Another interesting thing on the blog: Amazing Mighty is receiving preorders for a second run, due September! Guess it’s surprisingly popular; hope that bodes well for future alt form/rider releases, or perhaps more Kuuga...

Or both!

If we end up getting kits for Kuuga's' other forms before the Seihous, I'll definitely pick the kits up as placeholders.

I bet Bandai wishes Kuuga had more suits they could sell.

I was more leaning towards Ultimate but I'd be happy with most anything happening!

idk why i want FRS Kuuga Titan more than other forn

just made a quick comparison between the figure and the cg (badly photoshopped)
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...04/unknown.png

I wonder if a quick dip in floor polish would help the lenses look as cool as the render.

https://youtu.be/KkwFisZHPWU

hehe boi

Picture of the stickers:

https://i.imgur.com/ABH2c9S.png

We have a bunch of stickers for the Dengasher

The red ones go on the back of the shoulders.

33 go on his antennae

7 & 8 are indeed the black "clips" on this chest

9 & 10 are the jaw

The big grey ones (23) are the back of the boots

When the box was first getting unpacked, and I saw the tiny stickers for (I assume) under the eyes, I was like OH MY GOD HOW DID THEY DO ALL OF THIS WITH ONLY TWO STICKERS and then a second later the next bag had three dozen more stickers. For one second I was gobsmacked, and then I was like Hey Still Not Too Bad But Y'know.

And just like that, my Den-O and W are shipped! Didn’t realise time zones made it this close!

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...21/unknown.png

I have a good idea

a custom FRS Den-O Ax Form!

Rotate the chest armor and the shoulder pad
remove its arm and adjust its position
repaint the center belt
repaint the black thing on its thighs into yellow
make a custom ax form mask (3d model or paperboard(?))

I mean, another kit with alternate forms seems inevitable...

I can definitely see it with Den-O's popularity -- frankly that form swap gimmick certainly feels like it wasn't made purely for Plat Form!

Finally got around to building Kuuga!

https://i.imgur.com/BzcEIm3.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jLtt0Xb.jpg

Very basic, but solid. Only some minor painting required which I go over here http://www.tokunation.com/showpost.p...2&postcount=22

My Den-O is on the way. Not looking forward to all those stickers but definitely looking forward to the build.

Here's a picture of all the primary Heisei riders released so far with their matching converge and gashapon toys.

https://i.imgur.com/APOKoCj.jpg

Pretty soon I'm gonna need a wider lense!

It's bring your kids to work day

"Never talk to us or our sons ever again."

Finished painting up my Figure Rise Ex-Aid!(at least until I get orange paint)
On another note, I’m wondering what my next Figure-Rise should be. I’ve narrowed it down to W, Build and Genm. What do you guys think?

I love 'em all, but it depends on what you're looking to get out of the kit.

W is a very fun, very simple kit with a lot of expandability if you pick up multiple forms. Not a ton of painting to be done on him, if that's what you're after.

I'm doing Genm next weekend, but I'd have to think it's like Ex-Aid in every way that counts. Fun kit with a lot that you can paint if you feel like it. And it seems like you do!

Build's a middle ground between the other two. Definitely some fine details that can be improved with paint (panel lining, that white "spring" on Rabbit's leg, the Driver), but fairly straight-forward experience of putting it together and a figure that looks solid just with stickers.

I don't know, there isn't really a wrong answer. I love that W kit, though.

Well, what would be your reasons for each?

I will say that for me personally, I've put Genm at the top of my priority list -- not necessarily because he's my most wanted one (probably top 5, though?) but because he was an exclusive. As such he's much harder to get than the others; and my mindset is that if I see him for a good price, screw wanting Build or Hibiki this month, I'm getting that Kuroto.

You know what, that is very good reasoning. If you’re looking for him he’s on this website: https://www.gundammad.co.uk/product.php?productid=18986 . You can also find him on Ebay for equally decent prices. I’ll probably get Build or Genm.!depends how much I’ll have. Thanks everybody!

Woooah woah woah; hold the heck up, is that a UK site that domestically ships FRS Riders???

