Ultraman Wiki :
Hideki Go (郷 秀樹 Gō Hideki) is the human host of Ultraman Jack and the protagonist of the Ultraman Series' fourth entry, Return of Ultraman.
A young race car driver who died while rescuing a little boy and a dog from falling rubble caused by a fight between Takkong and Zazahn. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, even his friends and the new defense force MAT, but an unseen being also took notice. Looking over him was Ultraman Jack, who was so touched by his heroics that he decided to merge his own life-force with Hideki's, thus bringing him back to life (just like the original Ultraman did with Shin Hayata), much to everyone's astonishment. MAT asked him to join the team, to which he agreed, especially since, in this frightening new "Age of Monsters", the Earth would need a savior. In times of crisis, Hideki Go would raise his right arm, and by force of will, transform into Ultraman Jack to fight monsters.
Hideki Go (郷 秀樹 Gō Hideki) is the human host of Ultraman Jack and the protagonist of the Ultraman Series' fourth entry, Return of Ultraman.
A young race car driver who died while rescuing a little boy and a dog from falling rubble caused by a fight between Takkong and Zazahn. His valiant sacrifice is noted by everyone, even his friends and the new defense force MAT, but an unseen being also took notice. Looking over him was Ultraman Jack, who was so touched by his heroics that he decided to merge his own life-force with Hideki's, thus bringing him back to life (just like the original Ultraman did with Shin Hayata), much to everyone's astonishment. MAT asked him to join the team, to which he agreed, especially since, in this frightening new "Age of Monsters", the Earth would need a savior. In times of crisis, Hideki Go would raise his right arm, and by force of will, transform into Ultraman Jack to fight monsters.
Medicom released this figure, in Mar-Apr 2008, under their Real Action Hero (RAH) series which is essentially a 1/6 scale action figure line. As with most, if not all, the human form of Tokusatsu Heroes, Hideki Go was released as an exclusive in a form of a mail-away coupon residing inside it's Ultraman form RAH boxset. Which means a collector has to buy Medicom RAH Ultraman Jack as a preliminary step to get that coupon for eligibility to buy Hideki Go. And as if it is not difficult enough, shipment only to a valid Japanese mailing address. Making this almost impossible to buy outside of Japan. But local collectible shops have all the necessary connections available at their disposal. I got my Gō-san even without buying Ultraman Jack but only to get the stash of money ready making sure things happen as planned.
Got the figure in Apr-2008 and paid a princely sum of $220/- for it. 14 years ago, a $200-esque figure aren't that commonly heard of but I still did it. The exclusivity might have gotten into me to be crazy enough to splash that kind of money. That goofy, cheesy costume design and the 70s-80s style helmet design, and that white short gloves Just completed the whole visual deal.
Medicom RAH God has been very kind granting me smooth shooting for the past few sessions and no figure broken - in shoot - ... ... yet. The usual broken spots on the groin joint, arm joints. So far so good.
However 3/4 way through the shoot, I have a pose in mind that need to swap out the left hand to a fisted one. It felt a little tight while inserting in the left fisted hand but it could just be the mushroom-head split end creating the excessive friction while going in. I thought when it reached the top when the mushroom-head spring back - to keep the hand in place - will ease the friction.
So I am wrong. The mechanism lock in as expected but apparrently the whole hand is stucked at one single position. Unable to turn around the wrist... literally locked in. What can I do? Tried hair-blower and it doesn't work. Hand still stubbonly locked in location not budging. Next, tried to wiggle it and knew it fully I'm just kidding myself. A sense of I-should've-know-not-to-push-it-all-in sense of regret and anger flooded my senses. In a fit of frustration did a hard turn of the hand when the inevitable, and the expected, happen.
Then I struggled to eject the broken pin inside the arm. Tried prying open the forearm, dig and push, and it stayed lodged in. In the process, I lost a "button" part on the right sleeve. I am truly fucked this time. Exhausted, placed the left-handless figure back into the cabinet taking the fight to another day.
However 3/4 way through the shoot, I have a pose in mind that need to swap out the left hand to a fisted one. It felt a little tight while inserting in the left fisted hand but it could just be the mushroom-head split end creating the excessive friction while going in. I thought when it reached the top when the mushroom-head spring back - to keep the hand in place - will ease the friction.
So I am wrong. The mechanism lock in as expected but apparrently the whole hand is stucked at one single position. Unable to turn around the wrist... literally locked in. What can I do? Tried hair-blower and it doesn't work. Hand still stubbonly locked in location not budging. Next, tried to wiggle it and knew it fully I'm just kidding myself. A sense of I-should've-know-not-to-push-it-all-in sense of regret and anger flooded my senses. In a fit of frustration did a hard turn of the hand when the inevitable, and the expected, happen.
