Mood Lighting

Glyaxia Heavy Combat Armor

Revisiting the Heavy Combat Armor, a slightly tweaked older design now put to use within Glyaxia Command's Block Base!

Can you spot the ringer in this pic? Make sure to right click and view the image at a larger size.

 

Flatwalker

Created by Gatekeeper Viyer in his clandestine laboratory, the Noboto Protoclone has been refined and produced in greater numbers for use by Glyaxia Command.

Under the watchful eye of Commander Akurriax, the Glyaxia Protoclones study and modify the transforming abilities of the 
Tri Hub Configuration (THC) Flatwalker. 

Designed to quickly adapt to its surroundings, the Flatwalker operates mainly as a surveillance device for Glyaxia Command, relaying all gathered information instantly back to Block Base.


List will be up later tonight!

Infrastructure

Glyaxia Command Block Base, located just above the Planet Alcray, where a crew of Glyans steadily work away on a specialized Crayhunter Capture Skiff...

Glyaxia Update

Been quietly working away over here, preparing the new Glyaxia Wave for release. The production on all the parts has taken some extra time, to really get everything just right. In true Glyaxia tradition, the tentative rollout date has now been bumped to May 11th. It must be something about my old high school colors that causes things to stay back a little.

On a related note, playing with the vinyl Tri Hubs and Switch Pins again has been an absolute blast. Being able to just cut into anything and create a function is hard to beat as far as unlimited creativity goes within a building system.

Pics are almost ready to start flowing, but I wanted to finalize the new base and a couple of strange configurations before we travel back to Glyaxia Command.
  

Tri-Liner

For as long as I can remember, I've been building little ships for my toys. From shoe boxes to tin foil, I would use just about any material I could get my hands on to make things for my figures to ride in (or on). It was discount vehicles or bust!

The vinyl that we have been making for the past few years has slowly found its way into becoming a building system in its own right. It helps to be a little crafty with a blade, but building with the vinyl can really open up the playing field for the PVC figures.

So, I used 180 Wedges, about 250 Switch Pins and 8 Blocks to make the "Tri-Liner". It weighs about 7 pounds currently (I'm still tweaking it), opens up and when fully extended is about 2 feet in length (more on that later). Flying it around out back has been a total trip. The neighbors must think that I've been playing with some kind of futuristic breadbox.

Well, you can fit a loaf of bread inside the thing.

Edge Breaker

This vinyl build is my attempt at a more "heroically" proportioned character, something that would also be able to stand next to an original Takara Robotman/Biotron and sort of fit in scale wise. This is a very tall configuration as far as Glyos goes, clocking in a just over 11 inches from head to mecha boot thing.

The head (which forms the back part of a WARP Bike/Rig Runner) in particular is something that I've been wanting to pop on the right build as it was originally designed to look like an armored Traveler noggin (hence the three "teeth" and round inner dome). Jesse did a completely awesome build for our buddy Phil Reed of Battlegrip.com a while back that used this "head" on a crazy Devastator inspired configuration that was truly a knockout!

Chicken Palm

Heavy Runner in Reverse Mode. There are a number of other forms as well, but I think I like this BSG Viper influenced one the best of them. The Switch Pin looking like a big headlight (or maybe a Phase Cannon) is kind of fun.

Also shown above, an outdoor pic of the SDD Variable Suit, sitting like a baby chicken in the palm of my hand.

Did I mention we actually now have twelve baby chickens living with us? Maybe we'll start sending eggs out with the toys before the year is over.

The Shipping Dimension

Michelle, Megan and I worked double time over the last 48 hours and knocked out just about every order from last week's drop. I have to wait until Monday morning to bring the majority down to the Post, but after that, orders should start landing at your homes (three huge bags did make it yesterday afternoon though).

Above are a few shots of a pretty simple "Heavy Runner" that I've been playing around with. I kind of imagine Cane looks like this when he hangs around with the SDD.  There is a Megazone 23 Garland vibe going on with this one, which was one of my favorite mecha designs from back in the day. More proof of Shinji Aramaki's genius!

