toyhaven

Marvel’s Iron Man 3 is coming to town this month and Hot Toys is proud to present the 1/6th scale Mark XLII Limited Edition Collectible Figurine from the Iron Man 3 movie for the MMS Diecast Series. This is only the second collectible to be introduced in our premium Diecast Series.

Leading the MMS Diecast Series is the iconic Iron Man 3 Series, in which the collectible figures are made of diecast material, specially designed to look more closely to the realistic Iron Man characters in the movie. The MMS Diecast Series will bring fans to the next level of authenticity, focusing on the materials, fine details and engineering of the Iron Man collectible figures, while some of the parts can be shared between our MMS and Diorama Series for displaying together in 1/6th scale. More collectibles from Iron Man 3 will be coming from the MMS Diecast Series!

The movie-accurate Mark XLII Collectible Figurine is highly detailed and fully deployed, specially crafted based on the image of Robert Downey Jr. as Mark XLII in the movie, highlighting the highly detailed head sculpt, metallic red, golden and silver well equipped armor, light-up functions.

Features: Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Mark XLII in the movie + Battle damaged head sculpt with helmet with authentic likeness of Robert Downey Jr. as Mark XLII in the movie + Alternate helmeted head with light-up function, Approximately 30 cm tall with Over 36 points of articulations

Special features on armor: LED-lighted eyes and circle-shaped RT on chest (white light, battery operated). One (1) interchangeable battle damaged mask, One (1) pair of damaged shoulder armor, One (1) chest armor, One (1) damaged chest armor, One (1) damaged biceps armor, One (1) pair of damaged forearm armor, Three (3) pairs of interchangeable palms including: One (1) pair with improved articulations, movable fingers and light-up repulsors (white light, battery operated) - One (1) pair of forceful fists - One (1) pair of battle palms with light-up repulsor (white light, battery operated). Improved articulations on waist armor which allow flexible movement, Fully deployed air flaps at back of the armor, Metallic red, gold and silver colored painting on armor

Blogging has its privileges :) Since I started my Toy Haven blog, I have made many friends along the way which is a bonus I never expected. Companies too have sent me toys and figures so that I can review them on my toy blog. Plus there's the added income from advertisements which have funded my collection as well so that I don't have to pay for everything. I really feel that I've been very blessed indeed ;p

One of the friends I've come to know through blogging is Marc. He first emailed me way back in September 2009 because we both happen to collect Action Man although he's a true vintage Action Man collector - hats off to him :). The friendship just grew from there although in truth, I never met him until yesterday. Marc and family paid a visit to my Toy Haven (some say "Toy Heaven") and we had a fantastic time sharing stories and I learnt quite a lot from this great yet humble man. Not only that, Marc packed lots of makan for us (yes! he cooks some mean peranakan dishes too) and also brought me a gift - this Bronze (metal) U.S. Navy Mark V Diving Helmet which is a beauty! I say, he should come by more often haha

Diving helmets are worn mainly by professional divers engaged in surface supplied diving, though many models can be adapted for use with scuba equipment. The helmet seals the whole of the diver's head from the water, allows the diver to see clearly underwater, provides the diver with breathing gas, protects the diver's head when doing heavy or dangerous work, and usually provides voice communications with the surface (and possibly other divers). (source: wiki)

If a helmeted diver becomes unconscious but is still breathing, the helmet will remain in place and continue to deliver breathing gas until the diver can be rescued. In contrast, the scuba regulator typically used by recreational divers must be held in the mouth, otherwise it can fall out of an unconscious diver's mouth and result in drowning (this does not apply to a full face mask which also continues to serve air if the diver is unconscious).

Historically, deep sea diving helmets (copper hats) ranged from the no bolt to two bolt to four bolt helmets; helmets with six, eight, or 12 bolts; and Two-Three, Twelve-Four, and Twelve-Six bolt helmets. Bolts being the method of securing the helmet to the diving suit.

A standard diving dress consists of a metallic (copper and brass or bronze) diving helmet, an airline or hose from a surface supplied diving air pump, a canvas diving suit, diving knife and weighted boots. An important part of the equipment is the lead weights, generally on the chest, back and shoes, to counteract the buoyancy of the helmet and diving suit. Weighted boots may use brass, iron or lead for soles. The uppers are often made of oiled leather or canvas.

The type of diving equipment is also known as hard-hat equipment or a "John Brown" rig, so-called after the British company that built many of the helmets. In the United States, it is sometimes known as a "Diver Dan" outfit, from the television show of the same name. It was commonly used for underwater civil engineering, commercial diving and naval diving.

One of the best known diving helmets in the world is the U.S. Navy Mark V. The helmet had a top view port to provide the diver with an upward view. The front view port, called the faceplate, was hinged. Like this, no tender could incidently drop a faceplate overboard ! On the commercial helmets they tested, the exhaust was at the rear of the helmet. This was a good spot: air bubbles would not block the divers' view.

The Mark V was used by the U.S. Navy from 1916 till 1984, when the fiber glass Mark XII that was introduced in 1979, finally took over permanently. The only visible difference between the MkV helmets made prior to 1918 and those made after is the exhaust handle. The eight point exhaust handle is found on hats produced during or prior to 1918. It was changed to a four point handle on divers' requests. It allowed the diver to more easily adjust the valve and determine its setting. (source: divingheritage.com/markvkern.htm)

The front viewport is called faceplate. It is the only one that can be opened. This way the diver can speak to the tender without removing the bonnet. The faceplate on the Mark V is hinged, which is quite unique for diving helmets. Practically all other helmets have a "screw in" faceplate. A wingnut on a pivoting stud extending from the bonnet is rounded and tapered on the "seating" end and fits precisely into the receiving cup of the two pronged fork on the faceplate. To prevent the wingnut from unscrewing completely a small circular "keeper" is swaged onto the end of the stud.

