After a 2 month hiatus thanks to technical issues I’m back with a new gallery to kick off July! With new camera in hand and a backlog of recent releases to photograph I’m ready to start livening up our gallery section again so I hope you enjoy the ride as well! It’s going to be a learning experience for both of us as I introduce you to new figures, and I explore my new camera in depth. But for now, today’s subject is the recently released S.H. Figuarts Kabuto Extender!
A great companion piece to S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Kabuto, which was released in 2014. This vehicles’ release comes quite a while after that but coincided with a reissue of Kabuto. And as far as Rider Machines go, Kabuto Extender is a fairly bare bones release but one that compliments the Kabuto already present in your collection very nicely. You won’t find much new to talk about with this release, but if you’re a fan of the Kabuto series or character, you’ll love it.
Click “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post to see over 30 images of this fantastic addition to the line. Several more figuarts galleries are on their way after this as well, this is only the tip of the iceberg!
The man who walks the path of heaven can't always walk. So this time he'll ride, in style! S.H. Figuarts Kabuto Extender is a companion piece to 2014's S.H. Figuarts Shinkochu Seihou Kamen Rider Kabuto. It's release coincided with a reissue of the popular Kabuto figure which kicked off the entire "SS" sub-line of figuarts as well.
Packaging
Pretty standard stuff here. Most Rider Machines come in pretty plain boxes. This one is no different thanks to the drab black & gray color scheme of it. Nothing else of interest to note with this one.
Main Figure
It's a bike. Review done. Oh, you expected more? I suppose....
In truth there isn't much you can say about a vehicle of this nature. The Kabuto Extender is a really gorgeous bike. And one that's well past due. Considering all of the Kabuto Riders themselves (minus the Brightrooper variant) were released as S.H. Figuarts years ago, it's still surprising that none of the bikes were ever produced before now. Luckily the Gattack Extender is being teased currently too, and with SS Gattack on the way it's just a matter of time. But I'd still like to see the Machine Zectron, in both TheBee & Drake flavors some day.
But as Rider Machines go, Kabuto Extender is pretty basic. It doesn't have any action features to speak of unlike it's vintage DX counterpart, which I've included comparison shots of. In show the Extender could also "cast off" it's outer armor like the series' riders, to reveal a faster more powerful form beneath. While it's probably not fair to expect the figuart to be capable of this, we live in a time where a fully transformable Survive Contract Monster Dragranzer exists. So you know, wishful thinking.
But it's still a goo looking bike and Kabuto looks perfectly natural sitting on it. Tendou has never looked better than he does with this modern day pairing.
Accessories
1 - wheel base like most Figuarts bikes. Nothing special here.
1- Tamashii Stage Adapter. To be used on the underside of the bike the recreate action shots or chase scenes. I had some fun with it and explosions as you can see below.
Also it seem additional handlebars are a thing of the past, as this release doesn;'t have the standard extra pair. But honestly who ever used them anyway? Can't think of much else that could have been done with this one. For what we got I'm relatively pleased though.
Final Thoughts
Basically S.H. Figuarts Kabuto Extender is a really nicely painted and sculpted vehicle that will be a great accessory for your Shinkochu Seihou Kabuto. Many collectors don't particularly feel the necessity to own every bike for every rider. And with releases like this, I can totally get that. I loved Kabuto, the series and the rider, so it's a must have personally. But even I can admit you don't get much bang for your buck with this one. S.H. Figuarts Kabuto Extender could have been much more, but like many Rider Machines it just becomes background display material.
Geez, the Kabuto Extender really is one of the less memorable bikes...How often did they even use the cast off feature on the bikes, anyway? I can only picture one moment in my head, personally.
I'm glad his bike got reissued to go with his newer figure though, and it does look nice (I like the sleek horn it has).
When are you doing your gallery for Dragranzer?
Hopefully you will do galleries for them one day.
Full Thread: S.H. Figuarts Kabuto Extender Gallery
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