iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Oh wow! Thats so awesome!

Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Youll really like it! The MPb still did some stuff I really liked, the feet had that little part that popped up on top & the wings were cleaner But the way the shoulders combine not needing to hide 2 sets of arms is so clever! Im glad I didnt skip this & wait for the SoC like I originally planned

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

The final combined mode is not perfect tho. One of the benefits of the “fold Exkaizer up & put him in the chest” gimmick was that the limbs were freed up & they added a ton of articulation. The waist & shoulder butterflies are functionally useless in the full combined mode.

Closeup of how the great mane gets in the way of shoulder butterfly.

I only attached 1/2 of the red mane.

Because the red plastic plugs into the gold mane you can’t articulate out the panel, locking that shoulder butterfly in its standard position.

The red mane is also attached to the waist piece, so once again, an articulation point (the waist & ab crunch) are locked in place.

Photo above Great Exkaizer showcasing the articulation limits.

While the Red Mane does allow the shoulder to rotate at least, you can see how the left arm would have been able to have moved without it. It’s very difficult to achieve an Obari Pose unfortunately, something the MPb was kinda able to accomplish thanks to swap out hands w/ angled wrists.

Another photo from above. You came that if you remove the red mane, and pop out the front shoulder covers. You CAN use the butterfly joints.

This may be helpful on photos, but this is not ideal, and kinda a bummer that all the base articulation is still under there, just not accessible in full combined mode

This mane part really is the worst part of the figure.

Because if the “store Exkaizer on the back of the figure” gimmick, the mane needs to be able to split in 2, thus unfortunately splits right down the middle, showcasing a split right on top of the white mane crest, it is very apparent in hand & no matter how much I try to push the parts together, I always see the split :/

I really wish that the top part folded out from inside King Exkaizers existing chest lion face or something? Just another pass at the design of this part in particular could have punched the set from “great” to fantastic”

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

GREAT EXKAIZER is pretty great (:D). Once again an improvement over the older MPb release. The blue just pops against the white, and the figures proportions in hand are so good I really missed my old MPb (I sold it years ago), but having this in hand and looking at old photos, this so so much nicer

GREAT EXKAIZER

This is a combined mode made up of 3 robots, a smaller Exkaizer inside the chest, the King Exkaizer that makes up the main body & limbs, and finally Dragon Kaiser who adds the boots & shoulders to the design.

It just looks so clean as a combined robot mode. I love him!

One big critique I have tho is the sword is too small, there was plenty of room in the box for another 3 or 4 inches, and they could have done what the MP did, where the handle was a separate part from the blade for packaging, and you then assembled the full Kaizer Sword.

Closeup of the upper body & head of Great Exkaizer.

They smartly included a larger head that clamps over the smaller head of the robot for this larger combined mode. It really assists in giving the final mode a proportional head!

Another improvement over the old MPb

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

There is also a combined “base mode”Takara included as a gimmick, but at least nothing involved in it really compromises the rest of the figures

A photo of the TOYRISE origional KaizerBase mode (I don’t think that’s actually what it’s called, but I’m rolling with it).

It’s neat? I don’t think it really adds much to the figures, and I also realized I missed flipping up the panel on the left leg? But I’m not breaking the figures back down to build this up again.

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

My Toyrise Dragon Kaiser was delivered. It’s a really nice blue. And the figure is both an improvement visually & feels way more solid then the old MPbrave release The gold paint is nice, but like King Exkaizer’s mane, I am concerned with its durability & it seems easy to scratch off the corners

Photo of Toyrise DragonKaizer.

The chest crest is not articulated & the eyes are fixed, you cannot display the figure as a drone like you could on the old MPbrave release.

However I do wanna call out JUST HOW NICE the blue is in person. And all the gold is painted, not vac metal.

FORM UP!

Exkaizer loads into Dragon Kaiser from the back. This also happened with the King Exkaizer release, this was introduced as a TOYRISE feature. And really frees up the figure arms & legs to do different things with the transformations. I don’t mind it!

Photo of TOYRISE King Exkaizer & Dragon Kaiser.

Exkaizer is loaded into one of their backs! Which one do you think????

