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Slowly working my way through the backlog: Bandai was very conscientious with the gate marks on the gold parts on this kit. It's a fun build so far.

Seeing this reminded me of a couple anime I used to watch back in the day where swords were given names. Any chance this one has a name?

It is such a hilarious mess.

At least auto-translation is getting much better (though I assume it is translating the Japanese text rather than the audio). The amount of times it translates into complete gibberish is way down from a few years ago.

Oh hey, isn't that the short we've been hearing about that was supposed to be event exclusive, got camripped basically immediately, and then Khara accidentally leaked the actual file by attaching it to their DMCA takedown requests for the bootleg uploads? 😆

"As March 8 marks exactly five years since the release of "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time," we are releasing this short animated film."

Another 'toy' came in, this time a katana. It's nice and solid with a simple lacquered sheath, and a slight damascus pattern on the blade.

I never took issue with the original Hot Rod's coloring, but then, I'm not stuck on the toon-centric thinking that many fans embrace. The OG toy is good enough for me. If anyone needs a copy of SS86 Hound, I have one unopened. PM me.

More Constructicons, more kits. This one is DK-71 for Hook and Long Haul. I lined up all the parts for a shot but forgot to actually take the picture. Whoops. Here's DNA's stock photo, which shows a new lower torso and hips, some leg panels, a big thing, a little thing, and two more bugles. There's also going to be another pin and another pin pusher. Starting with the easy stuff, Hook gets a bugle... and that's it! It works like Scrappers; there's a gap in it that c-clips onto Hook's fist. On to Long Haul... There isn't much easy for him. So we'll start by sliding his legs off of their mushroom pegs. It's not necessary for the next step, but it will be before we're done and it just makes it easier to do it now. Find and remove these two screws from the inside of Long Haul's legs. That will allow you to slide the panel with the rear tires off of the outside of the leg. Replace that panel with the corresponding DNA parts and screw them back in. The idea here is that the wheels are on tabbed hinges. You can untab them from their normal position (which we'll still use in alt mode), and then swing them down to tuck in closer near his ankle. Not necessary, I guess, but it kind of cleans him up a little. Before we put his legs back on, lift up his chest and remove these four screws. That will allow you to remove his chest, arms, and backpack from his head and lower torso. Now we need to knock out this pin. I did it by lining up the pin pusher DNA included and whacking it with a hammer. It can be a little daunting if you're not used to removing pins, but honestly it was easier than the one we had to remove for Bonecrusher. Anyway, keep the top part with his head, and ditch the lower part. Slide the DNA torso bit in, and used the included pin to connect it to the part with the the head. Then reattach his chest/arms/backpack and his legs. The most immediate benefit we're going to see in robot mode is that the DNA parts have a waist swivel that the stock parts did not. I also like that they don't have any of the stock purple parts. More cartoon-accurate, I think, but YMMV. Long Haul's bugle works like Bonecrusher's. Slide it through his hand, and a thicker part will provide the friction needed to keep it in his fist. Long Haul's new parts don't affect his transformation, but you probably noticed with have two things leftover. A big thing, and a little thing. These parts have nothing to do with either bot in their robot modes, and only relate to Long Haul tangentially in alt mode. What we're actually going to do is is get the trailer made from the extra Devastator parts. Take the little thing and it'll latch onto some gaps on the front of the trailer. Then the big thing uses a tab to plug into the little thing, allowing it to sit on top of the trailer. To me, the best part about these things is that they add more ports to the trailer. It never bothered me to have the Constructicons carry their own guns in alt mode, but I never liked that Hasbro was like, "well, Scrapper comes with Devastator's gun, so it's his problem." So, yeah, the DNA parts add some 5mm ports that you can use to store Long Haul and Hook's guns on the trailer. But what really makes me happy is that you can store Devastator's gun on the trailer, so all on Devastator's bits go on it. To be clear, though, I don't think DNA added parts just so Devy's gun could ride on the trailer. See, one of the complaints that some people had is that they don't like how Devastator's back looks. I get it, the area behind Hook seems a little messy and empty, then Long Haul's legs/bed is just chilling kind of low on his back. It doesn't really bother me, I think it's cartoon, accurate, but it definitely bothers some people. So here's what DNA came up with. First, clip the big thing onto the area behind Devastator's head. Then, you can disconnect Long Haul's legs from their normal position, and bend them up higher onto Devastator's back. The panels in Long Haul's heels that lock them in their stock place will instead clip onto the back of the big thing we stuck on Devastator's back. We further secure his back by taking the little thing and clipping it onto his butt flap. The smaller end will grab onto a tab on Long Haul's butt. And, yeah. This essentially shift's his dumper bed backpack up higher on his back. Some people may find that look more balanced, others might not like that you can see it peaking over the top of his back from the front. But the thing to remember here is that it's optional; even with the new waist/pelvis/hips Long Haul can do the stock transformation. One final benefit DNA points out in their instructions is that it adds a 5mm peg beside and just behind Devastator's head. I think the idea is that you can plug Long Haul's gun into it and it looks a bit like the green missile/gun that plugged into the side of Devastator's head on the G1 toy. I think this kit is a bit like the previous one in that it doesn't really cause any problems and includes a lot more nice-to-haves than necessities. The main thing here is that it cleans up Long Haul and improves his articulation a bit. That (and the extra storage for the trailer) was enough to make me go in on the kit, but if I'm being honest I think Bonecrusher needed the help more, which in turn makes this kit feel a bit less necessary. That said, if you're one of the people who didn't like Devastator's stock backpack, you might find that aspect of this kit is worth the price of admission. Overall I'd give the kit a recommend, but a softer one that the previous kit.

