Kitbash 1/6 scale Daniel Craig as MI6 Agent 007 James Bond 12-inch figure as seen in SKYFALL

Having reviewed both ZC World (company) ZCWO (brand) 1/6 scale Articulate Body AB-02 (300 pieces limited edition) 12-inch figure HERE and Asmus Toys 1/6 scale 007 The BOND suit for 12-inch Figure HERE, it's only natural for me to pose Daniel Craig as James Bond as seen in the 2012 SKYFALL movie.

In Skyfall, the film opens in Istanbul, where we see MI6 agents James Bond and Eve Moneypenny chase a mercenary, Patrice, who has stolen a computer hard drive containing details of undercover agents placed in terrorist organisations by NATO states. Bond is not in his usual tuxedo but is seen wearing a silver / grey suit instead. And in the ensuing pursuit, Bond grabs the nearest bike available to chase after Patrice.

So here's 1/6 scale Bond wearing suit and tie getting on a dirt bike to go after Patrice. Scroll down to see more pictures :)

The 1:6 scale bike was borrowed from the British SAS Scud hunters of Operation Desert Storm 1991. It's actually a Hasbro 1998 G.I. Joe Fast Attack Cycle uses as it is ;p

Craig describes his portrayal of Bond whom he has played since 2005 (his first Bond film, Casino Royale, premiered 14 November 2006) as an anti-hero: "The question I keep asking myself while playing the role is, 'Am I the good guy or just a bad guy who works for the good side?' Bond's role, after all, is that of an assassin when you come down to it. I have never played a role in which someone's dark side shouldn't be explored. I don't think it should be confusing by the end of the film, but during the film you should be questioning who he is."

Craig has stated his own favourite previous Bond actor was Sean Connery, but says, "I'd never copy somebody else. I would never do an impression of anybody else or try and improve on what they did. That would be a pointless exercise for me." His own favourite Bond film is From Russia with Love.

On a James Bond-centric episode of The South Bank Show, Connery divulged his thoughts on Craig's casting as Bond, whom he described as "fantastic, marvelous in the part". When told that Craig had taken particular note of his performances, Connery said that he was "flattered" and that Craig really gets the "danger element" to Bond's character.

On 8 September 2012, Bond producers announced Craig had signed on for two future Bond films and not five as previously reported. This would bring his total to five films, which would be two fewer than Roger Moore's record of seven.

Other James Bond figures posted so far:
September 2, 2007 - Pierce Brosnan James Bond, MI6 Agent OO7: Licensed to Kill by Medicom Toys HERE
November 18, 2008 - Quantum of Solace James Bond 2008 pictures HERE
January 26, 2009 - Loading Toys Dangerous Man / Spy OR "Quantum of Solace" James Bond figure HERE
March 3, 2009 - Look Up! Look Down! Look Out! Sean Connery "Thunderball" James Bond figure by Sideshow Collectibles posted in my toy blog HERE
December 11, 2009 - Kitbash 1/6 scale Daniel Craig as James Bond 007 posted HERE
May 1, 2011 - Action Man James Bond Agent 007 "The Spy Who Loved Me" 12-inch Figure REVIEW
May 3, 2011 - Action Man James Bond Agent 007 "GoldenEye" 12-inch Figure REVIEW

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Medicom Kubrick Cosmonauts boxed set - Vostok 1 (Russian: Восток-1, East 1 or Orient 1)

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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Playmobil 5118 Custom Motorcycle with Rider

How about a break from 1/6 for a day?

I always liked bikes and Playmobil bikes are no different :) This custom motorcycle with rider is from Playmobil 5118 and among the six bikes in this particular series, this is my favorite. That's because he's "wearing" urban camouflage (not fabric / cloth outfit but painted to look like it) and the bike looks to be the classic type of bike built for rough handling and dirt riding ;p

Scroll down to see more pictures of this Playmobil 5118 Custom Motorcycle with Rider

The motorcycle rider / biker comes with one helmet, goggles, yellow scarf and a pair of gloves (these are clip-on types since this is Playmobil after all)

Motorcycles are one of the most affordable forms of motorised transport in many parts of the world and, for most of the world's population, they are also the most common type of motor vehicle. There are around 200 million motorcycles (including mopeds, motor scooters, motorised bicycles, and other powered two and three-wheelers) in use worldwide, or about 33 motorcycles per 1000 people. This compares to around 590 million cars, or about 91 per 1000 people. (source: wiki)

Most of the motorcycles, 58%, are in the developing countries of Asia – Southern and Eastern Asia, and the Asia Pacific countries, excluding Japan – while 33% of the cars (195 million) are concentrated in the United States and Japan. In 2006, China had 54 million motorcycles in use and an annual production of 22 million units. As of 2002, India, with an estimated 37 million motorcycles / mopeds, was home to the largest number of motorised two wheelers in the world. China came a close second with 34 million motorcycles / mopeds.

In numerous cultures, motorcycles are the primary means of motorised transport. According to the Taiwanese government, for example, "the number of automobiles per ten thousand population is around 2,500, and the number of motorcycles is about 5,000." In places such as Vietnam, motorised traffic consist of mostly motorbikes due to a lack of public transport and low income levels that put automobiles out of reach for many. The four largest motorcycle markets in the world are all in Asia: China, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Motorcycle construction is the engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of components and systems for a motorcycle which results in the performance, cost, and aesthetics desired by the designer. With some exceptions, construction of modern mass-produced motorcycles has standardised on a steel or aluminium frame, telescopic forks holding the front wheel, and disc brakes. A petrol powered engine typically consisting of between one and four cylinders (and less commonly, up to eight cylinders) coupled to a manual five- or six-speed sequential transmission drives the swingarm-mounted rear wheel by a chain, driveshaft or belt.

