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Well, I still don't have a date for Mixmaster. But I haven't quite run out of new stuff, because everything is kind of coming all at once. From Pulse's latest exclusive two-pack, here's Hearts of Steel Bumblebee. This one's an interesting one for me, because while some of MMC's earliest projects did include Optimus and Starscream, I never owned them. What I do own is Mech Planet Hot Soldiers Centurion, a figure I reviewed all the way back in 2018. At the time, I said he lacked the polish that more expensive 3P figures usually have, and lo and behold when an official toy comes out from Hasbro it's already looking a bit more refined. The gray plastic is a bit darker and, to my eye, a more accurate color, the head is more defined and less derpy, and he's sporting a lot more paint in ways that make him more accurate, like the blue marker lights on his tummy, the silver gears in the boxes on his shins, and the insides of the slats on his toes. Ultimately, though, they're pretty similar. Both end up with similar kibble in similar places. Hasbro's figure is a little more hollow in the forearms and the backs of the thighs, and you can see a little more into the inner workings in his back, but on the other hand his shoulders aren't as droopy and he's got less kibble on his back. Like Centurion, the official toy comes with a hammer. It's colored a bit more accurately, and although it also has some plastic saving cutouts they're kind of under the hammer head, and less obvious. The official toy gets a pistol that Centurion doesn't have. Bee's head is on a ball joint that has some slight up/down/sideways tilt. Shoulders are also ball joints, and they can swivel and move 90 degrees laterally. Biceps swivel, and elbows bend 90 degrees. No wrist swivels, but due to how they fold for transformation he can tilt them down for poses where you want him pointing the hammer or holding it in a more relaxes fashion. His waist swivels. His hips can go 90 degrees forward, backward, and laterally. His thighs swivel, and his knees bend about 120 degrees. His feet can tilt up and down, and he's got about 45 degrees of ankle pivot. For those keeping score at home, that's mostly on par with Centurion, though the official figure ultimately wins due to pins and hinges for the hips instead of ball joints, a deeper knee bend, and the fact that his entire foot moves when his ankle pivots and not just his pilot toes. Bee can hold either weapon in either hand, but he doesn't have any bot mode storage. Bee's transformation is extremely similar to Centurion's... with obvious train parts in the feet, legs, chest, and shoulder pads I'd like to believe that's simply the most obvious, logical way to get from the robot to the train, and not a case of Hasbro's team copying someone else's homework. The biggest differences are that Bee's shoulders shift deeper into his shoulder pads rather than fold under them, simply bending his elbows to get in place under the rear of the train, and the shoulder pads shift just a bit more cleanly without the need for gap-filling flaps. I'd say the entire transformation is just a bit smoother, really. Once again, the official toy comes off as just a bit more refined. Obviously, the paint again, including the "BEE" written on the sides (that was part of Guido Guidi's concept art for Bee, though I don't recall seeing it in the actual pages of the comic), but also small details like the flap at the bottom rear, the lack of visible hands, and molded details on the back that better resemble the comic. Bee has storage for his accessories in alt mode. There's a 5mm port between his forearms that you can plug the gun into. There's also a hollow space under the pilot. The head of the hammer fits into it, and the handle snaps into place between Bee's legs. It's super secure, but it does fore his legs slightly apart and creates a gap in the pilot. On the one hand, Bee's half a $60 set, and my initial reaction was that seems a bit much for a Deluxe-class figure. But, as part of a Pulse-exclusive set, I don't know that it's actually fair to say that he is a Deluxe. The size and engineering seem pretty Deluxe, but after our recent round of Studio Series Deluxes I'm inclined to think that Bee's sporting a bit more paint. And compared to Centurion, a figure that I recall retailing for around $35 in 2018 (which is closer to $45 in 2025 dollars), Hasbro's offering is little smaller but overall more refined. I don't know that I can fairly complain that Bee costs a little more than a normal retail Deluxe then turn around and tell you that he's better than a toy that's $15 more adjusted for inflation. Because, yeah, between the two I do like the official figure better. Ultimately, the decision to buy or not comes down to how much you like his pack-in pal, who we'll be looking at in the next episode.

Courtesy of a Macross Discord server

@tekeringWow! What an amazing collection. Also thanks for the info on Alien. It’s wild how casting worked out the way it did.

