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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    Thanks, and thanks. I had no clue.
  2. M'Kyuun
    It's ironic that the US followed by Japan seem to be the last countries to get Transformers toys when both countries are responsible for designing and producing them. I can't help but feel a pang of envy when UK fans are showing off the latest releases a month or so before they show up here. Guess Japan has it even worse. That totally sucks, and FWIW, I'm sorry.
  3. M'Kyuun
    😊 Sludge isn't the brightest, the most ambitious, or the fiercest of the Dinobots, but I dig him. Agree. That's my big 'wonder if' too. I really don't need two sets of these guys, but given my druthers, I'd prefer the more toy-styled versions, especially if they all have the transparent covers over mechanical innards like the originals. 😍 I'd love to see them do chrome, too, but that'll never happen.
  4. M'Kyuun
    So, regarding Diaclone, I'm aware of the various Diaclone repaints we've gotten over the years in both MP and most recently the WFC/Legacy stuff. I have the MP + Gen Selects versions of blue Bluestreak, one of my favorite repaints of my favorite TF design. I wasn't sure if there was any other continuity between Transformers + Diaclone, but apparently not. BTW, greatly appreciate the research and breakdown of the Diaclone story, @JB0. So Sludge was the only Dinobot I had as a kid, and I've harbored a soft spot him ever since. When Grimlock was announced, and in leader scale no less, I was pretty excited, anticipating an eventual Sludge. While Grimlock stayed pretty faithful to the G1 toy, the liberties taken with Slag's transformation concerned me a little. I still think he turned out alright, but I still don't know why they'd deviate from a tried -and-true formula beyond "because they can". So now Sludge takes even more liberties than Slag, and while I think it benefits the Apatosaur mode, especially the legs, I too dislike the bit of red from his bot chest showing (which would normally be completely obscured by his wings, and the god-awful toes just dangling under his dino belly where there's a suspiciously perfect-sized void there to accommodate them if they were on a hinge. I suspect that was the plan, but budgetary restraints / lack of room in the allocated molds wouldn't allow it. My copy of Sludge should arrive this week, and in anticipation, I've already bought BDT's upgrade kit which will give him hinged toes. They are 3D printed, but feel solid and while the striations from the printing process are visible on just the gold toe bits, it gives the impression of machined metal (if you've ever used a milling machine, you know what I mean). I wish the toes ratcheted, but they're just friction, and not as tight as I would like. But, they have enough friction to stay folded, and really, that's all I really expect from the kit to improve the dino mode. I'll post some pics with the mod installed once I get my Sludge in hand.
  5. M'Kyuun
    Regarding your Diaclone conversation, beyond the rebranding of the same toys by Hasbro, I didn't think there was any connection between the two lines at all. I wasn't aware of Diaclone until probably my late twenties-early thirties when I started getting on the internet and discovering Transformers forums. Diaclone never interested me beyond the shared toys and the history of how Transformers came about. I can understand if Takara tried marrying the two brands for their domestic market- makes sense, but outside of Japan, not so much. Indeed they are! As am I if only b/c I have no space for anything anymore. And though I say that, I still buy a fair bit of the Hasbro mainline, the occasional legends fig, the occasional MP scaled fig (official or 3P, generally the latter), the rare Macross release (got the anniversary VF-25 coming as we speak, although I have no idea where I'm going to put it), a fair bit of LEGO, and other assorted toys. Toys are my life; it's a hard thing to give up, but I have tried to make more discerning purchases over the last couple of years. As for display- most of my TFs are together on an overcrowded set of shelves, on my desk, on my coffee table, in a couple Detolfs in my dining room. My 3P legends stuff, and other assorted bots are just kinda grouped together in a mish-mash on one part of my desk (I have a huge semi-circular desk with lots of shelf space that's very nearly full at this point). Doesn't stop me from buying the figs that stand out to me, though. This robot collecting business is a sickness....but I can quit anytime I want.😇
  6. M'Kyuun
    Why not keep both; each does something better than the other. And, they're small, so they take up little room.
