Top Gun: Maverick - Part Two

 Top Gun:  Maverick - Part Two

Matchbox Skybusters

Of all the things delayed by the pandemic, Top Gun:  Maverick is the last out of the gate.  It's so weird that it's been two years since toys and merch for this movie hit shelves...and then disappeared.  My first review was for standard 1:64 scale vehicle multipacks.  These were mostly random cars/trucks that may or may not be featured in the movie and only two jets.  Well I'm glad I was slow in getting around to reviewing these slightly larger "Skybusters" series jets, as it gives me something to talk about in conjunction with the film's late release.   And we've got an aircraft carrier playset to boot!

Most of these are from the new movie.  The "classic" Grumman F-14 Tomcat gets a double-dip.  One is decked out with "Maverick" and "Goose" nicely detailed near the canopy.  The other details the sad fate of dated/retired technology...an F-14 now flying enemy colors.  Unnamed enemy colors, as not to upset any of our political bedfellows or, more importantly, hypocritical "communist/terrorist" moviegoing nations.  According to Wikipedia, Iran was the only foreign customer for the Tomcat.  Iran?!  How big could the box office take from Iran be to have to tiptoe around this?!  That aircraft carrier was stationed in the Indian Ocean...they sure as hell weren't fighting enemy African or Australian Air Force craft!  

There is a more modern "enemy MiG" in the mix:  "Enemy Strike Jet."  I assume its based on a real model of aircraft, but that's all the detail we get.  It certainly does look imposing in size and color scheme, and some sort of red eagle/falcon insignia.  Red bird of prey...ooo, scary!  (but inoffensive) 

The Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet took over for the Tomcat.  I guess these are standard for the new Top Gun program.  It appears that each pilot gets their own unique paint job.  The two in this group have Maverick in blue and black, and "Rooster" ('Cuz "Goose" was a silly name, Dad) in red and black.  They're zippy single pilot jets, which should suit Maverick's solo lifestyle better, and ensure at least one less canopy ejection accident. (*sniffle* Goooooooose!)

When Maverick really wants to fly solo, the new movie trailers show he does it in this North American P-51 Mustang.  That's old-school, WWII/Korean War figthin'...or racing....whatever suits your fancy.  Again, there is some nice detail on the tiny script here and there.

I'm not sure who gets to fly the F-35B Lightning II, but I bet she's a fast one.  A lil bit beefier and not as colorful as the Hornets, it's a bit "blah."  Guess I have to see it in action to make full judgement.

Maverick also gets to cut loose in a fictional, hypersonic jet called "Darkstar".  It kinda looks like a futuristic Lockheed Martin.  Supposedly, the full-sized mock up of the Darkstar got China's panties in a bunch, as Navy intelligence noted a Chinese satellite breaking course to photograph the movie-made fighter.  I can only assume now that China demanded reshoots in order for Top Gun: Maverick to be shown in their country:  must include a scene with a popular Chinese actress explaining to Tom Cruise the "technologically and scientifically superior design of this Chinese made aircraft."  And people wonder why some get all sentimental and nostalgic for the 1980s...

The aircraft carrier playset  comes packed with another "Maverick" Hornet and a few play features.  The deck has an expandable section to maximize the display area.  As you can see, eight aircraft fit with room to spare...even if that makes it a little dangerous for takeoff and landing.  

There is an elevator to raise jets from the storage area, a two missile firing turret, and a command tower for court marital-able fly-bys.  

It also acts as a storage/carrying case to pack and play at your location of choosing...though I wouldn't stray too far from the Indian Ocean if keeping an eye on the more volatile areas of the globe.

I haven't really been looking to see if there are any rereleases or updates to this line, since I got most of what was put out way back when.  There are apparently a few more that either got held back, or got dumped somewhere else.  In particular, a Navy helicopter and a couple more color/pilot variant Super Hornets.  I was able to track down a "Then and Now" multipack on Amazon, which I had to suffer three repacks to get one redcoed Tomcat with "Iceman" and "Slider" below the canopy.  

Oh, another "Top Gun" related pick-up since last time:

These are fun, if you can find them.  I think they were $3.97 each?  You don't get total die-cast metal, or retractable landing gear, or opening wings for the Tomcats, but the price still fits the size and most of the detail.

