SDFcommander

I believe toy-wave had a preorder of USD 69 + shipping...dunno if Ken still hasnt updated his price 

EDITED oh, hes updated it to USD 80

328781[/snapback]

That is an INCREDIBLE price!

How is toy-wave? Has anyone ordered from him?

I hope he's good because I just put in my pre-order.

This is good news!

I too hope it is a perfect transformation. I really love the look of the VF-0S

I don't know about a 1/48 sized VF-0S seeing how the 1/60 VF-0 will be about the same size as a VF-1 1/48. A 1/48 VF-0S would be huge!

If they do a good job on this one and make it so you don't have to remove pieces to transform it, I will be happy with a line of 1/60 VF-0s

I too will love to see more on this as it developes.

Here are a couple of more shots of the MPC Alpha Beta.

Toynami MPC Alpha Beta

And in person, it looks more impressive! I saw it last night in person and you will definitely need to clear some space to display it

Pat S,

Great pics man! Very nice job on those stickers.

That is one decked out Shadow

It's a one robot squad I always thought of the Shadows as the Navy Seals of the RDF and your picture proves it

I just finished putting some detail on robot mode, namely on the claws, arms and some placement of extra stickers. The claws looked to plain and looked like they laked any sort of articulation. Now at lease they look like they are more poesable.

I even found a good use for a sticker to cover the sensor pod mount for other Alphas. Why Toynami did not fill this in or made it so the gun pod could fit, I don't know. Also, the extra stickers on the gun pod really turned out pretty good.

I don't see any evidence of sagging, either.

Sad to say I did have some sagging. When I tried to take the sagging out of fighter mode, the arms would separate. I didn't want to force anything. Maybe after time I will find something not sliding into place. The joints are pretty stiff. Infact, there is actually some friction at the shoulders which makes it possible for both arms to be raised!! A cool little detail that Toynami added is that they finally painted the inside of the are boosters black. I do this on all my Alphas, but it was nice they included this on the Shadow.

I wish this was true on my Scott. One arm is loose, the gun arm , but the other is OK and my Red Alpha has two good arms too.

I also found that the wings stayed in place in the back of robot mode better than my red Alpha. All in all, not too bad.

Here's one just for fun.

Wow, it's been a while since I posted, but I thought this was a special since I just got my Shadow Alpha from Twin Moons.

Here are some quick shots of my stickered up and panel lined Shadow Alpha

I really like the "low vis" sticker shhet Toynami incuded. Why they don't put pics of a stickered Shadow, I don't know The black panel lining also works well with the darker color scheme.

Anyways, no major problems here. I did notice that my cock pit is a little cloudy at the base from some glue residue but it is not so bad.

I was kind of surprised to see the Jedis knight Anakin and Obiwan start calling him "brother" instead of Padawan, considering their exchange in Ep 4 where Vader admits that Obiwan was the master and he was the learner when they last saw each other...

Maybe Lucas will go back and replace that conversation with something else.

I was thinking about that too, but even after the Jedi Knight ceremony, Anikan still calls Obiwan "Master", mabe out of repect or because Anikan does not make it to the rank of "Master Jedi"

Also, I agree about the Clone Wars DVD. It does ROCK. The video clarity alone is AWESOME not to mention the sound, it's THX after all. You pause it and you think you have the actual cell

The extras looking at how the animated the Clone Wars and bridge the gap with the movies is great along with the new Episode III game trailer which I played over and over again

And darn you X-Box owners, there is even a playable level to that cool looking Cloon Trooper FPS!

Just for fun, I laid out all my Star Wars DVDs in order from 1, 2, Clone Wars, (space for Clone Wars II and Episode III), 4, 5, 6. My wife was having a hard time visualizing how the movies all fit together.

I was pleasently surprised how well the DVD covers complement each other. They actually look like different chapters of one big volume. "Impressive. Very Impressive."

BTW

Mace is one bad dude!

Ohh, that is too awesome. You mean they already made up the design for Bumblebee, for shame, for shame

Is that Jazz on the bottom? Too cool

So much for looking at things that may never be (Come one VW and Porshe...get over it! After all, these are the GOOD guys! )

Takara, put that effort into something you can make, like...the Ultra Magnus armor/trailer!

The "real" Masterpiece Ultra Magnus!!!

TRANSFORMEABLE TRAILER FOR MP-02 ULTRA MAGNUS

Takara and Hasbro need to hire this guy!