The inscription reads "U.S. Navy Diving Helmet Mark V Boston Mass No. Date"

And here's the bronze copper brass diving helmet taking pride of place in my display :)

It belongs right there with all my other collection in my "Under the Sea" theme. You can check out my earlier toy blog post HERE to see the entire display. Also gives you an idea of the size and scale

Click on the picture for a bigger and better view :)

In the 2000 epic historical drama film "Gladiator" directed by Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe is Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius who is forced into becoming a slave and seeks revenge against Commodus for the murder of his family. He had been under the favor of Marcus Aurelius, and the love and admiration of Lucilla prior to the events of the film. The film "Gladiator" opens with General Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russel Crowe) leading the Roman army to a decisive victory against Germanic tribes at Vindobona, ending a long war on the Roman frontier and earning the esteem of the elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris).

This is the recently released ACI Toys 2012 Anniversary Product - 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General 12-inch figure which is limited to 1500 pcs. I have been waiting for this figure for 12 years, since the movie came out in 2000. I am very glad ACI Toys produced and released this 1/6 scale Roman General 12-inch figure and to say that this is an AWESOME figure would be an understatement ;p This figure is beyond awesome; it's stunningly good and a great addition to any collection IMHO!

General Maximus Decimus Meridius is a fictional character partly inspired by Marcus Nonius Macrinus, Narcissus, Spartacus, Cincinnatus, and Maximus of Hispania. Mel Gibson was first offered the role, but declined as he felt he was too old to play the character. Antonio Banderas and Hugh Jackman were also considered. (source: wiki)

Scroll down to see more pictures of ACI Toys 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General 12-inch figure.

The box packaging art is nice and strangely shows the Roman General's back on the front flap with the words "Roma Victor". After the battle against the Germans, Maximus lets out a cry of victory: "Roma victor." This is supposed to be Latin, but, they got the grammar all wrong. "Roma" is feminine, so it should be "Roma victrix". Amazing how a mistake is still possible as there are only about three sentences in Latin in the entire movie and a lot of specialists were supposed to have been working on it (source: moviemistakes.com). The back of the box packaging shows the General fully attired and lists down the 1/6 scale items that are included in the box.

The box opens with a short write-up on the inside flap.

Click on the picture to have a bigger and better view :)

And then there's the all important instructions sheet - Warriors III Roman General User Guide

And here's what you get: a 1/6 scale highly detailed head sculpt that resembles a lot like Russell Crowe as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius from "Gladiator", ACI fully articulated 12-inch male body, Embossed Cuirass with shoulder armor, Embossed helmet with feathered mane, Jerkin, Tunic, Pants and Scarf, Roman General Boots

Greaves / Leg Armor, Gauntlets, Gladius + sheath x 2 pcs, Fabric cloak with faux fur, two extra pairs of hands for posing.

Here's ACI Toys 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General basic figure straight out of the box, wearing just his Jerkin, Tunic, Pants and Scarf, Roman General Boots. Last time you'll see him like this because once he's fully outfitted, most of his jerkin will be hidden by his armor / embossed cuirass. The Pteruges or skirt of leather or fabric strips is worn around the waist to protect the upper legs. Pteruges could be fitted with small metal studs and plates to provide additional protection.

Scroll down to see the turnaround views of 12-inch Russell Crowe as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius from "Gladiator" before he puts on his battle armor

As with 12-inch figure bodies that will be built upon layer after layer with armor or fabric clothing, it is best that the basic figure starts looking rather slim as in this case so that once the armor is put on, he'll look just right instead of being overly bulky if he had started out with a more muscular body type.

The tunic was the basic garment worn under the armour by all soldiers in the Republic and early Empire. Normally made of wool, tunics originally consisted simply of a piece of rectangular cloth sewed to an identical piece, with holes for the arms and head left unsewn. It became fashionable later on for tunics to be produced with sleeves, and worn with braccae (woolen trousers).

A focale or scarf is worn by Roman legionaries to protect the neck from chafing caused by constant contact with the soldier's armor (typically lorica hamata or lorica segmentata) and helmet.

Braccae / woolen trousers were worn as well as Caliga or military boots worn by Roman legionaries and auxiliaries throughout the history of the Roman Republic and Empire. The boots were made from leather and laced up the center of the foot and onto the top of the ankle. Iron hobnails were hammered into the sole for added strength.

And here's ACI Toys 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General (Maximus Decimus Meridius) 12" figure with just the Embossed Cuirass. It is held in place by six plastic "buckles". More pictures to follow.

The laminated-strip cuirass was a complex piece of armour which in certain circumstances provided superior protection to the other types of Roman armour, mail armour (lorica hamata) and scale armour (lorica squamata). The testing of modern replicas has demonstrated that this kind of armour was impenetrable to most direct and missile strikes.

Wearing a padded undergarment known as a 'subarmalis' relieves the wearer from bruising both from prolonged wear and from shock produced by weapon blows against the armour.

Check out the details on the Embossed Cuirass of ACI Toys 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General (Maximus Decimus Meridius) 12" figure. It's pretty amazing and very movie accurate :)

NEXT: See ACI Toys 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General (Maximus Decimus Meridius) 12" figure with his full armor as he was meant to be. This is a stunning figure and it will blow your mind.

I certainly didn't see this coming at all. Some company with no name (no kidding - simply listed as "others") has released pictures of a 12-inch "doctor" action figure that bears a rather distant resemblance to a certain Mark Ruffalo who played Dr Bruce Banner / Hulk in the 2012 "The Avengers" superhero film. Since no other company has tapped into this particular character (Hot Toys has so far only released pictures of their 1/6 scale Hulk figure), it seems someone would sooner or later ;p

This doctor doesn't come with a doctor's white coat or stethoscope and has no ties to any ER or MD television show. He will come with a 1/6 scale head sculpt, 12-inch muscular body (NOT the Hulk kind), dark grey suit jacket with purple shirt and dark grey pants, shoes and glasses plus two extra hands. Scroll down to see more pictures.

