Kool Kollectibles content

9 Aug 2019

Transformers Masterpiece MP-18+ Bluestreak

If you've followed Kool Kollectibles for a while, you'll know that I love the Transformers Masterpiece series of figures. Even when they started re-issuing molds in this "+" series, I was happy to get them as variants on the original figures.

This new MP-18+ Bluestreak is no exception, with some nice little tweaks to sweeten the package. Click through below to watch my full video review on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel. Hope you can give the video a thumbsup and subscribe to stay tuned for upcoming reviews!


The included set of accessories isn't all that extensive, but what you do get is of decent quality. I love the swap out face sculpts that really open up the options for display and poses with the figure. My favourite is definitely the smiling face that gives the character a lot of expression on display next to his stoic Autobot friends.

The blast effect pieces are good for the odd photo opportunity, but I don't think look all that great on display. There is an extra small piece that the instructions say are related to the upcoming MP-44 Optimus figure in some way, so it will be interesting how that works.


Collectors against the "+" series point out that they hate the matte style of the paint application. This new Bluestreak is perhaps the one that stands out most in that regards due to the amount of grey. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that the grey has a nice subtle metallic sheen to it, so it's not just a dull flat grey. It's very similar to the grey finish on the MP-36 Megatron and I think looks nice in hand.

If the dark grey hood was just a shade darker, it might look a tad better, but they really went with as much cartoon accuracy as they could here. The windows are blue, the wheels are grey, and I love the three or four different shades of grey on various parts of the body that give it more differentiation. The original is almost too dark in places, although the high gloss black hood looks great.


In car mode against the others, I think the original and the MP-18B version stand out as the best. Those definitely look as close to real world gorgeous Nissan Fairladies as you can get. The darker wheels, grey windscreens, and high gloss/metallic finish really work best in this car mode.

Where the MP-18+ shines, as with all other "+" figures, is in bot mode. I didn't struggle as much as with MP-20+ Wheeljack to get him into bot mode, which was great. Once in bot mode, the joints are still nice and tight, and nothing felt overly delicate. The head sculpt was a more difficult to swing past the hood during transformation due to a slightly larger head sculpt, but be careful in fitting it through and you should be OK.


In direct comparison to the original in bot mode, you will definitely see a marked difference in how much darker the original paint application looks. It's the only reason I think it would looks slightly better with a darker hood.

But similar to car mode, the various shades of grey actually give more differentiating aspects to the figure, especially around the chest. The head sculp too is far superior to the original sculpt, which was only slightly different to the MP-17 Prowl sculpt. The new sculpt really makes this figure it's own character.


As with all other "+" figures I have in the collection, I'll definitely display the new figure in bot mode with the original in its classic car mode. It really is the best of both worlds! I'm looking forward to MP-19+ early next year, and that will likely be the last Nissan mold I buy in this series.

For fans of the figures and of the cartoon, I certainly recommend these "+" figures, especially if you're going to continue collecting the series for the forseeable future. They blend in well with the latest crop of figures.


6 Aug 2019

Transformers Masterpiece MP-20+ Wheeljack

I love the Transformers Masterpiece series, especially the G1 figures. I've even got all the "+" variants for their more cartoon accurate paint application, and this MP-20+ Wheeljack is no exception.

As always, the "+" variant looks best in bot mode I think. But click through below to check out my full video review on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel and have a look for yourself! Hope you can give the video a thumbsup and subscribe too!


You get the usual contents out of the box. This time I got the figure from Big Bad Toy Store, who had to wait months apparently for Hasbro USA to release the figure. And all they did was add a completely useless black wrapper box over the usual Takara box! A completely useless time waster that adds nothing to the figure except a 5 months wait over the Japanese/HK release of the figure!


The car mode looks decent, but rather plain in comparison to the original release or the MP-23 Exhaust repaint. This is certainly cartoon accurate, but is where the "+" variants can't really shine. I do love the fact that the white is now painted white, not unpainted white plastic, which makes it a lot brighter than the original figure. The blue windscreen also gives a nice contrast to the overall aesthetic, but looks even better in bot mode.


As always, it's the bot mode where the "+" variants truly shine. In the pic below you can see how much brighter the white is compared to the original. The blue windscreen and less decals around the torso area also make the definition and proportions of the bot mode appear better. Even the lower legs are better with this clearer style in bot mode.


I love that they improved the inner areas of the lower legs, using white paint in areas where the original had black plastic. This helps to blend the leg and feet together in much more seamless way. The new immobilser is also repainted, with more of the matte painted finish compared to the metallic sheen of the previous version. The extra red panels give it that extra bit of detail too.


