Mattel Disney Pixar CARS 2 Diecast: San Diego Comic Con Mater 2012-The Video Preview
It’s a little hard to see the lights so I shot the first “complete” video in the semi-dark as you pretty much know what Mater looks like.
So, Mater San Diego Comic Con 2012 is the Nice, the Acceptable and the Weird.
First, the nice/great.
When you press down on the TRY ME in the back without removing the plastic cover, the front panel lights up, there are sounds from the cute car on the screen and Mater offers most of his dialogue from the scene.
There is a minimal rocking motion also as part of the effect – well, more like buzzing. It’s also nice you get the 3 AA batteries “free” so you are ready to go.
And here’s what the front panel looks like lit up with sounds … Again, part of the nice-great, it looks pretty exacting from the film and the lights cycle through a few times and the music keeps playing after her dialogue. This is all great.
Now, the acceptable. It’s not an acrylic cover but heavy plastic. It’s actually screwed onto the base with the plate covering it so if you want an excuse not to remove it, it’s actually a hassle to unscrew the 6 screws, remove the plate and slide the unit by the plastic cover which has flaps AND screw the plate back on. This does allow you a second option of activating the controls because if you push the left washer “brushes” forward, it also activates the lights & sounds effect so either way you have the lights & sounds whether you want to keep the cover on or not.
The brushes do not move by themselves, they travel down the line when you push the left one.
WARNING though. if you remove the plate, do NOT turn it back over without screwing the plate IMMEDIATELY back on as when I turned it over, gravity moved some of the components out of alignment and I had to put them back in alignment. So, one option to consider is to box knife the plastic covering off so you don’t have to deal with components out of alignment.
Mater is also raised slightly by the plastic blue “water.”
(that’s the back TRY ME button).
Mater is the regular diecast with the “foam attachment.”
Some people have an issue with the pink foam. I have no real issues with it and find it acceptable. In theory, it could be better but it could certainly be worse.
If you look at the clip from the film, these are oddball looking dark pink foam and frankly, I like the more transparent look better. Sure, you can argue it looks like Mater was belched up by an alien but that’s always an issue with toys with things latched onto them, they always arguable look a little weird – in a perfect world, there would be a foam & water reservoir that would actually shoot up and coat Mater and then clean him. I imagine for about $249, it’s plausible …Â but for now, I find the pink foam perfectly acceptable.
But I do find one thing weird & strange about SDCC 2012 Mater, yes, he is NON-REMOVEABLE.
There is a tab under his transmission/engine that holds him in place.
I did not want to snap it off and I did not want to remove the battery casing in the case to get at this section of the base. I’m sure once you all get yours, some enterprising person will post us a video or instructions but until then, at least you know the kids won’t make off with Mater though my guess is any kid over the age of 7-months will snap it right off.
Yes, the tab seems mostly illogical because it seems if you’re going to cost out a piece of plastic as a tab, why not just make a “better” wheel block at the front of the unit to prevent Mater from slipping off (there is one already). You could also argue that it hardly matters if Mater slips off since it’s not like he’s a tiny piece where kids might swallow him. Mater is raised slightly when you start the lights & sounds as the “water spout” pushes up – so yes, he might slide forward slightly but it seems like the better option available are to a) design a water spout piece that does not push him forward, b) block him with a small piece of plastic in the front, c) create a tab under his engine but allow us to attach or detach him … all those seem better options than a permanent lock. It’s pretty weird because it seems that extra tab latch seems to be the most expensive solution plus the most annoying …
But I’m sure someone will figure out how to safely remove him …or after SDCC, I will just use good old Hulk force. It works for everything else I own … in 2 pieces. 🙂
Or stab at thee area with an ice pick …
So, still nice. Could be better but nice enough.
You can find buying info here.
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21 May 2012
21 Comments
Okay, as of today. June 6th, 2012.
I am going to re open the list back up for a limited number of SDCC requests.
I have another person going with me now and can take on a little more.
This other person coming with me, Dennis D., has two single day passes and his airline tickets were bought last night.
We are going to try and ship FROM San Diego with two other TFADer’s help.
What does NOT get packed and ready for the post office on Monday will be driven back here to Utah and shipped throughout that week and weekend.
All orders are filled in the order you paid.
IF YOU are in no hurry, and can wait for the trip back to Utah and mail from here, please let me know, and I will take those notes on to the Buyers List and get others’ items out ahead of yours.
We have had alot of requests for Monster High Dolls
Monster High Dolls: 40.00 each plus shipping.
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
All other items are 12.00 over cost.
For now, you can be on the “Secondary SDCC List” by emailing your requests.
ONCE you pay, we are committed, you are committed.
