There are no better people to talk about the origins of the End than Doctor Popular (Doc Pop), Phil Cox and Nick Corea (aka Feral Parrot). How many yo-yos do you know of that have enough history to fill an hour-long video? Watch the video below to find out how the End came about from raw Eetsit halves, the guys’ yo-yo modding journey, how the name “Yes, Absolutely” came about and much more…
THE FINALE… NOW SHOWING
Discarded End Part II (Prelude) halves.
There were so few Preludes that they were snapped up almost instantly.
I did not intend to split the End Part II into two batches, but issues attributed to the quality of the 7068 aluminium bars forced me to adopt a different release strategy. What happened, you might ask? For the Preludes, the bearing seats on the halves were too a tad loose and the red and white splash colorway had too big blotches of white. As a premium was paid to guarantee a minimum number of yo-yos of a high standard, a fresh batch of the End Part II had to be made. The red and white splash colorway (which was supposed to resemble the popcorn container you hold at the movies) was shelved for the rerun due to inconsistencies in the anodization.
The delay was a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to further refine and perfect the End Part II.
PERFECT ENDING
There are only subtle differences between the Prelude and Finale batches of the End Part II. The rims were made slightly rounder for the Finale, giving the yo-yo a softer look. In addition, the Schmoove grooves were updated and are almost a carbon copy of the ones on the OG End. The Finale is 1mm narrower in width compared to the Prelude, more closely resembling the OG End. The finish on the Finale is also more similar to the velvety Slip Matte Type III hard coat anodization (or Nick Corea would call, a “non-stick cookware” finish) on classic Anti-Yos.
As with the Prelude, the external engravings on both halves on every Finale are aligned. That is, if you flip the yo-yo, the words on both sides are the “same side up”. The engravings on the rim, cup and nipple are etched in a single sitting without repositioning the yo-yo and are consistent on every End Part II. We definitely did not forget to engrave the word SCHMOOVE on the pad groove.
Play-feel wise, there is no perceivable difference between the Prelude and Finale. The Finale, like the Prelude, is a lighter, slightly faster, more high walled Mecha-Bapezilla.
JUST AS STUNNING
The colorways on the Finale have a mix of old school and modern vibes. After extensive experimentation with the damaged Prelude halves, we managed to find a shade of orange nearly identical to the one on the OG End. The silver and brown colorway is a homage to the Anti-Yo Eetsit, the yo-yo from which the OG End was derived. The black and purple fade colorways are special editions by Bryan Figueroa (of Unknown fame) and Doc Pop, respectively. Note that the Doc Pop Editions are only available via his Patreon page. More raw pieces are available this time, catered for the hungry modders in the community.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
POPCORN ENAMEL PIN
A PAIR OF 19MM MAROON TYPE 40 LANDING PADS RESPONSE
CUSTOM STRING BY ARLEQUIN STRINGS
REPEATER TRICK VIDEO BY DOC POP
BACK FOR AN ENCORE
A titanium version of the End has been prototyped and put into production. We are aiming for a release in early 2022. Stay tuned!
These Mecha-Bapezilla: Side Effects (SE) Special Editions are the last yo-yos of the Mecha-Bapezilla line. No more Mecha-Bapezillas will be made. There are two colorways of this final release – an “Original Gangsta (OG)” colorway in the tribal blue and green of the original Bapezilla and a “Viszilla” colorway in a black cracked hard coat finish reminiscent of the Godzilla you see at the movies. The cracks on the latter can barely be felt by the hand. The package includes the same box and accessories as the regular Mecha-Bapezilla SE Edition.
More than two years ago, the Mecha-Bapezilla gave a kickstart to the RSO brand (again, I cannot thank Sonny enough). Since then, RSO has made various iterations of the original Eetsit / Bapezilla design, including a few Side Effects titanium editions and 7068 aluminium versions (namely the End Part II Prelude and Finale).
The End Titanium marks the third refinement of the End CAD and the final time I will be working on the Eetsit / Bapezilla CAD. For the last curtain call, there are three aspects of the End Titanium design which make it the ultimate tribute to the OG Eetsit / Bapezilla in addition to staying true to the OG End design – the catch zone, rim and Anti-Yo nipple.
THE CATCH ZONE
Sonny and I did not design the Mecha-Bapezila to be a 100% replica of the OG Bapezilla. Instead, we aimed to “upgrade” and “modernize” the Bapezilla CAD but retain its original playfeel. We introduced a subtle groove to the catch zone around the pad groove for the Mecha-Bapezilla, which resulted in a lower wall. This new modified shape is more suited for modern play as it reduces the chance of string contact with the catch zone, particularly with multiple string layers, making the yo-yo more resistant to tilt.
