A Jumbo Machinder Stormtrooper! Need I say more? Brian Flynn walks us thru the history and development of the officially licensed Stormtrooper Jumbo Machinder. With HD VIDEO.

So in a nutshell I really know nothing about the whole designer toy thing but I know cool when I see it and what Super 7 has coming at years end is pretty wicked. A Jumbo Machinder Stormtrooper, officially licensed by Lucasfilm.

Here are the facts...

• Firing Fist.
• Wheels on the bottom of the feet.
• Foil stickers will be included in the box for die-hard Jumbo fans
• Run quantity is still undecided
• As of this article pricing is still to be determined but will probably be between $300 and $350
• If this does well enough there will be a Darth Vader and Boba Fett at some point in the future. :)

Embedded below is Brian's entire presentation at the Kotobukiya booth. He wants me to preface this by saying he was A) Very nervous and B) Not used to speaking in front of people. For the record I thought he did fine. The presentation was informative AND entertaining. But enough of me, here's the man himself in his own words.

So there you have it. I think Super 7 may want to consider another one of these bad boys sold. I'm in, in a big way. I think they may very well be cooking up one of the most unique SW collectibles to ever come down the pipeline.

Like I said I don't know a thing about the designer toy scene but Super 7 had lot's on display.

Be sure to head over to the Gallery and take a peek at all Super 7 had to offer at this years Comic Con.

For the record, Brian won all sorts of cool-kid points with me for having his very own Condorman on display in their case. A Japanese Super Hero character I watched back in the day with my Dad in Hawaii.

We here at CDX will be keeping on eye on the Stormtrooper Jumbo Machinder and you can always check Super 7's own website for the latest news.

America's most well fed International Plastic Modelers Society chapter, IPMS Ontario CA, hosts another fantastic contest and expo! Plastic models of tanks, cars, Sci-fi, submarines and airplanes are all represented here!

IPMS Ontario Chapter was host to their annual Minicon Model Contest and Expo in Ontario, California. It was a great turnout with about 250 model kits entered into the contest.

Best of show was this High Gloss hot rod, which was the best gloss paint job I've ever seen in my life.

The dealers brought out some great kits to sell. One dealer was even selling 1980's Anime related model kits and toys that was a nice revisit to my childhood as I owned at one time nearly everything on the table! Pony Lives!

Here a sample of some of the kits entered into the contest:

Although I didn't win any awards this time around, it was a great turnout for everyone involved and I'm looking forward to Minicon 10!

©2009 Leonardo Flores article and pictures.

....But did the Comicon have a SDF-1 Macross cake?! An afternoon of Macross fun at MacrossWorld 09 at UCLA! Show coverage here including a transforming 2 1/2 foot tall Optimus Prime, a Valkyrie Orguss and the toy test shots of the Tread and the SDF-1 Macross cake!

Macross World Con 09

One of the first things to knock me out was this beautiful Macross SDF-1 cake. Amazing job! I thought it would be impossible to beat last years Macross Cake but this years cake was a masterpiece!

Lots of givaways and prizes from the sponsors including the Yamato fan racer as the grand prize and various other goodies including an SDF-1 Launch poster that everyone was dying to win.

It was great to have yours truly have an active role this year as I broke out my anime record vinyl collection and DJed throughout the day. I also displayed my vinyl collection and took request as it was Macross or Macross related music all day, with the most requested song being My Boyfriends a Pilot.

Another stand out items was this Macross Orguss Valkyrie which is seen and blown up in one of the most cryptic 5 second scene in all of the Macross TV series. I've been wanting to make one of these for years but this one which isn't finished inspired me to get off my arse and build one. Excellent job!

Macross World Con 09, like CDX, wouldn't be complete without it's gallery of custom, rare and vintage toys and art which were displayed for everyone to admire. One of the best pieces brought was the test and custom components for the just released Mospeada Tread.

©2009 Leonardo Flores Pictures and article.

Tron in 3D, in IMAX theaters! Need I say more? The complete press conference footage inside (A CollectionDX exclusive.)

I was pretty busy with hosting events at the Koto booth this convention so I was not able to spare the several hours needed to wait in line to attend the public Disney 3D panel for the convention goers. Being press however, I was able to get in on the press conference for the Tron sequel. Josh and I, in case you didn't know, consider Tron to be one of those influential films of our lives and an essential part of the DNA that makes up CollectionDX. So how could I pass up covering this?

The new film is called Tron Legacy and they literally just wrapped principle photography. Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner return. Daft Punk is doing the score. The Tron world has remained on a private server and is not connected to the internet. The general premise is that it's some 30 years after the first film and Flynn has been missing for 25. Flynn's son goes back into the Tron world to find his father. It's all a bit "Heart of Darkness"/"Apocalypse Now". So here is the press confrence in it's entirety. I am sorry for the shaky camera and sound quality. The room was pretty packed by the time I got there, so I got the best spot I could. Enjoy Tron heads!

