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Scyla

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  1. Scyla

    Hi-Metal R

    Scyla replied to joppewo's topic in Toys

    That is highly dependent on your country. I've encountered four scenarios so far: The shop marked down the item price so it is below the amount where you have to pay sales taxes and import fees. Then the item will be shipped to your address without any issues. This results in other problems such as insurance because you it is only insured for the value of the package printed on it. The correct amount is given and it is over the threshold for taxes and fees. If everything is correctly declared customs will handle the paper work and the package will be handed over to your national package carrier. You then get an invoice with the package and you have to pay the delivery man the amount stated on the invoice The third scenario I've encountered only happens when you get a delivery from FedEx. Is the same as in example 2 the only difference being that you don't have to pay the invoice right away. You can just transfer the amount from your bank account in the next few days. Downside of this is that FedEx adds a handling fee to their invoice so you have to pay an additional 5% of the package value if I remember correctly. The fourth scenario kicks in if customs thinks something is not right with the package. This could have multiple reasons like missing shipping fees (you have to pay tax for them also), customs unable to handle Yen currency etc. etc. If this is the case you will get a letter form customs that they have a package from you and some data is missing. Usually it is enough to send them the bill from the shop where you ordered from since it states all they need. Sometimes they also want to know what is inside the package (I usually state plastic toys). Then they will do the paper work for you and hand it over to your national carrier. The rest is the same as in scenario 2. Somethings you also have to go to the next customs office to pick up you package personally. I sometimes do this since my local customs office isn't that far away and I don't need to worry about my local carrier not being able to deliver the package and send it back to the retailer, misplace the package or don't inform me that a package has arrived and just dump it into their next storage facility (all this happened several times to me). One good advice is to keep an eye on the package tracking so you know what the package does. If it stated as out for delivery and you don't receive a notice form the delivery man this means two things. Customs caught the package and they delivered it to the customs office or they misplaced the package. The latter means to take action by yourself to retrieve the package. As I said this is highly depending on your country. If you don't have a trustworthy/capable local package carrier or customs it can be quite an adventure. Also the amount of sales tax and customs fee varies from country to country. For example I have to pay 20% sales tax as well as 5-8% customs fees which is a significant amount of money (imagine getting a package worth $1000 and you have to pay $250 on top). However I've read that this amount can be much higher in other parts of the world (for example 50% of the package value). This usually happens if there are some sort of protective duties on good from other countries. Hope that helps happy shopping.
  2. Scyla
    I really enjoy being able to listen to your thoughts shortly after I've watched the new episode. It is hard to take part in the discussion thread on the boards because I have to read through pages and pages of spoiler-tagged content which I often chose not to so your podcast is greatly appreciated.
  3. Scyla
    I have the Sinanju, Destroy Unicorn and Banshee Norn on display and missing the Kshatriya. Now I wonder if I need the suits in Unicorn mode. I think out of all the Unicorns out there the Robot Damashii versions did the Destroy-Mode the best. in the other (transformable) version it always looks too skinny for my likings.
  4. Scyla
    I HAVE OPINIONS!!!! The version of Terminus Hexatron I own is the Continuum release with more paint applications, the more G1 styled head, chest wings and guns. I also ordered the set of gladiator swords he had in the comics as well as the eness die-cast recasts of his Katana swords and sheaths that came with originally. Since the ridges seem to be so much of a concern I would go with the Continuum release since the thick layer of paint on the legs and shoulder spikes tone down the hard angles of the sculpting a fair bit. The black Shadow Emissary release might also be interesting since the black paint also won't highlight the ridges that much. To the toy itself has some issues. The hind legs in wolf mode are really lacking both in looks and articulation since they don't have dedicated joints for posing and are just the robot legs backwards. The fact that the panels inside his legs don't fold down 180 degrees is baffling to me. Some of the modes are not really convincing. I think lasergun (both as G1 gun and Reformatted gun), space-fighter and boat are the the best (besides the robot). Now the robot itself is good but I'd wish for double jointed elbows. He doesn't have much kibble that doesn't belong to a Sixshot (besides the panels on the inside of his legs there are some additional parts on the back of his elbows). What makes the toy stand out along other robots is the handfeel and the engineering. The toy is hefty without being too heavy. He is all plastic so all his parts are made out of a dense material which feels good while handing the toy. There are some clever engineering parts during transformation like the way the shoulders transform. Even if he is a six-changer the transformation follows logic steps and is fairly intuitive. Some parts are a bit finicky but that involves mainly the two rings in his waist for storing the weapons which you don't have to mess with if you go with the Continuum or Shadow Emissary version. I like him a lot but there are definitely spots in his design where you can see his age. I would still recommend him or one of his variants since it is the best six-changer out there.
  5. Scyla
    Which is understandable because you get two toys in one. A white Blackbird toy and a box that forms into a robot. You can even display them besides each other.
  6. Scyla
    Love the YF-30/VF-31-ish usage of the missile pod.
  7. Scyla
    Thanks for the heads up. I missed it the first time and now got a preorder in.
  8. Scyla
    My YF-29 will be in the Space Wercenary Squad....
  9. Scyla

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    Scyla replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    I really like the shoulder cannon in Gerwalk-Mode. I wonder if it is possible to have it as a shoulder cannon in Battroid-Mode also. Imagine a Valkyrie with sword and shield and a massive BFG on its shoulder.
  10. Scyla

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    Scyla replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    So the question would be if the Bogue machine is different from the regular Draken other than paint scheme. I'm probably in for three if they have molding differences.
  11. Scyla