The Mecha-Bapezilla was very well received, but many hardcore Anti-Yo fans craved the more old school high walled catch zone of the OG Bapezilla. I hope their prayers have been answered with the End Titanium, which retains the OG End’s high walled catch zone. Incorporating Doc Pop’s signature Schmoove grooves reduces the contact area between the string and the catch zone.
Comparison of the catch zones of the End Titanium (green) and Mecha-Bapezilla (red). The End Titanium has a old school higher wall, true to the OG End.3D renders comparing the catch zones of the End Titanium (left) and Mecha-Bapezilla (right), again showcasing the higher walls of the End Titanium.
THE RIM
The rim on the Mecha-Bapezilla has a curvier shape than the OG Bapezilla, but not to the extent of the Bapezilla 2. From the pad groove, the catch zone of the Mecha-Bapezilla forms a single arc, which dips down slightly at the rim. Conversely, the catch zone of the End Titanium terminates as a straight line at the rim, more closely resembling the OG Eetsit / Bapezilla.
Comparison of the rims of the End Titanium (left) and Mecha-Bapezilla (right). The End Titanium’s rim shape more closely resembles the OG Bapezilla / Eetsit.3D renders comparing the rims of the End Titanium (left) and Mecha-Bapezilla (right). The rim of the End Titanium is formed by a straight line, while the rim of the Mecha-Bapezilla is curvier and dips down slightly.
THE ANTI-YO NIPPLE
There was a limitation to how tall the nipple could be for the Mecha-Bapezilla. Keeping its original height introduced additional centre weight, which altered the yo-yo’s playfeel. Fun fact: the prototypes for the End Titanium had the Mecha-Bapezilla’s shorter nipple.
Replicating Doc Pop’s Schmoove grooves on the End Titanium resulted in the removal of more weight from the centre of the yo-yo compared to the aluminium version. To retain the playfeel of its predecessors, this weight deficiency was compensated by adding weight to the nipple on the End Titanium, resulting in a taller nipple identical in height and width to the Eetsit / Bapezilla. If you were wondering, The End was never a Side Effects yo-yo in its lifetime and will never be. This raw End Titanium batch will be the only one – there will not be further runs or anodized versions.
The Mecha-Bapezilla has a short nipple.The End Titanium has a taller nipple which is an exact replica of the ones on the OG End / Eetsit / Bapezilla.The End Titanium prototype, which had a shorter nipple like the Mecha-Bapezilla. All prototypes were anodized in a gold finish. Only 5 pieces exist. Photo by Shimon Osada.
DO I NEED THE END TITANIUM IF I HAVE THE MECHA-BAPEZILLA?
Playfeel wise, when the yo-yo is in the air, the difference between the End Titanium and Mecha-Bapezilla is subtle at most. The End Titanium is only 1.5g lighter than the Mecha-Bapezilla. I postulate that the weight difference is less apparent because both are generally “heavy” playing yo-yos.
The End Titanium more closely resembles the OG Eetsit / Bapezilla than the Mecha-Bapezilla. You would feel a stark contrast between the End Titanium and the Mecha-Bapezilla when you hold them in your hands due to their different rims and catch zones. Truth to be told, the End Titanium is a more challenging yo-yo to play with than the Mecha-Bapezilla due to its higher walls, making the catch zone more prone to string contact and the yo-yo more susceptible to tilt.
The End Titanium will transport you back to 2006, when you threw your first Eetsit.
COMPARISON WITH THE END: PART II
The End Titanium was derived from the End Part II: Finale CAD. As much as I tried to preserve the weight distribution of the aluminium Ends, the End Titanium plays somewhat differently. The End Titanium feels “denser” and heavier on the string than its aluminium counterparts despite being the same weight. After working on various titanium iterations of aluminium yo-yos, I realised that one could never precisely replicate the playfeel of an aluminium yo-yo with titanium. So… hold on to your Preludes and Finales!
A THROWBACK TO THE ARCADE ERA
When Doc Pop and I were conceptualizing the art for the End Titanium, we wanted to go for an “arcade theme” as it was the inspiration for the OG End. Doc Pop’s initial sketch showed himself and Phil Cox playing the game Road Rash, one of the first games Nick Corea worked on. Nick Corea was responsible for all the modifications on the OG End.
