It's giveaway time. I have something cool to send to the first three owners of said toy that post "Okay!" below and DM me their mailing addy. GO! Nagai!
Surely, Steve! I've made rigid laser-cut acrylic replacement wings for this guy, that go on magnetically. When I got mine, I instantly knew I wanted to do this project. In an homage sense, the thin vinyl they used for the wings of course makes sense, harking back to vintage toys and smaller-scale Devilman toys... but at this scale, it simply doesn't work, IMO. Floppy, non-durable and weak-looking, behind this massive, cool-looking (and expensive!) toy. As soon as I got him out of the bag, I took him apart so I could do some R&D on the best way to attach rigid replacement wings. Over the next couple months, I worked on it when I could, with the help of a friend in town who does laser cutting. We ran many tests, and at first I was set on sizing the hole just right so that it would just stay on the back-peg via tension... did not work out, for a few reasons. The magnetic solution I arrived at in the end works beautifully, and requires only one super-easy DIY step. The way the wings lock into place/can be swapped magnetically is super-satisfying, and they look GREAT, if I do say so myself. I've got three prototype sets (only difference is these are cut in a slightly thinner acrylic than the final versions) in black, which is what I'm giving away here. (One left!) I had just gotten this project to the point where I was going to offer them up for sale, in six different color options, right when the shit hit the fan. I may still do it... Idk when, though.
Holy fishsticks, Mitch, this sounds completely inspired, amazing, and exactly what was required. You know, you hit the nail right on the head with this description. I mean, I totally get that the flappy, super thin wings were a product of their time, and original to the vintage toys. BUT, even on these toys, it was without question the biggest weakness. A major oversight - and frankly, because I am not grown up in the slightest (nor do I pretend to be), a disappointing aspect to playing with the toys. They easily ripped, would not stay in formation, and flipped over left and right; hardly the impressive wing accessories you want to see on a Devilman!! On a scaled-up, even more 'up scale' version, this makes so little sense. Heck, if you want to have the homage, the thin plastic pieces are so cheap, you can include them as an extra changeable accessory. Anyways, neither here now there, you have done the lorb's duty here and improved on Medicom/Shelterbank's release immensely. And magnets are cool!!! I cannot wait to see some of these on people's DM figures. Way to go Mike, you continue to be a superstar.
Aw, shucks- thanks, Steve! And yes, everything you said, agreed. While it's a bummer that Medicom didn't see that this was a problem and address it by producing a rigid wing for him, to be fair I don't see how they could have without raising the price point on this already-pricey toy significantly higher. And I was happy to have the fun challenge of coming up with the replacement kits! I will try to snap a pic of my guy to share here, at some point when I can grab my wife's phone w/ it's far superior camera; but I hope as well that recipients of the black protos will share, once they get theirs, as well!
Couple quick-and-shitty snaps... here with the first successful magnetic proto in red (though not the shade of red I had picked for final version... that one had a bit more orange to it, and matched the painted reds better): ...and one from tonight, up on the shelf w/ friends, with one of the black protos: