Kabaya Gum Plus Transformers DX Fortress Maximus Series In-Hand Images

tiny but cool

Out of curiosity, is TakaraTomy using the name "Fortress" or "Cerebros" for this guy?

I ask since it does matter, as the two aren't the same character, despite serving the same function of forming Fort Max's head.

Wow, cool! I like it, but I kind of wish they did Metroplex first.

Sadly, as mush as I want a Fortress Maximus for my collection, I am going to pass on this set.

I've had this thing on preorder pretty much since the preorders went up, so stoked for it, and even more now that I know the scale. I had it pegged as MAYBE Deluxe scale, but seeing it stand a little taller than Arms Micron Optimus... really looking forward to it.

I'm tempted to get this. I don't collect the Kabaya figures, but this just looks like it would be fun.

Stop making me want this!

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

So, if/when I break down and buy this, where would the best place to buy it from be?

RAcast wrote:

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

So, if/when I break down and buy this, where would the best place to buy it from be?

I would have said Captured Prey because they will allow you to buy just the three sets, but they're sold out. I would just go through the site sponsors and see who is offering the best deal.

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:

El Duque wrote:

RAcast wrote:Stop making me want this!

NO!

So, if/when I break down and buy this, where would the best place to buy it from be?

I would have said Captured Prey because they will allow you to buy just the three sets, but they're sold out. I would just go through the site sponsors and see who is offering the best deal.

Thanks

Just preordered this from BBTS. Hope i get a complete set. ::crossing fingers::

damn you El Duque for making me want stuff I never thought about!!!

Also where would one put this on the shelf if one does not have any other Kabaya stuff?

mooncake623 wrote:Also where would one put this on the shelf if one does not have any other Kabaya stuff?

He'd make a decent Marvel Fort Max, as he was only a bit larger than the other Transformers in the comics.

Those paper stickers look really beat up in the pictures. Is that how they'll look for everyone's toy? Are they pre-applied, or on a sheet?

Overlord this size next please!

Voyager sized, eh? I'm impressed even more, now.

BBTS has them in stock!

User897 wrote:Those paper stickers look really beat up in the pictures. Is that how they'll look for everyone's toy? Are they pre-applied, or on a sheet?

They come on a sheet. I have some of the previous Kabaya kits (OP, Hot Rod/Rodimus, etc) built and stickered, and sometimes the stickers are made to fold over certain angles or are just a tad bit too big for the part they are supposed to fit over. Look at Rodimus' legs as a good example of this. Also, the face stickers don't seem to stay very well on my figures, not sure if anyone has the same problem or is just better at applying than I am.

Regardless of my sticker issues, these are fun and inexpensive kits. I'll have the Fort Max set shipped out soon, and look forward to finding a nice place for him and his little friends.

So, I got my Kabaya Fort Max this weekend. I gotta say, it was some work. The first set took me about 45 minutes to put together, but I plowed through the second and third ones pretty quickly. Once you have a good idea what you're doing, it flies by a lot quicker. In fact, it really added to the fun of it. After finishing the first set, I went right into the second. I had to go to a party after, and then we hit a bar from there, but when I got home at about 2:30 in the morning, I went right back and finished the third set. I enjoyed it that much.

I guess I underestimated the fact that I was going to be fully assembling this sucker when I bought it, though. And not just putting a few parts together, either. They had me assembling a launcher with a spring! But, God it was worth it. Both base and bot modes look amazing. There is a real attention to detail, and once you see how everything comes together, it's really quite something. He's such a cool likeness, and he feels very sturdy in both modes.



That's not to say he doesn't come with a couple issues. My biggest qualm has to be the mini-bots he comes with. They're so damn tiny! Which is fine, because they have to be for them to really work with Max, but the problem ends up being the stickers. The details on all 3 sets are pretty much taken care of by the stickers. And they seem to work really well on Max. I don't see any of the ones attached to the main figure coming off at any time soon. But on the mini-bots... that may end up being an issue.

Windcharger is the biggest problem. He's almost too faithful to the original figure design, and it results in a figure that feels really... loose. His arms don't click in tightly enough, and his legs can come off pretty easily. Plus, I've already lost one of the stickers that was supposed to be his tire. Cerebros is a much sturdier figure. He feels perfect (despite the exclusion of Spike). He also has some sticker problems, though. I think the one on his chest and the Fort Max face will be fine (though I contemplated not putting the face one on at all, since the face sculpt is pretty good on it's own), but the stickers on his arms and Max's ears feel like they'll be gone in a matter of time. Powerglide is easily the best of all 3. His simplicity is perfect, and they only put two stickers for him, both of which are placed in areas where they'll likely have no problem staying in place. And he works awesome with the launcher. The sucker can really fire him a decent distance.

