Tomopop Review: Raje Toys x Doktor A's G.N.O.M.E

3:00 PM on 10.19.2010   |   Call Niero

G.N.O.M.E, or Gyroscopic Non-Ornamental Mechanized Excavator, is a rather large figure. I was expecting him to be maybe 5", when the actual figure is about 8" tall! Like the Tenebrae, he is a hefty little fellow, so be delicate when handling your gardening assistant! 

G.N.O.M.E very much resembles a steampunk garden gnome because... well, that's what he is! The little rivets and metal fastenings combined with the fully, almost fluffy looking beard is both enchanting and a bit unnerving. I've read enough books about robot rebellions to know what these things are capable of! Maybe the "cute, tiny old man" thing is to throw us off from his real motive. 

G.N.O.M.E is one of the few figures I own who is just as interesting from the back as he is from the front. You can see more of the rivets and smaller details, and his little "backpack" with a dial is both eerie and adorable. The eeriness might come from my slight fear of garden gnomes, but then again, isn't everyone at least a little bit scared of these little guys?

G.N.O.M.E's hat is quite adorable and well-detailed. The little rivets and knobs are perfectly sculpted and spaced, so that there are no odd-looking gaps.The deep maroon matches perfectly with the rusty bronze. The overall color pallet of this figure is very nice and subtle, with the white beard and startling green eyes adding a refreshing pop of color and brightness. 

However, G.N.O.M.E's hat is hiding a (nefarious?) surprise! His brain is a drill! I love how rusty all of his parts look, like he's seen quite a bit of "use." The drill itself is rather sharp around the edges, so be careful not to jam your finger on the end too hard! Or maybe that's what he wants us to do. 

G.N.O.M.E's backpack is magnificently done, both in terms of sculpting and paint. All the little details like the dial and exhaust pipe really bring this piece to life! I can easily imagine him walking around the room and exploring when I fall asleep.

Of course I have to devote part of the review to his epic beard! I mean, that thing practically reaches to his toes! It is sculpted in one solid chunk, which adds a nice sense of density to it. The mustache is another nice touch. It's like a cross between Santa and a nefarious, mustache-twirling villain! 

G.N.O.M.E might be best viewed from the side, where you can see all of the detailed rivets and his epic beard. The small curve of his exhaust pipe complements the rigid lines of his hat and balances the figure nicely. 

The bright green of G.N.O.M.E's eyes is almost identical to fresh cut grass, which is fitting considering that he is a lawn gnome. I am amazed at how much the paint looks like real metal. 

G.N.O.M.E is a fantastic figure, and well worth adding to your collection. You can pick one up at the Raje Toys online store for £39.95 and he is due out at the end of the month! Raje Toys has done a fantastic job on their first few figures, and I cannot wait to see what they have planned!

Thanks as always to Stephen Donaldson for taking these pictures! Thankfully it was easy to find a place to shoot the G.N.O.M.E, since he belongs in a garden! 

[Thanks to Raje Toys for the review sample]