Here it is, another true vintage that I am proud to own, G1 Shockwave. The background story of Shockwave varies to different degrees depending on which continuity you are looking at. In the cartoon, he is a loyal servant to Megatron. However, he is a cold, calculating figure who based everything on logics in the comics.Wishlist
Monday, October 19, 2009
G1 Shockwave - The Logic Machine At His Best
Here it is, another true vintage that I am proud to own, G1 Shockwave. The background story of Shockwave varies to different degrees depending on which continuity you are looking at. In the cartoon, he is a loyal servant to Megatron. However, he is a cold, calculating figure who based everything on logics in the comics.Vintage G1 Gnaw - A Shark Or A Frog?
Monday, October 5, 2009
G1 Blaster Vs G1 Soundwave - Let The Music Roll!!

I am of course talking about the well loved G1 Soundwave. Everytime I talk to people about Transformers, they will always tell me they have this blue cassette player that can change to a robot when they were young. I guess one of the main reason people has such a deep impression of him is because the Transformers back then were mostly cars, airplanes and even tanks. However, Soundwave turns out to be something that either you or me have in our own household, a cassette player!! maybe it's due to this that we can relate to him better.
About a year ago, I have shown you the Encore version of Soundwave in his box. Now I shall open it up and unleash it upon you!! I have already done quite a few character introduction on the other versions of Soundwave already, so I will not repeat it here again. Let's just move on to the toy, shall we?
The Soundwave I have here comes with his trusted servant, Laserbeak. Soundwave comes packaged in his alternate Cassette player mode as seen above. This mode is quite wonderfully done and looks very much like it does in the cartoon. There are details found all over him, including the ability to open the cassette door through the press of a button which allows you to believe this is just a harmless piece of electronics.
Soundwave's robot mode is also very similar to what he appears in the cartoon. He is armed with a shoulder cannon and a very nice laser type gun. His transformation is pretty easy and fun without being overly simplistic. Like his cassette player mode, his chest can also be open to store any of his cassette minions.
His color is in his trademark blue and with the details the stickers gave to him, everything about him is so likable the moment you set your eyes on him. His articulation is not too bad for a G1, but nothing like the new generation of Transformers.
His servant, Laserbeak is a condor robot that acts as the perfect surveillance and reconnaissance machine. His alternate mode is his cassette mode where can be inserted into Soundwave's chest/cassette compartment for playback of what he has witnessed during his duties. He comes with a twin laser gun that can be fitted on him in condor mode to make him look more menacing. A very basic but great little tape.
Next up, we have Autobot's Blaster here. He is to the Autobot what Soundwave is to the Decepticon. Blaster, like the Autobot Jazz, has a great love of Earth culture, rock music and other forms of music as long as it is "good, hard and loud". He's normally at the forefront of any given situation. As an AM/FM stereo cassette player, he can perform as a deck, plus receive radio signals on a variety of frequencies. As the Autobot communications center, he can transmit signals within a 4,000 mile radius. Blaster is sometimes depicted as carrying various tape warriors within his deck.
His alternate mode is a very nice and brightly colored AM/FM Stereo Cassette Player that looks quite wonderful with all the buttons and tape compartment. He also comes with his own cassette tape, Steeljaw.
The Blaster toy itself looks very nice in his robot mode but articulation is pretty horrible as usual for a G1. He is pretty huge when compared to a lot of other toys in his generation. His basically towers over Soundwave and is around the size of G1 Sixshot and Ultra Magnus.
He looks extremely similar to his cartoon depiction and look great on display with his rifle in hand. His chest opens up in either mode to store his tapes (again like Soundwave). I personally find his transformation a bit more fun compared to Soundwave, especially the way the leg portion which I find pretty ingenious.
Overall, I am glad to own Blaster as he is one of the more interesting and memorable Autobot that I liked. Obtaining him is easier and cheaper now as he was reissued in the Takara Book Reissue series (which was a fantastic series that I have no idea why they stopped).