Both figures feel amazing in hand, whatever plastic TakaraTomy used is leaps & bounds better then whatever Hasbro is using nowadays.

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Polls are open until 9pm: zohranfornyc.com/vote

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

I’ve done my civic duty!

Special queens specific early voting sticker!

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

I picked up a replacement spark crystal for the New Sky-Byte, and it arrived today! Super easy to swap, and it really improves the robot mode. It’s a really nice kit! www.nonnef.com/products/sky...

Nonnef productions upgrade kit after the swap. Thats the stock purple chest orb, and the remaining 3 faction symbols. I used the solid white background predacon symbol

Transformers Age Of The Primes Nu Sky-Byte before the spark crystal swap. Note the purple orb in the middle of the chest, its show accurate but less charming then how the origional toy looked.

Sky-Byte after the spark crystal swap! Look at that light pink transparent plastic w/ a predacon symbol. Super great! I’m so happy!

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Ian @hardreturn.net · 06/08/2025

Megatron

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Solid weekend for Trials. They introduced a new pass this season, so instead of going to the lighthouse, it seems you can just get rewards as you play. Pretty non stressful week overall! Big improvement from past weekends! #Destiny2

Photo of this weekends trials pass. We got 7 wins!

7 wins. 3 losses. 10 games total! Not bad for a Sunday night in Destiny

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Kars @karoshimyriad.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Fate/Hollow Ataraxia Remastered is now listed on the Switch eShop. Retail is $29.99 but currently has a 10% off early purchase discount. US: www.nintendo.com/us/store/pro... JP: store-jp.nintendo.com/item/softwar...

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Tom Wyrrwuffznable @tomaznable.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

The 30th Anniversary Gundam Wing clip is live on YouTube! Including a bunch of Frozen Teardrop stuff! youtu.be/ueB0oNajuEg?...

youtu.be

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 30th Anniversary Video -Operation 30th-

YouTube video by GundamInfo

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

I was not super impressed with the other Metal Robot wing Gundams I bought. But I am gonna get Wing & any other first half Gundams they release. It’s a big bummer that the Aquarius seems to have fallen into Bandai limbo. Figuarts Heero is a shock, and I’ll be getting all 5 pilots no question.

Photo from Bandai instagram showcasing. Metal Robot Wing Gundam, from Vundam Wing.

And a SH Figuarts Heero Yuy tease

MORE INFO JULY 24th!

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Ian @hardreturn.net · 14/07/2025

Monstructor

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Ian @hardreturn.net · 14/07/2025

Bristleback and Slog

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Ian @hardreturn.net · 14/07/2025

Birdbrain, Scowl, Wildfly, and Icepick

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

He’s also got a matrix, and I gave him the cartoon gun from that G1 universe toy styled Prime

Hasbro thinks Every Prime needs a matrix, but I think I’m over it. Just utilize that space to make more interesting torso transformation engineering & articulation

G1 universe Prime’s cartoon gun accessory goes well with him! This Prime also came with an Ace, but I threw it in the recycling. It’s UNIMPRESSIVE.

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Studio Series (Gamerverse?) Devastation Optimus Prime [From Transformers]

Prime poses fine. But he is missing a neck balljoint, an ab crunch, thigh swivels, and wrist joints.

The plastic feels ok in hand & I like the cell shading effect on his windows

This back is a mixed bag. Like yea don’t display your toys backwards & it’s not an issue, but that lower back & waist is MESSY.

Surprisingly, the lower legs are super clean thanks to how the wheels pivot away. It even gives the figure the proper Prime leg slope!

Something I really like is the body proportions. Like it gets the correct small upper body, and long legs & waist that I like out of a Prime design.

The in box view of the figure did not really promote this. It was a pleasant surprise to set him on a table & see that body shape!

He converts into a Truck.

It’s messy, the gas cans are more of an idea and less of a molded detail, and the trailer hitch is just a flip out circle.

I don’t care for this truck. I wish that the grill also didn’t have the gaps under it.

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Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 25/06/2025

Here's the ultra-short read on the Mamdani logo design www.gq.com/story/zohran...

