Brave

[kayevcee]

Approximately half my body weight in Brave toys left Shopping Mall Japan's warehouse last Friday. Surprisingly, it cost less to ship than my last extravagant Brave purchase, Might Gaine Perfect Mode. That might have something to do with none of the boxes being two feet long, three feet wide and four inches deep. It arrived in what appeared to be a fridge box that actually had other boxes inside it to pad it out.

-Nick

[legios]

Heh. Well, given that Great MightGaine Perfect mode is himself comprised of three distinct toys, two of which are combiners then perhaps it is not entirely surprising he comes in quite large boxes. Be glad it was Takara who released him - they were at least conservative in their boxing practices. If they'd come out from Yamato the boxes would have been the size of your flat!

Oh, Nick, would it be possible for Captain Shark to join you on our forthcoming voyage to Planet Falkirk? I would quite like to see this marvel myself.

Karl

[kayevcee]

That was the plan, yes. If the Box Of Ultimate Joy reaches me before Saturday, he'll have friends, too.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

Unless it's being sent by orbital jump, I doubt it wil be here that quickly!

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

Stuff from Japan usually arrives in about a week, customs notwithstanding. Unless it's sent by EMS, of course, which I suspect may actually involve some form of teleportation as I've had stuff within 48 hours of getting a shipping notice by that method.

-Nick

[legios]

kayevcee said:

Stuff from Japan usually arrives in about a week, customs notwithstanding. Unless it's sent by EMS, of course, which I suspect may actually involve some form of teleportation as I've had stuff within 48 hours of getting a shipping notice by that method.

-Nick

I must admit I've never had anything travel that fast by EMS (well, actually I have had it travel between Narita and the UK that fast. Then it normally sits in Parcelfarce's international and national depots for about two more days.

Excellent that Captain Shark will be popping over for a visit. I shall introduce him to the SkySaber team.

Karl

[kayevcee]

Damn you Brave book. Look what you made me do.

In other news, Tony, your Victory Leo is here.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

That is a very large box,
Even bigger than a rabid fox!

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

I'm a bit pissed off. Fighbird is yellowed as hell, has torn stickers, is broken in at least four places and his spring-loaded helmet won't stay in the un-sprung position. Can't believe I paid 18 quid plus fees plus postage for it. I'm not sure whether to sling it on eBay or chuck it in the bin.

Make that broken in five places. I was wondering why that left arm wouldn't stay in. The only bits that seem to be in even passable condition are the accessories, which are complete and shiny, almost like they came off another toy. If there are any naked Fighbird owners out there, give me a shout and we might be able to work something out.

That sort of rhymed at the end, there.

EDIT: Fire J-Decker Giftset
Did you know there was a 2/3 scale version of J-Decker that barely transforms by taking it apart and putting it together again, made with rather cheap plastic? I didn't either. Shit. At least this one isn't actually broken.

-Nick

[Andy Turnbull]

It seems Yahoo japan,
has made Nick an unhappy man,
Do not tarry with such unhappy snark,
Instead look to your other items
And find happiness with Captain Shark.

Andy

[Deleted]

I got a bit pissed off about fifteen years ago when I brought a boxed G1 Optimus Prime toy from a jumble sale and discovered when I got home that his legs were completly broken off at the joints. Because of how the toy is designed and also because I had no idea of fixing broken toys it was thrown away shortly afterwards. Fortunatly though, I only paid a quid for it so it was no great loss.

[kayevcee]

Well, I paid about 35 quid each for these two, all in. I'm ever so slightly pissed off- mostly over Fighbird since J-Decker is at least a good example of what he's supposed to be. I think I'll try to cut my losses and flog them then go for the 'proper' ones later in each case. I've still got the Masterpiece King Exkizer and Dragonkizer to open, but I've decided to save them till I've finished my project report.

-Nick

[Philip Ayres]

kayevcee said:

I'm a bit pissed off. Fighbird is yellowed as hell, has torn stickers, is broken in at least four places and his spring-loaded helmet won't stay in the un-sprung position. Can't believe I paid 18 quid plus fees plus postage for it. I'm not sure whether to sling it on eBay or chuck it in the bin.

Co-incidentally my reissue Firebird arrived with a knackered left arm ! I had to take it to bits and put it back together. Kids: Do not take your TFs to bits.

kayevcee said:

Make that broken in five places. I was wondering why that left arm wouldn't stay in. The only bits that seem to be in even passable condition are the accessories, which are complete and shiny, almost like they came off another toy. If there are any naked Fighbird owners out there, give me a shout and we might be able to work something out.

