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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    I find your critique, "PITA", both amusing and a bit cryptic. Difficult to transform? Things don't line up? Is there a forthcoming review to elucidate the 'painful' aspect? Regardless, it's purty. I dig it from looks alone. Is this Iron Factory? I remember seeing something like this not too long ago posted among a number of convention pics, I believe still in grayscale. Too lazy to research, but I recall even then, it caught my attention. I'm rather quite content with my Fanstoys Phoenix, but Skyfire, and Jetfire, based toys always interest me, and so therein lies my curiosity.
  2. M'Kyuun
    Saw it with my wife yesterday, and we both enjoyed it. IMHO, the best Thor movie. I thought the humor worked, it told a good story, and there were some great interactions between characters that stand out and made it just that much more enjoyable.
  3. M'Kyuun
    I'm on the same wavelength as Mike; as Long as I've been hearing the term 'third party' in relation to Transformers, it has been in reference to unofficial independent toymakers' products, which just so happen to look like everyone's favorite robots in disguise. Anything licensed, therefore, falls into the 'official' category for me as well. However, I understand your argument, and it makes sense to consider licensed Transformer stuff not by Hasbro or Takara/Tomy, be it mugs, t-shirts, toys, statues, keychains, etc, ad nauseum, to be third party, as would just about any other line of products licensed by a parent company. I wouldn't consider it incorrect; however, within this particular thread, 'third party' is synonymous with unlicensed products, and I think confusion would ensue if it was also used to describe licensed products not made by Has/Tak. Just my $.02.
  4. M'Kyuun
    Some MP Dinobot news on TFW2005 http://news.tfw2005.com/2017/11/06/takara-mp-41-masterpiece-dinobot-listing-possible-price-353193 Conjecture is that it'll run about $245 USD. I like these MP BW figures, but if that's the going rate, they're getting a little too expensive for my budget.
  5. M'Kyuun
    Good sculpting; for those in the know, it's unmistakably the 19. It'd be nice to see the finished version...no pressure. As for my attempt to build a VF-14, it's very slow going.. The attachment of the leg to the body by Kawamori's lineart is basically a scissoring mechanism comprised of the fuselage chine and leading edge of the inner wing. It'd work fine on a lightweight toy or model where die-cast can be utilized for those parts to impart the requisite strength; however, there's nothing like that in LEGO, and I'm having difficulty finding a solution that allows for a thin streamlined mechanism with enough integrity to handle all the loads. I'll figure something out, but it's proving to be quite a challenge, and I hope I can maintain the streamlined look of those areas.
  6. M'Kyuun
    Those Iron Factory seekers are adorable. Thanks for the pics, Kuma!
  7. M'Kyuun
    I remember this- wow, 2012! Have you done any additional work on it since then? The palette has had a number of updates since then, so it may help with sculpting; not so much with joints, though, as the only new ones are the small ball and socket joints introduced through Mixels. Unfortunately, LEGO pulled the plug on LDD, so it's unlikely we'll get any more updates to the parts palette. I'm trying my hand with LDraw, but having no experience with CAD or vector graphics, it's a steep learning curve. LDD's limited, but at least it's user friendly.
  8. M'Kyuun
    Well, you can try and track down a copy of 10231 or 10213; there are two copies of 10213 on Bricklink going for $165 and $175 for the two lowest priced used copies, both from US stores. Bit and piecing may cost more than that, as those parts have rarely been in anything else in reddish brown. As for the buckets, although it's not purist, I'd suggest picking up some of the silver ones used on the Saturn 5 and spray painting them the necessary color externally with an acrylic water-based paint. You could wait a lifetime for LEGO to release those in white. Or, wait out the decision to see if the Shuttle Ideas set gets made, although if it passes, it'll be awhile before we see production. My hope is that if it does get made, it'll retail around the typical $99.99 price point. Your -19 sounds awesome thus far. For slides, I've used clips and bars for smaller mechanisms, and two three stud-length friction pins facing each other with a technic brick traveling over them for larger builds. I use the single side with the flange as my anchor point, and build it into a frame using axles to hold it all together, the axles providing both a structural member and a stabilizing rod over which the slider can travel. With two of those pins facing each other, it provides four détentes for your slider. Hope this helps. Good luck!
