TFA: RC Squad

I've been wanting to show this off since last summer, but, honestly, I couldn't bother with the minor touch-ups they needed until recently (and, even then, I'm still thinking about painting Arcee's lips to make them stand out a little more). So, without further ado, here is the RC Squad: TFA Arcee (wielding Drift's needlessly floppy sword, damn the soft plastic), my customized OC Rally (with one of RiD Hightower's pistols), Paradron Medic Ariel (holding MacGuffers the Atomic Teddy, courtesy of an old Stikfas set), and Chromia (making better use of Generations Blurr's sniper rifle than a spazz like him ever could).

You already know about Arcee and I've posted pics of Rally before; as for the other two, I found them on an odd eBay auction back in July while I was at the SDCC. They are, near as I can tell, bootlegs of some sort, even though the seller sold them as "Transfomers CHMS Animated MEDIC & Chromia Arcee" and even shipped them in (poorly retaped) Takara Arcee packaging. However, they are really, really GOOD bootlegs: the plastic feels a little lighter than the Hasbro version and the screws were a little loose and wobbly at first, but I don't know if that's normal for Takara's version or if it has to do with their recoloring/manufacture. Don't be mistaken, though, they aren't painted AT ALL (except where I picked out a couple of details like Chromia's belt and Ariel's neck and upper arms). They were either molded in these colors or dyed; the latter is more likely, but the detailed work of the dye-job, if that's the case, definitely means I MORE than got my money's worth.

Sadly, the seller doesn't have any more, but since he's currently offering clear-plastic and blank-white versions of the BEYOND rare Headmaster Warrior figures from the 80s, I might have to see if I can postpone a bill or two again...

Yeah, having these two definitely makes up a little for my inability to find Flamewar and Flare-Up. A little.