through a lens.

it's time for some legion love. look at these fucking incredible pics... of toys. hard to remember that sometimes. i'm gonna caption the hell out of them, hope that doesn't ruin it for you. actually i don't care. just read on, bask in the skills of all the new blood.

badass tk by knives.

he told me to shave my goatee.

so i shaved off his legs.

say it again stumps.

little shadow by fengschwing

ain't no party like a cockpunch party cause the cockpunch party don't stop.

bleak mission by grish.

what the... was that you custard?

you're a smelly bitch, you know that?

i'm gonna get you another eyepatch for your butthole.

nom commander by thebyson.

a hose for beer, and a hose for whiskey...

one more for nacho cheese and my tailgate helmet will be complete.

i will rule the black hole with a fist full of chips. go raiders!

bleak & custard by expathos.

And so, Theodore Donald Karabotsos, in accordance

with what we think your dying wishes might well have been,

we commit your final mortal remains to the bosom of the Pacific Ocean,

which you loved so well. Good night, sweet prince.

jc by expathos.

who took down my tire swing?

someone's getting a judo chop to the neck.

adventure kartel by tigerfeet.

they waited patiently in the dark, biding their time for the perfect moment.

the zombs were coming...

this was gonna be the best surprise birthday party ever.

bleak made cupcakes!

de plume & bertie mk3 by knives.

robbery? hell no, we just want some chalupas.

...don't forget the fire sauce. big guy here likes the heat.

deimos unit by expathos.

damn it steve. hall's burning oil again.

the tea party's gonna see us coming a mile away.

this should thaw you out.

GRPHKA has landed on hoth and begun work on an ubersoldier. part at-at driver, part bambaboss... i give you: AT/3A. i don't normally post anybody's in progress work (this guy still needs to be painted) but he was just too fucking cool. lovely detailing that blends the two worlds together brilliantly.

just watch out for mouse droids with tow cables...

oh, and sorry for being a shithead about never posting.

the dude abides.

one lump or two?

um. wow.

a room of one's own.

this is the highly inspirational workspace of the wildly talented cris rose.

looks quite cozy. and it seems we share the same taste. really makes me

want a kickass studio to hide in... just some nice thoughts for a friday.

roll call.

2010 3AA pack WWRp nom de plume and the dirty deeds 12

this is just epic.

noir de plume was the leader of the dirty deeds crew...

so maybe this was taken on the day that nom joined up?

more likely it's just laundry day.

let's all thank mr. cris rose for the incredible picture.

edit: check the comments for nom schooling

large and in charge.

locked and loaded.

oh shit.

see you in beijing.

the big red machine.

had to give you an update from crestone's earlier prototype. big red is all painted up and looking anxious for a firefight. who wants their face blasted? with his choice of weaponry, he's almost like a robot deadpool.

pretty sure if you scan that barcode on his crotch

it'll ring up "balls of steel, $39.99"

how 'bout suck on this?...

...oh that's much better.

he's got a way with words.

to play or not to play.

there are two types of collectors. two groups of people, separated by an ocean of ideals. one that few ever have the strength or the care to cross. those who play with their toys, and those who don't. there are warriors among both sides determined to sway their disillusioned brothers. "surely you can't be thinking of opening that vinyl-caped jawa. it's moc!" vs. "what good is an ewok village if you can't bash shit with the wrecking boulder?" this is exactly the reason for a lot of brother on brother violence.

i'm not here to judge... actually that's bullshit. i'm completely here to judge.

my line is drawn in the sand; the card sharks are wrong. toys fucking rule, and

not because they look nice on a pegboard. some of the greatest moments of my childhood involved a pile of g.i. joes and a mound of dirt. i could spend hours building forts with booby traps and hidden defenses. because the joy is in the story, not in how sharp the corners of the box are.

these faded shots are pure happiness.

look at the dedication... the jabba playset has evil dungeon lighting.

this is likely a seven-year-old. worried about atmospheric lighting...

you think the kid staring at a pristine cardboard box thinks about that shit?

look at all these awesome toys that you aren't allowed to touch.

now look at these...

tell me they don't get you excited to go bust out some action figures.

...this is how the creators start creating.

do you think george lucas kept his toys in the box?

this is all relevant, promise. there's a big decision fast approaching and some of you will get smacked in the face by it. nom de plume is soon to invade the wwrp world... and he comes in a insane blister pack. retrolicious and impossible to open without some cardboard casualty. so what do you do? if you have to think about it don't answer. you're just wrong. rip that fucker open the second he lands on your doorstep.

rock.

and just because i'm advocating unleashing this beast from his plastic prison, doesn't mean that i can't also be completely enthralled with the packaging.

look at it. simply perfect.

smell the retro love.

smells like christmas morning all over again.

1/12 scale means the mini de plumes are 6" tall...

do you realize how big that blister card is?

are you sure? look again.