Thanks CoryHolmes. I totally agree. I can not stop wondering how the Shadow will look all stickered up

Hopefully I will know that answer soon

*If the hands are fitted incorrectly, you will simply not be able to close the covers, and will not likely damage the hands in doing so. If the hands are folded in first, they can [and will] obstruct the mid-arm sections from collapsing into the forearms, resulting in unnecessary stress to the hands and failure of the arm units to close completely.

Hiriyu,

I agree with you. As you can see from my pic I was able to get the arms to fold in all the way too. When they did not, it was either the hands were in the way, the legs were not pushed in all the way or both.

I will definitely be getting the Shadow. I just got my Lancer Alpha and it's looking pretty good! The real gem for me however is Rook's Alpha.

I did some panel lining and applied All the sticker. I literally found a place for every sticker on the sticker sheet Alot of the detail is lost in my lighting. I hope to put some better pics up soon. The stickers and panel lining make a very big difference with the red Alpha, otherwise it ca look a little plain.

Happy to say no problems with this Alpha. Stiff arm/shoulder joints and everything!

What I did notice is that while mostly everything has been a vast improvement over the VF-1 line, it seems like the stickers have made a step down in quality. They don't seem to have the gloss and the stickiness of the stickers from the VF-1 MPCs. Has anyone else noticed this?

I was just looking at that yesterday. They had no picture up so I did not know if it was the blue or yellow. I was thinking about taking my chance but today they are all "sold out" 

The yellow Tracks is a Japanese model only. All other countries get the blue Tracks.

SWEET! CAn anyone tell me if the Alternater Tracks comes with the Flame sticker for the hood? I know the Binaltech one does.

I was just looking at that yesterday. They had no picture up so I did not know if it was the blue or yellow. I was thinking about taking my chance but today they are all "sold out"

Nice! Thanks for the tips guys. Now if I can just track down a blue Alternater Tracks.

I saw that someone in this thread made a nice looking custom to the blue Tracks which made it look like the limited edition Vette. Why Hasbro/Takara did not do this I don't know. I was just looking back at that custom sticker page and the guy has made some cool looking "Le Mans" style decals to mimic that look!

It doesn't look too bad at all; just not as faithful to the original CE stripes as I expected. It could be a lighting problem, but the gray area should be dark silver. The rear stripes should extend all the way across the trunk where the Corvette emblem overlaps it. The chest stripes are okay, but I feel they're not really necessary.

Nevertheless, Reprolabels did a good job replicating the CE stripes for Tracks. Don't know about the $14.00 price, though (I can order the decal sheet from Revell-Monogram for free + $3.00 S/H).

Here's mine for a comparison (note that this has been repainted to a darker shade of blue to follow the actual Commemorative Edition color):

You're the one!

Man, that is one cool Tracks and I can appreciate your attention to detail even more now.

The one question I have always had is how durable are the slide decals? Do you have a special coating you can use to protect them?

I saw that someone in this tread made a nice looking custom to the blue Tracks which made ot look like the limited edition Vette. Why Hasbro/Takara did not do this I don't know. I was just looking back at that custom sticker page and the guy has made some cool looking "Le Mans" style decals to mimic that look!

For larger image

Man, I don't know if I should go for the old school flame on the hood Tracks, or this more modern look. Hmmm

This guy ROCKS!!!

http://www.reprolabels.com/alt_labels.html

eriku,

Nice collection!

I have to say that Jass is one of my all time favorite characters but that plain white just did not say "Jazz" to me but check this out!

For a bigger picture:

Jazz with custom stickers

This guy makes custom stickers for G1 Transformers and Alternators to look like their G1 counter parts! AS you can see from the pics that look fantastic!

http://www.reprolabels.com/alt_labels.html

Anybody else order parts from HLJ? How long does it take to usually? The 3rd-issue VF-1S here sold out so fast, I was not able to get any for parts.

There is demand for a 4th-issue from what I'm told so hopefully that will happen within the next 2-3 months.

SDFCommander, I don't have ANY valkyrie to strip for parts this point since its completely sold out (again). If someone has any spare parts, please browse through the list and offer them up for fellow MW'ers.

Neova,

Hey thanks anyways man

These 1/48s look too good to strip for parts.

If anyone knows where I can find that part, please post or PM me.

