SG ToyCon 2024 - Toy and Collectors Show Returns To Leisure Park Kallang from 13 to 15 December 2024

The eclectic SG Toy Con, is back at Leisure Park Kallang from 13 to 15 December 2024 (Friday to Sunday). The event organised by respected local brand Masterpiece Collectibles, focuses mainly on exhibitors who deal with mainly miniature toy models. Last year, the show expanded to included global toy licensee Yolopark, Hong Kong toy company threezero, and indie booths dealing in designer toys, Gundam model kits, and other kinds of toy collectibles.

It is a delightful collectibles market to visit especially if you are in need to getting that last minute festive gift for a loved one or friend. Expect to throw your hard-earned SG dollars at these exhibitors at the upcoming SG Toy Con 2024:



* Masterpiece Collectibles - the hobby company specialises in creating Singapore scale models, like our beloved buses and MRTs, as well as fire engines and police cars. They also make accompanying miniature replica figurines of fire fighters and bus captains to accompany these miniature vehicles. Their limited edition pieces sell out super quickly, so don't miss out the news on their releases at SG Toy Con 2024!

* Automodels - diecast model retailer and distributor offering a range of products like cool designs of cars, military vehicles, buses and more! You can check out the 1/72 scale F-15SG Eagle model which was made to commemorate 55 years of RSAF.



* Dream Customs - a company specialising in 1/64 scale custom desktop diorama mats like Singapore roads, bus interchanges and carpark mats. There also offer diorama mats of Japanese carparks, and display cases that emulate places like the HK Cross-Harbour tunnel. For this year's show, Dream Customs will be introducing their 1:1110 scale SG Bus Stop #1.

* She Love Cars - the official distributor for Pop Race returns to this year's show. They will also be offering other brands of diecast models, including Hot Wheels.

* Finute - leading local metaverse company who is sponsoring the virtual roleplay game on Roblox, Singverse. Players in the game can drive the virtual replica of the SG Toycon 2024 bus!

* Jiezuo Model Toy Company - the popular online retailer on Taobao will be at this year's show showing off their toy products.



* Happibox - blind boxes galore for those who love collecting variants of cute figurines and designer toys. Yes, they have the popular Monday Bruce rabbit collectibles too!

* Project Blue Beyond - calling Gundam collectors out there. This is the booth to look out for at the convention if you are looking for more toys to add to your collection.

* Zack Studio - You may know them because of their fantastic 3D prints. This year, Zack Studio is offering even more goodies. if you want a mini bus collectible with your very own unique and customised advertisements added to the body, go look for these folks!

One thing to note for fans who have attended the show in the past, there will be no VIP passes or goodie bags this year. However, the event remains free to attend.

The organisers have also planned for 2 lucky draws each day at 2 PM and 6 PM on stage. Check out the information below on the eligibility and prizes for the draw.

Don't miss more information about SG Toy Con 2024, as announcements are currently being rolled out till doors open this Friday. Follow SG Toy Con on Facebook and Instagram.

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SG Toy Con 2023 (15 to 17 December) - Shop For Diecast Car Models, Designer Toys, Custom Action Figures and More!

The SG Toy Con, held from 15 to 17 December 2023, is pulling out all the stops this year. For starters, the event will command a larger floor space, as it has moved from Dhoby Ghaut's Visual Arts Centre to Leisure Park Kallang. The annual event, organised by Masterpiece Collectibles and Toyz Network, started out focusing mainly on miniature toy models. This year, its scope has widened to include indie exhibitors who offer other kind of toy collectibles, like designer toys, Gundam model kits and Funko. How awesome is that?!

Here's the list of such exhibitors announced for the toy fair. Just to name a few, the international brand names who will be at SG Toy Con 2023 include:


* GoodGuysNeverWin Toy Co from Indonesia
The indie toy company specialises in custom action figures which are very South-East Asian focused, like Indonesian ghoulies and monsters. Familiar scary names include the Kuntilanak (or Pontianak) and the Pocong. They also put an irreverent spin on well known personalities and iconic characters from pop-culture. Red Dot Diva was thrilled to see them back at Red Dot Island so that she can check out their current stuff at Booth A12!

