‘Merry Fishmas’ everybody! It’s been a sizzling minute, however I used to attempt to do one thing fishy each December on one platform or one other. I believed I’d executed sufficient fish for some time, however they reeled me again in, and the way may I not? And only for enjoyable, right here’s most likely probably the most formidable one I ever did—I feel the phylogeny nonetheless principally holds up! Additionally, did you see that? The ‘reeled’ factor? Blaine can be proud.
For this Fishmas publish, I’m going to assist end of the evaluate of figures from an organization that bought backburnered for fairly some time! Again in 2019, I reviewed two units of fish from Toy Fish Manufacturing facility (TFF) after they first got here out, the Northern Angler and the Gulf Coast collections. However two units have been launched earlier, about 2017. One was reviewed by fellow blogger Gwangi, the River Monsters assortment, and one which by some means has been uncared for for all these years, the topic for right now, the American Angler assortment.
This set, very similar to the TFF Northern Angler, featured 5 remakes of figures first seen within the Reproduction Toy Fish (RTF) sequence. And whereas I used to be very completely satisfied to see a fish-focused firm, I’ve to confess that this set could have been a bit underwhelming. Was that a part of the difficulty for the corporate? I can’t say. I do know that the corporate has been silent for the previous few years, with no web site or energetic emails. It’s an vital set of species which are very talked-about with anglers in North America (therefore the intelligent identify) and in these instances, it seems that almost all of those are nonetheless the one commercially accessible variations of those species, even when that availability could be very restricted now.
Being that they’re successfully repeats of RTF figures which are already on the weblog I gained’t want to offer a lot background to the species, as sufficient has been mentioned! And finest as I can inform, the sculpts are successfully the identical because the RTF variations, so no matter I needed to say there’ll nonetheless be true for these ones. So actually we’re principally going to see how their paint apps look in comparison with the precise animals, and in comparison with the RTF model, since I already reviewed all of them. Additionally of word, of the 5 species, 4 are from the RTF Pond fish set.
Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides
In all probability meant to be the marquee species within the set, if solely as a result of a purpose for the corporate was retailing in professional outlets, the largemouth bass was extra shocking that it was not within the first two units launched. The determine is about 7.9 cm lengthy, giving a scale of round 1:8. It’s total brownish dorsally, darkest on the again and head, with a darkish lateral band. The band shades to yellow then stark white in direction of the stomach. The spiny-ray first dorsal is brown, whereas the second soft-ray dorsal fin has a brown base and lightweight greenish margin. The caudal peduncle and centre of the tail fin is darkish brown, with the ideas of the lobes inexperienced. The anal fin is usually yellow with a brown spot, and the pelvic fin is white and lightweight inexperienced. The pectoral is towards the physique, with a brown wash.
The eyes are painted properly, with the bulging eyeball painted yellow with a black pupil. The mouth decrease head is stark white, as is the underside of the fish. General, it’s a first rate paint job, utilized pretty rigorously. The brownish tones, although, throw me off a bit, perhaps as a result of I’m used to seeing them depicted in a extra greenish hue, as within the RTF model (or the IC determine from Safari). The lateral band may additionally stand to be extra interrupted, however that’s variable. It also needs to be famous that all the fish within the set seem completed in a shiny shine, versus the extra matte end on the RTF figures. General, it’s not unhealthy, at minimal an awesome small toy model of the species.
Striped bass Morone saxatilis
One other ‘bass’ within the set, however not that carefully associated to the largemouth, we’ve the striped bass. At about 7.2cm lengthy, it has a scale of round 1:14. Whereas the TFF largemouth diverse from the RTF model however was nonetheless fairly good, n this determine, the final sample is comparable, however we will see some main variations in broad methods. First, the bottom color is prominently gentle inexperienced over the dorsal floor and face, with a white stomach. It has the horizontal stripes, however as a substitute of skinny, delicate traces, the marking are heavy and brown, far too ‘regular’ and thick.
The unpaired fins are all the identical inexperienced, with the decrease lobe of the tail in yellow. The anal and pelvic fins are principally uncoloured, with a slight inexperienced wash on the anal; the pectorals, pressed towards the physique, are merely colored over as if they’re a part of the physique, as a substitute of being handled as separate. The one marking on the top is the intense yellow eyes, principally painted properly on the bulging eyeball, with a black pupil. The determine is okay, however actually lacks the nuance seen within the RTF model.
Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus
One other determine that was most likely imagined to be common with customers, we’ve a channel catfish (I undoubtedly assume folks wished extra catfish species!) And just like the striped bass, it’s clear what they have been doing, however in an easier method. The colors on the physique are typically fairly discrete, darkish brown again, head and mouth, and dorsal and tail fins. The higher sides are a fainter brown, and under the midline is stark white. The anal fin is white, and the paired fins are brown.
