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WALKING
TIN TOYS
BENDER WALKING TIN TOY
2000 - Walking Tin Bender 18.00-24.00
The first tin wind-up toy from RocketUSA stands about 8 1/2" tall and
comes with wind-up key to make him go, cigar (cause he looks cool with
it) and a bottle of Old Fortran for consumption. A real great line of toys
that was a natural for Futurama. While not a perfect sculpt to the character
it fits nicely into this format of tin toys, his feet comes with little
rollers so you can either push him along or insert the key, wind him up
and watch him go. The paint color looks good and the overall application
is pretty well done except for a few spots where the paint actually looks
rippled. Be careful when opening him up as when I first saw the rippling
I thought it was a plastic coating that could be peeled off and I ended
up putting a scratch in him.
The eyes can be positioned up or down and you can rotate his antennae
which rotates his mouth to give him a different expression as well as revealing
a hole to put the included cigar in.
Another cool feature of the walking Bender is the ability to open up
his door and see all the gears inside and watch them move as he walks around.
A nice feature that is in line with the character as well as something
you would expect from a walking toy with moving parts.
Packaging is grade A with a very retro look and feel to it. Very cool
2 tone graphics surround the box with a flap that opens to reveal Bender
himself. No twisty ties here to get in the way of removing him. Just remove
the two clear plastic slip covers and immediately put him to work. The
back of the package contains cutout accessories for added fun.
BENDER BRIGHT AND SHINY WALKING TIN
TOY
2000 - Walking Tin Bender 18.00-24.00
The first variant walking tin Bender from RocketUSA. There is not much
different here versus the standard Edition Bender except instead of the
Old Fortran you get a can of Mom's Old Fashioned Robot Oil and some different
cut-out accessories on the back of the box. Still this is a cool variant
that I am glad that I have. Given the choice I think most fans would pick
this one over the standard edition. I don't know something about that bare
metal that is appealing.
Speaking of it being bare metal - it is not. It is a paint spec just
like the standard edition but painted with a shiny metal color or finish.
What is interesting is that the rippling in the paint that occurs on the
standard edition Bender occurs here in basically the same place.
Basically the same box and graphics as on the standard edition with
only a color, title and accessory change.
NIBBLER WALKING TIN TOY
2000 - Walking Tin Nibbler 18.00-24.00
This guy stands about 5" tall and is another great toy from RocketUSA.
The sculpt is not dead on with the character but considering this is a
tin toy RocketUSA was able to capture the flavor of Nibbler. I especially
like the third eye attached to a spring and the cape. A cool feature of
Nibbler is that when you wind him up and watch him go his mouth moves up
and down and his arms and legs move. Just a note - Nibbler does not move
on his feet the way Bender does but thru a mechanism on the underside of
the toy.
The paint spec on here is much better and cleaner looking than the
Bender wind-ups as there is no rippling. The lines are very clean and there
is a nice shiny quality to it. There are no accessories that come with
Nibbler save for his cutout litter box and dark matter on the back of the
box. The artwork is retro looking and consistant with the other wind-ups
from RocketUSA.
GENDER BENDER WALKING TIN TOY
2000 - Walking Tin Bender 18.00-24.00
Here he is folks - the Gender Bender. What started out as a lame variant
idea has really surprised me. I was able to pick this guy up for a great
deal and now that I have him would have picked him up for full price.
At base the Gender Bender is a simple repaint. It has all of the features
of the previous releases - rotating mouth, moveable eyes - but this is
the first one that does not have an operational door. It makes sense considering
you wouldn't see it under his pink tutu. He does come with a removable
wig and tutu bottom and the accessories include his magic wand, cigar and
can of Mom's Old Fashioned Robot Oil. Cutout accessories on the back of
the box include a hairbrush (ooh stylish), another wand, tierra (awww)
and perfume spritzer.
This version of Bender at least is pulled from the show - Raging
Bender to be exact - which gives it that little edge over the bright
and shiny Bender. Being one of the more funny episodes it will make a good
collectible of any fan of the show. I wouldn't doubt if this becomes very
sought after in the future! You will like it that much!
The packaging job here is similar to that of the other tin toys except
we get a pink box with Gender Bender graphics on the front and back of
the box. Same clear window for great displaying as well as the easily removable
clear packaging covers insures that he can be taken out of the box and
put back for display for MOC collectors.
If you are a fan of the show this will make a nice collectible.
URL WALKING TIN TOY
2002 - Walking Tin URL 18.00-24.00
At long last RocketUSA has delivered URL to us. I had emailed them
a couple of months ago and they had said there were some production problems
and wanted to make sure that it was done right and not rushed out the door.
Although a very cool toy it didn't quite live up to all of my expectations.
