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KillKen
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Mechs toys

Post by KillKen »

Just saw this fcomming out in september
As part of the Masterpiece collection Starscream looking pretty cool I think.

Fuck these things are pricey as but well worth it. I still gotta get around to picking up the Optimus prime one.

Anyone know any good sites that I might be able to get it abit cheaper?.

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Post by GameHED »

I don't think I will be able to afford it. :D (I will be sinking most of my cash into imported large scale macross toys)

But here is a list of stores (can't garantee they will be better or even stock it) you might like to check out (just to compare prices):

Nippon Yasan (japanese site with eng language support)
http://www.nippon-yasan.com/lang-en/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (lots of people bought Bandai VF-171EX from here. I haven't tried them myself yet)

Hobbylink Japan (you send payment to them in the US, but they ship the items from japan)
http://www.HLJ.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Twin Moons Anime (good reputation but I haven't shopped with them yet)
http://www.tmpanime.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BigBadToystore (I hear they are a rip off in terms of price, sometimes worse than HLJ, but some have good experiences)
http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Samurai Monkey Forums (it's a store but you got to register on the forum - good for rare shit you might have trouble finding)
http://www.samurai-monkey.com/boardz/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Macross World Forum (currently down, they have a "For Sale" section where many online stores regularly announce thier specials. I hang out here for news and recommendations. They also have a straight shooter's list where you can provide feedback on a seller to let other buyers know if the seller is reliable based on past dealings you have with that seller)
http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AnimePunch (also with forum)
http://www.animepunch.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Toy Wave (I think these are based in hong kong)
http://www.toy-wave.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (see under "new arrival" section and click the drop down list to find what you are after. Looks like they have Hyrbrid Style Prime/Convoy in stock still...)

Valken EXS (this guy (AKA Neova on macrossworld forums) has a very good rep to macross toy collectors on the macrossworld boards and from my experience take good care to pack your item with lots of protection. AND his prices are low for lots of macross items. Maybe check out TF stuff too? The name of the store suggest only macross toys but other series might be covered like armored trooper VOTOMs)
http://www.geocities.com/valken_exs/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Treasure Island Sports Inc (don't know much about them..but if you run out of places to look it might be worth scavenging here when desperate..But notice how their "Sale Price" is really just the normal price to make it look like you are getting value?? :D)
http://www.tisinc99.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Other places of interest:
Transrepro
http://www.transrepro.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (deals with repro parts, custom decals etc for transformers. If you were an unlucky guy who bought the american Masterpiece Prime with the short smokestacks you can get the normal proper smokestacks here. You can also buy the shoulder launchers for Alternator smokescreen, and the gunbarrel for Alternator Windcharger. For those who don't know, some car manufacturers do not like to associate thier cars with "images of war" so they chickened out and took the gunbarrels from the guns away leaving them without gunbarrels so as not to make the weapons look "too realistic" :roll: Anyway, the toys were originally designed with the gunbarrel connectable and thankfully you can still attach the barrel to the rest of the gun - it's just that the toys don't include these out of the box like they do on the japanese BinalTech versions. So you if you bought an alternator version of the character you have to go to recasters to buy them)

Repro Labels (similar to the above store - check out the alternator section for pics)
http://www.reprolabels.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image
^eg of custom labels applied for Alternator Jazz.

Mech 9 Blog (english translations of manuals and colour guides for SCIFI kits)
http://www.mech9.com/blog/2010/02/model" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... or-guides/

LATE EDIT:
ToynToys
http://shop.toyntoys.com/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]Toyntoys

It's a singapore store. Similar to HLJ but I haven't tried them yet. If anyone buys from them please provide some feedback on what they are like, so others have some idea.

Lost And Found Toys
http://www.laftoys.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Seen it mentioned a lot by Squid on MWB as a reliable place where he has had no problems. Great for all the toys from old school anime series.

HoHo Toys (ebay)
http://stores.ebay.com/HoHoToys-com-Gre" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ys-for-You
Ships from New York and has high prices but good amount of stock.

Crazy Toys Paradise (ebay)
http://stores.ebay.com/Crazy-Toys-Paradise-store" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Hong Kong based store. If you want to get your toys early and cheaper than from anywhere else it's best to buy direct from hong kong store imo. This is another one that comes recommended by squid. (has his own list of fave toy stores listed here.

