KDS - PART 11 - FINN McMISSILE, BRITISH INTELLIGENCE (Not for Sale)

Boss Kiren asked me to take a picture of all his Finn McMissiles, so here you go the complete collection...for now.

Middle : Original Finn McMissile (FM)
Back Row - Left to Right : Machine Gun FM, Security Guard FM, Hydrofoil FM, Ransburg FM, Submarine FM and Color Changer FM.

I mentioned "For Now" as I understand that there are two more upcoming releases - FM with mouth wide open (no kidding) and FM capturing Professor Z with cables.

Cheerios!

KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE

PART 10 - NEW CARS 2 CHARACTERS

It is exciting times as new Cars 2 characters are being released. Ever since Blu Collection has been showing the new releases, I have been going all out to get them in for Kiren (actually for myself). Here's what we have got recently.


PRINCE WHEELIAM - My Best Capture.. Super Rare :)

TACO TRUCK MATER (Deluxe) - Mater in one of the many disguises.

Flap opens only on one side.

UNION JACK RAMONE - Probably the best-looking Ramone

MARY ESGOCAR - Birthday Gift for Kiren from long-time Kiren Toys' customer Sylvia

& SUKI with Pink Ribbon, Pink/White Wheels & Japanese School Uniform

 OTIS - Mater's Favourite Customer

& ALEX VANDEL - Tire-less whilst checking into the Airport

GALLOPING GEARGRINDER - The 'Train' that scared the daylights out of Mater & LMQ

& MAMA TOPPOLINO - Luigi's Aunty in Porto Corsa

BRUNO MOTOREAU - Raoul Caroule's Crew Chief

& AUSTIN LITTLETON - Nigel Gearsley's Crew Chief

They come in a 2-Car pack with their respective race cars.

ACER with HELMET & ZEN MASTER

Got them from my trip to Sydney, and again were only available in 2-pack format with Professor Z & Mater respectively, which I happily gave away.

Dear Santa,

I have been a good boy Daddy this year. I like to own the following Cars 2 characters next....

1. Erik Laneley (WGP Race Starter)

2. Holly Shiftwell with Blue Screen

3. Grem with Machine Gun

4. Kabuki Mater (with Bento Boxes, Umbrella & Geisha Make-up!)

5. Ivan Mater (Blue tow truck disguise)

6. J Curby Gremlin (Head of the Gremlins)

7. Tubbs Pacer (Head of the Pacers)

8. Fabrizo (High nett worth car with shades)

9. Tolga Trunkov (Vladmir's Henchman)

10. Alexander Hugo with Party Hat

11.Sir Harley Gassup (Annoucer for Mater's Knighthood)

12. Petey Pacer with Blow Torch (Blue Pacer)

13. Petro Cartalina (Camino's Crew Chief)

14. Jeff Gorvette No.1 Fan (SUV with Clappers)

15. Nick Cartone (reporter)

16. Chauncy Fares (London Cab)

17. Cartney Brakin (LMQ's Japanese Fan who fainted)

18. Taia Decotura (Japanese Bilboard Truck)

19. David Hobbscapp (WGP Race Commentator)

20. Agent Leland Turbo (sob...sob...)

and most importantly... Rip Clutchgoneski!

From Kiren Toys to all our customers... Merry X'mas & a Blessed 2013. May all the kids have a great stress-free childhood, and the beautiful moments that we Parents share with them!

Thanks for reading :)

Water

P.S - Our No.2 and Kiren's younger brother is on the way early Jan, so I may not find time to post as much. Definitely going to be around, as I intend to hand this little project to Kiren when he is older. I can imagine him making some extra pocket money selling toys to his school mates :)

KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE (Not For Sale)

Part 9 : THINGS THAT FLY

Very happy that the TAKE FLIGHT series (made in Thailand instead of China) is finally available in Singapore, but unfortunately I have not seen all the characters like Autonaut Mater, Stu Bop The Jet, NASCA Truck, Propwash Junction Bi-Plane, Falcon Hawk 1 & Falcon Hawk Black (with Bandage).

