11 replies to this topic

[hunterrose2000]

Check out this new Romando available for pre-order Only an unpainted prototype in the photo, but the sculpt looks pretty cool.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

Awesome! I'm not a Romando collector, but I like to see the new ones, and Hawkman was always one of the coolest figs. This one looks pretty good. Hope they get a painted pic soon.

[Czarcher]

Whoooaaa ! Awesome !
Can't wait to see what it looks like fully painted.

[jkaris]

Pretty bad ass sculpt, but sadly it's another rotocast (hollow) figure. <_< I'll pass.

Only orderable between today and halloween, shipping in December.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

What is up with Romando's rotocast? Do they just use inferior plastics or something? Most rotocast toys I've gotten were pretty solid.

[hunterrose2000]

What is up with Romando's rotocast? Do they just use inferior plastics or something? Most rotocast toys I've gotten were pretty solid.

I wouldn't really know about quality of plastic, but, to me, the off-putting thing about Romando rotocast is the weird middle ground they occupy between designer-vinyl-type display pieces and action figures. They have more articulation than designer vinyl, but not enough so that they work as poseable action figures...at least not as well as many of the solid Romando. Sometimes, with the really big ones, I think it works well enough. Budo can't move for shizznite, but he just looks awesome. The newer Sunshine has decent articulation, but I think that's only possible because he's so big that they can still make workable joints even with the clumsy rotocast parts. But even then, the joints get loose pretty quickly. You go any smaller and you get fairly worthless crap like Snigator.

The problem I see with sculpts like Hawkman and the new Black Hole and Pentagon are the lack of knees and elbows. I just don't get it. I got the Planetman Romando, and he'd be super cool...except he has no damn knees, so he can't even stand on his own. So that type of figure just kind of fails all around. I mean, these aren't art pieces designed specifically to look cool "as is" -- they come from a Manga about wrestlers with weird abilities. You want to be able to do stuff with the figures.

Now that I think about it, what sums up the problem with rotocasting (at least with Romando) is that even a single vinyl piece on a solid figure can bring it down. Take the new Warsman EX. Amazing figure -- tons of accessories, very broad range of articulation -- but then the central piece on the figure, the one "accessory" that really has to work perfectly--the removable chest piece--just will not stay on properly. Either the tabs don't fit the slots or the whole thing is molded just a little too small or too big. (and I know its not just the one figure -- I can't get enough Warsman crap so I have all four versions -- some are better than others, but none work as well as the should) It's that apparent lack of care that seems to be the problem.

Anyway, sorry about the long rant but it's my 100th post and I had to make it count

[jkaris]

What is up with Romando's rotocast? Do they just use inferior plastics or something? Most rotocast toys I've gotten were pretty solid.

No problem with the plastic for me, but for the pricing, I expect to get something more tangible. Plus, the solid figures are just so freaking kewl, that getting a kick ass new character in a hollow format, just takes all the excitement out of it for me.
I can see the huge figures, like Budo, Sunshine and Mammothman. I am sure cost has a lot to do with them, as well as the fact that they would have a hard time supporting their weight if solid. But with the smaller guys, you just feel cheated if they are rotocast. I mean, Omegaman is a bad ass figure, but because he is rotocast, he loses major points in the kewl department, and really isn't worth it to me for the money that I shelled out for him.
Manriki, there's another good example. He is about the height of the newer Buffaloman figures, but instead of being solid like they are, he is hollow, creating a major disappointment for me. He is still a bad ass figure, but just not worth Romandoh money.

[Grizzledman]

Looks cool, too bad Hawkman was a very lame character

[Czarcher]

Looks cool painted.

[hunterrose2000]

Wow, the pic changed with the site update. Actually, I kinda liked the prototype better. I think it needs darker colors.

[Rokk]

I'm with Johnny on this one. Hawkman is a great looking figure, but the rotocast Romandos aren't worth the big Romando price tag. The solid Romandos really are so much cooler. They are just massive and totally bad-ass.

[Universal Ruler Supreme]

I like the paint job on this figure, but something just isn't right about it. I guess I always imagined his wings were a different color maybe. I don't know, the browns just seem to conflict with the Blue and Flesh colors.