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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    I remember the 'Peg' thing as well, but even when it was fresh, I didn't know where it came from. My basic understanding was that it was mildly pejorative in nature. Anyway, at the time, I passed on Peg in lieu of his Blurr recolor, since there really wasn't a decent CHUG Blurr at the time, and all I knew about Drift was that he was a character from the comics who'd achieved some measure of popularity. Still have that Blurr on my CHUG shelf, although I have the far more G1 TR version out front. I was checking out Robot Hero's new mini-cassette figs tonight on Chosen Prime- pretty well done MP styled Overkill and Slugfest (Barney and Durden, respectively). They did a nice job of making their dino modes more robust, although their Overkill's cassette form is a little more compromised. But they're cassette bots, and I dig 'em. I'm hoping eventually MMC will get around to all these cassettes in their full-sized cassette line. Love my Jaguar. Got the condor twins PO'd, and I've seen their Rumble/Frenzy CG. It's such a great time to be a TF fan.
  2. M'Kyuun
    I've been collecting CHUG all along since Classics debuted in '07, and, while I'm not a completionist, my collection is sizeable at this point. Still, room for more! It'd be nice to get an updated Punch/Counterpunch, a new Reflector, and maybe updated Omnibots (3 mail order Autobots from circa '85: Downshift, Camshaft, and Overdrive. I still have my Downshift). Dinobots have been a glaring omission, so it's nice to see that void being filled. I just hope they're done better than the CW Constructicons; I feel Has/Tak cut too many corners with those figs in favor of the combined form, and I passed on them in favor of third party. I hope, too, that Astrotrain will be revisited and given proper shuttle and locomotive alt modes. Didn't like the TR version at all. I haven't seen either Blitzwing or Octane in stores yet, and at this point I'm still on the fence. I think they could be better; I want better, so I may pass on them even if I do run across them at some point. I still think the Jizai version of Octane was pretty well done, and I'm aware that a third party or two have toys based on that design. Still holding out for a decent official, though. Perusing that old toy brochure, Has/Tak have most of those covered now. I wonder if they have one of these pinned to the wall and consult it to see what to make next.
  3. M'Kyuun
    The Dinobots are a surprise, as is Predaking. The Dinos have my attention, as we haven' t had a full team of official G1ish Dinobots since the originals. If they do indeed combine, I hope it doesn't compromise them too terribly in bot and dino form. Jazz looks good- a nice update to his alt, but still very reminiscent of the character. Rodimus looks a little clunky in bot mode to me; bits of the smaller Hot Rod can be seen. I'll be interested to see some reviews before I really know if I want him or not. The only G1 space Winnebago Rodimus figure I own is the Titanium, so this might be a second. That beachcomber looks good, as does Slugslinger. I'm hoping larger, clearer pics of the new femme-bot appear soon; looks like a new mold. I've got TR Ginrai, so I'm not really feeling the need for another leader class OP. I'll check reviews out of curiosity, but for now the position of Autobot leader is filled on my CHUG shelf. I wish Has/Tak would find a better transformation for jets; having the arms just hanging there on the sides of the plane, only somewhat integrated, looks terrible and lazy. Looking forward to more revelations, better pics, and reviews of Generations.
  4. M'Kyuun
    At Walmart, we have a stand-alone two-sided TF only shelf unit featuring the new Bayformers, but also Titans Return deluxe Chromedome, Highbrow, Scourge, Blurr, Hardhead, and (I think) Triggerhappy. The Target I've been to rarely ever has anything Generations stocked, except the odd leader class, and sometimes a voyager. We have quite a few stores here in Spokane that normally carry this stuff, including TRU, but of them all, in the last few years, Fred Meyers and Walmart have been the only stores that seem to be stocking deluxe figures with any kind of regularity. This year, Wally's been way behind, as they didn't stock the wave 2 deluxes until well after Christmas, and the pegs are still filled with them. Subsequently, until they get rid of those, they don't put in any more orders. Target in my area just has blank pegs where TR deluxes should be. Not sure if it's a distro problem, or their ordering system, but I've about given up on finding TR deluxes there. Likewise at TRU. Anyway, the hunt for these things has become a chronically dishearteningly unfruitful endeavor, and I finally just said 'F- it' and started ordering them online. I used to enjoy the hunt, but when nobody has this stuff, it becomes an exercise in disappointment and frustration, so I'll eat the markup and get my figures.
  5. M'Kyuun
    Taking another look at TFM's Bruticus, it appears that , like XTB's, Motormaster forms the inner legs and feet and the car bots just attach. It also looks like part of the trailer detaches separately and forms a little two-man gun station of sorts. For that MM, I think I could live with it, even though the cars aren't forming the legs themselves. And if I'm wrong, all the better. I'm kinda digging the Iron Factory figs. Correct me if I'm wrong, but their stuff is usually on the smallish size, like legend class or so. I like small stuff like that, esp in transforming toys. I'll likely not get any of them due to budgetary restraints, but I'll be sure to check pics and vids when they start showing up. They took some stylistic license with all the figs shown, but every figure is still recognizable and homages it's G1 counterpart well. It's a shame that price points are generally high on 3rd party- if these were all $10-15, I'd get them all. And speaking of smaller transforming figures, there's been no news of any more Machine Robo releases since Blackbird and Mixer earlier in the year. By now I figure Shuttle and Turbo would be released. So, I just checked their Facebook page, which they've updated, and it looks like the next releases will be Missiletank and Shuttle. I didn't see any mention of Turbo or Blue Jet. These guys are overpriced, but there's just something I like about them. I still play around with Blackbird a fair bit- just a fun little figure, and he's an SR-71.
  6. M'Kyuun
    Ah, cool. I'll be popping in from time to time, so, looking forward to it. Thanks, Mike!
  7. M'Kyuun
    He's been in so many movies over the years, even playing Bela Lugosi as Dracula in Ed Wood. I've never seen the movie, but I remember his giving interviews at the time of the film's release. R.I.P. Mr Landau. I've never seen Space: 1999; it's one of those series I wish the Syfy channel would pick up, or the BBCA. It's always appealed to me from an aesthetic POV, given the 'used universe' look of the ships and such. The Eagle is an iconic ship, too- cool design.
  8. M'Kyuun
    I'm down for all of MMC's full sized cassette figures; I hope they eventually do the dinos and maybe the combiner ones as well. Transform Missions' Stunticons look amazing, especially that Motormaster. I think that's the first MM I've seen that allows the trailer to rotate realistically; usually they just connect them as one solid piece in vehicle mode, with little to no gap between cab and trailer. High marks for the engineering on Transform Mission's version, at least for that. I wish I'd known FT were doing a Cyclonus. I have Eligos, and I like him quite a bit, but transforming him is a chore, with some terrible clearance issues and some questionable tabs. In either mode, though, he's a great looking Cyclonus. But then, so is FT's, although part of me still likes Eligos' styling better. Of course, mileage varies. Edit: Just got my Fans Toys Stomp, and it's another home run. Beautiful figure, remarkably evocative of the G1 toy (I felt a strong surge of deja vu after extracting him from the styrofoam, with his arms rotated straight forward zombie style- he looks just like my original). Everytime I look at my growing FT Dino lineup perched on my fireplace mantle, the 'squee' in me sounds off. So worth the money. Now I just need Cesium to complete the team.
  9. M'Kyuun
    Finally! Been hoping for a sequel since the first, so long as Brad Bird is involved. Thankfully, he's directing, and once again voicing Edna Mode. Great news.
  10. M'Kyuun
    That last statement- so true. Interesting history lesson, though. Still, it doesn't explain why they changed the name of the character, but, whatever. As loose as licensing seems to have been in the 80's, I'm surprised that both Hasbro and HG couldn't have simultaneous licenses for the VF-1; after all, they used the toy, and HG didn't stop them. I'll have to do some Googling. Thanks for the info, JBO.
