A fine blend of all things Nuts: Multimedia Collections, Toys, Foods, Concerts, Occasional Petting Zoo Visits, etc.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

The PTU Collection

The real PTU (Police Tactical Unit) are a special unit within the Hong Kong Police Force that perform a number of roles, such as patrolling streets, providing backup to other divisions when needed, aiding disaster response teams, and participating in riot control, among other things. This PTU do all of that, too, but they're fictionalised. Their methods aren't always legal, but they cover their asses well, looking out for each other by stalling for time and hiding truths, except when there's a personal rivalry taking precedence.
The original film was by Hong Kong filmmaker Johnnie To (aka To Kei-Fung) in 2003 and remains to this day one of his best works. The five subsequent TV Movies used some of the same actors but as different characters.

The Original Film:
01. PTU: Police Tactical Unit (2003) Dir. Johnnie To

The Tactical Unit TV Movies:
01. Tactical Unit: The Code (2008) Dir. Wing-cheong Law
02. Tactical Unit: No Way Out (2009) Dir. Lawrence Ah Mon
03. Tactical Unit: Human Nature (2009) Dir. Andy Ng
04. Tactical Unit: Comrades in Arms (2009) Dir. Wing-cheong Law
05. Tactical Unit: Partners (2009) Dir. Lawrence Ah Mon

Monday, March 20, 2017

Sparrow Innovations 1:12 Scale Deck of Cards ()


I'm honestly impressed with the print quality, given the size and especially the price point of these. My set is pretty astoundingly crisp. Yeah, they are paper and they will bend and crease if you manhandle them enough, but use a modicum of care and these will...suit your needs just fine~

I made part of a deck myself, once upon a time, but outside of the Joker, it was a pretty basic affair. If you're located in the US and want 1:12 scale cards, I honestly don't see you doing any better, given that Sparrow Innovations' miniatures are readily available at one of the largest craft stores around. I'll leave you to the simple task of figuring out which.

4½ Obvious Proclivities on Display out of 5

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Sparrow Innovations 1:12 Scale Books ()


Unless you're looking for a specific book, these are utter perfection, and will suit any number of needs. They're textured, they've got streaks of paint for detail, and they actually have pages. Blank pages, of course, but if you're in the market for something for Philip, that's even more perfection. I like these things so much that I'm going to go count how many came in my package. Comparing mine to this picture, it would SEEM that you will get 8. Two of each color.

The nice thing about Sparrow Innovations' miniatures is that they are readily available at one of the largest craft stores in the United States. I'll leave you to the simple task of figuring out which.

5 Cyclone Effects (Please Don't Ever Stop It) out of 5

Falcon Collectible Miniatures 1:12 Scale Jug ()


I'm pretty confident this is a ceramic affair. Yes, one of the two miniatures stores I found tonight seems to confirm this. It's glazed well, and is pleasing to the eye, assuming you want to be seeing a jug in your dollhouse or display... If yours arrives like mine did, it'll be in a very classy tiny box. A most pleasing experience it was; may it be the same for you~

For me, this is a pleasing stand-in for Chimatsuri Doukoku's sake bottle.

3 Harrowing Reminders of Inevitability out of 5

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Hudson River Miniatures 1:12 Scale Quart Milk Bottle
()


Shirai Koutarou is love. I had to say that up front because I'm listening to his duet with Kenzaki and having a bit of a moment 😭

Right, right, the milk! This is really the most basic miniature I've ever owned. If you're as big a stickler for paint perfection as Bobby Skullface (someone else who is very much love), you might be disappointed, depending on the sloppiness of the piece you receive. To my eyes, though, it's perfectly acceptable for this scale. The only real complaint is with myself, for not getting a whole basket full of milk. Hudson River in particular doesn't seem able to scratch that itch, but several other options definitely exist to get a set of bottles, basket and all.

4 Very Custom License Plates out of 5

Aztec Imports 1:12 Scale Sony Vaio Laptop ()



From the reviews I've seen, this thing gets a miserable rap. I actually like it, A. WHOLE. LOT. The issue others have is that there is no joint present in the hinge, whatsoever. Not a ratchet, not detents, not even a friction joint. See those bumps? Those are two rings of (presumably) zinc, welded or soldered through two holes in the lid. It's a regular flop-topus. But, it's not a Figuarts accessory; it's a miniature and while, no, it won't work if you're planning to put it on a free-standing desk, or the like, it will work just fine if you have something to prop it up against. Push that desk up to a wall, or the back of a shelf, etc. Or, if that's not satisfactory, by all means, pass it by. I'll have to see how the years treat the stickers, but they didn't set off any of the usual alarms, so here's hoping~

I got it to represent Hirose-san, but it works for (or with) anyone who uses a laptop. They even have a MacBook!

4 Chances to Out-Troll the King of Trolls out of 5

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Odoria Colorful 1:12 Scale Wine Bottles ()


Whether or not these'll be worthwhile for you depends on two things: how anal you are, and how handy you're willing to be. Some of these have small, circular extensions around back, from where I assume they were attached to their sprues. There's also a chance of mold flash on their bottoms, leading to them sitting somewhat askew. If you're willing to be careful, I suppose you could sand those problems away. Luckily, the ones I needed only suffered from the excess flash, which I was able to remove safely with my fingernail.

Really, what better representation is there for Yogostein, Kegareshia, and Kitaneidas?