When it comes to Max himself... not many complaints. I do wish the compartment on his left shoulder was a little bigger and had a translucent door. It would have been cool to store Windcharger or Powerglide in there, the way I used to as a kid with the G2 mini-bots, and my neighbor's Fort Max. Also, the stickers, despite being very solid on Max, were a real chore to get on jusssssst right, a few times. Especially the Autobot insignia on the tower that splits in half. It took forever to get them lined up so that they connected perfectly.

Other than those small complaints? Yeah. This guy is awesome. Well worth the $50 BBTS is charging. If you don't mind putting in the work, and you don't wanna drop a grand on the original Max, this is your best bet at getting a fully licensed figure that's pretty loyal to the original. Now, Kabaya, please give us a similar version of Trypticon.

Got email today that mine is shipping. Mmmmmm...Maximus. Or should that be Minimus?

craggy wrote:Got email today that mine is shipping. Mmmmmm...Maximus. Or should that be Minimus?

from where?

LOST Cybertronian wrote:

craggy wrote:Got email today that mine is shipping. Mmmmmm...Maximus. Or should that be Minimus?

from where?

Kapow Toys. Although their twitter seems to suggest the 15th, my order has been updated to shipped. I'm not entirely sure one way or the other to be honest, but they're usually pretty accurate about these things.

2016 is the year of Fortress Maximus' comeback and it shows. Not only are we getting three versions of the Titans Return toy (Hasbro, Takara, SDCC) but we are getting a rerelease of the Kabaya Gum kit that came out in 2012. This rerelease features a metalic finish, thus being called "Transformers DX Fortress Maximus Metalic Version" in the new HLJ listing. For those unaware, this is a small licensed model kit that must be put together. It also comes with gum so that it can be sold as a food item and circumvent certain japan grocery store policies. This kit is on preorder for ¥3,780 (about 35$ US) with an August 2016 release date.

legs to the max

That's pretty awesome they're making him. I like a smaller scale fort max. Only thing I've had close is a KO I found at a store once. Surprisingly for a KO it still holds up and it's a broken mess.

I have the original, and he's pretty great. Putting him together was a bit of a pain, but I was mostly happy with the end result (not super fond of some of the stickers, particularly on Cerebros).

Are these coming in three packs sold in cases of 5? I still have two extras from the original.

Marcdachamp wrote:I have the original, and he's pretty great. Putting him together was a bit of a pain, but I was mostly happy with the end result (not super fond of some of the stickers, particularly on Cerebros).

Are these coming in three packs sold in cases of 5? I still have two extras from the original.

looks like its a case of 6.

how tall is this?

BERSEKAEL wrote:how tall is this?

As tall as a G1 original Headmaster



What you will love though are the smaller TFs it comes with. There is an actual Powerglide that is in scale within the legion class. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q= ... 5911105594

Aww man this looks cool!

SillySpringer wrote:Aww man this looks cool!

Kabaya kits are awesome fun. Sure they can be time consuming to put together, and sure, you have to partially disassemble them to transform them, and sure, putting the stickers on, especially the face ones, can be fucking annoying ... fuck it. I don't know why I like them after all that but I do.

Burn wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:Aww man this looks cool!

Kabaya kits are awesome fun. Sure they can be time consuming to put together, and sure, you have to partially disassemble them to transform them, and sure, putting the stickers on, especially the face ones, can be **** annoying ... **** it. I don't know why I like them after all that but I do.

Actually, Fort Max here doesn't look like he needs to be taken apart really to transform him. Personally, I think he looks better than Titans Return FM, even though the TR one is probably the one I'd get.

SillySpringer wrote:

Burn wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:Aww man this looks cool!

Kabaya kits are awesome fun. Sure they can be time consuming to put together, and sure, you have to partially disassemble them to transform them, and sure, putting the stickers on, especially the face ones, can be **** annoying ... **** it. I don't know why I like them after all that but I do.

Actually, Fort Max here doesn't look like he needs to be taken apart really to transform him. Personally, I think he looks better than Titans Return FM, even though the TR one is probably the one I'd get.

They don't have to be taken apart completely, only certain bits taken off and placed elsewhere.

For example, G1 Optimus Prime - In robot mode you remove his lower forearms, fold the upper arms/shoulders back around (same as the original G1 figure) then reattach the lower forearms, though they're on a different peg at the elbow. Everything else transforms the same, just the lower forearms.

SillySpringer wrote:

Burn wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:Aww man this looks cool!

