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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    +1 Sweet photo, Kuma. That'd make for a beautiful box art shot. Hope the FH guys are paying attention. Nice little review for Sunsurge, Mike. I hadn't really noticed just how toy accurate BC's version was, as opposed to Spinout's more realistic Countach. Though I've not handled either third party version, having seen vids and pics, there are things about both that stand out, both good and bad. MP-39 bridges the alt mode dilemma, but pays for that feature with a significant backpack. As you said, it's good to have options.
  2. M'Kyuun
    I can respect that; I thought BC's Sunsurge and Omnigonix's Spinout, which I personally favor for its lack of cheating with the windshield and overall aesthetic, were both well done versions of the character. Spinout has issues, from what I've read, but again, from an aesthetics POV, I still like it better. That said, for reasons I can't understand myself, I typically favor official products, flaws and all. The general impression I've gotten from the pics and review I watched (not Chosen Prime's, but I might look at his, too) of Takara's version is that it's a good figure employing some neat engineering, and overall pays respectable homage to G1 Sunstreaker, combining elements of both toon and toy, more toon of course. Butt flaps and backpacks have become commonplace with a number of TF toys, both official and third party, and unless they are so disproportionately large or encumbering to the rest of the figure, I'm generally not bothered by them. Mileage varies, of course, and I don't fault anyone for not liking either of these things. Thank goodness for options. As for me, I'm still anxious for MP Sunstreaker.
  3. M'Kyuun
    I've been watching my email like a hawk in anticipation of Anime Export's MP Sunstreaker shipping notification. I've watched a couple of the vids out there, and he looks like a pretty interesting figure. The articulation is really impressive. (Really glad to see Takara honoring their stated desire to imbue these guys with increased ranges of articulation). The most obvious concession is his backpack, which is rather substantial on an otherwise svelte bot, but, honestly, it doesn't bother me, esp after seeing how much stuff is crammed in there, and how compact and well secured it is. He does have a small yet unobtrusive butt flap ( the center part of his car hood), which will likely earn some ire- again, doesn't bother me. His chest is a bit of a cheat, and though I'm usually not a fan of cheats, I can't argue with the look of the final bot. The full windshield wouldn't have served the aesthetics, and he would have looked like he was chugging a little too much motor oil, a la TFA's Constructicons. I appreciate that Takara put in the extra effort to give the car both its realistic look and also the ability to give it the G1 toy look, as far as the chromed engine intakes and the rear light area. They didn't have to, but they did, and that's pretty cool. Sunstreaker has never really been on my radar as a character so much, but everything about this figure is interesting to me as a fan of transformable mecha- it just looks like a fun figure to pose and explore with all of the features and functions built in. The evolution in design over the last five years is remarkably apparent when seeing him next to MP Sideswipe, the first MP car-bot for those who don't know. Anyway, I'm getting excited to get this figure, and just wanted to share it. Looking forward to hearing others' impressions once these start shipping.
  4. M'Kyuun
    I think they did a good job with Slash, too. I picked up Windcharger and Beachcomber at the same time, and was surprised at the size difference between the latter two and Slash. Slash is tiny. If they'd upscaled her slightly, they could have possibly improved her transformation to remove the large gap between her legs and chest in deino mode. (I'm feelin' ya, JBO). Alas, still a fun new addition to the Dino team, and despite being a femme-bot, she's not overtly designed to be humanly curvaceous. In fact, if they didn't tell me she was a she, I wouldn't have known. While I like all the G1 homages in the Prime Trilogy toy line, I like surprises like Slash to keep things fresh, somewhat. Hope they continue.
  5. M'Kyuun
    No denying MMC's cassettes are pricey, esp for their size, but I've always had a fascination with the cassettes, and these things are little engineering marvels. I hope they make them all in this scale.