Then I struggled to eject the broken pin inside the arm. Tried prying open the forearm, dig and push, and it stayed lodged in. In the process, I lost a "button" part on the right sleeve. I am truly fucked this time. Exhausted, placed the left-handless figure back into the cabinet taking the fight to another day.
That "another day" came the next day. I had 2 options :
1. Make a small hole with a pin vice on both the stump (in the existing inserted condition) and the fist. Then insert a metal pin + glue to merged them back.
Pros : quick and straight forward.
Cons : although the strength of the pin would definitely enable a turn, glue strength will most certainly not able to hold both parts together when trying remove it from the arm. That means this figure will permanently had a left fisted hand.
2. Drill out the stump inside the arm. Make a new stump for the fisted hand with a metal pin insert for strength. Plus a little Gorilla Gel super glue to hold both parts in place.
Pros : Return all the intended functions of the figure.
Cons : A lot more work first to make a pilot hole in the stump, and slowly make bigger holes till finally slowly drilling out the whole thing. There is a possibility the hole in the arm may be enlarged in the process. That will cause other hands to fit loosely or even not able to hold them in place. Key word is patience and not rush to it.
I chose Option 2. Took about 2.5 hours to get everything done. The stump measured Ø3.7mm and in a stroke of luck, also found a plastic sprue that measure exactly Ø3.7mm. Fits in nicely. I had it cut shorter than the original stump length as noticed the end of the hole on the arm seem a little narrower and to avoid deja vu.
1. Make a small hole with a pin vice on both the stump (in the existing inserted condition) and the fist. Then insert a metal pin + glue to merged them back.
Pros : quick and straight forward.
Cons : although the strength of the pin would definitely enable a turn, glue strength will most certainly not able to hold both parts together when trying remove it from the arm. That means this figure will permanently had a left fisted hand.
2. Drill out the stump inside the arm. Make a new stump for the fisted hand with a metal pin insert for strength. Plus a little Gorilla Gel super glue to hold both parts in place.
Pros : Return all the intended functions of the figure.
Cons : A lot more work first to make a pilot hole in the stump, and slowly make bigger holes till finally slowly drilling out the whole thing. There is a possibility the hole in the arm may be enlarged in the process. That will cause other hands to fit loosely or even not able to hold them in place. Key word is patience and not rush to it.
I chose Option 2. Took about 2.5 hours to get everything done. The stump measured Ø3.7mm and in a stroke of luck, also found a plastic sprue that measure exactly Ø3.7mm. Fits in nicely. I had it cut shorter than the original stump length as noticed the end of the hole on the arm seem a little narrower and to avoid deja vu.
DESIGN - 2/5
Hideki Gō is a tall dude and I do applaud Medicom for "stacking up" the legs to achieve that stature. It gives a visually taller dude but the arms and body ratio are off. A stick thin body also not helping the overall look of the figure.
The garb were also apparently designed for a standard size figure. Foot of the pants barely goes below the top of the boots. A kneeling posture will exposed the leg and nothing can help.
I have removed one section of the feet to bring Gō-san down a little so as having him look a little more proportional in these pictures. And also enable a proper kneeling pose.
Helmet liner are made with pleather material and all has but disintegrated over the course of 14 years. What left is the cloth base - with lots of tiny black residue dots/dust all around the uniform and face. A soft brush does the cleaning. To be fair, this is not unique to Medicom. Happens to any pleather parts from across the brands and it wasn't solve till today.
So the main gripe is on the proportion of the figure due to the "lazy" method Medicom employ to achieve the "correct" stature. This exclusive figure demand better attention to design and if need be, a specially curated body just to meet the requirements. In 2008, this is probably unthinkable...
Helmet could have been made in separate pieces for putting on or removing. Somewhat like Sideshow Luke X-Wing pilot helmet functionality. But we have a single piece that need to be squished into the head. scratches and damage to the head may occur as it is kind of a tight fitting one. In 2008, this could be another unthinkable proposal.
SCULPTING - 3/5
Main discussion in this section will only be on the headsculpt. Credit where credit is due, the sculpted head does have some likeness to the actor albeit the hair sculpt is flat at best. Reason could be to at least enable fitting on the helmet.
PAINTING - 2/5
There are not much painting opportunity to speak of here in this figure. Face paint (or the lack of) is standard Medicom therefore it was within expectation. Still the lack of a good paint job here render the figure looking more toy like than a high end exclusive 1/6 figure.
Helmet paint job I feel is also substandard specifically on the red strip splitting up both sides of the helmet from the middle has weak edge painting which failed to give a crisp edge.
Overall a sub par job on this figure. Much higher expectation is require.