RainbowTen
http://www.rainbowten.co.jp/english/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Good customer service from what I hear. I haven't bought from them though.

Hobby World Japan (kinda like hobby link japan)
http://www.hwjapan.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
a review of these guys is here
This is the former Aoshima BK Hobby Supermarket online store. You have to agree that no one will repeat the name Aoshima BK Hobby Supermarket online store twice. So one of their new webshops was renamed into HWJapan since the beginning of this year. HWJapan has the same shipping prices like HLJ. The only difference between both online shops they send your items the same day or next day when payment arrives. Your stuff doesn't come in plastic wrapper and aircushions therefore rumpled newspapers. Their shop is still a bit messy with the 1000 of categories and different sub categories. But for a good price and service I'm willing to search a bit longer.
Never bought anything from them myself. But might be a good alternative to try for items you couldn't find elsewhere due to being too popular/easily sold out/out of stock elsewhere. (in this case trying to get those macF kits)


This list will grow as I find more sites.
I usually try to go for hong kong ones where you can save a little bit. Sometimes I will find an ebay seller from hong kong that beats the prices on all the online stores or dealers I find on forums. If you are buying something from a an import store sometimes the item is more expensive than if you buy the local US version of the same thing. The yamato scopedog is a perfect example. (I don't think there is any difference between the japanese and american version but the japanese one is more expensive for some reason.)


UPDATE 15-6-2011
some other online hobby shops I want to mention:

Overdrive
http://www.over-drive-inc.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Used to be good but lately people have not been getting any communication about orders and the site does not update. Owner might be dead, too lazy to work anymore, or abducted by aliens and the space fold communications have broken down as the planet he sends the items from has been invaded and communications are being jammed by the occupying forces so that trade is no longer possible with earth.

Amiami
http://www.amiami.jp/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
english site:
http://www.amiami.jp/shop?set=english" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Known by customers to be reliable. I personally have have not tried them as of yet, but alway hear good things about them. But if any customers have complaints I will try to link these posts in this space as warning to other potential buyers who try them for the first time.


UPDATE

here is a nice list of places the MWB members use:
http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.p ... try1172579" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Last edited by GameHED on 09 Jun 2015 06:41 pm, edited 14 times in total.
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Post by GreyWizzard »

I have found robo love. Jazz looks hot.

Any good Sunstreaker models?
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Post by GameHED »

Well I haven't really bothered with reproduction labels myself. Mine are all just boring and plain.

My thing is to get all custom parts for all my macross Valkyries. With every valk (that doesn't have the GBP pieces) it is missing the side covers that you see in the anime in robot mode and it is possible to get recasts of these parts from people who sell them seperate. (they normally come with the "GBP parts" set which is almost the cost of a Valkyrie itself - er way out of the question if you only want are the side covers inside the set and nothing else. ie not the GBP Armor with it)

So I need to buy heaps of these. (and then there is the custom mechanical hands which for each valkyrie is color matched - so its like without this stuff it isn't quite perfect. Maybe in future when the toys are reissued Yamato will just chuck them in with every Valk? Like what Takara has done with masterpiece prime complete with prime trailer? I suspect they will even milk it further with the little robot in the trailer in a third re-release to milk the collector dry the way lucas does with his star wars fans :D)

BTW Killken if you still haven't got Masterpiece Optimus Prime/Convoy, it might be best to try to find the MP Prime with trailer that is coming:
http://www.tmpanime.com/index.php?main_" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ts_id=1700

Check around for prices and stuff.

Originally Masterpiece Prime didn't come with his trailer so this would be the best version of him. Whether it is worth the money depends on how much a TF fanatic you are. I think the diecast and heft of them makes them feel expensive if that makes any sense. Really collector grade stuff and the best toy of prime I have ever seen. (the Hybrid Style prime is next: very detailed, very posable for such a small toy but looks crap in truck mode. That is offset by the fact that he comes with his trailer and stuff though)

For me, there is the upcoming line of macross plus perfect transforming fighters that I have been looking forward to all these years.