Variable Suit

Some more pushing and pulling with the light sources. The SDD Variable Suit has been outfitted with an opening cockpit that stays attached to the build when opened due to the "hose" that connects it to the bottom part of the construction. The parts fit tight with no "wobble" and give Neo Voss Pheyden some extra head room for his big melon.

I've been thinking about the Stealth Dimension Division as I've been working and I like the idea that this team is like a Deep Science Unit, working on concepts in a special Phase Dimensional Environment which allows for unlimited creativity:

 With the ability to easily manipulate everything around them and rapidly test new designs, the SDD are responsible for many technological advances and innovative applications of existing hardware. The SDD come up with ideas, soft test them as "Phase Phantoms" and then send their plans to the Experimental Mechanics Division (EMD), who really push the designs and bring them into the "real" world. 

Shipping is moving along at a good clip and is on schedule. Doing an overnighter with Megan this evening that should result in a hefty round being ready for a post run tomorrow afternoon.

Five Up

Been meaning to post a few pics of a Tri Hub with the sides cut out, which creates a "Penta" Hub. Looks kind of neat, like a vinyl pin cushion.

Shipping is underway and notices will start popping up late tomorrow night!

Thanks again to all of you for the great drop!

SDD Heavy Combat Armor

Being obsessed with the beefy style robots of the 80's has really influenced the building theory applied to many of the vinyl creations that pop up on this blog. There is something about a slight SD (Super Deformed) look that just appeals to me. I still love the hard edged, more real looking mechanical marvels out there, but in the end I always play with the beefballs the most. That kind of reads gross, doesn't it.

A personal challenge for this round of vinyl (outside of the base and saucer) was to create a build that used only the Wedges and Switch Pins that was big and solid. The "solid" aspect always proves to be the main obstacle when going very large with a build (vinyl or PVC), so the structure on the SDD Heavy Combat Armor shown above had to be extremely sturdy. After a number of experiments, a "dual" upper leg assembly formed and that really gave the rest of the build a strong foundation to stack on. The arm cannons have some good movement, and the multiple opposing angles help to keep their positions without the dreaded "droop" factor setting in. The thruster pack on its back can fold out into a set of small wings that can also get some fun positions. The central area has a strange assembly, as the parts are pushed through each other in a curved letter "C" style that locks into itself. Kind of tough to accurately describe it, but the result is a very tight and solid fit.

The complete build stands nearly 10 inches tall and weighs about 3 lbs! There are just under 60 Tri Hub Wedges and roughly 100 Switch Pins used in the construction. It feels like a big brick and is not fidgety or loose. It can also stand and not fall over after 30 seconds, which was the biggest hurdle.

I'm feeling very tempted to paint it up. What do you guys think? Paint or no paint? Maybe I'll leave some clear parts and use some dye to give it an extra real "Real Type" vibe.

 The above pic was shot under the kitchen light featuring an alternate central "head" assembly. The look of the parts really changes depending on the light source, which is something I've come to truly love about the tinted and colorless plastics. In general they have a slightly unpredictable quality that's pretty fun to explore.

Saucerama

The central platform of the Stealth Dimension Base started out as this kind of geometric UFO for Pheyden.

Building off the central "ball" inspired design, the Saucer has three Blocks integrated into its structure, with one located in the center of the ball and one inside each outer "wing". I imagine that since the Wedges are little semi-sentient creations in my tiny mind, the entire combined ship can reconfigure very quickly, and by summoning more Wedges can become the main hub for a central base setup.

Depending on what kind of Traveler is "Blocked" inside the main ball, the connected constructs become imbued with abilities that reflect that contained Traveler's own specific powers. The Traveler can then take control of the complete structure and alter its entire form with simply a thought.

I have definitely been playing with this stuff for too many weeks in a row! Hope you guys enjoy the pics of this odd build.

