Form-Changing Toys.

I was playing around with my Black SIC today when I just realized something about him. Design-wise he's built to turn into 6 different toys. granted, 5 of them are repaints and 1 retool but still that's a pretty cool feature, and not uncommon for the toy market. So I decided to document this neat little gimmick with the complete sets I do have.

Do excuse me though, as I went ahead and modified the base body and parts to accommodate more articulation via revoljoints, but enjoy nonetheless! 

 Black (Green Ver.)/Battaman      

Black

Black RX

It's a very cool feature of the figure and it was definitely the draw of the original line of SICs, apart from the highly detailed sculpts, the form-changing gimmick is what sells these figures because you get 2 types of figures (or more, in the case of riders like Kuuga or Agito) in one package. Yes it was pricey, and not very well-articulated but innovative and at the time, very well-executed.

The only weakpoints I can find aside from the limited poseability of the original toy was that the form changing heavily relied on friction and the natural grip of the soft rubbery plastic (a choice in itself made to limit any breakage) though the grip can be very weak at times like on the Battaman armor, I would have preferred something more secure to increase play value. Though as it is they're interesting figures and definitely good conversation pieces. 

Darker shade of BLACK (and RX)

I think I hit the jackpot today.

I stumbled on S.I.C. Vol 16: Masked Rider Black RX & Masked Rider Black set (first release) today for $37. I wasn't expecting to find it but I did and I had the money to nab it.

It's been on my list for a very long time, and a definite bonus that it was sculpted by one of my favorite artists  in this medium as well, Takayuki Takeya.

I feel like posting a review of this decade(HA! RIDER PUNS) -old figure in the immediate future, stay tuned! 

SCORE!

helloooo extended debt. lol 

S.I.C.Kuuga Modification part 1 (Elbows)

New mod for the new year.

The goal of this tutorial is to replace the normal ball-joint elbow of the figure with a ball swiveljoint.Before we begin this modification let me briefly list down the components for this particular tutorial: pictured here is the upper and lower arms of Kuuga, and a 6mm revoljoint (but any brand would do, since ball swivel joint sets are also sold by other companies like Yellow Submarine or Hobbybase. If this is the case choose the joints that best matches the original color of the limb). Keep in mind that most joints of this design have a 3mm diameter peg.

Next are the tools, the main ones you'll need is a 1 to 1.5mm pin vise, a 3mm pin vise and optionally a hobby knife.

Then long nose pliers and optionally a side cutter

the first step is to use the long nose pliers to pry off the previous ball joint. Ideally the joint would come off in one piece but if the bond of the adhesive is too strong...

...The joint breaks off, leaving a large chunk stuck in the hole.

Here is where you might need to clean up the cut joint using a side cutter to trim off the excess plastic and a hobby knife to make sure the surface is flat.

Then next main step is to drill a guide hole in the middle of where the old joint was using the 1mm drillbit and then progressing to the 3mm bit for the main peg hole.

Repeat the process of the previous picture to the forearm, making sure to drill in the MIDDLE of the socket.

All that would be left is the assembly of the arm. Ideally you should drill deep enough to conceal the pegs of the ball-swivel joint.

This would be the result of the mod to the arms. Next time we'll deal with adding the same kind of articulation to the knees.

Stick around for part 2.

Everything on Fire.

another grail off my wishlist.