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Post by xiombarg on Aug 31, 2005 22:51:52 GMT -5
I've been periodically watching eBay prices on this figure for awhile now because I've really liked it's cool design. The figure is the Kotobukiya Armored Core ZCL-XA/2. There's a couple reasons I've found tracking prices on this figure interesting. First of all, at the time this figure was made the press run was relatively small because nobody knew how popular the figure would be as a toy from a video game, and Kotobukiya was a newish toy company at this time. So it's not easy to get a hold of like most of the Armored Core figure line is. And second because it's made of plastic, or in other words it's made of material that is nothing special for collector's to take notice of such as die cast. Ok, so what does this add up to. Basically that whatever anyone pays for it should be based upon cool design only. The figure only turns up on eBay about once every few months. Here was the latest one. cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5994738845&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT Cool design is worth a lot these days. It's a good sign for the future of toy robot designs in general.
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Sept 1, 2005 8:03:28 GMT -5
Worse - not only is it plastic, it's a soft PVC in some crucial parts... like the feet! Anyway, mine doesn't stand up properly on his own. Also thanks to this PVC material, once the joints go loose, there's no turning back... never mind that the joints were simple peg-in-hole affairs - I suppose if I really gave a damn, I could glue them in place. And finally the ultimate insult: moving parts that were also in soft PVC like vent-covers. They could open but didn't hold themselves open.
If I could trace my dislike for soft PVC back to a single item in my collection it's this guy. Only 2 good points: 1- That was an awesome paint-job. He does look cool - it's a keeper in his packaging. 2- I bought mine when he was first-released in a local store. So I didn't spend more than $50 for the pair and no shipping...
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Post by xiombarg on Sept 1, 2005 9:42:57 GMT -5
Yeah, I've got this guy too, and there's no doubt about the downside of PVC. I've never had any problems making him stand up mainly because his feet are really big, but it sounds like maybe the feet on yours were improperly cast? My main problem has been with keeping the joints in the arm tight. His gun is so large he can't hold it up for long. The solution I've found for loose joints on any figure is to use blue posting rubber that's used to stick papers to walls or refrigerators. That way you don't have to glue it, and it comes off pretty easy. His paint job is really cool. I like his fold up shoulder cannon too. But I can't complain where I only paid $20 through Diamond distribution back in, what was it, 2000? Something like that.
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Post by JoshB on Sept 1, 2005 15:51:29 GMT -5
I had this.
It's really not a great toy. It doesnt like to stand up, its fragile, and not that sturdy.
But it looks ok, and it is hella rare. I bought mine for $20 and sold it for $120 so i can't complain.
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Post by xiombarg on Sept 1, 2005 20:45:20 GMT -5
Yep. Cool design only. Anyone who buys it is pretty much paying for looks only. It's like taking a bimbo out on a date. She's pretty, but without depth leaves a lot to be desired. Someday they'll make a diecast version of it, along with a diecast, fully articulated Zoids Phoenix Liger, a die cast evil Blade Tekkaman, and while I'm at it I'll just throw in a fully articulated Mandarin Spawn. I wish..
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