M'Kyuun

Hopefully TRU will get all the new MP TFs coming out. Actually, it'd be nice to see some other stores carry them as well...more competition and fewer markups. I wish Hasbro every success in securing the licenses, even if it means certain figs have to be sold without a weapon to appease the licensees. It would suck, but Hasbro could always make a separate weapons pack, and I'm sure third parties would be all over that like stink on shi7. Personally, I'd just be happy to have a MP figure at a more affordable rate than buying from overseas, esp since there's little difference between Japanese and domestic versions of the toys. FOC Springer is intriguing; I generally disdain Cybertronian alt modes, but all three modes look good. Judging from the pics and figuring what turns into what, however, I doubt the final product, if they indeed use this design, will be as clean as the illustrations. I hope I'm wrong. Personally, I'd love to see an updated Blitzwing. I'd love to see them finesse a J-20 or a Su 27, 30, or 50 into a believable tank and a decent looking bot.

Yep, still a good looking figure...until you put it next to a renewal. Then the flaws become quite apparent. My renewal VF-25G stands next to my VF-27...pretty much the crotch/hip placement is the most glaring thing that's off.

Maybe I'm totally mis-remembering this but weren't the igear seekers directly ripped off somebodies kitbash of the original has-tak seeeker mold in addition to directly copying the toy mold? Not sure about the kitbash part, but I know they were based off the original pre-Kawamori, ie better, version. And on the subject of a possible MP Jazz; Porsche and Lamborghini are both subsidiaries of Volkswagen group. Considering that they where able to get the Countach license, the chances are good they'll be able to get the 935 license as well. Very cool if they do.

Bit the bullet and ordered MP-12 Sideswipe from NP today. Pricey devil he is, at just under $100 shipped. It hurts all the more everytime I look at my Binaltech Jazz (Meister) in all his die-cast glory, with rubber tires and full interior, opening hood, and working steering, all for about $50. Exorbitant pricing notwithstanding, these MP G1 characters are a 20+ year dream come true. Prowl was my first TF, and I'm trying to temper my excitement for his MP incarnation until pics are released. He is still my favorite TF, and I've hoped and prayed for a version of him that looked like he did on the box art since I bought his original toy in '84. Classics and Binaltech both let me down in this regard, so my anticipation and expectations for his Masterpiece rendering are off-scale high. Hopefully, Takara can sweet talk Porche into releasing the license for Jazz. He'd be a glaring omission from the line. Licensing is a two-edged sword; great for us fans when a license is secured, downright disheartening when it's not.

Concur 100%. It's a lovely design in any mode, although mine stays in battroid standing non-chalantly with sniper rifle at the ready.

I'll second a new improved YF-19. On my dream list: Variable Glaug, BG-5C Fatman, VF-5000, Mylene's VF-11

I still have the deluxe toy of this guy. One of my favorite tank transformers; the only major flaw was that the panels to which his arms were mounted didn't tab very well. I heard they fixed it on later releases. I passed on Leader Brawl back when it was new, and with all the other new and better stuff coming out, I'll keep on passing. From what I've seen of the Beast Hunter toys, I'll be passing on those as well. I wonder how much of the 3rd season is going to revolve around this theme.

Just Gamlin. There are 2 sets of two stickers in white and gray respectively.

That dark blue color scheme sure is pretty. I don't like the VF171 as much as the VF-17 (mostly because of the skinny feet on the 171. Silly, I know, but those big feet on the 17 just look better to me). However, in this color, it looks gorgeous all around.

The stripes look white on mine, and mine was bundled with packs.

I got my last hurrah of 2012 today, thanks to Fed-Ex, and a package from HLJ containing a VF-17D and a VF-4 Lightning. What a lovely bird she be. It's definitely an impressive bit of engineering, and quite solid in battroid. The only real hang up is the lack of rotating shoulders, limiting the upward movement of the arms. I wish they'd also added just a bit more length to the forearms to allow the poseable hands to fit inside, but it's a minor gripe. After years of waiting and hoping for a fully transformable VF-4, I'm extremely pleased with what Yamato has accomplished here. I was pretty impressed, too, with how well it balances, given how far back those upper engine nacelles extend. I like the color scheme, and the red they chose is nice darker matte red that looks nice, IMO. I'm glad Yamato arrived at their own solution for transforming this beauty, rather than copying Experten's overcomplicated system of lnkages. They also created a nice tight double jointed knee to affect transformation. From the beginning, I felt this would be the weakest point, but my fears are relieved after handling mine. Overall, this is another great entry in Yamato's Macross lineup. I have to echo the sentiment...nice avatar, Exo. Looks more like scene from a movie than cosplay.