Because the game Space Invaders inspired the engraving on the OG End, we ultimately decided to add that to the artwork. The box resembles an arcade machine. The engraving and accessories of the End Titanium features arcade elements many would be familiar with, including redemption tickets.
The art is by Doc Pop and ATILA.
Doc Pop’s initial sketch, featuring the game Road Rush.Final artwork for the End Titanium.Engraving on the End Part II: Prelude and Finale.Engraving on the End Titanium.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
Certificate of authenticity IN THE FORM OF AN ARCADE REDEMPTION TICKET
ARCADE MACHINE ENAMEL PIN
A PAIR OF 19MM MAROON TYPE 40 LANDING PADS RESPONSE
The RSO family will welcome a new mini member in March 2022 – a boy!
The second mini addition to the RSO family is STARSHIP, an undersized version of SPACESHIP. Coincidentally, my wife was pregnant with our first child while I was working on SPACESHIP. Because this release is close to the End Titanium release, I am making it one of the lowest-priced RSO titanium yo-yos to date for the benefit of the hardcore RSO collectors.
STARSHIP is the only yo-yo remaining in the RSO inventory, as future projects have been put on hold in anticipation of my second son’s arrival in the coming month. I am aiming to fulfill all STARSHIP orders by mid-February 2022.
This STARSHIP run will be the last SPACESHIP iteration. No other versions in any other form or color will be made.
Not much has been said about the design process behind the STARSHIP / SPACESHIP in my previous write up, so I will chronicle my prototyping journey here.
ORIGINS
There is a long story behind how I finally arrived at STARSHIP, which is based on one of the prototype CADs of the SPACESHIP.
Like most of the other RSO yo-yos, the prototyping process of SPACESHIP was rather arduous. Being new to CAD drawings and struggling with the sluggish Fusion 360 made things worse. It was during the design process of SPACESHIP that I eventually caved in and subscribed to AutoCAD, which made designing yo-yos more efficient, enjoyable and rewarding.
SPACESHIP was only put into production after 3 rounds of prototypes. The whole process took a surprisingly short 4-5 months.
The first prototype was a 50mm, C bearing, titanium yo-yo. The run was unusually sizable for an RSO prototype, consisting of 8 yo-yos (I typically only do 3 yo-yos for each prototype). The prototypes were machined by Magic YoYo and sold in a private Facebook Messenger group consisting of individuals from a yo-yo forum in October 2018. The prototype had an engraving by Jason Week, which was similar to the one on the production SPACESHIP. They loved the prototype. I was ready to put the yo-yo into production but changed my mind at the last minute.
Note that STARSHIP is machined from a revised CAD of this first prototype, with some ugly machine lines removed.
C bearing SPACESHIP prototype by MagicYoYo.50mm SPACESHIP prototype run, consisting of 8 yo-yos.
Despite the positive response from the owners of the first prototype, a second, larger prototype with a 54mm diameter was made. My thinking at that time was that a mid-sized yo-yo would be more well-received than an undersized one. An Instagram poll I created confirmed this.
An Instagram poll which showed people wanted the 54mm version more than the 50mm one.
The second prototype was unique in its own right. It had a more “solid” playfeel because it had more rim weight, as well as a D bearing instead of a C bearing. But, to be completely honest, I didn’t like how it played. It was machined by YoYoEmpire, which was (at that time) the only machinist who had readily available D bearing pads that could be installed in OEM yo-yos. Today, you can recognize D bearing yo-yos made by YoYoEmpire from the white pads with a smaller outer diameter of 18mm, depicted in the picture below.
The D bearing yo-yo landscape has changed in recent years, with the usage of the ubiquitous wider 19mm outer diameter D bearing pad specification popularised by Freshly Dirty. D bearing RSO yo-yos like the aluminium Bowl Mini, stainless steel Bowl Mini and TiRAMiSU come with Landing Pads of this pad specification.
D bearing 54mm SPACESHIP prototype by YoYoEmpire, with their white, 18mm outer diameter D bearing pads.
I went back to Magic YoYo for the third and final prototype – a C bearing 54mm version. I changed the weight distribution slightly and shifted some weight from the rim to the yo-yo center (notice the chunkier rims on the D bearing 54mm prototype in the picture below). The changes resulted in a yo-yo with a more desirable floaty playfeel. Apart from being about 2g heavier, the final prototype was essentially identical to the production SPACESHIP. The process from prototype to production was lightning quick because Magic YoYo had designated a CNC machine specifically for SPACESHIP. The final prototype was machined, polished, assembled, shipped to me, CAD amended (with 2g less), and production completed within a week.