But that wasn't all Disney was up too, to promote this upcoming film. They turned a nightclub in the Gaslight District into a replica of Flynn's for 2 nights. Sadly I did not get myself this venue while it was running but thanks to my friends @scoobydiesel, @seandps, @Taozoo4u and @ethernz I do have some photos to share with you. Thanks guys and gals you are all real life savers. :)

A full size mock-up of the new Lightcycle was on display

From what I can tell, the Tron arcade game IS NOT the classic 80's game we played when we where kids. It was more in line with the game Flynn played from the movie... really wish I had gone... grrr.

They also brought me back an arcade token from Flynn's.

So very looking forward to seeing this sometime next year...

Plastic Models and grown adults with Flashlights! Leonardo Flores reviews Silicon Valley Scale Modelers' Kickoff Classic 2009. With Photos

On Saturday April 20th 2009 Silicon Valley Scale Modelers (SVSM http://www.svsm.org/) hosted their annual Kickoff Classic Exposition ‘09 model contest and show at the Santa Clara Convention Center. With over 550 models entered by 132 modelers, the energy was high and the models were fantastic.

Our local Ontario IMPS http://www.ipms-ontario.org/ chapter decided to get a small group together and drive up to Santa Clara and support their club. The kits at the show were amazing! One of the highlights of the show was when a gentleman named Jim Lundt who brought 122 seaplane models to display at the show. The centerpiece of his collection was a 1/72 scale Hughes Aircraft Hercules “Spruce Goose” with a scale Howard Hughes standing on the aircraft.

A modeler even brought in a large scale Yamato. No, not THAT Yamato…well sort of not that Yamato, but the original WWII configuration before it was redeveloped for the space journey. My favorite was the light up Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde figure kit, it great what a couple of lights will do to improve a kit!

Rows and rows of tables filled up the convention center floor and if it was not kit entries on those tables it was model kits and their dealers surrounded by the punters trying to get a deal on that old Revell or Hawk kit. I picked up quite a few deals including MPC classic X-Wing fighter kit, the Aurora Godzilla reissue kit, Academy’s 1/72 Catalina PBY Pearl Harbor, and Monograms classic P-47D in 1/48. I also won an awesome 1/32 scale Dragon Sherman tank at the raffle contest.

©2009 article and pictures Leonardo Flores and CollectionDX.

CollectionDX's own EVA_Unit_4A visits a small Transformers convention in Tacoma, Washington

So, there was this little get-together these guys would have once a year at one of their houses. And they would share stories, the latest rumors, toys, books, and food. A nice little yearly summit between friends. Then after six years of this, the summit got a little bigger because friends were bringing friends, and then the friends were bringing friends... And so, to expand the exposure of the public to the venue, they decided to move into a small convention center. They weren’t looking to become a huge annual event, but still a get-together where people could enjoy what they knew best.

And they called it the Cybertron Conference. And it was good.

2008 was the third year that CybCon was held at the King Oscar Motel & Convention Center in Tacoma, Washington, on August 23rd.

I regret that I was only able to attend the last hour and a half of the con before they started packing up, so I missed most of the highlight events (in no particular order)-

• Table displays of Transformers-related art, oddities & rarities
• Screenings of random TV episodes across the franchise
• Play “Beast Wars: Transformers” for PS1 in head-to-head matches on a big projection screen on the wall
• Trivia throughout the con
• Speed transforming contests for both kids (10-and-under) and adults- how fast can you change a Transformers from alt. mode to robot mode?
• Silent auction

Several tables were set up along the walls, where pre-registered dealers could put up their wares, as well as for simply displaying your collection.

I can tell you- those second-hand prices were killer-deals- I filled a few long-empty holes in my own “Beast Wars” collection, as well as a replacement for a G2 Constructicon that I accidentally broke right out of the packaging over 15 years ago.

One notable toy manufacture made an appearance, CyberFembot.com. Their largest agenda- promoting toys of female Cybertronians, which Takara and Hasbro largely ignores- is to create the first mass-production, fully-transformable Generation One Arcee figure. Parts of the prototype(s), molds, and a finished model were all on display at their table. (Their website claims two original Cybertronian female designs not seen before on-screen are in pre-production stages.) Also on display were several completed designs of their in-house built G1 Devastator [the fusion of the six Constructicons], and one of the repaints. (I mean, this thing stands 18” tall, and has ridiculous articulation & elaborate detail!)

Two of their current projects were also on display. The first is an attempt to make a steam train engine version of Optimus Prime! Standing almost 12” when completed, the coal tender would change into a small fold-out base- of which details they did not have on display, but were planning on. The other was a fixed-pose 3” figure of the nine year-old human girl Sari Sumdac from “Transformers Animated”; several of which they sold throughout the con for others to paint up.

