The Gravity has been my most popular original design to date. It was a risky endeavor with multiple components. A lot of trial and error was required to perfect the caps fit and machine a Side Effects removal tool that allowed players to remove the caps elegantly. The Gravity will be a stepping stone for other companies to do more independent Side Effects / modular releases. Shortly after the Gravity was released, I went back to the drawing board to see how else the weight of the yo-yo can be varied.
The Freehand served as the inspiration for Gravity. People used to add weight to their Freehands by adding weight rings, primarily made out of aluminium or delrin. These were suitable materials to use since they do not clash with the injection-moulded plastic body of the Freehand. Unfortunately, a removable aluminium ring was impossible for the Gravity as it would scratch the yo-yo, and my previous delrin experiment with the caps had failed.
I experimented with various ring designs made of polycarbonate and managed to CNC machine two new weight rings for the Gravity, weighing 0.9g and 1.9g. How my machinist makes the thinner weight ring baffles me. The heavier ring reminds me of the CLYW Bear Trap – to my knowledge, the aluminium rings are pressed fit in its the aluminium body.
0.9g weight ring.A thicker 1.9g weight ring.
Despite having released two runs of cracked coated yo-yos, I still have no idea how this finish is done. The anodizer refuses to reveal the secret. In recent years, this finish was popularized by Turning Point, but the yo-yos often had a layer of anodization. For the Lunar Edition, the cracked pattern is layered on top of raw titanium. You can barely feel the cracked pattern with your fingers. The final product is a beauty to behold and is reminiscent of the surface of the moon.
Note: Lunar Edition will ship with all components included with the first run, plus two new sets of weight rings and a pair of stickers with new artwork. The CAD for the Gravity was not changed for the Lunar Edition – for first run Gravity owners, the new weight rings are available for sale separately and will fit your yo-yo.
The non-SE Mecha-Bapezilla was RSO’s first collaboration and one that helped give the company the initial push it needed (this is something I will always feel indebted to Sonny for). Over the years, different versions such as the Mecha-Viszilla, OG Edition and Godzilla Edition were released and were exceptionally popular. Collaborations with Sonny also allowed RSO to experiment with SEs in the YWETi SE Edition MK I and II, the first SE titanium yo-yos ever made. With the Gravity, I had designed what I thought was the perfect SE titanium yo-yo.
The Mecha-Bapezilla SE Edition halves were actually machined at about the same time as the YWETi SE Edition MK II in the fourth quarter of 2020. However, due to the limited availability of SEs and NSK DS bearings (I channelled what I had to YWETi and Gravity), the Mecha-Bapezilla SE Edition has taken a while to see the light of day.
THE PERFECT MIX
The Mecha-Bapezilla SE Edition comes equipped with premium parts including silver flat cap SEs from One Drop and platinum Double Straight C bearings from NSK.
This yo-yo is, in fact, the second SE version of the Bapezilla line. The first Bapezilla with SEs was the Bapezilla 2, a peculiar yo-yo. It was machined by One Drop and had a rough blasted finish called “Slip Matte Type III Hard Coat”, which tended to cut strings. Players resorted to smoothening its surface by rubbing it on denim. Initially, it was not as well-received as the OG Bapezilla. About 400 pieces were made and sold in batches at retailers and eventually on Massdrop. Despite being heavily discounted, they took a while to sell. Recently, the demand for the Bapezilla 2 has increased, with people scouring forums for it.
The Mecha-Bapezilla SE Edition has the revised more vertical nipple design like the YWETi MK II, staying true to the aesthetic of the OG Bapezilla. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, people say. I believe that a SE version of the OG design would have done better. Models like the Static Responsives Co. Parlay and Sudo, essentially SE versions of the OG Bapezilla design with minor tweaks, have been fan favourites. The Mecha-Bapezilla SE Edition is derived from the OG Bapezilla CAD and is the closest representation of what a SE Edition of the OG Bapezilla will play.
This is the last collaboration with Sonny. It has been an incredible ride with a meaningful friendship forged. RSO will be moving towards independent releases and original designs in the year 2022.
MECHA-BAPEZILLA SE EDITIONYWETi SIDE SE MK I
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Certificate of authenticity IN THE FORM OF AN INSTRUCTION SHEET
The Bowl XL: Popsicle Edition is a “lite” version of the Bowl XL that is 3g lighter than its older brother. It is slightly more well endowed and comes equipped with a 10mm axle instead of an 8mm one. This icy pole also does something which the regular Bowl XL can’t – it comes in five tasty flavors. Despite being almost identical in weight to the Atmos Projects Pomelo, the yo-yo retains the finger linkin’ good floaty play-feel of the Bowl series.
My machinist had made this small run of Bowl XL to compensate me for a large number of B grades from the OG run. 20 pieces were shipped to RSO supporters who had purchased a raw Mecha-Bapezilla Side Effects Edition as thank you gifts, while the rest of the stock was sold directly on the RSO store.
“A full metal yo-yo the likes of which we haven’t seen before. ERCIM makes possible some pretty nostalgic tricks!
Have you ever seen a yo-yo mount on the outside of the body? Back in the day, this mod used an extra long axle that extended out from the sides of the yo-yo (a little bit like onedrop’s side effects), creating a new surface on which you could mount the yo-yo string. The ERCIM sports a set of special side caps that make this kind of trick possible. Not only can you mount the yo-yo normally, but with the unique body design, it’s possible to mount on the string on the “outside” surface peeking from the side face. This design is different from the original long axles that were used, and this means there’s plenty of potential for new trick development using the ERCIM. As an added bonus, this side face has another special property that makes it great for practicing a newer kind of trick: fingerspins. The cone-shaped cap zeroes in on your fingertip and centers itself immediately, so even players who have never landed a fingerspin before can hit it easily.
We’re not sure how well this design would serve on a contest stage, but that doesn’t seem to be its intended purpose. The ERCIM is a novel, unique yo-yo meant for casual play, trick development, and a fun exploration of the possibilities of yo-yo.
You might be wondering what the name means; it’s an acronym for “Electro Retro Combobulator Interdimensional Machine.” This design lets you play on several different planes, bringing back an old idea in a new and exciting way. Despite its gimmicky appearance, we think the ERCIM is going to leave a lasting mark on Sengoku’s history.
*If you’re having any difficulty opening up the ERCIM, be sure to use your palms to apply some pressure to the protruding side caps as you unscrew them. Otherwise they may seem to spin freely without coming apart.”
“Sengoku’s first titanium model with all-out effort.
Sengoku, which has been tackling various new challenges such as the use of A7068, tri-metal designs, and even perforated metal, has finally released their first high-end titanium model.
It adopts an H-profile shape with a polygonal, finely graded tilt angle. It has a modest diameter that fits nicely in the hand, but has tremendous horsepower. During play, you can always catch the center of the yoyo, and even when you are playing with a lot of momentum, you can control the yoyo firmly without losing sight of it.
Both the bearings and string are specially made for the Ieyasu. The high-precision V-shaped bearing keeps the string in a centered position and keeps it in control during play. The thicker string that comes with the yo-yo is a special string handmade by a team member. The package is also handmade by the owner. There are no future plans for the string and package, making them rather collectible.
This Ieyasu is also a one-time special production, with no plans for any future runs.
This is the first titanium model, and is a high-end model that Sengoku has poured a lot of effort into producing.”
