Putting the trouble of getting the Astro Zord apart, UFOmaru was really easy to get and relatively cheap. I got him along with the other 3 otomonin as well as another Shurikenjin for about 60 dollars which was a really good deal! I'm not sure which mode I like the most though, I like both Shurikenjin Paon and Shurikenjin UFO. Kasumi had a big part in getting UFOmaru with her otomonin translation machine and they even made it to the moon! (???)
These Minipla figures are very detailed but they have to compensate whenever they transform, this one is a good example of partsforming since you have to take it apart and put it together to become UFOmaru. With this one I had to resort to using one more sticker on it than I did with Paon because of really really small details like the "Nin Nin" on the crest.
I also messed up the paint job on the cockpit but it's really small and not noticeable from afar.
It is much smaller than the Astro Zord but it looks much better in my opinion and it's not just because I painted it myself! That's just one of the reasons.
Of course it can transform and doing that requires just as much partsforming as it does to get it in UFO mode. One thing that bothers me is the pegs on the legs since they come off easily.
Aside from that, I did a decent job painting the buttons and the silver on the chest. It's not super noticeable but it is there. I thought this was going to be harder to paint.
It's half the size of the Astro Zord but just as detailed and more articulated.
The hat is nicely detailed and the sticker for the Shuriken looks like space! The shades of blue and the slight metallic effect make it work.
As we know, the gimmick is that they sit on Shurikenjin and doing that is easy but getting him into a good sitting posture isn't. His legs pop off while trying to get him to sit but once you get him in it works just fine.
He can hold the Blaster just fine in this mode unlike the Astro Megazord which couldn't hold it with Robo-Red Zord. The main reason is because of the handle, the one in UFOmaru is further out than Astro Zord so holding it doesn't get in the way of the knee joints in Shinobimaru. I am liking the Minipla figures and I can't wait to review more and get more. I always saw them on the Youtubes so it's nice to have them in hand. They can transform and are articulated! How much better can it be? I wish the DX versions were like this though. Much like the Soul of Chogokin Daizyujin or Original Megazord but that thing is really expensive... Anyway I'll see you on the next review.