For all four of these projects, a photo album was available to view painted finals, pre-production sketches, early molds, prototypes, and finished models. Regretfully, they were closing up shop when I walked in, so I got little time with their rep!

It was indeed a small venue, taking up only three small conference rooms with the dividing walls retracted. The guy who was running the con, Greg, said that over 88 people showed up during the entire eight hour event- most of those walk-ins. But he said that even with the pre-registration closed a week earlier, a few walked in from off the street, so that number might have been a little higher.

As promised, I must send out a big thank you to Greg. I missed the registration deadline without realizing it, but when I said that I wanted to cover the CybCon online, he let me come down anyways! So if he hadn’t approved, I wouldn’t be writing this article! (It’s a two-and-a-half hour drive south from my home to Tacoma, so to show up and be denied entrance at the door would have been a huge waste!)

Well, hopefully I can make it in sooner next year so I can give you better coverage and more photos than this!

View the remainder of the photos from EVA_Unit_4A's trip to CybCon 2008 here!

See the official CybCon 2008 homepage here!

But these guys did, so check out these links to Winter Wonderfest 2007 in Tokyo Japan

While we were home still licking our wounds from the NY Toy Fair, a much cooler con was happening on the other side of the world. While we couldn't be at the Wonderfest Winter 2007, some of our good friends were. Here is a wrap up of some of the more interesting coverage:

Matt Alt chimes in on the new ToyboxDX News Brog:

• CM's Corporation is releasing a fully Transforming Legioss and Tread fighter from Mospeada.
• Yamato is releasing a transforming Motoslave from Bubblegum Crisis. It will be in the same scale as the Garland.
• Yamato is also releasing a DX Transforming Bryger as well as a Grozier X
• There's a new EVA on the way. It's 6 feet tall and costs about 10 Grand

Tokyo Hunter reports in for Anime News International:

• WonderFest 2007 Winter - Good Smile Company / Max Factory
• WonderFest 2007 Winter - Age x Volks, Broccoli, CMs Corp, Dengeki Hobby
• WonderFest 2007 Winter - Bome
• WonderFest 2007 Winter Intro & Alter Review
• WonderFest 2007 WinterCoverage Begins

Super Otaku Danny Choo is on the scene:

• http://www.dannychoo.com/all/eng/wonfes2007winter/

Back from the dead - CoolJapaneseToys has a suprisingly large amount of coverage up:

• Wonderfest 2007

Some Japanese Coverage:

• http://wildcats.pupui.jp/mogu/
• Yacolog
• G-Toys
• http://pellmellrush.web.fc2.com/event/wf2007w/wf2007w.html

From July 27 to 29, Caracas hosted the first great convention in Venezuela: Avalancha 2006!

CollectionDX correspondent Juan Carlos Azpurua reports from Convencion Avalancha 2006!

From July 27 to 29, Caracas hosted the first great convention in Venezuela: Avalancha 2006. Three days where fanatics from manga & anime, Star Wars, RPG's, Magic: The Gathering, miniatures, action figures, american comics and all the stuff related to the 'geekdom' had fun and shared in peace.

The main location was reserved to the booths, oriented to a wide public, specially the Japanese. The most important booths was from well-known shops from the world of collectibles in Venezuela, like DPX Comics, Action Zone, Anime City Market, Animetal and, at last but not least, Mazingoandtoys. There was a lot of merchandising, but its necessary to mention the vintage stuff of Mazingoandtoys, with things from UFO Diapolon, Gakeen, Macross & Robotech, Transformers and Shogun Warriors. The stuff from the others booths was based mostly on Soul of Chogokin, Saint Seiya, lots of Gashapon, Marvel Legends and Star Wars. A 7 feet tall Mazinger, among other props from Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, was exhibited.

The other half from the location was reserved to all the competitions. Libros y Dragones ('œBooks & Dragons') was selling all the stuff related to role playing games and collectibles card games, and together with Grupo Roleros ('Role Group') both organized all the RPG tournaments, with games like Vampire: The Requiem, Dungeons and Dragons 3.5, World of Darkness, Call of Cthulhu and D20 Modern (I was lucky enough to won one of these as a player!!). Also, there was held three Magic: The Gathering tournaments, 2 in standard format and 1 vintage format (I was lucky enough again to won the vintage!!), and some tournaments of miniatures, specially WarMachine and HeroClix.

Some fan clubs were attendants to the con. The members from the Star Wars Club Venezuela, with costumes from the characters of the movies, made some lightsaber-duels exhibitions, and let the public take pictures with them. A life-size Speeder Bike, Han Solo in Carbonite and a prop of Darth Vader/Anakin from the last scene from the Return of the Jedi, was the decoration of their booth. The X-Men Fan Club Venezuela make some dioramas from the X-Men saga. Also, the Star Trek Fan Club talk about the whole Star Trek history.

