Bandai’s Ultra-Realistic Nile Crocodile Model: Looking Toothy

Crocodiles: you can easily tell them apart from alligators based on whether you’ll see them later or after a while. Plus alligators have broad, flat heads with only their top teeth visible when their mouths are closed, and crocodiles have pointed snouts with all teeth visible all the time. But to specifically celebrate the 16-foot freshwater Nile Crocodile, Bandai is releasing this 1/12 scale Ikimono Encyclopedia Ultimate Nile Crocodile model.

The 19,800-yen (~$180) fully assembled model features posable legs, an opening and closing mouth, and the entire body and tail are jointed vertically between each row of scales for ultimate articulation. It measures approximately 16″ long and I can already hear my wife screaming when she steps out of the shower and sees the scale crocodile model I placed on the bathmat.

While $180 is typically out of my model price range, the thing I like most about this one is that it comes pre-assembled, meaning that while it does cost a fair bit more, I won’t just break all the plastic pieces and rage quit with a half-assembled model airplane glued to the kitchen counter.

[via Mike Shouts]

Pac-Man Goes for the Gold with This Connect-and-Play Special Edition

Pac-Man, Galaga, and Dig Dug are three of my all-time favorite 8-bit arcade games. There are lots of ways to play Namco’s classic game at home these days, but how many of them are shiny and gold? Well before now, none of them. Now, thanks to the guys at Bandai, there’s a special gold edition of the Pac-Man Connect and Play game system.

The plug-and-play style system plays those classics on your TV using its built-in joystick and arcade buttons. It comes loaded with a dozen games, including those I already mentioned, plus Galaxian, Bosconian, New Rally-X, Super Pac-Man, Xevious, Mappy, Pac-Man Plus, and the glitchy 256th-level of the original Pac-Man. Of course what makes it special is its case, which is shaped like a pixel art Pac-Man, and done up in a glistening golden finish.

The Pac-Man Connect and Play: Gold Edition is available for pre-order from Premium Bandai for $60, and is expected to ship starting in March 2021. That’s quite a bit more expensive than the plain yellow version, but the way I figure it, if you played the original games 240 times, which I’m sure many of you did, you would have pumped in the same amount in quarters and not gotten to take the games home with you after you left the arcade.

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Return of the Jedi See-Through Ships: Clear Wars

The spaceships and starbases in Star Wars are some of the most iconic and recognizable in the history of moviemaking. There are lots of ways that collectors can enjoy these ships at home, from LEGO Imperial Star Destroyers to drones that look like the X-Wing fighters. Now, you can add to that list these see-through models.

This set of four ships comes from Bandai Spirits and includes tiny transparent models of an X-Wing Fighter (1/144 scale), the under-construction Death Star II (1:2700000 scale), a Y-Wing fighter (1/144 scale), and the Millennium Falcon (1/350 scale). Each one is made from PVC and ABS plastic and comes with a desktop display stand with the ship’s name on it.

The set is available for order from Amazon (affiliate link) for about $34, and would make a great gift for any Star Wars fan.

Dragon Ball Frieza Plush Boss Cushion Gets in Your Way While You Type

Fans of Dragon Ball know that Frieza is kind of a jerk. After all, he’s ruler of Universe 7, and raised up an army to wreak all kinds of havoc on the Gods of the Universe. Now this purple-headed a-hole can get in your way when you’re trying to use your computer too.

Dressed up like a Japanese salaryman, this version of Frieza is designed to sit on your lap while you try to get work done.  Sure, he’s soft and squeezy, but he’s also got a big head that’s gonna block your view unless your computer’s display is on a stand. He also comes with his own keyboard, which doubles as a wrist rest for you – so at least he’s good for something.

If you have a soft spot in your heart for Frieza, or just love weird stuff from Japan, you can order the plush over at Japan Trend Shop for $91. If you happen to be in the area, you can find it for quite a bit less direct from Premium Bandai.