Japanese toy review roundup
The following reviews are in Japanese but they include a generous amount of photos so they’re well worth checking out.
(Please do not hotlink images on these sites.)
Ken Murasame reviews the Megahouse Action Works Hermann Blassreiter figure.
Kaz reviews the Soldier Story USMC 1st MSOB (Marine Special Operations Battalion) 1/6-scale figure.
Gamu reviews the Bandai DX Chogokin VF-25 Messiah Valkyrie Super Parts (Alto Custom Color) Tamashii Web exclusive accessory set from Macross Frontier. (See also.)
Gamu reviews the Bandai DX Chogokin GE-42 VF-25F Messiah Valkyrie Alto Custom figure from Macross Frontier. (See also.)
Yo reviews the Atelier Sai Shining Blade Balflear (Imperial Knight version) and Rising Force (Imperial Knight version) trading figures. (See also.)
Kaz reviews the Megahouse Variable Action Linebarrels of Iron Linebarrel figure. (See also.)
Damien Sancho reviews the Bandai Robot Tamashii Garazzo (Bring custom) figure from Gundam 00. (See also.)
K3 reviews the Bandai Final Form Ride Blade Blade figure from Kamen Rider Decade. (See also.)
Mondo reviews the McFarlane Toys Halo 3 Spartan Soldier EVA (white version) figure.
Gun0826 reviews the Hasbro G.I. Joe Cobra Trooper (version 14) and Cobra Viper (version 16) figures. (See also.)
G.S.R. reviews the Kabaya Keitai Changer Corecellder, Mobeagle, Wolfgear and Elephanshot candy kits. (See also.)
Nekonekokoara reviews the Bandai Kamen Rider Decade Hissatsu! Chouhenkei Rider Kuuga Gouram candy kit.
Nekonekokoara reviews the Bandai Kamen Rider Decade Hissatsu! Chouhenkei Rider Ryuki Dragreder candy kit.
G.S.R. and SR../Blood Zwei review the Bandai Capsule Gattai Shinken-Oh Shishi Origami, Ryu Origami, Kame Origami, Kuma Origami and Saru Origami prize toys.
Damien Sancho reviews the Bandai Kamen Rider Decade Kit 2 Machine Decader candy kit.
Retro reviews
Gangu Shiro reviews the Enix Dragon Quest Armor of Legend Loto figure from Dragon Quest II.
Tom reviews the Kotobukiya S.U.G.O.I. (Super Ultimate Great Original Item) SPT Layzner figure.
Itsuki reviews the Takara Brave of Legend Da-Garn Pegasus Saber set.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers Galaxy Force GD-04 Landbullet figure.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers Beast Wars C-6 Convobat figure.
Yo reviews the Bandai Digital Monsters D-Real Gargomon figure.
Itsuki reviews the Bandai Saint Myth Cloth Crystal Saint Figure Ou exclusive figure from the Saint Seiya series. (See also.)
Toy links
Devil Dinosaur.
In an age when giants walked the world–he was the mightiest of all!
Barrels Speeder ver. traditional.
A more conventional look for the Assemble Borg vehicle. (Click on the photo for a better look.)
Werewolf.
A Barrels Speeder fanmode inspired by Cloud Strife’s Fenrir. (Click on the photos for a better look.)
The trouble with flocked hair.
Damn Adventure Team hippy.
Davros.
A photo by Tony Case.
BJPM
BJPM (Block Joint Plastic Model) is an instrument of construction little known outside Japan. Despite the name, BJPM eschews the studded blocks of Lego and Mega Bloks, and features instead plastic parts with 5mm ball joints.
These ball joints make BJPM creations well-articulated while the 5mm size makes BJPM parts compatible with Microman, Zoids Blox, and other lines that make use of 5mm joints.
Unlike block construction toys, there’s work to be done with BJPM even before you get to the creation phase as it’s sold in kit form and parts need to be snipped off sprues. If there’s one criticism to be made, most BJPM creations look distinctly skeletal, but that’s unsurprising since BJPM was originally intended to form an inner framework for garage kits.
Originally created by adult doujinshi artist Mikoshiro Nagito for sale at fan events in Japan, BJPM was sold commercially when he partnered with Atelier-Sai. Both would later go their separate ways with Atelier-Sai selling a similar line called Geneblock and Mikoshiro establishing his own company and line, Gimmick & Steels. All these lines are more or less compatible due to the common 5mm ball joints used though part tolerances may be a bit iffy.
Here are some BJPM links to check out:
BJPM Hall.
Click on the links on the left sidebar to see a huge collection of BJPM creations.
BJPM image board.
Fan-submitted creations.
TransGals Predaking.
Fanmode frequently links to misodrill’s BJPM creations and this Geneblock interpretation of the Transformers combiner may be his finest.
Magnesion.
A BJPM combiner by ku6gane.
Wikipedia (Japanese).
The origins of BJPM as well as links to other compatible lines.
Toy links
Kamen Rider Raia.
A S.I.C.-style custom by Killing Monkey.
Lego Genesis Evangelion.
A Johnny Tang MOC.
Xiphos ver. centaur.
Scroll all the way down to see a Gullwing fanmode combining the Busou Shinki figure with Zoids Lanstag.
Starscream at sunset.
A fine shot by frog DNA.
Henshin Cyborg catalogues.
Over three decades later, the Cyborg Rider sets remain astonishing.