Steeljaw is one of the best at tracking down robots who don't want to be found. He is a tenacious tracker of unmatched skill, whose olfactory sensors in his tiny nose can track even the faintest scent for a range of 800 miles. Off the clock, he loves to investigate odors of all shapes and sizes, and Earth has many new and unusual smells for him to enjoy - the perfume of young women being one of his favorites. Steeljaw has a nearly unbreakable bite, from which he takes his name, and is armed with two solar-powered pellet guns. He can electromagnetize himself to stick to surfaces in cassette mode
He comes decorated with stickers that attempts to make him look like a tape and I must say it is a less successful attempt when compared to Laserbeak. However, his lion mode is a totally different story. As you can see, he looks pretty fearsome in his beast mode.
The wing cannon weapons he carry only serve to enhance Steeljaw's details as a robotic beast. Some people might complain that he is too flat and unstable due to his tape nature. I however, have no such complains as I have no problem posing him and displaying him in such manner.
These cassette tapes are great little collectibles and other than the 2 shown in this post, there are still a whole lot of them out there that I am dying to get. With the latest encores being the cassette tape giftsets, I am absolutely thrilled.
These 2 Transformers best represents what Transformers were about when it first started out. Unlike the later designs which came out with those futuristic modes, Soundwave's and Blaster's alternate were true to the words of Robot in Disguise and true treasure to the past in their own rights.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
The Original G1 Seekers
I won't really dwell too much on their background this time round. I think I have talk about Starscream more than enough in this blog. Thundercracker and Skywarp are basically the exact same mold as Starscream here. The only difference being the colors, with Thundercracker being blue while Skywarp is made up of mostly black. Despite saying that, the 3 seekers are attractive enough in their own rights and I have to say they look pretty fantastic when displayed together.
The robot mode of these seekers are pretty good to say the least. They do look like their cartoon counterparts to a certain extent. But that is provided you don't compare them to the classic Starscream that I have presented to you in the earlier post. These babies are quite heavy due to the use of die-cast metal(I love die-cast!) around their legs area, making them feel pretty solid when holding in hand. All in all, if you like fighter aircraft, you couldn't go wrong with these seekers.
Another beauty of owning these vintages is the ability to decorate them with stickers. Yes, they come with stickers for you to decorate your bots with, and if left unapplied, it will make your figure look bare and empty. The eyes of these Seekers is the hardest part to apply those stickers properly. I had to try darn hard to get it right since I don't want them to look like dorks.
Start Of A Beautiful Poison: Vintage Sixchanger!!
Oh well, enough of the emotional words. Those Encores reissue was not enough to make me break my bank yet. It was until the arrival of a certain G1 Decepticon that trigger my G1 curiosity all over again.
Behold, the precious vintage Sixshot!! (Not the reissue, mind you) This is given to me by my good pal, Wenkai. This was his childhood toy and he has kept it in such a good condition. When he offered to give it to me, I was so ecstatic but scared at the same time as I know this might open up a whole new world of collection possibility. Ultimately, I did not reject his offer as I am really keen to own a Sixshot after all these years. When I got it, the only flaw to it has to be the lack of stickers. No problem as I ordered from Reprolabels for those.
Sixshot is mainly made up of grey, purple and a nice tone of green. The end result is pretty breath taking as it is extremely visual attracting. His articulation is not that bad as compared to the other G1s, but he is still nevertheless a brick. Arm with 2 big mean gun, he is ready to finish any Autobot that stand in his way off.
Sixshot is a Solo Transformer Assault Group (“S.T.A.G.”), or in simpler parlance, a one-robot army – he is named for his near-unique ability to assume six different modes. Impressive isn't it? While we are overly excited over a triple changer at this age, there already exist a six changer in the 1980s. I shall briefly go through each of his six mode and hopefully tempts you enough to track one down~ Haha.
His armored carrier mode is armed with twin laser batteries and looks a bit flat, but overall it still manage to look like a carrier.
This is his rampaging tank mode, he is outfitted with an infra-red range finder and target tracker. This mode is a pretty successful one as the big guns and lasers really show it's worth here.
Sixshot can also attain the power of flight in his star cruiser mode, with a range of eight million miles. This guy can sure fly like the wind in this mode. A very nice spacecraft sorta mode that are pleasing on the eye.
