robots/monsters/misadventure

Sunday, December 31, 2017

New Year, same Zone Base


As 2017 comes to a close, I just wanted to thank everyone for reading Zone Base. Happy New Year and here's looking to another year of Adventures in Transformers and other strangeness here at Zone Base!

Saturday, December 30, 2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

POTP Legends wave 2 looks awesome


Over the past few days, pics of the next wave of Legends for Power of the Primes popped up and provided a neat holiday surprise. Legends are becoming one of my favorite things to buy in TF. They're the perfect size, perfect price, and they're genuinely great toys. The next batch looks pretty great. Roadtrip and Battleslash combine to a great looking Battletrap. That's super neat! Tailgate looks fun too and potentially a better update of him from the last version. I've got the current wave sitting in my toy room from my wife over Christmas, I should really get to opening them. I've been on vacation the past week and really just enjoying the down time.


Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Figure King issue 239 Power of the Primes pages

Lot of folks are disappointed that the Takara version of POTP is identical to the Hasbro versions. Me not so much as I haven't bought any of the other Takara versions of the Prime Wars trilogy (though may have to do that for Ramhorn at this rate). I do though really like looking through Figure King and other Japanese toy magazines. I'm not pretending to understand Japanese, but man their magazines just have a certain flair (wwwooooo).

Monday, December 25, 2017

Sunday, December 24, 2017

White Christmas Hope


With some early Christmas gift card money, I ordered something I've really wanted last night. My first Drive Head! I've really wanted to get into these and the opportunity to get some always just out of reach. The one I wanted to get most was this sweet ambulance unit named White Hope. So, I've ordered him and his corresponding Rescue Helicopter! Going with a free shipping option, they won't get here for a few weeks, but what's a few more weeks when you've been wanting something for over a year?

An eternity.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Zoids


I'm pleasantly surprised to learn of this Zoid. While I don't consider myself a scholar of Zoids, I have spent a long time being a fan of them. So seeing this guy was a surprise. He's very similar to Iron Kong, maybe based on his skeleton as his mechanics are similar. Makes me think of an Invid Shocktrooper. If anyone reading could tell me the name I'd be grateful.

Scamble Power


I've mentioned before how I love the little tokusatsu productions used for Japanese toy commercials. A shinning moment is the toy version of Scramble City (or Scramble City II as we used to wrongly call it). Just this awesome showpiece that uses the toys dramatically that tells a story. This just isn't another toy, this is a character in it's own adventure.

Iron Kong


Micro Power



Zone Base



Car Robot


Mighty Morphin Sega Rangers


Sunday, December 17, 2017

Star Wars The Last Jedi

After what felt like an eternity after our purchasing the tickets in October, I saw the newest Star Wars movie last night. I went in completely excited and left completely happy. I won't go into anything that could be considered spoiler related but do plan to give my thoughts here. Star Wars transcends movies to me, it is something that I love and is very dear to me. It's the exact starting point for all of my interests and has always been something of a friend to me my entire life. I think of it as a family member and hold it in a special place.

The Last Jedi is a excellent movie that follows the warning that Luke gives in the trailer in that this is not going to be what you think. TLJ doesn't bow to fan speculation and outright dares to be what it intended to be. Something that I believe is the source of anger some feel towards the movie. I've noticed this time and time again and notice it again. When fans swear one thing and it end up being something else, they more than often don't handle it well. Myself, I was pleased. Not everything has to be more than it is. Sometimes a character can be who they are without the relation of another to lean on.

TLJ is a story about loss and redemption. It's a story about making mistakes and learning from them. It's a more story based movie that leans on characters learning their place in things. The story carries the characters into their respective individual arcs that's full of twists and as the trailer told us from the beginning, doesn't go as you think it will. That's the hook of the movie and where it's beauty resides.

Visually the movie is striking, with stark colors and mixing the themes of ugliness underneath/hidden beauty. It delivers a mix of warmth and love with dark cold violence. If I have any complaints is that a few bits of cgi looked like they could have been done better. Nothing major, to me anyway. Because once again, as the story tells us, it's what's below the surface that counts.

