Let's rocket: Al and Nadeshiko picspam
I recently got Nadeshiko, so that meant picspam, along with a proper picspam for Al (sorry, Yuji, but there's not much more to be said on the SIC Oprhnochs other than they're very nice-looking but difficult to articulate due to high detail).
So let's start with Al. Here's the hole in his butt that lets that horrible stand through. As you can see, his loincloth also is articulated, I guess for action poses. Articulation on this figure is not great. I actually have to say it's worse than Wolf Orphnoch. See, with Wolfumi, there was the potential for movement, but it was impeded by the detail work. Al's joints are graduated, based on some kind of gear system rather than a smooth ball-and-socket that limits the amount of movement you can make. The most articulate point on him is his chest, oddly enough. He's so stiff that I can't even bring his hands together in the all-important alchemy clap FMA is known for (alongside transmutation circles, the Philosopher's Stone, a depressing and beloved 2003 anime, a faster-paced and lighter-hearted new anime following more closely to the manga, and short protagonists with shorter tempers).
Al, naturally, comes with a host of accessories, including this stand and effect...thing. The effect is supposed to be for him running like hell, but I figured it should also be usable for, you know, ALCHEMY. Didn't work out too well, and I still don't know what's up with the ugly orange stand. The effect doesn't plug into it or anything. There is an alternate head, and there's an extendable ball-and-socket joint functioning as the neck, but it's even more of a pain than the Figuarts to try to attach things to. Still, it does reveal a nice detail: the blood seal anchoring Al's soul to the armor.
Overall on Revoltech Al? Not worth the money. It's pretty, definitely. But you can't do much with it, which is half the fun of these kinds of figures.
On the exact opposite end of the spectrum, we have Nadeshiko. I have a thing for female Riders--well, female heroes in general, especially in a male-dominated medium like superheroes, and Kamen Rider is particularly a sausage fest. Nadeshiko was featured in the Kamen Rider Fourze portion of Movie Wars MEGAMAX, and there was an explanation given why she looked exactly like Fourze, but I don't feel like spoiling the movie. Like the Ryuki cast, she comes with her own Tamashii stand, which is more adorable than it should be. Her accessories are a little sparse, but she didn't have a ton of Astro Switches to work with. No, this does not mean I'm going to buy the Fourze modules and go nuts. Articulation is a world away from Al, including Faiz-like shoulderpads and the details above her feet. BE CAREFUL, though: those details fall off very easily if you're trying to change the position of her feet. Detailing is great, like the almost catlike "ears" on her helmet, or the ribbed silver neck, or the sailor fuku jetpack.
Her included hands are the initial fists, open hands, an outstretched hand for the all-important Fourze handshake, a Rocket module, and a pair of clasped hands that honestly pisses me off because while she's cute, she's not this yamato nadeshiko archetype it implies. She broke a Dustard's neck in the middle of battle. Ain't nothing moe about her. The Rocket module is a pain in the ass to attach, possibly more than working with Kaoru's Rekka Daizantou, if only because you have to detach the whole arm and fit on a different piece before it's "Rocket on."
Another complaint I have is the belt. It's a repainted Fourze belt. You can clearly see the spots for four switches. And you know how I pointed out on Shinji and Ren that their belts moved? Well, Nadeshiko's is way too big. It's not fitted to her at all. I had to angle it myself to get the patented Nadeshiko belt-tilt. I really hope this isn't a sign of what'll come when they get to a Kamen Rider Femme Figuarts. Just make the henshin belt fit the female figures, okay? Even if you have to cut it down a bit. That's all I ask.
So let's start with Al. Here's the hole in his butt that lets that horrible stand through. As you can see, his loincloth also is articulated, I guess for action poses. Articulation on this figure is not great. I actually have to say it's worse than Wolf Orphnoch. See, with Wolfumi, there was the potential for movement, but it was impeded by the detail work. Al's joints are graduated, based on some kind of gear system rather than a smooth ball-and-socket that limits the amount of movement you can make. The most articulate point on him is his chest, oddly enough. He's so stiff that I can't even bring his hands together in the all-important alchemy clap FMA is known for (alongside transmutation circles, the Philosopher's Stone, a depressing and beloved 2003 anime, a faster-paced and lighter-hearted new anime following more closely to the manga, and short protagonists with shorter tempers).
Al, naturally, comes with a host of accessories, including this stand and effect...thing. The effect is supposed to be for him running like hell, but I figured it should also be usable for, you know, ALCHEMY. Didn't work out too well, and I still don't know what's up with the ugly orange stand. The effect doesn't plug into it or anything. There is an alternate head, and there's an extendable ball-and-socket joint functioning as the neck, but it's even more of a pain than the Figuarts to try to attach things to. Still, it does reveal a nice detail: the blood seal anchoring Al's soul to the armor.
Overall on Revoltech Al? Not worth the money. It's pretty, definitely. But you can't do much with it, which is half the fun of these kinds of figures.
On the exact opposite end of the spectrum, we have Nadeshiko. I have a thing for female Riders--well, female heroes in general, especially in a male-dominated medium like superheroes, and Kamen Rider is particularly a sausage fest. Nadeshiko was featured in the Kamen Rider Fourze portion of Movie Wars MEGAMAX, and there was an explanation given why she looked exactly like Fourze, but I don't feel like spoiling the movie. Like the Ryuki cast, she comes with her own Tamashii stand, which is more adorable than it should be. Her accessories are a little sparse, but she didn't have a ton of Astro Switches to work with. No, this does not mean I'm going to buy the Fourze modules and go nuts. Articulation is a world away from Al, including Faiz-like shoulderpads and the details above her feet. BE CAREFUL, though: those details fall off very easily if you're trying to change the position of her feet. Detailing is great, like the almost catlike "ears" on her helmet, or the ribbed silver neck, or the sailor fuku jetpack.
Her included hands are the initial fists, open hands, an outstretched hand for the all-important Fourze handshake, a Rocket module, and a pair of clasped hands that honestly pisses me off because while she's cute, she's not this yamato nadeshiko archetype it implies. She broke a Dustard's neck in the middle of battle. Ain't nothing moe about her. The Rocket module is a pain in the ass to attach, possibly more than working with Kaoru's Rekka Daizantou, if only because you have to detach the whole arm and fit on a different piece before it's "Rocket on."
Another complaint I have is the belt. It's a repainted Fourze belt. You can clearly see the spots for four switches. And you know how I pointed out on Shinji and Ren that their belts moved? Well, Nadeshiko's is way too big. It's not fitted to her at all. I had to angle it myself to get the patented Nadeshiko belt-tilt. I really hope this isn't a sign of what'll come when they get to a Kamen Rider Femme Figuarts. Just make the henshin belt fit the female figures, okay? Even if you have to cut it down a bit. That's all I ask.
