Raiden Kyoryuzin, Lightning Brave Finish Mini Pla Gallery
 

What better way to Bravely say goodbye to Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger than a special edition Raiden Kyoryuzin mini Pla set! A Bandai webshop exclusive, this kit is equivalent to a 6 box set containing Gabutyra (a 2 box model), Stegotchi, Dricera and Pteragordon (also 2 box model). Nothing is left out of each kit so they can combine to sepratly form Kyoryuzin and Pteraiden-Oh just like to normal kits. The mini pla kits did sacrifice the Zyudenchi gimmick, but considering the size of the kits and no electronics its pretty understandable. However zyudenchi details can be found on Gabutyra's neck and tail, Pteragordon's neck and Pteraiden-Oh's arms.

It isn't really worth mentioning but the Lighting edition only came with one piece of candy rather than six. That's normal for these types of box sets, but honestly one piece is more than enough. I still taste it..


Similare to the previous Pla special eidtion, Gobuster Oh Meteor, this set is done up in a glittery translucent plastic but has a unique orange and yellow color scheme, It also includes chrome gold/silver lables. The model is pretty impressive to see in person. The colors are meant to mimic Raiden Kyoryuzin's finishing move, Lightning Brave Finish, hints the model's name. With any luck we'll see a ToQoh done up in candy like transparent colors!

Not sure if it's that Brave, but it's definitely a lightning finish, heh.

Looks cool, but I think I prefer the original's colours.

Hot damn that looks good! I always love these translucent sets. Glad to see they keep churning them out.

Looks pretty~

Golden! Awesome!

It looks great. Might look for it to go wirh my candy toy Ace.

I'd forgotten all about this set. Looks really nice!

I suppose that I'm in the minority here, but who really wants a megazord that looks like an orange gummy bear...the mold loses all definition when there's no color and you can see straight through it. Special editions are just a way for Bandai to get one last quick cash-in on a mold that they're about to retire...they then cast these molds in a single color (cheaper for them) and charge a premium price because they're "limited". Also, painting and customizing is half the fun of candy toys, and with these you're forced to only use the stickers it comes with. I think I'll stick with my originals.

That is supremely silly.

Not really an informed opinion. Of the last 3 years worth of translucent exclusives this one is the first to be cast in a solid color. Gokai Oh and Go-Buster Oh were both cast in the translucent colors of their individual components. And this set is meant to represent a finishing move. That's why it's cast in a single color. If anything this set makes MORE sense to produce than previous ones because this coloration actually exists. In show Raiden Kyoryuzin literally looks like this when it uses Lightning Brave Finish. So I'd reconsider your stance.

No, I'd say that my opinion is quite informed. The only time I specifically mentioned translucent figures was to say that they hide the details of the mold when you can see straight through the figure. The rest of my comments were about "special edition" figures in general, such as the traditional "black" versions of the DX mecha. These mecha, in general, use a much smaller palette of plastic colors and are pushed to the market in an attempt to have us all buy the same thing twice before Bandai moves on to the next theme.

In a way, the same thing goes for other toy lines, such as the BoA Battle Ready figures. The "rare" figures are the ones made out of one clear color and have no painted details. We always rush after these limited versions even though they're inferior in every way to the standard versions.

I also stand by my opinion that this takes the fun out of candy toys by forcing you to use only the stickers it comes with. The only reason I buy candy toys is because I can paint them myself, make them as detailed as I want, and make them (potentially) better looking and more accurate than the actual DX versions. I go out of my way to avoid using any stickers unless its absolutely necessary and this set basically forces you to use them.

I could understand wanting to own this piece, since its technically used in the show for a split second...though we have to draw the line as to what is actually considered "show-accurate". Do we really need to pay for a new figure because a megazord flashed during one finishing move? There are other special editions, such as the black version of the Lightspeed megazord (Sigma Project/LifeForce Megazord) which were used in the show and actually had a full suit...I'd say that examples such as that would better suit your argument, and if Bandai were to create more limited versions and give them a purpose in the show then I'd have a lot easier time getting behind them.

However, my opinion is in no way uninformed, and I don't think that anyone can argue that Bandai doesn't release these at the end of each product line to make a few extra bucks off of a mold that they're about to retire. I still believe that the originals are the superior versions, and I wouldn't understand wanting to pay a premium price for a second version figure that I already own, just with less detail...that's my opinion, but it doesn't make it invalid because you disagree. If you enjoy special editions, then go for it, I was just stating my opinion of them (which I thought was the point of having a discussion thread). Because my opinion doesn't agree with yours doesn't make it uninformed...you could "inform" me about them all day, but it still wouldn't make me want to pay another $40+ for (in my opinion) a lesser version of something I already own.