Here are my collection of Things That Fly from Disney Cars :)

 

Ron Hover, Kathy Copter & Rotor Turbosky (Dinoco Helicopter) - all from Cars 1

 

CAPTAIN MUNIER (Cars Toon : UFM), RESCUE SQUAD CHOPPER (Cars Toon : Rescue Squad Mater)

 

The Rescue Chopper under the Take Flight series is exactly the same but with a black nose... It made me thought very hard and eventually I decided to hold back, even though deep down I know I will still buy it somehow :P

 

 

MARCO (Cars 1) & STU BOP THE JET (CARS 1 & Moon Mater)

 

See what I mean - exactly the same plane! Only difference - decals on the helmets, plane number on tail fin and names by the side of the cockpit.

 

 

AL OFT the Lightyear Blimp (all plastic) & BARNEY STORMIN both from Cars 1

 

 

Lightning Storm McQueen, Holly Shiftwell with Wings and Submarine Finn (Ok... I store him together with the planes and helicopters)

 

 

Autonaut Mater & Autonaut LMQ - Cars Toon : Moon Mater.

 

Do note that there is another version of the Autonaut LMQ available but is burnt, and guess who is going to buy that piece as well?

 

 

 Mater Hawk, Aviator Mater & Lightning McQueen Hawk  - Cars Toon : Air Mater

 

 

Cheers,

 

Water



KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE (Not For Sale)

PART 8 : PISTON CUP 500 RACE CARS

Congratulations Lily for being the first Kiren Toys' customer and one of the few in Singapore to complete the entire collection of the Piston Cup Racers :) Currently I am helping another long-time customer-friend to complete her son's collection. No easy feat as I have to hunt them one by one.

 

 

I too have just completed my collection with the final acquistion of Mood Springs & Tach O Mint.

 

35 Piston Cup Race Cars

The Reds : Shifty Drugs, Re-Volting, No Stall, Dale Earnhart Jr

The Purples : Tow Cap, N2O Cola, Retread, Transberry Juice

The Blacks & Greens : Nitroade, Faux Wheel Drive, Shiny Wax, Trunk Fresh



The Yellows : Octane Gain, RPM, Leakless, Sidewall Shine, Fiber Fuel

The Blues : Bumper Save, Lil Torquey Pistons, View Zeen, Gask-its, Rev & Go
Spare O Mint, Mood Springs, Gasprin, Clutch Aid, Easy Idle

and my Favourite Tacky Cars : Tank Coat, Vitoline, Tach O Mint, Vinyl Toupee & Sputter Stop

 

 

Just to add that the Apple iCar was not made commercially and was a giveaway for VIPs many years back. There are replicas done by modellers, but at US$100 apiece, I am probably going to give that a miss despite Kiren's protest :P

 

 

Thanks for Reading :)

 

Water





 



KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE (none of them are mine)

Part 7 : REAL OR NOT?

I know Mack is super popular but incredibly hard and expensive to find (including the Chick Hicks Hauler). Be cautious - the Real Mack wears a Rusteze Cap.

 

Even Cars 2 Packaged cars can be fakes. These are A1 fakes that very few can tell (I learnt this when I accidentally bought these and have thrown away). The giveaways -  no numbers on the packaging, Fillmore doesn't wear headphones in a single package, Holley Shiftwell's wheels are different, plastic parts instead of vinyl, etc, etc. For S$2.90 more you could have gotten a real one at the stores! 

All the fakes that you see come from China factories and interestingly, they are all spawned from Mattel's own inefficiency in their contracts with authorised manufacturers and their poor distribution of Disney Cars, but that is a different story for another day. 



Ok, I hope my input has been insightful. Thanks for reading. See you when I am back :)

KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE

PART 6 - NAUGHTY CARS

Too much have been said about Lightning McQueen, Mater, The King, Finn McMissile, Holley Shiftwell... Today, we showcase the LEMONS :P

When we first had Kiren, I was googling high and low for a name that best befits our beliefs. Kiren's name is both Irish and Sanskrit. In Irish, Kieran or Kieron means Little Dark One - not exactly what most parents would like to hear. In Sanskrit, Kiran would mean Ray of Light.