Yeah, but I haven’t actually ever ordered from them before.

So I built Den-O this evening and it's a really great kit, however I feel it fuels this conspiracy theory I have:

I think Bandai is deliberately holding FRS back so as to not compete with Figuarts. The scale being slightly off, the articulation being slightly limited. This kit feels capable of perfection but some things just stand out as "why would they stop short of greatness? Like the ankles. They're really limited due to the design, but don't need to be. They could easily have larger joints cut into the show itself, ala figuarts, but he's got these tiny black universal joints that just don't cut it. There's lots of little limitations that, while they don't drag the kit down, they keep it from reaching the peak Bandai is so clearly capable of reaching, but they don't. Because if they did, guys like me would just quit Figuarts and go all-in on models. :lol

I wish they had a bigger budget. The Den-gasher could've been parts separated with blue. The middle of the belt could've been translucent red with a black rim sticker rather than one whole sticker.

Ah well, still a fantastic kit, but Bandai's holding back and I wish they wouldn't.

I mean frankly? I have the same conspiracy theory for why Bandai suddenly pivoted their mainline gimmick figures from standard 6' to suddenly giving RKF its own completely unique scale incompatible with anything else. So I wouldn't be surprised!

The best explanation for RKF I've heard of is that it makes the big Rider armours like the Time Mazine and Breaking Mammoth a lot more appetising for Bandai by requiring much less plastic to be able to interact with the Rider itself. It's still semi-tinfoil hat, but less so than "Bandai is intentionally shooting themselves in the foot in a completely different market."

I had these same thoughts, especially with how close the SHF and FRS of Den-O release dates were. I asked the folks at Bluefin and they said that the teams for both product lines are completely separate. Obviously there is some overlap in planning and launch, but there is no expectation (at least from Bandai's perspective) that these two lines take away from each other, no more than Gundam model kits and Gundam action figures take away from each other.

For a significant amount of people, the idea of having to build a kit to create a figure is anathema. And simply put, a model kit is just never gonna match the detail, material quality, and durability of a Figuarts, especially an SS.

I am an avid Gunpla builder and I sometimes forgot how many people just do straight builds without any extra detailing, painting, or otherwise improvements (many many people outright refuse to use any form of a sticker!).

As for the foot/ankle joints, from what I understand, it has a lot to do with visuals. None of the FRS kits have the toe joint, but they gave one to Kuuga, and then afterwards, Den-O, Hibiki, and Decade go back to one-piece feet. This is because Kuuga's black shoes hides it very well and he has a somewhat iconic pose that utilizes a toe bend.

That being said, I personally prefer the look of a solid foot. I've never been a fan toe joints on my figures.

I feel that if Bandai is forbidding FRS from doing certain things that Figuarts do, then the same goes for the reverse.

Speaking from experience with a different line, the FRS Dragon Ball kits use absolutely excellent knee joints that many fans have been clamoring for the Figuarts line to do for years. And yet it's never happened. Sure, certain characters have gotten better looking knee joints(Super Buu), but never the excellently done ones that FRS has.

But in Japan model kits is a huge, and I mean huge demographic, and a lot of collectors would likely easily go for a model over an expensive Figuarts if they were closer in quality. I mean it's already that way for Gunpla, where despite the Robot Damashiis being categorically superior figures, the model kits are still more popular due to being cheaper, covering more characters, and with the effort can look just as good or better. The only difference is the models came first in Gundam, while Figuarts is the established brand in Kamen Rider with models only really now gaining traction/popularity.

I mean, it's not without precedent even in the US. Toylines can "compete with themselves" if they have two sublines arguably achieving the same goals with little distinction.

I think the history of the franchise plays a part too as Gunpla is a pretty big part of Gundam merchandise where as for Kamen Rider it's mostly the DX Roleplay toys and figures. Although I do wonder how well received the FRS Kamen Rider kits are among the Japanese collectors and how popular they are with the general public. At least it's cool that they are trying different things with the Figure-rise line though. Being model kits means it's easier to modify and customize to your liking. Something I'd definitely not want to do with expensive figures.

