Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets
Thursday, January 7th, 2010 8:27AM CST
Category: Toy NewsPosted by: Mach Views: 43,728
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Seibertron Energon Pub member Diem who resides in Japan, strikes again by giving us another exclusive personal view on Japanese Transformers toys.
This time he is reviewing the Japanese Kabaya Food Gum + Convoy Sets. He is kind enough to go through all 3 different figures for your pleasure reading.
I just picked up the Kabaya candy figures and thought I'd give people the verdict. So far I only opened and constructed G1 Convoy so far, but he's great! His parts were really easy to remove from the sprue and put together. Though he looked very tacky and plasticky to begin with, some kind of magic happened as I applied the stickers and he ended up really cute. He looks a little dodgy from the back, but then so does the full size figure.
His transformation is identical to the original except the forearms which have to be removed and reapplied, and his articulation consists of bending elbows and a rotating neck. His stickers were generally easy to apply but his face and headlights presented problems. I just quickly put him together at work but someone with a craft knife, a sticker tool and maybe some paint could do a better job.
Also, he comes with gum!
G1 Convoy pics:
And now for Henkei Convoy. This guy comes with a whole load of stickers and a whole load of parts. This meant he was pretty complex to put together, and not as much fun initially.
Overall, he's not as good as G1 Convoy. He's a severe partsformer (basically his arms and shoulders come off, split into three parts and get awkwardly reconfigured again), his head is (barely) held up by friction alone and his elbow articulation is nullified by his arm doors. Biggest complaint of all, the red of his stickers is a totally different shade to that of his plastic.
On the plus side, he looks okay in truck form, and fantastic in robot form. His legs rotate at the hips, and his arms at the shoulders and slightly at the elbows. Also his head can turn when it isn't faling down. His canopy can be stored on his back or held as a sort of shield.
Sorry about the crappy pictures.
Now for Star Saber.
Starsaber is (pun only slightly intended) definitely star of the show. Despite being based on a larger figure than the others, the boisterous bulkiness of post-Season 3 Japanese toys works to its advantage.
His robot mode looks absolutely fantastic! He's pretty well articulated with shoulders, elbows, a turning head and hips that don't swing but do splay. He can hold his sword or stow on on his back and his head is made up of no less than five seperate pieces. He looks good even before the stickers are applied and when they are applied; he's awesome.
There are a couple of downsides. His stickers are incredibly fiddly, to the point where a magnifying glass and some tiny tools might help apply them (I used his sword, which is why his eyes and cockpit are a little wonky). Also his jet (?) mode is good, but the sword across the back looks a little awkward and his head jutting up looks downright odd. Also he has the same red issue as Henkei Convoy, although this only really applies to the crest on his head.
So that's my thoughts on the three. For $3 figures, they're amazing, though my recommendation relies on how much they cost you to import and how much you want them. Also it depends on whether you are prepared to take the time to carefully construct them and maybe even paint them. G1 Convoy would be fantastic for collectors of Prime, or for those who just want a mini Prime, Star Saber is fantastic in his own right, and Henkei Convoy...didn't impress me too much.
Stay tuned to Seibertron, Number 1 Transformers fan site in the world.
This time he is reviewing the Japanese Kabaya Food Gum + Convoy Sets. He is kind enough to go through all 3 different figures for your pleasure reading.
I just picked up the Kabaya candy figures and thought I'd give people the verdict. So far I only opened and constructed G1 Convoy so far, but he's great! His parts were really easy to remove from the sprue and put together. Though he looked very tacky and plasticky to begin with, some kind of magic happened as I applied the stickers and he ended up really cute. He looks a little dodgy from the back, but then so does the full size figure.
His transformation is identical to the original except the forearms which have to be removed and reapplied, and his articulation consists of bending elbows and a rotating neck. His stickers were generally easy to apply but his face and headlights presented problems. I just quickly put him together at work but someone with a craft knife, a sticker tool and maybe some paint could do a better job.
Also, he comes with gum!
G1 Convoy pics:
And now for Henkei Convoy. This guy comes with a whole load of stickers and a whole load of parts. This meant he was pretty complex to put together, and not as much fun initially.
Overall, he's not as good as G1 Convoy. He's a severe partsformer (basically his arms and shoulders come off, split into three parts and get awkwardly reconfigured again), his head is (barely) held up by friction alone and his elbow articulation is nullified by his arm doors. Biggest complaint of all, the red of his stickers is a totally different shade to that of his plastic.
On the plus side, he looks okay in truck form, and fantastic in robot form. His legs rotate at the hips, and his arms at the shoulders and slightly at the elbows. Also his head can turn when it isn't faling down. His canopy can be stored on his back or held as a sort of shield.
Sorry about the crappy pictures.
Now for Star Saber.
Starsaber is (pun only slightly intended) definitely star of the show. Despite being based on a larger figure than the others, the boisterous bulkiness of post-Season 3 Japanese toys works to its advantage.