  9. M'Kyuun
    The TIE Advanced proto is a nice set. I have the Scariff Battle, but it's still on my 'to build' pile. It's ok for what it is, but I think it would have been better had they included the Archive tower to complete the scene. It would have added to the price, but also completed the necessary elements to those scenes. A Cargo AT-AT would have been nice, too, but I digress. I can't argue with LEGO's producing the most fun SW toys- hands down. The beauty of LEGO models over regular models and toys is that modification is much easier accomplished, not to mention creating one's own from scratch. I'm glad they continue to hold the license, even though it pretty much spelled the death knell of LEGO's own Space themes.
  10. M'Kyuun
    I had a conversation with a fellow builder at BrickCon where we agreed that LEGO should produce every part in at least red, yellow, blue, light and dark grey, white, and black. It takes the wind out one's sails when a particularly useful part, and likely one you need for a project, only comes in one color like dark pink, that's virtually useless for most builds. Alas, I wish you all the best in gathering parts and finding suitable substitutions for your projects. Too, you can always create a sticker in the right color - it's not as nice as having it molded in color, but sometimes there's no other option. LEGO does it often. Looking forward to seeing your VF-19 and improved X-Wing. What scale is your 19? I ask because I remember your huge VF-1.
  11. M'Kyuun
    As I mentioned in a previous post, either the blue and grey, or orange and black Force Awakens X-Wing is a nice set, with a few small differences between the two. I'd go with the orange and black personally, as it has a small cargo container that slots in the back as an additional play feature. Anyway, both of these sets are on Roll-back at Walmart, at least where I live, and IMHO, worth the money. If you'd like to step outside of Star Wars, I'd also suggest the Creator Turbo Track Racer (31070), the main model of which I found to be an excellent build with some nice functionality. As far as the UCS Slave I is concerned, it is a large model ( 17.5" tall x 14.5 " wide on its stand), is pricey, and the front section is a hodgepodge of building techniques and varying parts to try and achieve the rounded look of the actual model. It works for some, but not everyone. I'm ok with it (it's sitting on my desk, along with the lovely UCS Snowspeeder as I type this.) If you're a fan of the Snowspeeder, I'd recommend it over the Slave I- it's exceptionally well done. However, if you're after a smaller Slave I, a few years have elapsed since the last System set, so we're about due for another in the next couple years. Or, you can try to pick up a copy of 8097 from a few years back, which was IMO, the best System set of that ship. If you're curious about the UCS Slave I, or just about any set from the last few years, the LEGO site, at the bottom of their main page under Customer Service, offers instructions in PDF format for a host of different sets, which are worth perusing to get a sense of how the sets go together. I sometimes look at them if I'm on the fence, or just curious about parts used, or techniques. It's free, so why not? Another really well done set outside of Star Wars is their LEGO Batman Movie Batwing- solid build with some nice functions and great aesthetics. Back to Star Wars, the current System Y-Wing is a really nice set, too- lots of greebling and some nice shaping on the forward fuselage around the cockpit. Krennic's Imperial Shuttle is also a nice larger ship set to consider. Very cool build that looks awesome on the shelf or zooming through the living room. The Jakku Quadjumper is a neat little set that packs a number of features into a small build. I could keep going, but my enthusiasm for LEGO runneth over. Suffice to say, I have a lot of LEGO sets across numerous themes, including the vast majority of Star Wars sets. If there's a particular set that you fancy, besides the UCS Slave I (for which I'd encourage you to check out any number of reviews on YouTube- I'd suggest Jangbricks), let me know. I'll try to give a fair assessment, although be warned, I'm generally biased positively towards most sets. What can I say, I love my hobby. In the meantime, good luck finding sets. Play Well!
  12. M'Kyuun
    I have all three, and like them all, esp the A-Wing from Rebels. The Walker could have been so much better had they used ratcheting joints for the hips so that it can actually walk, but I think they nailed the aesthetic. Too bad it only has one seat; I'd hoped this'd be their first two-seater, as it should be. Anyway, happy with your new sets? I hope so. If nothing else, they're fun little builds. I've been slowly catching up on my backlog of sets that I'd set aside while working on my Monster. Sales on sets have been plentiful at Walmart and TRU, so I've added a few new ones to the pile as well. Just built the Jakku Quadjumper, the ship that got blown up in Force Awakens, forcing Rey and Finn to steal a certain 'pile of junk'. Despite it's brief appearance, LEGO made a nice model capable of seating three figs (2 front, 1 in the back) with an 'exploding' feature where the top two engines are ejected off the ship. Fun build that looks good and plays well-what LEGO is all about.