  11. M'Kyuun
    With no sign of the wave 5 Titans Return deluxes anywhere, I ponied up at TFSource to get Kup, Perceptor, and Topspin. As has been the trend with the TR line, these figs are really excellent updates of their G1 likenesses, and just really nice figures on their own. Moreover, the transformation systems are well thought out, interesting, with a satisfying level of complexity. I'm looking forward to the next wave of deluxes, Misfire, Twin Twist, and a new version of WindBlade with a nice IDW accurate face. I'm also looking forward to getting Seaspray, hopefully in a store. I wish the voyager figures were as well done, but they don't seem to have the same level of design, IMHO. Alas, I'm loving the G1 homages, and hope this trend continues. They can get rid of the headmaster gimmick anytime, though. Not a fan.
  12. M'Kyuun
    And it starts.... I think LEGO mixes addictive substances into their plastic. They've owned me since I was about 4 years old, no end in sight.
  13. M'Kyuun
    I hadn't done that size comparison, but, yeah, Phoenix is big. Much prefer my Skyfire looking like Skyfire than a supersized VF-1, much as I like the VF-1. I guess the chunkies were a ready solution as a toy version, but even back in the 80's, nether the name change to Jetfire nor the look of the toy went skeptically unnoticed, and I always wondered why Hasbro went that direction instead of making a Skyfire brick that they could charge oodles of money for, because y'know, both of those things would have been true had it been released. Still, Phoenix was worth the wait, even with his flaws. For that backpack hinge, I engage it and disengage it the same way, just in reverse order, and it seems to work well without stressing anything. It works surprisingly well, and once snapped forward into position for bot mode, it's solid- it never feels loose or like it's going to disengage on its own. I'm also not a fan of G1 Omega Supreme; I never really understood the appeal. Now, an Animated Omega, take my money.
  14. M'Kyuun
    I get the criticism that Skyfire's a box with wings, and I also agree that the leader class Jetfire is one of the best aircraft figures Has-Tak have made, and a good compromise between the Skyfire bot mode and a modern fighter. Typically, I'm not a fan of Cybertronian alt modes, as most seem lazy, fugly, or they don't really look like anything relatable at all (thinking of WoC's Shockwave). However, for some reason, I've always liked Skyfire's alt mode- it just appeals to me, boxy as it is. But I also grew up in the 70's and 80's, and LEGO Space was also near and dear to my heart, and many of those designs were boxy, too. They're still beautiful to my eyes almost 40 years later. So, I guess nostalgia plays a part. I'm just glad that a high quality G1 faithful figure has finally been made of the character, and that I could afford it. He's been standing guard on my kitchen counter for the past two days, and I can't help but feel a little tremor of joy every time I see him- such a beauty. I get that he's not for everyone, but from reviews I've watched and read, there are a few other folks like me who've been waiting a long time for a toy like Phoenix to finally come along and light our darkest hour. I had to. As for the mention of the feet and the hidden exhausts in jet mode- yeah, that makes no sense to me, either. They took the time to mold augmented exhausts, and then covered them with the halves of the feet. I like the idea of having louvres built into the heels and having the exhausts behind them- it's a nice sci-fi detail that would have added a little extra touch to the figure in his spaceship mode. Opportunity lost. Looking forward to next Monday when Fans Toy's Stomp, who I've had preordered for months, will finally arrive and join his fellow Dinos. Looking very much forward to this figure, as Sludge was my only Dinobot growing up (still remember when I bought him), and I've long wanted an updated figure. It's such a great time to be a TF fan- more options than I would have ever dreamed possible just 10 years ago.