* Playground Studio from Thailand
Toy designer Pranee Jiraprayoon of Playground Studio will be showing of her popular Musikacha figurine and other creations at the event. Say hello to her at Booth A2.

* Kawan Lab from Malaysia
Kawan Lab does a lot of food-themed monster toys and collectibles. They will be bringing in their new designer toy Puffzilla, which you can grab at Booth A5!


* Soulhappy Studio from Shanghai, China
Craving for durians? Soulhappy Studio will be selling their Durian+Mahjong designer toy at SG Toy Con! Scrolling through their social media, Red Dot Diva thinks their designs are super cool and eccentric. Great for adding to your collection or as a gift to someone special.

* Yolopark from Hong Kong
Yolopark is a global toy licensee for multiple global brand including Hasbro's Transformers! Ogle at their exclusive Transformers display at Booth E1 this weekend.

... just to name a few!



Look out also for the wonderful Miniature Stories with intricate nostalgic builds. You might want to keep a part of these heritage models in your home. Miniature Stories' Wayang Chinese Street Opera Stage is now available for pre-order (see pic above).

Stalwart exhibitors like diecast model brand Automodels, logistics company Bok Seng and their unique crane models, custom diorama Dream Customs, and everyone's favourite blind box booth Happibox, will be back this year too!

For lots more information about the list of exhibitors and events at this weekend's exciting SG Toy Con 2023, head to their dedicated website at https://www.masterpiececollectibles.com/sgtoycon



To add on the wow factor, there will also be a Commercial Vehicle Show, an outdoor exhibit just nearby at the open-air carpark beside Leisure Park Kallang from 11 AM to 5 PM! The mini vehicle show will shine the spotlight on the exclusive SG ToyCon Event Bus (see the video above!), as well as various buses, vans and trucks!

Red Dot Diva is prepped and ready to spend some of her hard-earned money if she spots anything interesting at SG Toy Con! See you all there!


Dates: 15 to 17 December 2023 (Fri to Sun)
Times: 10 AM to 8 PM
Venue: Leisure Park Kallang
Admission: Free of charge


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If you enjoy my content, feel free to help keep the blog and other Red Dot Diva endeavours going via ko-fi. Thank you for your support!

Pop Toy Show Singapore (8 - 10 September 2023) - Meet Toy Designers Alex Solis, Jon-Paul Kaiser, Luke Chueh, Simone Legno and More!

Remember the time, one of our major pop culture event was called STGCC or Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention? And then, somehow, after a couple of years, both the “T” and the “G” segments became more and more non-existent? Even after the show was renamed, the gaming aspect came to almost zilch except for table top games. And last year, Hot Toys - who was usually a major exhibitor - did not even have a booth there.

This provided a lucrative opportunity for someone else to fill the niche regarding designer toys in the local scene. Enter POP MART, a leading China toy company that champions for collectible designer toys, coupled with their innovative marketing strategy. They have taken advantage of the popularity of the blind box culture amongst the younger crowd, and have sunk their roots in Red Dot Island with a flagship store at Funan mall, plus a few other shops spread around the island.

To expand their reach to pop-culture enthusiasts and toy collectors even further, POP MART Singapore has launched its inaugural POP TOY SHOW - the company's first festival held outside of China. POP TOY SHOW opens its doors this weekend from 8 to 10 September 2023 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre.

Jessica Emmett's Debut Exhibition "SHOW YOUR EEMO" Launches At BLAXK By Actioncity, 12 March 2022

A colourful and interesting art exhibition opens at BLAXK by Actioncity, located at Funan Mall tomorrow, 12 March 2022 (Saturday). It is the debut exhibition of talented UK toy designer, illustrator & 3D artist JESSICA EMMETT, entitled SHOW YOUR EEMO.

