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mikeszekely

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Everything posted by mikeszekely

  1. mikeszekely
    Would some of the sculpted detail look better if you tried panel lining it?
  2. mikeszekely
    So we've got Leader-1, Cy-Kill, and Turbo. Just need Scooter, Coptur, and Crasher...
  3. mikeszekely
    Behind the gray jacket guy's neck? A little tuft of blue?
  4. mikeszekely
    If you have Netflix, why not? It's not like it's going to cost you anything (extra). You can always quit if you don't like it.
  5. mikeszekely
    Hmm. So far I still have just the two, but I was planning on buying two more this month. I hope my luck is as good as yours...
  6. mikeszekely
    You didn't have to file the parts that connect the leg to Scrapper?
  7. mikeszekely
    Saw the pilot, and I dug it. I like how it's got some sci-fi underpinnings.
  8. mikeszekely
    A lot of people like TW's Constructions because they're fairly accurate, appropriately sized bits that turn into very big, G1 toy-accurate vehicles that combine into a gigantic, insanely articulate OX-style Devy. Be warned, however, that they were also plagued with a variety of QC problems that have the set's staunchest defenders chewing out ToyWorld's account at TFW.
  9. mikeszekely
    This, exactly. Capcom used to be one of my favorite developers, but I can't even remember the last time I bought a Capcom game that wasn't yet another re-release of Mega Man. Well, E3 hasn't exactly wowed me yet. VR's starting to get interesting, but not enough for me to commit to a particular VR platform yet. EA was either stuff I already knew about, or stuff I don't care about. Ubi was a snooze fest. The most interesting thing out of MS was PC/Xbox One cross-buy. I'd say Sony had the best showing so far in terms of games I didn't know about but actually want to play.
  10. mikeszekely
    Yeah, I think I've gotten pretty lucky with the Function-X line in general. Not counting shipping, I've yet to pay over $60 for any of them, and I've technically bought five of them now (M.A.D.L.A.W. is in my TFSource stack, and I'm waiting for Quadruple U to ship). But Smart Robin seems like the best deal I've gotten, since he's usually between $70-$100 on Ebay with just the one head. Which makes me really happy, but I think overall underscores my point about Generations Brainstorm being good enough for most people at a much lower price. FWIW, have you looked at the Reprolabel set for Smart Robin? There's a special sticker in the set that gives him a faceplate. It's not as nice as the actual faceplated head, but it's a lot cheaper.
  11. mikeszekely
    Why not the red one?
  12. mikeszekely
    Yeah, I really love both his and Code's transformations. And I don't mean to sound negative on him, because he's an awesome figure in a vacuum. It's just that we're not in a vacuum, and I think that Generations Brainstorm is good enough for most people at (optimistically) a third of the price.
  13. mikeszekely
    Well, I finally caved on GB3, since I was a big fan of the first two and I moved my PS4 out of the entertainment center and into my room so I can play after my daughter goes to bed. Even though I thought the first two were fine as an English-speaker with limited Japanese skills, I got the Asian version with English menus and subtitles. I'm still pretty early in the game. Overall, it's less changed from GB2 than 2 was from the first one. It does look a little nicer on the PS4 and that does make it pretty easy to dive right back in, but there's a "been there, done that" cloud hanging over the game. I'll say that a part's level matters more than what the part is, even more so than in GB2. I know that was one of the changes they tried to make in 2... you were pretty much shoehorned into using certain parts because they were just better. GB2 tried to make it so that level mattered, so if you wanted to keep rocking that Zaku head you could just level it up, but in practice it just meant that some leveled-up parts were better than other parts at the same level. Not so in GB3. A level 1 RX-78 torso has the same stats as a level 1 RX-178 torso, so you really can use whatever parts give you your favorite look. Some parts to have abilities, though, that make make them better. However, if you merge them with other parts, the other parts might inherit those abilities. The other big change are build parts, which aren't available at the start. These work a little like the items you could equip in GB and GB2, but they also mod your look. For example, you don't just equip a sturmfaust in an item slot. Now, you would actually mount it on your Gunpla's leg. If you're not a fan of those parts messing up your Gunpla's look, don't worry. You can use other, internal build parts like special polycaps to give your stats a boost. If you've never played a Gundam Breaker game, GB3 is a good place to start. It's still fun to build a gunpla with the parts you collect and paint it the way you want it to look, and the core gameplay is still a fun but repetitive hack-n-slash affair. If you played a lot of the first two, though, GB3 feels more like GB2.5 than a meaningful step forward.