Haha. I see what you did there.

What are you talking about? He's more magenta now! In all seriousness, I'm honestly with you on all that. It's why I've resolved not to just buy one online. If I happen to see it in a store, then I can say I bought it on a whim, but buying online feels too intentional.

XTB is doing toy decos. I already reviewed their toon Scrapper and I rather liked it.

I'm in the fortunate position that I'm financially able to afford these toys, although $500 is pretty steep and bears some consideration before I commit. However, space to put new acquisitions has become the bane of my existence. Between a rather voluminous LEGO collection (2-3000 sets), a respectable Transformers collection (I estimate 3-400 toys), around 30 Macross toys, and an assortment of other toys that I've accumulated over the years, not to mention all of their boxes intact, much of my available space has dwindled. My wife generally doesn't care what I buy; she knows that I'm financially responsible and the bills are always priority and paid. The dwindling space for stuff and her lack of a personal space to call her own is her general complaint, which is totally fair. Eventually, I want to build an outbuilding in my back yard to use as both storage and studio; my backyard isn't huge, but it could accommodate a 20x40 building nicely. Unfortunately, I live within a small town that limits outbuilding size to no more than 50% of your available backyard, which is crap IMHO. It's my land, I'm paying for it, I don't use my backyard for anything (my dog uses it to do his business, and I mow it occasionally) and I should be able to use as much of it for whatever purpose I deem necessary so long as I'm not endangering anyone else (fire codes and such). I'd love to just put a big building back there using all that space to put all my crap, but I'm going to have to compromise so I'm hoping I can go vertical with it instead of horizontal. I just need to find a good contractor to build it for me as I'm no carpenter. I was going to buy a Sentinel Tread, but fearing what this administration might do to my VA disability, I passed. There's since been more clarity, so for now I'm safe. Consequently, I've been once again indulging in my hobbies, which are pretty much what I live for. That Sentinel Tread still appeals to me, although I remain far more enamored with the Legioss. I just love transforming jets if they're done well, and although Kawamori's realistic valks are peak, there's something alluring about the Legioss' design that has always struck a chord. It's just a cool sci-fi design with more than a smidge of believability. That said, given my druthers, with space at a premium and given the choice, I'd prefer to have more Legioss toys in lieu of a Tread. If I get my building, though, oh there will be a Tread in my future! 😄

