Kabaya Gum Plus Transformers DX Fortress Maximus Series In-Hand Images

So happy to have a preorder on this guy... looks fantastic!

Very impressive. But much smaller than I expected. I mean, I knew it was a Kabaya candy toy, but considering all the promotion, I expected him to be supersized and extra special.

That works surprisingly well.

i have had mine preordered for a while now. when i get it. it will never come out of the box

Nice. If only he were a full size reissue.

this really is awesome
looking forward to getting my preorder in

Samsonator wrote:So happy to have a preorder on this guy... looks fantastic!

Me too Come on BBTS...

That looks pretty good! How big is he compared to other Transformers? I don't own any Kabaya sets, so I have no real basis for comparison. I'm guessing like Tidal Wave size?

triKlops wrote:this really is awesome
looking forward to getting my preorder in

Definitely!! Maybe I'll put a couple of WST's so it can stand tall over. Then a few WST's to stand in the shadow of this tiny behemoth.

Japan based toy blogger Alfes 2010 gives us an extensive look at the recently released Kabaya Gum Plus Transformers DX Fortress Maximus Sereis. He comes in three sets that come with mini version of Windcharger, Powerglide, and Cerebros. The full galleries can be viewed by clicking here and here. We've mirrored some of his images below.

tiny but cool

Out of curiosity, is TakaraTomy using the name "Fortress" or "Cerebros" for this guy?

I ask since it does matter, as the two aren't the same character, despite serving the same function of forming Fort Max's head.

Wow, cool! I like it, but I kind of wish they did Metroplex first.

Sadly, as mush as I want a Fortress Maximus for my collection, I am going to pass on this set.

I've had this thing on preorder pretty much since the preorders went up, so stoked for it, and even more now that I know the scale. I had it pegged as MAYBE Deluxe scale, but seeing it stand a little taller than Arms Micron Optimus... really looking forward to it.

I'm tempted to get this. I don't collect the Kabaya figures, but this just looks like it would be fun.

Stop making me want this!

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

So, if/when I break down and buy this, where would the best place to buy it from be?

RAcast wrote:

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

So, if/when I break down and buy this, where would the best place to buy it from be?

I would have said Captured Prey because they will allow you to buy just the three sets, but they're sold out. I would just go through the site sponsors and see who is offering the best deal.

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

So, if/when I break down and buy this, where would the best place to buy it from be?

I would have said Captured Prey because they will allow you to buy just the three sets, but they're sold out. I would just go through the site sponsors and see who is offering the best deal.

Thanks

Just preordered this from BBTS. Hope i get a complete set. ::crossing fingers::

damn you El Duque for making me want stuff I never thought about!!!

Also where would one put this on the shelf if one does not have any other Kabaya stuff?

mooncake623 wrote:Also where would one put this on the shelf if one does not have any other Kabaya stuff?

He'd make a decent Marvel Fort Max, as he was only a bit larger than the other Transformers in the comics.

Those paper stickers look really beat up in the pictures. Is that how they'll look for everyone's toy? Are they pre-applied, or on a sheet?

Overlord this size next please!

Voyager sized, eh? I'm impressed even more, now.

BBTS has them in stock!

User897 wrote:Those paper stickers look really beat up in the pictures. Is that how they'll look for everyone's toy? Are they pre-applied, or on a sheet?

They come on a sheet. I have some of the previous Kabaya kits (OP, Hot Rod/Rodimus, etc) built and stickered, and sometimes the stickers are made to fold over certain angles or are just a tad bit too big for the part they are supposed to fit over. Look at Rodimus' legs as a good example of this. Also, the face stickers don't seem to stay very well on my figures, not sure if anyone has the same problem or is just better at applying than I am.

Regardless of my sticker issues, these are fun and inexpensive kits. I'll have the Fort Max set shipped out soon, and look forward to finding a nice place for him and his little friends.

So, I got my Kabaya Fort Max this weekend. I gotta say, it was some work. The first set took me about 45 minutes to put together, but I plowed through the second and third ones pretty quickly. Once you have a good idea what you're doing, it flies by a lot quicker. In fact, it really added to the fun of it. After finishing the first set, I went right into the second. I had to go to a party after, and then we hit a bar from there, but when I got home at about 2:30 in the morning, I went right back and finished the third set. I enjoyed it that much.

I guess I underestimated the fact that I was going to be fully assembling this sucker when I bought it, though. And not just putting a few parts together, either. They had me assembling a launcher with a spring! But, God it was worth it. Both base and bot modes look amazing. There is a real attention to detail, and once you see how everything comes together, it's really quite something. He's such a cool likeness, and he feels very sturdy in both modes.



That's not to say he doesn't come with a couple issues. My biggest qualm has to be the mini-bots he comes with. They're so damn tiny! Which is fine, because they have to be for them to really work with Max, but the problem ends up being the stickers. The details on all 3 sets are pretty much taken care of by the stickers. And they seem to work really well on Max. I don't see any of the ones attached to the main figure coming off at any time soon. But on the mini-bots... that may end up being an issue.

Windcharger is the biggest problem. He's almost too faithful to the original figure design, and it results in a figure that feels really... loose. His arms don't click in tightly enough, and his legs can come off pretty easily. Plus, I've already lost one of the stickers that was supposed to be his tire. Cerebros is a much sturdier figure. He feels perfect (despite the exclusion of Spike). He also has some sticker problems, though. I think the one on his chest and the Fort Max face will be fine (though I contemplated not putting the face one on at all, since the face sculpt is pretty good on it's own), but the stickers on his arms and Max's ears feel like they'll be gone in a matter of time. Powerglide is easily the best of all 3. His simplicity is perfect, and they only put two stickers for him, both of which are placed in areas where they'll likely have no problem staying in place. And he works awesome with the launcher. The sucker can really fire him a decent distance.

When it comes to Max himself... not many complaints. I do wish the compartment on his left shoulder was a little bigger and had a translucent door. It would have been cool to store Windcharger or Powerglide in there, the way I used to as a kid with the G2 mini-bots, and my neighbor's Fort Max. Also, the stickers, despite being very solid on Max, were a real chore to get on jusssssst right, a few times. Especially the Autobot insignia on the tower that splits in half. It took forever to get them lined up so that they connected perfectly.

Other than those small complaints? Yeah. This guy is awesome. Well worth the $50 BBTS is charging. If you don't mind putting in the work, and you don't wanna drop a grand on the original Max, this is your best bet at getting a fully licensed figure that's pretty loyal to the original. Now, Kabaya, please give us a similar version of Trypticon.

Got email today that mine is shipping. Mmmmmm...Maximus. Or should that be Minimus?

craggy wrote:Got email today that mine is shipping. Mmmmmm...Maximus. Or should that be Minimus?

from where?

LOST Cybertronian wrote:

craggy wrote:Got email today that mine is shipping. Mmmmmm...Maximus. Or should that be Minimus?

from where?

Kapow Toys. Although their twitter seems to suggest the 15th, my order has been updated to shipped. I'm not entirely sure one way or the other to be honest, but they're usually pretty accurate about these things.