Christmas 2018...Revisited



I shared with everyone on Christmas day the stuff I got from friends and family. Today, I thought I would share with you the spoils of the things I picked up for myself for the holiday.

BIG BOSS

I've been looking for a Big Boss ever since I picked up a Bullet-Proof from The Great Starasburg Emporium. Unfortunately, I quickly learned Cops figures aren't the easiest to come by on secondary markets - At least not complete.

Two of these, mint in the package,  have cropped up on ebay in the past month, and while I missed out on the first one, I was determined to at least nab the second. I was glad to do just that.

While I'm not typically a fan of keeping toys carded or in boxes, due to the high cost I'm having to invest in this line, I've opted to keep both Big Boss and Bullet-Proof in their packages. I went the extra step and also picked up two Zoloworld cases to keep them in pristine condition.

I am interested in a few of the other figures from this line, but taking into consideration I've essentially started a mint in package collection, I don't think I'm going to branch out past these two. If something changes where I can pick up Big Boss and Bullet-Proof complete and out of the packages, I may consider selling these two off and attempting a loose set of the other figures I want. Time will tell if that happens. 

MASK

Back in the day, my brother was the MASK collector. He had a ton of them, including the Boulder Hill Playset. However, he quickly turned from toys to video games and bikes, and I soon inherited all the toys he no longer wanted.

I didn't necessarily play with these, nor did I watch the cartoon, but I remembered the toy line fondly as something which had its charm. As such, I decided I'd dabble, very limited, in the line. More so as a nod to my brother, than a desire for the actual toys to be in my collection.

I decided I would start the line on the right foot, with the leader of MASK, Matt Trakker and his Thunderhawk.



The guy I bought this from also had another one I wanted, which oddly enough, was T-Bob with Scott. I can't say I've met many collectors who have been actively looking for this particular pair.


Last on my list was the leader of VENOM, Miles Mayhem with his Switchblade.


There are a handful of other toys from this line which intrigue me, but again, really only because I remember my brother having them. I may grab a couple more here and there, though I have to be careful. Space is already an issue in my "toy room", and vehicles are a major real estate eater.

TRANSFORMERS

I have tried so many times  to watch the Transformers cartoon series, but really can't seem to get into it. Still, the urge hit me, and the OCD kicked in during the holiday season. I absolutely had to have the movie, which I love the soundtrack for. Because I had the movie, I also convinced myself it made no sense to not have the complete series along with it.



Since getting these in the mail and this post, I did manage to make it through the mini-series of the show, but got bored during episode one and turned it off. I'll try again later, but right now, I'm on a big kick of watching all the original series G.I. Joe episodes again.

Speaking of which...

G.I. JOE

I remember when I started my G.I. Joe collection. It was July 1st, 2017 at the Dave Hart Toy Show. I went for Remco's Karate Kid figures, and when I didn't find them, went on the hunt for other items. I came away with a ton of CD's, a couple Thundercats, and ten (10) G.I. Joe figures - eight of which were Cobra members.

Buyer remorse quickly set in. It wasn't that I didn't want the figures, but rather I just didn't feel it was the best time to start a new collection. The end result was the figures sat in plastic bags for a couple months. Even after returning to the Dave Hart Show in December of that same year and coming away with two more, I did nothing with them.

It was around January of the following year (2018) that I finally put them on a shelf. While they weren't my main focus, as I was busy rebuilding my long lost Kenner Star Wars collection, I eventually came back around to them.

Since then, my collection has blossomed. Exploded even. I have about twice as many figures than I did as a kid, and see the finish line on the horizon for what I'm actively looking for. With this latest hull, that line is getting all the more closer.


 Lampreys

Lampreys was a late comer to my list of wants. It wasn't until I started whittling down my Cobra list, and taking a second look at the line, that I came around on this one. I'm glad I did. It's a fantastic figure. I love the blue and silver paint scheme.

Raptor

I actually picked up a Raptor quite some time ago. However, when it arrived, the figure was in worse condition than the seller stated, and he packed it so poorly, the bird's feet had snapped off. It was always my intentions to come back around to this figure, but other, better ones, always ended up taking priority.

Cross-Country

While Cross-Country was on my list of wants, he wasn't a "top priority". I have to admit, I only ended up with him now because I got him for three bucks. Don't get me wrong. I would have gotten around to him eventually, but at just a few dollars, now seemed like a good enough time to do so.


Probably the worst G.I. Joe figure from the vintage line, Deep-Six also wasn't a high priority on my list. While I looked for him here and there, I never came across him "complete" with the tube and bellows. When this one popped up right before the holidays, I decided I would go ahead and grab him, mainly since it was the first one I had ever seen.

RAMBO

I decided to "finish" the Rambo line of toys. I put the word finish in quotations, because when I say it, I mean pick up the third and final figure I wanted from the series. 



Fire Power Rambo, Or First Blood Rambo, as I like to call him, wraps up this line for me. It also wraps up the toys I picked up for myself for the holiday.

CD'S

Last up, I decided to pick up four CD's. I'm using "stock photos" because only one seller shipped via First Class, while the rest shipped via Media Mail. As a result, only the Depeche Mode CD has been received as of this writing. Because of this, I didn't bother taking a photo of the lone one I received, but still wanted some form of visual to go along with my write up.

