO included little bases that appear as seafloor bits covered in an array of colorful and unique flora and fauna. It's a very cool way to create a bit of Pandora while also including a stand in disguise, if you will, for the various machines and creatures from the films. Here's the Crabsuit in its sub form- the legs and arms are folded to make it more compact and aquadynamic. The pilot is a generic unnamed human character. I like this model quite a bit. It's LEGO, so of course it's going to have some limitations and inaccuracies, especially at this scale. but, it's a fun little model, easily swooshable, and relatively poseable in its crab form. The Tulkun This model is partly comprised of three large specialty molded elements forming the head and each side jowl. Personally, I wish they would have fully brick-built the entire creature as they do with Creator sets, but I can understand why they went this route. The latter 2/3 of the Tulkun is completely brick-built, and the designers mounted the last third of the tail on a set of large Technic hinges (AT-AT legs) enabling the tail to move up and down through about three detents' range of motion, IIRC. The flukes at the tip of the tail can also be articulated on a ratcheting plate hinge, as can the large pectoral fins. The smaller fins forward and lower than the pectorals are on Technic friction pins allowing for up and down and rotational articulation. The mouth can open by rotating the large jowl bits, attached to the head via friction pins, and the lower jaw can articulate via ratcheting hinges. Like the Crabsuit, it comes with a sea-bottom stand and IMHO, makes for a nice-looking display. Of course, as most of us are aware, scale is always a concession when it comes to models depicting large to very large things, and the Tulkun is no exception. While it is a sizeable model, after seeing the film it's probably about a third the size of the creature as depicted in the film. The Crabsuit is pretty well scaled, and it barely fits atop the Tulkun model. In the film, numerous Crabsuits could walk about on a Tulkun's back. Alas, it is what it is. I enjoyed building this set; I was mostly intrigued by the Crabsuit model, which you build first if you follow the numbered bags, but once I moved on to the Tulkun, I found it to be a nice relaxing build. There weren't really any surprises or advanced techniques, per se, but it was an enjoyable experience resulting in a pretty impressive creature with a fair bit of articulation. Well, that's it for now. It's a bit longwinded, but I hope at least some of it was interesting, useful, and perhaps even enjoyable. As always, play well. Cheers!

My set is on its way- I just got the regular kit with black elbows. I'm not too plussed about the opening where the elbows form the grill; having the full range of arm articulation he should have had outta the box is worth the concession. The car mode still looks good, better in fact for the kit's inclusion of his secondary blue wing accessory which was likely dropped due to budgetary restrictions. I'll also agree with Mike on the Headmaster inspired noggin- it just looks better, even if the actual Headmaster gimmick wasn't in play (I'm not at all a fan of the Headmaster gimmick, so no love lost there if someone does do a replacement head based on the HM look). This guy really should have had a voyager budget.

I envy every collector who has room. 😊