Try the Brave thread at the 2005 boards Toyark

kayevcee said:

EDIT: Fire J-Decker Giftset
Did you know there was a 2/3 scale version of J-Decker that barely transforms by taking it apart and putting it together again, made with rather cheap plastic? I didn't either. Shit. At least this one isn't actually broken.

Shall I bring the real thing to Cardiff with me ?

[The Doctor]

Nick's MP Dragon Kaiser,
Gave me the riser.
It is a robot that sends me to a happy place,
I must have a Dugbase.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

This post on the 2005 boards passed my eye as interesting for some here in a downloading the episode type way: www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=1969732&postcount=1984

[Philip Ayres]

Oooh Captain Shark is rather nice !

[The Doctor]

payres said:

This poast on the 2005 bpoards passed my eye as interesteing for some here in a downloading the episode type way: www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=1969732&postcount
=1984

I'm starting with Might Gaine but after 2 days it's still at 5.5% so this may take some time. Unless other folk join in. Together we're stronger!

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

Jehosophat! Exkaiser is 13Gb! How big is Might Gaine?

-Nick

[The Doctor]

Not far off that! Should be done in a few weeks, I reckon.

-Ralph

[Hero]

I'll try and get some scans up from my Brave series book this week (as seen in week 14 thread). It's pretty decent.

===KEN

[legios]

Is that the one that has a lot of the line art from the Sunrise model sheets in it Ken? Because if it is then I envy you having that.

Karl

[Philip Ayres]

My Da Garn X is being sacrificed on eBay's altar. Please buy it to give me some more space !

[Philip Ayres]

Jan 12, 2010 11:45:30 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Just got a Brave KO in the post - the Power Warriors Jumbo Jet which was in the Argos Catalogue a few years back. It's HUGE ! Well worth the £12 I paid for it.

www.tfw2005.com/boards/toyark/98174-brave-217.html#post4042335

I think it's Brave name is Dagwon.

Jan 12, 2010 22:36:52 GMT kayevcee said:

If you'll pardon my breaking the sanctity of PMs, I'll answer your question here. Takara Fire Dagwon has Micromaster ramp connectors on the backs of his legs, which end up on top of the diagonal facing garage/ramps. However, the Takara release is only 12" high while your one is... 19? Bloody hell! Johnathan will think he's got a new little brother!

Anyway, I fear that if the MM ramp connectors have survived gigantification they'll be both too high up and too far separated to work. I may be wrong, however- keep us posted!

-Nick

Jan 12, 2010 23:03:48 GMT Philip Ayres said:

Ta !

Nick's original version can be seen in the pictures in this thread

[Philip Ayres]

Ah now I know where to look I can see the connectors. They are there but enlarged - the bar in the middle of the base side of the connector is the same width as the entire Micromaster ramp.

[kayevcee]

Aww.

-Nick

[Philip Ayres]

Mar 10, 2008 17:19:56 GMT kayevcee said:

EDIT: Fire J-Decker Giftset

Did you know there was a 2/3 scale version of J-Decker that barely transforms by taking it apart and putting it together again, made with rather cheap plastic? I didn't either. Shit. At least this one isn't actually broken.

-Nick

www.toyark.com/brave-eldoran-thread-932-page5/

[Philip Ayres]

Given what's happening tonight it might be a bad idea to post this but BBTS have Captain Shark back in stock !

[Philip Ayres]

I now have Captain Shark here !

EDIT: REVIEW HERE

[The Doctor]

Good news!

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

Brave Goldram Captain Shark

#In The Town Where I Was Born,
There Lived A Robot, Who Sailed The Sea
And He Told Of His Voyage
As A Shark Shaped Submarine

We All Love The Shark Shaped Submarine,
The Shark Shaped Submarine,
The Shark Shaped Submarine!
We All Love The Shark Shaped Submarine,
The Shark Shaped Submarine,
The Shark Shaped Submarine!#

(adapted from the original lyrics by Lennon & McCartney)

Transformers fans can be a bit picky about other lines of Transforming robots. We look down our noses at Go-Bots, Power Rangers and Dinozaurs. But if there's one toyline we all like then it's Takara's Brave. OK, yes, it's the same Japanese manufacturer as Transformers, reuses some Transformers and has similar styling so perhaps we're a little biased.

The eight Brave toylines are:

1990 Brave Exkaiser
1991 The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird
1992 The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn
1993 The Brave Express Might Gaine
1994 Brave Police J-Decker
1995 The Brave of Gold Goldran
1996 Brave Command Dagwon
1997 The King of Braves GaoGaiGar

Captain Shark is found in 1995's Goldran line and is one of the only toys that year not to be heavily covered in chromed parts. One of the ones I can think of is Death Garry Gun, a repaint of Return of Convoy's Sky Garry.