Kabaya kits are awesome fun. Sure they can be time consuming to put together, and sure, you have to partially disassemble them to transform them, and sure, putting the stickers on, especially the face ones, can be **** annoying ... **** it. I don't know why I like them after all that but I do.

Actually, Fort Max here doesn't look like he needs to be taken apart really to transform him. Personally, I think he looks better than Titans Return FM, even though the TR one is probably the one I'd get.

These figures arent articulated much so oftentimes you have to take them apart to place the parts back in the proper place even if its just a different angle.

william-james88 wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:

Burn wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:Aww man this looks cool!

Kabaya kits are awesome fun. Sure they can be time consuming to put together, and sure, you have to partially disassemble them to transform them, and sure, putting the stickers on, especially the face ones, can be **** annoying ... **** it. I don't know why I like them after all that but I do.

Actually, Fort Max here doesn't look like he needs to be taken apart really to transform him. Personally, I think he looks better than Titans Return FM, even though the TR one is probably the one I'd get.

These figures arent articulated much so oftentimes you have to take them apart to place the parts back in the proper place even if its just a different angle.

Yeah I just wish that these alt modes were integrated well into the new Titans Return one. Oh well...

If this one proves to be a good set, I just maybe will pick it up. It depends though. I am kinda in a g1 mood right now anyhow.

To see the kit in action:



Courtesy of Youheidx.

I have the original and it is fantastic, but I wish they had done grand maximus.

BBTS has the boxes on clearance now. Just finished the ones I got. Not originally a fan of the idea of putting together Transformers but these model kits are very fun so far (I've been getting Arms Micron kits too).

Seibertron's Japanese correspondant Matt has just found Kabaya's Metallic Fortress Maximus for ¥560 at a local candy store.

Matt wrote:You have to collect 3 boxes to complete Fort Max. I got the Sky Base and Powerglide set. It also says the body and stickers are metallic, making him different from the previous releases.

Comes with a mini Charger and a mini Power Glide

He sent some images to give us an idea of what the metallic finish looks like. Enjoy and let us know if it looks different enough from the original to want to double dip.

How does this guy have better base modes than TR

Kurona wrote:How does this guy have better base modes than TR

Because he is based on a better toy

Is that paint?!

I mean I remember my kabaya fort max has only stickers for details, but it does look like powerglide has blue eyes and Max has a painted face!

I wanna see more!

camzilla51 wrote:Is that paint?!

I mean I remember my kabaya fort max has only stickers for details, but it does look like powerglide has blue eyes and Max has a painted face!

I wanna see more!

Don't get too excited. By nature model kits come completely bare, no paint, no stickers. Any paint is added on by the buyer and is no part of the set itself.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

camzilla51 wrote:Is that paint?!

I mean I remember my kabaya fort max has only stickers for details, but it does look like powerglide has blue eyes and Max has a painted face!

I wanna see more!

Don't get too excited. By nature model kits come completely bare, no paint, no stickers. Any paint is added on by the buyer and is no part of the set itself.

The Master Sword is definitely factory painted with additional black, you can see it on the box as well while the original was just solid red. same with Powerglide's black cockpit so it does appear that some parts have been painted this time around.

Emerje

So far i haven't seen a Youtube video review of this particular version(at least until Emerje comes on & states there's already one been posted )

Stuartmaximus wrote:So far i haven't seen a Youtube video review of this particular version of this(at least until Emerje comes on & states there's already one been posted )

There isnt a review yet, this set just came out in Japan and hasnt even shipped from US retailers yet http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

william-james88 wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:So far i haven't seen a Youtube video review of this particular version of this(at least until Emerje comes on & states there's already one been posted )

There isnt a review yet, this set just came out in Japan and hasnt even shipped from US retailers yet http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/prod ... ode=retail

Aye but there could've been a Japanese vid review, coz wasn't there a Japanese vid review of TR Fort Max that came out early & first

Our Japanese correspondent, Matt, had found and built one third of Kabaya's Fortress Maximus Metallic Version. Well, he went back to get the rest and built him so that you could see the full figure. He also compared it to the Combiner Wars Kabaya kit. This kit is available at most online Transformers retailers which also stock imports.

The photos sent to us include:

Command Base with Fortress
Fort Max's head
A showcase of nice metallic green paint
Launch Base with Charger
Working ramp lever
City Mode
Base Mode
Fortress Maximus
Size comparison

Why is the forehead blurred in every photo? So odd...

Block Wars, not Combiner Wars

It's actually pretty cute how Kabaya had to split him in three sets, yet managed to make self-sustained sets out of the parts, and not going like "Fortress Maximus A", "B" and "C". Brownie points for that.