Wow, that is an amazing list! I didn't even find out about Five Star until recently, how hard are the unpainted to get a hold of now? Thanks for the info and welcome to the board.
I've been thinking about these for a while since I first saw this thread. Great website, really triggered off my latent fever
You can find them on the secondary market no problem if you know where to look. I have had the best luck @ Mandarake (Nakano Broadway location) http://www.mandarake.co.jp/information/ ... index.html You can scope their inventory in English, but most of the time they do not list everything online. In that case you can use their English contact form and ask for them to look for figures for you. They take PayPal and ship directly overseas. http://www.mandarake.co.jp/ Yahoo Japan has quite a few of those as well.
Awesome, thank you so much for the help. I've been wanting to start on these for a while, and I think having an unpainted set up would be perfect, with your site I'll also be able to tell them exactly what I want, this is win win for me!
Fivestar doesnt ship directly overseas Thanks for all the info Nama Niku...Any other inside info on a good place that ships to the US, has a good selection, and good prices, in addition to Mandarake?
As was mentioned before, Chris at Grumble Toy would be the person to ask. I think he's had some trouble getting certain releases before, but I've gotten a few of these guys from him. Other than that, direct from the maker, Y!J, and Mandarake (thanks, Nama Niku!) are your best bet. I've ordered (through TokyoBuyers) directly from FiveStar before and it's worked out fine. Mandarake has kinda high prices, but not having to pay a deputy service fee makes up for it.
I wonder how long ago those pics from the Mandarake link were taken? As you said their website only list a few for sale, like 3 or 4 when I searched. Looks like they have the entire run in store though from the pics.
That's how it always is with them, though. Like, if you search for "Bullmark", you'll get only 2-300 hits. Trust me: they have PLENTY more Bullmarks than that! They cycle through stock pretty quickly, so just drop them a line and ask if they have what you're looking for. I did this morning on a couple guys, so I hope to hear back from them on Monday.
I think those Mandarake pics were taken late last year. Like Sanjeev said, they get new stuff in all the time (daily, weekly). I hit the Nakano Broadway and Akihabara locations a couple of times a year, and can say for sure that their actual inventory is much larger than what they show online. Outside of Mandarake, I have ordered directly from Ganking and Toyful. I have also placed orders with Five Star Toy and Punk Drunkers via Japonica Market.
New Five Star Toy x Medicom Akuma Shogun Collab figure http://nama-niku.blogspot.com/2011/08/f ... ation.html
I still don't own as we speak any Five Stars but the more I look at them and the more I'm tempted to break the ice and start picking some up. Love this latest addition, I prefer this version to the silver one I've seen on YJA.
These are boss. I love LOVE the clean paint lines on these guys and just the whole nostalgia factor. I still have to get that unpainted Sunshine.
Love that flesh Sunshine blank! 2010 WF exclusive ~ not a lot of those around. As far as the Gold Lightan comparison goes... they look a lot alike for sure! Lightan came out in 81' I think, and Sunshine... same year or 82' maybe? Ya, I like it quite a bit but not as well as the original series. Have been enjoying the new comic arc quite a bit though. Zero vinyl figs from the new series.
Mandarake just added a handful of hard to find Five Star Toy Sofvi to their English site. Punk Drunkers Collab Neptuneman Tokyo WF Green Ashuraman Yamashiroya Collab Buffaloman Sunshine etc http://ekizo.mandarake.co.jp/shop/en/se ... kinnikuman
The Punk Drunkers Neptuneman is simply genius! Hulkamania!! Not sure I'm feeling the Medicom Akumashogun. I like the glittery silver version better. Still...cool to know it's out. Thanks for posting, Nama!
man, I did NOT need to look at the Mandrake list! There's some great figures there...too bad the dollar to yen ratio sucks so bad
Amen to that! Takes a little of the joy out of dropping money on these guys... And with that... Check out this rad new collab from Five Star Toy x TOYFUL "The Miracles B Set - Hell's Shower Ver." http://nama-niku.blogspot.com/2011/09/five-star-toy-x-toyful-collaboration.html?spref=tw
That Hell's Shower set looks pretty sweet. Definitely tempted to pick it up... Nama, I just looked at Kinnikuman Sofvi Kenkyuusho and couldn't find anything, but I was wondering if you knew of a Kinnikuman release using the Robin Mask armored chest. It kinda seems like a no-brainer for a release in light of the popular kinkeshi figure.
I have not heard anything about them doing a figure like that, but it is a great idea! Sofvi Kenkyuusho actually has a Mixi page and they just did a fan poll for Five Star asking what fans want to see next. He posted the info on his page recently. I will shoot him your idea. Would love to see that!
Hmm, that set is cool, but the Kinnikuman sculpt is (nearly) identical to the GID Japan relief version I got in and Mongolman is the same, different paint up. That Toyful website, though, has some great items!