Digital photography has opened up whole new ways for me to enjoy my toy collecting. It's just so much more satisying to show-off a cool toy than just talk about it sometimes. Both Tim and myself are avid fans of TOMY's King of Flexible Mobile series of Zoids (that's the Metal-Action misnomer for the less informed). These marvellously crafted toys herald a new age for the venerable and well-loved ZOIDS, whose older wind-up and battery-op incarnations kept many a young kid happily fascinated, and not to mention quite a few grown-ups as well.

What makes these new guys so special? For one thing, they embody all the characteristics that realistic-mecha fans truly crave: Quality diecast and plastic construction, faithful reproduction of the original mechanical designs, intricate detailing and gimmickry, and of course... fantastic poseability.

The series starts off at serial KZ-01 for the basic Liger Zero body and standard white armor, followed by KZ-01A Schneider Unit, KZ-01B Jager Unit and finally, the KZ-01C Panzer Unit. TOMY also produced the equally brilliant main baddie KZ-02 Berserk Fuhrer (affectionately known to its fans here as Mecha Barney). Tim has already produced an excellent Rumble for it, so this time, Mecha Barney is strictly a guest star. To start, just click on your fancied feline on the left... and enjoy the show.

--Drifand