The eyes are painted properly, however being vivid yellow is odd since channel cats are likely to have darker eyes. The opposite notable characteristic is the spots—as a substitute of numerous tiny little spots—or only a strong grayish physique—there are a couple of, massive black dots scattered on the edges. It actually detracts from the determine, which might in any other case be wonderful, if a bit too white. Not horrible, however actually extra easy than the RTF model. That mentioned, this can be the one determine that I might be satisfied is a refreshed sculpt. It’s successfully the identical, however seems to be barely thicker across the center and face. However so shut, it might be an artefact of recasting the mould.
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
For the primary of the 2 panfish within the set, we’ve a bluegill. This was some of the vibrant figures from the RTF sequence, and this one follows swimsuit. It’s additionally fairly small, about 6.5cm lengthy, for a scale of 1:3. The general physique, extending to the tail and anal fin, is a lightweight or mint inexperienced. The identical color extends over a lot of the pelvic fins, and the outer margin of the dorsal; the pectoral fin, sculpted towards the physique, is simply painted just like the physique in the identical color. The again is a darker turquoise that extends down the entrance of the face. Generally, that is much more greenish than can be anticipated for a bluegill.
There are some markings on the physique, after all, as is anticipated for bluegills. The paint on the opercula will not be very detailed, however there’s the standard darkish blue spot on the posterior level extending from the opercula (the ‘ear’) though the spot isn’t fairly outlined sufficient. The perimeters are marked with 5 gentle brown bars, extending about halfway down the physique, and a vivid orange patch on the throat. Whereas these colors and patterns are seen in bluegills, the bars are virtually too common and distinct, whereas the orange patch appears a bit too vivid, and will even have been lengthen additional alongside the stomach. Generally, it’s okay if not fairly to the usual of the RTF model. However the TFF one does stand higher than my RTF one, so there’s that!
Crappie Poxomis sp. cf. P. annularis
This one goes to trigger some query marks. As with the RTF crappie determine, this determine was not recognized to species. However, on condition that the sculpt is similar as that RTF determine, and the fin ray rely is similar, the sculpt might be indicating a white crappie once more. On condition that, it will be a scale of round 1:4 at its 7cm size. It is also that the color is why we’d name it a white…however as I mentioned earlier than, color doesn’t assist a lot, since white crappie ought to have black bars…and mine has no markings in any respect. However ignoring that, the color in any other case isn’t unhealthy. The again is highlighted in a darkish brown, that fades right into a white physique. The unpaired fins are all inexperienced, white the paired fins are principally white, with a bit brown on the base.
One factor that stands out—there are no markings. None, not on the physique, not on the fins. That is most likely not unattainable for crappie, however impossible. I discussed earlier than that later units with this determine present it with scattered black markings, which is extra seemingly a black crappie sample. However mine is from the primary batch, and there’s not a lot I can do about it! The one different color on the fish is the eyeballs, that are surprisingly painted a darkish pink, which is sort of odd. Makes me assume that there was one thing uncommon of their supply photographs. General, it’s not unhealthy however doesn’t measure as much as the RTF model.
So that’s the American Angler assortment. General, the sculpts are nonetheless serviceable however lots of the paint functions seem simplified in comparison with their RTF counterparts, I feel to the detriment of the set. It’s attainable that that is as a result of deal with ‘TOY’, because the identify suggests, reasonably than ‘REPLICA’. That is additionally mirrored by the fabric, the place the TFF figures are smooth sufficient to bend barely, in contrast to the very inflexible RTF figures. This was one of many two units initially launched by Toy Fish Manufacturing facility, and we might solely see two extra, which was a disgrace. There have been quite a lot of different units (16 to be actual) that may be that includes quite a lot of species (I’ve seen the listing) that we’ve by no means seen earlier than, and I feel quite a lot of collectors and fish followers have been actually excited to see. If I needed to guess, that was one of many components that impacted the success of TFF.
There was quite a lot of pleasure for this sequence when it was first introduced, however even from the RTF expertise, the preferred species have been the ‘oddballs’ (gars, sturgeon), the salmonids, and the 6” catfish (no representatives from the primary two bought made, and there was no plan for the more-popular massive sized figures). That is purely anecdotal, after all, however I personally assume hitting the market with these new, uncommon, and common weirdos, plus ones that may attraction to areas that may need them for academic/reward store functions, may need seen extra success, extra rapidly.
Equally, the gradual launch price of solely two units at first, adopted by two extra a number of years later, accessible solely as 5 figures within the set within the sort out field, which can have offered restricted incentive for bodily retailers from a merchandising perspective. In distinction, RTF, when first began, had 18 figures in two sizes, with quite a lot of packaging, and so would make a great retailer show (and the figures might be bought in quite a lot of packages or as singles, additionally vital to some patrons—greater than as soon as I offered dozens of a single species to some locations for academic causes). As with many makes an attempt in our unusual pastime, it should all the time be a ‘what could have been’. So if these units do nonetheless curiosity, I extremely suggest getting them whereas they’re nonetheless on the market! I even nonetheless have spares of all 4 that might use houses!