With the matte finish on the head sculpt, wings, and shoulder cannon, the cartoon accurate repaint is as good as we can get for this mold. It all looks fantastic, and blends in perfectly with the more MP releases and the other "+" variants. They look like the cartoon just came alive on your shelf!

I know many collectors think the MP series is taking a step back with these "+" repaints. But I don't mind them at all. I prefer my main characters to be in bot mode, and these "+" variants give me the best possible representation of the cartoon aesthetic. The original releases, with all their real world decals, look fantastic in car mode! It really is the best of both worlds, and I'm very happy to have both in my collection.

I'm definitely looking forward to finishing the Nissan Fairlady "+" variants next year with MP-19+ Smokescreen. I am totally expecting them to announce a "+" version for Tracks as well. Here's hoping they announce more new molds too after Hound!


2 Aug 2019

Kotobukiya Horror Bishoujo Michael Myers

The Horror Bishoujo series by Kotobukiya has been one of my favourite statue lines. This new addition in Michael Myers from Halloween is perhaps the first that hasn't really wowed me out of the box.

Check out the link below for my full video review over on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel. Hope you can give the video a thumbsup and subscribe too!


Here are some pics of the statue showing off the nice sculpting and paint application. I just wish the pose and head sculpt were a bit more lively. She seems rather too bored with things the way it is :D

The mask in particular is disappointing, where it's just a throw away thing on the floor. It would've been much better if she was holding the mask in the other hand.


 

Together with the others in the series, the collection certainly looks great. I hope they continue the series with more iconic characters from classic horror movies!


1 Aug 2019

ThreeA DLX Scale Bumblebee

I wasn't a huge fan of the recent Bumblebee movie, so steered away from getting figures from the movie. However, quite a few collector friends contacted me about this ThreeA DLX scale Bumblebee figure, which they said was a fantastic figure.

After seeing some pose photos and more messages from friends, I decided to take the plunge and check out what all the fuss was about. And I am so glad that I did! This is my first ThreeA figure, and it definitely won't be my last! It truly is an incredible figure!

Click through below to check out my video review over on the Kool Kollectibles YouTube channel. Hope you can give the video a thumbsup and subscribe too! Read on below for more of my thoughts.


The set doesn't come with a huge amount of accessories, and more swap out weapons like his sword type hand would've been nice. But what you do get is of high quality. The swap out forearm with his arm cannon is very nicely detailed. I love how you can see the fingers in their transformed position along the front barrel.

The paint app and sculpting detail on the hands are superb. I just wish they gave a few more expressive hands, or even made the fingers movable! The swap out head sculpt is also good, with the battle mask a nice alternative. One thing I did notice was that the Autobot insignia on both head sculpts was very clean, unlike the dirty wash that was on early photos. It would seem like the early batch of figures had a much dirtier wash on them, whereas more recent batches like mine are much cleaner.


Either way, the paint app on this figure is amazing! The dirt wash is realistically applied, and I would've preferred it even more dirty. I ended up using my kids' black art pencil to draw and smear on some additional weathering. It gives the figure such a realistic worn style. The yellow is a nice hue in hand, and the silver and grey areas have a nice rusted appearance too.

I went with the smaller doors on his back, which I think is more accurate to the movie. The larger doors can be used to give him more of a Bayformers look I believe. I love that the overall design of this Bumblebee is much more akin to the G1 character, rather than the overly busy design of the Bayformers version.


Where this figure really shines is the articulation and build quality. The heft on this thing is significant, and you feel it as soon as you lift it out of the box. They have used diecast in all the right places, designing it for stability in almost any pose.

The joints, while quite tight the first time you move them, never feel like they're going to break. The articulation is incredible, with subtle movement in places you only expect from larger or more expensive figures. The knees in particular are a joy to move, with pistons that move seamlessly with the rest of the leg to give incredible motion in the knee.

You do need to be careful adusting the position of certain plates and panels as they move, but it's all quite intuitive and never too delicate that you're afraid to move it.


Since it's a non-transforming figure, they're able to include all the details that you see in the movie representation. No compromises need to be made to allow the transformation, and in this figure I am glad they went with that approach.

There's just so much detail to take in on the figure. Minute details in the sculpt and paint app are apparently on the front as well as the rear. This figure looks senstational from every angle, unlike transforming figures that almost always only look good from certain angles.


I wasn't a huge fan of this recent Bumblebee movie. I loved the character designs and the throwbacks to the 80s, but the overall story was a little too cheesy for me. I wasn't even planning on getting this figure, but am I so glad I did! It's right up there with some of the best Transformers figures I have in the collection. I am definitely looking forward to getting the upcoming Optimus Prime. If they decide to make the Soundwave, Shockwave, and Seekers, I would definitely get them too! Highly recommended!


Here's the figure alongside my other TF Masterpiece Bumblebee figures. A great addition to any Transformers collection!