...it's fucking gigantic.

pinky here is just a test dummy. just the most badass test dummy ever. and if for some reason you thought star wars figures were also 1/12 scale... this is what a hardcore stormie looks like next to noir.

so if you're lucky enough to have wwrp plumage headed your way, you know what to do. don't be a pussy. give the little dude some air.

pic of the badass jabba setup from zebra3x

pic of the the lucky little girl from aimeedars

pic of the x-wing from muteboy

pics of the mint in box collection from diefladercolb

pics of outdoor setups from originalpozer

pics of wwrp de plumes from the 3A production blog

the master blaster.

despite the wwrp line being out for a while now, we've not seen a crazy amount of customs. i suppose that's a credit to the incredible paint apps straight from the hatchery. people aren't too anxious to mess with perfection. then there are the brave, like crestone. who outfitted this bertie with some insane upgrades. one thing bertie will never be criticized for is lack of firepower. but that doesn't mean you can't have more of a great thing...

lucky bastard and little shit [great names by the way]

...the ladies call me thor.

i'm guessing little shit doesn't do a lot of typical square disarming.

seems more like the "grinding ash into your open wounds" type...

say hello to my little friend... and my other little friend.

and also my big friend.

crestone has also got this guy in the works... damn.

i believe the word i'm looking for is godlike.

a better look at the unpainted duo.

i'm also pretty sure i don't have to tell you to not make fun of the little legs...

the construction and intricacy of these is damned impressive. you'd think he had a tiny cnc machine sitting on his workbench. you will be watched closely sir. this is the kind of work that tends to get you noticed.

oh...

those awesome lyrics from the previous post?...

won me one of these ↑

unfuckingbelievable

needless to say, i'm a little excited about it.

further proof that this is ash's world, and we're lucky to be part of it.

rock.

gorgeous diy de plume shot from previous winner expathos

martian booty.

...I like big bots and I can not lie
You other brothers can't deny
That when a Drop walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a pistol in your face
You get shot, like a punk ass grunt
'Cause this you know this ain't no front
Blood on the clothes you're wearin'
You're hooked and you can't stop starin'
Oh Bertie, I wanna ride with ya
And meet your sister
My Legion tried to warn me
But those skinny little legs make me so horny
Ooh, a damn Large Martin
You say you wanna shell the reds?
Well torch 'em, burn 'em
Cause they ain't the average martians
I've seen Squares dancin'
And Armstrongs advancin'
Ready, to raid
Wastin' terrans like a Peace Day parade
I'm tired of M.O.D.
Saying hack bots are the thing
Ask Rothchild in his lunar seat
They gotta pack much heat
So, Legion (Yeah!) Legion (Yeah!)
Has your Bramble got the gat? (Hell Yeah!)
Tell 'em to pop it! (Pop it!) Pop it! (Pop it!)
Fill 'em full of lead!
3A got bots!

sir bramblelot image constructed by me from these. bramble. blaster. turntable.

dark days and brilliant nights.

dump the pitchers of beer. put down your jager bombs. pour out the 40 for a fallen homie...

ashley wood - "NW/DW are the fine wine of 3A..."

let's class this joint up. put a little nightwatch and daywatch on the table. the oft misunderstood warriors aren't just generic bots...

ashley wood - "NW and DW do exude a classy more elitist feel, and that's what they are supposed to do, presidential guard, parades, etc, they don't see action on dirty battlegrounds."

photo from ail.

the clouds began to part, but 86 new there would still be rain...

shot by cris rose.

separated from his detachment, his deep six programming

ensured this snow would soon blossom with red.

from the killer collection of tigerfeet.

private school bots always know how to party.

i must say, their effect does multiply quite substantially once they have serious numbers. tigerfeet's collection completely stopped me in my tracks. for any of you on the fence about the glossy sheen of the nw/dw crew, give it a minute, like all of 3A these guys will have you by the throat before you know what hit you.

building an army.

no big deal. just some mind blowing preview shots of the army assembling in beijing. event explained here. i'm really quite surprised the chinese have allowed such a formidable opponent to set up shop right in the heart of their country. it must be the squares... they have no idea how dangerous the little fuckers can be.

1:1 squares

yeah, you gotta watch em.

this one tried to bite my nut off yesterday...

that little tooth isn't so little when it's buried in your thigh.

1:1 large martin weapon of choice.

oh, i didn't mention that?...

IT'S FOR FUCKING SALE.

yeah. i know. crazy right?

3A is on the verge of going supernova, with ash as the most brilliant mad toy scientist the world has seen yet. this is epic stuff they're doing. for the first time since i was 7 (or maybe the first time i saw the internet), there's something that feels truly big. something far beyond normal parameters. something to get really fucking excited about. i am in awe again, and it feels fantastic. i'm just happy to be along for the ride.

the mother lode.

holy balsagna. there's a storm brewing in beijing and it's looking to do some damage. 3A is slowly releasing info about their next art event on june 25th... it's going to be like christmas in july... um, in june.

toys! art! some sort of live music! probably beer! i'm supremely sad that i won't be able to partake in all the legendary festivities. tickets to china tend to not be cheap. but i can live vicariously through the rest of the legion. that's healthy right? at least financially.

i think she's ready...

there will be work from these 5 badasses and badassette.