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    Scyla replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    I think the DX toys don't use a lot of die-cast. I think the only areas besides joints and construction are the feet and the shoulder blocks. They are fairly similar to the Arcadia Valkyries I think. Not nearly as bad as the Yamato V1 VF-1 where the whole leg was a chunky block of metal. [edit:] I think that the V2 VF-1 from Yamcadia would benefit from die cast feet. I don't like the feel when extending the ankles on those toys.
  12. Scyla
    From looking at reviews of Hades it seems that they really improved from Ares but they still look and handle like big chunky retail toy. However they are lacking a sense of smoothness compared to retail Transformers. If your into that this is great however it is not for me.
  13. Scyla
    It looks similar however I don't think they are the same. You can compare them on the Macross Mecha Manual: VF-17: http://www.macross2.net/m3/macross7/vf-17s-nightmare.htm VF-171: http://www.macross2.net/m3/macrossf/vf-171.htm For a more in depth analysis you have to ask a different board member.
  14. Scyla
    It does: source: http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=34315&p=902911
  15. Scyla
    Great news my Seraphicus Prominion will also be available soon. [edit:] It seems like it is TFCs hidden agenda to make toys HasTak would make if they hadn't adhere to a budget and still would design toys in the Unicron trilogy style.
  16. Scyla
    I like the idea behind the rotation joint in the legs. The execution not so much...
  17. Scyla
    Is it common practice to hoard small replacement pieces and sell them with a mark-up on ebay? I guess I'm spoiled by some of the 3rd party companies that send you replacement pieces for their toys free of charge from China. Of course the can do this because they are not multi billion dollar companies with millions of customers but still I want some customer support! I've also sent a ticket to NY hoping that they will consider offering replacement parts if enough people request them.
  18. Scyla
    I think it was stated when Yamato went under that Arcadia was able to buy the molds starting with the V2 VF-1 from them. This would exclude the SV-51 I believe.
  19. Scyla
    I really hope Bandai considers a DX toy based on the Elysion. I love how the carrier is able to transform on its own and keeps my hopes up that the Elysion will look different transformed than the Quarter.
  20. Scyla
    Great episode. The thing with Hayate not wearing a helmet is dumb. I guess you have to show off those pretty boys to the female audience. [edit:] Quick question for those in the know. Does Walkrure sing "Welcome to Walkrure" or "Welcome to Walkrure World" when they start their stage show. The subs I watched suggested the latter.
  21. Scyla
    Too bad I bought the YF-29 from NY so I guess I'm out of luck. Is there anyway for someone not living in Japan to get the replacement parts? Maybe I can get a replacement piece for $100 from YAJ. I also have to as why for this and not for the VF-171 CF shoulder blocks. This is purely cosmetic. With the VF-171 it was damaging the functionality of the whole toy. In addition they just could add new shoulder blocks to the Armored Parts later on to solve this issue easily. Well enough of the rambling. Better late customer support than never. I'm glad for the people who have this issue and are able to get a replacement part.
  22. Scyla
    I haven't seen episode 4 yet but does the Elysion has hands in the arms like the Macross Quarter or just pegs for the ARMD like the SDF-1?
  23. Scyla
    I think you should focus on Code, U^4 and Smart Robin for now. After that the line took a few steps in being these awesome transforming toys that do incredible stuff you never (or rarely) have seen on a transforming toy to just regular transformers. Sigma L is neat but Madlaw is a trashy looking robots in all other modes that doesn't resemble anything and has parts that don't work at all (like the hind legs on the animal mode) and Crox is just a transforming toy. Browning II is not out jet so maybe they are back up. I think Smart Robin is the best of the bunch. On other news I'm super hyped for MMCs Backdraft which should be out early May. I just wish they kept the Portland Fire Department printings on the side panels and the insignias on the doors that it would be a perfect toy for me (final verdict after I actually have him in hand). I think he would have benefited from a bit more white bits and less chrome/silver paint but he still looks stunning. When looking at the discussion thread over at TFW I'm surprised how many people seem to be ladder fetishists. Ladder not long enough, ladder has to rotate, etc. I guess I have to put ladders next to light-up features, sound and large toys (for the sake of being large) on my list of feature where I don't get why people dig them.
  24. Scyla
    ...but they never have the right size for actual faction symbols.
  25. Scyla
    It is usually unproblematic when everything is ok with your order. Once you need customer support it might get a bit tricky. They are also not amused when you cancel preorders all to often. They send fast, well protected and I never had a problem with them. However I was also never dependent on their customer support. Prices are roughly the same as with HLJ since shipping is often cheaper with HLJ. Don't be fooled by their "high" discounts. They calculate their discount with the Japanese sales tax on top. So their calculation (fantasy numbers) is: 800 Yen item + 200 Yen tax = 1000 Yen so 30% preorder discount = 700 Yen Where other shops calculate like this: 800 Yen item with 20% preorder discount = 640 Yen Actual examples: http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?scode=FIGURE-018894&rank= http://hlj.com/product/kbypp-649 Japanese shops don't have to pay the Japanese sales tax when they are shipping it outside their country so this might be a bit misleading. They are still cheaper when it comes to the item but usually this is offset by the higher shipping rates. IIRC they allow to combine all orders in one month together but they don't have something like the Private Warehouse/Pile of Loot/Roller Stash. If you live in a country where you have to pay customs fees and local sales taxes if you import stuff the amiami packages will get caught by customs 100% of the time (at least in my country) so this might also factor in your shopping preferences. They also include a little note to thank you for your purchase (not handwritten but an nice gesture). If I got anything wrong please feel free to correct me.
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