Bruticus [Defender Version]

I felt pretty accomplished after completing and combining the Defender Version Devastator last year, so you can imagine how proud I am after forming the Defender Version Bruticus recently. Blokees Transformers Defender Version kits just might be my favorite Blokees product out right now… hell, maybe my favorite Transformers thing at the moment. I get so damned excited when a new series is released and have so much fun assembling them. Cherry picking random completed figures from the waves to come up with posts is super fun too… they really are a blast to blog.

Like Devastator, Bruticus is the culmination of individual releases spread across multiple Defender Version series. The Combaticons were available in vehicle mode: Brawl from 04-Tyrants Fury, Swindle and Onslaught from 05-Traitor to Tyranny, and Blast Off and Vortex from 06-Brutal Fang. The kit required to form Bruticus was initially available through scanning QR codes before being made available for sale. Sundays have become my model days—Blokees are pretty easy to assemble, so some days I’ll put a few together in the living room while watching TV with the Mrs. Just my folding laptop stand next to me, a little tray for parts, and my model tool kit nearby. Inside the parts kit for Bruticus are the rest of the pieces needed to combine the team, along with a pretty detailed instruction manual. Like Devastator, keep a ziplock bag handy—there will be unused parts from the individual Combaticons.

Each individual Combaticon needs to be converted to limb mode before assembly. The instructions are detailed, but it’s easy to miss a step. Blast Off has a part toward the rear that needs to be removed, and Onslaught’s grill has to come off. Some of this can be tricky. I’ve raved about Blokees’ slightly soft plastic, but disassembling can be a pain. Onslaught’s grill kept bending, so I took a tiny flathead screwdriver and worked it off slowly. Be careful—looks easy to snap in half if you rush. Baby fingers gang, use your baby fingers. I even broke a thumbnail during this step… not the first time, but it’s always jarring. Sounds brutal, but that's Bruticus.

Bruticus’s knees impressed me. The kit comes with upper thighs that connect to the waist, with Swindle and Brawl forming the calves. A small joint piece inserts into the thigh, with an additional knee piece that fits over it. This hides the joint nicely and makes a sort of kneecap when bent. It took a few tries to get right, but I love it. The upper torso is equally impressive: there’s a chest piece and a larger version of Onslaught’s twin laser cannons for the back. I honestly assumed the Onslaught pieces would be used, but they’re tiny compared to this kit. Onslaught’s rear panels disconnect and attach sideways to his front, the chest and back panels peg in, and suddenly you have a very solid upper body. Wow.

Once everything is connected, Bruticus looks fantastic. Like Devastator, it’s hard to believe this started as cute little Defender Version kits. He’s around Voyager Class height, towering over other Defender Version bots, and is surprisingly sturdy. He comes with two closed fists, a laser rifle, and an open left hand that can hold Starscream—or anyone you want dramatically posed thanks to little pegs. That’s a really nice touch. The articulation is great, allowing for dramatic poses or careful gun aiming.

After Devastator and Bruticus, I’m really excited to see what Blokees has in store next. Predaking or Piranacon would be amazing. I’ve even seen speculation about Volcanicus, thanks to the Beast Mode Dinobots in Defender Version cases, and I’d love that. Watching Bruticus come together from five small vehicles made me appreciate the thought behind these combiners all over again. This was an awesome experience.

Mastodon [Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Re-Ignition]

The last time we looked at the new Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Re-Ignition Zords, it was Halloween. For whatever reason, Mastodon and Pterodactyl have been a little harder to find, but thankfully the Mrs. tracked this one down and stuck it under the Christmas tree. I honestly don’t know how she does it.

I’ve always been fond of the Mastodon. There was a time I preferred Power Rangers over Zyuranger simply out of familiarity, but these days I find myself watching the Tokushoutsu livestream of Zyuranger pretty regularly and honestly favoring it more. Not trying to be that “the original is better” guy, but I really enjoy the slightly more mature tone and fantasy setting, even if it’s still very much a kids show. I used to just think Mastodon looked cool. Now I actually appreciate Goushi a lot more as a character too.

I’ve seen some folks say they’re not enjoying the Re-Ignition Zords as much as other versions, and that’s totally fine. Me? I’m into them. There’s something really satisfying about these extra-large, chunky toys. They scratch that old Shogun Warriors itch in a weird way. They’re still very close to the original Bandai designs, so they almost feel like oversized Gobots. Considering all the molds Tonka licensed back in the day, if history had shifted just a little, the originals might have ended up Gobots. Funny how that works.

Mastodon (or Mammoth, depending on your preference) is basically a big robot elephant. There’s not much articulation to speak of — he kind of just is what he is. But considering his role in the Dino Megazord and Dino Tanker, I can overlook that. He’s the backbone. The arms. The stabilizer. All that bulk and chonk goes directly into making the combined form feel stocky and powerful. On his own, yeah, he’s a little basic — but he still looks great. I really like the decorative line work, and despite being a brand new release, it keeps that classic Bandai toy aesthetic I’ve always loved.

There are no firing missiles or gimmicks here, but Mastodon does come with the Megazord’s Power Sword — or Godhorn, if you’ve got Zyuranger music playing in your head. His head detaches to become the Megazord’s shield, and I’ve always loved that visual. 

