Review: Trans Armour Kamen Rider Figures

[Space Sheriff Gavan]

[EDIT- In keeping this forum all nice and tidy, I'm merging all of SSG's WONDERFUL Trans Armour reviews into one bite-sized thread -RF]


Trans Armour Kamen Rider Hibiki review w/ pics!

I was overjoyed when I recieved my first Armour Trans toy to add to my growing Toku collection. This review will be on the figure of the title character to "Kamen Rider Hibiki".

Accessories: Let's start this review with what the figure is composed of. First, let me say that I am very happy that this figure does not require alot of work to put together (with a figure this size, alot of constructing can be irritating). The only parts of his armor that you need to attatch are his chest armor, the emblem on his belt buckle, and his helmet. Hibiki comes with his dagger, his drumsticks, his henshin device, and three of thre transforming CDs ( note: stickers must be applied, and the CDs do not transform.

Durability: This figure seems very durable. His joints are tight (but not so tight that you need to apply excessive force to pose him. The only part of him that is annoying is when you attatch his armor. The two straps that go under his arms WILL NOT hold in place until you attatch the front chest piece, but that simply requires the use of both hands and your complete attention for 10-20 seconds to solve that problem.

Design: The crowning achievement of Armour Trans figures are two things; Articulation and attention to detail. Let me say this, and I hope that noone here is offended by the next statement I am about to make. This figure is articulate on a PORNOGRAPHIC level. I honestly believe I could go through every position in the Kama Sutra, and this figure could pull the pose.

-Close up of Hibiki

The way Hibiki and his weapons go "hand in hand", so to speak, is simple. His hands can be moved to an "open" or "closed position". I have found that it is impossible (or at least difficult) to place his weapons in his hands when they are in the "closed" position. You have to "open" the hands first, place the weapons in hand, then close them, weapons still in hand

- Size comparison next to Dekarangerrobo

Another interesting feature is that both his Henshin device and his oni dagger have small pegs on them. The reason for these pegs are to attatch the transforming beast CDs to them. His drumsticks do not have these pegs, though.

-Battle pose against Black Ox

What is really pleasing about this figure is the detail. It is completely faithful in design to the costume on the toku show. I highly reccomend this figure, and any other Armour Trans figure to any Toku fan (even if you haven't seen the show yet)

This figure gets 10 out of 10, EASY

Price: Now the price range can be quite drastic, in terms of variety. If you live in the US, there are very few retailers that carry these, and those that do usually have this figure priced somewhere around $30. Most Asian distributors (that I have seen) have the figure from $14.99-$16.99 plus shipping, which is usually around $10. But I did see one person on Ebay selling this figure for $57 AND $12 from Hong Kong! In any event, If you can get this figure for less than $40 (shipping included), I highly reccomend it, he is worth it.

This figure was purchased from cwk2002 on Ebay, and their shipping speed is UNBELIEVABLY fast.

Review of Armour Trans Todoroki and Ibuki coming soon!

 

[Igadevil]

Nice Review, Hibiki is fast becoming one of my favorite Souchaku-Henshin figures.

I custom made pegs to attach his drumsticks to, using some of the extra plastic tree from a candy toy.

 

[scikaiju]

This figure is articulate on a PORNOGRAPHIC level. I honestly believe I could go through every position in the Kama Sutra, and this figure could pull the pose.

That has got to be the most orginal line I have ever heard in a figure review

 

[Space Sheriff Gavan]

Trans Armour Kamen Rider Hibiki TODOROKI review w/ pics!

in box

This is a review that will cover one of the most unique Kamen Riders of all time, from "Kamen Rider Hibiki", Todoroki.

Accessories: Once again, I will be starting this review with an overview of the accessories. Todoroki comes with two versions of his weapon, one is when it is the mode of a large spear, and it's guitar mode. Todoroki also comes with two versions of his Henshin device:

Hen---

--shin!!!

Like the other Hibiki figures, Todoroki comes with three of the animal CDs, but these CDs don't transform, they're just for show. The other parts I really don't consider accessories, because they are his armor ( I should note that the straps of his chest armor are die-cast, and they seem to be the only part of him that is)

with his spear weapon

Durability: So far I've only had one complaint with Trans Amour figures. Sometimes the things that attatch to them don't stay on very well (mainly things that you attatch to the side of their belt, for some reason). But it's not really that much of a porblem. And these figures are very durable, so any worries you have about this figure not lasting very long can be put to rest. Besides, Trans Armour toys are definitely worth that little irritation.

Are you ready to rock, mother f***ers?!?!?!?

Design: Why can't we have US toys like these? Seriously, I have never come in contact with toys that pay so much attention to detail! I mean, even the tiny Henshin device accessories remain faithful to the show design! And since Todoroki plays that bad-ass guitar, all the female figures in my room are fighting for him... *sigh* musicians that kill demons on a regular basis get all the chicks...