In all, I love the movie and am 5 million percent happy with what I saw. I love Star Wars and my happiness with a new movie each year cannot be beaten. Thank you Disney for giving me this world where I get this magical experience once a year.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

And I'll form the oh hai


While pictures of the lions from the upcoming Playmates Classic Voltron set have been floating around, finally pictures of the combined form have surfaced. I honestly cannot wait to complete this guy right here and can't say I won't carry him around with me like a child. He's a member of this family and you'll just have to accept that.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Giving the Islands a new Adventure

It's another Rob imagines Universal Studios stuff post

As my readers know, I love me some Universal Studios Orlando. I'm regularly dreaming up fantasy situations for the park and while I've been having a ball doing it, I feel quite bad that I've ignored Islands of Adventure, the other park on the resort that's really awesome in it's own right. Islands has the awesome Hogsmeade from Harry Potter, a great Jurassic Park area, and that extremely rad new Skull Island. While I certainly love the other areas, the subject of how to reinvigorate them comes up often in various circle and I've put my noggin to use figuring out how to work with some of the other Islands. But, keeping with my sense of economy, I tried to figure out how to do it without sacrificing too much of the great stuff that's already there.

Just picture it

Everyone speculates that the Lost Continent is on the chopping block. Personally, I think the area (what's left of it post Harry Potter) is a really pretty landscape that just could use some sprucing up. With the new Super Nintendo Land coming to Universal Studios, it would be a good use of that license to adapt The Legend of Zelda to the land. Some costume changes here, some decoration changes there. Maybe something extra over there, and it pretty much does itself. Poseidon's Fury could get retrofitted with a new show inside with some of the facade redone to sell the show as a temple or dungeon experience. Mythos just could use a few touches. People complain about the Sinbad show, welp, let's do a new Zelda show in the theater. I honestly think just a little fine tuning, a little re-theming, and a little new bits and bobs and this area could be given a new life that would probably be a hit.

They've already got park history

Folks regularly say Toon Lagoon is also on the chopping block. While I dig the Newspaper comic pages characters, I could see where it could be lost on another person. How about Nickelodeon characters? The water rides could be re-themed to Sponge Bob (he already has a store at Studios!) and I could easily see the stores be re-fronted as newer Nickelodeon characters. Maybe work that boat ride into a multi character ride.

This would be awesome
I think Marvel Island is completely awesome. I'm a big fan of the overall 90's comic vibe and think the Spider-Man ride is amazing. That being said, Disney own's Marvel and it's created a weird situation that many wonder will eventually result in Marvel Island getting removed sooner or later. Going with that trail of thought and working with the fact that Marvel Island already kinda bleeds into Toon Lagoon, what if it became a TMNT/Power Rangers section? TMNT is already owned by Nickolodeon and Power Rangers has been airing on the channel for about 7 years now. That great city facade would lend itself into both quite well. I could see Spider-Man's ride system redone as a new TMNT ride. The Hulk repainted into a Power Rangers coaster (the roar could be the Dragonzord). Doctor Doom and Storm Force is a free fall and tea cups ride respectively that also could be realistically re-themed to the characters.

I know I'm just shooting from the hip as an arm chair quarterback. I have no real knowledge of how these things work past a fans general knowledge. But I see opportunities and things I'd think would be really fun. Not to mention, I kinda really like that park.

Don't look at me like that.


Ultra Magnus 1986


Monday, December 11, 2017

Power of the Primes Dreadwind


My wife gave me a Dreadwind the other day. I've been on a buying restriction until after Christmas as she doesn't want me to buy anything she might get me. Though finding recent Power of the Primes toys that I wanted, I guess she decided to give me one early to tide me over.


Dreadwind is a great toy. Like other POTP deluxes, he's a throwback to Combiner Wars toys. He can form both his modes as well as an arm for a combiner form.


Since Primemasters don't form heads for the bots, the way they interact is a bit different. A Primemaster in its shell homages Pretenders, but out of it's shell homages a Powermaster.  POTP deluxes hand/foot bit doubles as a method for merging the Primemaster and the Transformer.


It looks a bit clunky, and basically gives the robot a beer gut. Though it isn't bad and is a neat way of using the hand/foot part (though I didn't mind the giant weird gun from CW). The part has a little dummy panel to cover the hole where you'd place your Primemasters to create a Primemaster mode. As I don't have any Primemasters yet, I substituted a Titanmaster to get an idea of how it works.


Of course the difference would be a neat rune looking bit giving the robot super powers and not a screaming face in it's chest crying for an end to this horrible life. The hand/foot bit can also be attached in vehicle mode, which on Dreadwind looks like one of those sound box things from G2. Which I don't hate.