posted this at the old playnow mecha thread:
Early pic of the 1/60 yf-19:
Image
^
The skinny robot mode is a result of people wanting a sleek fighter mode, but unfortunately it still has a fat neck due to the landing gear. (note how they don't show a profile view in the pic to hide this?) Still much better than the previous attempt in 1/72 scale by yamato though...
I'm looking forward to this and the VF11 and YF21. (much more than masterpiece starscream actually as I'm a huge fan of these fighters)

Edit:
Just want to add something about masterpiece starscream: you will note that MP SS seems to have a low visibility paintscheme in that pic. In Japan to get the normal Star Scream anime/cartoon colours you have to be part of a club to get exclusive access to this. Unfortunately for us who are outside of japan this is impossible. My guess is that Takara did this on purpose to encourage demand amoungst collectors for the proper starscream colors and make the original color more "rare". Like what sometimes happens at comic and toy conventions where they release a limited edition paintscheme exlcusive to that convention to attract the collectors and fans into buying them early.

Eventually at some point I believe what will happen is "toon-coloured" starscream will be available to the masses after a period of time and that at some point, they might milk this and re-release him in the toon colour. The logic is that eventualy you end up buying this low vis colour believing there is no choice, and later when they announce a new release of toon SS, you get the toon SS as well (which is what most wanted to get originally) and ending up buying both. Maybe if hasbro decided to release this in the US, they will just change the colour from low visisbility to cartoon colours. They'd be idiots if they didn't milk this. (like they do with any toyline where there is alternative paintscheme for the exact same toy. An example of this is the recent "nemesis prime" alternator with black paintscheme which is very popular all of a sudden despite just being a black version of alternator prime. Or yamato's Low visibility painstscheme VF-1 done in realistic grey tone, which although initially not being popular because it is not canon in the story, suddenly shot up in demand after people realised it was rare, or that generally it looked cool for people who are aviation nuts and just want one in that colour.)

911: (copy + paste from pn thread)
more pics (HQ ones further down)

Here is something that I really want to see made as a mass produced toy for in the future. Check out this VF-4G Resin Kit:
http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... opic=19974

VF-4 became the fighter after the vf1 post Space War I but before the use of the VF11 Thunderbolt which you see in at the start of macross plus OVA. (there is a model kit of the VF-4 in the background of DYRL when hikaru and misa are talking about the mysterious alien object being related to music). Lets all hope for yamato to make a toy equivalent to this beauty sometime in the future. Next to the yf19, this is many a fans's favourite valkyrie.

And for those into toy modifications here is a toy mod of a 1/55 chunky munky. What this essentially does is eliminates the 1 criticism of the old school chunky munky's problem of looking too stiff and unposable and gives these older toys a more updated and posable look if you want them to look more dramatic in battroid mode so that it can take a different stance than what the original toy could do. Because the chunky munkies are cheap now, (market is saturated with vf1 toys) it would be safe to do these types of mods on toys now that they are not so hard to find, or in the instance where it goes for too high a price that you'd be too scared to pull them apart to mod in case you wreck something. (ie current yamato 1/48 for eg. Way overpriced to alot of people compared to toys from other bigger companies for popular, still-mainstream anime series) Normally the attitude would be if I screw something up..then I've messed up an vintage hard to get toy. This is often the reason why people buy bootlegs: for spare parts or to mod something.

Image
^ above is an image of a 1/55 chunky munky toy mod with ball joints in the hips, arms, head plus swivel knees using the ball arm joints from Lego bionicles figures. :D

Image
^ just like the expensive 1/48 yamato's you can have the shoulders angle back forward around etc to make this ole 80s toy look much more humanoid in the range of motions. Note the swivelled-out legs and the backwards-angled shoulders? It just demonstrates that sometimes there is a genuine need for bootlegs for fun modding reasons for collectors fans of the series. With a bit of patience, creativity, skill, you can make a cheap thing look even better than the more expensive official toy. (posability of toys was pretty crappy back when these were originally released. I would go as far as saying that modding would be something still worth doing for rare stuff even if a bit risky.)