Longer answer than usual: I went with Showz/ Gundamnit for my Pose+ preorder. I've purchased a lot from them over the years, and they've aleays been pretty reliable. If I've needed a replacement part on a purchase, they've gotten it for me. For the US based, there is no sales tax, and the "shipping cost" is really just code for "tariff surcharge." They're also really good about not charging anytjing rxtra unless they absolutely have to. Lastly, showz/gundamnit (same parent company, slightly different merchandise focusrs- the Legioss is on Gundamit) offers one other avenue that I plan to take full advantage of- The Pose+ requires a $30 deposit, with the balance due about two weeks before the item hits the warehouse. Showz also sells "coins" which are basically gift certificates you can bank on your account- coins can be spent on any purchase on the site. It's store credit. But its also a convienient way to throw a little bit monthly towards the Legioss between now and April and more or less have it paid off by the time it gets here. Timewise, Showz is pretty fast. You'll have it a month or two before any of the US retailers. They are a little bit slower than some of the other Hong Kong locations (likely due to sheer inventory). They do have more expedited shipping options at additional cost. Most things I've ordered from them (including some things the size of the Alpha Fighter) take about three weeks from shipdate to in hand. @jenius @wwwmwww @RavenHawk Link: https://gundamit.com/pose-metal-series-mospeada-1-28-afc-01h-

I enjoy pushing the limits of a 12K resolution printer. 😎 The Cygnus files I bought were disappointingly low-resolution, so I figured the only way to justify my purchase was to make a Hallmark ornament. 😉 Plus, I already have a variety of ships displayed at the same 1:3000 scale: Actually, ALIEN was a July release; The Black Hole came out in December of 1979, only two weeks after Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Fun factoid: Sigourney Weaver had originally been cast as Dr. Kate McCrae, but the zero-gravity sequences in The Black Hole required her to cut her hair. 😅 She refused, and the role went to Yvette Mimieux instead. If Sigourney Weaver had agreed to Disney's demands, Veronica Cartwright (who had already been cast as Ripley) would've been the big star of the franchise... ...and we'd be living in a slightly different alternate universe today. ☺️

How do we feel about robotoybase?

So far, I’m enjoying the show quite a bit. Watched the first episode yesterday and just finished the second. Definitely a few cheesy moments, but so far they’re forgivable. And this is kind of an entire cast of weird and awkward characters. Even the side characters needing rescue are awkward. Possibly the quirkiest cast since Lexx. Gotta give the soundtrack some credit for being mostly awkward and slow during the show, but then cranking it to 11 by the end. Totally rockin hard at the end for sure. Kinda makes me excited for the next episodes

Broke down and used BBTS. There are a handful of sites that are advertising a lower price, but no interaction with tariffs. We'll see how it goes, but I've ordered other stuff from BBTS and it worked out OK.

Pegasus Fantasy was arguably one of the best opening songs of the era.

I like the overall premise and execution of the show despite my niggles. I think having this take place pre-Alien is interesting, but also presents a fine line for preserving continuity, a narrative responsibility I hope they observe with the greatest respect. That said, I'm curious to see where they take the story and characters.

May'n lauches her new album TWENTY//NEXT You can listen it here: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=np3SMnpSb6g&list=OLAK5uy_l18waf3EneIX_zwgfZrQAPLOLyJEELS40 Some of it sounds nice but I think I prefer the original. Plus the treatment sounds the same in each of the 'Re-Recorded' ones Still haven't completed my review of the Macross F 2025 concert....XD

Messaged.

Most of the newer “collectible” shops that have popped up around me have been for Pokémon and similar card stuff. Maybe some Funko Pops too, but stuff from our (older) generation are a dying breed. There used to be a few small local toy spots around me, but they’ve all closed down. Ain’t no way I’d risk opening a physical shop. As I’ve said, I’m getting close to a good stopping point. Of course, never say never in this collecting game. But I’m pretty satisfied where the collection is at (with a few minor exceptions). Plus, my eyes aren’t as sharp as they used to be (constantly have to remove the glasses to see details up close). And the available time and responsibility factors are always ever present. So, doing a big mecha custom similar to the Tread is probably out of the question now.

Do you mind if I ask where you put your preorders in? I see almost a dozen sites offering preorders for the Pose+ Legioss and I'm not familiar with most of them so was looking for some recommendations. Thanks, Carl

This is the point when most people open their own hobby/game/comic store.😆

Okay now with that first look teaser as the story goes on, it looks really really interesting, and I knew the question of AI versus human consciousness was gonna come into question the moment episode 1 started.

Excellent work ! The Gatlin looks wicked.

I’m not gonna say it was as great as Alien, but definitely a great movie with an original story

If you want, I think I still have a second Woodland Camo GBP armor set somewhere in my storage. I'll have to go look for it.

Yeah I think it came out around the same time as Alien.

Great job! Red combo looks good. That rotating gatling gun is esp. cool

That brings up some old memories of when sci fi had original ideas and would take risks

When something costs more, sometimes people fall into the notion that it's the best due to the higher price, while at times it really isn't.

Sorry to hear that. But it has been for sale on the sale section of this forum for almost three months 😞In any case, if you want, i still have a Yamato VF-1A 1/48 low vis 2.0 camouflage for sale.