Rotocasting or “Rotational Casting” (the clue is in the name) is a fascinating technique by which the mold is spun in order to better coat the… oh sorry, I seem to have time-travelled back to science class. Let’s talk about the big red guy instead…
Hellboy, for those of you who don’t have a library stocked with comic books like I do, is a demon. I know you suspected, what with the horns and the cloven hooves, but I just wanted to put it on the record so we’re all clear. Of course he’s a good demon (some would say letting the side down) and works for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, an organization which doesn’t officially exist, much like the customer service centre of your local electronics retailer when that digital camera you just bought mysteriously stops working.
This figure is based on the animated series and thus feels more like his comic representation. It comes with his trademark enormously large gun and a rather fine looking hand-tailored coat, which provides some sartorial elegance while you hunt supernatural Nazi villains.
Takeji Nakagawa is clearly an extremely talented guy. Using traditional Japanese craft techniques combined with futuristic designs he makes these amazing toys. Calling them toys is a little off the mark though, we are firmly in art territory here.
The craft he practices is a traditional Japanese form called Yosegi-Mokuzougan which focuses on combining different types of wood using two-dimensional patterns. Takeji is extending the technique by introducing 3d patterns. It’s the kind of thing I could only imagine being achieved with 3d modeling software and yet here he is making them for real.
Okay now the sad news, these guys are a one-offs, so you’re not going to be buying them over the internet anytime soon. Takeji only sells them at craft fairs so you’d need to go to Japan to get one, which I’m considering right this minute…
The Unimog is made by Mercedes. This is the same company that makes the ridiculous SLR McLaren, which you may have seen wrapped around Paris Hilton, or not, depending on the social circles you move in… The point I’m making, is that Mercedes clearly feel their brand can encompass a broad range of vehicles, and Paris Hilton has too much money.
This particular variant is a 406 series. These were introduced in the 1960s which explains the deliciously retro look. This radio-controlled version is made by the ever reliable Tamiya who’ve decided it’s their duty to provide German Utility vehicle enthusiasts with a drivable 1:10 scale model of the Unimog.
The body is made from polycarbonate and sits on Tamiya’s heavy-duty CR-01 chassis which seems especially designed with rock crawling in mind. Otherwise it takes pretty standard RC equipment so you can tweak the hell out of it. Tamiya even provide cut-out and make boxes you can put on the back of your Unimog, to fully indulge your utility vehicle fantasy…
I was in Tokyo the other day, and feeling kind of thirsty, so I headed towards the nearest vending machine. Now if you’re at all familiar with Tokyo you’ll know that the journey to the nearest vending machine is going to be a short one, regardless of where you are. The machine in question was serving Coke Zero. I may have been in Japan but my taste for fake sweetness and caffeine was firmly routed back home.
I rummaged in my pocket for a couple of 100 yen coins and pushed them into the slot… imagine my surprise when the machine literally got up, and transformed into a robot! It roared, shook it’s fist at the sky and proceeded to beat the shit out the Pepsi machine next door.
That’s how it happened. No word of a lie… Obviously this action figure was inspired by those events, sometimes the truth can only be told with molded plastic toys… or perhaps it’s a promotional toy for Coca-Cola. Either option is plausible, that’s all I’m saying.
Dragon have produced this great 1:35 scale model of probably the most famous military vehicle ever. It’s part of their Micro X Tech line which includes a bunch of other military toys, none of which is nearly as cool as the Willys. It’s die-cast, which for those of you looking puzzled at the back means it’s made out of metal, which is awesome, because… well metal is awesome.
Instead of resting on their die-cast laurels they’ve made it radio-controlled too. So you have a die-cast replica which you can drive around. The opportunity to cause havoc at a military modeling exhibition by driving it through the exhibits is possibly too hard to resist, or is that just me… yes, I thought so.
The icing on the cake is the controller, which is shaped like a WW2 Walkie Talkie, so you can pretend to call in an air-strike while you reenact the Dirty Dozen at your kitchen table…
Back before the Next Generation came along and ruined… I mean changed everything, the Starship Enterprise looked rather like a 1950s living room. For instance this could quite easily have been a portable television, to be taken to the beach, or on a picnic.
Of course those of you in the know recognize this for what it is. The very height of 23rd century medical technology, as carried by Dr McCoy on countless away missions. It features sounds and lights, but is lacking in genuine medical scanning facilities… in fact pretty much like the one on the series.
So if you’ve ever had a secret (or not-so-secret) desire to be the miserable Doctor, here is a perfect opportunity. Put on your best grumpy expression, scan a friend, family member, hamster etc, and get ready to say those immortal words… “He’s dead Jim”.
There are times when you just need a monster. Perhaps you want to terrorize a city full of innocent civilians, or have something around to protect your evil lair. The problem is your budget won’t quite stretch to one of the big boys.
Well it’s time to swallow your pride and head for the own-brand aisle. This guy looks enough like a certain famous Japanese lizard that the fleeing crowds won’t be able to tell the difference.
He has five points of articulation, which gives him amazing ‘emotional range’, and that tail is going to keep him standing whatever you throw at him, (except perhaps if you throw him, in which case it makes a great handle). The base colour seems to be dark green, with a random highlight applied, which should make for a pleasant surprise when you open the box…
Afro-Ken is a dog with a big afro, bigger even then the one sported by Jim Kelly in Enter The Dragon, and that was enormous. Now I know you're asking yourself why the dog has an Afro, and frankly I really couldn't say, it's just the way things are. What I can tell you, is that we live in a world where a dog can have a ridiculously large, garishly coloured hairdo, and for that we should all be thankful.
The bag includes Afro-Ken and a lot of his friends, including one dog which has a traditional ‘Samurai’ haircut (I kid you not). There are enough stickers in the bag to make Afro-Ken a major part of your life. You could easily stick one to each of your friends, and then make them bark instead of talking, and take them for walks and… err, maybe not.
Most of the stickers are paper but there are a small number printed on foil. This makes them sparkle when the light catches them, and may give them magical powers, possibly…
A man needs a good lighter, actually that's not really true, but I'm going to pretend it is for the following few paragraphs, because it sounds plausible, and sometimes that's enough.
The case has a very nice brushed finish and is hewn from the finest aircraft-grade aluminium (probably). The Silas logo is screen printed onto both sides and has a heavy metal feel about it, like you might wave it from side to side when Napalm Death play that tear-jerking ballad at the end of their show.
It's gas powered and has an element which is heated by the flame and glows brightly. The flame then 'hovers' above the element to great effect. It's the kind of thing that would really impress cavemen if you were a time-traveller, of course they’re easily impressed, but that doesn’t make it any less special…
Dear Sean Connery. Seeing you immortalized in a Lego set is the best thing that could have happened in the whole world ever! Yours sincerely. Everybody (in the whole world).
Seriously this is awesome. It so clearly lays the foundations for some classic James Bond Legos. The “Goldfinger Laser Play Set” is going to be huge! You probably recognize this set from the third not-as-good-as-Raiders Indiana Jones movie. Actually it’s not that bad, it’s just that Raiders of the Lost Ark set the bar so high that nothing was ever going to get close… ever.
Enough with the finger pointing. What we have here is Indiana Jones Lego which is frankly a match made in plastic heaven. If this had been around when I was a kid I’m pretty sure I would have mortgaged my soul in exchange for a set. All you have to do is pony up some cash and the spirit of adventure (and a box of small plastic parts) is yours.