The Claw!

I love days like these.

When I was doing my weekend toy shopping at CSC (China Square Central), I went into a shop and looked around like any other time. There was an extension at the corner of the shop (it acts like a little storeroom)and I went in to take a look.
Right at the corner, stood The Claw! Yes the machine in the Toy Story movie which house all the cute aliens!
The shop owner told me that it was a defect piece and the claw mechanism was not working. He told me I could have it for $5 and if I could fix it I had a great deal.

Damn! Even if I don't fix it I thought this was a cool display piece. I collect those Toy Story's aliens and they are so going into this!

When I went home to try it, the mechanism was working fine. The only problem was that the chain had broken off. When I have the time, I think it would be an easy fix.

For now,this will be the home for my collection of the Toy Story's aliens.













The chain had broken off

how2work x 3mix 12" Toy Story Toy Soldier Sergeant

Imagine the Toy Soldier Sergeant in the movie Toy Story blown up to 12" proportion.
Yes! how2work x 3mix did just that.
This figure immediately caught my eye when I was toy hunting in Taipei.
I just love this piece because it speaks so much to me.
It is a 12" green LITTLE PLASTIC MAN (toy soldier) from the movie Toy Story! Seriously what more can I ask for.
On yar...and it was also on discount...the cherry on top of the sundae!!!

The packaging is very simple.
No color at all, just the title, wording and the picture of the figure you are getting.
I usually display just the figures so the simple packaging does not bother me.
The figure is kept securely in the box hence there is very small chance of damage.









At first glance, I thought it was a single molded figure of those plastic-molded soldiers made famous in the movie Toy Story but blown up to 12" scale.
Yes I was still intrigued by it even though my initial thought that is was just a single molded figure.
However when I got my hands on it at the shop, I was surprised.
It actually had an internal articulated armature wrapped around by a rubber casing.
In another word, there is actually articulation in the arms, waist and neck!
How cool is that.

The sculpting is what it should be, those plastic-molded soldiers we used to play when we were kids.
Even though the sculpting is simple, all the details we are familiar with plastic-molded soldiers are there.

The only disappointing area is the color. It needs to be of a darker green. Well nothing is perfect...:P

There are no accessories.
There is a little gun attached to his hand. I don't considered that as an accessory.

If I am not wrong, there is a red and black version but I think the green is cooler as it stays true to the figure it was supposed to represent.

Overall, I love this unique piece.
It looks great displayed with my other 12" military figures!

Update! Update!

Busy...busy...busy.
It has been a very hectic month.
With all the unpacking to do, huge work volume and my son now starting to run around, I totally do not have time to breathe...let alone write posts for my blog.

However, don't worry. I am still buying toys and I am glad that I finally got my hands on Thinkway's Toy Story Collection Woody and Buzz. They look awesome and I think they look best if they are displayed in their packaging! Hopefully I have time to take photos and do a review on it.

Talking of photos, I still can't find my camera's battery and so have to rely on my Iphone...which takes pretty bad quality pictures...:(

In the same post, I would also like to update on my new toy display. Cleaning is a nightmare with all the mirrors and glass...LOL. However ,I am mighty pleased with it and have started to fill it up. Hopefully I can take better pictures soon.

Thinkway Toy Story Collection

Thinkway had done a great job for the Wall-E line and they have continued this with Toy Story. I am really looking forward to their Toy Story Collection series which consists of :
1) Buzz Lightyear
2) Woody the Sheriff
3) RC
4) Rex
5) Space Aliens

They are highly detailed and movie accurate.
I am eyeing Buzz and Woody. Amazingly, their packaging will also be movie accurate (for Woody and Buzz at least). Another good thing is that they will be in the range of 12". You can read more at Thinkway's website.
The only problem I foresee is the high possibility that Singapore's departmental stores will not bring these in. I am already seeing Mattel's Toy Story toys but not Thinkway. Maybe I would have to look at the speciality toy stores which will charge a premium...sigh.

Woody the Sheriff


Buzz Lightyear