You can pre-order this 1/6 scale Doctor (Bruce Banner from The Avengers) 12-inch Action Figure from TFH

Night at the Museum is a 2006 American fantasy adventure-comedy film based on the 1993 children's book The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc. It follows a divorced father trying to settle down, impress his son, and find his destiny. He applies for a job as a night watchman at New York City's American Museum of Natural History and subsequently discovers that the exhibits, animated by a magical Egyptian artifact, come to life at night. (source: wiki)

Ben Stiller is Larry Daley - divorced, unable to keep a stable job, and has failed at many business ventures. He also has failed in his dream job to be an inventor because The Clapper light switch has "stolen his thunder" for his similar invention "The Snapper."

This is Asmus Toys upcoming release: 1/6 scale The Night Guard 12-inch Figure (Item No.0045). The 12-inch Night Guard action figure includes: A Fully articulated 12-inch male body with 1/6 scale head sculpt, A 1/6 museum night guard outfit, A pair of black socks, A pair of black shoes, 3 pairs of swapping hands, A metallic 1/6 scale watch, A reviving tablet, A set of Asmus figure stand. In stock 20th April 2013.

Why do I keep thinking "Planet of the Apes" when I'm looking at the head sculpt?

This makes for a rather unusual choice for a 12-inch figure. Not sure if there are many takers out there who are into this.

What's next? Robin Williams as Theodore Roosevelt or Owen Wilson as Jedediah the cowboy?

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Here's more of ACI Toys 2012 Anniversary Product - 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General 12-inch figure (limited to 1500 pieces) in my second-part review of Russell Crowe as General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 epic "Gladiator". Having shown the box packaging and its contents plus pictures of how the basic figure looks without his armor in the previous post, this toy blog post review will show how the figure looks with all his armor put on. It is truly a magnificent figure and for me, the ultimate Roman General figure to be released so far. Ignite did release some Roman military figures in the past but I think they are nowhere near as good or as detailed and well made as this ACI Roman General 1/6 scale figure. Everything from 1/6 scale head sculpt of Russell Crowe to the crazy details on the armor is top notch :)

ACI Toys 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General basic figure comes with 1/6 scale head sculpt, ACI fully articulated 12-inch male body, Embossed Cuirass with shoulder armor, Embossed helmet with feathered mane, Jerkin, Tunic, Pants and Scarf, Roman General Boots, Greaves / Leg Armor, Gauntlets, Gladius + sheath x 2 pcs, Fabric cloak with faux fur, two extra pairs of hands for posing.

Here's how the ACI Roman General 1/6 figure looks fully decked out in armor (missing the helmet at the moment). The Embossed Cuirass is worn over the jerkin and tunic plus Pteruges or skirt of leather strips and held together by six "buckles". The shoulder armor is then added on for the layered look

The legions of the Roman Republic and Empire wore fairly standardised dress and armour. These included the basic tunic of the Roman soldier which was of red or undyed (off-white) wool, the Galea or soldier's helmet, Lorica (armour), including: Lorica hamata (mail armour), Lorica manica (arm guards), Lorica plumata (feathered armour) for strong use, Lorica segmentata (segmented armour), Lorica squamata (scale armour) and Greaves (armor to protect the legs).

The ACI Roman General comes with two 1/6 scale swords or gladius with sheaths / scabbards attached to leather straps, one carried on his waist and the other is slung across his shoulder.

This ACI Toys 2012 Anniversary Product - 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General 12-inch figure (limited to 1500 pieces) comes with instructions (see previous post) telling you how to equip and gear up this Roman General, including the fabric waist belt.

The shoulder armor is attached to the embossed cuirass via hooks underneath. The shoulder armor was actually individual iron plates articulated by means of internal leather straps. The focale, a scarf is worn by the Roman legionary to protect the neck from chafing caused by constant contact with the soldier's armor.

Check out the close-up pictures taken of ACI Toys Warriors III Roman General 1/6 scale head sculpt that looks a lot like actor Russell Crowe as General Maximus Decimus Meridius in "Gladiator". It's a very good likeness and one of the best looking head sculpt of Russell Crowe to date :)

The Pteruges or skirt of leather or fabric strips is worn around the waist to protect the upper legs. Pteruges could be fitted with small metal studs and plates to provide additional protection.

Here's a close look at one of the gladius (short sword) in sheath / scabbard. This was an effective stabbing weapon for fighting in close quarters.

Close-up shots of the leg greaves worn by ACI's Roman General figure as well as the Caliga or military boots worn by Roman legionaries and auxiliaries throughout the history of the Roman Republic and Empire. The boots were made from leather and laced up the center of the foot and onto the top of the ankle. Iron hobnails were hammered into the sole for added strength.

The embossed cuirass is incredibly detailed and very well made.

The Roman General carries another longer sword with him, also held in sheath when not in use but carried in a cross shoulder leather strap. See also the 1/6 scale Lorica manica (arm guards) / gauntlets

Scroll down to see more close-up pictures of ACI Toys 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General (Maximus Decimus Meridius) 12-inch figure in full armor

Last but not least, check out the Roman General's helmet. The Imperial helmet-type (known as the Weisenau type in Germany) was a type of helmet worn by Roman legionaries; it replaced the Coolus type, and constituted the final evolutionary stage of the legionary helmet (galea).

ACI 12-inch Roman General figure comes with a 1/6 scale Embossed helmet with feathered mane which is also nicely detailed.

NEXT: See how this ACI Toys 1/6 scale Roman General looks with helmet put on his head plus the last item that makes this figure look like the General in "Gladiator" - the fabric cloak with faux fur :)

"We have a HULK"

The Hulk has been a staple superhero of the Marvel Comics universe for years, battling foes across the universe in epic storylines. Mild-mannered scientist Dr. Bruce Banner was experimenting with highly volatile gamma radiation when an explosion bathed him with that green energy, transforming him into the enormous aggressive powerhouse known as the Hulk. As the massive creature Banner has been a menace to humanity as well as one of its greatest heroes, and in that respect has served with distinction among Marvel’s premiere champions. Celebrating his look in those comics comes an incredible brand new Fine Art Statue, Hulk Classic Avengers.