12-9-06
---------
Speaking on posability: here are imo some interesting pics of the older macross toys in dramatic action poses:
1
2

very nicely done and dramatic. (especially the yf19 vs yf21 battroid brawl)

and here's one of destroids (tomahawk, phalanx, monster):
3
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." -Shigeru Miyamoto
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Post by GameHED »

I thought this might interest some of the transformers alternator fans:
Alternator Ravage with beast mode!
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showthread.php?t=110496" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It looks like it was mistransformed though. That looks pretty cool. They should have done this from the beginning instead of releasing battle ravage with humnoid robot form.

repaste:

23-09-06
--------
New pictures from graham of the yf-19 showing a new feature of this with regards to the shoulders. (last minute update: click this one to get a better quality scan)

I posted my thoughts on the pics here. Looks like they were listening to suggestions about wanting shoulders angled like in the lineart of the 19. (see my previous posts for the yf-19 lineart scans if you wish to compare with the toy, noting the way the battroid shoulders are not 100% straight)
If you ask me, not only does it add posability to the battroid, but like the bandai vf17 it just gives the robot mode a more menacing and intimidating appearance when its body is not a complete horizontal line from shoulder to shoulder.

Also note on the bottom of the page scan, the upcoming Ghost drone 'booster'. This is seen in the last episode of macross zero ova - this is a drone that can also act as a kind of fast pack to improve performance like better thrust but with the penalty of extra weight - think of it as an early version of the later FAST pack booster on VF-1 super valkyries used in space war I. ..And also the YF-19 Fold booster (seen in macross plus) and leg and shoulder FAST pack. (essentially just extra atachments for the shoulder and legs boosting its performance. Post-Space War I, fighters could 'spacefold' with this portable booster, which previously wasn't possible before. It's a one-time use thing only and gets ejected after used up.)
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." -Shigeru Miyamoto
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Post by AgOnNy »

I should have my Masterpiece Starscream in a couple of weeks.
I ordered it from Transfigure Toys, they are based in Melbourne.
Placed my order a few weeks ago, not sure if they are still taking orders.
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Post by GameHED »

some pics of someone's MP SS on MWB (official tf monster thread) here.

The kind of grey they used looks way too dark imo. Bring on toon colored SS already..

Good to hear that the hip kibble that people were complaining about is detachable so it can fit on the legs.

2-9-06
------
VF-0A is out. Reviews early impressions from those who bought one:
http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.p" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&p=433585
...and according to reports it has the loose swivel arm joint tightened which was a prob from the Roy Fokker VF-0S release.
-The bicep swivel joints are now nice and tight.
-The above knee swivel joints are nice and tight.
-The backpack hinge is more secure. The backpack now sits flush against the back in battroid mode, unlike the VF-0S, where it often hangs a couple of milimeters away.
Gunpod attaches easily and securely to the arms.
..also there is a locking mechanism for the feet.

here are pics after stickers have been applied thanks to Hayao Kakizaki. (also did all the pics for the gbp when it first came out) Scroll down to see other modes. This and Masterpiece Starscream with low visibility paintscheme look like they'd have a good dogfight against each other. :D

TF news: got this from MWB:
- Hasbro said that if they release MP Starscream, they'll do him in his G1 colours.

- It was also reported that Hasbro said they gave the idea for MP SS to Takara. I assume this was misinterperated from the meeting Hasbro had with Takara after Botcon 2005 to discuss plans for an Alternators plane line. Presumebly this evolved into MP Starscream.

- Alternators is on hiatus next year, but not cancelled.

- Don Figueroa has said there will be a new Titanium 6-inch War Within Prime Vs War Within Megatron pack, new and improved, since he was dissapointed with the initial toys.
It looks like toon SS will be coming out in the US as many had hoped.
This is good news for those who don't like the greenish bluish shade of grey used on masterpiece SS. I might actually wait and see what happens with the hasbro version though. (hopefully no shortening of gunbarrels or changes to the nose to make it kid-safe etc)

other bits and pieces collected from various places on the net:
classics prime review:

http://tformers.com/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=720" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Astro Train Gallery

rumble and ravage alternators:
Pics from botcon

more of the same from hasbro.com
Image
Image
Image
Image

More pics of the TF classics line.

ultramagnus and skywarp repaints:
http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/defa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 9FDD1F9709
devastator:
http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/defa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 30B3518E6F