I can't speak to the concert Blu-rays. That's not really my thing, so I haven't collected them. Macross Frontier has two movies: The False Songstress and The Wings of Goodbye. The two films together form a single DYRL?-style alternate version of the events of Macross Frontier's TV series with different approaches to the characters, some original designs, etc. It also has one epilogue OVA, The Labyrinth of Time, which is packaged with the second of Macross Delta's movies, because they were released together as a double-feature. There is also the aforementioned Macross 7 crossover/clipshow OVA thing Macross FB7: Listen to my Song!, which is kind of a 7-Frontier mashup similar to Flash Back 2012. Macross Delta has two movies: Passionate Walkure and Absolute Live!!!!!!. The first (Passionate Walkure) is a DYRL?-style retelling of the events of the Macross Delta TV series, albeit without much in the way of new/original design works or radical changes. The second film (Absolute Live!!!!!!) is an all-new original story set after the events of the first film with an emphasis on wrapping up the various dangling threads of character arcs for characters like Hayate, Freyja, and Mirage. Absolute Live!!!!!! also came packaged with Macross Frontier's epilogue short The Labyrinth of Time.

Robotech is already finished….but not in the way Harmony Gold was hoping

It does make them look a bit like the gundam chest vents.

I'd probably consider getting these new Legioss if the intake area was painted grey instead of yellow orange.

I got Hot Rod from Target for $34.99 before the price increase. That's a reasonable price to me. If it ever goes on clearance then even better. It will be an easy return and repurchase.

Quint. Hooper.

Star Wars TBS Jedi Master Dooku.

I own the tread and the legioss from Sentinel and i love them. The two toys, combined together, are stunning. But i also have a lot of toys from Pose+ and most of them are incredible. And judging from the adds-on for the Gaogaigar a Tread would be amazing. But yes, i understand what you are saying and i am with you: no clue of where to put it and spending so much money on a toy that i already have a version which i love it is...hard to justify.

Sorry, I meant to say I was asking specifically about Macross Frontier and Delta releases that aren't the main TV series for each. Like I don't know what Macross Frontier Galaxy Live Final 2025 and Macross Frontier Galaxy Live Final 2021 are. And I guess there's at least 2 movies for Frontier, and maybe 3+ movies for Delta? Are the movies new material or made up of TV clips?

I'll third, especially when the much smaller Legioss sets you back $500+, and yet, if their Legioss is a good judge of what's to come with their Tread, it stands to be the pinnacle of that design in a toy. That said, I'm still trying to figure out where I'm going to put my Pose+ Legioss, big chunky thing that it is, let alone a Tread that will dwarf it. Too, not sure I want to spend around a grand for it, either. If I get a Tread eventually, it'll most likely be a Sentinel version to go with my Eta.

I agree, me too. And still, i wish Pose+ would release all the three variants of Legioss and Tread. I know, i have issues.😂

Aside from any eccentricities specific to your preferred online storefront, the main thing you have to worry about is sticker shock from the cost of physical media and the cost of the international shipping. CDJapan has been my preferred store for a couple years now. I've generally had a very good, problem-free experience with them. I've typically used DHL or FedEx for international express shipment and that's been largely problem free for me aside from one or two delays in customs. Yes. Yeah, aside from I think one specific box set the Macross Frontier releases are Japanese-only while all the Macross Delta Blu-rays were cheekily given English subs in anticipation of them being purchased internationally in defiance of Harmony Gold's then-ongoing blockage of licensing outside Japan. Quite good, IMO. The movies, mainly. You've already covered Macross II and Macross Plus. The Macross 7 "Complete Fire" two-volume box set has all the Macross 7 supplemental material including the Macross Dynamite 7 OVA, Macross 7: the Galaxy is Calling Me! movie, the Macross 7 PLUS omakes, and the unbroadcasted episodes sometimes referred to as Macross 7 Encore. Macross FB7: Listen to My Song! is sold separately, and the Macross Frontier: the Labyrinth of Time is included with the blu-ray of the second Macross Delta movie. Macross Zero's available in the US already, so you don't have to worry about that one.