treatment

Bandai still really refusing to bundle the FPU and Reaction Missiles to complete it, huh?

Well, best opton right now is to just wait for it to show up on Amzn-US.

Then wait a bit more for the inevitable amzn-discounting to try to move it...

47 minutes ago, mikeszekely said:

Huh, I tried to remove the one in my copy but it seems stuck.

Hopefully it could be just a little bit pressed tightly on your copy. 

1 hour ago, mikeszekely said:

The truck itself could almost be mistaken for the G1 toy from most angles, as the most obvious difference from the back and sides is that the Autobot insignia on the sides is tampoed instead of stickered.  Likewise, the stickers on the toes are now molded into the feet and painted.  From the front, though, there's a bit more going on.  The translucent plastic on the windows seems a bit more yellow, but I think that's less to do with the actual translucent plastic and more to do with the new stuff behind it being more reflective.  There's no cutouts on his bumper, and his headlights are a bit smaller and lack the peg holes in the middle.

About that reflective bit... the front of the cab can still fold open, but the little Dialcone seats (that were useful for storing the original toy's fists) have been replaced by a new chunk of large chrome plastic.  That's where the new Matrix accessory can be plugged in.  Not gonna lie, I'd have been pretty into it if the G1 toy were reissued with a piece like that and a Matrix back in 1986 after the movie came out.

The Missing Link's Matrix chamber/housing is designed to be easily removable,  so you can get the seats back.  I removed mine since I don't like the Matrix and I got some Dianauts and pilots I can use as driver/passenger...

1 hour ago, mikeszekely said:

Of course, I don't think anyone is buying Missing Link Convoy for the truck.  After all, they're nearly the same except the original can launch Roller but the new one has a detachable repair drone.  The star of the show is the robot mode... which, at a glance appears mostly the same.  You'll quickly notice that, as I mentioned with the truck mode, that the Autobot insignias on his shoulders are tampoed, and the sticker details on the arms, knees, and toes are now actually molded onto the plastic and painted.  Other than that, the biggest difference is the the hands, which are are bit closer to something you might see on a modern Generations figure than the bulbous mitts with lipped 5mm ports that the original came with.  Unlike the original toy, these hands do no partsform or plug into the headlights.  Instead, they fold inward, which causes the headlights to fold out from inside Convoy's forearms.

Not much difference besides the hands on the sides.  You can see a little difference in the waist/pelvis area, though.  Most noticeably, there's a tiny peg hole for a flight stand on Missing Link Convoy.

A Matrix, a revised rifle, an axe, and hands that don't partsform are all well and good, but they hardly represent a "missing link" between the G1 toys and modern Transformers.  No, if there's on thing even the harshest critic of modern Transformers has to admit, it's that the modern toys have far greater articulation than the borderline bricks of the '80s.  Heck, the original G1 Optimus toy could swivel his shoulders 180 degrees, he had a backward butterfly, he had bicep swivels, he could bend his elbows 90 degrees, swivel his wrists, bend his hips back 90 degrees, bend his knees 90 degrees, and bend his feet down, and that put him miles ahead of later G1 figures like Hot Rod, who could do nothing but bend his elbows.  So that's what the "missing link" thing is supposed to be- the form and aesthetics of the original toy, but with modern articulation.  Missing Link Convoy's head swivels.  His shoulders can still swivel and have that backward butterfly, but they also can move laterally 90 degrees.  And additional hinge on the inside of the swivel will let you extend his arms even further.  His biceps and wrists still swivel, but his hands also can bend inward, and his fingers are hinged so he can open his hands.  His elbows bend 90 degrees laterally.  He's got an uncomfortably tight and fairly limited ab crunch.  The tires that are on his hips are hinged so they can get out of the way, allowing you to access a limited waist swivel below his bumper.  His hips can still go 90 degrees backward, but they can now also move almost 90 degrees forward or laterally.  His thighs swivel now.  His knees, which are ratcheted now, can hyperextend a click, and bend over 90 degrees.  His feet still tilt down due to transformation, but not up, while the front of his foot is now on a swivel to give him a faux ankle pivot.  All-in-all, it's articulation that wouldn't be particularly remarkable on most modern Transformers figures, but it's far more than the original toy, and it's kind of neat seeing what appears to be the G1 toy in these more dynamic poses.  The thing is, though, I'm not sure how far this gimmick can actually go.  To me, the appeal of owning a G1 figure is having the toy I remember playing with 40 years ago.  If it's a reissue, that's fine, but I want it to be as close as possible to the original.  With new molded detail, tampographs, accessories, and a ton more articulation that isn't what Missing Link Convoy is.  But on the other hand, if I buy a modern toy with modern articulation, I also want modern aesthetics that go harder into the Sunbow models.  For all the modern articulation, Missing Link Convoy still has all the G1 jank aesthetics left over from his Diaclone origins.  And I think that's where I'm starting to run into trouble.  As a one-off figure, Missing Link Convoy is a very neat experiment in taking what is essentially the G1 toy with it's weird proportions and most of it's gimmicks but allowing you to pose it the way you imagined it in your head as a kid.  But it's kind of like this... am I willing to rebuy a bunch of G1 toys, or nearly-identical reissues?  Yes.  Am I willing to buy all those G1 characters in modern toys with modern articulation and aesthetics?  Yes again.  But am I willing to invest in a third line of toys that look mostly like the G1 toys I had but clearly aren't the toys from 40 years ago because these ones actually have articulation?  Honestly, probably not. 

