Post by LoveGame on Jul 23, 2016 20:59:53 GMT -5
The Blade Liger is easily one of the most iconic Zoids in the franchise, especially for those who watched the first two anime series, where it served a rather prominent role in each to make those kids beg their parents to take them to TRU to grab those kits. I never actually had one as a kid despite my sizeable collection. I vividly remember rushing home from school the day that Leon's Blade Liger debuted on Toonami, so it's a wonder I never looked for one. I did eventually pick up the Fuzors BI Blade Liger in 2011 during the brief resurgence Zoids had in my life in my senior year, but ended up selling that one to a good friend so he could start a collection of his own.
Anyways, this guy has had tons of releases across the different Zoids lines, and not everyone is happy about that. Many were disappointed when a new kit got announced only for it to be yet another Blade Liger recolor, reissue, or something of the like. This is understandable, as even though I like this Zoid, I don't want it to be too oversaturated. The HMM line is no exception, with around five different releases, and that doesn't even count the holotech version packaged with the Chaotic Century blu-ray box, but good luck getting that one. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Kotobukiya continued this trend and released a BI and Forest and Night Liger later on.
The one we'll be looking at today is the first issue of Leon's Zoid, released in 2008. I got this guy for only $80 with free shipping, which was great because I couldn't justify paying $100 for a kit that got released left and right over the years of the HMM line. Weirdly enough, it was listed as the Renewal version, but what I got in the mail was the original. How strange...
Like the Shield Liger, I gave this guy an extensive repaint using Testors Mythical Maroon and Diamond Dust, resulting in a completely new look. I sort of wanted the color to represent the lovely Claudia Diamant. Contrary to popular belief, she never piloted a Blade Liger (nor did her teammate Max), but being a close-ranged specialist, it's safe to assume that she'd be right at home in the cockpit of this Zoid. As a result, I briefly considered pink or light purple, but ultimately went with maroon at the suggestion of my friend Rance (yes, the guy from the hentai games), who saw the dark red as a "power color" befitting the leader of Rottiger (and she does have some maroon detail on her outfit). The aforementioned name of the silver paint may or may not have been coincidental. As for the original color, this is something I always took issue with. Notice how every iteration of Leon's BL is a bright, fire-engine red. Whether it be Tomy, Koto, or the Revoltech, they always mold it in this color, even though it's very clearly shown to be a deep crimson red in the anime. A lot of the other Zoids match their show color, so this always came off as an oddity.
The build:
If you've built one of the other Koto Ligers, the BL isn't too hard of a build. The head was much easier to assemble than Shield's, and the body and legs were almost the same and rather easy. The biggest challenge came from the attack boosters, which have lots of small internal parts that don't actually stay down until both halves are firmly clamped. These took me several tries to assemble as a result and I eventually just glued them, although the boosters and cannons still pop out just fine. I've heard that some people have issues with the individual fins on the face. They are quite thin and need to be handled with more care than other pieces, but they stay in rather firmly when you get them together. Some of them did require more force than usual to "sandwich" in.
Some of the pegs, however, were much more fragile than other kits I've worked with. For example, one of the pegs that holds the top shield generator snapped off when I was simply positioning it to fit in. Good thing it doesn't show. The blade/booster holders on the sides were also a tough fit and had to be glued. As usual, the legs require lots of force to get on, but once they do, they won't fall off! Like I said for the Shield Liger, glue the last body segment where the pipes are so it stands better without risk of falling off.
Overall, it's about the same complexity as other HMM felines. Lots of tiny, superfluous pieces that could easily be molded into a singular piece is standard Koto fare. It took me a total of four sessions to finish, not counting all the painting I did. Always a fun challenge, just be wary of those tiny red pegs...
The kit:
I love the way this cat looks when all is said and done. Once the legs are securely on, poseability is quite nice. The cockpit doesn't suffer the same OCD problem that the Tomy version did; it can now close securely. Flipping out the blades and boosters is also quite simple thanks to being able to move the legs and vents around. The rather short neck does limit the head's movement, but at least it captures the lion image well. I know a lot of you aren't a fan of the AB unit, but I always liked it, and it gave me a chance to add even more color in this case.
All the details that you'd expect are there, and the face makes this thing look absolutely vicious with those teeth! The fins on the face also impede movement a little, but they help add to the sleek look. Little vents, bolts, and other small details give the feeling of a "real" machine. If you can find one for the right price like me, this is a fairly common HMM that would love a spot in your collection. There are even little holders on the spoiler that keep the blades in place while not in use.
Closing thoughts:
Everything I said about the SLMK2 applies here, more or less. A highly recommended kit depicting one of the most well known machines in the franchise. Whether you're Van Flyheight, Leon Toros, or someone from the Battle Story, this cat is waiting to join your collection.
Pros:
Pics!:
"Mission confirmed, taking off now!"
With the guns flipped out.
No stand? Then you must use your hand!
A closeup of the head that really does it justice.
I must say, I'm proud of how the laser blades came out!
