Chronocidal

If they re-release the entire squad, and only include the missing super packs with the re-release, so help me I will rip Bandai's tonsils out through the internet.

Yep, this was the obvious example, and it's all the more annoying that the super packs didn't come with the sound pack from the get-go, because all except Chuck were using it. With how obsessive Bandai is about only including specifically what was shown on-screen with any release, they completely flubbed that one from the start.

Yeah, the biggest problem outside of the arms fitting on the AX line were the wing tabs no longer fitting into the legs, because they somehow completely forgot the size tolerances needed for those parts. Fortunately they were too big, and not too small, so they could just be filed down to fit, but it was still a pain. Also, the sloppy spine joint in fighter tended to get even more sloppy on my copies, but that's always been pretty variable. Then there's the experience I had having to re-drill one of the tail fold pinholes with a pin-drill because they skewed it off-center until the tail wouldn't fold properly.. front gear doors not fitting correctly, sloppy nose section joints, etc. The AX releases just felt like worse copies of the 31 series, making it feel like Bandai bootlegged its own design.

Boy, would it really kill them to actually apply the decals to their own model, just to make sure they even fit? It always looks so bizarre with them just photoshopping them in.

Hey now, never underestimate their ability to mess up a good thing with later iterations. Some of the worst-fitting parts of the 31AX were still using the same design as the original.

Definitely a nice setup, but it feels like a kick in the head after the situation with the Ideas Shuttle. I'm curious about what scale it's supposed to be though. Would be great to re-use that pad as a Saturn V display, but it looks like they shrunk it down to a completely different scale. Artemis is literally using recycled SRBs from the Shuttle launches in the 80s, so they should be the same size, but these are a 3-stud diameter, when the 1/110 scale of the Saturn V would put them at 4-studs. May still try and grab one though. Will probably wait until mid-summer to beat the rush.

Maybe a different one.. Mine's "Buy what you have room for, and can afford."

Yeah, fortunately another I can sit out on entirely. Of course not including the reaction missiles either, because Bandai gonna Bandai. Really think they should have sweetened the deal by including the sound booster though, since it's not likely to ever see the light of day again, and it was specifically paired with the super packs in the series.

I think the blue was actually a side effect of some of the weird coloring seen on other Star Wars toys at the time. It was never really clear in the movies, but some of the color filtering did make the Ties look darker blue-gray, and many of the toys echoed that. The one that sticks in my mind is the Action Fleet version, which was definitely closer to blue than gray.

Impressive panels.. but it feels like they make the ball uglier with every iteration. Still might try and grab one though, it's not too bad.

Before you go printing Sparrows, take note of the fin shape. They used AIM-120 AMRAAMs on the Mac-0 F-14s. They were never cleared for operational use, but the Navy did test using them. Apparently they scrapped the idea when the upgrade wasn't deemed worth it, considering the limited use compared with the Super Hornet that was already in development. https://theaviationgeekclub.com/even-though-the-aim-120-was-successfully-tested-on-the-f-14-the-amraam-integration-into-fleet-tomcats-was-scrapped-heres-why/

That's just.. they need to title it the "Never touch me" edition. I wouldn't bet the chrome will last through a single transformation cycle. This is literally one you pose once, then lock it behind glass, or better yet, seal it in resin for eternity.

Whether it gets released or not, it won't look anything like that prototype. I'm genuinely concerned about them attempting to make that into a transforming VF-11 derivative, because it shares almost nothing with the source design, and I have no idea how it will hold together in fighter mode with completely round arms and legs.

Copy or not, clear plastic has different structural properties than most others, and it tends to be much more brittle, or just fail in other unexpected ways. The clear plastic adapter that came with my TV super packs can attest to that, as the plastic formed a stress fracture after a few hours holding the valk. I boxed back up the stand before it could fail and dump the valk off a shelf.

Definitely not just you. However.. I am all for this sort of behavior by Bandai. Yes, please Bandai, keep making these sorts of event exclusives for all your future events. Saves me a ton of trouble trying to get them if you keep making them this ugly.