Ricked - EZ-005 Black Redler Review

[Deadborder]

First up, Excuse me a moment while I squee.

SQUEEEEE

Done.

I recently managed to achieve one of my all-time, big-name Zoid goals, being acquiring a limited Black Redler. It’s a Zoid that I’ve wanted for years but had never been able to actually catch. However, one popped up on E–Bay recently; having Ricked myself on it (Rantinan: “To Rick is to pay way too much for something on E-Bay but not regret it at all”) I eagerly awaited to get my hands on it.

So was it worth the Ricking? Let’s see.



Black Redlery Goodness:

Right off the bat, I’ll say this much: I like Redlers, and I love the OJR “Dark” Zoids. This little guy manages to combine the two to a degree. However, the Zoid’s colour scheme is more of “Try hard” Dark Zoid then an actual duplicate of an OJR Dark Zoid.

Compared to a normal Redler, the colours are quite different. What’s purple on an NJR Redler is shiny black; what’s black is dull grey. The silver is mostly the same, with the exception of a pair of panels that have been painted bright red. It’s an odd touch, but it’s effective; it helps break up the colours a bit and provide a bit of contrast.

What’s really impressive are the wings and eyes. Instead of the normal smoke colour of the NJR Redler, or the opaque fluro green of the Dark Zoids, the wings are a semi-transparent bright green. While still partially see-through, they’re a lot less transparent then those of the NJR version; the result is a somewhat milky colour that almost suggests being radioactive. They do not glow, but this is not a problem. Compared to the rather fragile feeling plastic of the NJR version, the wings are quite rubbery.

The result? It looks a lot better then the NJR Redler. The colours change the Zoid’s demeanour, making it less “cute” and more of “sinister and stabby looking.”

Otherwise, there are no moulding changes from a regular Redler. Thus the weird head and extra weapons and blades on the “anime” Black Redler aren’t present here. This is, by the way, a very good thing.



Black Redlery Badness:

My Black Redler had severe plastic quality issues; it flaked and chipped badly while I was trying to cut it off the sprues, the worst being a huge chunk being taken out of the nose. Yick. I don’t know if this affects others, or if I just got really, really unlucky.

As said above, there are no mould changes or different or extra parts form the stock NJR Redler; thus you’re getting what is, in essence, just a differently coloured Zoid.



Black Redlery Ugliness:

Don’t expect to pick one of these up for less then $US100 nowadays. That’s… quite a lot for a Super 1000 Zoid, recoloured or not.

Conclusion:

If you like Dark Zoids, and like Redlers, then you’ll really, really like this guy. However, with the prices they go for, you’d really have to be a Redler fan to enjoy it the most.

That being said, to not like it, you’d have to be a small-minded moron, full of angry pills and, Oh, I don’t know, a very self-aggrandizing Mary Sue author.



Rick R. (Redler Fan)



Bonus! Photos for fans!

[Xehn]

The point in the bottom photos confuses me.

[Kyubigan]

Is that Redler the same Redler in the anime that the Black Redler Squadron uses?

[Tilly]

I mentally pitch Black Redler in the Sturm Tyrann "overrated and overpriced but pretty cool" bin. Anyone who wishes to attempt to change this is free to buy me one :p.

I'd also argue it completely fails at being a Dark Zoid (the innards should be the glowy bits, not the wings, and it's not the right kind of green anyway)...but if I got rid of the red I think I'd dig it. It's just too spendy, unless one ever drops into my lap through mad crazy luck. Yeah, right.

Yay Tasch.

[Deadborder]

kyubigan said:

Is that Redler the same Redler in the anime that the Black Redler Squadron uses?

No. The Black Redlers in the anime have a hideous-looking and compltely differnt head, as well as some extra weapons and tial blades. Its pretty fugly, actually.

Rick R.

[paul]

dead border what is the cp you use in the last few pics
paul(still waiting tosee a genesis redler) fellow redler fan

[zed]

I love Redlers too, but $100 is a lot for a little Zoid. Same for the Reddra version. But I'd love one for Christmas ! ! !

I think it would be interesting if you tried:
- swap out the green bits for Z2 orange bits. Kinda Lava Rock Redler.
- replace the red bits with glow-in-the-dark painted bits, for a more Dark Zoid Redler.

zed

PS - can someone post a pic of the Anime Black Redler for comparison ?

[Tilly]

Flexible boosters, which I think suit Redler more than the booster cannons. I think I'm partially to blame for that, I can't remember now...

For those wondering about those pics, they're a fanfic ref, with the Redler belonging to Tasch Störmer. No relation.

[Deadborder]

Yup - CP-24 Flexible Boosters. And yes, Tilly, that is entirely your idea. And what a stroke of pure genius it was too.

I'd love a Genesis Redler. I htink it'd make a great counterpart to htis one, mirroring its colours. I'd also love a Reddra.

yeah, right on both coutns.

Rick R.

[stormhawk]

Ah, the all-elusive and ever-expensive Black Redler. I'll get one on YJ, when it pops up. They're worth much less on YJ..

This Zoid was featured in a much earlier review by Yurei Avalon, but of course, it is a beauty in its own right. Nice catch.

[stormtiger06]

I think the last one on YJ went for only 2,100 yen or somewhere around there but it was built already. So YJ would be the best place to find one for a good price even after fees and such it should be under $100.

Found it:

YJ Auction Link

[尹 眞悟]

Actually when I checked the prices on it (albiet this was nearer the beginning of the year) the prices weren't that much lower. Final prices were generally in excess of 9,000 yen meaning you wouldn't be saving that much money after fees.

[rantinan]

who was that mysterous sinker pilot anyway?

[Snowflake]

Wow, how often do you hear 'self-aggrandizing' in internet fora?
I never used to like redler, but I got a RedWing just because it was cheap and belonged to that cool lady in the anime, and... I really liked it! Now I seriously wish I could get some variants of it (this zoid more than most others seems to look awesome in different colors) but alas.. the standard one is boring, the OJR is boringer, and the two limiteds are ridiculously expensive

[Tilly]

Reddra isn't boring, it's got awesome wings that are clearer than the NJR lot. It adds to it more than you'd think...