  15. M'Kyuun
    Just want to say, Phoenix lives up to expectations. There are a few areas that could have used another coat of paint, or just a paint job period, but overall, it's an amazing figure with an interesting, fairly straight-forward transformation. I only consulted the instructions to see what to do with the head, as it didn't seem to fit right (needed to be rotated 180 degrees for plane mode), and to see what they recommended for stowing the gun. I stow it with the barrels pointing forward matching the downward angle of the crotch- looks better to me. After handling him a little and transforming him once with only the head issue, my only real criticism is with the gun stowage. It could have, and should have, been done better, especially at the price point. I'm surprised PE or Dr. Wu haven't already cranked out a more streamlined folding gun for him. I'd give it serious consideration if the gun mode was really close. Anyway, for anyone jonesing for a cartoon accurate Skyfire, I think this will float your boat. Recommended without reservation.
  16. M'Kyuun
    I'm not sure who built the AT-AT, but the UCS styled Milano was built by a well known and extremely talented AFOL named Tyler Clites. Why Tyler's not working for LEGO, I don't know, but he puts out an endless stream of great MOCs, much to the pleasure of us lesser builders (me, that is). You should have bought the Milano set from the first GotG movie- it was a larger more accurate model. Prob cost a fortune on second market now- pretty typical these days. Alas, if you're entering the dangerously seductive world of MOCing, you will soon discover that LEGO can be rather taxing on the budget. I've been collecting since the early 70's, no dark ages for me, although my spending was pretty light throughout the 80's (birthdays and Christmas), the 90's (living on an Airman's budget, I had to be choosy), and early 2000's. Enter greater disposable cash flow and an enabler wife, and my collecting became rather voluminous through the mid 2000's. I've had to slow down a little since I retired, as I'm now a bum living on my pension/disability, and between Transformers, LEGO, Macross, and 3rd party Transformers, it becomes rather costly. Fortunately, Walmart has some decent sales on LEGO after about 6 months of shelf life, so Patience is my new best friend (except when he ain't, and my other bestie, Impulsive Buyer, takes the helm). Maybe it's old age, but my excitement for new sets isn't as fervent as it used to be, so generally I can hold out. Forgive my digression; I wish all the best to anyone delving into the LEGO hobby, prices be damned. Have fun, and play well!
  17. M'Kyuun
    Thanks for the info, Scyla. Phoenix is due on my doorstep tomorrow, so I'll be forewarned when I transform him. Getting stoked to get him; after the previous attempts, I really didn't think we'd ever get a high quality Skyfire figure. Judging from the vids I've seen, while he's not perfect, he's still getting high praise from the reviewers I've watched, including Bobby Skullface, who I feel gives a pretty balanced critique. Now I just have to figure out where I'm going to display him- really need to invest in some Detolfs. Just got notification that my FT Stomp is now available, too. Good gravy, that damned money tree out back needs to bloom. Alas, Sludge was my one and only Dinobot when I was a kid, and I've had a soft spot for him ever since. He was the first FT Dibot I ordered, and of course he was backordered out-of-stock. In the meantime, I got Sever, Grinder, then Soar, which collectively have cemented my good opinion of FT products, and filled some gaps in my G1 collection. I'll be glad when Cesium releases and I'll finally have the whole team.
  18. M'Kyuun
    I wouldn't fret; LEGO have said that it will remain in production into 2018; I think they were a little overwhelmed by initial sales, but it seems to be a runaway hit thus far. If it sells well, and continues to do so, I'm thinking LEGO may extend its shelf life a bit. I'm hoping that the Voltron Ideas set will be a go. If they get a license for Voltron, then that'll open the doors to other versions, esp the Netflix one. I'm down for that.
  19. M'Kyuun
    'Preciate the heads up concerning Phoenix- saving money's impossible when you're a collector of just about anything these days. Sigh. But yeah, the transformation is brilliant, as is pretty much every other aspect of the figure. From vids I've seen, it doesn't look like his gun stores in starship mode, which seems an odd omission. If so, I can live with it.
  20. M'Kyuun
    I'm hoping to go see the new LEGO House in Billund when they're done with construction (dream vacation for me); I hope the archive is open to public, but I doubt it. I could spend hours in there, drooling. I have an extensive collection, but there are still a number of old Space themed sets that I'd like to get. I wish I'd started trying to collect them years ago before they really blew up in value. I finally got to build my Saturn V today. What a beauty. There are some amazing techniques employed to effect the cylindrical shape, and it's both light and solid when complete. Damned fine job, LEGO Designers.