So far I'm very pleased with my first experience with a Power of the Primes toy. I'm looking forward to getting more (after Christmas of course... or on... now I'm curious about what's in those packages under the tree) and enjoying the newest incarnation of my Transformers. My only gripe so far s that I wish a Primemaster could drive a larger toy like in Titans Return. Though I believe they can in the Legends and Leader figures. It's a nice combination of the gimmicks from the prior installments of the Prime Wars trilogy and so far looks like a good way to end it.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

White Tigerzord


Adding to how awesome I think the Thunder Megazord is, the White Tiger Zord is hands down my favorite of the Zords. Just an awesome design with an equally awesome warrior mode. I especially love it when it merges with the other Zords. That Firebird finisher is just too cool for school. I'm unapologetic with my favoritism of the White Ranger in general. I just think overall it's an excellent costume and Saba is just fun.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Thunder Megazord


While I can never doubt the level of awesome that the original Megazord brought or the touch of sadness that happens when you realize he's being replaced in season 2 (it was around for 60 episodes after all), the Thunder Megazord was just bad ass. This great giant Chinese soldier robot with Zords that were more magical in their approach and just a touch darker feeling in tone. I just re-watched the 3 part Mutiny episode last night while being snowed in. Despite the goofiness of an episode of MMPR (which I honestly enjoy), the entire thing was just a darker episode. I remember when it first aired how I was like "man, things just got real" when Lord Zedd showed up and even now it's still heavily implied that everything just got more serious. There's no doubting that Zedd is just a hardcore villain. He's this crazy skinless demon wearing Jason X's cyborg improvements wielding a magic staff that turns into a giant snake. The Rangers really needed that upgrade to take on his monsters and it shows. They take 3 episodes of getting kicked around before finally getting lucky and utilizing their new upgrades to win. Season 2 is my favorite part of the entire MMPR run and maybe in Power Rangers overall, and not for nothing, the show just kicked everything up a notch.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Multi Master


I've not made it a secret that I really love the Titans Return line. The bulk of that love comes from the Titanmasters and how they interact with the larger bots. It's a combination of Micromasters, Headmasters, and Diaclone play patterns that just melts together in a wonderful robot fondue. So while wondering what they could do with Titanmasters if they ever revisit the play pattern and it came to me.


Several Diaclone vehicles would combine to form larger robots in which would have a pilot. I could easily see a Titanmaster, Primemaster, or even a similar new little robot utilize these vehicles to form a combiner that houses it's accompanied drivers as a team. While I can't predict the future, I'd be hard pressed to not see that be a big hit. I mean, it would be glorious. Think of tracking down all those little bots and finally reach the big pay off in this cool giant robot they'd form. Imagine if you could mix and match the little parts. Or what if there was blind bagged wacky color variations?

Man, that'd be neat.

The work site


I love old Diaclone art. Here a pre Transformers Construction Robo is just busy doing some work. Wonder what they're building?

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Just thinking about bugs from space


Man, I really want a Warudaros. Any way I can get it. Original, re release, or KO. I just want that crazy robot. 

Grim pop and lock

Pictures of Authentics Grimock surfaced and whoa nelly. I've been sold on the guys already, but man, I need this guy. I'll be honest. If not for cool things like Combiner Wars, Titans Return, or Power of the Primes-I'd have already went mainly towards Legions and Legends in my Transformers buying (I'd still get the occasional nicer toy, but still). Toys like these would go right along with that. I'd totally be fine buying these regularly for a fairly low price. I really look forward to dropping by the Family Dollar on the way home from work and grabbing this guy. I really look forward to the future of this line.

Rescue Secret Base


I've said before and before and maybe even before that I love the little productions made for Japanese toy commercials. I think what I love most about this one is the Micromen seem to be at a vacation destination before trouble starts.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Rodger dodger

Playing with my Walgreen's Clones 2 pack made me realize how much I like red and gray robots. I do, I really do. I just love red and grey robots.


Sunday, December 3, 2017

A Legendary Classic

Playmates new Legendary scale Classic Voltron should be finding it's way to stores soon and I'm pretty excited. I've really enjoyed the prior Metal Defender and Legendary Voltron sets and have been looking forward to this offering. Playmates Lion Force toys have really been great and this take on the Classic Voltron is looking to continue that streak.

My only concern is the packaging is nearly identical to the prior Legendary set and I can see asking my wife or mom to be on the lookout for a certain lion to be confusing. Though I really want them to release a Metal Defender Classic Voltron.

These guys are doing a great job with Voltron and I'm hoping it doesn't stop. Also hoping they attempt Vehicle Force.


Saturday, December 2, 2017

Legions OMG

My pal Shawn saw that I still needed that Megatron/Beserker Autobots Unite Legion set and set me a care package with some extra bots!