But the most remarkable of all the convention was dedicated to the Japanese stuff. A local band, named Wasakksushi did a show of j-rock and j-pop, meanwhile a karaoke contest from anime series' was held too. There was A LOT of cosplayers, I think the most after Japan, with some cosplay contests (individually and team) of costumes from Evangelion, Bleach, Naruto, Tomb Raider, Starzinger (for me, the best!!) Vampire Hunter D, Sailor Moon, etc. Also, the voice actors in charge to dub the series to the spanish, made a forum named 'œThe voices behind the cartoons', with actors from Dragon Ball Z (Mr. Mario Castañeda, the voice behind Goku), Teen Titans, Sponge Bob, etc. Also, there was made a manga-drawing contest and demonstrations from martial arts, like Aikido.

Here you can see the official website: http://www.convencionavalancha.com/

Juan Carlos Azpurua

figurasdeaccion

En Español

Durante 3 días, desde el 27 hasta el 29 de Julio, se estuvo realizando en Caracas la primera gran convención de Venezuela: Avalancha 2006. Tres días en los que fanáticos del manga & anime, Star Wars, RPG's, Magic: The Gathering, miniatures, action figures, american comics y muchas otras cosas relativas al 'œgeekdom', pudieron compartir en sana paz y armonía.

El área principal del evento estaba reservada para los diferentes stands (booths) de ventas orientados a diferentes públicos, entre los que destacaba el japonés y el de Star Wars. Los mejores eran los de tiendas ya conocidas dentro del mundo, como DPX Comics, Action Zone, Anime City Market, Animetal and último pero no lo menos, Mazingoandtoys. Dentro de la gran cantidad de mercancía, es necesario hacer mención a la vintage de Mazingoandtoys, como UFO Diapolon, Gakeen, Macross & Robotech, Transformers and Shogun Warriors. La mercancía de los demás stands se basaban prácticamente en Saint Seiya Myth Cloth, Soul of Chogokin, mucho Gashapon, Marvel Legends y Star Wars. Un Mazinger de más de 2 metros de altura y otras réplicas de Star Wars y el Señor de los Anillos fueron exhibidas.

La otra mitad del local estaba dedicada a las diversas competencias. Libros y Dragones se encargaba de vender todo lo relativo a juegos de rol y CCG's, mientras que 'œGrupo Roleros' organizaba los torneos de rol con juegos como Vampire: The Réquiem, Dungeons and Dragons 3.5, World of Darkness, Call of Cthulhu, D20 Modern (Tuve la suerte de ganar uno de ellos como jugador!!). Además, se llevaron a cabo 3 torneos de Magic, 2 stantard y 1 vintage. Tuve la suerte de ganar el torneo vintage!!. También se realizaron diversos torneos de miniaturas, en especial WarMachine y HeroClix.

Igualmente, se contó con la presencia de diversos fan clubs. Los miembros del Star Wars Club Venezuela, disfrazados como personajes de las películas, realizaban exhibiciones de duelos con Lightsabers y permitían a los asistentes fotografiarse con ellos. Un Speeder Bike tamaño natural, así como Han Solo en Carbonita y una réplica de Anakin/Darth Vader, de la escena final del RotJ, decoraban su stand. Además, el Fan Club de X-Men en Venezuela, elaboro diversos dioramas relativos a la sagas de Phoenix y Apocalypse. Por último, el Star Trek fan club dictó una charla relatando toda la historia de Star Trek.

Pero lo más destacable de toda la convención fue lo dedicado al área japonesa. Una banda local, Wasakksushi dio un concierto de J-Rock y J-Pop, mientras que también se llevaron a cabo concursos de karaoke de temas de anime. Había gran cantidad de Cosplayers, creo que nunca se habían visto tantos juntos fuera de Japón. Se realizaron diferentes concursos, tanto individuales como grupales. Había disfraces desde Evangelion, Bleach, Naruto, Tomb Raider, Starzinger (el mejor para mí!!) Vampire Hunter D, Sailor Moon, etc. También se llevo a cabo un foro titulado 'œLas Voces detrás de las Caricaturas' en el que se presentaron los encargados de realizar las voces en español de comiquitas como Dragon Ball Z, Teen Titans, Sponge Bob, etc., los cuales luego firmarían autógrafos. También se realizo un concurso de dibujo manga, y por último, se dieron demostraciones de Aikido y otras artes marciales.

Aquí se puede visitar la página oficial: http://www.convencionavalancha.com/

Juan Carlos Azpurua

figurasdeaccion

Images from the New York Comicon 2006

Here are some great images of the new Kaiyodo Revoltech Figures, shown by Organic Hobby at the New York Comicon. Thanks to Paul Segal for the images. There are over 30 images in the gallery.