His robot mode looks absolutely fantastic! He's pretty well articulated with shoulders, elbows, a turning head and hips that don't swing but do splay. He can hold his sword or stow on on his back and his head is made up of no less than five seperate pieces. He looks good even before the stickers are applied and when they are applied; he's awesome.
There are a couple of downsides. His stickers are incredibly fiddly, to the point where a magnifying glass and some tiny tools might help apply them (I used his sword, which is why his eyes and cockpit are a little wonky). Also his jet (?) mode is good, but the sword across the back looks a little awkward and his head jutting up looks downright odd. Also he has the same red issue as Henkei Convoy, although this only really applies to the crest on his head.
So that's my thoughts on the three. For $3 figures, they're amazing, though my recommendation relies on how much they cost you to import and how much you want them. Also it depends on whether you are prepared to take the time to carefully construct them and maybe even paint them. G1 Convoy would be fantastic for collectors of Prime, or for those who just want a mini Prime, Star Saber is fantastic in his own right, and Henkei Convoy...didn't impress me too much.
Stay tuned to Seibertron, Number 1 Transformers fan site in the world.
Credit(s): Diem
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Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034344)
Posted by Mach on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:28am CST
Posted by Mach on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:28am CST
Nice one! 
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034345)
Posted by Diem on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:36am CST
Woohoo! News'd!
By the by, the gum isn't great. It's pretty flavourless
Posted by Diem on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:36am CST
Real Devastator wrote:Nice one!
Woohoo! News'd!
By the by, the gum isn't great. It's pretty flavourless
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034353)
Posted by First Gen on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:56am CST
Posted by First Gen on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:56am CST
I flippin knew Star Saber would be the coolest one of the set. I just don't see spending 30 bucks on these as a good move.
Nice review. Thanks.
Nice review. Thanks.
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034357)
Posted by Razorclaw0000 on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:59am CST
Posted by Razorclaw0000 on January 7th, 2010 @ 8:59am CST
Pretty sweet. I'm on the fence with them because of import pricing. If I find a good deal, I may get them.
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034359)
Posted by Diem on January 7th, 2010 @ 9:05am CST
Posted by Diem on January 7th, 2010 @ 9:05am CST
You're welcome First Gen. Yep, lil' Star Saber rocks. He can boss around Legends, Micromasters and Minicons! And he eats WSTs for breakfast!
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034375)
Posted by kirbenvost on January 7th, 2010 @ 10:27am CST
Posted by kirbenvost on January 7th, 2010 @ 10:27am CST
Want STAR SABER!!
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034403)
Posted by Tigertrack on January 7th, 2010 @ 11:49am CST
Posted by Tigertrack on January 7th, 2010 @ 11:49am CST
Thanks for your review. Because of it, I was able to cancel my BBTS order before it was no longer possible to remove these from my POL.
Nifty, yes. $40.00 cool. Not right now.
Nifty, yes. $40.00 cool. Not right now.
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034409)
Posted by leokearon on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:05pm CST
Posted by leokearon on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:05pm CST
Look nice especially Star Saber but too pricey for me sadly. 
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034411)
Posted by Overcracker on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:15pm CST
Posted by Overcracker on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:15pm CST
They look really nice. Great for Desk Display. I recon someone with good painting skills could make them look really nice.
Sadly importing them just pushes them right out of my price range so sadly no.
Anyway Diem, thanks for the review.
Sadly importing them just pushes them right out of my price range so sadly no.
Anyway Diem, thanks for the review.
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034415)
Posted by Hip-Hoptimus Rime on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:19pm CST
Posted by Hip-Hoptimus Rime on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:19pm CST
Nice review and pics. I have no interest in Star Saber, but I want the two Primes. What would be a good way to get these in the US, anybody?
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034421)
Posted by Tigertrack on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:36pm CST
GO to your local import store, or order them from an online store to be delivered directly to your door.
Posted by Tigertrack on January 7th, 2010 @ 12:36pm CST
Hip-Hoptimus Rime wrote:Nice review and pics. I have no interest in Star Saber, but I want the two Primes. What would be a good way to get these in the US, anybody?
GO to your local import store, or order them from an online store to be delivered directly to your door.
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034434)
Posted by kirbenvost on January 7th, 2010 @ 1:23pm CST
PM'd!
Posted by kirbenvost on January 7th, 2010 @ 1:23pm CST
Hip-Hoptimus Rime wrote:Nice review and pics. I have no interest in Star Saber, but I want the two Primes. What would be a good way to get these in the US, anybody?
PM'd!
Re: Toy Review Of Kabaya Transformers Gum + Convoy Sets (1034535)
Posted by Samsonator on January 7th, 2010 @ 6:30pm CST
Posted by Samsonator on January 7th, 2010 @ 6:30pm CST
Check your PMs, I'm all for that if you are.Diem wrote:Samsonator wrote:Personally I've got my sights set on Star Saber since these were announced about the time I was watching Victory. Watching it, I really wanted a Star Saber, but I'm too broke for the original, and can never find the Robot Masters version online. Here's hoping I can get them for a decent price with an online retailer...
Or, you know, I can pick him up for you.
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