50mm SPACESHIP prototype (left), 54mm SPACESHIP production model (centre) and 54mm D bearing SPACESHIP (right).
Those who owned both the first SPACESHIP prototype and the production SPACESHIP preferred the former. Since then, there have been calls for RSO to do a run of the first SPACESHIP prototype. Years later, the STARSHIP is born.
A WELL KNOWN BUTTERFLY SHAPE
SPACESHIP / STARSHIP is a reinterpretation of the classic butterfly shape made by other prominent companies in the past.
The pioneer of this shape was YoYoFactory with the FAST 401k, an aluminum 56mm small bearing yo-yo in 2005. It had adjustable knobs on both hubs. By twisting the knobs, the player could adjust how much the starburst grooves would jut out from the response area, altering the yo-yo’s responsiveness. The FAST 401k was a novel design and remains highly coveted by collectors today.
Fast forward to 2017, A-RT made an oversized 63mm large bearing version of the 401k aptly named the 420. Essentially a “FAST 401k Max / Plus”, it had almost identical catch zones, but was devoid of the adjustable knobs.
YoYoFactory FAST 401k (2005).A-RT 420 (2017).
RecRev made a yo-yo called the Bad Rep in the interim period, an undersized hubstacks enabled yo-yo with a larger bearing. It had a steeper catch zone than the FAST 401k / 420, with a smoother transition from the pad groove to the rim. The Bad Rep is the only yo-yo out of the few I have mentioned in this write-up that I have never owned or thrown.
SPACESHIP’s catch zone mirrors that of Bad Rep’s, with a smooth arc from the pad groove to the rim. Being undersized like Bad Rep, SPACESHIP has a bigger width-to-diameter ratio and visually different proportions than the FAST 410k / 420. The rims of SPACESHIP are also sharper than the others. SPACESHIP is the only titanium yo-yo of the lot.
RecRev Bad Rep (2007).SPACESHIP (2019).
COMPARISON WITH SPACESHIP
STARSHIP is only 0.5g lighter than SPACESHIP – this weight difference is insignificant. However, if you were to blindfold yourself and do tricks with both yo-yos, STARSHIP feels paradoxically “heavier” as the weight is concentrated in a smaller package. An example of what you would feel would be throwing a CLYW Peak, then throwing a Wooly Marmot 1 (essentially a condensed version of the Peak) after. Weight distribution wise, both yo-yos are similar, but this is irrelevant as both yo-yos are of different diameters. STARSHIP and SPACESHIP are completely different yo-yos, and it would be worthwhile to own both of them.
For those who own the first SPACESHIP prototype, STARSHIP is identical except that some machine lines have been perfected and smoothened out. If you already own the first prototype, the only reason that would justify getting STARSHIP is its brand new engraving and package, which is, like SPACESHIP, by Jason Week. More on this later.
A NEW CNC MACHINED CANISTER
The first SPACESHIP prototype was the first RSO yo-yo that came with a CNC machined canister, which costs almost as much to make as an aluminium yo-yo. The black canisters were engraved with the words “SPACESHIP PROTOTYPE” in the alien language I created together with Jason Week, and had the number of the yo-yo carved on the side of the canister. Since then, I have included a delrin canister for the production SPACESHIP (in black and white), Doombot (in red), SPACESHIP ES (in blue) and most recently Droid (in black).
For STARSHIP, the canister is machined out of polycarbonate, the same material that is used to make many yo-yos on the market today and the one used to machine the custom caps and rings for Gravity. In addition, the canister is translucent, which showcases the silhouette of the yo-yo within.
The number of each yo-yo is engraved on the base of each canister.
ART BY JASON WEEK
The STARSHIP art, like SPACESHIP, is by Jason Week.
The story behind the SPACESHIP was an impending invasion of Earth by an alien species called the Nactaria, with SPACESHIPS sent to Earth by another alien species called the Eljasek to protect the human race. Since then, the human race has successfully fended off the Nactarians and have brought the battle to the Nactarians. The STARSHIP artwork shows human STARSHIPS travelling towards the Nactarian planet.
Will the human race emerge victorious?
WHAT’S IN THE PACKAGE
CNC MACHINED POLYCARBONATE CANISTER WITH NUMBER ENGRAVING