10-09-06
interesting interview from hobby magazine with Kawamori on the changes made to MP04 Starscream: http://seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=8612" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The alt mode was the basis for making the changes this time to make a realistic jet that transformed into a robot vs a robot that transformed into a decent jet. (pretty much the philosophy behind most macross valkyries)
Unlike what Masterpiece Prime where focus was on the bot mode, and the truck is only decent looking. KISS players is also mentioned: Little girl anime toy collectors are thier aim. Weirdos..
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." -Shigeru Miyamoto
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Post by AgOnNy »

I should have Starscream tomorrow. Fucking customs held it up.
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Post by Froggy »

Ravage looks great. Starscream looks great.
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Post by Arthas »

The new starscream looks unreal :shock:
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Post by GameHED »

Looking forward to seeing it.

Compared to MP prime he looks pretty small. I hope the plastic they used isn't the cheap kind that stresses easily though. (this is Masterpiece stuff supposed to be aimed at collectors) Hopefully no stress marks from transformations.

I'm going to wait and see what hasbro do and go for the anime/toon colored SS because I plan on just leaving it in bot mode with the alternators.
The new starscream looks unreal
It looks good imo. It's just that yucky bluish-greenish grey they have used on him that looks wrong. I was hoping they would go for more a grey like the one used on the VF-0 cannon fodder or low visibility vf-1. I'm still wondering if they screwed this up, or if they intentionally made it that way?

For those who don't like the "samurai sword" hip kibble There is a interesting mod someone has done up that allows you to store the hip kibble on SS's back which looks pretty good.. I think a good idea would be if they made that a proper feature of the toy in future. Too many people already think the hip kibble was a bad turn. (not me though, since I am a fan of the yf 19 and don't care for TF canon, as long as it looks cool)
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Post by AgOnNy »

Found it sitting on my doorstep when i got home (FUCKIGN AUSPOST LEAVING THIS LYING AROUND!!!).

Bit of a bitch to transform at first but so was Prime. Will post some pics later (not the best quality due to camera phone). I've gotten use to the green/grey pretty quick, but i think i lighter grey would've looked sweet.
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Post by GameHED »

impressions of the recently released VF0-A "cannon fodder" low visibility scheme here.

Also a review of alternator Hot Rodimus (or "kiss players" as its now released in japan) here.

A page depicting a sadistic Megatron in one of the kiss player comics:
Image
tsk tsk *shakes head in disbelief at what takara's done to the TF characters with thier stupid lolicon thing* :evil:
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." -Shigeru Miyamoto
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Post by GameHED »

http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ad=&page=1
^
looks like the Transformer the movie toys are out. (pre-earth arrival. Starscream and optimus prime shown.)
There must be some story-related reason for why they look like rocks.

From what I've heard, the head of megatron will not be what the earlier form was. I think they should just hire actual transformer fans to make the damn movie :D

Reminds me now of something from Aura Battler Dunbine. (ie the faces kinda have that insect look to them with bug eyes at the sides and stuff)
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Post by GreyWizzard »

Protoforms, they are using the stasis pod idea. When they arrive on earth they will scan the local environs for an earth form.
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Post by AgOnNy »

Megatron has been announced as the the next Masterpiece. They will be making him as a gun reportedly. To avoid problems with customs it has been stated that the tip of the gun will be orange.
I've already slapped my preorder down baby!!!
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Post by Ben »

AgOnNy wrote:Megatron has been announced as the the next Masterpiece. They will be making him as a gun reportedly. To avoid problems with customs it has been stated that the tip of the gun will be orange.
I've already slapped my preorder down baby!!!
Holy crap that'll be awesome!
Image
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Post by GameHED »

Excellent. Megatron and prime masterpieces fighting each other with thier energy melee weapons is going to make a great display. :D I always love this iconic cover from the r4 dvd:
Image

As usual these would be in left in bot mode for me.