We’re getting close, Zone Base readers. The Re-Ignition Dino Megazord is almost complete, and I’m really looking forward to combining the full team in the coming weeks.

Optimus Prime (Hologram Edition) [Wheels 01 – Roll Out]

It’s honestly a little wild that it’s taken me this long to start talking about Blokees Wheels here on Zone Base. Wheels is another blind-boxed Blokees series, similar to the Galaxy and Defender versions I’ve covered for years, but this time the focus is on vehicular models.

Since we’re looking at Transformers Wheels kits, these represent the alt modes rather than the robots themselves.

Like the other Blokees lines, each wave includes chase versions. Following the Defender Version format, buying a full box guarantees at least one chase. And just like the Defenders, the chase is an alternate version of one of the regular figures in the wave.

Today we’re looking at the Hologram Edition of Optimus Prime.

In this wave, you could pull a standard Optimus, the Hologram Edition (translucent), or a Titanium Edition with metallic paint. The standard Wheels kits include at least one part cast in Solidex—a material designed to look and feel like die-cast metal. It’s not actual metal, but it has that same satisfying heft, similar to what you’d find in a Hot Wheels car. It gives the finished model a really nice weight.

The chase figures skip the Solidex component and instead include an Inchman-style driver figure that can pilot the Wheels vehicles. That’s a pretty neat trade-off.

Optimus here is based on his IDW Comics design from around 2009–2011. It’s very close to the classic flat-nosed truck we all know, but with a bit of added flair in the form of a wind deflector and sporty striping. It’s a strong look. And regardless of which version you pull, it’s compatible with the separate Wheels Optimus Prime truck and trailer set, since it uses the same truck model.

The chassis appears to use a universal system across the Wheels line, which should make customization pretty straightforward.

What makes the Hologram Edition stand out, of course, is the translucent plastic. While the chassis and chrome-painted grille remain opaque, most of the body is cast in clear plastic, giving it a sharp, almost ethereal presence. I’ll admit, I think I prefer this version. I’ve always had a soft spot for colorful translucent plastic, and since I plan on picking up the truck and trailer set later, this version will make for a really nice visual contrast.

The included driver is a fun bonus. Cast in a pleasant blue translucent plastic, it almost feels like a literal hologram operating the vehicle while the robots are in disguise. You do have to assemble it yourself, and it’s tiny—so it was a little fiddly. Interestingly, there are two torso and waist pieces on the sprue, but only one set of limbs. Once assembled, though, the driver has just enough articulation to fit into pretty much any Wheels cockpit.

I really like what Blokees is doing with Wheels, and you can absolutely expect to see more of them here in the future.

Go Go Go (away) Monday!

Monday again? Crap. I guess it's time to start a new week of robots, monsters, and misadventure. I hope you all had a good weekend, mine was busy, but good. I've actually got a busy week ahead of me... next weekend will be forever away. Saturday, the Mrs took me to Visionworks for an eye exam and some new glasses with us doing a little shopping after. We enjoyed a delicious supper from one of our favorite restaurants that night. I got what's become my favorite sushi combination. Spicy yellow tail rolls paired with sweet potato rolls and of course cucumber rolls. Paired with some fried rice we shared, wonderful. Sunday was spent cleaning out my car and giving it a good wash. We'll be trading it in next weekend, so it'll need to be clean. We're getting a new car, which will be the Mrs's daily driver while I take over her old car. My graveyard shift working hours and short commute make it just right. My old car was great, but I've had it for 12 years. It's time for a change, thank you for your service Ford Fusion. I'm sure the Corolla will be proud to fill your shoes. 

Mom came over for dinner and we ordered pizza while watching 1000lbs Sisters. Not sure how many episodes are left in this season, but Tammy is out of control. It's ridiculous. Both nights I fell asleep long after the Mrs, my face buried in the Atari Gamestation Go. PC Engine games never get old. 

As for toys this weekend, I got a few. A stop by McDonald's for Changeables (they let me buy individuals) resulted in 2 Torrus's making my total 3 of him and a Drinkobius-999. I'm happy to finally get a new mold. It's awesome that McDonald's brought them back, but their stores are trying their best to ruin it for everyone. Target had 3 Razorclaws, meaning they had 3 Big Convoys at some point... one day I'll get one. Disappointment aside, I did pick up a SD Heroes Caesar Legend Gundam and a Zoids RZ-009 Command Wolf Realize Model kit. I also got another hobby knife that will be an extra whenever I find the missing one. Not to be left out, I also picked up a pack of coasters that have Gameboy box art on them. They'll never get used as coasters, but will be cherished. I also ordered the first wave of Yolopark Basic Transformers as I've been meaning to check that scale out. Not to be left out is the Maximal sticker for the Corolla, no car of mine is complete without proper alignment. The new Cyberworld toys are starting to show up and I'm actively salivating over getting them. Models my be taking the main focus here (it's a blog, they're more fun to write about... and I can tell you guys like reading about them more), but I'll still be talking toys and Cyberworld is something I intend to completely cover. 

Well, it's time to do some chores and site work done. Thank you all for reading Zone Base. Please remember to share the site with your friends and be excellent to each other.