The massive Hulk leaps straight off the pages of Avengers comics in all of his green skinned glory! The powerfully built hero stands on cracked and broken terrain, flexing his enormous muscles as he prepares to charge once more into battle against those who would threaten the Earth. Hulk has a wide-legged stance, balancing on his tree trunk-like legs while he leans forward and flexes one arm in front of him and one behind. Bruce Banner’s alter ego is all muscle, with rippling sinews and incredibly detailed anatomy including veins, toe and finger nails, and more under his subtly accented green-hued skin. He even wears his iconic purple pants, intricately sculpted with belt loops, seams, creases, and of course the shredded remains at his knees. Hulk also sports a fierce facial sculpt that captures the character’s never-ending rage, completing the look of what’s destined to become THE Hulk statue for collectors and comic book fans alike!

Having seen a 1/6 scale Doctor Banner in the earlier post HERE, it's now time to see him get angry and transform into the mean green monster!

Sculpted by artist Erick Sosa, Hulk will be over 13 inches tall on his special terrain display base in the same 1/6 scale as his fellow Avengers. Whether he’s standing by himself in your display or alongside the Fine Art Statues of his teammates - Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, and Hawkeye - the mean green machine is sure to impress.

click on the picture for a bigger and better view :)

Pre-order this Kotobukiya Hulk Classic Avengers Fine Art Statue from BBTS (BigBadToyStore)

This is a repost since today is April 12.

Spacecraft History: Vostok 1(Russian: Восток-1, East 1 or Orient 1) was the first spaceflight in the Vostok program and the first human spaceflight in history. The Vostok 3KA spacecraft was launched on April 12, 1961. The flight took Yuri Gagarin, a cosmonaut from the Soviet Union, into space. The flight marked the first time that a human entered outer space, as well as the first orbital flight of a manned vehicle. Vostok 1 was launched by the Soviet space program, and was designed by Soviet engineers guided by Sergei Korolev under the supervision of Kerim Kerimov and others.

Originally posted on April 18, 2011:
On 12 April 1961, aboard the Vostok 3KA-3 (Vostok 1), Gagarin became both the first human to travel into space, and the first to orbit the earth. On April 12, 2011 the world marked 50 years of Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight that ushered in the era of space exploration. From this year on, April 12 will be celebrated worldwide as International Day of Human Spaceflight.

This Kubrick Cosmonauts boxed set was released in 2003 and featured mini versions of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, first dog in space Laika, and a surprisingly detailed Vostok spacecraft. Made by Japan's Medicom Toy, Kubrick was a cross between LEGO and Playmobil but modeled to represent celebrities and other pop-culture favorites.

Soviet space dog Laika (Russian: Лайка, literally meaning "Barker"; c. 1954 – November 3, 1957) was the first animal to orbit the Earth – as well as the first animal to die in orbit :( The experiment did prove that a living passenger could survive being launched into orbit and endure weightlessness, paving the way for human spaceflight and providing scientists with some of the first data on how living organisms react to spaceflight environments.

On April 11, 2008, Russian officials unveiled a monument to Laika. A small monument in her honor was built near the military research facility in Moscow which prepared Laika's flight to space. It features a dog standing on top of a rocket.

Vostok 1 (Russian: Восток-1, East 1 or Orient 1) was the first spaceflight in the Vostok program and the first human spaceflight in history. The Vostok 3KA spacecraft was launched on April 12, 1961. The flight took Yuri Gagarin, a cosmonaut ("sailor of the cosmos") from the Soviet Union, into space. The flight marked the first time that a human entered outer space, as well as the first orbital flight of a manned vehicle.

Here's a picture of the Vostok Spacecraft to show just how accurate Medicom was in getting the details right and pretty much spot on :) click on the picture below for a bigger and better view

Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s brief, 108 minute, flight proved humans’ ability to fly to the stars, and was a well-deserved triumph of Soviet science and industry and also signified that the USSR had beaten the Americans to space.

The Medicom Toy Kubrick Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin figure comes with removable helmet.

Here's the Medicom Kubrick Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin figure getting into his Vostok 1 spacecraft

Scroll down for more close-up and turnaround views of this amazingly detailed miniature Vostok 1 spacecraft by Medicom

It certainly has all the bells and whistles crafted on it - stunningly good

And here are some milestones in space exploration to share, from the world's first satellite (Sputnik 1) to first man in space (Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin), first woman in space (Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova) and first man to space walk (Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov), all were Russians until Neil Armstrong's walk on the Moon. Click on the picture below for a better view and easier read :)

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Some have commented that ACI Toys 2012 Anniversary Product - 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General 12-inch figure (limited to 1500 pieces) has a rather long neck. Well, that is to compensate for the layering / add-ons that is necessary to complete the look of Russell Crowe as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius as seen in the 2000 epic "Gladiator". If not for the slightly longer neck, now the figure will look odd with the armor and fur coat added. I'm glad ACI Toys considered these factors when designing the figure. After all, most collectors would choose to display the ACI Warriors III 1/6 scale Roman General 12-inch figure with everything on him for the complete and finished look :)

In the 1st and 2nd centuries, a Roman soldier's clothes consisted of a single-piece, short-sleeved tunic whose hem reached the knees and special hob-nailed sandals (caligae). This attire, which left the arms and legs bare, had evolved in a Mediterranean climate and was not suitable for northern Europe in cold weather. In northern Europe, long-sleeved tunics, trousers (bracae), socks (worn inside the caligae) and laced boots were commonly worn in winter from the 1st century. (source: wiki)

I had covered the basic attire in my earlier post HERE as well as all the loose items before adding them onto the figure for this final finished look. Scroll down to see the rest of the pictures :)

Maximus Decimus Meridius was born in the hills somewhere between Trujillo and Merida in the municipality of Caceres in Hispania in AD 152. He was the son of Meridius, the governor of the province, and of Lucretia, the daughter of the Roman Senator Bodaus. He was sent to school at the age of eight to Hispalis, and studied under the tutelage of Fulvus, the stoic philospher. He joined the army at 17 as a Standard Bearer. He fought in campaigns against the Celts in Britannia and against the Parthians in Cappadocia. Honored for his bravery under the fire of battle, he moved up through the ranks as optio, centurion, and then as primus pilus of the First Cohort under General Lucius Veras. (purely fictional of course)