  13. M'Kyuun
    I got the urge to transform my CHUG version after looking at Kuma's pics and a review of the GT figure. After a few minutes, I got him figured out and into his bomber mode (I typically keep most of my TFs in bot mode on the shelves). It's been a few years since I messed with him, and with my goldfish memory, it was almost like transforming a new toy. Has/Tak did a good job- he has a somewhat complex transformation with both modes looking great. After watching the review, I think I prefer the CHUG's transformation system over GT's, although at that scale I can understand some changes due to weight and such.
  14. M'Kyuun
    Lovely, indeed. Kuma, In regards to your statement regarding straying from third party MP offerings, I'd recommend MMC's Remix Jaguar, a full sized cassette version of the character. Granted, he can't fit in Soundwave, but on its own, a splendid figure. The Toyhax/Reprolabels set give it a nice finish. I always loved Ravage, and this fig was a no-brainer after watching a number of reviews. I'm anticipating getting their condors, as well as their Rumble and Frenzy. Love me some transformer cassettes, and these figures are well done and, in their bot modes, fit right in with the rest of the MP figures.
  15. M'Kyuun
    No problem; it was a compliment earned and easily given. I like how you put all the focus on the figure, with good lighting, great posing (which can be an exercise in frustration with some figures), minimalist background, and good angles. You make these toys look really good- Hasbro should take notes. Generation Toy did a nice job on Figueroa's IDW Megatron; it's my second favorite version of the character. I get a bit of a Tron vibe from that pic, especially when scrolling down. GT did some lovely paint apps and sculpting, and your photo makes it look great.
  16. M'Kyuun
    As have I, and the transformation is what I'd expect in a leader sized MP figure commanding a rather steep price point. The leg design, IMHO, is the high point- just a brilliant bit of engineering to collapse the legs into about half their width to form the grip. The upper torso and arms can be challenging to achieve all the necessary alignments, but once accomplished, it comes together nicely. The pistol mode is good, but visually weakened by the plethora of panel lines and breaks , especially the slide area where his torso origami is most noticeable. I wouldn't say he's a fun figure to transform, though; he can be frustrating. That said, I'd love to get my hands on Despotron at some point, as he looks like a fun figure from both aspects of transformation and poseability. And, I like his chunky proportions.
  17. M'Kyuun
    Damn, you've got a great eye, Kuma. Your passion for these figures really shines in your photography. Thanks for sharing. After seeing your Conehead pics, I checked out your IF Starscream and Ultra Magnus reviews. Amazing figures for the scale, although for UM, bot mode got all the love. But then, who's really going to keep him in truck mode? I think they struck a better balance between modes with the seekers, and the landing gear is a nice feature that's usually not seen on figures this small, especially the HasTak stuff. Like you, I dig these smaller figures, and I find these Iron Factory toys to be really well done. I don't own any (too many other pursuits, not enough cash flow to fund everything), so I appreciate the photography and reviews to at least vicariously appreciate the craftsmanship and engineering that goes into them. Thanks.
  18. M'Kyuun
    Nice! While I like my Apollyon, Despotron wins for best 3P MP scaled Megs, IMHO. HM looks awesome, the closest yet to what I want in a MP Seeker. I'd love a new official version along these lines. And yeah, that PMOP looks amazing; my Takara PMOP hides in shame. As for butt flap eradication, I have Delta Magnus, which I find to be a nice figure. I don't really notice the flap, and honestly, it doesn't bother me as much as it seems to bother others. To each, his own. However, I'm curious to see what other changes they make to the mold. For those who despise the flap. though, options are good.
  19. M'Kyuun
    It may be a matter of how the helmet's molded rather than a paint issue; I got my copy of the Slave I right when it came out, and I've not bought the new skiff set yet to compare Boba helmets, but it's possible the mold changed in that time.
  20. M'Kyuun
    Other than the seam line running down through the black, it looks like my copy. The black part of the visor is smooth on mine. Not sure if there's a different issue, but it looks fine to me.
