Shinsen Elite

Joe Weapon systems, then & now

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:47:00 +0800

Backblast’s weapon system then:

based on the Javelin SAM:

and the weapon system that replaced it, Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) :

deployed in Blackheath on May 3, 2012 in London, England for the 2012 Olympics.

Thanks to yojoe.com for the photo.

New Discount Joes available in the Philippines! Hisstank member...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:49:58 +0800

New Discount Joes available in the Philippines!

Hisstank member SnakeFox has bought a case.
Picture courtesy of SnakeFox.

More details and pictures here:
http://www.theterrordrome.com/2012/04/discount-joes-found-on-sale-in-the-philipines/

Pistols for 30th Joe holsters

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:24:00 +0800

Hasbro’s 30th Joe line is a highly successful reboot of the original Joes, updated with superior articulation and detailing. Unfortunately, some may come as too generic when it comes to accessories, especially pistols, that fit unto the molded holsters.

So! I grabbed a slew of pistols from diverse toy lines and did a comparison of which fits. Most did not fit, however, so only those that fit (with some barely!) are pictured below.

From left to right, top to bottom:
BBi Sig + light
Mezco Glock
Hasbro HK
Hasbro Beretta

BBi 1911 + light
Hasbro 1911
Destro’s .38
BBi 1911 + light
Hasbro 1911
BBi Glock
Hasbro Desert Eagle

Marauder Beretta
Marauder Sig
Marauder Python
Snowjob’s .38
Marauder 1911
Marauder USP
Marauder Luger

Test Subject: 30th Snake Eyes’ right drop down holster. Should be the same as 30th Stalker.

Closer look at the holster:

First up: Marauder Sig
Not a bad fit…

Next is Destro’s .38

…then Marauder’s Python.
Nope, revolvers look out of place, especially beside the suppressor

Hasbro’s HK is a tad oversized but not too bad…

Marauder’s Luger. Fits, obviously, but it’s not a pistol associated with modern use.

BBi 1911 + light is a good match only because BBi’s scale is a bit smaller.

Marauder’s 1911 fits ok. Highly recommend to do some painting to make it look modern, though.

Last is Hasbro’s Beretta.
It’ll do but Berettas aren’t used often, nowadays, with newer designs available.

BBi MH-60 !!! Definitely getting this.

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:55:56 +0800

BBi MH-60 !!! Definitely getting this.

I hope to see a two-seater in the future :D

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:03:00 +0800

I hope to see a two-seater in the future :D

Shipment has arrived!

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:05:34 +0800

Most are closed Pre-Orders. More to come :)

Bruce Willis as General Joseph “Joe” Colton

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:31:00 +0800

Bruce Willis as General Joseph “Joe” Colton

Ashiko with Cycle Armor

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:51:00 +0800

Cancelled Ashiko with Cycle Armour.

Yes, it’s better off as a motorcycle and Ashiko is better off with a version of Wraith’s Armour. He looks like a male-bot.

Tons of accessories but I think I’ll be adding highlights to his helmet.

Enjoy!

The only Renegade I’m aiming to get. Contrary to other...

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:31:12 +0800

The only Renegade I’m aiming to get. Contrary to other Renegades, Tunnel Rat is full of accessories, though some are dubious. Unless he’s planning to camp out in a cave, somewhere, using his robot to catch rodents for dinner. Note the scoped M60 with no ammo. At least, he has a six shooter :)

We are your Friends

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:53:52 +0800

We are your Friends

New Renegades available for Pre-Order online. Doubles ?...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:31:26 +0800

New Renegades available for Pre-Order online. Doubles ? Definitely, due to Lifeline’s accessories. Zombie army ? Maybe if they don’t look alike!

Everything sounds classier in Japanese. sarkos: 地上最強のエキスパートチーム...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:31:47 +0800

Everything sounds classier in Japanese.

sarkos:

地上最強のエキスパートチーム G.I.☆ジョー ep-28/a (by realsaru)

You can’t appreciate GI Joe until you’ve seen it in the original Japanese

Sgt Slaughter Brocco still needs sauce

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:15:24 +0800

Sgt Slaughter Brocco still needs sauce

BBTS Exclusive 7 Packs - Slaughter's Marauders and Dreadnoks

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:24:00 +0800

Alright, I was waiting for the official announcement from Joel of Big Bad Toy Store since the day before. Just a few minutes ago, it popped up and, finally, here’s the word:

A BigBadToyStore.com exclusive! Each G.I. JOE Battle Set includes seven 3.75-inch figures in exclusive decos only available in these sets!