So, yeah, I like Missing Link Convoy.  I think, if you grew up with the G1 toy there's a lot of nostalgia here, and because it's Prime I think it's worth checking him out and seeing what an articulated version of that most classic of toys is like.  But I'm not exactly clamoring to see what might be next for Missing Link, and I don't think I'd want to buy a Missing Link Ironhide or something the way some people seem to.  Heck, this wasn't even my favorite Optimus I got today...

also, thigh-rotation and stuff...

On 4/22/2024 at 8:42 PM, treatment said:

HLJ re-opens pre-ordering for the Arcadia 1/60 Roy and Hikaru Strike VF-1S (both non-PF), as of this posting:

 

Arcadia 1/60 Strike Roy (non-PF):  https://www.hlj.com/1-60-scale-completely-transformed-vf-1s-strike-valkyrie-roy-focker-special-movie-ver-aca82166

 

Arcadia 1/60 Strike Hikaru (non-PF): https://www.hlj.com/1-60-scale-complete-transformation-vf-1s-strike-valkyrie-hikaru-ichijo-boarding-machine-movie-ver-reissue-aca82131-2#

 

update/edit:

now on Order Stop status again as of this update/edit:

If you missed out again, try ordering them again during scheduled release-date...

 

 

fyi

new release date schedule for both is 8/24, per   https://arcadia.ac/user_data/news

fyi.

https://arcadia.ac/user_data/news

fyi.

https://arcadia.ac/user_data/news

5 minutes ago, Chronocidal said:

Just saw this pop up on my Amazon page, probably brings it closer in line with the import price, if not even lower.

https://www.amazon.com/TAMASHII-NATIONS-Frontier-Valkyrie-Chogokin/dp/B0BGR4Z27D/ref=pd_rhf_se_s_bmx_gp_oa5mc7io_d_sccl_1_3/145-2860478-7794866?pd_rd_w=eoaM7&content-id=amzn1.sym.cb7b1ced-6cd6-4a13-a63d-cb1faaf99eb2&pf_rd_p=cb7b1ced-6cd6-4a13-a63d-cb1faaf99eb2&pf_rd_r=9R504FQXR1W7BYW90VV3&pd_rd_wg=3rUWp&pd_rd_r=749463a1-3c6a-466c-a50f-27b34ab31da5&pd_rd_i=B0BGR4Z27D&psc=1

 

we're browsing at the same time, lol!

Anyway, other current DX deals on amzn:

fyi.

As of this posting:

US$ 173

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTH7S446

Other Bandai DX deals on amzn with the snapshot...

Just noticed from TD-forum:

https://bbs.toysdaily.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=471404&pid=8214507

sample:

TC looks a bit slimmer than the regular grunt.

As such, Bandai's still a such d*ck for making TC a pbandai-only item.

fyi.

Megahouse Variable Action Hi-Spec Orguss reissue preorder open at hlj as of this posting:

https://www.hlj.com/variable-action-hi-spec-orguss-reissue-meg83759#

reposting here in case it got lost in the PO-thread.

HLJ re-opens pre-ordering for the Arcadia 1/60 Roy and Hikaru Strike VF-1S (both non-PF), as of this posting:

Arcadia 1/60 Strike Roy (non-PF):  https://www.hlj.com/1-60-scale-completely-transformed-vf-1s-strike-valkyrie-roy-focker-special-movie-ver-aca82166

Arcadia 1/60 Strike Hikaru (non-PF): https://www.hlj.com/1-60-scale-complete-transformation-vf-1s-strike-valkyrie-hikaru-ichijo-boarding-machine-movie-ver-reissue-aca82131-2#

update/edit:

now on Order Stop status again as of this update/edit:

If you missed out again, try ordering them again during scheduled release-date...

HLJ re-opens pre-ordering for the Arcadia 1/60 Roy and Hikaru Strike VF-1S (both non-PF), as of this posting:

Arcadia 1/60 Strike Roy (non-PF):  https://www.hlj.com/1-60-scale-completely-transformed-vf-1s-strike-valkyrie-roy-focker-special-movie-ver-aca82166

Arcadia 1/60 Strike Hikaru (non-PF): https://www.hlj.com/1-60-scale-complete-transformation-vf-1s-strike-valkyrie-hikaru-ichijo-boarding-machine-movie-ver-reissue-aca82131-2#

update/edit:

now on Order Stop status again as of this update/edit:

If you missed out again, try ordering them again during scheduled release-date...