The 3 Friendliest Villains You'll Ever Meet out of 5

Sparrow Innovations 1:12 Scale Rifles ()


I'm not entirely sure how the muzzle of that one got bent without a vice-grip. These are diecast and really nice for their price. The only fear I'd have is the paint coming off if left in the hands of a figure that also happens to reside in a particularly hot climate, or display space. I can't imagine them being damaged under normal circumstances, or in stable-temperature environs.

Ichijou should have become a Rider, but as it stands a rifle is probably the most fitting representation a Kuuga fan is going to find. I passed the shotgun onto a friend, but it would have looked great in Momo's hands, if I still had him.

The nice thing about Sparrow Innovations' miniatures is that they are readily available at one of the largest craft stores in the United States. I'll leave you to the simple task of figuring out which.

4½ Undeniable Shippings out of 5

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Superior Dollhouse Miniatures 1:12 Scale
Green Cabbage Garden ()


The sculpting here is very nice for the normal retail price. Go take a look at some of the listings on that there giant internet marketplace, though. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the inexplicable prices in the hundreds and thousands of dollars range, for items that are only worth a few. Even for a few bucks, this still has to answer for the fact that the cabbages can rip up from the base with minimal effort. I've got crazy glue to fix mine if/when it gets bad enough, but light toothbrushing should not result in that. I shouldn't have to resort to canned air for something like this.

Highly recommended for a Figuarts Agito. No, absolutely essential.

2019 UPDATE: If the cabbages come up, you're going to find a stiff metal rod protruding from their bottoms. Don't purchase this for a child. Probably don't purchase it at all, in light of this, to be honest.

1 Cake Waiting to Happen out of 5


Sparrow Innovations 1:12 Scale Heart Cake ()


Even if you're careful with miniatures with sculpted pieces like these (no, I'm not going to be foolhardy enough to guess what material they're comprised of), they can still break off if you aren't excessively delicate. Be careful if you're using a physical implement to clean them, is the take-home message, today. The issue with this piece in particular is that doily. It's almost inevitable it's going to be creased, or get creased. It's just paper, after all. I removed it, because it was entirely unsightly. The bottom is a mess of scraped up paint, now, but if something's going to be damaged, the bottom is my first choice. Yeah, those aren't M&Ms on top, but it's close enough for something to represent Amachi Hakase, without doubling him up with Master Head.

The nice thing about Sparrow Innovations' miniatures is that they are readily available at one of the largest craft stores in the United States. I'll leave you to the simple task of figuring out which.

2 Bites and the Slice Was Gone out of 5

Friday, March 10, 2017

Doll House Shoppe 1:12 Scale Melting Snowman ()



The sad truth is that this seems to be a crapshoot, in terms of quality. Mine wasn't sloppy, but I've seen more than one picture tonight saying that the possibility for trailing ends and errant globs is very real. You could look at your local craft and hobby stores, or hope there's a listing on ebay with a picture of the actual piece. If you get a good one like mine was, this is a nice enough bauble. I had it for my Figuarts Momotaros to put his foot up on. Yeah, I know Urataros encouraged the hissatsu, but Momo had the more memorable part of the fight, and if you asked him, he'd likely claim the victory as his own.

3 Unexpected Affections For Father Christmas out of 5

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider W CycloneJoker (2010)


This is way past gone. It got the boot because mechanically it was AWFUL. The joints weren't agreeable in the ankles, the hands were hard to wrestle onto their balljoints, and, exacerbating both of those problems, the antennaeand honestly the entirety of the thingfelt brittle. Nothing ever broke, but the fear was disgustingly constant. It seemed as if I was trying to articulate a piece of glass without breaking it. Though small, the accessory count is exactly what it needs to be (see below the cut) and the paint is rather miraculous, especially on the Cyclone half. Though, because W's aesthetic is predicated on halves, the black elbow joint there does stick out, unlike with Yoko.

If you just want to look at it, it'll fit the bill. But, as with the Shinken ladies, this is a Figuart and articulating it is the point. For me, W and Figuarts were just a match made in Hell. W specifically. Accel rules.

1 Missing Maximum Drive Slot, Coming Up out of 5
It legitimately rivaled the kneepads of the Imagin.

KEM Plastic Bridge Cards ()



Because of the ubiquitous nature of playing cards, it’s intensely possible that both poker-sized and bridge-sized decks have called your utility drawer home, over the years. However, not everyone may be acutely aware of the difference which is most pertinent to me and a certain subset of toy collectors: their size. I’m not busting out a ruler, only my camera and a selection of cards relevant to the things I’ve reviewed here.

In specific, I’m covering plastic (né, plastic cellulose-acetate 😏 ) bridge cards. I suppose they’re nice if you’re the sort to repeatedly spill your drinks, but for my purposes, they were the perfect solution to keeping my Rouze cards in pristine shape. Bridge cards are slightly taller than DX toy cards from Bandai of Japan, but the key dimension for Blade Rouzers is the width. These cards fit that bill. If you store them in a hot enough place, they will begin to curl up, but the nice thing is that the fans on Kenzaki and Tachibana-san’s Rouzers prevent them from doing so. Try to keep something heavy on top of your Hajime, Mutsuki, and King decks.

3 Card Combos Quickly Rouzed Without The Fear of Frayed Edges out of 5