This set includes the evil DREADNOKS-featuring:

ROAD PIG
ZANZIBAR
GNAWGAHYDE
BURN OUT
ZANYA
ZANDAR
THRASHER

The heroic SLAUGHTER’S MARAUDERS featuring:

SPIRIT
RED DOG
MERCENARY (MERCER)
FALCON
LOW LIGHT
BARBEQUE
BULL (TAURUS)

Special Thanks to Joel of Big Bad Toy Store.

Return of BBi

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:37:00 +0800

Blue Box Toys International Limited, or BBi, has been very prominent in the world of 1:18 scale toys, especially during 2008, when they were prolific at retail. The attention to detail is admirable when it came to land vehicles and aircraft but it was their main weakness in action figures. Very forgivable. For once, Joes can, then, have better scaled and realistic military motor pool, from M1A1 main battle tanks, to Apache helicopters and Fighter-bomber aircraft, in the guise of F-18 Hornets and F-16 Vipers.

Then, suddenly, it stopped.
Naturally, prices sky-rocketed and their value more than doubled.

Fast forward to the present and, in 2011, BBi struck back with a vengeance.

Above photo is that of a new MH-6 Little Bird found at mass retail last 30 September 2011 priced at $68.60. Also found, though not pictured, is the BBi M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. A little pricey but definitely worth it. The Little Bird is the MH-6 variant with side seats, two Stinger missile launchers, and one Pilot in dessert flight suit with helmet.

Also available from Big Bad Toy Store, is the BBi F-16 366TFW 389TFS “Enduring Freedom”. It’s similar to the original F-16 but with structurally improved landing gear and hard plastic wing antennas. Price is at $164.99 and available at this link.

The main attraction is the MH-60 Blackhawk, which includes fast rope (though it looks a little short), two miniguns mounted on either side windows, FLIR, a pilot and one Navy SEAL. Not exactly sure how it compares to the original $50 Blackhawk but it is estimated to cost $170. More to follow.

GI Joe Gun Sale at Toycon 2011, Starbucks Megamall Atrium

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 05:22:00 +0800

Finally have the time to do a proper Gun Run this Sunday, 19 June 2011 at Megamall Atrium Starbucks to coincide with TOYCON 2011.

Will be bringing 90% of stocks including new ones like the Steyr AUG, M16A2, AK-74, Beds, and Lockers.

Should you need to reserve, please use the online shop or email me.

See you all there!

End of Year Shinsen Sealed Joe Auction

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 12:59:00 +0800

It has been a very long year and many a weekend went by without even looking up my Joe Customs or MOC Joes screaming to be free.
With Apologies to Eagle Eye Joe for not taking them out sooner, some have waited 15 years.

I may not be the one to unleash them, at all.
I will, in its stead, hold a Shinsen Online Private Auction with sealed bids.

Best private offer gets the items. Criteria will be based on:
1. Whether Bidder will treat the items well
2. Pickup/shipping arrangements
3. Price & Payment Options

Loose Items include Razorback, Despoiler, DEMON, AGP, HISS, Snowcat I & II, Brawler, ‘97 MOBAT photographed at yojoe, Wolf, and their drivers.

I am somewhat torn how to deactivate the team, so, the answer is to deactivate them as a Team. Arctic Team, EOD Team, Tracker Team, Anti Armour Team, Infantry Team, und zu weiter.

Extensive photos of the vehicles and the Team will be put up online for a few days then the Auction will commence.

As for MOC items, here they are in no specific order…
Note: Cyclonus and the MOC BAT is already deactivated.

Classic A-Team

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:50:00 +0800

*insert Huey sounds and drums*

In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit…

These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground…

Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune…

If you have a problem, if no one else can help… and if you can find them…

maybe you can hire…

…The A-Team.

In time for the A-Team reboot this year, Jazwares, Inc. has released the A-Team in the consistent 1/18 format.

The articulation is comparable to the current G.I. Joe line except for the fixed torso, which, is really not a problem. The body sculpts are superb, to the extent that the vest seemed removable.

The headsculpts, however, are too puffy. It would seem a hive of bees were thrown into the van!

However, as the bodies are perfectly serviceable, one can just improve or scratch build better heads to fit.

B.A. Baracus could have chosen a better wardrobe. A loud shirt ? Perhaps we should paint a Bull’s eye while he is at it.

His classic sleeveless denim jacket would’ve been ideal. Still, it is not so bad. AT least, he wasn’t wearing his white high socks.

And where is his Pig (M60) ? Where are all the gold bling ?