First of all, you're posting in the gallery thread for a minipla set. Had you clarified you were even talking about DX's in your initial post then maybe some confusion could have been saved eh? Because literally your ENTIRE post refers to the traits of minipla. DX's are not "cast" in one color. Model kits are.

But before you start assuming how DX repaints work remember a few things. By the time the premium (usually black) repaint comes out, the series is over or nearly is. They're typically released as premiums and produced in smaller numbers, often only available for order on the Bandai Premium shops or at special store locations, and not available to normal retailers. Comparing a BOA action figure, to a much larger and fully functional DX robo is a false analogy. The two couldn't be more dissimilar.

The Sigma Project Max Victory Robo is the exact same situation. It was an exclusive, not sold at normal retail, done up in a special one off color scheme from a single episode of the show. And it was far more expensive than the minipla set of the time was. Yes it was used in show, once. This form of Kyoryuzin however appeared multiple times through out the course of Kyoryuger. If anything it has more reason to have been produced. Would you be more upset if it had been a DX repaint instead?

What you personally deem "fun" for candy toys literally has nothing to do with how & why their produced either. You don't like labels and want to paint, that's great. But that's not the point of this set. That's why it's a premium exclusive and not a general retail release. The entire point of this set is building it as is to represent the Lightning Brave Finish. Hence the clear colors to give it the energy glow effect. Like it or not this is how it should look.

Bandai may tend release these things (DX & Minipla) at the tail ends of lines to a make a few extra dollars. But nobodies forcing anyone to buy it. You may not understand the point of it's existence or the desire to own, but obviously a ton of people do or it wouldn't exist. So when stating an opinion of something like this, try to express it in a manner that makes sense (i.e. clarify what you're actually talking about). Dismissing the very existence of something like this is kind of a smack in the face to the user who was kind enough to buy this set just to share images with the community.

I personally love this gallery. The set looks amazing in that gold finish, and anything Pteragordon I'm down for. One question I had though was quality. Sometimes translucent plastic stresses easier than solid, and I still have no idea why, so I was wondering if any stress marks appeared or you think some might soon?

So far there are no stress marks, I was surprised to find that the plastic is pretty soft for a transparent material. My Gobuster Oh meteor did break in a few places, but the original model broke in the same places so I doubt it was a problem with the transparent plastic. I do expect the material to get more brittle over time, seems to be the fate of mini pla (mine anyways), so I'll enjoy it while it's still in its prime. But for now it feels very sturdy.

The first line of my original post was referring to minipla. The second sentence, when I mentioned solid-colored kits, I specifically generalized "special edition" figures. Whether or not DX figures are cast or whatever is arguing semantics.

Yes, That was the entire point of my post, that these figures are released to make one last use of the same mold we've already purchased. That's why I brought up the Battle Ready figures...my point was that, for whatever reason, we as collectors are drawn to buying the same things twice. Once in a standard version, and once again in a "special version" which often has less detail. I wasn't comparing the BoA figures to BoJ mecha, I was merely pointing out that Bandai continuously tries to sell us the same thing twice, throughout multiple product lines (again, referring to all special editions, not just minipla).

My point was that this can't really be considered a "form" of Kyoryujin, Kyoryujin never turns gold, its the glow of the lightning surrounding him from his attack. Sigma Max Victory Robo may have only appeared once, but it was for an entire battle, not just a glow from a finishing attack. It had its own suit and was an entirely new "form" of the Victory Robo. I said that I would like to see more examples like the Sigma where the special version is a true form with a backstory and a purpose.

I never said that what I thought was fun had anything to do with their production. That's why that sentence was prefaced with "also"...it was obviously a separate thought. I never said that it isn't how it should look...I was merely stating what made candy toys fun for me, and because of that, why this set didn't interest me.

I thought I did a fairly decent job of explaining myself, though I can't help how those words are received. Maybe I shouldn't have called it the gummy bear megazord, but that's really the only thing that may have been uncalled for...everything else was my opinion of the figure and my views on special edition releases. The point of these threads is to discuss the figures, that doesn't mean that we all have to like them. And I'm pretty sure that I can dislike the figure without insulting the one who posted the thread. I certainly appreciate the time and money that goes into making these galleries...but that doesn't mean that I'm not allowed to express a negative opinion of the reviewed items, and when I do so those words are directed at the figure not the member who made the post. I have much respect for MoonBaseTom and the rest of the team here who provide us with so many of these galleries...its not smacking him in the face by saying that I don't like a figure which he happens to own.

Regardless...all of this is pointless and I shouldn't need to write an essay to defend three sentences worth of opinion.