Captain Shark's primary mode is a shark shaped submarine with a blue upper hull and a salmon pink & red lower hull. His dorsal fin and pectoral fins are cast in grey plastic while his tail is blue. He's got eyes moulded into the head at the front along with an opening grey lower door. There's a bridge complex in front of the dorsal fin. Located round the dorsal fin are four dual cannons which rotate, while there's a pair of single barrelled cannons either side of the tail. At the base of each pectoral fin there's a turbine/missile launcher which can fire either a hook or a harpoon which are stored in a compartment on the right of the back of the shark. The shark can roll along courtesy of three wheels: two under the tail and one behind the mouth.

Captain Shark's primary weapon is a large rotary missile launcher with a grey front and red rear. This launcher can hold *SIXTEEN* missiles far too small to pass a western safety inspection. In shark/submarine mode this weapon can be clipped onto the underside of the toy - there's two small fins at the bottom of the launcher that will allow the whole toy to remain upright - or mounted on a tower that folds out of a flap on the left of the back of the shark - opposite then panel for the hidden weapons.

Captain Shark also has a tank like mode: Remove the missile launcher. Fold the robot's legs down from under the back of the shark then swing the grey panels that cover the lower legs back & up to cover the sides of the upper legs. Fold the legs away and set the shark down on the tank treads each of which contains a pair of small grey wheels. This lifts the shark off the floor, but not far enough to fit the missile launcher underneath it. Fold the tower up from the back of the shark and mount the rotary missile launcher on it. This mode can also form part of Goldran's train mode: attach the L shaped strut into the attachment for the missile launcher under the toy and clip onto another toy in front.

He's also got a "gerwalk" mode: as we've seen the legs can fold down under the shark. From there fold the feet forward and what look like massive heel spurs back. They aren't as overdoing it as you might think as we'll see later.

Transform to robot mode: Fold the legs down under the shark folding the feet forward and the heel spurs back. Fold the pectoral fins downwards bringing the robot's forearms with them. Fold the forearms and section of body they're attached to out to the sides and forwards 90 degrees. Rotate bicep joint 90 degrees outwards. Fold the fists down from under the forearms. Split the tail in two and fold each half out to the sides clipping into his back. Fold the tail ends down. Turn all cannons forward. Fold the bridge section back & up. Open the flap forward that was under the bridge and swing the robot head back. Close flap. Remove cutlass from within the back of the tail section and place into 5mm peg hole in hand. open the panel on the top of the left shoulder pad, fold the tower up and attach the rotary missile launcher pointing forward. Remove the hook and harpoon from the compartment in the right shoulder pad and attach to the missile launchers, the hook wants to go into the launcher on your right (his left) because of the way the hook is moulded.

Our robot mode has a naval cap with skull & crossbones logo, eye patch, hook, harpoon and cutlass. Do you think there's a pirate theme going on here? He's been likened in some places to the fictional Captain Harlock, a popular Manga & Anime character. he robot is dominated by the shark's head on his tummy and the broad shoulders pads which each have a pair of the dual cannons mounted on them. The fins, turbines and cannons end up on each forearm, which in turn ends with a fist with a 5mm peg hole. To emphasise the pirate look fold the hand next to the hook back into the forearm. Both the launchers on the arms still work as does the rotary launcher on his shoulder. The articulation is a little limited: shoulders swing to the sides, biceps turn and elbows bend. However the shear insanity of a pirate robot and the superb sculpting far outweighs that.

Now you might be looking at the bits you got in the box and wondering what the grey frame that clips into the back of the toy is for. Attach it to the toy, fold the dorsal fin to one side, flip back the top of the bridge, now conning tower, behind the robot's head and remove the rotary missile launcher. Between them the frame and the tower allow you to attach the bazooka mode of Advenjer (also written as Advenger or possibly Avenger) onto the toy to use as a HUGE cannon. This explains the massive oversized heel spurs which are necessary to take the weight of the large weapon.

Sharks and submarines work as a combination as the Transformers Beast Wars II Hellscream/Universe Overbite and Energon Sharkticon/Botcon 2010 Sharkticon/Botcon 2010 Sky Byte can testify. Throw in a HUGE missile launcher and a truly insane robot mode (Why does madness follow Takara's sea toy around?) and you have a fabulous transforming robot toy.

If you want one, www.bigbadtoystore.com have the Korean Songkong version of Captain Shark in stock @ $25.99 (at time of writing).