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Rev. Poppy Haze 𓅋 @poppyhaze.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

we’re about to find out if loving SimCity makes you a better mayor Mamdani was asked in 2002 by NY Mag what he wanted for Christmas and said SimCity 3000

A magazine list showing #37, Zohran Mamdani, age 11, asked for Books, FIFA 2003 and SimCity 3000 video games.

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Timothy Burke @bubbaprog.xyz · 25/06/2025

"GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE"

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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

NEW YORK (AP) — Andrew Cuomo concedes New York City Democratic mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani.

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Yuh-Line Niou @yuhline.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

As we head to Election Day, for folks who voted early, thank you. I know some folks have not yet made up their minds. I am making an appeal to you. Please do not rank Cuomo. I have worked with every single one of the candidates for mayor. I will tell you he does not like us.

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

I had downtime, so recombined the upper body. I think the back is pretty clean! Everything snaps together & there really isn’t anything loose on the combined mode. I do kinda wish that the dumptruck was higher towards the top of his back. But I don’t think the overall location is terrible in hand.

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Vangelus @vangelus.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

new review piece, speaking on the full standalone breadth of action figure known to all specifically as Transformers Generations Studio Series '86 Deluxe Class Constructicon Bonecrusher (2 of 6) youtu.be/55QdLMlPlJw

youtu.be

Studio Series 86 Bonecrusher (Transformers Generations) - Vangelus Review 468-A

YouTube video by Vangelus

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Mostly clean! I’m happy with how everything fits together! But I’ve already broken him back down to vehicles. But @t16skyhopp.bsky.social may still have his combined up tho.

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Devastator is really solid as a combiner. Even without an arm & a leg! The biggest visuals issue I had with the prototype was the chest plate riding low. But in hand, I can live with this. If HASLAB LioKaizer is as solid as this, I’ll be very very happy.

Photo of Studio Series Devastator (mostly?) combined.

He’s being propped up by an IKEA box & some coasters.

Photo of Devatator, Menasor, and Commander Class Optimus

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

BBTS got the commander class set in on Friday, and somehow even with $4 shipping. It showed up today! I’m very impressed with LongHaul & Hook. They are solid & the plastic feels great. Only 2 (two) more constructions to go, and Devastator will be complete! What a fun set so far!

Photo of 4/6 Transformers Constructicons released in Studio Series.

From left to right, Long Haul, Scrapper, Bonecrusher, and Hook.

Long Haul & Hook were released as a 2 pack commander class. The other 2 are a deluxe & voyager.

There will be 1 more deluxe & 1 more voyager, and then the full team of 6 will be assembled.

(Not photographed is the additional combiner kibble to create Devastator. The additional parts don’t bother me, the G1 also had extra parts anyway. And you cannot ignore the benefits of a more clean set of Teammembers due to the offloading of the combiner waist.)

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Sky Burkson @skyburkson.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Paper Space Pirate Statue WIP Paper Super Metroid bristol paper, cardstock, & sketchbook paper

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

No. I didn’t get the PGU 78 either. I think it’s really VERY nice & I’m impressed w/ the presentation. And the video really reminds me of the MetalStructure promotional material too. Besides, I have this idiot already where I would have displayed that New Nu :D

Photo of the Metal Structure Nu Gundam standing on its display base w/ its fin funnels equipped

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

Bandai has a nice 5 minute video about the PGU Nu. Showcasing the frame & having 2 of the designers talk about points of the figure. It’s really impressive, and I like alot of the styling choices youtu.be/_mqE_MY2Qys?...

youtu.be

「PERFECT GRADE UNLEASHED 1/60 ν GUNDAM」PV

YouTube video by GundamInfo

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Soren Spicknall @sorenspicknall.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I need you all to see the hype video that this person made to sell their 1994 Geo Metro

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Tom @firebirdgt.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

I think I’ve come to terms with this Sideburn figure. I still don’t love it, but it’s FINE as a compliment to the Haslab. Does it kinda suck that you need a $250+ limited release to improve a deluxe? Yea. But think if we can see the other 2 Autobot Brothers, then that will help him even more.