Acid Rain Sol Commander Review & Unboxing

You might remember my post back in February blabbing about the Acid Rain figures and vehicles that were just hitting the internet.
Designed by Kit Lau, the Acid Rain universe consists of transformable mechs and heavily protected pilots as they battle for territory in a destroyed environment.
When I first saw the figures I was besotted, having been abandoned by Hasbro as they do their best to kill the GIJoe franchise.
The prices from BBTS however meant that getting one figure from the US was going to cost $60.
Luckily the Acid Rain Facebook group came to my rescue and told me about Robotica Toys in Malaysia where I wouldn't be paying $40 for postage AND I got them in a week!
Interested in an unboxing? 
Read on after the jump...

Each figure is packed in a cardboard box with a decorated full-colour slip cover

Interestingly, the figure is subtitled "(Sand)" - we can assume there will be other colours pretty soon!?

When you open the flap, there's a single layer of dense foam. Take it out, then you will find beautifully fitted into another layer of foam the figure and his weapon.

The figure is nicely painted with multiple layers of paint applications and some reasonably heavy paint splatter. I'd love to see how these figures are painted! The helmet is removable leaving a gas mask-covered head cast in black and also weathered. Both look great!

Articulation

There's some really brilliant articulation on this figure.
The articulation is not dissimilar to the 30th Anniversary GIJoe articulation.

One of the really interesting pieces of articulation is the neck system. It's actually an independent piece that goes up and down, side to side and independent of the head being able to turn. This gives a really wide range of movement.

The hips have a really simple ball and socket mechanism which gives a really good range of movement, again not dissimilar to the 30th Anniversary GIJoe figures.
There is also independent thigh articulation which unlike some super-posable figures actually feels stable and won't break if moved too much.
You can see the influences of Japanese action figures in the design.
The hands are rubbery which should avoid the problems that early GIJoe figures had - the dreaded thumb crack!

The elbow joins the upper arm with a peg which is easy to remove for customisation.

The foot articulation is really interesting and highly effective. it gives a really good range of movement.

Back to the rubbery hands, you can see here how the right hand bends to an almost 90 degree angle.

The chest articulation is very similar to the Star Wars Clone Wars super-poseable figures and the 25th and 30th Anniversary GIJoe figures. The movement is much better though - no stiffness...

You're going to find this a bit hard to believe, but the vest is one of my favourite bits - why? Well if you've had action figures long enough you know that the vests are always too stiff and once opened are really hard to close. This vest however, is soft and pliable and goes back together like a treat! It's a great piece. A real triumph!

Sol Commander hanging out with Red Card Cobra Commander.

Sol Commander and his main peep Doctor Rex from GIJoe Rise of Cobra in assassin mode!

First up - this is a great figure! It poses really well, but the joints are very stiff when you first get it, so very carefully loosen the joints by moving them - especially the knees.
I couldn't stop fiddling with it today at work and if i'd had more time I would have taken some action shots outside. Maybe later.
If you're thinking about getting one but hedging your bets and thinking about converting a GIJoe figure instead - look - good idea, but take the plunge.
Going with Robotica Toys I got two Sol Commanders and postage to Australia for $70-ish, but if you're in the US, then BBTS may be the best bet.

I liked the service from Robotica Toys so much I may go back to get more vehicles and certainly more figures!

So what do you think?
Have you bought any?
Are you in the market?
Let us know - love to hear your thoughts!