Madonna's Rebel Heart, is the last CD I needed in order to complete my studio album discography from her. I'd looked at it here and there, but always ended up passing in lieu of something else. I'm actually several albums behind, listening wise, in her career, so I won't be listening to this one just yet.


Culture Club's This Time, is actually a greatest hits album. While I normally pass on compilations, this one was on my list for one reason - It has Time (Clock of  the Heart) on it, which was only released on US pressings of the album, "Kissing To Be Clever". I've never found a CD version of this album with this track, which leads me to believe you can only find it on cassette and vinyl releases. Not an issue anymore since I've nabbed this CD.


Like Madonna's Rebel Heart, Rush's Snakes & Arrows was the last studio album I needed from the band to complete my discography. Admittedly, their music hasn't appealed to me since the band's 1993 album, Counterparts. However, I figured, may as well close the loop. Maybe it will be good. Only one way to find out. 


The final CD I picked up was Depeche Mode's Some Great Reward. This one has been on my list for quite some time, and I even got punked on it once at the Dave Hart Show where I picked it up on CD, only to find out only the case was correct. The CD inside was Depeche Mode's Violator. I'm glad to finally stop having to chase this one down. 


That wraps up my Christmas...Revisited post, but coming in the next day or so will be one final Christmas related post - Chirstmas ebay Gift Card Spoils. Until then, thanks for reading!

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.

Lionbot (AKA Voltron) (Unknown Company)



Lionbot
Unknown Company
1980's

2018 ends with a bit of a wish list item. While I'm not a big fan of Voltron personally, I have an interest in this particular version known as Lionbot which was only released overseas - Typcially in Taiwan. Why? Because I had this particular version of Voltron when I was a kid living overseas.

This particular version is made out of die cast metal / plastic and stands roughly eighteen to twenty-four inches when the lions are combined together. It also features a massive amount of weapons - One or more for each lion as well as the sword and shield for Voltron himself.

I remember only owning this bad boy for about a week or two when I stupidly lent it to a friend for a weekend. Said friend promptly broke the black lion, causing the thing to never be able to be combined again. I recall my dad asking me, "Did you learn a lesson?"

Not only did I never get a new Voltron, but dad wasn't able to fix it. So throughout its lifespan, until probably just thrown away, my four and a halfish lions could never again become Voltron, Defender of the Universe!

Unfortunately, I don't know who actually produced this particular version, nor can I pinpoint a specific year. There's nothing denoted on the actual box.

I know that Bandai produced a higher quality version for Japan / US released in 1982. So perhaps one can speculate the above is from the same time frame and perhaps even the exact same one. But, I'd be lying if I said I didn't prefer the above...Well, knock off version. It gets extra points for having been a part of my past.

Both versions are fairly readily available on secondary markets. However, they are both rather pricey and the Bandai one commonly doesn't come with the accessories. With that said, it only makes more sense to purchase the one from Taiwan.

Stick around as we cross 2018 off our list and spring into 2019 to see if Lionbot eventually makes its way into my collection. Until then, happy holidays and happy New Year from The Toy Box. For those who don't celebrate anything around this time of year, happy Monday! We'll see you in January.

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.

Order of Battle: Willow



This will be an ongoing post of my vintage Willow toys, as I obtain them.

 Willow
Obtained: August 13, 2018 

Willow (Nestle Mail Away)
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Madmartigan
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Sorsha
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Airk Thaughbaer
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Queen Bavmorda
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 General Kael
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 High Aldwin
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Nockmaar Lieutenant
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Nockmaar Warrior
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Rebel Trooper
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Troll
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Death Dog
Obtained: August 13, 2018

 Madmartigan with Horse
Obtained: August 13, 2018

Airk Thaughbaer with Horse
Obtained: August 13, 2018

General Kael with Horse
Obtained: August 13, 2018

Sorsha with Horse
Obtained: August 15, 2018

 Nockmaar Warrior with Horse
Obtained: August 15, 2018

Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.

Order of Battle: The Snake Men



This will be an ongoing post of my vintage Masters of the Universe toys, The Snake Men, as I obtain them.

 King Hiss
Obtained: December 22, 2016 

Rattlor
Obtained: December 22, 2016

 Tung Lashor
Obtained: December 22, 2016

 Snake Face
Obtained: December 22, 2016

 Sssqueeze
Obtained: December 22, 2016
 
Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels 
below.

Order of Battle: The Evil Horde



This will be an ongoing post of my vintage Masters of the Universe toys, The Evil Horde, as I obtain them. 

 Hordak
Obtained: November 8, 2016 

Grizzlor
Obtained: December 22, 2016

 Leech
Obtained: December 22, 2016

 Mantenna
Obtained: December 22, 2016

  Modulok
Obtained: December 22, 2016

  Dragtor

 Horde Trooper
Obtained: December 22, 2016

  Hurricane Hordak
Obtained: December 22, 2016

  Multi-Bot
Obtained: December 22, 2016

  Mantisaur
Obtained: December 22, 2016

  Buzz-Saw Hordak
Obtained: December 22, 2016

  Mosquitor
Obtained: December 22, 2016
  
Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels 
below.