It is not that it is a bad toy or Futurama product - it is a great
item and one I would recommend to almost anybody. The thing is that there
were some minor changes made from all the prototypes that we have seen
over the last couple of months. The first to go was the glow-in-the dark
night stick. I do not know what happened to it but I cannot see how this
couldn't have been accomplished. The other is that some of the pieces on
URL are stickers and not actual molded parts. The biggest being on his
wrist band. The prototypes show what looks like a clear plastic with red
underneath or a red plastic piece.
Well, enough with the complaints and on to what is cool about the figure.
First it is a real good representation of URL and looks great standing
next to any one of the Bender tin toys already released by RocketUSA (I
suggest the Gender Bender). The walking motion is a little laboured but
is really only the icing on the cake for this guy. The police monogram
across his ches is molded in and not a sticker and is really a nice touch.
The only real accesory is his light stick and his right arm is molded to
hold it very securely so there is no chance of it dropping out of his hand
and ending up lost enderneath a couch or something.
The packaging is really cool as is all the stuff from RocketUSA. It
is the standard orange color graphics that was used on the regular Bender
and Nibbler figures but this does have a graphic of URL on the front and
as usual no twisty ties at all so you can display him out of case or put
him back in and display him in the box with ease. The one change to the
box graphics that I really liked was that the picture of Fry, Leela and
Bender has been altered slightly here. Instead of the three looking up
at the sky we get Fry and Bender looking over their sholder at URL who
has replaced Leela this go around. I think that was a nice touch by RocketUSA
and shows their commitment to detail. Overall a great figure and a great
toy that I would recommend to anybody looking for Futurama stuff.
Visit the Futurama
Foundation to discuss URL or give a review of your own.
DIE
CASTS
SERIES 1
The first series of die casts from RocketUSA came packaged with all 4 figures
and a clicker on a card. The figures stand about 3" tall and are really
alot of fun. The sculpts on all of them are really good considering they
are little chunks of metal. All are really good representations of the
characters. The colors are rich except for Farnsworth I think. His coloring
on his his shirt is a little too light and could have been darkened up
a bit and still have been accurate.
These look really great displayed and I cannot wait to get the second
series of these to have the entire Planet Express crew together. |
SERIES 2
This is a great set of characters. With this set we can finally assemble
the entire Planet Express crew together in 3-dimensional form. The sculpts
here are really well done with Zoidberg and Hermes taking the cake. Both
are extremely well done and with Zoidy highly anticipated.
This set comes in a two-pack unlike the first series which came in
a four-pack only. While I like the two pack idea I do not like the fact
that Hermes and Nibbler are considered two figures. They carry the same
price tag as the Amy/Zoidberg pack which makes the Hermes/Nibbler pack
a bit overpriced. Add to that the Amy/Zoidberg pack comes with an exclusive
clicker and the inequities between the two of them becomes greater. The
Kif clicker should have come with Hermes/Nibbler.
Speaking of clickers, the Kif clicker can only be purchased as part
of the Amy/Zoiedberg two-pack and nowhere else.
All in all this is a great set of figures. I can only hope that RocketUSA
will continue someday with more characters and possibly some spacecrafts
in scale with these figures. |
METAL
CLICKERS
SERIES 1
The series 1 clickers were available as both part of the carded series
1 die cast figures as well as seperately. This firs set is pretty nice
as it is always nice to see the Planet Express logo show up from time to
time. The 'Friendly Robots' one is also cool as it is in keeping with the
theme of the show as well as the retro aspect of the merchandise.
Many people are unaware of what clickers are or what they are used
for. Other than to make an annoying noise (think the safety tab on things
you buy at the market) they are also used in the training of animals. When
training an animal to do a specific task/trick, positive reinforcement
is given by way of treats and an accompanying click from the clicker. Pretty
soon the animal begins to realize that the clicking sound is a positive
or good thing and will respond to the clicking sound and not just treats. |
|
SERIES 2
More clicker fun from RocketUSA. Much the same as the series 1 set of clickers
only this time with some really snazzy graphics for the clickers. This
series as well as Series 3 has some real fun and colorful graphics. Included
here are fan favorites Morbo and Bender. Speaking of Bender, what robot
is without his supply of Mom's Old Fashioned Robot Oil? |
|
SERIES 3
A very colorful set again of clickers from RocketUSA.Graphics here include
DOOP doop Zapp Brannigain, Slurm and an advertisement telling us we should
trust robots because we are puny humans. If nothing else these are fun
to have just for the graphics and the novelty of the item. |
MOTION
CLICKERS
Much more than just another set of clickers the RocketUSA motion clickers
are a very cool little item. There are three different styles to choose
from - Bender, Nibbler and the Robot Devil. The clicking mechanism is a
little bit different than the regular clickers as here you need to basically
pinch together two pieces of metal - this creates the clicking sound as
well as setting in motion the characters. For Bender he sips from his beer
bottle, Nibbler munches and his eyes move and the Robot Devil draws his
bow across his fiddle made of gold.