  14. mikeszekely
    Did some late night Ebaying. Wound up snagging a used Fansproject Function-X3 Smart Robin, aka Brainstorm. I was pretty excited to review this guy... I got Sigma L because I really liked Fansproject's vampiric re-imagining of Mindwipe, and Code because he seemed like a good price and I wanted to try another one. But Brainstorm was the only Autobot Headmaster I had as a kid, and he was always my favorite. So let's jump right in. Aesthetically, he's much more G1 than the Generations version from awhile back. This can be a blessing if G1 is what you're looking for, but as much as I loved the Brainstorm of my youth I'm a huge fan of the mad scientist version in IDW's More Than Meets the Eye, which the Generations one takes his cues from. One thing worth noting about Smart Robin is how well he hides his jet mode, especially from the front. He's missing the G1 wings on his shoulders, but he's still a very good match for G1 Brainstorm. Even his back cleans up well, although from that side you can see where some jet mode parts are hiding. "But Mike!" you say, "Brainstorm had a mouth plate! What's up with this face on Smart Robin?" Well, for whatever reason he was animated with a face in the Japanese Headmasters cartoon, Fansproject is (I'm pretty sure) Japanese, and that's the look they went for. Fansproject didn't leave American/toy fans high and dry, though. Fansproject sells a masked face exclusively through their store for $20-$30, depending on whether or not you're a FP Core member. Fortunately, the seller I bought from already had and including the masked face, making me think I got a pretty good deal for $60. And the masked face is Brainstorm exactly how I remembered him. I actually like the sculpt of Fansproject's heads a lot better than Has/Tak's. There's not a ton of difference between the heads in their little robot modes. The masked face has lighter eyes and darker grays on his knees and abdomen. Both heads have the FP gimmick of having the forehead cover up the eyes in this mode. Articulation on the heads isn't great, and the same as the other heads in the Function-X line: shoulders can rotate, his can bend forward and a tiny shade backward, and the knees can bend. One advantage they've got over the Has/Tak head, aside from the knees, is that legs can move independently and aren't pinned together at the knee. Well, masked face in hand, mouthed face goes back in the box. While Smart Robin is much smaller than the Voyager-class Brainstorm, he scales just fine with fellow Function-X member Code. Now that I have three of them, though, I'm wondering if Sigma L is the odd Voayger-ish sized bot out? I guess I'll see after I get Quadruple U, who should arrive sometime next week. I'm sorry to report that Smart Robin suffers from the same limited shoulder articulation and lack of wrist swivels that plagued Code. While his shoulders are on ball joints, they're just not cut out enough and his lateral movement is negligible. He does have bicep swivels and double-jointed elbows, which is nice and all... but so does the Hasbro version. Similarly, the head plugs on the same sort of rotating disc we saw on Code, so he can turn his head, but it lacks the swiveling part so he's got no up/down tilt. Since Hasbro Brainstorm's head guy has neck rotation that doubled as Brainstorm's, again we find that Smart Robin's no better than Brainstorm. Worse, actually, because Brainstorm has better lateral shoulder movement. Things do improve on the lower half of the figure, though. His ball-jointed hips can swing all the way forward and back, and while he can't do the splits he can spread his legs much wider than Code. He's also got thigh swivels and knees that can bend well past 90 degrees. And while he doesn't have true ankle tilt, the front half of his foot is on a ball joint that, combined with a hinge, gives him his foot a good downward point, his toes can point up a bit, and the front half of his foot can rotate on the peg to give the impression of ankle tilt. Oh, and one thing he definitely has Generations Brainstorm... a waist swivel. That's right, without that huge alt nose on his back he can turn at the hips- all the way around, in fact. Speaking of his alt mode, it's again more G1 than Generations Brainstorm. Honestly, I think he cleans up nicer and does a better job hiding his robot bits, too. My only small complaint is that I wish the barrels of his guns came out past the nose a bit more, but that's pretty small potatoes. You'll notice that, while still smaller than Brainstorm, the size discrepancy isn't as pronounced in jet modes. This is because he's got a lot more alt nose than he was wearing on his back. Like Code, he's got a pretty ingenious transformation that has a lot of his fuselage stuff up inside his torso. Well, it's a little tougher to recommend Smart Robin than his Function-X linemates. Fansproject went with a very thematic, very un-G1 look for Sigma L that I think paid off and gave him a ton of character. And Code's clever transformation seemed to make up for his shortcomings more since there wasn't another Chromedome toy to compare him too (at least, not in that scale). That's not the case for Smart Robin. Hasbro gave us a pretty good Brainstorm already, and while I feel comfortable telling you that Smart Robin is better, I don't know that he's triple or more the cost better, especially if you're into Nick Roche's MTMtE designs. I'd say if you have other Function-X releases Smart Robin has the same feel and you won't be disappointed if you pick him up, but if all you want is a Brainstorm for a Lost Light shelf you can probably save some money and get the Generations version.
  15. mikeszekely
    I can't really say if he's good or not, but I have absolutely zero interest in him.
  16. mikeszekely
    Painted or not, MP Inferno's legs still look boring, and I still think striving to look like a Sunbow animation model is a mistake. IF I were collecting MPs, I'd probably go with MMC for Inferno and Maketoys for Grapple. Takara needs to go back to the drawing board. I don't think they've released an MP I've liked since Wheeljack. Which brings me to Thrust. He was my favorite of the coneheads back in the day, and I get that having his wings sort of hang out on the backs of his legs is both 'toon and toy accurate... but I hate it. Flipping them around the way the Game of Decepticons set did looks so much better that, again, if I were into MP I'd probably go with the iGear.