BTW anyone order screamer? Did you notice if it was fragile or experience any stress mark when you tried to transform him? I have heard it wasn't quite as robust as the original masterpiece releases like prime. (and the new "prime with trailer" I hear has the same issues. Like it felt slightly less high quality than original mp01)

After they finish megatron I hope they do another jet fighter like jetfire or something. He was my other fave toy that I could never get as a kid. (and please give him the fast packs like the original toy, don't leave it out like they did with prime's trailer)
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." -Shigeru Miyamoto
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Post by GameHED »

Been ages since I checked for pics of macross toys:

just skimmed the boards and found these uploaded scans from the latest japan hobby mags:

direct link to scans (may need to click picture for full size after it finishes loading the full pic):
1
2

..showing removable head cover, removable gunpod magazine, (unlike the 21 the 19 can reload) and two-piece opening canopy. Pic also shows a bit of mid-transformation of the fighter going into battroid mode, and other add-ons for the VF-0: ghost booster drone (seen in the last episode of macross zero) and the fold booster for the yf-19. (used to space fold as seen in last episode of macross plus ova)

Everything seems like they purposely timed the release of news about each feature as if to tease people and maintain interest. Oh well better than no news at all.

This is toy of the year for me. :D Shame about its price though.. Hopefully there will be no loose limbs issues or careless mistakes like in the early runs like what happened with the vf0s. (one of the worst things was having the magnets back to front, but the most accurate sclupt by yamato ever - thanks in part to the fact the vf0 was shown as a cg plane and suffers from less anime magic than other mecha)

Don't screw the early release up this time yamato. For the money it costs I hope they take thier sweet time and check that joints are tight like the latest vf-1 releases. (ie vf-1 stealth etc)

also for gundam fans:

There is now an english site explaining gundam plastic model kits for those who are confused about all the releases. This is good news for gundam fans who may have seen some kits at an import shop but were not really sure what the all the grades were about, whether it was a toy, completed model, (detailed like a model but for people who don't have time or skill to devote to building one due to thier busy life but still want one as a display) or model, (you build and paint these) and the detail level and complexity of the model when considering thier purchase. (ie building perfect grade != to a 1/60 scale Mastergrade which is just upscaled to Perfect Grade size but lacks the PG details. So it would help to understand why the price of some model of the same mecha of similar size but different "grade" can vary to a casual observer)

http://bandai-hobby.net/english/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." -Shigeru Miyamoto
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Post by AgOnNy »

Pic's have been released of Masterpiece Megatron.
My pre-order has been down since it was anounced and after seeing the pic's I'm fucking happy.
It looks great (legs are a bit skinny) but everything else looks fantastic.

Apparently Takara are releasing as is with no modifications (orange tip), Most imports to the US however are going to be modified by importers.
Apparently US buyers may be able to have the Megatron transformed into robot mode and it will get through customs fine with no orange tip. Unfortunately the orange tip mod and the robot mode will involve the package being opened before receiving.

Not sure whether this will affect Aus though, my importer says that it will not be touched and released exactly as Japan. Fucking hope so.

Image

Image

Also below is the non transformable Revoltech Optimus Prime.
The articulation is fucking incredible and almost looks like its been ripped straight out of a comic book.

Image
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Post by GameHED »

Thanks for the pics of megatron. Haven't kept up to date with TF masterpiece stuff.

Some stuff I forgot to post which I had been putting off for a while:
Graham's review of the 1/60 YF19 by yamato (one of the three transforming valkyrie mecha from macross plus anime) is up here. (lots of pics for the nerdy fanboy to drool at)

Not bad for yamato's second attempt although I have stated on the boards that I am a little disapointed with how the top half of the bot's chest piece hasn't got anything to secure it if in the rare event you put the figure upside down. This was one problem of the original 1:72 yf19. But this still kicks that thing's arse just from looking at it. But imo yamato should have tried to do something about that. It will be much easier for someone to pick up safely that way too.

Well the yf19 is one of kawamori's most complex transformations and suffered from a lot of anime magic. ie parts don't really fit into each other in various modes due to how the mecha is drawn and how it appears as a plane, resulting in the toy having to compromise between the three modes in how it is proportioned. Non-transforming kits don't have this problem of course since most of them cheat by using swappable parts.. But this is "perfect" transformation with no swapping so a bit of distortion is forgivable in plane mode.

Overall I might get one when the second run is ready and wait for more impressions (early buyers of the vf-0 experienced loose joints than later buyers) before jumping in. It is just too expensive to not expect anything less than a close-to-perfect toy for what yamato (or the import store) asks. (and trust me unless the HarmonyGold legal mess is sorted out, which is never, you will never be able to get these from anything other than importers at "way too expensive for the average person" prices.)