  21. M'Kyuun
    Not that I'm aware of. I checked my copy, and the printing is perfect. However, I've had offset prints on figs in the past, so it's something that happens occasionally. Still, shame to happen on Boba. LEGO has excellent customer service, so I'd contact them and let them know about the issue; they may send you a new helmet at no cost. Are you looking at System sets, i.e. minifig scale, or something collectible? For collectible, the UCS Snowspeeder, and the Slave I are both great sets. For System, it becomes more challenging, as folks have different standards to which they hold the sets based on accuracy, colors, functions, and minifigs. The Force Awakens X-Wings are nice sets, and while the shape of the nose relative to the canopy is inaccurate, it's still a nice looking set with working opening wings, which can likely be found on mark-down at Walmart. Of the current spate of Ep 8 sets, I've only bought the First Order Heavy Assault Walker (love me some walkers), and it's a nice set with enough differences to stand apart from previous AT-AT walkers. The Ep 8 set that really has my attention is the Resistance Bomber, which I don't own yet because the price is a bit high for the parts count, and eventually, all or most of these sets get marked down. I digresss, but as a set, and as a parts pack, it looks to be an absolute winner, with some nice play features and an interesting look that hearkens back to the B-Wing. Hope this helps. Lovely little VF-1, len_d69. Looking ever forward to your Ideas Voltron. Welcome to the MW forums.
  22. M'Kyuun
    Saw it yesterday. It's long and slow, but it tells a good story that makes a fitting sequel to the original, IMHO. TBH, I think I prefer this film over the original. Nice seeing a few old faces besides Harrison's in there.
  23. M'Kyuun
    I'm also not a Bay-verse fan, but if they make Blackout, and it looks pretty decent, I'd consider getting it. I kinda liked the look of Brawl from the first movie, too. Still kick myself for passing up the leader class toy they made of him. Back then leader class toys, esp the Bayverse designs, had much more complexity to them, as they should. In the past 5 years or so, Has/Tak seem to have taken an opposite approach to design based on size class- deluxes get the most intricate engineering, and they get simpler as they get bigger. Should be the opposite, IMHO. Deluxes should maintain the current level, and they should become more complex with each up-class. New price hikes on TF toys announced- deluxes are going to be $20. It's a bit much, I think, for what you get. Then again, everything keeps going up in price, and I also consider what we're paying for similarly sized third party figs, so I guess it's inevitable. Miss the $10 deluxe days, though. Glad to see the G1 love continuing with PotP. While I feel they are hit and miss (most deluxes and legends are hits, while the larger size classes are more miss than hit), I'm happy to be filling gaps here and there on the CHUG shelf. The new Windcharger looks great (huge improvement over the CW figure), and I hope Huffer is in the works for a later release.
  24. M'Kyuun
    I remember seeing pics of your 1/18 VF-1; gorgeous shaping on the entire forward fuselage. From a thumbnail, or a distant shot, you can't tell it's LEGO. I've never tried shaping with the brick, or with plates, in that manner, but I can see where weight would rapidly increase with that method. You'd need to have steel or high grade aluminum joints forged to bear the full weight of the completed valk. If one had good CAD skills and knew a good machinist, it'd be a mighty impressive model, even if it needed some beefy non-LEGO framing/joints to make it work. Those in the know understand how heavy LEGO is, and even most of the large models at LEGOLAND and other LEGO affiliated stores and such use steel frames within the models, as do, I believe, a number of the Certified LEGO Artists, and even some MOCs. It's not a cheat so much as practicality; LEGO's tough, but it's still just plastic and has its limits as opposed to metals. I'm about at the cusp of what the Exo-Force clickies can handle with my VB-6. I had a discussion with a fellow builder at BrickCon concerning the inadequacies of LEGO's current joint systems, and we both wish they'd make something stronger for larger models. The upcoming Voltron Ideas model gives me hope that new joints will be forthcoming to handle the loads that they'll have to bear (hopefully it won't end up being a giant statue in combined mode). I digressed a bit. Alas, you're a damned fine builder and I hope you stick with it, find solutions to the challenges, and continue to wow us.
  25. M'Kyuun
    Thanks, Chronocidal, much appreciated. I know you're quite handy with the brick, so it adds weight, and I'm both humbled and grateful. To be fair, this is my second VB-6, both in Classic Space colors, so I can understand the confusion. This version is about 2/3 the original's size, as my original design became too heavy for its hip joints to support, and a few other features were left unfinished. I still have it, but now that I've mostly completed its little brother, I'll likely start borrowing parts off the original until there's not much left. Still, I had a LOT of time and money invested in that first version- it's like a child, hard to give up. As for the VF-14, the only thing that surpasses the coolness of the SR-71 is a Blackbird inspired valk. I hope I can make it work. I've got a Variable Glaug I've been tinkering with for a couple years. I'm waiting for LEGO to release a few parts in certain colors, and hopefully I can get that thing done, too. I find it to be a sweet design. Thanks again, Chronocidal!
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