M'Kyuun

Despite some minor nitpicks, this is the best pistol alt-mode Megatron toy I've seen. The shaping of the legs could be improved a little, but overall, it looks great...that face is spot-on...one of my many issues with MP Megs. The only other beef I have with this is that the lower abdomen doesn't have the familiar red side vents and collapse into the chest...for whatever reason, I like that part of the transformation. Anyway, by not being absolutely slavish to the Walther P-38, but still making him look like a believable pistol, maintaining the basic G-1 transformation, and achieving a bulkier bot mod, I think they've got a winner in the making.

I agree with separate missiles, otherwise I'm more concerned that they pour the love into this like they did with the VF-19 and VF-17. Engineering a robust swing mechanism for the leg, while allowing for strength and flexibility will pose a challenge for them, I think. As mentioned earlier in the thread, I also hope the shoulders rotate, as arm movement would be pretty limited otherwise. TF Animated Lugnut is a good example of this done right. As for extras, they're nice, but after all this time, I hope the focus is on creating a solid toy with exceptional engineering, functionality, paint, and, hopefully, endurance.

I'm also hoping it's a toy and not a kit. It's a beautiful design, one that would look great next to my VF-1.

Yes, I believe so. However, if there are no more preorder windows prior to that time, then some folks here will most likely receive theirs and give their impressions. If another preorder does come up, I may just take the plunge, but I'm also content to wait for reviews before committing.

I was too late to get in on the preorder for the VF-25S on both Amiami and HLJ. Waiting and hoping it'll come around again. In the meantime, I'll keep an eye out for reviews on the VF-25S. Seen the reviews for the VF-25F, and I've been tempted. Just absolutely gorgeous in all modes, but especially battroid.

BBTS suffer TRU syndrome with pricing, which is why I generally go through HLJ. I've had had nothing but good experience with them. They even got me replacement knee covers for my Eva Unit 1 when it came with 2 left knee covers. (I'm speaking of the Eva toy from which you could remove the external armor). I have heard, though, that BBTS have really good service.

Agreed. Never cared for the overall look of the V1 VF-25 series, but the VF-27 was pretty well done, hip placement notwithstanding. I still like it enough to keep it displayed, and do the occasional transformation. I'm currently looking for a new job, so I gotta reign in my spending. I doubt I'll get a second VF-27, but I will get a V2 VF-25S once the preorders start again. Too awesome to pass up, and even new, they're pretty affordable. Unfortunately, Yamato's valks are becoming increasingly less so, at least for me.

Ahem, Bumblebee in all his many incarnations. Hound's trim. Sunstreaker. Grimlock, technically, was more of a gold color, but still a shade of yellow, if you will. The Batman logo, as well. I'm sure we could come up with hundreds of examples. As I said, exceptions. Perhaps I was a bit harsh in my statement. I'll rephrase to say that I find yellow an undesirable color in many instances, but acceptable in others. And since my hypocrisy has been exposed, I have to admit that I built an "Eggplane" based P-38 from LEGO, and I made the intake area of the nacelles yellow to match the photos of the real plane. http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=453240

IMO, can't go wrong w/ a VF-0, provided you don't get one with issues. Mine's still in one piece, packed away for safekeeping. It's a striking valk in all modes, and I almost prefer it to the VF-1 (heresy, I know). It's a beautiful update to the VF-1 ( I know it's supposed to be the precursor to the VF-1, but everybody here knows that, in design terms, the opposite is true. The VF-1 reflects its 80's design aesthetic, and the Vf-0 reflects the modern aesthetic, with stealth characteristics).

I passed...couldn't get past the hip placement, and I wasn't crazy about the chunkier proportions on what was a slim, lithe looking battroid. I bought the VF-25S model instead, as it was much more accurate. Still need to finish it (I hate painting/decaling models)I'll commit when the V2 VF-25S comes up for preorder again at either AmiAmi or HLJ.

There are exceptions to every rule.

The Blazer is looking amazing, despite the yellow (a color which is infinitely detestable, except for minute markings. It should never ever ever be used as a primary or secondary color scheme). Very much awaiting pics of the VF-19F. I hope they use the same dark blue, as the white lines and accents will look awesome. Yamato will most likely liberate me of $300 for the "F".

Watched Flashback on Youtube...saw the scene in question. Too bad the scene was so short. Would have been cool to see it fly alongside the VF-1 in battle in the original series. Thanks for the pics. I'm quite aware of the differences between the original "stubby" design, and the longer, sleeker design. Longer, sleeker wins my vote if Yamato decides to commit.

All the better; regretfully, I've never seen Flashback 2012. However, I do have the Macross Designworks , in which the original and redesigned versions are featured, so I guess I mis-stepped when I implied that the earlier version was "more" canonical than the latter. So, I'm assuming Hikaru flew the sleeker version in Flashback?

If Yamato is planning a VF-4 release, I vehemently hope they go with the revised longer, sleeker design rather than the original stubbier design. I guess the shorter design would be closer to canon, since Hikaru is swooshing a model of it briefly in one short scene, but as a fan of aesthetics, and apparently so too Mr. Kawamori, the redesign presents a far more striking fighter. While I love fighters, at heart I'm a battroid guy, and I love the Lightning's b-mode and transformation. Just an all around beautiful design that I'd love to have, rendered in all the stunning detail Yamato is known for, on my desk within easy reach.