ACI Toys 2012 Anniversary Product - 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General 12-inch figure (limited to 1500 pieces) wears the embossed / engraved helmet with feathered mane (plumed helmet), focale or scarf to protect the neck from chafing caused by constant contact with the armor, embossed muscle cuirass worn over tunic, jerkin, Pteruges or skirt of leather or fabric strips worn around the waist to protect the upper legs (Pteruges could be fitted with small metal studs and plates to provide additional protection), red sash tied over cuirass indicating equestrian rank, Lorica manica (arm guards), gladius Hispaniensis-type long sword and another shorter gladius sword for close-quarter combat, pants / Braccae / woolen trousers plus greaves and Caliga or military boots.

What more can I say? This is a truly truly awesome Roman General 1/6 scale figure released by ACI Toys. And I've been waiting for this figure for over 12 years - since the movie "Gladiator" came out and all I can say is: "It's well worth the wait!"

And I'm not even done yet because this ACI Warriors III Roman General figure also comes with a fabric cloak with faux fur!

Scroll down all the way to see the fully attired Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius 12-inch Figure played by Russell Crowe in "Gladiator"

In the movie, Maximus Decimus Meridius was a Roman General who served Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in his Twelve Year Campaign against the Barbarians in Germania. He later served as a Gladiator in the arena after he escaped Commodus. He eventually killed Commodus, but died of wounds inflicted on him before their battle in the arena.

Maximus led the Roman Armies for Emperor Marcus Aurelius during his wars in Germanian Conquests of the Barbarians. Maximus and his subordinate Quintus defeated the Barbarians in a bloody battle. After the battle, he was honored by the Emperor for his duty. He was envied by Marcus' son Commodus, who was a coward. Maximus was offered the post of the Protector of Rome by Marcus, who knew that Commodus was too feeble and cowardly to rule Rome. He accepted the post, but Commodus secretly murdered Marcus and later became the Emperor. He was betrayed by Quintus, and was sent to be executed in the woods of.

Check out the close-up pictures taken of ACI Toys 2012 Anniversary Product - 1/6 scale Warriors III Roman General 12-inch figure (limited to 1500 pieces), most definitely inspired by Russell Crowe's role as General Maximus Decimus Meridius

Maximus is mostly likely based on Marcus Nonius Macrinus, who achieved major victories under Aurelius, as well as on Narcissus, Spartacus, Cincinnatus, and Maximus of Hispania. A purely fictional figure from the era of the Roman Empire.

Check out the ACI Toys Roman General's 1/6 scale embossed / engraved helmet with feathered mane

It fits the 12-inch figure's head nicely and doesn't look too big and out of scale or unproportionate

And finally, here's the Roman General complete with fabric coat and faux fur. The neck doesn't look too long now, does it? In fact, it looks just right :)

After Marcus Aurelius's death in the camp at Vindobona, Maximus was arrested by the guards of the new emperor Commodus (rumored to have smothered his own father). Suspecting Commodus, the general had refused to give allegiance to the new emperor. As he was about to be executed, Maximus overwhelmed his guards and escaped. In retaliation for this, Commodus had the general's family and retainers brutally murdered. Maximus returned home after much travail and found his loved ones crucified.

Look what arrived for me on Friday :) This is a customized 1/6 scale Light Up Arc Reactor (Iron Man Mark VI version seen in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers) customized on a latest Hot Toys 12-inch figure body – TTM21 Regular body. You can email bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com for more information. Do note that *THIS CUSTOM LIGHT UP ARC BODY IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE MANUFACTURER / BRAND OF HOT TOYS. Also the body does NOT come with 1/6 scale head sculpt but hey, if you are already a Hot Toys Iron Man collector, there are plenty of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) head sculpts available ;p

The arc reactor features prominently in all the Iron Man films. In the first movie, the armor suits are powered by a miniaturized arc reactor, a fictional clean energy source. The arc reactor is also used to power the electromagnet that protects Stark's heart from the shrapnel embedded in his chest. The first reactor was allegedly capable of powering the electromagnet protecting Tony's heart for fifty lifetimes, but after returning home, Stark developed a more efficient reactor that he used to power the Mark II and Mark III suits, although Stark reverted to the original reactor after the new model was stolen by Obadiah Stane to power his Iron Monger suit.

By the second film, all of Stark's Iron Man suits are fitted with their own arc reactors, allowing James Rhodes to confiscate one. Stark also has a large scale version of the reactor that powers his factory.

I had posted a similar toy blog post of this Hot Toys 1/6 scale Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark head sculpt from Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS123 Iron Man 2 Mark IV Limited Edition 12-inch Collectible Figure (previously reviewed HERE) on the Hot Toys TTM-18 1/6 scale TrueType 12-inch Figure Body HERE but that body didn't have the arc reactor embedded in his chest like this one does. A true and movie-accurate Tony Stark figure has to have the Arc Reactor embedded in his chest, right? Scroll down to see more pictures.

Benny Khoo (bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com) customizes these Hot Toys TrueType TTM21 Regular Body types with the arc reactor he has created on his own and sends them out in the TTM21 original packaging with the modified / customized figure in the box with battery included (NOT connected but packed separately so as to prevent any leakage). Everything is well secured so as to minimize and prevent any damage whatsoever. This figure arrived in great condition and the arc reactor worked right away once the battery was inserted. Inserting the battery was as easy as pie. Note: The TTM21 Regular Body comes with an alternate neck post as well as an extra left fist hand and right trigger hand, plus two extra connecting pegs as well as the figure display stand.

And this is how the customized Hot Toys TTM21 12-inch figure body looks with the 1/6 scale arc reactor embedded. This is the Mark VI version because the arc reactor is triangular.