Take a trip back in time, before face masks, food hoarding, and fear mongering:

Top Gun die-cast Part One

Johnny 5

 Johnny 5 from “Short Circuit”

Etsy model

For whatever reason, “Short Circuit” is often lost in the sea of 1980s nostalgia.  Somewhere below “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, but above “Crocodile Dundee.”  Two movies and it’s still somewhat forgotten.  Well, not for me.  Seeing the fictional, miniature Johnny 5 toys in “Short Circuit 2” drove me bonkers as a kid.  How does that not exist?!  My dad helped me build a wood-and-garage-parts robot, which was great, but still didn’t scratch the itch.  30+ years later, and there are still no Johnny 5 toys to be had!  C’mon, Fisher Stevens is sorry for the problematic Indian thing.  No disassemble my fond memories!

Thank goodness for die-hard fans and 3D printing…Johnny 5 is alive!  There are actually a number of model kits available on Etsy.  This one was $18 for a non-moving, six inch scale figure.  It’s a pretty clean print, requiring little to no sanding.  DIY Paint was pretty minimal…just a couple coats of silver spray and some details here and there.

 

He fits in great with these Marvel Legends.  I figured Tony Stark wouldn’t mind having him as keeper of his armory.

 

The first model I ordered was damaged in shipping.  The seller sent another one out, easy peasy.  With some patience, glue, and a Dremel tool, I was able to repair “Number 4.”  I’m still trying to decide what to do with him.  He’s got a couple of cracks here and there, so might be a prime candidate for the damaged, punked-out Johnny 5.  A quick gold spray job, and he could be “US Citizen Johnny 5”.  Or, I could spend a little more time with the paint brush for a “Los Locos” variant.

The same Etsy seller (Ryan’s Print Shop) has this model in a smaller size.  I mean to get one to go with 3 3/4 inch Star Wars droids.  If you’re a fan of the movie and the character, I highly recommend picking this up.  And even if you don’t like the movies, he’s still a nicely detailed robot figure.   

More input!  May I have these, craphead?

Space Force

Space Force

Amazo Toys - Kickstarter exclusive

Taking the wacky proposal of a US Space Force to the extreme, and partnering it with some good old 80s, Cold War nationalism equals the most bananas 3 3/4 inch figure line in a long time.  Trump and Obama combine forces against Putin and the Russians in the re-ignited space race for Mars!  

Sure, the inclusion of recent political figures, even the Space Force notion, have become more than dated since the inception of this Kickstarter project.  (It took almost two years for them to get to my door.)  But the imagination's the limit with all the extra incentives that were unlocked.  I bought in for the historical heads alone. 

The gamble paid off, because the new Indiana Jones movie will focus on the space race in the late 1960s.  I have no idea if we'll see Indy in a space suit, but...

Hey, that "Nick Fury" looking guy also kinda looks like Charlton Heston!  And they included a damn, dirty ape headsculpt as well!

Chuck's not the only undercover actor here.  This "Russian" guy with the cigar looks an awful lot like Arnold Schwarzenegger!  And that "Rasputin"? A very specific "John Wick" Keanu Reeves!

Anyway, back to Indiana Jones and the Lost Cold War Adventures...

Einstein and Tesla...alive?  A meeting of the minds!

Hearing problem, comrade? 

I said, "I LIKE IKE!"

Alt-Right fantasy?  Or a glimpse of things to come?  

As for a more plausible future, I hope some of the locked campaign items make it out with Fresh Monkey Fiction's Eagle Force figures (exclusive to Big Bad Toy Store).  I love the Ghost of Ronald Regan head, but would love even more to have one fleshed out along with other presidents:

Silly, but damned if I don't want a beefy, gun-toting Super Mario, too!

Monster Cereal Figures and An American Werewolf in London

Monster Cereal Figures and An American Werewolf in London

Jada Toys - NECA

“Doin’ the “Monster Mash” with ya on this beautiful Valentine’s Day!” “It’s kind of a love song.  Monsters enjoying each other’s company…dancing…keeping their evil in check.”  

No, I didn’t post the wrong review.  It’s just another case of horror figures getting delivered waaay past the Halloween season.  And as I have said before, February is typically a strange dumping ground for spooky movies to capitalize on a big date night holiday.  Anyway, the monster cereal mascots were back this past season in a “Monster Mash” team up for your complete and balanced breakfast, and now they’re here to stay on my toy shelf!