Hence the adapted name Kiren (also for easy pronounciation) - for him to make his conscious choice and embrace both sides.

To choose Light, one must know his Dark(ness). Opposites exist side by side everywhere around us just like Night & Day, Man & Woman, positive & negative, Yin & Yang, Heroes & Lemons !

GREMLINS - Tyler (Red), Don Crumblin (Purple) and Grem (Orange)

PACERS - Fred Fisbowski (Yellow) & Acer (Light Green)

TRUNKOVS - Vladmir & Petrov

VICTOR H. (aka Victor Hugo in the movie)

and of course... the evil PROFESSOR Z

Whilst playing with Kiren, I have intentionally used the term "Naughty CARS" and he too has been using that word (instead of the word "Bad"). The guidance has already begun.

Intentionally left out one more car just in case of spoiling it for those who have yet watch CARS 2. There are already some variations of Acer (with blow torch & helmet) & Grem (with Machine Gun) already out. Word has it that the coming Mattel release will feature Alexander Hugo with Party Hat and more naughty characters. Hope to get my hands on them.

Long Live LEMONS! Muahahaha....

Tks for reading.

Water

KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE (Not For Sale)

Part 5 : Kiren's Role Play Characters

Kiren loves to play-act with the different characters. He will pull out the different characters to reprise the roles the CARS play in different scenarioes (sometimes concurrently with the DVD). From my observation, this is akin to human interaction and helps fosters his ability in relationship building and creativity  (well for boys, some fight action might be included). So I guess as a parent, it would be necessary to interpret this and creatively offer guidance on appropriate behaviour :)

His favourite role-play scenario. DJ, Wingo, Boost, Snotrod & a sleepy Mack. He even gets the formation right just like in the scene (DJ in front, Boost & Wingo on the side and Snotrod further behind).

Another Classic Scene - Mater & LMQ out in the fields and tipping over the Tractors !

Piston Cup Final, where LMQ pushes the Damaged King across the finish line with Mrs King & Tex Dinoco looking on with concern.

Race Commentators Bob Cutlass, Darrell Cartrip and Brent Mustangburger perched precariously over the side of the table for a bird's eye view of the race.

Kids just love FRED ! He will exclaim "mouth drop" in the scene where Fred meets race legend Mario Andretti and his assistant Patti.

This trio makes it to our bed at night more often than the other CARS. Ferrari flanked by two Maseratis named Constanzo & Antonio.

Acer & Grem ganging up on Rod Torque Redline (special damaged version).

Kimura Kaizo officiating the Sumo Match between Kingpin Nobunaga and Pinion Tanaka

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures. Thanks for reading !

Water

KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE (Not for Sale)

Part 4 : STORAGE SOLUTIONS

A few weeks ago, I shared my storage pictures on the Singaporemotherhood Forum. I like to keep things organised; the lesser the clutter the better. So here's what I have done to our 180 pieces (and counting) of Disney CARS.

This is a Mattel Fan Stand that I got from the Mattel US. Cost around S$99 at the local departmental stores. It stores 40 Cars, and it can be folded flat or as a trolley :) Very neat way to store and account for the Cars. The Upper Rows are bigger, and as you can see from the picture, the lower row can only store Pitties, the Kabuki Dancers, Fred, Professor Z, etc.

There are two same brand storage box here. I love the Top one - 25 small drawers for "flatter cars" and only costs S$9.90 at Giant's Tools Section. I just bought a second one to put just LMQs. Also from Giant's Tools section, I got a more expensive S$17.90, 9 drawer box for the "taller cars" or for packing the small ones inside to fully utilise the space.

For the 10 World Grand Prix Race Cars from CARS 2, I have the Mattel Launcher which you can get at the local Departmental Stores. It comes with a carry handle, and if you look closely, there are designated labels on top for each car.

