Tuesday-Toy-Review: Sketchbot Variant 2 by Steve Talkowski
This Variant #2 is one of three versions (first seen as a group in SDCC) with the Orange original released first, while the status of the third Pink Version with the Quill-pen remaining undetermined for now. Variant #2 came as part of a boxed gift-set from Justin Rudy of Dynomight NYC, and was pleased as punch to received this! (I would not disclaim there was a tear shed in there somewhere upon receiving it).
In a 2007-interview with Steve, the Sketchbot was part of his ArtBots. with the idea of a retro-styled robot being with Steve for many tears before, with the first incarnation as a barrel-shaped robot. And thru years of self-casting, the figures are now currently manufactured by SOLID Industries, and very well done too!
CLICK THRU> to peep/read the toy-review, as well check with your fav retailers on availability of Sketchbot!
DISPLAY BOX: My favorite part about the figure, was the box. And while this claim might stir up some unhappiness in certain quarters (of that I am not wholly sure but can expect) I need to give credit due to the box, both pleasantly fuss-n-frills-free, and designed beyond simple utilitarian, like a "lifestyle product" box moreso than a box filled with a toy. Notice there are no drawings/illustrations of photos of the product, other than the eye-element? Brave souls be in action here!
The box opens up to a clamshell plastic tray holding the snap-together figure in it's whole, while the additional paintbrush is bagged and sticky-taped to the back of tray. Not much to fault here, as this does seem to be the standard of general toys on the display shelf. Understandably the differing stationary accessory will be attached in lieu if a specially molded tray to hold it, whereby making the box bigger than it needed to be, I guess.
This seems a lean set, with the figure needing to be displayed in the open, than resting in a box, I reckon.
EXTRAS: This particular production piece came with two stickers (stuck at back of tray), as well the figure signed by the designer Steve Talkowski at back-of-figure (which I actually missed the first time I took it out for snaps! LOL Nice touch and a cool memory of 2010's NYCC event. The slight smudge is understandable but nevertheless a bonus to the toy itself ;p
BODY & ARTICULATION: And while I have not the opportunity to hold the OG-Orange version, I had a chance to work on the DIY-Blank version (yes, there is one!) for the first Sketchbot custom show way back when [HERE] and it was a smooth simple bodyform to have. Everything was vinyl, save for the ABS-plastic clamps/hands (and perhaps the fetes). Everything could be simply popped apart without much incident or ease (so do not worry).
Variant #2 includes too removable hands, with carved legs (logo at base is a very swell touch) with overall good smooth production and paint app.
But truth be told, my particular model did not have a firm grip on the brush-pen, barely catching and holding it delicately for the image-snap, which to me prevents the toy from getting full marks here.
Staring out the window and into the world … well, to Pasir Ris anyways ;p
CONCLUSION: I somehow feel a full line-up will fully showcase the entire series (or perhaps I a still too tied up in the earlier interview of it's genesis). Standing alone, this figure stands out from all the urban hippo, kawaii-adorable or artsy-do characters out in the market now, with it's retrolistic simplicity in form, and perhaps even seem mundanely uncharacteristic somewhat, And perhaps that's what makes it "special", and a figure able to transcend the specific label within the art toy crowd, and into mass market. But someone has to market that first, if in fact this is the direction it is heading, or not.
In a 2007-interview with Steve, the Sketchbot was part of his ArtBots. with the idea of a retro-styled robot being with Steve for many tears before, with the first incarnation as a barrel-shaped robot. And thru years of self-casting, the figures are now currently manufactured by SOLID Industries, and very well done too!
CLICK THRU> to peep/read the toy-review, as well check with your fav retailers on availability of Sketchbot!
DISPLAY BOX: My favorite part about the figure, was the box. And while this claim might stir up some unhappiness in certain quarters (of that I am not wholly sure but can expect) I need to give credit due to the box, both pleasantly fuss-n-frills-free, and designed beyond simple utilitarian, like a "lifestyle product" box moreso than a box filled with a toy. Notice there are no drawings/illustrations of photos of the product, other than the eye-element? Brave souls be in action here!
The box opens up to a clamshell plastic tray holding the snap-together figure in it's whole, while the additional paintbrush is bagged and sticky-taped to the back of tray. Not much to fault here, as this does seem to be the standard of general toys on the display shelf. Understandably the differing stationary accessory will be attached in lieu if a specially molded tray to hold it, whereby making the box bigger than it needed to be, I guess.
This seems a lean set, with the figure needing to be displayed in the open, than resting in a box, I reckon.
EXTRAS: This particular production piece came with two stickers (stuck at back of tray), as well the figure signed by the designer Steve Talkowski at back-of-figure (which I actually missed the first time I took it out for snaps! LOL Nice touch and a cool memory of 2010's NYCC event. The slight smudge is understandable but nevertheless a bonus to the toy itself ;p
BODY & ARTICULATION: And while I have not the opportunity to hold the OG-Orange version, I had a chance to work on the DIY-Blank version (yes, there is one!) for the first Sketchbot custom show way back when [HERE] and it was a smooth simple bodyform to have. Everything was vinyl, save for the ABS-plastic clamps/hands (and perhaps the fetes). Everything could be simply popped apart without much incident or ease (so do not worry).
Variant #2 includes too removable hands, with carved legs (logo at base is a very swell touch) with overall good smooth production and paint app.
But truth be told, my particular model did not have a firm grip on the brush-pen, barely catching and holding it delicately for the image-snap, which to me prevents the toy from getting full marks here.
Staring out the window and into the world … well, to Pasir Ris anyways ;p
CONCLUSION: I somehow feel a full line-up will fully showcase the entire series (or perhaps I a still too tied up in the earlier interview of it's genesis). Standing alone, this figure stands out from all the urban hippo, kawaii-adorable or artsy-do characters out in the market now, with it's retrolistic simplicity in form, and perhaps even seem mundanely uncharacteristic somewhat, And perhaps that's what makes it "special", and a figure able to transcend the specific label within the art toy crowd, and into mass market. But someone has to market that first, if in fact this is the direction it is heading, or not.