PS

My part is for LtStick so if he gets it I'm set.

Neova,

Thanks for this thread!

I need tail fin (BP5) for a 1/48 VF-1S Focker. The part broke at the base next to the hinge. No matter what I do, I can't fix it, too much stress on the part when it transforms.

Please let me know when and where to send the $5.00

Thanks

SDFcommander

Oregon is where I live, and let me tell you I'm gonna make ALOT of money off this if she blows and alot of ash spills, than ppl are gonna be suckin out air filters from work left and right. My dad told me they said out back in Missoula in less than an hour and they had a huge supply.

However, I live pretty far from Helens, most I'd get is some ash pending on the wind. However, traffic will be such a pain in the ass that I'll probably be stuck in portland.

Not too mention it seems the Sisters are rumbling as well, with Tornados and Mountains ready to blow, maybe its the sign that doom is near......we just need one thing to complete the circle of destruction........the botox of John Kerry.

And here I thought you lived at the foot of the mountain

Most impressive!

I have just now jumped on the Binaltech/Alternator bandwagon

I have the 2003 #7 Binaltech Smokescreen and the 2003 #8 Alternator Smokescreen.

At first I was dead set on getting only Binaltechs, but I have to say, my Binaltech has really made me appreciate my Alternater more. Sure one is diecast and the other is plastic, but the molds are EXACLTY the same and NO chipping! Not to mention a cheaper price point.

I have always been a fan of Rally car driving and a big fan of the Subaru WRX STI so I got hooked on this version of Smokescreen ever since I saw him on a postcard by Dreamwave I got from last year's 2003 Comic Con. Needless to say I thought it was just a cool drawing of a Transformer and thought nothing more of it. (Naturally I had Pat Lee sign it. He's a really cool guy in person) When I found out it was actually a real toy I had to have it.

I have already added some of my personal touches of my own. One major one is coloring the vent in front of the hood scoop black and detailing the small silver vent on the roof. I see on the 2004 edition, they already did this which really adds to the over all look of the toy.

The fit and finish on these toys are AMAZING! I have had no QT issues what so ever. Believe it or not, but the Alternator Smokescreen is actually had to find here in Southern CA.

Outside of the awesome engineering to be able to actually have opening doors, hood and trunk not to metion an engine and a dash board and seats, I have been really impressed with how Takara has been able to incorporate these these natual seams such as seen in bumpers, doors, hood ect. into the actual moving parts for the transformation. This is really evident in Smokescreen. The sculpt is right on and all the seams natually fit the natural seams of the car except in the back which is understandable seeing how these are the toy's feet. I know they had change this a little for Tracks and Sideswipe, but who was the same transformation for every car.

Just about the only thing on the front of Smokescreen that clues you in that he is more than just a cool rally car are the shoulder joints above the front wheel wells.

I see on the RX8 here, Takara has even gotten rid of those. MOST impressive!

After getting and working on my Alternator and Binaltech along with finishing a commissioned 1/48 VF-1S, there is little room on my desk to do actual paper work

I'm not asking for your prayers, or your sympathy really, but I'm letting you know, that if she ever does blow in a way significant to 24 years ago too please be prepared with anything you can from filters, to water, to food.

Hikuro,

Well count on my prayers AND support. Let us know about your situation. I know myself as well as others here will help provide for your practicle needs. Hang in there man!

There's a lot of stickers that are in the instructions.  Just thought some of you might have some good ideas for the little white danger and no step signs since some of you have actually been around fighter planes. 

I can't believe how much better this alpha looks with the sticker on it.

Here is a pic of my Alpha in fighter mode. I posted it before, but if you look at the wings you can see where I put my "No Step" stickers. What you can't see are the "No Step" stickers on the white sections of the flaps.

The stickers make a big difference.

I'm going to have to post some new pics. I outlined the yellow lights on the shoulders you see here in black just like in the anime. It's a little touch that makes a big difference. It's a wonder why Toynami did not do it. Oh well.

JsARCLIGHT,

All I can say is sorry man

Hey guys,

Thanks for the tips. I was worried about straight lines so the ruler trick is an awesome idea.

connor99,

You know it man! I will be sure to post some pics!

I just got my stickers today from Tmpanime.com

What is the best way to cut them out? I was thinking about using an exacto knife to cut them off the sticker sheet and then use scissors to trim the stickers.

Any ideas?