  17. mikeszekely
    Well, maybe I misheard. I knew KO Sideswipe had since paint issues, but heard they were no worse than the Takara's, and I heard that KO Tracks paint issues were much worse than seems to be your experience.
  18. mikeszekely
    Don't misunderstand; I was only speaking of KOs. When I say "the original Sideswipe was supposed to be flawless" I mean the KO of the first MP car, not the first run of Takara Sideswipes. I meant to inform that the KO of Sideswipe is well-regarded, while KOs of more recent cars have serious issues.
  19. mikeszekely
    So, that purple bit that's on Concrete's cab/leg? I know there was some discussion that you can twist it around so that, if you put a Decepticon symbol on it, it's not upside-down in bot mode. Well, it turns that not only does it rotate, it's actually just on a peg. If you can work a nail/spunger/flathead screwdriver/knife tip under it, you can actually pop it off, revealing a peg hole identical to the other side and allowing him to arm up with both his gun and the combined-mode gun in alt mode.
  20. mikeszekely
    The purple that shows on tank mode? I like Gewalt, but he's too big for me. I heard his jet mode is as long as Ordin is tall. (And he's not a combiner... )
  21. mikeszekely
    I do all the RGs (even if my Wing is still sitting in the box), so I'm in even if I do consider the HGUC the highlight of my Gunpla collection. Not preordering though. I'll get it some time after release.
  22. mikeszekely
    Good to know. Right now they have the HG decals for preorder; the MG labels are still listed as "long sold out." But maybe they'll get a re-release later? I'll keep an eye. That wouldn't be a bad suggestion, but I'm interested in markings that are specific to Sinanju. See, I got one of those Lunar White Xbox One controllers. Not a fan of the gold d-pad on an otherwise black-and-white controller. So took it apart and swapped the d-pad with a standard black controller... but while I had the controllers apart I painted the black faceplate with the same paint I used on my HGUC Sinanju. The now black, red, and gold controller reminds me of Sinanju, so I was hoping I could get some markings like a Neo Zeon emblem and the 10S that goes on the skirt to really make it a Sinanju controller.
  23. mikeszekely
    No personal experience, but from what I understand it varies wildly. The original Sideswipe was supposed to be flawless, Wheeljack and Prowl's paint wasn't as neat but was pretty close. Blue Bluestreak and/or Smokescreen were a hot mess. Not sure about G2 Sideswipe, but it might be worth rolling the dice on, especially if it's the one you're leaving in alt mode. If there's paint issues, you could probably touch it up yourself.
  24. mikeszekely
    That's good advice, although I think it's becoming clear to me with a handful of Hasbro MPs and a box full of CHUGs in the closet that combiners really are my thing. In fact, I'd quit collecting Transformers entirely; it was Combiner Wars that brought me back, and the sorts of improvements you expect from something that costs 5x as much that's drawn me to 3P. Plus, there are things I really like about different versions. TFC's Prometheus is a great example... as a combined Defensor, I think even the Combiner Wars version looks better, and Guardia will blow him out of the water. But... I really like TFC's alt-modes for their Streetwise and First Aid. Then there's stuff like GT's Devastator, that looks really good all-around, but whose individual Constructicons maybe don't look as good as ToyWorld's. And sure, there's duds. Heck, I already have Uranos, who's been pretty widely-panned. I just think there's value in comparing different versions and making up my mind about them for myself. In any case, my original plan stays. First get one of every combiner from US G1, then the Japanese G1, then combiners who weren't traditionally combiners. I've got a way to go before I can start doing doubles. As for making videos... yeah, it's a whole order of magnitude above writing a review, and I'd be entering a pretty crowded arena. Thing is... I have several combiners (and opinions on them) already, so I'm not lacking for material. Writing reviews has also given me a clearer idea of what I want to focus on (aesthetics, articulation, accessories, a definitive recommendation or not) and what I'm content to leave for others (transformation, packaging). As a stay-at-home dad, I have time to write while my daughter's playing, I'll have space to shoot when I clean up downstairs, and I have maybe half the equipment. And I guess I don't have to own every combiner (although, as mentioned, there are definitely some sets I want even though I already have a version of them). I could always sell off the versions I don't like as much, or maybe I'll start networking at cons and people will let me use their copies, as seems to be the case with Bobby Skullface sometimes. And that's one of the best reasons to do it. There are a ton of reviewers out there, but not a ton who do direct comparisons (John Garringer is the only one I know of). I write reviews because I want to share my experience, and I think taking it to YouTube could reach more people. I just hope focusing on the combining gimmick will help set me apart from established guys like peaugh, emgo, or Skullface. Because, that's the other thing... I might only get a token amount from ad revenue, but as far as my wonderfully-understanding-but-not-super-keen-on-funding-my-hobby wife is concerned anything is better than nothing. But seriously, you guys, thanks for the advice, support, and especially the kind words on the written reviews I've left here. It really means alot to me.
  25. mikeszekely
    Speaking of Sinanju, does anyone have any extra decals for one, like maybe if you guy the waterslides for the MG and didn't use the decals it came with? Could use some for a project.
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