Next up: A Battle to Balance

Crawling Pancakes

The Wedges and Switch Pins have taken over my mind. It's fun to see how far the simple geometry can be pushed and what your eye begins to identify in the shapes as they build up. This is the first little guy that got the clear ball rolling. A mid sized Crawler that can become entirely flat, with just a few simple twists and turns an insectoid form takes shape and it's ready to shuffle some Blocks around in the Dimension Base. When the work is complete the Crawler reverts back to its pancake mode and scoots on out of the way.

Next up: Pheyden's New Ride

Smoke on the Horizon

Some pics of the SDD Base while everyone on the team is at dinner.

Well, everyone except for that moody Smoke Glyan.
He had a big lunch.

Stealth Dimension Division

My apologies for the drop out! As per usual, just before a launch, a member of our family gets hit with a sickness. This time it's strep throat for Michelle, so the last week has been tight with Dad duty.

Without further delay, here is the list for what's on deck for Friday, May 25th, at 9:30PM EDT:



United Glyan Coalition: Stealth Dimension Division



-Glyan Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green/no paint apps) $6
-Glyan Smoke (Clear Gray/no paint apps) $6

-Buildman Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green/no paint apps) $6
-Buildman Smoke (Clear Gray/no paint apps) $6

-Phaseon Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green/no paint apps) $4
-Phaseon Smoke (Clear Gray/no paint apps) $4

-Neo Voss Pheyden (Clear Aqua Green with painted eyes) $8
-Smoke Exellis (Clear Gray with painted eyes) $8
-Nonillia Pheyden (Clear Pink with infused Sparkle Bits and painted eyes) $8
-Classified Pheyden MK II-Traveler Klace (Solid Black with painted eyes) $8
-????
NOTE-The Travelers and Sincroids will not come with an extra head this time.

-Extra Set Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green with painted eyes -Sarvos head, Phanost head, Scar Pheyden head, Sarvos chest and pelvis) $5
-Extra Set Smoke (Clear Gray with painted eyes -Sarvos head, Phanost head, Scar Pheyden head, Sarvos chest and pelvis) $5

-Crayboth Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green/no paint apps) $4
-Crayboth Smoke (Clear Smoke/no paint apps) $4

-Hub Set Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green/no paint apps) $4
-Hub Set Smoke (Clear Gray/no paint apps) $4
NOTE-Each Hub Set is sold in a specific Drone configuration.

-Axis Joint Set Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green/no paint apps) $4
-Axis Joint Set Smoke (Clear Gray/no paint apps) $4

-Phase Arm/Gobon Blaster Single Set Neo Voss (Clear Aqua Green/no paint apps) $2
-Phase Arm/Gobon Blaster Single Set Smoke (Clear Gray/no paint apps) $2



-Core Block Stealth Dimension Division (Clear Colorless/no paint apps) $10

-Heavy Armored Rig Stealth Dimension Division (Clear Colorless/no paint apps) $20

-Rig Runner Stealth Dimension Division (Clear Colorless/no paint apps) $18

-Armodoc Stealth Dimension Division MK III (Clear Colorless with painted eyes) $20

-Conversion Kit (consists of 1 long Rig Arm and 1 short Rig Arm for customizing vinyl figures)
 Stealth Dimension Division (Clear Colorless/no paint apps) $10

-Tri Hub "Wedge" Single  (vinyl isosceles triangle that can be customized for connectivity with all Glyos vinyl) Stealth Dimension Division (Clear Colorless/no paint apps) $3

-Switch Pin Single (vinyl male/male pin which can convert any vinyl female fit function into a male) Stealth Dimension Division (Clear Colorless/no paint apps) $1


NOTE -ALL the  Stealth Dimension Division Clear Colorless vinyl parts have MULTIPLE RANDOM AIR BUBBLES and VISIBLE ROTOCAST "WAVES" throughout the material.


This is due to the process used to create rotocast vinyl at our factory in China. The process used to create clear colorless vinyl in Japan is much different and yields a product with a higher clarity. 

We will not be running this clear colorless rotocast vinyl again. Even though the clarity is not hyper translucent, the quality of the vinyl is just as high as all our previous runs and the parts feel and fit great.

Thanks for reading that mountain!

PS -The pink sparkle is crazy looking in the sunlight. It has little specs that shimmer like tiny rainbows!