I received my VF-17D with FPs today, along with my VF-4 from HLJ. I wasn't expecting it til Thursday, so it was a nice end of year surprise. My 17 was nice and tight out of the box, almost too much so. I normally eschew instructions, but I was afraid I was going to snap something, so I referred. Anyway, I've transformed it to battroid and back without issue. The left side upper FP didn't want to snap on, but a little patience and persistence go a long way. So far, I'm impressed with this figure. It's big, it's solid, it looks great, and the poseability is impressive for a toy this size. No regrets.

I'm glad to see the transformation is differnet on the YF-30. I was starting to think Vf-25 clones were going to become the norm. As for new stuff for Yamato to tackle, I'd love to see them step out of their comfort zone, i.e. variable fighters, and try their hand at something more unique: BG-5C Fatman http://www.mahq.net/mecha/macross/aircavalry/bg-5c.htm I'd love to have one of these in toy form on my shelf.

Sorry, but I gotta stoke the fire. The Renewal 25G is such an excellent figure. I can't remember the last time I handled a valk this much. Normally I transform them a couple times, pose them a bit until I find one I like, and then set them on the shelf. This thing has yet to see a shelf.

I made the rounds to all the stores yesterday. I got RiD Voyager Starscream for $12 at Fred Meyers. Nice figure...the bot mode looks great, his jet mode slightly less so with his high heels poking out the sides under his exhaust augmentor. Still, he's sleeker in jet mode than I thought he'd be, and I had some fun swooshing him around my kitchen last night. I also picked up RiD Rumble...indeed, a neat little bot. His pile drivers are all black, however, unlike his box photo. If I were better with a brush, I'd remedy it, but over all, I'm not too bothered by it. TRU was my last stop, and I'm glad I did, as I scored both FE Prime and Bulkhead. I passed on Voyager Bulkhead at Fred Meyers b/c his bot mode is very inaccurate and kinda crappy looking from the side. Also, he has that ridiculously enormous weapon. Even though he was half price, I'm glad I did. FE Bulkhead is far superior. The transformation is pretty cool, with alot of wrap-around panel action going on. Overall, the transformation achieves a show accurate look to the bot, plus he's big and bulky, and his weapon mirrors that in the show. The only issue I had with my copy was that the rotating panel to which his head is attached was so tight that I was afraid of breaking him trying to get it to flip over in truck mode. I'll have to try again. His hood panels that form his chest were a bit difficult to snap into place as well. I thought I might snap off the little pegs in the process, but fortunately, I didn't. My thoughts during all this was," Do they expect an 8-12 yr old to do this, when I'm a 41 yr old with tons of experience with transforming toys having issues getting things to snap in place and move?" Anyway, I'll fidget with it some more. I have RiD Prime, which is a nice figure too. however, FE Prime is a bit bigger, and his back kibble is smaller and better designed to put his smoke stacks closer to how they appear in the show. Overall, FE is more detailed, having full, better sculpted lower legs. The only advantage RiD Prime has, IMO, is that his shoulders are on a ball joint, whereas FE Primes are not. he still has a wide range of motion, however, and his shoulder guards are hinged in the middle allowing the lower half to swing out to enable his arms a wider range of motion. In their truck modes, I tend to favor RiD Prime's; his cab is wider and the nose a bit shorter. FE Prime has a small narrow cab, but his overall truck mode is larger. Both are good figs however, and I'm glad I've got both. I'm hoping that Hasbro will sell the flying Vehicon in the States. Of all my Prime figs, the RiD Vehicon is probably my favorite, with great vehicle and bot modes. The flying Vehicon is different enough, but still similar enough in bot mode, to get me to part with another $15. They both look like something from Batman's arsenal, and that gives them extra cool points IMO.