Jada Toys has made some great die-cast cars and characters in the past, and their detail and quality has made the leap into articulated action figures with flying colors.  These 6-inch figures of Count Chocula and Frankenberry feature all the appropriate joints and hinges to make a graveyard smash.  

The paint apps are great, and the colors pop.  They have two flavors of head sculpts:  one classic, and one a more modern take.  I prefer the classic look, but the eyes and mouths one the moderns are so expressive that it’s a tough call.  You also get tiny cereal box accessories, in scale with the figures.

The boxes are keepers on these.  They look just like the General Mills cereal boxes.  There is a magnetic, opening front, in case you like displaying them in-box.  The inside flap has the character’s large face, just like the old cut-and-wear masks of old.  I love the “nutrition facts” on the side panels.  

 

Count Chocula and Frankenberry were the original two cereals, so it makes sense that they are the first to get figure treatment.  Boo Berry was next, and is probably my favorite to eat.  Since he is a smaller, amorphous blob of a ghost that doesn’t merit the same level of articulation, he probably would have worked best as a pack-in figure.  Because of this, I’m worried these two might be a one-and-done thing.  I would welcome the less-popular Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy (especially after his delicious turn as an orange-flavored cereal some years back), but I’m not sure they are popular enough to cut a second wave.  I hope I’m wrong, and that Jada toys’ folk are as big a fan as I am.

An American Werewolf in London’s Kessler Wolf was happy to stand in for Frute Brute.  In typical NECA fashion, he didnt arrive in time for Halloween either.  But, hey, full moons happen all year round, right?  And that movie is one of my favorites.  It’s probably the best of all werewolf flicks, and now I have the ultimate werewolf to display.

He’s a big boy, and has joints about everywhere you’d expect them to be.  He also has two headsculpts:  one closed mouth, one snarling.  I love everything about him.

NECA made the Nightmare/Nazi werewolf figure last year, which is great but I didnt get around to reviewing.  I would like to see a transforming David figure, with swapable, mid-transformation parts, and a zombie Jack figure, with alternate parts for various stages of decomposition…however, I’m betting NECA isn’t going to pay for the likeness rights.  Or, if they do, they’ll “treat” us to 8-inch cloth clothes versions…GRRRR!

Are these worth the $20-25 price point?  Do I have a pantry full of “Monster Mash” cereal hoarded from last Halloween?  (Yes and YES!)  Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your significant others!

Custom Ewoks Movie Figures

Custom Ewoks Movie Figures

Etsy

3D printing has made Etsy a wonderland for all things geek, especially action figure fans with holes in their collections.  It can be tricky to navigate, coming up with just the right search words, but you never know what you can find until you try.  Take these custom Ewoks movie figures for example...

Don't let Disney's canon wipe get you down, true fans.  The Battle for Endor still stands as the best Star Wars spin-off movie so far, even with visible zippers on the furball suits!  The Dis made a partial dream come true by including Teek and mystic Ewok, Kaink, in one of their Star Tours figure sets.  But that wasn't enough for me.  Or for an Esty store in the Czech Republic (Two Mirrorz store), apparently.  More Woklings!  Wicket's mom and sister!  Cindel Towani!

Hasbro has only released one Wokling (Nippet was a pack-in with Leektar), and that's been a good 14 years ago!  Here, you get three different sculpts, all fully painted, for $18.  $6 a Wokling may sound steep, but just look at them...can you deny the original "Baby Yodas?"  

You can save a few bucks by going in on a bundle deal with Shodu and baby Winda.  They scale great with Hasbro Ewoks.  And just check out the paint detail on those eyes!  Wicket's family is getting bigger, but still a few members short of completion.  

At least he has someone to play with now...Cindel Towani!   Sure, she has no articulation, but she's perfect.  The curly ringlets of hair are amazing.  $20 painted isn't so bad, considering I was thinking of butchering/repurposing an Episode 1 kid Anakin figure to undoubtedly mixed results. I'm so glad to have her next to Wicket and Teek.

In-action figures, sure, but great stand-ins for characters that may never be produced anyway. I hope to see a few more Ewoks figures soon, especially Noah Briqualon and Chukha-Trok.  I also hope that 3D printing can push a little further into the forgotten areas of a galaxy far, far away....

Come back soon, I'll be waiting!

Until then, have a look back a my large Ewok army!

https://terribletoyman.blogspot.com/2020/02/at-st-raider.html