I missed out on both the Shadow Scyther and Protector releases when they first came out and regretted it ever since...not enough to pay the crazy after market prices though.
When CHMS announced KO protector armors (and their redeco), I was curious. I have had pretty good experience with a previous KO Fansproject item, the Shattered Glass Commander armor, so I decided to take the plunge. *Note - this is a completely groundless point of comparison, since the KO Protectors and Commanders could have been (and most likely are) made by a different manufacturer.
1.
What do you get?
Basically, everything that the original Shadow Scyther release came with: Trailer, scout vehicle, gun extension, Wildrider face, fins, and the Scythe. There are also 2 more pieces which look like hands, but I have no idea what they are for.
2.
First impressions
We are off to a good start. The sad thing is, this trailer feels and looks of higher quality than some of the more recent licensed releases. The plastic feels very sturdy and the trailer has a good heft to it. The overall finish is very clean, with 2 or 3 minor paint imperfections. The trailer fits a KO CHMS Wildrider like a glove.
3.
The Fit
I do not have an official Fansproject Protector or a genuine Hot Rod figure to make comparisons with, so I cannot say how assembly differs or is similar.
To start off, snapping on the body armor took a bit of fiddling, but sits reasonably flush. The arms were a bit of a pain, clipping in that piece around the wheel and the arm. I pulled the arm off the body, snapped the piece on, then plugged the arm back in. When fully assembled, the arms sit a little crooked, because I couldn't bring the top piece over the wheel completely. The legs were less of a hassle. Once transformed, the right leg snapped over Wildrider's right leg smoothly. It sits well and is perfectly flush. The left leg, however...I'll get into that further down.
4.
Combat Platform
Very impressed. Everything is sturdy and holds together nicely. It is completely problem free...there really isn't much else to say here. The gun extension doesn't fit into Wildrider's original gun very well, but I think that is Wildrider's fault.
5.
The left leg
The only problem I have encountered, but it is an annoying one. Right out of the box, the joint had stress marks and will inevitably break. Part of the joint is warped as well and, because of that, doesn't snap together at all.
When attached to Wildrider, the joint gives way and the leg will split. No amount of pressure will keep the leg together.
6.
Final thoughts
Overall, not a bad KO. TBH, I expected so much less, but the KO fansproject items really changed my opinions of that - the materials feel sturdy, the paint job is well done, and the final product looks very nice. The only problem, as far as I can tell, is the fit and the left leg. As for the fit, I doubt the KO was manufactured with the same precision as Fansproject, so this isn't really a surprise. I have a feeling that the fit will vary between armors. The left leg is a downer, being damaged right from the box. I contacted my seller and will see if he can send me a replacement.