Here is a handy video transformation guide for those curious to know how the thing transforms:

Fighter mode to Battroid mode:
http://www.youtube.com/v/c4vH6gA2VBw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fighter mode to GERWALK mode:
http://www.youtube.com/v/hDbjaLPOOnY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Battroid mode to Fighter mode:
http://www.youtube.com/v/OkCFSOdZdp4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What a brilliant piece of toy engineering.

As far as I've seen it is anime accurate and lineart accurate and follows as close to the official way the mecha transforms.

Now that this is finally done with: Bring on the VF-11 Thunrderbolt (cannon fodder fighter seen at the start of macross plus) and the YF21! (the new zentradi-inspired transforming version of a *"Qeadluun Rau" which Guld Bowman is using with his fancy brainwave control system.)

*you may know them as the giant powered suits with bigarse backpacks with micromissiles inside them. The ace pilots use these to clear a whole area with micro-missile swarm after micro-missile swarm. The yf21 carries on that look of the originals from space war I. (events of which were covered in the first macross tv series)

EDIT:
some precautions before transforming yf19 so you don't wreck stuff.
Translations here.

I recommend saving some of these instructions for later reference if you end up buying as the manual isn't very clear.

Here is a pic for scale reference (just to give an idea of size of this) The 1/60 yf-19 is about the size of a 1/48 vf-1. (the sinister black colored paintscheme of the VF-1 to the left is wearing FAST packs with a strike cannon so it will appear chunkier than normal)
Here is what the yf-19 would look like when FAST packs are added.
Last edited by GameHED on 01 Feb 2007 09:52 pm, edited 7 times in total.
"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." -Shigeru Miyamoto
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Post by GreyWizzard »

Where do you purchase this stuff from? I like the Revoltech Optimus Prime. I wouldn't mind getting into some of this stuff.
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Post by AgOnNy »

The place I use is Transfigure Toys. They've been pretty good so far and are a little bit cheaper than some of the other aussie import shops. They also do free shipping on orders over $80... unfortunately I haven't used this offer as I cannot wait for standard delivery.

Megatron is $165 through Transfigure. Estimated release of 30/3/07
Revoltech Optimus Prime is $40, releasing any day now.
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Post by GameHED »

I just go online and look for import stores like HobbyLink Japan. They have a massive catalogue.

Twin moons anime is another store. (I remember saying I would update that shop list but I honestly haven't bought many import toys lately. I plan on buying mainly macross and transformers masterpieces as I like the concept of machines with modular functions) Any kind of store that deals in toys and anime figures should stock stuff like that. You may find them on ebay too.

I'm still a little pissed off at how hard it is to find those Transformer alternator toys though. I really want to find them all. Every time I go to a toys r us to scavenge for something new, they usually only have the same thing, and never a variety of things. Like one store has Alternator "Redneck" Prime, and nothing else, and then some other store only has windcharger or something. Very annoying.

The last alternator I bougt was alternator prime.

Impressions: has a funny looking beefy legs look to him but is surprisingly much more posable than I at first thought. I also like his Handgun. The hinge piece used to transform the engine into the gun, kinda has the appearance that it is a scoped pistol like you see in halo. :D

The chest piece of prime is also nice and gives him a beefy broad-chested tough guy look. As if the the robot were armored with a big shield as his front half. You can choose to angle this "flat" or have it "sloped" at 45 degrees to make it more man-boobish.

Only problem I find is that alt prime needs just a little more space between his crotch and knee-armor to break up the blocky appearance of his lower body more. As much as fans like the old blocky look of the typical 80s robots, I think bot modes need more curves to break those straight lines a little and give them a more distinct shape between each other. (one of the reasons I thought star scream seemed a little too chunky in his first appearance.) I'm not saying to make them more androgynous or anything, just allow for proportions that reminds us that these are trying to look somewhat close to a human and not a brick with a few bendy bits and a head.
Last edited by GameHED on 01 Feb 2007 08:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by AgOnNy »

I'd also suggest checking out Case Fresh. They're an aussie site and secure the big releases and exclusives. I purchased my Masterpiece Prime from them.
You shouldn't have a problem finding alternators though them aswell as numerous other collectables.
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