  6. M'Kyuun
    The packaging is great- very apropos with just the right bit of nostalgia with that liner. Jaguar for me was, like MP Prowl, a dream toy. Ravage was always my favorite cassette bot, but the MP version left me feeling disappointed, especially after the condors were as nigh perfect as you can get at that size. Jaguar filled that void very well, and scale notwithstanding, he's pretty much the Ravage toy I've always wanted. For Ravage fans, he's a hard recommend from me; however, if you're rigidly of the mind that scale is very important, then he's likely not going to suit your sensibilities. Add to that, as Mike mentioned, he's a little pricey for the size. I've got MMC's Condor cassettes on PO, as well as their Rumble ( the blue one). I could live without the powered pile drivers, but I guess it's cool that they made that a feature. Like the MP Rumble and Frenzy, I'll probably install them once and then back in the box for eternity.
  7. M'Kyuun
    I saw it with my wife this morning, and really enjoyed it.
  8. M'Kyuun
    Nice how the core Optimus tidies up with the trailer panels to make that backpack. Clean and efficient. That core OP by itself makes me happy- love those feet with the vents. Pretty sweet figure. I wish Takara's had been more in line with this.
  9. M'Kyuun
    Obari's not a name I was familiar with; 'preciate the enlightenment. A general Google search of Obari-san's work really didn't bring up any good examples of the pose in question, but no matter. The influence is quite notable among numerous Japanese figure displays, so I gather it's been around for some time. Moreover, far be it from me to complain about any sort of articulation after growing up with 80's articulation, or lack thereof more often than not. Anyways, thanks for the info-knowing is half the battle.
  10. M'Kyuun
    Great photos of some great looking figures, Kuma. Gotta say though, I still don't get the whole pelvic thrust meme that has become prevalent with a lot of TF figures- it looks odd to me, personally. Ah well, to each his own. Some serious talent working for these third parties; if someone had told me there'd be toys on par, or sometimes better, than official on the market 15, 20 years ago, I wouldn't have believed it, just because of the logistics, know-how, and tech involved in producing complex toys of this nature. We live in fortunate times as collectors and as fans. Still get giddy when I look at my Fanstoys Phoenix and Dinobots- awesomeness. For those like me who only get to experience these figures through photography and reviews, thanks Kuma, Mike, and all you other folks who contribute. Much appreciated.
  11. M'Kyuun
    Well that's just Prime! 'Tis the season for miracles, as I found PotP Slash, Windcharger, Beachcomber, and Shrapnel at my local Wally today in one of those island setups with many bins for small toys. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement, as I liken finding new TFs there to finding an oasis in the Atacama. Anyway, just wanted to pass it on to folks who may be looking for these figs. Good luck!
  12. M'Kyuun
    I've been checking around, and so far all I've found was one copy of PotP Jazz at one Target, which I passed on. I'm after Windcharger, Beachcomber, and the dinos. If they do a Gobots Crasher-esque redeco of Jazz, though, I'll pick it up. RTS Jazz is still the toy to beat among Generations figs. Anyway, pulled up Hasbroshop and they have them all listed; however, when adding to cart, a message stating inadequate supply pops up for every one of them. Must be taking supply and demand lessons from LEGO (concerning the UCS Falcon). I've also been keeping an eye on TRU's online shop, as they have them listed, but without the ability to actually buy them yet. But you can view details.
  13. M'Kyuun
    I'll give it a chance; they've got a good cast for the main characters. As for the anime inspired eyes, it drives home the point that she's a robot, so the uncanny valley look of her is suitable. If the story, dialog, and overall feel of the film is well done (cleanliness notwithstanding; it should be a little grimier, IMHO), then I think the eyes won't be such a big deal, just part of who she is. It won't hurt, either, if there are other robots with similar eyes to establish a norm for that particular feature. Got a feeling that the gore is going to be seriously toned down, and that most of her battles will be with other robots, so the chunks of enemies will have a decidedly artificial look to them. It already feels sanitized. Then again, Robert Rodriguez is no stranger to blood and gore, so....
