Jump to content

M'Kyuun

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    4992

  • Joined

  • Last visited

1 Follower

About M'Kyuun

  • Birthday 07/05/1971

Contact Methods

  • Website URL
    mcquownw@hotmail.com

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Spokane, Wa
  • Interests
    Robots, especially those that transform; LEGO; sci-fi; well-engineered toys

Recent Profile Visitors

16713 profile views

M'Kyuun's Achievements

Galactic Diva

Galactic Diva (12/15)

703

Reputation

  1. M'Kyuun
    Congrats on a happy ending to your long journey! They look fantastic! 😄 Regarding restraint, it probably helps that I've very little attachment to characters beyond the first season, as I lost interest in the show once S2 devolved into whim and frivolity, losing the more focused story arc and slightly more mature tone of first season. To this day, the first is the only season of the Sunbow toon that I own or have seen in its entirety. In Bruticus' case, I always liked the alt modes the best of any of the other combiners, with Devy a close second (b/c who doesn't dig construction vehicles?!) Ha, no pun intended! The ep that introduced Devastator was kiddie crack to me: robot dinosaurs❤️ And construction vehicles❤️ AND the construction vehicle dudes can combine into a bigger more badass robot!!!!❤️❤️❤️ We take the pure awesomeness of that moment for granted now, but back then, it was mindblowing. Anyway, I can't honestly remember watching any eps featuring Bruticus (From S2 onward I'd watch an ep of Transformers occasionally just for something to do, so I'd catch S2 or 3 eps here or there. Most S3 eps were so bad I'd get up and change the channel (back before we had remotes). Had Takara done a better job with the Aerialbots' alts, I probably would have favored those guys above the rest (always did like jets), but they sucked big time, as has pretty much every incarnation since due to everybody's trying to capture the blocky-bot-under-a-plane look instead of taking a more Macross approach or just working some engineering magic to create a svelte accurate jet that somehow unfurls into a blocky bot. They manage it with just about any other vehicle alt, but for some inexplicable reason, never planes, the coolest alts of all in my heavily biased opinion. On that note, I'd like to see what MMC would do with a team of Aerialbots given their penchant towards believable alt modes. If done well, I'd maybe have to reconsider.
  2. M'Kyuun
    I think it'll be good, not great, as I'm not the biggest fan of the frame system. It lends stability, yes, but it's not faithful to the G1 toys where the bots themselves formed the limbs. That's one area for which I respect Combiner Wars, regardless of all the other deserved quibbles we might have with that line. I recently bought Magic Square's Bruticus, and that's a combiner done very well; I wish Takara/Hasbro had taken a similar approach. The all-in-one MMC approach would be even better, i.e. the best possible approach, but in a retail toy I'm more than willing to excuse large kibble-y bits to form the gestalt. Just make them what they are instead of adding additional kibble to them to make them comport into some sort of superfluous, unappealing add-on for the core bot's alt mode. On that note, I wish Newage and Magic Square would follow Newage's lead with Romulus. Both companies have made some amazing renditions of the various characters, and usually I find I prefer one company's take over the other's, and I've slowly built a tidy mixed collection. In most cases, I find these toys to be of surpassing quality next to official toys which makes me wish all the more that they would start producing them in CHUG scale. Perhaps their reluctance is what keeps them out of litigious waters, but on so many occasions I've wished for an upscaled version to fill my CHUG ranks.
  3. M'Kyuun
    So, I've got this guy coming. It shipped on 14 May and it has been sitting in customs for four days now pending delivery sometime between the 27th and the 2nd, a bit longer than usual for Showz products, especially given my geographical proximity to LAX here in WA. I'm guessing, given the trade war and subsequent difficulties placed on ports, with shipments being more sporadic, these sorts of delays are going to become commonplace. Logistics notwithstanding, this is an exciting piece for any G1 fan, as due to HG's stranglehold on the sales of VF-1 toys and likenesses here in the West, it presents a rare ability to get a modernized VF-1 Jetfire toy via a KO of Yamato's 1/60 VF-1 w/ FAST Packs. It's not 100% accurate, as the leg and FAST pack deco reflect the Macross livery rather than Jetfire's custom deco. I figured by now, with this having been announced last year, that Toyhax would have a sticker sheet to remedy those shortcomings ready to go by release, but not yet apparently. I've little doubt, however, that they'll come out with a set to address the issue. Anyway, this is a nice middle finger to HG, of which I'm always a champion, and the scale of the 1/60 works pretty well with CHUG or MP, if one considers the vast scale differences between the G1 carbots and the old 1/55 Chunky Monkey. Actually, realistically, in jet mode it scales pretty well with CHUG carbots and I wish from the very beginning that the toys had all been in RW alt mode scale, for the most part, rather than scaling everything to bot modes. I realize that's a big ask, as the toys would be more expensive and take up more shelf space by din of their larger sizes, and bigger would not necessarily equate to better engineering or adherence to RW jet aesthetics, which is what I would both hope for and expect. The argument is moot, however, and I celebrate Jetfire as a bit of an anomoly amidst the G1 toy releases and this modern equivalent. After a long wait, I'm looking forward to finally having him in hand.