Full disclosure here - JESSICA EMMETT is Red Dot Diva's good friend. They first met at the Singapore Toy Games and Comic Convention (STGCC) 2016's Artist Alley, when she was promoting her illustrations and self-printed comics. It was love at first sight for Red Dot Diva and Jessica's various eye-catching and unique character designs. Jessica also designed the rebranded Red Dot Diva logo that you now see on all the RDD social media accounts. So, Red Dot Diva cannot help but feel very proud and happy that Jessica is given a chance to show off her works in her debut exhibition.

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2019 - Q&A with Creative Hong Kong-based Artist Tik Ka

Since Tik Ka Ng's playful mash-ups of Western superheros and pop-culture characters dressed in Chinese opera and traditional costumes have gone viral, Red Dot Diva has kept a constant eye on his Instagram feed to see what amusing images he will come up next. Even celebrities like Stan Lee and Robert Downey Jr have noticed these creative mash-ups!

In his Tik Ka from East series, he has drawn the Guardians of the Galaxy, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, various Star Wars characters, and even characters from the Minions movies in old school Chinese clothes.

Other than these mash-ups, Tik Ka has exhibited his paintings internationally in cities like London, Paris, New York and Milan. He has also designed for vinyl toys, like the attractive Hambuddha series, and the Chinese-looking Santa Guan figurines.

Red Dot Diva: Before Tik Ka from East series, you have another one featuring cute, cherubic babies, especially one called Chizi. How did this baby theme come about? 
Tik Ka (TK): I started from contemporary art. Before my discovery to infuse Chinese elements into the baby theme, I was a creative for an advertising firm. It was a highly charged profession, and I felt the strain. And it made me wonder if that is what I really wanted. I decided to leave that profession behind and concentrate on painting. I feel complete when I am busy with my paintings, and I have no regrets with that decision. 

Red Dot Diva: What made you decide to branch out from babies to drawing Western pop-culture characters and superheroes in Asian costumes and scenarios? 
TK: The baby painting art world or “Chizi”, is maintained throughout my paintings, while Tik Ka from East was derived from a culmination of Chinese elements. My years experiencing the mix of East and West culture while growing up in post-colonial Hong Kong has inspired me artistically. I try to mix these elements in my works, and I see the finished product as a representation of myself. 


Red Dot Diva: The Chinese opera costumes in these mash-up drawings are very detailed. Did you do a lot of research on this?
TK: I love Chinese culture! From the splendid food their dramatic opera, and its rich history and have spent countless hours researching. It is thus wise to find a balance between East and West elements, sort of like finding a common ground so as not to misrepresent any culture. 

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2019 Announces Greg Capullo, Jock and Tara McPherson as Guests, But No More VIP Tickets!

New name, new branding, new dates. ReedPOP Singapore has decided to shake things up in the local pop culture scene this year, having shifted the rebranded Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) to 7 & 8 December, instead of its usual spot in September. The pop-culture convention has also moved back up to the first level of Marina Bay Sands' Convention Centre.

Those are not the only things that ReedPop has decided to change for this year's show  - there will not be any VIP tickets available for sale for Singapore Comic Con. Fans who were looking forward to the VIP package, which included fast passes and exclusive loot, were rather disappointed. As in most of life's decisions, there are pros and cons to deciding on any option, and in Red Dot Diva's opinion, for most attendees, the VIP package has not offered a far better experience than a normal ticket anyway. However, there are early entry add-ons for those who want to head into the show hall 30 minutes earlier than the official opening time.

Here is SGCC's response regarding the VIP tickets:

Eager to ramp up excitement for the comic convention, the first batch of guests was announced a few days ago, and Wow!! -- they all meet the local geeks' stamp of approval! The list includes Greg Capullo, Mark Simpson aka Jock, and Tara McPherson.