  14. M'Kyuun
    I have zero association with the comics, although I've bought a number of figures that I know originated as IDW designs (by virtue of this forum, mostly). I've never required any kind of back story to like a particular figure; I'm visual- if it looks cool, I'll buy it. I was never crazy about the Bayformer aesthetic, but some of the figs that came out, esp within the time frame of the first two movies, showcased a lot of ingenuity and engineering prowess on the part of the designers, and that was a huge part of the intrigue of those toys. Sometimes, they were too complex, admittedly. As I've oft stated, IMHO, the only positive that came out of the Bay movies was that it really pushed Takara to innovate beyond just about anything they'd done previously, and that's a plus for us.
  15. M'Kyuun
    I just got my Grinder earlier this year; surprised that it's already in short supply. Just got Cesium a couple months ago after a bit of a wait, and I'm glad I went with him instead of Scoria. Cesium is definitely a better G1 Slag homage, and arguably a better overall figure, than Scoria. Hopefully FT will continue rereleasing some of these highly sought figures; my experience with FT has been overwhelmingly positive thus far with my Dinobot collection and Phoenix (Skyfire). These are dream toys come true for me. That PM Prime looks pretty amazing, esp with that BFG. I have the Takara version from TR/Legends, and even with Takara's improvements over the Hasbro release, it doesn't hold a candle to this figure. I should add that Ginrai and Powermasters don't even interest me that much, but with PMP/Ginrai, the whole all-in-one transformation, as well as Takara's changes , differentiated it enough from Ultra Magnus to get it. However, the fact that it wasn't truly a Powermaster, with the little transforming snap-on engine dude, was not lost on me. They did it right on this guy, and gave him better proportions, and certainly better legs and feet, than Has/Tak. Pretty cool.
  16. M'Kyuun
    Those alt builds are pretty neat. Good on you for finding sealed CS sets at decent prices; these days, most folks selling LEGO are in the know about its rising value and demand some pretty outrageous sums for these old sets. Keep on building!
  17. M'Kyuun
    I like his Mustang mode- his bot mode is so-so. not really a stand-out design to me. There were a number of Bayformer figures, some that weren't even featured in the movies, at least as Transformers, that I thought were brilliant designs. Even as a scout class, Breacher still stands out to me as a great example of how a small figure can still have the complexity of a deluxe and in both modes be an all around excellent figure.
  18. M'Kyuun
    Got a point there. But, I'd be happy with just an improved Grimlock designed to work with the remaining official figures for combination. In other news, my wish is being granted, sort of. http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/12/05/transformers-movie-series-leader-blackout-revealed-354841 This looks ok, but I think I'll hold out for a MP version, as the feet don't look quite right, nor the hands. Honestly though, the Bay designs interest me so little anymore that I'm not sure I'd bite if they did make it.
  19. M'Kyuun
    Good luck reacquiring Sovereign, Kuma. Concerning Contact Shot, I'm generally of the same opinion as Mike regarding Cybertronian alt modes. However, I've always liked Pointblank's. Skimming the review, I think Maketoys did a great job, and I just dig the look of this guy in both modes. Thanks for the review, Mike.
  20. M'Kyuun
    I've been out twice looking for these things in my area, to no avail. I was hoping for that stand-alone endcap at Target, but no. Over the last four or five years, Spokane absolutely sucks for getting Transformers contemporarily with the rest of the country, and I have to wonder why. If we were a backwater town with one road in and out I could rationalize it, but we're the second largest city in Washington. It frustrates me. Anyway, I've watched vids of Slag and Swoop, and I think Has/Tak did alright, other than making them deluxes. I know, they combine, and that's fine; moreso, if the secondary gimmick doesn't compromise the main gimmick of transforming. From what I've seen, Grimlock is really the only casualty in the team, since they opted for an odd transformation of his legs to better suit the combiner gimmick. How they could look at that tail section and think 'yeah!', I don't know. After 30+ years of designing these things, I'd have thought they could pull off a decent looking Grimlock and still make the combiner thing work- guess not. Still gonna get them all, since this may be the last time for another 30 years before we get the whole Dinobot team again in the main line. It'd be kinda cool if a third party made a better Grimlock that still combined- thinking out loud. Big yep to your first statement, sadly. As for Slag, personally, I think the back legs took the hit; the forelegs look right to me, and the back legs look a little gimpy, just too small. They could have been made a little beefier to match the front without hampering the transformation or the gestalt. Go figure.