  4. M'Kyuun
    I fear I'm unfamiliar with Mr. David's work. Nevertheless, the loss of a creative person, especially one who had such an impact in their field, is truly lamentable, a loss to culture and society as a whole. With that, I simply offer my thanks, adieu, and condolences to all who loved him and for whom the loss is monumental.
  5. M'Kyuun
    Hmmm. Well, I'm guessing this is only the start of more to come. Fortunately, I already have the majority of the G1 characters, especially first season, that I want so I'm really in no hurry for what's coming out now. I am a little excited to finish off Devy, and I'm anticipating the rest of the Combaticons, but I'm patient. They'll come eventually; we'll just have to wait longer it seems.
  6. M'Kyuun
    While not explicit, the poor animation depicts a sort of framework for the limb bots to attach to. And Soundwave transforms and flies off as a tape recorder next to Starscream in his jet mode. Crazy stuff in this old show.
  7. M'Kyuun
    Whoa, I wonder what that's all about? Somehow, I doubt that's related to tariffs, but rather factory issues. I think Devy is shaping up nicely. The only real issue I have with the combined mode is the huge superfluous butt flap that only exists to give his similarly superfluous kibble wagon a top cover. Personally, I don't need his kibble to turn into some half-a$$ed trailer; it adds nothing appealing to Long Haul and I'd rather it was just a nice, clean set of hips that I can swap in and out. I was hoping it contributed nothing to the combined mode, but apparently stuff plugs into it, which makes the possibility of just removing it for a cleaner Devastator questionable as to the gestalt's stability thereafter. Guess we'll see. I'm so glad, however, that Devy eschews the frame system that Hasbro is employing on all the other combiners; it just wouldn't have looked right at all, so I'm glad they figured out a way to make it work without that particular crutch. I still wish the bots formed the limbs without the necessity of a huge frame upon which they're merely accoutrement. I'll concede it adds stability; however, that's not how the original toys were, and this is one of those instances where all the liberties taken in the toon weren't necessarily beneficial to future toys. If they can make the Constructicons themselves form limbs, the same should be true for the rest, IMHO, and that would be preferable. Just my $.02
  8. M'Kyuun
    MMC are the undisputed masters of all-in-one engineering. This thing is a triumph of form and function. I've always liked emergency vehicle Transformers, but for some reason, the Protectobots have never really been on my radar. I don't believe I own any versions of them at all in my collection, which is rather ironic considering I now own two versions of the Combaticons with plans to buy all the upcoming Hasbro Legacy figures for a third Bruticus. Granted, Bruticus is my favorite combiner, but given my aforementioned interest in emergency vehicles, I find it odd myself that I don't own some version of the Protectobots at this point. In the interest of trying to preserve what little space I have left for display, I passed, oh so reluctantly, on MMC's Bruticus as I'll now pass on these. I appreciate the achievement they represent, however, and I vehemently wish one of the 3P legends makers would take so ambitious a course with their versions. I recently bought Magic Square's Combaticon Team and they didn't disappoint, although they rely, as most TF combiners do, on a handful of partsforming bits to complete the gestalt. Perhaps I'll invest in their Protectobots, should they get around to producing them. Too, I'll likely get the Legacy versions as well, again, should Hasbro choose to do them. MMC have long been my favorite 3P company, as I own more toys from them than any other third party, at least in the MP scale. I haven't counted, but it's a toss-up between Magic Square and Newage for most 3P toys in my collection at this point, but I digress. Anyway, MMC have been bringing an interesting approach to Transformers for years and they just continue to raise the bar with their engineering and thoughtful approach to both form and function. They make beautiful toys, including what is IMHO the best take on Arcee yet rendered in plastic. Even though I pass on many of their products, having largely stopped collecting MP scale (always room for more cassettes though!), I continue to be amazed at their output.
  9. M'Kyuun