On 3/13/2024 at 8:47 AM, treatment said:

fyi.

(web-translated):

 

The webform to fill out is below that message at:

 

https://form.bushiroad.com/form/macross_si-ws0314

 

You will need a browser that will auto-translate the fields to english (or any non-japanese) for you.

 

 

Welp!

Bushiroad Delivers!

Received today:

Check your mail if you had completed and submitted the Bushiroad form to get the missing cards.

12 minutes ago, jenius said:

Does anyone know of a website that documents old Votoms releases? I would like to go back and clean-up my scopedog posts and contain some historical information like release dates and prices. 

Does anyone own this Votoms Toy Collection book 

https://www.hlj.com/armored-trooper-votoms-real-toy-collection-mdw23728

I'm curious if it has a bunch of the data I would like in one easy spot. If I could confirm that I would be happy to grab a secondhand copy somewhere. 

Try this site:  https://timeldred.com/vintagevotomsproducts/

wotafa's...

retro-reviews from MarkH:

so a little update on this game since I'm still playing it:

• beat VF-1S Max with Hikaru several times in the Ace Battle to unlock all DYRL cards, I guess.
• I beat Max a couple of times with Shin/VF-0A, too.
• Completed Story-mode again with Shin and Isamu, unlocking Nora and Guld in the Ace Battle.
• Nora was easy with Shin. Beat her several times already.
• Isamu's YF-19 is just so weak against the YF-21. Haven't won against it.
• in contrast, Hikaru's VF-1S easily made minced meat of the YF-21.

Currently going thru Story-mode again with Gamlin and will use Hayate and Alto afterwards. 

All just to unlock the other remaining Aces  (Gigil? ,  Messer/Keith?, and Brera).

On 4/12/2024 at 10:47 PM, Spark-O-Matic said:

I think KC looks better at least it has fast pack armor, but the Bandai one will likely not break if you move it around. not sure anyone really copied anything, its more of lazy imagination and not getting consumer feedback at least on one side.

 

On 4/12/2024 at 10:52 PM, Chronocidal said:

Copy or not, clear plastic has different structural properties than most others, and it tends to be much more brittle, or just fail in other unexpected ways.

The clear plastic adapter that came with my TV super packs can attest to that, as the plastic formed a stress fracture after a few hours holding the valk.  I boxed back up the stand before it could fail and dump the valk off a shelf.

hmmm.

honestly, the happywell variant was alot more interesting since it was a VF-1S and was also at least sold at walmart back in the day for around $20 or so...

picture from https://transmasters.angelfire.com/tmmag/issue7/kojetfirefortmax.html

30 minutes ago, Chronocidal said:

I do remember seeing a teaser of something like this a few months back, probably a tiny teaser attached to something related to the VT-1 release.

Otherwise.. yeah, no thanks, that's a nice chunk of money saved.  Helps me recover from the summer salvo hitting this year with the monthly releases stretching from May to probably September.  

This specific variant was shown back in November last year in TN-2023 and was posted in the main DX-thread 

https://hobby.dengeki.com/event/2147450/3/

was even copy-posted by no3Ljim :

As such, Bandai wants to charge 33k-yen and make this an "event-exlusive" by just changing the stand from clear to solid black and slapping the "Chogokin 50..." sticker on the stand.

Another "great innovation" from Bandai to augment their usual recoloring and assymetry tactics...

So, stuff I wish this game have in story-mode:

• FAST Packs (Super and Strike), GBP Armor
• Roy Focker, Guld, Max, Milia, Nora, DD pilot-selections
• VF-0S/VF-0D, YF-21/VF-22, VF-4x, VF-11b, VF-5000, YF-29/VF-29, VF-31AX valk-selections.
• Custom valk skins!

Maybe or hopefully BushiRoad will offer all or some of these as free DLCs soon...

Completed the Story Mode in Normal level using Hikaru, and here as some screenies:

Not really sure why Alto's in that Trophy pic, instead of just Hikaru and his VF-1S. Weird.

As such, the Arcade and Boss Rush gameplay options are now unlocked.

1 hour ago, Anasazi37 said:

I've wondered how much of the markup is Bandai on its own vs. some licensing thing tied to the deal between BW and HG, or maybe a bit of both. Then it makes my head hurt and I stop wondering.

You can most likely figure out how much Bandai markups is there by also considering how much their other various toy lines are costing when sold directly here in the US.

Llike how much do they charge for their DXs, SOCs, Metal/Non-Metal Robot Damasshii, SHFs, SHMAs, etc, etc., from, say, under their Bandai Spiritis page from Amazon. 

Especially even on their PBandai-US front for their Metal Builds and other exclusives.

fyi, in case it gets lost/buried in the PreOrder thread,

Amzn-US has just relisted the DX YF-21 as of this posting:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRK23S71

Amzn-US has just relisted the DX YF-21 as of this posting:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRK23S71