  21. M'Kyuun
    6950 Mobile Rocket Transport, a set I've wanted since its release in 1982. It's in excellent condition showing little wear, esp the canopies and the various printed parts including minifigs. For $70, a great deal. 6980 Galaxy Commander, which released in 1983. I've only recently developed an interest in this set, and given its very well-kept condition, I couldn't pass it up. Again, all printed parts are immaculate, the white parts look new and gleamy, and the canopies show little wear. The only mark against it was one of the yellow astronauts had a broken hand, easily replaceable. For $125, another good deal. So, my math was off in the above post- I paid under $200 for these sets, which is an even better deal, esp if you're looking at buying these on Ebay or Bricklink, where you don't really know the true condition until it's in your hands. These were sold by a vendor at a Con, packed in clear Ziplocks, so I could see what I was getting, and I was able to build them and verify the parts in my hotel room in case there were any issues- I totally missed the broken hand, as I was so stoked over the condition of the minifig prints and the general condition of the whole sets. I, too, hope they'll extrapolate the set out to include more than is seen in the review model. As it is, pretty lackluster, esp compared to the competing projects. I like Tron, so an official set of figs and a well designed Light Cycle would be cool, but given that this is the Ideas program, many of the other submissions were far better than this and should have gotten the thumbs up. That's the point of this program, yeah?
  22. M'Kyuun
    I haven't been keeping up with the latest Ideas review; I'm still stoked that Voltron made it from the last. That said, while I dig the Tron Light Cycle, there are a few models in that review that stand out, IMHO, as far better building experiences: the Medieval Watermill, the Red Arrow jet, and the Venetian Houses. The review model for Tron looks static; I hope LEGO make the final version playable, at least. It'd be nice if they expanded the minifigs to include Tron and Quorra, as I'm guessing Sam Flynn comes with the bike. In truth, I wouldn't mind a set from the original movie to go with this.
  23. M'Kyuun
    I understand well; I'm retired Air Force living on my pension; I'll never be anywhere close to rich. I've cut down on my spending and when I spend, since LEGO, Macross, and Transformers (both official and some third party), are all becoming pricier each year. I've learned patience, waiting for markdowns, and just being choosier about what I buy. Know your limits, but don't forget to enjoy a little, either, otherwise, what's the point in making money if all you do is exist on it? Um, LEGO! So, I lucked out the other day at TRU and managed to snag a copy of Cole's Quake Mech from the LEGO Ninjago Movie https://brickset.com/sets/70632-1/Quake-Mech, which was put out erroneously ahead of release date. Fortunately, they let me have it (bonus, it was improperly priced at $20 less than MSRP, and they let me have it at that price, too), and I was pretty pleased with my good fortune. I built the set yesterday, and was pretty impressed with some of the techniques used, esp to create friction for the shoulder joints (they used those large technic turntables with bevel gears at either end of the diameter attached by friction pins. Works great, and could be modified to have more friction by substituting a different pin). There are a few new interesting parts in the set, and the overall mech is pretty impressive once completed ( it 'stands' on a single large tractor tire with a built in stand to allow it to rest upright and the shoulders open to reveal speakers). I wish LEGO would make more mecha sets like this; I also have Kai's red mech from the Movie, and it's pretty neat, too, although I wish they'd added a little more poseability to the legs. These mecha designs are what I wanted Exo-Force to be, and I hope we see more in the future.
  24. M'Kyuun
    Preach!
  25. M'Kyuun
    You might change your mind if you got to see one up close, handle it, or just build it yourself. Sets like these are usually full of interesting techniques and novel parts usage. The journey to the final model is as much fun as the model itself, and, honestly, while it is really expensive, given the number of larger parts throughout the model, the price to parts is reasonable. You're getting a giant box of plastic, and a ring bound catalog of instructions. Considering what a lot of other hobbies cost, LEGO's not too bad, and sets like these not only hold their value, but increase exponentially once they're retired. I should know; I just paid over $200 for two old Classic Space sets in remarkably good condition. No regrets.
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