My only real problem with the design is that they only give you one belt buckle insignia. And the insignia comes off and becomes the strings on Todoroki's guitar mode, and yeah, it looks great, but it also leaves the area by his waist looking a little bare.

Jammin' with Hibiki

I've just been informed by my legal staff that I cannot give this review a number above 10 out of 10

So....

10/10

Price: For anyone in the US, the price of this figure will usually be around $25-$30, mainly because of shipping from Asia. I reccomend using cwk2002 on eBay, mainly because they ship extremely fast from Hong Kong. This toy is great, but don't pay anything over $40 for it. You can find a better deal if you look harder. But since Todoroki is a relatively new figure, he's really only available through HK or Japan sellers, as of now. But he is unquestionably worth $30, because these toys will never be widely released in the US. I'd like to think they will be someday, but that's a pipe dream, and we all know it


I'd appreciate any comments on how you think my style of reviewing is.

Also, I should be getting some more Trans Armour figures in(assuming no one rips me off), so I'm going to name them here, if you want to see a review of any of these, just list the names in your reply to this thread, and thanks for reading!

Figures:-note, these are all Trans Armour figures

Kamen Rider Hibiki: Ibuki
Kamen Rider Blade: Blade King
Kamen Rider Blade: Leangle
Kamen Rider 555: Faiz
Kamen Rider Classic: Rider No.1
Kamen Rider Classic: V3
Kamen Rider Classic: Amazon
Kamen Rider Classic: Stronger

 

[Space Sheriff Gavan]

C'mon, 20 views and NO comments?

 

[Blackbird]

I like your review! :thumbs:

 

[Igadevil]

I was too preoccupied with the fact that my own Todoroki hasn't come yet to comment. :laugh:

Great Review! :buttrock:

 

[Forever Knight]

Awesome review. The fig looks great.

 

[Space Sheriff Gavan]

Trans Armour Kamen Rider Number 1 Review w/ pics! NOW WITH RIDER NUMBER TWO!

In Box

When you hear "Kamen Rider" or "Masked Rider", what do you think of? Some may think of an oni with drumsticks, some may think of a masked samurai on a motorcycle, some may even say "what the hell is a Kamen?". Of course, anyone familiar with the Toku genre will think of a masked man of justice on a motorcycle, with an insect-like helmet.

Whichever one you think of, without the first one (which Souchaku Henshin's toy incarnation I will be reviewing), none of the others you might think of would exist. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, the concept of Kamen Rider has become one of the most popular forms of Toku in the world.

With Accessories

This Souchaku Henshin is a bit left out in accessories, compared to the toys that would come later, but then, the original Kamen Rider No. 1 didn't fight with weapons. Rider No.1 comes with his chest armor, arm pads, his belt, and his helmet.

Kamen-less Rider

Rider No.1 is comprised heavily of die-cast. In fact, the only parts of him that are not die-cast are his head, his hands, and his helmet. This presents a problem with articulation, making him harder to put in poses, because you will have to get the weight ration exactly even, or he'll fall over backwards, or forwards. Fortunately, he still offers great articulation, and is fun to play with, but if you're planning to put him in a cool pose on your toy shelf, it may take a while; and set up the pose somewhere else than the shelf, because if he falls, he might knock down some of your other toys with him. That's just how hardcore Rider No.1 is.

Henshin Justice, baby!

Design-wise, Rider No.1 remains true to the design of the show. The detail on him is not as nearly as good as later Souchaku Henshin Riders, like Hibiki, Blade King, Todoroki, and many others. But you must understand, Rider No.1 is one of the earliest figures of these super-poseable marvels, the designers haver learned alot since then. So all things considered, they did a bang-up job.

Rider Kick!

Price and availability. Now, this is the problem, for any of you who are now smitten with this toy. As he is an older figure, he will be much harder to find, and if you do find him, he may be expensive. If you have Trans Armour Hibiki, and you expect Rider No.1 to be just as good as him in quality, then don't bother looking for this, you'll only be disappointed. Just sit and wait, and hope they make a new one from the release of the new Kamen Rider classic movie coming out soon. I bought mine at www.toyeast.com, but I think it might have been the last one.

I also understand that when this was released, there was a motorcycle that was sold separately from the figure, but that is probably even HARDER to find, and costs much more than the figure itself one.

Ridah, Ridaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

All in all, he's a good, well-rounded toy, but keep in mind the warning I gave.

7 out of 10 - not as great as the later Trans Armours, but he still looks awesome, and offers just as much articulation as any Power Rangers toy (12 inch dolls excluded)

 

[Igadevil]

Good stuff as usual. For a similar size (slightly smaller) Rider 1 I recommend the Soul of Popynica (sp?) Rider 1 figure that comes with original Cyclone, which came out around the same time as the first Kuuga Souchaku-Henshin figures.