He also act as a jet-propelled laser pistol (either full-size, or shrunken to be wielded by other Transformers). This mode is a bit forced in my honest opinion, Shockwave's gun mode looks much much better than this. Not a mode that I like too much of.
In the four modes and robot mode, he wields twin hypersonic concussion blasters, but his sixth mode – that of a winged wolf-creature – has no need for them, preferring to tear his opponents apart with its claws and fangs. This mode is pretty fantastic as it seems pretty menacing as a beast. It looks convincing enough and actually fairs better than the later Beast Wars series's figures as a beast.
Whew, what a day of hard work. I hope you are not overwhelmed by the pretty pictures. Sixshot is an amazing piece of art that no Transformers fan should missed. Everything about him is just about topnotch and I really urge you get one. This figure has certainly reignite my love for G1s and I am surely going to look for more to quench my thirst. Those pieces that i missed out as a child, here I come~~!!
Classic Starscream and Hinkei! Cyclonus
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Rules are meant to be broken
Wow, what a fantastic reply! I guess I am not mature enough to build a rapport with my fellow peers without you enforcing us to eat, sleep and faced each other 24 hours everyday together.. At the beginning, I can appreciate such acts for the first couple of months, but as time goes by and the class get closer and closer. I strongly believe that it should be presented to us as a choice rather than still enforcing it.
I am currently really intrigued to hear what the management has to say now about us needing to stay in, since the original intent of needing us to be closer has been fufiled and accomplished. Personally, coming out with some lame excuses just because I want to lead a normal life to stay out every now and then simply tires me. In cases like this, should'nt rules and regulations be revised and enforced using a case by case basis?
This brings me to the topic on what exactly are rules and regulations for? Are they tools to help improve an organisation? Or are they simply a set of idiot proof instructions written on some papers or handouts that people follows blindly?
I have always challanged stuffs and questioning things using the fundemental word, "WHY." I believed it is what made me who I am today. I was simply molded this way by my enviroment, and the people around me. I believed that rules are there to help improve any organisation by providing stability and setting a standard for all. However, I am even a greater believer that rules should be bend and adjusted based on different situations. There will be times when exceptions will need to be made and common sense comes into play. How can one rule applies to all still baffles me till this date. If one never makes an effort to make use of the rule to improve things around them as a whole, then rules become a liabilty, making things inefficient and worsen the morale of people.
In case you have not yet noticed, I am a guy who hates doing something for the sake of doing it. If I am instructed or requested to perform certain tasks, I will always make sure that I am aware and understand what is the true meaning of doing these particular things.
Following rules just because some ancient guys set these rules which may apply during his/her era is really rubbish. Following such rules blindly will lead to fustration, internal bleeding and finally brain dead for me. What applies before and to everyone might not work now. If it is a new beginning/era, should these stuff be reviewed and challanged? Why was'nt that done in most cases? I have no idea at all. Maybe it's all the same in big copoarations, people up there in the management gets too comfortable with what they have. When this happens, minimum changes will be made as the focus will surely be to make as little mistake as possible, rather than making changes and risking their rice bowls. After all, they are already in such a high position that efforts to shine can be afforded to be at a minimal.
I might not be able to do much about it now but I strongly believe heaven gives me my head not for the sole task of simply nodding it to whatever that comes my way. I will still work towards what I feel is right.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Champions League FInal!! All Hail The Catalans~
This is such an emotional night for me as I have seen my favourite team suffer for the past 2 years without winning anything and worst of all falling behind Real Madrid. This year however, is a totally different story altogether. In one of my earlier post, I wrote about the match up between Real Vs Barcelona earlier in the season. Real lost 2-0 and I was convinced this is going to be the season we are going to do something special. I was spot on as Real was trashed 6-2 in the second match up of the season in the league. From then on, the league title is Barca's to lose. Riding on strength to strength, Barca collected the Spanish Cup as well and complete a double.