The Triangular Arc Reactor is actually Benny's first version and this customization can be applied to all other Hot Toys bodies. The Arc Reactor v2.0 is the Mark III version and you can check out Benny's facebook post HERE for the pictures

The yellow push button switch on the back is for activating the light-up feature of the 1/6 scale arc reactor. The battery is simply inserted into the battery compartment. No fuss, no mess; easy does it :) Also, according to Benny, the battery has lasted for 5 days when it was kept turned on.

Another different angle shot of the customized Hot Toys TTM21 12-inch figure body looks with the 1/6 scale arc reactor embedded.

Check out the close-up pictures of the customized 1/6 scale Arc Reactor done by Benny Khoo (bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com). More pictures can be seen at his facebook post as well.

Lights off, lights on :)

I'm glad Benny Khoo decided to customize these 1/6 scale arc reactors for 12-inch figure collectors. How can 12-inch Tony Stark not have a customized body with the arc reactor which made him become Iron Man?

The light source is quite strong and works very well. In my next post, we'll see how it does even with clothes on.

The customized 1/6 scale arc reactor as seen from various sides, with lights off and lights on feature.

And now, the customized 1/6 scale light up Mark VI Arc Reactor on a Hot Toys TTM21 12-inch figure body with the Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark head sculpt

Scroll down to see more pictures :) Mind you, Tony is STARK naked haha

These shots were taken to show how the customized 1/6 scale light-up arc reactor looks on the body with the head on as well.

The second Iron Man movie reveals that the original arc reactor was first developed some years earlier in a joint effort between Howard Stark (Stark's father) and Russian physicist Anton Vanko (the father of Ivan Vanko). The film also reveals that the miniaturized arc reactor that Stark has been using for a power source is slowly poisoning him with palladium. When Stark successfully develops a new element (unidentified in the movie, but said to be vibranium in the novelization) to use as a substitute power source, he has a new suit (Mark VI) developed, which is capable of channeling the reactor's power.

In The Avengers, Stark develops a large scale arc reactor to power his Stark Tower in New York City, which is said to have the ability keep the building running for over a year with clean energy. Stark's personal arc reactor is able to absorb lightning from Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, powering the Mark VI to over 400% capacity. The arc reactor also prevents Loki from taking control of his mind, as the reactor blocks this effect of Loki's staff.

You can email bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com for more information. Do note that *THIS CUSTOM LIGHT UP ARC BODY IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE MANUFACTURER / BRAND OF HOT TOYS. Head sculpt and clothing are not included.

The Arc Reactor v2.0 is the Mark III version and you can check out Benny's facebook post HERE for the pictures

NEXT: See how the light-up arc reactor works with fabric clothing put on.

This is the latest Phicen Limited 12-inch female figure to be previewed and it is their 1/6 scale Nina Deluxe Collectible set. The set includes 1/6 scale NINA Female head sculpt with rooted hair, 12-inch PHICEN Medium Bust seamless body, Fighting outfit set (Leotards, neck ring, cuffs, belt with holster), Relaxed Hand set, Pistol Grip Hand set, Lug boots with laces, Pair of Black Pistols with Magazine clips.

The Phicen Limited Seamless Female Body is obviously being used to its full potential here. A 12-inch body with no joint lines makes for a very realistic looking figure indeed. I'd used the Phicen Limited Large Bust Seamless Female Body (Tan) for kitbashing a 1/6 scale Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft female action figure earlier. You can check out my post for pictures HERE :)

The problem with buying heads and bodies separately is trying to match the skin tones. Less of that issue here since this Phicen Limited 1/6 scale Nina Deluxe Collectible 12-inch Female Action Figure comes with the 1/6 female head sculpt and 12-inch female body as a set. Scroll down to see more pictures.

Check out SMcG Customs PREORDER Special Price - US$90.79 (Suggested Retail US$96.99) Ends April 21, 2013. Estimated Arrival – late May / first week June 2013.

Real Steel is a 2011 American science fiction sports drama film starring Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo and co-produced and directed by Shawn Levy. The film is based in part on the 1956 short story "Steel" by Richard Matheson. Animatronic robots were built for the film, and motion capture technology was used to depict the brawling of computer-generated robots and animatronics. Real Steel grossed $295 million at the box office. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 84th Academy Awards. (source: wiki)

Set in the near future, where robot boxing is a top sport, Charlie Kenton is a struggling promoter who feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he discovers he has an 11-year-old son Max who wants to know his father. Max finds an old generation robot named Atom and restores him. Max wants Atom to fight but Charlie tells him he won't last a round. However, Atom wins. And it isn't long before Atom is getting major bouts. Max gets Charlie to teach Atom how to fight, and the father and son bond strenghtens.

The show is really about the boxing robots :) Now you can preorder ThreeA Real Steel 1/6 scale ATOM (Bambaland Exclusive) action figure at TFH (The Falcon's Hangar). Scroll down to see more of the pictures :)

For scenes when computer-generated robots brawl, "simulcam" motion capture technology, developed for the film Avatar, was used. As Levy described the process, "[Y]ou're not only capturing the fighting of live human fighters, but you're able to take that and see it converted to [CGI] robots on a screen instantaneously. Simulcam puts the robots in the ring in real time, so you are operating your shots to the fight, whereas even three, four years ago, you used to operate to empty frames, just guessing at what stuff was going to look like." Boxing hall-of-famer Sugar Ray Leonard was an adviser for these scenes and gave Jackman boxing lessons so his moves would be more natural.

Born Francis Castiglione, an Italian Catholic in New York City, Frank Castle is a former U.S. Marine Captain, extensively trained in special forces and combat techniques. Shortly after a tour in Vietnam, Castle, his wife Maria, and their children were in New York's Central Park for an afternoon picnic when they witnessed a Mafia gangland execution. Seeking to eliminate all witnesses, the Costa crime family murdered them on the spot. Frank survived, and was able to identify all of the shooters, but the police were too deeply tied into the powerful Costa family to provide any justice. When they refused to help, Castle decided to take matters into his own hands. He emblazoned his body armor with the symbol of death's head and exacted his revenge. Since then he has waged a ruthless one-man war on crime, calling himself the Punisher.