  21. M'Kyuun
    True on both counts. I'm satisfied with the FT versions, but the GP Dinos are cool in their own right. I think the FT ones are more refined, but the GP ones are the next best option, IMHO, for G1 Dinobots. At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference. I'm still eyeballing Fans Toys Phoenix (Skyfire). Pretty much, it's a dream toy come true; if only money weren't such a scarce commodity.
  22. M'Kyuun
    I'll second Mike on the Fans Toy's Dinos; very solid toys, with great engineering, die-cast where it's needed, good paint apps, and nice marriages of both G1 toon and toys, with more of a leaning to the original toys. I have Grinder, Sever, and Soar, and all three are extremely well done, to the point that I honestly doubt that Takara could do much better. I wouldn't mind seeing them try, but Fans Toys set the bar high. I'm still waiting for Stomp to reissue, and instead of Scoria, I've gone for they're remake, Perfect Fusion Cesium, which is much closer to the G1 toy aesthetics.
  23. M'Kyuun
    A bit harsh. As a TF fan, I'm still in the hobby primarily for the toys. I dislike Bay's movies, so I don't go see them at the theatre (except DoTM) which sucked. I have quite a few Bayformer toys, and I like most of them; the two credits I'll give Bay are that his movies have generated a lot of revenue for Hasbro (to keep pumping out toys) and that the Bayformer aesthetic challenged Takara, and Hasbro by default, to really expand their engineering well beyond anything we'd seen in Transformer toys. Out of that we got Classics (Generations), Animated, Prime, and Masterpiece, as well as three Bayfomer films' worth of interesting toys. AoE seemed a turning point, and the toys for the last two films just haven't been as interesting or complex. I like G1, but I don't think a reboot necessarily need be 'slavish'. Nor do I think a slavish G1 movie, if well written, would bomb. G1 Prime is still probably the most recognizable robot figure in the world, and many of the other G1 characters continue to retain a semblance of their original look in the comics. The Masterpiece line, which has been primarily G1 based, is a success for Takara. Third Party toys. Titans Return. There's still a lot of interest in G1. That said, if they rebooted and went more of a TF: Prime direction, I'd be fine with that, too. Honestly, whatever aesthetic they choose for the bots, I think it'll be accepted if the rest of the film is well crafted, and different from the Bay films. For starters, let's make Prime heroic instead of a psychopath, make the Autobots a team who like and care about each other, and make the Decepticons the bad guys again, and necessary to the plot.
  24. M'Kyuun
    Nice work, Hikaru84. I envy people with talent.
  25. M'Kyuun
    The Mixel ball and socket joints were the last new joints to be produced, and they've been around for about 3-4 years now. There are a number of joints I wish they'd make, though. I'd love a mate for part 47455, and ratcheted Technic ball and socket joints (similar to Zoob). A horizontal ratcheting rotation joint, similar to the AT-AT leg joints (parts 44224 and 44225) would be stupendously useful for mech builders. These are the top three wants for me, but I'm sure there are many more joints that folks want LEGO to produce. On this subject, though, when I was looking at the upcoming Kai's Fire Mech from the Ninjago Movie, the hip joint looked like a combo of the Exo Force clicky and half of the AT-AT leg joint. It's hard to see, and I'm highly likely mistaken, but that'd be a nice adaptation if so. That Glaug is delicious. I so wish mecha were more popular here in the US, or that I lived closer to an area where it has this kind of popularity. Most years, I attend BrickCon, a large fan-run LEGO convention in Seattle, and there's a mecha section, but it's generally diminutive in comparison to just about every other theme there. I take my VF-4, but it generally falls under the radar b/c most Americans haven't a clue what it is, well that and it's usually overshadowed by truly amazing mecha by the likes of Mark Neumann and Brian Cooper. That's a shadow I'm happy to bask in, though-those guys are amazing.
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