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Preview ZY Toys 1/6 scale ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) for 12-inch Action Figures

An all-terrain vehicle (ATV), also known as a quad, quad bike, three-wheeler, or four-wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control. As the name implies, it is designed to handle a wider variety of terrain than most other vehicles.

Because of the ATV's versatility, military forces the world over has adopted them for use in various tasks, including attaching them with trailers for ammunition replenishment and casevac. So it only makes sense for a 1/6 scale manufacturing company to produce an ATV for 12-inch figures :)

This is the ZY Toys 1/6 scale ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) for 12-inch figures. These are the first batch of preview pictures and at the moment, no other information is available other than showing us that there are three versions: Green, Desert and Black. Scroll down to see more pictures

ZY Toys 1/6 scale Green ATV

ZY Toys 1/6 scale Desert ATV

ZY Toys 1/6 scale Black ATV

Check out my 1/6 scale Santa sitting on an ATV to deliver presents posted on December 25, 2010 HERE

And another post of Action Man 12-inch figure riding the 1/6 scale Quad Bike HERE

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Hot Toys Batman Figures & Vehicles Seen @ STGCC 2012: 1/4 Batman, Bane, Catwoman +

continued from previous post...

I showed you Hot Toys 1/6th scale humongous The BAT that was displayed / exhibited at the 2012 Singapore Toy Game & Comic Convention (STGCC 2012) Hot Toys Booth - opens from today September 1 till tomorrow September 2, 2012 (10am till 11pm) - in the previous post; now let's see what else Hot Toys put up on display.

Also on display was the 1/4th scale or quarter scale Batman from "The Dark Knight Rises". This thing is HUGE. At 1/4th scale, The Dark Knight stands at an imposing 18.5 inches / 47 cm tall! I'm glad I'm sticking just to 1/6th scale because I certainly have no space for these 1/4th scale figures as they are way too BIG for my liking but hey, if it's your thing, then I say "Go for it!"

Other than the Hot Toys Quarter Scale QS001 The Dark Knight Rises 1/4th scale Batman Collectible Figure on display with its equally impressive figure stand imitating the movie scene with the masks of Bane, Joker and Scarecrow, as well as the movie logo, there are also the usual "suspects" from Hot Toys 1/6th scale Batman series. Scroll down to see more :)

Here's a close-up picture of the figure stand with the masks of Bane, Joker and Scarecrow, as well as the movie logo PLUS the other accessories that come with this Hot Toys quarter scale Batman figure (all covered in my earlier post HERE)

click on the picture for a BIGGER and BETTER view :)

And here's a look at the 1/4th scale newly developed head sculpt of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in the movie with accurate facial expression, detailed wrinkles and skin texture.

And then there's 1/6th scale BANE, played by Tom Hardy in the "The Dark Knight Rises" but you would hardly know since his face is all covered up by the mask. Bane's best quote from the movie has to be "We will destroy Gotham and then, when it is done and Gotham is ashes, then you have my permission to die!"

Hot Toys "The Dark Knight Rises" 1/6th scale Bane 12-inch Collectible Figure was previewed earlier HERE. Check out the link for more pictures.

Bane 12-inch figure and his 1/6th scale ride, the desert camouflage Tumbler. At least this vehicle will see the light of day since the announcement that there won't be a 1/6th scale BAT (see my previous post)

click on the picture for a BIGGER and BETTER view :)

Besides the 1/4th scale Batman from "The Dark Knight Rises" exhibited at the 2012 Singapore Toy Game & Comic Convention (STGCC 2012) Hot Toys Booth, there's also Hot Toys DX12 "The Dark Knight Rises" 1/6th scale Batman / Bruce Wayne 12-inch Collectible Figure standing on the deluxe stone-like light-up figure stand with steps.

Close-up of Hot Toys DX12 "The Dark Knight Rises" 1/6th scale Batman

And here's a close-up of Hot Toys most recently previewed "The Dark Knight Rises" 1/6th scale Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle / Catwoman 12-inch Collectible Female Figure :) She certainly looks as HOT and as REAL as she did in the preview pictures ;p--- (drool)

Hot Toys The Dark Knight Rises: 1/6th scale Selina Kyle / Catwoman Collectible Figure will come with her tight fitting costume of a one-piece black patterned jumpsuit with belt and One (1) pair of black high-heel boots. Check out the preview pictures HERE. You'll think you are looking at the actual actress / person because of the amazing life-like head sculpt!

And then there's Hot Toys DX11 "The Dark Knight" 1/6th scale Heath Ledger as The Joker 12-inch Figure. The DX11 version Joker has Two (2) interchangeable head sculpts, including one (1) smiling face and one (1) non-smiling face, with non-smiling face having the patented Parallel Eyeball Rolling System (PERS).

Here's a close-up shot / picture of the smiling face version

And finally, there are the other Hot Toys 1/6th scale Batmobiles on display. The 1989 Batman movie Batmobile with 1989 Michael Keaton Batman and Jack Nicholson Joker

As well as the Hot Toys 1966 Batman TV Series 1/6th scale Batmobile

This Batmobile is from my childhood watching the campy Batman TV series with Adam West as Bruce Wayne / Batman and Burt Ward as Dick Grayson / Robin. What a thrill it was then seeing Batman in live action!

And this thing is a beauty! The other Black Beauty is the Green Hornet's technologically advanced car, driven by Bruce Lee as Kato. Who knows? We might actually see a 1/6th scale version as well ;p

MORE STGCC 2012 Hot Toys displays / exhibits to follow...

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