Third party company Fans Toys have shared our first images of the color prototype of their FT-51 Chomp (Masterpiece scale Skullcruncher).
It sure took some time after the first look at the gray prototype while back in 2018, and Fans Toys have update the product number from FT-26 to FT-51. Highly detailed, with great poseability and a very cartoon-accurate design in both modes. Crocodile mode features an articulated tail and an opening cockpit for his Headmaster unit. Robot mode will include his gun and sword. This new mold sure looks great next to the Fans Toys Dracula (Mindwipe) and Lupus (Weirdwolf) as we can see from the new images.
This figure is expected for release in December this year, and you can already find pre-orders via our sponsors links below. Click on the bar to see the mirrored images and then sound off on the 2005 Boards!
Criggity
On sale at BBTS for $155 https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/165715?o=2
Illustratorbot
I'm reasonably happy with this big toothy watermelon. Not sure I was prepared for how big the croc mode is! The colours are great – I especially like the greenish silver and the pops of yellow and lime green on his head – and the transformation is straightforward.
If I have any criticisms (oh go on then, I have criticisms), it would be that I wish there was a bit more articulation in both modes: given his arms only have to transform into… erm, arms, then I see no reason why they couldn't have gone crazy and given us an elbow that bends all the way, and even a butterfly joint at the shoulder. Some kind of rocker on the croc feet would have been welcome too. The tail-sword is a bit too heavy for his wrist joint which limits the poses you can get him into. Oh, and he desperately needs an alternate face to give him a bit more character! He has very posable robot feet though, I'll give him that.
I'm glad I picked him up at a decent-ish price, but he feels very non-essential and far from one of FansToys' best; certainly not a patch on Hannibal, the other FT headmaster I have. If I were ranking my FT figures he'd be at the bottom end, just above Outrider, Sheridan, Hoodlum and Rouge.
I think I'm going to go middle-of-the-chest with his Decepticon logo (not toon-accurate I know) as I don't like how the bottom of the chest position gets half-obscured in alt mode.
Some photos:
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Super Mecha Dad
If anyone sees Lupus/Dracula for (say) $150 or less hit me up.
Destron1
【IN STOCK】Fanstoys FT-51 Chomp Skullcruncher
He's 170 at Terry if anyone's still looking for him.
Super Mecha Dad
See, weirdwolf was my *boy* as a kid but there's something about the Lupus design I don't love. I'd 100% go for a cheap (ie, sub $150) Dracula though.
Illustratorbot
Just ordered this fella in PTT's Black Friday sale. He's slightly cheaper at Bombusbee and a lot cheaper at BBTS but, taking into account shipping, PTT was the cheapest for me.
I'm not really that interested in the Decepticon Headmasters (I only had Snapdragon and Scorponok as a kid) but FT's Skullcruncher has always looked like a lot of fun. Could have picked up Weirdwolf at the same time for a fair price (£128) but his design is just so unappealing. Mindwipe looks okay, but PTT's price for him is high to begin with so even with 20% off it was a bit steep. Anyway, really looking forward to getting the big pink and green chunkster!
werewolfspice
I did, but didn’t love it. Though I’m happy that you did!
Super Mecha Dad
highly recommend checking out buyee/yja/mercari
just got a gently used chomp for $109 us
Grimlock212
Did you get Variator/Gears? That is arguably the best FT figure ever made according to me!
Sandstormer
I think I do that too, except i've had to play catch-up a little. I guess my only FT purchase next year will be Chromedome, can't miss out on him.
Super Mecha Dad
I treat FT like a rare treat. I got a Tesla 1.0 very cheap and was pretty impressed by the level of detail, if not the quality of Transformation. Then I got a hannibal cheap in that doorbuster black friday sale last year and was completely blown away. Now I'm looking at finishing my MP headmasters, as I don't have much faith zombie Maketoys will ever get to the cons.
Sandstormer
I think expectations will rise as prices do, which is a worry because it can cause you to forget why you're collecting them in the first place, and then your collecting career takes a totally different – and maybe less fun – turn.
Like, Viper: probably my favourite of the team, would love to have him. Already accepted i can't be in for the whole crew. But he'll be knocking on £200, so soon enough your 20 FansToys figures have set you back 4k notwithstanding the rest of your collection – and you're starting to wonder what 4k's worth of enjoyment is supposed to look like.
You can think of it as an investment i guess, because many FT figures rise in value (in the current FT bubble, and all bubbles eventually pop), and i'm sure we all get joy from looking at them X times a day, but eventually you have to check yourself before you – glances at notes – riggity wreck yourself.
At some point, and i say this as someone who just today ordered FT's toy version of Sovereign, the value/cost ratio is going to feel disproportionate.
And maybe that's when people start obsessing over small details, and it stops feeling like such a joyous hobby? Dunno.
werewolfspice
I do love Hannibal but Hannibal came out before Chomp, right? Wasn’t Hannibal in May followed by Chomp in June?
Super Mecha Dad
I don't know how you can't love Hannibal, the most extra headmaster of all time.
werewolfspice
I agree, it’s a beautiful figure. It was my favorite figure of 2022, and looking back now I see (perhaps sadly) that it was the last Fans Toys figure I bought that I genuinely loved.
CAJ
Bbb has him for a decent price 155.99 https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/165715?o=4
mouschi
i set my trio out for halloween for the first time ever … they had just been hibernating in boxes. i haven't put them back up yet, so maybe i'll transform them first!
Sandstormer
I'm someone who mostly buys figures to transform and handle but i have to say, looking at Chomp on my shelf feels like admiring a work of art in the Louvre. He's a stunner.
And… he'd make a great murder weapon!
Super Mecha Dad
thanks, probably just a google translate fail
Marcelo Antunes
There’s no reissue of Chomp.