Very cool and practical utilization/transformation of Prime's trailer. I always thought the original repair bay mode was a bit underwhelming and that more could be done with the trailer as far as transformation. Prime's Ring of Kickass would make a great toy.

Saw it, liked it. By far and away the best live-action adaption of the character. I kinda expected a little Johnny Storm in the performance, but Evans surprised me by really playing the character straight. If I have any complaint, it's that the German characters didn't speak German (I'd prefer to hear them speak in German and read the subtitles for authenticity and feel...plus they seem more evil ). Stanley Tucci had the accent down. Hugo Weaving and Toby Jones, sadly, did not. Tucci's Dr Erskine was my favorite character. The Howard Stark character was well played. Tommy Lee Jones excels in stereotypical hard-ass military roles, and he delivers here as well. Overall, it was good, but not great. There were really no stand-out moments or characters, no wow-moments. I dug the German bomber; nice nod to the Horten brothers' designs. I probably would have enjoyed the movie more if the people behind me had reigned in their two little kids who obviously had zero interest in the movie, talked and moved around incessantly, spilling drinks, dropping candy, and kicking seats throughout the entire show. We went to a matinee just to avoid this situation. Bad parents suck.

Very true, and why I didn't buy V1. V2 is what they should have made first time out of the gate, and V2 should, in Yamato fashion, be the improved version with quality issues fixed. As much as v2 appeals to me, I may have just talked myself into waiting for v3.

That battroid looks sharp...finally proper hip placement and angled crotch to really emphasize the lankiness of the battroid. I like the color scheme and the new leg armor. However, Kawamori's insistence on one-upping the previous models really manifests in this design, i.e the additional engine pods, the lights on the chest plate, and the back guns all seem superflous and unnecessary, and detract from its appeal. It's a very busy design. I'm hoping that Bandai will give us v2 of the VF-25 employing the design changes seen here.

The LEGO Group are no strangers to animation, and they certainly have some talented folks working for them. Although I was never a fan of Bionicle, the theme was highly successful both in terms of the toys and the various animated shows and movies. My continuing hope is that one of the designers will create a well-done, perhaps Macross inspired, transforming robot that gets the nod from the CEO, and those of us who've been waiting will finally get what we've been wishing for. In my case, I've been hoping for a transforming mech theme since the 80s. However, I don't want Built to Rule or Kreo; I want a perfectly transforming robot theme where the bots turn into believable vehicles, with good poseability and aesthetics. I would love to see TLG create a series of ratcheting ball & socket joints in various sizes, as well as inverted versions of a number of existing pieces. Currently, I'm working on a Vf-4 inspired mech...it will be perfect transformation, with retractable landing gear, and as much poseability as I can squeeze into it at its size. It will also accommodate a minifigure. I'm making slow progress, but eventually I'll complete it.Update: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95379588@N08/with/8690923878/

"Van Force" was a Japanese exclusive alternate model using existing Exo-Force LEGO sets to supply parts. While his models transformed and were interesting, they were more sci-fi and lacked the sleekness and "realness" of his Macross designs. And, they were pretty flimsy. I had hopes that LEGO would approach SK to create a transforming theme along the lines of Macross (without being Macross, for licensing and availability reasons). Given the popularity spike for transforming toys, I'd have thought LEGO would eventually jump on the bandwagon and create a theme of their own, but, alas, it has not happened. Maybe LEGO feels that toys of that nature would be too complex for the age group they want to target, or the designers haven't found a way to make a visually appealing and functional transforming robot. However, it is certainly possible: Alex Schranz, aka Orion Pax, makes some awesome stuff. Definitely worth a look on Flickr.

I don't have the pics on my wife's laptop; however, this guy has them on his Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=lego+konig+monster&m=text I think he has the full set of pics as they appeared on Brickshelf. Hopefully, these will both awe and inspire. The guy was a damned good builder.

The creator of the LEGO Monster was an unknown Japanese builder who went by the name Gla-Gla. He posted pics of his creations on a LEGO fansite called Brickshelf for a number of years around the 2002-2004 timeframe. One day, he just closed his account and removed all his pics. Fortunately, fans of the model saved the pics and have made them available. Soren Roberts, an excellent builder himself, believes Gla-Gla was the Hory Froating Head himself. I don't think so personally, but who knows. Gla-Gla never posted anything beyond pics of his various models, several of which were Macross related and transformable. He made a few non-Macross transformable mecha as well, and an awesome Ingram from Patlabor. His transformable mecha were also notable due to their "perfect" transformations. The identity of the builder remains a mystery. BTW, my avatar is a pic of Gla-Gla's VF-17. It transformed as well.

I think b/c the lower section of the shoulder pod is darker than the overall valk, and that the back of the leg doesn't quite fit the contour of the lower shoulder pod, and just falls short of touching the plates that cover the gap forward of the shield, it presents, to me, the appearance of a small gap. It's a very, very minor nitpick. Too, it may just be the lighting in that particular pic. Still, Yamato have done an amazing job, and I'm not at all thrown by the addition of extras to fill in the legs and such. For the price of this beauty, I'm glad they offer them. However, I'm a fan of neither red nor yellow, and so will hold out for a nice blue and white deco, and hope I have the funds when Yamato eventually releases it.

Seconded, on both points. Looks nice. The gap under the shoulder pad keeps catching my eye. Other than that, and the gap in the neck in that HLJ pic, she looks seamless. I'd love to see it in the blue w/ white stripes deco.