The graphics on all fo these are much better than I thought they would
be. They pretty much look like all of the promotional pictures I have seen
of these. The motions of the characters are all really well done as well.
The Robot Devil's arm is a little limited but not anything that would detract
too much from the overall function and appearance of it.
RocketUSA has also created a packaging scheme to allow use of the clickers
withouth removing them from the package. It makes for a realy nice display.
As with all RocketUSA stuff I hope they make more of these. These are pretty
creative and in keeping within character for those selected here. A Leela
with punching action, any robot from the show or Grunka Lunkas would all
be at the top of my list of future offerings. Once again - keep up the
good work RocketUSA!
TIN
SIGNS
Measuring around 10"x16" the RocketUSA tin signs are a strange piece of
merchandise. They are not posters so you really cannot frame them, they
are made of tin and are fairly heavy but durable. No creased corners or
minor rips with the tin signs. If you have a garage where you do lots of
work I could see these signs hangin in there.
SERIES 1
| The first series of
tin signs feature some really good graphics and some wonderful slogans
both from the show and others that may not be from the show but are equally
appropriate. My favorite sign from this series is the 'The Future is Today...'
sign. I like the graphics on it as it is very retro which is what virtually
all Futurama merchandise strives to be. The 4 sillhoutes are really cool
and the slogan is funny as well. Bender really makes this one and Farnsworth
bringing up the rear is the coup 'd grace. |
 |
The 'Work While Bent...'
sign is Bender at his best. Sporting a 5 o'clock rust shadow and catchy
phrase it really captures some of the spirit of both Bender and the show.
The only improvement I think that could be made would have been to have
him bending a girder or some type of steel bar.
One area that these signs do look good in is in the garage. |
 |
| The 'You're Not Paid
to Think...' sign is my least favorite of the bunch. The slogan is great
but the graphics really hold it back. There really isn't anything out of
the ordinary here - the colors are monotone and it really doesn't evoke
any sort of mystery or intrigue that the others do. |
 |
The second series of tin signs from RocketUSA carried on the cool graphics
and logos from the first series.
It will be interesting to see if RocketUSA announces a third series
of tin signs - I guess alot will depend on the popularity of the new Simpsons
tin signs just announced. I think they would de well to stick with the
clickers and tin toys at this point as I think there is more widespread
appeal in those than tin signs.
SERIES 2
| My favorite of the bunch
is the 'See Outer Space...' tin sign as it to captures something unique
about the show. The graphics are wonderful, the logo is fun and the overall
feel of it is in line with both the show and the retro sci-fi aspect of
the merchandise. It also reminds me of the episode 'The Series Has Landed'
where they went to the Moon and Fry and Leela shared their first 'moment'
together. This sign also reminds me of the movie 'Total Recall' but that
is an entirely different story. |
 |
| 'Resist the Permanent
Career Implant Chip...' is not only a motto but is a good life lesson.
The idea is taken from the show and works on so many different levels.
Like Fry did you can choose your own dead end job and be happy! Don't be
a drone and instead choose to be a drone! Wish this sign had a little better
graphics but it doesn't really take away much from the overall appeal of
this tin sign. |
 |
| The 'Unite...' sign
is my least favorite of this set. Much like the 'You're Not Paid to Think...'
sign of the first series the graphics don't do much for me. It has more
of an industrial look and feel and not that futuristic sci-fi flavor that
the other tin signs have. I do like the little slogans about friendly robot
however, but it is not enough to make me really like this sign. |
 |
It will be interesting to see if RocketUSA announces a third series of
tin signs - I guess alot will depend on the popularity of the new Simpsons
tin signs just announced. I think they would de well to stick with the
clickers and tin toys at this point as I think there is more widespread
appeal in those than tin signs.
Zapp Brannigan Ray Gun
Preview - Expected Shipping February 2003
It seems like only yesterday that the news broke on the Zapp Brannigan
Ray Gun from RocketUSA - yea right! Ever since I heard about this thing
I have been waiting with anticipation for it to arrive. It looks as though
the long wait is about to come to an end as RocketUSA has plans to start
shipping this guy early this year. Possibly as early as February! That
would be great news.
In the meantime RocketUSA has produced their new catalog for 2003 and
within its pages is a production mock-up of the new gun. It has changed
somewhat from the mock-up at last years Toy Fare with some little light
rings and the coloring but it still should be a cool toy. It will have
some sparking action when you pull the trigger and I can just imagine now
how much fun it will be for all thos little kids out there who will have
many great adventures with trusty old Zapper by their sides.
This will retail for around 13.00 which makes it an exceptionally good
deal in my opinion. This looks to be the best value that RocketUSA has
produced yet. |
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