    I must've missed this post earlier. This looks amazing. I'm curious, did you build this in LDD or Studio2? I ask b/c I struggle with any number of things in Studio, especially its abysmal hinge tool that works improperly 95% of the time. Since I build transforming bots and sketch them in Studio, that hinge tool is a necessity and the fact that it seldom works right vexes and frustrates me to no end. An updated UCS style Imperial Shuttle is overdue and hopefully they'll produce one in the near future that addresses the faults of the first.
  10. M'Kyuun
    Agree, as it's keeping with what Anna told Dutch and Co.- it returns and hunts throughout generations. The fact that humans historically have spent far more efforts towards advancing their abilities to kill each other than any other concern (except perhaps the advancement of wealth) would undoubtedly offer irresistible opportunities for hunting to such a creature as the Predator. Looking forward to this.
  11. M'Kyuun
    Pretty clever on Takara's part to just swing the front fascia of the cab into position for the foot rather than have the entire cab reposition. Some may see it as an engineering shortcut (well, technically it is if you're an absolute purist), but it's an effective shortcut that gets the job done. Granted, the leg is going to look a little weird from the side with the door and window details perpendicular to the ground while the face of the cab is parallel. I personally don't mind, especially given all the extensive partsforming that needs to take place to affect Devastator. Next to that, this seems a much smaller compromise. At least it's integrated. One ding against this is the lack of meaningful displacement of the forearms in leg mode; they just bend back at a slight angle, which looks more like afterthought and poor planning. Had they spared an extra bit of the mold to allow for a double hinge on those elbows, they could have folded neatly and purposefully. I guess they always have to bake at least one flaw into everything to justify another toy down the road, although given Hasbro's recent statements and their pivot towards prioritizing games, those supposed toys may never come.
  12. M'Kyuun
    Odd that it's taken this long for a sequel; it's not as much of a gap as there was with Incredibles, but still... There's not much in the way of narrative in that trailer; obviously there's a snake joining Judy and Nick as a new protagonist, and since they're being depicted throughout as being chased around the globe by the cops, there's likely suspicion that the snake indulged its carnivorous instincts, or so I surmise. I haven't watched Zootopia since it came out, but the carnivorous suppression in a mixed anthropomorphic animal society strongly reminds me of the far more mature Beastars anime, another worthy watch. Since Zootopia preceded it by about four years, I wonder if it wasn't perhaps the inspiration for the anime and its darker explorations of similar themes. Zootopia is an impressive film and, as always, there's concern that the sequel will fail to capture what made the first so good. I felt the same about Incredibles, IMHO one of the best animated films ever made, and after the long wait, and despite Brad Bird's heavy involvement, I didn't feel like it captured what made the original film great either. It's a good movie, don't get me wrong, but IMHO, it fell short. But then, Incredibles is a hard act to follow, even for its creator. I hope Zootopia 2 is fun and adds something new and interesting, but I feel like following the original film is an equally challenging proposition.
  13. M'Kyuun
    I like this set, or at least the intent. I've long been a fan of City sets, space and construction being my favorite subthemes. As a mashup of all the main subthemes, this is a nice primer for someone just getting into LEGO City, and a nice all-in-one representation for collectors. I'll admit, the spaceship and its unique astronaut are my main draws for this. I wonder if the parts to make that fig will show up on LEGO's Pick-A-Brick? The ship itself wouldn't be too difficult to cobble together from instructions but getting that minifig would be the challenge.
  14. M'Kyuun
    Not bad at all. I laud the return to his original alt mode form compared to the CW Mixmaster, whose alt I found rather unappealing. I'm concerned that those shoulders are going to have some very limited outward rotation due to how high they extend beyond the joint. Still, they're better than the "Rodimus shoulders", a technique I wish they'd permanently abandon. Great to see they managed to get the bicep rotation in there. Guessing it won't be long before either PvP or Toys Are Russ have a copy in hand for review.
  15. M'Kyuun
    I've yet to see any of the AOTP Prime figs. My Wally has retro Gears, TFOne figs, a copy or two of Party Wallop, a copy or two of Armada Red Alert, one or two Bayformer figs and that's about it. I'm likely forgetting a fig or two, but since I've actually been considering picking up Alchemist Prime, and perhaps Prima (I dig the moon buggyish alt), I've been dismayed to find them MIA in the two Wallies I frequent the most. The wife and I are planning a trip to Target tomorrow so perhaps I'll have more luck there. They carry a better selection of LEGO as well, so win-win. I'm not certain when Earthspark Soundwave is releasing, but I'm down for that fgure as well. Neat alt mode, and for a Takara/Hasbro jetformer, it looks to be better executed than the majority of their efforts.
×
×
  • Create New...