I built a new friend today! He's a total asshole and I love him. It's Kamen Rider Genm!

https://challengerscomics.com/images/kr/sodo/genm1.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images/kr/sodo/genm2.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images/kr/sodo/genm3.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images/kr/sodo/genm4.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images/kr/sodo/genm5.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images/kr/sodo/genm6.jpg

If you've built the Ex-Aid kit, you basically know what you're in for. Solid build that's super-straightforward, this time with way less colors of plastic. Also, still an I Hope You Like Stickers amount of stickers. I went with the "marker stickers" this time, instead of the normal shiny stickers. (Both are provided, just like with Ex-Aid.) It's... I like it? It definitely is a lot more subtle, to the degree that I'm not sure you can tell how many purple stickers there are on him. It's a lot! But since they're more transparent (I assume to mimic the use of markers on plastic), they don't pop as much as you may expect/want. If you want a more purple Genm, use the normal stickers. If you want a blacker Genm, try the marker stickers.

Now, you may be asking, "Hey, Kamen Rider Die. I thought Genm comes with his Bugvisor? Why didn't you take any pictures of that?" To this hypothetical person I would say OH MY GOD I TRIED AND IT ALMOST KILLED ME.

See, the hand that holds the Bugvisor is two pieces: the hand, and the thumb that closes the grip. The problem is the thumb lodges in not super tight, and the Bugvisor handle is as large as grip, so every time the Bugvisor tilts even slightly the thumb detaches and the Bugvisor falls out. The Bugvisor is too heavy (and off-center enough) to stay in the grip of the hand. I'm going to glue the grip shut around the handle later tonight, and I'll maybe take pictures then. For now, the process of keeping the hand in one piece around the handle was the most aggravating thing I've ever experienced with a Figure-Rise kit.

Moving on!

https://challengerscomics.com/images...genmexaid1.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images...genmexaid2.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images...genmexaid3.jpg

Here's Genm with Ex-Aid. I used the normal stickers on Ex-Aid, as opposed to the marker stickers I used on Genm. I think they look pretty good together!

He looks great! Wish he had toe pivot so you could try to balance him on his toes(that's one of his signature poses right? Or am I thinking of someone else?).

It's kinda surprising to see that purple handle -- I mean it makes total sense when I think about it for more than two seconds; Genm has purple runners instead of pink, but it's still so odd to see especially when FRS just never has colour inaccuracies like that. Makes me wonder if a hypothetical Brave and Snipe would get blue and green handles respectively. Oof, that last one would clash...


Reeeeal shame to hear about the Bugvisor, gotta admit. I... I actually think that's made me reconsider getting this kit over the LVUR! For this form the Bugvisor is such a unique thing that makes him stand out, I believe it's the only weapon in this kit; and he can't even use it without it exploding off if you so much as breathe at it? Beyond a fitting parallel to his psyche that doesn't sound ideal!

It is, but generally only for his Dangerous Zombie form. Not that I'd mind...

Genm looks great!

After going back and forth for so long, I finally ordered my first kit today: HeatMetal. The Figuart is long gone now, and it's one of my favorite W forms so why not?

Hope you enjoy it!! I've got a W coming in soon myself :D

The glue dried, so here's some photos!

https://challengerscomics.com/images.../bugvisor1.jpg
https://challengerscomics.com/images.../bugvisor2.jpg

The glue definitely fixes the problem. It sucks to have to glue anything on Figure-Rise kit, but one little drop of super glue in the seam between the thumb and hand, zero problems afterward.

Well, zero problems with the hand falling apart, at least. Visually, I don't love the Bugvisor? It doesn't ever run parallel to Genm's arm, it's always slightly off-center. Usually, it's very off-center, constantly pointing down. It's all because the Bugvisor hand is Ex-Aid's Gashacon Breaker hand, and that's the wrong angle of grip for Genm. He needs a straight-line of a grip, like he's holding a railing, but he's stuck with a diagonal. They molded him a new weapon, why didn't they mold him a new hand to hold it?