Sideshow Collectibles is proud to present the Punisher Premium Format Figure. Frank Castle comes ready to wage his relentless one-man war on crime, in his traditional classic costume. Marvel Comics' vigilante 'anti-hero' is armed for vengeance with a fully automatic shotgun and holstered pistol. He wears a set of brass knuckles for close quarters combat, and in a bind, there's a concealed trench blade strapped to his boot. The Punisher Premium Format figure is an outstanding addition to any Marvel collection.

The Punisher Premium Format Figure features: Automatic Shotgun, Fabric Costume (Classic Comic Design), Simulated Leather Harness with Pouches and Holster. Sideshow Exclusive: Interchangeable Left Hand with Trench Knife and Swap Out Sheath

Sideshow Exclusive: Interchangeable Left Hand with Trench Knife and Swap Out Sheath

United States Navy SEALs (Sea, Air & Land) - Conducting clandestine missions behind enemy lines. Capturing enemy targets and intelligence against impossible odds. Bringing a threatening act of sea piracy to resolution in the blink of an eye. When they say “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday,” it’s a motto backed by legendary achievements.

As part of the Navy’s Sea, Air and Land Forces – commonly known as SEALs – they are expertly trained to deliver highly specialized, intensely challenging warfare capabilities that are beyond the means of standard military forces.

Direct action warfare. Special reconnaissance. Counterterrorism. Foreign internal defense. When there’s nowhere else to turn, Navy SEALs are in their element. Achieving the impossible by way of conditioned response, sheer willpower and absolute dedication to their training, their missions and their fellow spec ops team members.

Navy SEALs have been living up to their highly skilled, intensely disciplined reputation since being established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a small, elite maritime military force suited for all aspects of unconventional warfare.

The duties of a SEAL may include and are not limited to: Conducting insertions and extractions by sea, air or land to accomplish covert, Special Warfare / Special Operations missions; Capturing high-value enemy personnel and terrorists around the world; Collecting information and intelligence through special reconnaissance missions; Carrying out small-unit, direct-action missions against military targets; Performing underwater reconnaissance and the demolition of natural or man-made obstacles prior to amphibious landings.

The job of a Navy SEAL relies heavily on adaptability and teamwork. Members train and work in all manner of environments, including desert and urban areas, mountains and woodlands, and jungle and arctic conditions. Whatever the specific mission and surroundings, they’ll utilize the specialized skills and the high-tech equipment required. And they’ll operate not only as highly capable individuals but also as a member of tightly knit SEAL units. These include task units (32-man), platoons (16-man), squads (8-man), teams (4-man) and swim buddy (2-man).

A typical mission as a Navy SEAL may involve insertion into a combat objective by any number of means: parachute, submarine, helicopter, high-speed boat, foot patrol or by a combat swimmer insertion. Training involves operating a wide range of high-tech, specialized equipment. Most of their deployments will last 6 to 8 months.

This will be Very Hot's latest 1/6 scale US Navy SEAL offering – a SEAL CQB (night ops) uniform set for kitting out 12-inch military figures. Doesn't look that bad at all.

Plus it seems they have been improving on their quality lately. Each release is getting better and better.

There are a lot of options and parts with this set. So many goodies, both for add-ons / upgardes and kitbash or used such as it is.

Scroll down to see more pictures, including a break apart M4 that is pretty amazing in detail

Being a uniform set, do note that no 12-inch figure is included with it. This set only comes with the outfit, accessories, gear and weapons.

You can pre-order this Very Hot 1/6 scale US Navy SEAL CQB (Close Quarter Battle)(Night Ops) Uniform Set for 12-inch figures from TFH (The Falcon's Hangar)

Missing out on a S.W.A.T. 12-inch figure or need more 1/6 scale S.W.A.T. figures to join Police Commissioner James Gordon in his fight to win back Gotham City from the terrorists that have taken over the city since the Dark Knight has fallen? Well, wait no longer because Very Hot is offering this very nice looking 1/6 scale S.W.A.T. version 2.0 outfit set. Note: No 12-inch figure is included with the outfit / uniform set.

SWAT ("Special Weapons And Tactics") is a commonly-used proper name for law enforcement units, which use military-style light weapons and specialized tactics in high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular, uniformed police. "SWAT" is commonly-used internationally, as a colloquial, generic term for these units.

Their duties include: confronting heavily-armed criminals; performing hostage rescue and counter-terrorism operations; high risk arrests and; entering armored or barricaded buildings. Such units are often equipped with specialized firearms including submachine guns, assault rifles, breaching shotguns, riot control agents, stun grenades, and sniper rifles. They have specialized equipment including heavy body armor, ballistic shields, entry tools, armored vehicles, advanced night vision optics, and motion detectors for covertly determining the positions of hostages or hostage takers, inside enclosed structures.

Some sources state that the first use of "SWAT" as an acronym for "Special Weapons and Tactics" was the Special Weapons and Tactics Squad established by the Philadelphia Police Department in 1964. A more prominent early SWAT team was established in the Los Angeles Police Department in 1967, by Inspector Daryl Gates. After that, many United States law enforcement organizations, especially the police departments of major cities, as well as federal and state agencies, established their own elite units under various names. (source: wiki)

While the public image of SWAT first became known through the LAPD, perhaps because of its proximity to the mass media and the size and professionalism of the Department itself, the first actual SWAT-type operations were conducted north of Los Angeles in the farming community of Delano, California on the border between Kern and Tulare Counties in the San Joaquin Valley.

The first significant deployment of the LAPD's SWAT unit was on December 9, 1969, in a four-hour confrontation with members of the Black Panthers. The Panthers eventually surrendered, with three Panthers and three officers being injured. By 1974, there was a general acceptance of SWAT as a resource for the city and county of Los Angeles.

SWAT teams use equipment designed for a variety of specialist situations including close quarters combat (CQC) in an urban environment. The particular pieces of equipment vary from unit to unit, but there are some consistent trends in what they wear and use.