Seriously, lose the holsters if ye ain’t usin’ em!

I pity the fool!

Templeton “Faceman” Peck…what, oh what, happened?

Face is the ultimate suave social engineer, clean and all. His suit is alright but his headsculpt needs better painting. Frankly, the ‘80’s hairdo is preferable. Not too bad, though. Will have to resculpt his suit to be a closed shirt affair and we now have “suits” for your Agency Tier 1 operator customs.

Colonel Lynch — Who ?

Not sure exactly but I am guessing this must be the other Colonel who chases Hannibal’s team everywhere.

On the card, he’s from the Agency. Looks a little young for a Colonel but that is just my take.

Never did like Col. Lynch, back in the day. Now, Colonel Decker, however…definitely bad-ass.

He is the epitome of Relentless, chasing the A-Team all over.

Captain H.M. “Howlin’ Mad” Murdock

Never did get his first name. He is the only decent sculpt in the set with his trademark leather jacket and baseball cap.

Definitely a worthy buy.

and… Colonel Hannibal Smith

His sculpt is that of his work clothes. Pity, though. Very much prefer his other uniform with the trench coat.

Unfortunately, his Ruger rifle is poorly sculpted.

I believe I’ll just build my own rifles.

I find it weird that everyone is armed with the ubiquitous M4/variant but Hannibal is armed with the Ruger.

They should have made Rugers from everyone except Col. Lynch.

Well, I’ll still check out the Van but it can hold 4 figures. The entire A-team.

In the rear, is where I suspect the electronics are installed so a little bit of tweaking and it could be hollowed out.

For all you purists out there, remember that the rear of the van is where they keep their Rugers & M16A1s in a locked footlocker.

For a real toy Van, I am astonished that it had no pop up guns in the grill and other DIY weapons of mass destruction.

It was more like a model car.

No problem with me :)

I’ll do the shop work.

Get them atBigBadToyStore.com before they escape!

Range Viper version 2 and Jungle Terror Twin Battle Gun

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:48:00 +0800

I was not putting much expectations into this new wave but I was surprised how good this was. Especially, the price.

For some reason, the new wave got included in the 50% discount sale for older Rise of Cobra sets which makes this just right.

For once, Hasbro packed these vehicles in similar style with the classic Joes. The vehicles are disassembled inside a box and the driver is visible from a window.

The artwork is the best of the lot. The swirls behind the figure and vehicle is reminiscent of the blast and digital blasts of the Eighties. Nice Touch.

The only thing bad. All of them had the scars of shipping!

Inside, it is packed exactly like in the Eighties. Does it not remind you of Christmas morning? I love the smell of cardboard and plastic!

Here, they are. Economically packed to save space. Incidentally, the Twin Battle Gun is the thickest of the Four exclusive packs.

All the parts laid out, it does not take a Techno Viper to figure out how to put these together.

Just making sure that this vehivcle show its colours.

All Hail Cobra !

Equipped with a luxurious seat (by 1980’s standards)

Can I play Pong with this ?

I never had a vintage Whirlwind so I may be a little late in noticing this.

Without the steel shield, the miniguns have better maximum & minimum elevation.

Besides, if you are in a AAA field emplacement, it would not matter in this day & age.

Nobody does strafing runs unless they are desperate.

*Famous Last Words*

Sinister looking is he not ?

The second Range Viper is appropriately coloured green & gray.

Here he is, compared with his predecessor.

Still the same sculpt with better colours!

Up close and personal.

The green is growing on me.

A far better paint quality!

Now, the only thing with this version is that, all he has is an unloaded M60 and a Pistol.

BUT, true to form, Range Vipers are supposedly adept at raiding enemy supplies, hence Tunnel Rat’s M60 and the Joe Pistol. The first Range Viper even had General Hawk’s backpack.

So, yes, it is not bad. A better painted Range Viper and a Cobra AAA gun for the Stinger jeep to tow. Of course, an ASP would have been better but this is Good.

In fact, this is Great!

If you see these, buy it.

Or someone else will ;)

Pursuit of Cobra Target Exclusive Vehicle Assortment on Retail!

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:08:00 +0800

Pursuit of Cobra Vehicles release at Retail 50% Discount !

Chinese New Year 2010 started right with the release of Pursuit of Cobra Vehicles at 50% off!

Included in the set are:

Ram Cycle with Sandstorm
Air Assault Glider with Capt. Ace
Jungle Terror Twin Battle Gun with Range-Viper
Trubble Bubble with Viper

Reviews and pictures to follow ;)