The Energon Pub

News Credits: 15 · by **galvatron00** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 12:33 pm

OK. I went there. Meh.

News Credits: 3 · by **bodrock** » Fri Apr 27, 2018 5:05 pm

Wuuuuut! Mandarake is mah bff, Crammy. It's been the best for loose products from Japan (BEAST WARS II & Neo).

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 12:43 pm

bodrock wrote:
itscramtastic wrote:OK. I went there. Meh.
Wuuuuut! Mandarake is mah bff, Crammy. It's been the best for loose products from Japan (BEAST WARS II & Neo).

Yeah what? Meh?! Why the meh??

News Credits: 41 · by **Cobotron** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 12:47 pm

I'll let Cram speak for himself, but I DO know he has a thing about ordering from overseas.
It can be risky business sometimes.

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 1:09 pm

Cobotron wrote:I'll let Cram speak for himself, but I DO know he has a thing about ordering from overseas.
It can be risky business sometimes.

Wait.. still?

News Credits: 4838 · by **william-james88** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 1:32 pm

Cobotron wrote:I'll let Cram speak for himself, but I DO know he has a thing about ordering from overseas.
It can be risky business sometimes.

I can totally understand him. Especially with things like that KO Barricade that came out before the official one and how D-Max had a hard time returning it. There is an added hassle. I know Cary has a horror story for us from Jungle too.

As Canadians, me and Shaj ordering from basically anywhere (anywhere with decent prices and selection) becomes an international purchase so we do it out of necessity.

News Credits: 15 · by **galvatron00** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 1:36 pm

I’m glad you guys get it. :lol:

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:11 pm

Now that that's out of the way :lol:

Studio Series Blackout!

Another one that looks good. But again, flaws.
The robot mode would be damn near perfect if it weren't for those arms. They're so weird. The hands with no wrist swivel, and just the odd and awkward combination of joints make it difficult to make virtually any natural looking poses. But seriously, everything else is great.

Copter mode is huge! And panels lining up isn't as much of a pain as you'd think. However, he ain't pretty upside down. Which I actually already knew about, but even the rear end of the copter is open an empty. Which is pretty lame. But otherwise it's pretty impressive.

Between him and Grim though, I gotta give the win to the dino. Blackout's arms... can be forgiven, but they do suck #-o

News Credits: 15 · by **galvatron00** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:29 pm

Holy cats, he is massive!! Blackout may be a purchase for the right price.

News Credits: 15 · by **galvatron00** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:30 pm

Saw Studio Series deluxe figures for the first time in person today. They dope!!

News Credits: 3 · by **bodrock** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:25 pm

Wow, Blackout? MOAR LIKE BEHEMOTH

I can't help but be impressed, even if his hands are derpish.

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:35 pm

I feel I was leaning more towards the negative on Outblack, but really, he's not bad. A notch above not bad :lol:

His sheer size is rather impressive. And he looks fearsome, like he did on screen. I mean, I thought he was scary anyways :lol:

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 10:02 pm

Man, I cannot wait to find Blackout!

News Credits: 131 · by **no-one** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 6:35 am

william-james88 wrote:I know Cary has a horror story for us from Jungle too.

I wouldn't say horror, but it was unfortunate and I'll never do business with the jungle again. Hasn't stopped me from shopping overseas though.

I've been wanting to check out mandrake; anybody got a link so I know I'm on the correct path? is this the right place?

I spotted Blackout and Grimmy at target some time ago. I was super impressed and seriously considered BO. I passed, but I'm digging studio series and I wouldn't mind a not movie lone of semi premium figures. I spotted Starscream yesterday and it hurt my butt to leave him on the shelf.

News Credits: 3 · by **bodrock** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:27 am

That's the right place, Cary, but due to Engrish and how quickly product moves, I find it's best to go there with a specific robit in-mind. Everything is loose/used, and the prices are reasonable for the most part (especially when compared to the likes of eBay) -- but I've been most pleased with the quality control they have for these used figures.

I bought MP32, Killer Punch and MegaHead from there, and they came NM.

I don't pull the sales trigger at sites I do not know or have a reference for -- but I would definitely recommend mandarake! Here's my F5 search lol:
https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/lis ... Beast+Wars

News Credits: 131 · by **no-one** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:32 am

bodrock wrote:but I've been most pleased with the quality control they have for these used figures

And that's my YMMV issue with the jungle.

I'm not looking for anything in particular or even have any wants right now, but I'd just like to see what all the fuss is about. Thanks or the confirmation ;)^

News Credits: 4838 · by **william-james88** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 12:18 pm

Mandarake did once sell me a figure that had glue/epoxy on it.

News Credits: 3 · by **bodrock** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 12:27 pm

Really Will? Who was the figure? That's unfortunate. :/

I totally get why Crammy and others might be hesitant to order from the jungle, and go with the likes of BBTS, etc.

News Credits: 4838 · by **william-james88** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 1:37 pm

bodrock wrote:Really Will? Who was the figure? That's unfortunate. :/

Legends GodBomber. In the end, they gave me a discount and I wiped off whatever guck was sticking. But still, just to say that its still a gamble.

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 1:49 pm

Well... if you're looking to test the waters with Mandarake, those swords are the perfect way to go. They're small, cheap, and legit.

And really, if anyone thinks an online purchase is a gamble, if you paid through Paypal then you're protected. I've actually bought a handful of things in the past that I was 99% sure was BS, and assuredly so got my money back once they were confirmed "too good to be true".

And yeah, Will bought an LG Godbomber, I believe had been broken and glued up by its previous owner which Mandy didn't catch. They took it back and refunded did they not?

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 10:33 pm

News Credits: 1642 · by **D-Maximal_Primal** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 10:35 pm

Oh man, you got Rouge, pity on your soul man

News Credits: 3 · by **bodrock** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 11:26 pm

shajaki wrote:

I need to know about DAT ROUGE, Shaj! ;)^

News Credits: 293 · by **shajaki** » Tue May 01, 2018 8:23 am

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Oh man, you got Rouge, pity on your soul man

Dwa?

bodrock wrote:I need to know about DAT ROUGE, Shaj!

I don't have much to say at the moment, last night I had a nap that promptly turned into bedtime :lol:

Initial reaction:
She's heavy! I think her legs are entirely diecast.... either way she's got the weight of MP-10! She seems to be hella posable. And that backpack of hers shockingly secures into NOTHING. Granted the friction seems to mostly be keeping it from flopping about, but seriously all it woulda taken was a single peg to secure each of her back thingies.

Otherwise, she seems pretty good. I opened her up, secured a few pieces, switched out a face, and dropped her in this pose. S'bout it for last night 8-}