Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Review: Gundam Converge RX-110 Gabthley (137)

Another review from my recent Gundam Converge buying spree.



Box.  I paid $9.99 for this at Newbury Comics.




Parts.






Disassembled.  I'm seeing the rifle as Artillery, the head could be Spotting or Defense, the backpack -- teardrop shaped item on the upper right side -- could be either Defense, Movement, or Spotting.  The antenna attached to the shoulders would probably be Spotting.


Assembled.  Looks pretty badass.








Size Comparison.


The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  At.  (0)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  It's in between a Classic and a Chub.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Four.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  There was some mold flash on the backpack mounting post and the antenna were difficult to get into their holes, so the score fits.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Review: Gundam Converge AMS-118 Geara Doga (136)

I found out recently that there were more places carrying Gundam Converge sets than I thought.



Box.  I paid $9.99 for this at Newbury Comics.



Parts.



Disassembled.  It has three different helmets.



Accessories.  I see Single Shot Rockets, and that tiny, green post attaches to one of the helmets -- which could function as a Spotting attachment.  Then you have the rifle, shield, and armor panel for Direct Fire and 2x Defensive attachments.







Size Comparison.




Assembled.  It's a bit front heavy so you may need the base in play.  The attachments on the SSRs are a little touchy so you'll have to keep track of them too.

The Questions:

Is it below, at, or above $10 per Frame?  At.  (0)
Is it a good size to use in a game?  Yes.  It's in between a Classic and a Chub.  (+5)
How many parts does it have to represent systems?  Four.  (+5)
Does it have enough parts you can remove to represent White Dice damage?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +15 (A).  I think the score fits.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Review: 30448 Spider-Man vs. the Venom Symbiote Polybag

I could have sworn that we've been talking about this set for a while, but there seems to be no chatter that I can find.

Bag. MSRP is $3.99 from Toys'R'Us which is a $0.08 Price per Piece.



Instructions.









Minifig.  Useless as usual.


Parts.  Octagonal Bar Plate!  Plenty of Brackets, a couple of Hinge Bricks, some Ball Joints, Robot Arms, several Bony Legs, some Plates, and Jumper Plates, some Hinge pieces, a Tooth Plate, Fluted Brick, Round Brick, Axle, and several Minifig Heads.





Build.  I saw this build the minute I laid out the parts.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Looks like an Ijad frame in a bag.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Review: 30474 Reindeer Polybag

This is one of the Target holiday polybags available this year.  The other is 30399 Friends Amusement Park Bowling Polybag which I've already reviewed.

Bag. MSRP is $3.49 which is a $0.05 Price per Piece.



Instructions.








Parts.  Two Gold Fezes!  Plenty of Plates, Cheese Slopes, Clip Plates, Bar Plates, Slopes, and Tiles.  Some Jumper Plates, Bricks, Brackets, new Headlight Bricks, Clip Tiles, and Robot Arms.




Build.


The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  If you want this, grab it.  I've heard rumors of it already being sold out in certain locations.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Build Journal: Hecaton 1.5

Two and a half years ago I posted a look at my Hecaton frames.  Quite recently, while trying to build another, I discovered a modification that was not possible at the time the original frames were constructed.  Using Axle Towballs and Mod. Plates w/Small Towball Socket on Side gives more room to maneuver than using Pneuma T's and Double Clip Plates.



Black 1.

This isn't a major modification, hence the 1.5 designation, but it does give me a few more options than the old way of doing things.


Black 2, I changed the loadout slightly.





White.







Red.







Lime.







This also gives me a chance to debut the newest Hecaton build.


Another Hand-to-Hand specialist, what a surprise.  :-)

Friday, November 18, 2016

Review: 41568 Mixel Lewt

Welcome to the end of the week and the end of Mixels Series 8.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99.  Which gives us a $0.08 Price per Piece.


Instructions.








Parts.Not as many Plates in this one, a few Slopes, several Bar Plates, some Clip Plates, Ball Joints, and Brackets, plenty of 1x1 Round Tiles and Large Claws w/Clips.


Build.  I went scorpion style with this one.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Max score, and a clean sweep for Series 8.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Review: 41564 Mixel Aquad

Welcome to Thursday and my sprint through the end of Mixels Series 8.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99.  Which gives us a $0.07 Price per Piece.


Instructions.








Parts.  Plenty of Plates again -- this Series seems to thrive on them -- a decent amount of Brackets, some Slopes and Ball Joints, some Clip Plates, Bar Plates, and Tooth Plates too.  The Translucent 2x2 Dome Bricks are neat.


Build.  A little gawky again.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)
(The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Max score, one more time.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Review: 41570 Mixel Skrubz

Welcome to Tuesday and my sprint through the end of Mixels Series 8.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99.  Which gives us a $0.07 Price per Piece.


Instructions.








Parts.  Yum, Medium Azure and Light Aqua!  Plenty of Plates as usual.  A good selection of Tiles, Clip Plates, Bar Plates, and Tooth Plates.  I wish I could do more with the 2x2 Wheel Holder Plates.  The Minifig Ice Cream Cone is always nice.


Build.  It's a little gawky.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Max score, I guess this one isn't really a scrub.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Review: 41567 Mixel Skulzy

Welcome to Monday and my continuing run through Mixels Series 8.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99.  Which gives us a $0.08 Price per Piece.


Instructions.








Parts.  Plenty of Plates, some Slopes, a decent selection of Ball Joints and Brackets, a few Bar Plates, Robot Arms, and Tiles.  New Headlight Bricks, and Bar Bricks stand out, as do the Minifig Life Preserver, and Clam Shell.



Build.  Frame and SSR.


The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another max score and a good way to start the week.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Review: 41565 Mixel Hydro

After a delay, let's get back on track with the "MCFD" tribe.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99.  Which gives us a $0.07 Price per Piece.


Instructions.








Parts.  A fair amount of Plates, a few Slopes, a good helping of Brackets, a couple Ball Joints, Axle Plates, Wheels, Tires, and Bar Plates, and several Clip Plates too.

Build.  Yes, I know it's ugly.


The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another max score.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Review: 41571 Mixel Tuth

It's Monday again and time for another Medix tribe Mixel.

Bag.  MSRP is $4.99.  Which gives us a $0.07 Price per Piece.


Instructions.









Parts.  Plenty of Plates, Brackets, Slopes, and Tiles,  Some Bar Plates, Clip Plates, and Ball Joints.  The Minifig Pickaxes are nice too.

Build.

The Questions:
Can you build something -- a frame, station, or starship -- right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Is it below, at, or above the golden ratio?  Below.  (+5)  (The Golden Ratio is $0.10 per part.)
If you can't build a frame right away, or choose not to, does it have parts you should be able to put into use right away?  Yes.  (+5)
Does it have more than a handful of immediately useful parts?  Yes.  (+5)
Score: +20 (A+).  Another great score.