I have spots open for K.I.T.T. and Scooby now again.
I also have spots open for other Mattel items.
Mattycollector page is all but sold out, only K.I.T.T.car is still up
We MIGHT have time to get to Hasbro booth.
no guarantees on hasbro or any other items.
Thank you
nascarnbroncosfansATmsnDOTcom
Today…..
I am going to be canceling invoices that are not paid and that have not made arrangements.
Those canceled invoices will be removed from the list.
Most of these invoices have been out there a while and no replies from those that wanted these items.
I do not and will not be getting extras from SDCC.
If you are “on the fence” about getting anything, you might want to make a choice.
VERY FEW Maters are still up on Mattycollector page for preorder.
Very few K.I.T.T. cars still up also. I expect this and the Scoobys to sell out by Friday noon July 13th, 2012
The K.I.T.T. has lights and sounds and I have a fair list for them.
52.00 each plus shipping.
I do have 3 spares for Scooby that were never paid for.
32.00 each plus shipping.
Okay, 2012 SDCC Update:
ALL “Locked In” emails have been sent out to those that have paid in advance.
If you did NOT get a “Locked In” email and you have PAID in advance, please let me know, I will correct this.
Thanks.
nascarnbroncosfansATmsnDOTcom
(cross posted to the various TFAD posts on the 2012 SDCC subject because not the same people follow all of the same subjects)
A cool 2012 SDCC Batman Dark Knight Rises figure video was just released.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=248yYA5Mckg&feature=youtu.be
Scott Neitlich, aka Toy Guru, gives you a preview of three 2012 figures: The Dark Knight Rises Batman (in amazing packaging featuring Wayne Manor and the Bat Cave, plus lights and sounds) and from MOTUC, the Snake Men 2-pack and Horde Prime.
Mater looks much better here than in any other still shots I’ve seen. (Rear end shot is particularly nice.) The key is going to be whether the bubbles strictly appear to be pink foamy soap or if they have his body color up in them.
After MIDNIGHT TONIGHT: 05-22-2012 (mountain time)
All future SDCC Bathroom Mater orders are going to be put on a “Standby List”
I have gotten alot of orders and until Presales are done on the 30th of May, 2012 I will not know how many more I can get done.
All other SDCC items are still open to order.
If you have an outstanding UNPAID invoice from me, this is your last shot before getting bumped to the “Standby List”
Great review. Nice to “try” before you buy. Still a toss up for me though, IDK what I’m going to do.
Now that we can see one close up. The overall idea is more horrible than i thought it would with the preview pictures. It even reaffirms the monicker i gave it, “Cancer Mater”. I do not know why everything seems to look out of place with this. And you guys say Tokyo Mater was bad? This part of the page does say much. The preview pictures had every say how good it was and all. But here, no one raves about it. So now we all know this is a bad idea too. The good thing is it is limited edition. And also it could be the worse one released in history of Cars for all i know. And the worse part? It could garner very high price in residual market for all the wrong reasons.
SDCC 2008 Lightning Storm Mcqueen
SDCC 2009 Ransburg RS Mater and Mia Tia
SDCC 2010 Tokyo Mater with Flames
SDCC 2011 Nada
SDCC 2012 Mater in bathroom
Mater wins 3 to 1.
I’m not surprised that Mater is attached. All the SDCC exclusives say ages 14+, so it is not for kids.
Thanks for the great review! Any idea how many were made?
Rumor is 5000
yes I am still taking pre orders for SDCC
nascarnbroncosfansATmsnDOTcom
At least Met didn’t make it sound like “stereo instructions”.
Thanks for the video.
I could be wrong but between being another Mater and non removable I don’t believe these will sell all that well. I have a feeling they will be available on Matty for awhile after SDCC.
Wow, looks fun for adults, but I guess not so much for kids as Mater is fixed to the base. Isn’t that “key-hole” on the bottom of Mater just in front of his rear wheels there so that he can be twist-locked to the base?
I believe I was the one who guessed he would be non removable. Something great from Mattel always has one thing that bums you out. But thanks for the great review as always!
Do the brushes move forward and back, motorized, or are they just the switch that starts the effect?
And…
Is Mater die cast?
(MET: Yes, mater is a regular die cast with “foam attachments.” the brushes do not move by themselves).
I am surprised he Mater is non removable also. Can’t see kids liking that Mater can’t be rolled or played with.
I would still like to know what kind of chemicals the pink slime is made from. Nothing toxic I hope.
He slimed me!
Saweet! Thanks for the video! Can’t wait for this to arrive from our own nascarandbroncosfan Kevin!
Thank you for the in-depth review… it is much appreciated.