Liger duo!
"You ain't got one, n*gga you better run!"
Anyways, this guy has had tons of releases across the different Zoids lines, and not everyone is happy about that. Many were disappointed when a new kit got announced only for it to be yet another Blade Liger recolor, reissue, or something of the like. This is understandable, as even though I like this Zoid, I don't want it to be too oversaturated. The HMM line is no exception, with around five different releases, and that doesn't even count the holotech version packaged with the Chaotic Century blu-ray box, but good luck getting that one. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Kotobukiya continued this trend and released a BI and Forest and Night Liger later on.
The one we'll be looking at today is the first issue of Leon's Zoid, released in 2008. I got this guy for only $80 with free shipping, which was great because I couldn't justify paying $100 for a kit that got released left and right over the years of the HMM line. Weirdly enough, it was listed as the Renewal version, but what I got in the mail was the original. How strange...
Like the Shield Liger, I gave this guy an extensive repaint using Testors Mythical Maroon and Diamond Dust, resulting in a completely new look. I sort of wanted the color to represent the lovely Claudia Diamant. Contrary to popular belief, she never piloted a Blade Liger (nor did her teammate Max), but being a close-ranged specialist, it's safe to assume that she'd be right at home in the cockpit of this Zoid. As a result, I briefly considered pink or light purple, but ultimately went with maroon at the suggestion of my friend Rance (yes, the guy from the hentai games), who saw the dark red as a "power color" befitting the leader of Rottiger (and she does have some maroon detail on her outfit). The aforementioned name of the silver paint may or may not have been coincidental. As for the original color, this is something I always took issue with. Notice how every iteration of Leon's BL is a bright, fire-engine red. Whether it be Tomy, Koto, or the Revoltech, they always mold it in this color, even though it's very clearly shown to be a deep crimson red in the anime. A lot of the other Zoids match their show color, so this always came off as an oddity.
The build:
If you've built one of the other Koto Ligers, the BL isn't too hard of a build. The head was much easier to assemble than Shield's, and the body and legs were almost the same and rather easy. The biggest challenge came from the attack boosters, which have lots of small internal parts that don't actually stay down until both halves are firmly clamped. These took me several tries to assemble as a result and I eventually just glued them, although the boosters and cannons still pop out just fine. I've heard that some people have issues with the individual fins on the face. They are quite thin and need to be handled with more care than other pieces, but they stay in rather firmly when you get them together. Some of them did require more force than usual to "sandwich" in.
Some of the pegs, however, were much more fragile than other kits I've worked with. For example, one of the pegs that holds the top shield generator snapped off when I was simply positioning it to fit in. Good thing it doesn't show. The blade/booster holders on the sides were also a tough fit and had to be glued. As usual, the legs require lots of force to get on, but once they do, they won't fall off! Like I said for the Shield Liger, glue the last body segment where the pipes are so it stands better without risk of falling off.
Overall, it's about the same complexity as other HMM felines. Lots of tiny, superfluous pieces that could easily be molded into a singular piece is standard Koto fare. It took me a total of four sessions to finish, not counting all the painting I did. Always a fun challenge, just be wary of those tiny red pegs...
The kit:
I love the way this cat looks when all is said and done. Once the legs are securely on, poseability is quite nice. The cockpit doesn't suffer the same OCD problem that the Tomy version did; it can now close securely. Flipping out the blades and boosters is also quite simple thanks to being able to move the legs and vents around. The rather short neck does limit the head's movement, but at least it captures the lion image well. I know a lot of you aren't a fan of the AB unit, but I always liked it, and it gave me a chance to add even more color in this case.
All the details that you'd expect are there, and the face makes this thing look absolutely vicious with those teeth! The fins on the face also impede movement a little, but they help add to the sleek look. Little vents, bolts, and other small details give the feeling of a "real" machine. If you can find one for the right price like me, this is a fairly common HMM that would love a spot in your collection. There are even little holders on the spoiler that keep the blades in place while not in use.
Closing thoughts:
Everything I said about the SLMK2 applies here, more or less. A highly recommended kit depicting one of the most well known machines in the franchise. Whether you're Van Flyheight, Leon Toros, or someone from the Battle Story, this cat is waiting to join your collection.
Pros:
- Straightforward build if you've done another Koto Liger before
- One of Koto's better kits in terms of poseability, detail, and aesthetics, as far as the older kits go anyways
- Fairly common thanks to all those reissues
- Captures the image of a classic Zoid everyone knows
- You can take off the boosters and make a regular BL
Cons:
- Some of the smaller pegs are more fragile than you'd expect
- All that stuff on the head limits its movement and makes the neck feel short
- Most resellers scalp these things despite being somewhat common
- Might be boring if you've already collected many big cat Zoids
Pics!:
"Mission confirmed, taking off now!"
With the guns flipped out.
No stand? Then you must use your hand!
A closeup of the head that really does it justice.
I must say, I'm proud of how the laser blades came out!
Liger duo!
"You ain't got one, n*gga you better run!"