Last night, they have the chance to create history by completing the exact treble that Man Utd achieved in 1999, ironically in Nou Comp against Bayern Munich. And so they did, they won 2-0 against Utd and did it with style and confidence. The first ever Spanish Treble has been won by Fc Barcelona and my word do they deserve it.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
I Need To Cool Down
With the lack of knowledge, I am expected to make decisions with huge implications. It's a scary thought, but it's the world I am living in daily. Informations come fast and furious, with little time for you to read, less digest. People wants answer, with a snap of the finger regardless of how new or junior you are. Arrows rained on you with things that you do not even know whether it belongs to your realm. With little or no direction given, you do feel lost and lonely at times. It's nerve breaking at times.
I took a look at my fellow colleagues from other departments who has joined the company at around the same time as me. Some are still happily taking their half year holiday course, while some seems very relaxed and picking up things at their own pace. There is no such luxury for me though. Things are so fast and at a non stop pace that sometimes I forgot to breath.
I have no idea whether it's down to my bad luck or due to whatever reasons, but I do heard from my colleagues that my position was pretty alright before I took over. It was never this filled with things before. The worst part is, the things that come along is not something that you can make a mistake and learn again next time. Why? It's because we are dealing with important and sensitive issues that implicate something mere working class people will never come to know about.
In a way, I'am glad that I am priviledge enough to know them, but at the same time, I am stress to the max that the doctor tells me I having a slightly high blood pressure. At my age, that is so unthinkable but yes!! It happened just a few days ago. I am now trying to take things in a different perspective, take it easier on myself and try to be a nastier person. Perharps, my friend was right. I have been too uptight about things and worrying things that even my boss is not worried about. I am being a too nice to others that I am getting exploit in some ways, which is crappy at times as being good does'nt really pays off. You'll most probably be used by others and end up being eaten alive. It's really an interesting world out there...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Shadow Commander Nemesis!!!
This might look familiar to some of you who has read my past post. I have an exact Prime figure of this mold not too long ago and praise it's greatness. This is an SDCC exclusive repaint of it and was named, Nemesis Prime. The mold is still fantastic and the repaint is very very wonderfully applied, giving Nemesis a very grim and evil look. I have nothing much more to say regarding this figure that has not been said before for the Prime one. So just enjoy the pictures before I get to the best part.
This is the trailer that was created by Fan's Project, an unofficial source unlike Hasbro and Takara. I have hesitated to get this trailer due to it's pricey tag, but in end after much consideration, I finally gave in. Have I regreted? Not a single bit. I am absolutely loving this piece. It connects nicely with the original Nemesis Prime and the colouring complements it very well. High quality plastic, tight joints and fine fine details. If Hasbro and Takara comes up with such wonderful product, I would be a very broke man by now. Now let's get to the meat of the package.
This is it... Shadow Commander Nemesis Prime!! (I love the way this picture above is taken. I thought the effects look very cool) The trailer is seperated into individual pieces and attached perfectly to the original Nemesis Prime to act as a sort of an upgrade armour. This is just the perfect figure complete with style and a badass look. I have never own such a fine piece of Transformers before so far in my collection. Owning this makes me feel as proud as a peacock. I think Hasbro/Takara should just go ahead and hire these guys without much consideration, wonderful stuff indeed.This trailer originally came out a while ago in white and blue to complement the white version of this classic Prime mold (I heard there is as much as 6 repaints for the classic Prime mold, holycow!!) to form Ultra Magnus. I somehow missed out on that one as the white Prime mold was difficult to find. When this black trailer came out for the black Prime mold (which is the Nemesis Prime I featured at the top), I was determined to get it since I have heard great praise on the previous Fan's Project trailer and Nemesis Prime is more readily available. Turns out to be a better deal as other than the Big Fat Gun that comes with the trailer, the mold is being upgraded with better screws and even comes with a red sword which mimics the Car Robot serie's Nemesis Prime. This black trailer is considered rarer as this is more limited in production. I heard there's a bout 1500 of them? Not too sure.
With the Fan's Project next upcoming project named Protector rumored to be a classic Hot Rod's trailer to upgrade him into Rodimus Prime, this will definitely not be the last time I patronize them~ Highly recommanded!!!