This was my first Disney Store purchase and my LAST - on the other side are 15 Disney Store Cars chipped, broken and generally very poor quality. Only Mattel (makers of Matchbox & Hotwheels) know how to make good diecast cars. On the other half of Mack, I can put smaller and narrower cars like Mias & Tias, and this is the new hideout for the 'naughty cars' - Fred Fisbowski, Victor Hugo, Trunkovs, Acers and Gremlins, and of course Professor Z.

For the Deluxe/Megasize CARS, Maters and Planes/Helicopters (yes they are in CARS movies), I use a matching black Toyomi box where you can get anywhere. Picture was taken before I have The Queen *show off*. But still not tall enough for the Monster Trucks and Brian Park Motors.

I am working on the 36 Piston Cups Cars now, so this is their new home. This case can only put 25 Cars though. Comes with a carry case and a built-in ramp.

Ok... there you have it. My storage solution sitting neatly in my Living Room :)

Thanks for reading!

Water

KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE (not available for Sale)

Part 3 : Proudest Moment for Kiren Toys

Despite being an online blogshop for less than 2 months, and being run on a hobby basis, Kiren Toys does go to all lengths to play at the highest level to deliver excellent customer service and toys.

Of late, Kiren Toys has been sourcing for customers and fans who want more than just LMQ, Mater, CARS 2 characters. Some of the triumphs include getting Dinoco Helicopter (box), Kimura Kaizo (box), Funny Face Mater (box), and providing the elusive Kabuto, Goodbye Kar, Kyandee, Manji, etc with ease and without paying crazy eBay kind of price.

But our proudest achievement has got to be this :

Securing for Littlemommy the very impossible to get LIZZIE! (The other one is mine :) at a decent price. And works is on the way to get for her WINGO that she has asked for.

So what's the big deal?

For starters, what do you see on the shelves at departmental stores? Heaps of LMQ, Maters, Francescos, Holley, etc, etc. It is very close to impossible to get them especially CARS 1 & Cars Toon! And there so many kids like mine, who are fans.

On the flipside, the market is charging a High price for all the ultra rare cars, and as a collector and fan, I refuse to pay crazy prices. Kimura Kaizo & Funny Face Mater were going at S$75-$100 each on eBay, I offered S$35 (special one-off deal for existing customers) for my one and only extra piece.

Ok... I am ranting. In short, I choose value over opportunitism, friendship over quick-sale and real service over marketing hype :)

Meanwhile, as I look at the two LIZZIEs, I take stock of a decision a year ago, to show Disney Cars to Kiren on TV and it has led me to do this. That's why it is called KIREN TOYS ;P

Cheers,

Water Tay

KIREN'S DAD SHOWCASE (not for Sale)
Part 2 - TOKYO MATER

From CARS TOON, Tokyo Mater is me & Kiren's favourite episode!

A storyline set in Tokyo with modified cars, kawaii girls, ninjas ala Fast & Furious : Tokyo Drift.

Do watch out for the scene where you can find Disney's Monster Inc's Sulley & Mike inside the Japanese Sushi Restaurant :)

(Note : All CARS you see here are Kiren's playing set. The CARS that I am selling are kept seperately away from Kiren !)

It all started one day....

Mater towing Ito-San to Tokyo

Land full of souped up cars. The Boys having a conversation (Picture L to R) - Yojimbo, Kar Reesu, Manji, Yokoza & Komodo. Absent : Tabinu (cos Daddy haven't found that piece yet).

And Pretty in Pink, very Kawaii Girls : Kyandee, Goodbye Kar, Cho and Chuki from Cars 1 makes a cameo.

Throw in the Bad Boys... Ninja, Kabuto and Dragon Lightning McQueen,

and a cop called Patokaa.

Ends with Party at the end...

The collection is still works in progress - still looking for Racing Mater, Drift Party Mater, Teppi & Yakki, Tabinu, Van-san & Stock Kabuto.