Aside from the standard uniforms of their parent law-enforcement organizations, SWAT personnel often wear similar utility uniforms to armed-forces tactical uniforms, with the main difference being the colorations of such utility uniforms. SWAT utility uniforms are generally in solid colors, usually but not limited to dark gray, dark blue, or black. However, "urban camouflage" patterns have been developed, consisting mainly of black, white, and shades of gray.

While a wide variety of weapons are used by SWAT teams, the most common weapons include submachine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, and sniper rifles. Tactical aids include K9 Units, as well as flash bang, stinger, and tear gas grenades.

Scroll down to see more pictures of this Very Hot 1/6 scale SWAT version 2.0 outfit set for 12-inch figures

Check out my post HERE of 1/6 scale S.W.A.T. 12-inch Action Figures - We really need more of them to form a bigger team!

You can pre-order this Very Hot 1/6 scale SWAT version 2.0 outfit set for 12-inch figures from TFH (The Falcon's Hangar)

continued from previous post...

As mentioned in my review of the Benny Khoo (bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com) customized 1/6 scale Light Up Arc Reactor (Iron Man Mark VI version seen in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers) on the latest Hot Toys 12-inch figure body – TTM21 Regular body HERE, let's see how the customized body fits into the attire we see Tony Stark wearing in "The Avengers".

This is the MC Toys MCF-017 1/6 scale clothing set for 12-inch figures which includes Black Sabbath Short Sleeve silk-screen printed Tee, Dark Grey Long Sleeve Tee, Men's dark gray jeans / pants and Pampa Boots (see the preview pictures) EXCEPT that this particular version has also been customized. Putting on the dark grey long sleeve t-shirt followed by the Black Sabbath short sleeve t-shirt would add too much bulk on the figure's body, making him bulkier than the hulk so the sleeves have been cut from the dark grey tee and stitched onto the Black Sabbath t-shirt for the complete look - check out the light-up arc reactor as seen through the t-shirt :)

I have also gotten the Asmus Toys "The Avengers" Tony Stark outfit set earlier and you can check out my post HERE for the pictures and review. Always nice to have both for comparisons. Scroll down to see the rest of the pictures.

Magic Cube / MC Toys 1:6 scale Action Figure attire / outfit set MCF-017 comes in a simple ziplock bag with all the items inside. Once opened, the items consist of Black Sabbath short sleeve t-shirt with long bark grey sleeves (CUSTOMIZED), pants and Pampa Boots

And here's 1/6 scale Tony Stark wearing the MC Toys "The Avengers" outfit

And here you see the Benny Khoo (bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com) customized 1/6 scale Iron Man Mark VI Light Up Arc Reactor on a Hot Toys 12-inch TTM21 Regular Body

For those of you who are concerned about the battery pack posing a problem when dressing the body (see the STARK naked Tony with battery pack HERE), rest assured that the battery pack / compartment is well hidden under his clothes and cannot be seen at all, neither is it obvious.

Some side profiles / pictures to show off the MC Toys Tony Stark Avengers outfit.

Now for some close-up pictures of the Benny Khoo (bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com) customized 1/6 scale Iron Man Mark VI Light Up Arc Reactor as seen under the Black Sabbath tee. Very COOL :)

Scroll down to see more pictures of the lighted up arc reactor as seen through the Black Sabbath tee

In the pictures below, I've taken the pair of 1/6 scale metal MK VII detecting bracelets which Tony Stark wore to suit up in his newest Iron Man armor suit (the Mark VII) from the Asmus Toys "Avengers' Stark" 1/6 scale action figure clothing set and used it with this figure instead.

This particular shot was taken just to show off the brightness of the 1/6 scale light-up arc reactor as seen through the camera lens. It is normally not so bright as this would make Tony Stark a walking target LOL

And here's an attempt to get Tony Stark in the all-too-familiar Iron Man power pose as seen on the movie posters (see the next picture below). Unfortunately, the Hot Toys TTM21 body just doesn't have that extra articulation in the abdomen area to achieve the particular desired pose.

I find Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr) head a little too big in this obviously CGI picture on the Iron Man 3 movie poster. The Iron Man armor suit encapsulating Stark's body would have given him more bulk and this pose would be impossible if he was really wearing the actual suit because of the layered armor. It's the same reason why we can never get the Hot Toys 12-inch Iron Man to strike this particular pose ;p

You can email bennykhoo2002@yahoo.com for more information on the very impressive customized 1/6 scale light up Mark VI Arc Reactor 12-inch body. Do note that *THIS CUSTOM LIGHT UP ARC BODY IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE MANUFACTURER / BRAND OF HOT TOYS. Head sculpt and clothing are not included.

The Arc Reactor v2.0 is the Mark III version and you can check out Benny's facebook post HERE for the pictures

Iron Man 3 is about to hit the theatres very soon and as you’ve probably seen from the trailer, a number of new suits will be introduced in the movie. Today, we are excited to announce 3 of these suits are first to join Hot Toys’ 1/6th scale collectible product lines: Heartbreaker for MMS Diecast Series, Igor for MMS Series, and Red Snapper for PPS Series.

We’ll be bringing more suits into our different series, so fans please stay tuned for more in the future!

Milking it all the way, now with MMS, MMS Diecast and Power Pose series. I'm just glad I'm not a hardcore Iron Man collector.

Daniel Picard's pictures are now making the rounds on facebook and that is a good thing :) It's about time people sit up and take notice of this extraordinary photographer with 15 years of retouching experience. He enjoys combining 1:6 scale figures with 1:1 scale surroundings and he does them so well that it makes you take a second look and wonder if your eyes are playing tricks on you.

I have the great honor of knowing Daniel Picard through my toy blog since 2010 when he allowed me to post his pictures on Toy Haven so that I can share his stunning work with the world at large and show them what they are missing out on. You can check out the very first post HERE. Since then, He has so kindly sent me pictures on a regular basis for me to post and share on Toy Haven.