[jem's will be in the form of prints, not ogs]

ash. phil. kenny. rufus. dorophy. jeremy.

[these are just examples. we don't know yet what they'll show in beijing]

[kenny wong copperhead image courtesy of Nykhö]

there will be toys.

[understatement of the year]

all of the below will be available in some quantities.

click to enlarge.

[photoshop compilation by me]

but wait, there's more...

remember when i dropped the megaton bomb about 1:1 squares?

which by the way will be making their debut at this show.

this is better.

a 12 foot tall metal large martin [nearly 1:1]

weighing in at 1900 pounds of fuck you.

...head explodes.

/rechecks prices of tickets to beijing...

head explodes again.

i am just in awe. i'm also filling with a combination of sadness and jealousy. i think it's called whyohwhycan'tigetmydumbasstobeijing. amazing artists, amazing toys and a small army of life size robots will be dancing through my head for the next two months. if you are cool enough to make the trek, make sure you check in here to talk to all the other cool people in the cool club. i'll be sitting here anxiously waiting for pictures.

and as always, the best place for more news about this mecca of awesome is the blog or gimby's news.

images for the toy release compilation were blatantly stolen from:

expathos, dedguy, dedguy and dedguy one more time. and also 3A.

rothchild has begun.

even war bot barons have to start somewhere, and i'm guessing that somewhere

is a garage. rustedhalo has created a 1:1 bramble from cardboard. this is man-sized people! UD018 stands on his own and has pretty slick mobility for something that used to hold wrapping paper. what an awesome undertaking. weapons are still to come. i'm in awe. amazing work, especially with those hands... incredible.

you deserve a medal.

[stand is just for safety]

is bramble gonna have to choke a bitch?

what restraint...

everyone else that poses articulated hands

immediately goes for the middle finger.

...classy choice with the "taint tickle"

even ponda baba's robot arm got chippity chopped.

please tell me there's giant pringles under there...

dismantle you brick by brick.

something a little different today: legos. they're these little plastic bricks with nubs on them that fit together without the magic of glue! vinyl addicts step back, this is pure ABS plastic baby. only the good stuff. these bricks can be formed into tens, maybe even hundreds of different combinations. and if you're lucky, your combination will look like something.

these are all the work of angus maclane [cubedude]. he's created hundreds of different characters from things that you probably like. i'd seen one or two before, but i'd never gone in head first. this man is amazing. and he has excellent taste of subject matter. check out his flickr stream, you will not be disappointed.

berties!

wwr has breached your living room.

luke might have joined special ed squadron.

peanut butter-five checking in...

the cube abides.

by the power of midget legs!

i love you saturday morning.

in addition to being good with his bricks, angus works for a tiny animation company called pixar, lucky bastard. he's interviewed here by the brothers brick. angus, you get a gold star because you rock.

thanks to toysrevil for the tipoff about the berties

the retail wars get serious.

the dropcloth divisions are dangerously close to invading. peaceday will be the first out of the gate, closely followed by the bambaland packs, then as per the formula, the retail exclusives. and the retail exclusives are incredible. 5 evil and eviler warriors with a variety of killing skills, displayed below for your excitement. [ note: none of these guys has their decals yet, so they will look even more awesome in finished form. ]

deimos liberator |:|

"deimos dropcloth was a key player in liberating the main deimos relay station for mars, deimos is very important as a communications hub for mars. earth forces had held it for 23 days following a takeover with a crack team of commando dropcloths and troops... think custer's last stand, but he won..."

deimos would be happy to liberate your head from your body.

commando uncle 5 |:|

say it! say uncle!

slim red |:|

red like borscht. and ruptured kidneys.

panda shocktrooper |:|

"iron panda shock trooper clean up after a heavy shelling by large martin, all from iron panda division"

cuddly like a tin can full of nails.

slaughterhouse |:| the bastard butcher

"created to be an urban legend to spook the earth faction soldiers... and kill em. they rest during the daylight, as their light sensors pick up the fleeting light, they crawl from their hiding spots, tapping on windows, killing pets, and wholesale slaughter of towns etc. the euro bramble project has been very effective against these bastards in europe, and now many other countries are deploying units just to hunt and destroy these dropcloth as they rest... kinda like vampires. slaughterhouse is the worst, no restraints."

here kitty kitty...

sooo much fabulousity. i really can't decide which one i like best. slaughterhouse clearly has the it factor with the meat cleavers... slim red's a commie... deimos has the grease gun and seattle supersonics camo... panda is tougher than bamboo... and uncle is all steely with the blaster cap head. want.

timing is still tentative, but my guess is sometime in april. ash has said that all retailers will get them, so i don't think there are store specifics. just keep your eyes open and use the time to figure out which ones you will be adopting.