ARTICULATION - 2.5/5
Standard humanoid articulation points are all present. There is a rocker function on both feets but the full size somewhat hardened vinyl boots render this function useless.
Double jointed elbow and knee are also not present therefore limiting the angle of arms and legs articulation to another +10° over 90° at best.
Final point on the infamous Medicom RAH body's frailty gives extra anxiety when fiddling with the figure. It take strong hearts to test the limit of the articulations.
ACCESSORIES - 3/5
Figure are packed with both L&R relaxed hands pre-assembled onto the arms.
Separately it also came with :
a. Right trigger finger hand (for the laser blaster pistol)
b. L & R salute hands
c. L & R fisted hands
d. Blaster Pistol
e. Helmet with inner liner
As basic as it can get no surprises here. And after 14years, the helmet inner liner (made of pleather) has fully disintegrated. Pictures here show the cowl piece only with the pleather scrapped off.
Hideki Gō is a tall dude and I do applaud Medicom for "stacking up" the legs to achieve that stature. It gives a visually taller dude but the arms and body ratio are off. A stick thin body also not helping the overall look of the figure.
The garb were also apparently designed for a standard size figure. Foot of the pants barely goes below the top of the boots. A kneeling posture will exposed the leg and nothing can help.
I have removed one section of the feet to bring Gō-san down a little so as having him look a little more proportional in these pictures. And also enable a proper kneeling pose.
Helmet liner are made with pleather material and all has but disintegrated over the course of 14 years. What left is the cloth base - with lots of tiny black residue dots/dust all around the uniform and face. A soft brush does the cleaning. To be fair, this is not unique to Medicom. Happens to any pleather parts from across the brands and it wasn't solve till today.
So the main gripe is on the proportion of the figure due to the "lazy" method Medicom employ to achieve the "correct" stature. This exclusive figure demand better attention to design and if need be, a specially curated body just to meet the requirements. In 2008, this is probably unthinkable...
Helmet could have been made in separate pieces for putting on or removing. Somewhat like Sideshow Luke X-Wing pilot helmet functionality. But we have a single piece that need to be squished into the head. scratches and damage to the head may occur as it is kind of a tight fitting one. In 2008, this could be another unthinkable proposal.
SCULPTING - 3/5
Main discussion in this section will only be on the headsculpt. Credit where credit is due, the sculpted head does have some likeness to the actor albeit the hair sculpt is flat at best. Reason could be to at least enable fitting on the helmet.
PAINTING - 2/5
There are not much painting opportunity to speak of here in this figure. Face paint (or the lack of) is standard Medicom therefore it was within expectation. Still the lack of a good paint job here render the figure looking more toy like than a high end exclusive 1/6 figure.
Helmet paint job I feel is also substandard specifically on the red strip splitting up both sides of the helmet from the middle has weak edge painting which failed to give a crisp edge.
Overall a sub par job on this figure. Much higher expectation is require.
ARTICULATION - 2.5/5
Standard humanoid articulation points are all present. There is a rocker function on both feets but the full size somewhat hardened vinyl boots render this function useless.
Double jointed elbow and knee are also not present therefore limiting the angle of arms and legs articulation to another +10° over 90° at best.
Final point on the infamous Medicom RAH body's frailty gives extra anxiety when fiddling with the figure. It take strong hearts to test the limit of the articulations.
ACCESSORIES - 3/5
Figure are packed with both L&R relaxed hands pre-assembled onto the arms.
Separately it also came with :
a. Right trigger finger hand (for the laser blaster pistol)
b. L & R salute hands
c. L & R fisted hands
d. Blaster Pistol
e. Helmet with inner liner
As basic as it can get no surprises here. And after 14years, the helmet inner liner (made of pleather) has fully disintegrated. Pictures here show the cowl piece only with the pleather scrapped off.
*This is the pose I want to achieve when swapping in the fist left hand. Pictures here taken after repair. Proud to say it look seamless, fully functional and with added strength.
CONCLUSION
Nostalgia is probably the reason for buying this figure and also my liking for 70s & 80s Pop culture. This aged design really need a boost for a new version release. But not Medicom to do it all over again. ThreeZero seem to be the likeliest and most probable candidate to give us truly high quality Ultraman's human form. Shin Hayata, Dan Moroboshi, Hideki Go and all their ladies sidekicks. Will the day comes?
Nostalgia is probably the reason for buying this figure and also my liking for 70s & 80s Pop culture. This aged design really need a boost for a new version release. But not Medicom to do it all over again. ThreeZero seem to be the likeliest and most probable candidate to give us truly high quality Ultraman's human form. Shin Hayata, Dan Moroboshi, Hideki Go and all their ladies sidekicks. Will the day comes?
No comments:
Post a Comment