  7. M'Kyuun
    IDK. By balanced, I was referring more to how well her bot and car modes were executed. She's one of the better Arcee toys I've seen from that perspective, especially for her size. Scalewise, only Dr. Wu knows what he was scaling to, but I'd assume he was aware that she was a bit on the tall side even for Magic Square. NewAge has their own scale, too, so maybe that's the point- there's no standardized scale, so free-for-all. But it does make it frustrating to form a cohesive collection when you're cherry-picking figs from different companies
  8. M'Kyuun
    Nothing wrong with that; you like what you like. I've liked robot & mecha related stuff as far back as I can remember. And building toys. Forty+ years later, nothing's changed except I'm fatter and balder. Impressive collection. Nothing today, not even Transformers themselves, have the presentation value of those old boxes. That box art was a huge draw- it's the reason I bought Prowl as my first TF toy. I still love the box art for Prowl to this day.
  9. M'Kyuun
    My copy of DR. Wu's Amie came today so I thought I'd do a quick review. Amie comes in car mode, but when it comes to G1 Arcee, I think most folks are probably more interested in how well her bot mode turned out. IMHO, Amie doesn't disappoint. While she does sport a sizeable backpack, said pack folds up quite compactly into a loose semblance of her shoulder pods. Considering the entirety of her car's fore and aft fenders comprise the pack, by comparison with other Arcees, this is pretty well executed and , IMHO, acceptable, if forgivable as a well-implemented concession. Amie's backpack cleans up better than Takara's own MP fig, as well as any number of other erstwhile Arcee figs, both official and non. Amie's articulation is on par with today's expectations. her head is on a ball joint, which in turn is on a neck stalk that itself is on a pinned hinge. Despite both joints, she can only manage about 10 degrees of up (without breaking sculpt- more if you do), about 5 degrees down (again more if you break the sculpt by hinging the white bit that forms her collar). her shoulders are on ball joints giving 360 rotation and 90 degrees adduction. She has bicep swivels for 360, double jointed elbows for the full range, and oddly a pinned joint that allows her wrists to bend a touch past 90 towards her elbows. It's not necessary for transformation so I'm not sure why it's there. Her wrists don't swivel, sadly. She has a 90 degree ab crunch, & 360 waist rotation. Her hips can flex forward 90 degrees, back nearly 90 (they're inhibited both by the lower posterior torso sculpt and also by the backpack if she's standing straight. She has thigh swivel cuts for 360. She has double jointed knees for 180 bend, ankle pivots that allows 90 back (in line with the calf for transformation), about 5 degrees up, no rocker, per se, but the toe sections can rotate 360 for transformation. Despite the few limitations, I found her to be a fun little fig to pose. Her backpack is a tad heavy for her size and her rather diminutive feet, but with a little adjustment, I was able to get her to assume any number of poses reliably. Amie comes with a pistol and a rifle, and a separate Arcee face that apparently fits a larger Arcee figure. Neither the box nor the instructions give any indication as to which fig it's for. I didn't take a pic of it, as it obviously wasn't for Amie, having left it and the obligatory collector's card (why?) in the box. As you can see, neither the rifle nor the pistol has any paint, but at this scale, I can forgive it. They're decently sculpted, however, and fit snugly in her hands. Comparisons: L-R : MMC's Azalea (MP scale), Hasbro Thrilling 30 Arcee, Hasbro Studio Series Bumblebee Movie Arcee, and Dr. Wu's Amie L-R: New Age's Harry (Prowl), Amie, and Magic Square's Blues (Jazz) Sorry for changing the arrangement - I took the car shot first and then realized a more effective comparison in bot mode could be achieved with them on either side of her. Car mode: Dr. Wu achieved a fairly accurate representation of Arcee's car mode, sans driver's cabin interior. A little seat detail would've been nice, but the car looks good and at this scale, I'm not going to quibble. There's also adequate ground clearance for her to roll on her little grey plastic wheels. A few transformation steps: I like how Dr. Wu did double duty with her ab crunch joint, as it also enables her entire lower torse to fold 180 degrees. It's a smart use of the joint, and I appreciate it. I also like that her chest forms the front of her car mode, with the concession of her shoulders sitting slightly too low to accommodate the chest linkage. Her pistol tabs into the bottom of the car just behind her head- it's rather precariously placed and one hopes it won't inadvertently fire. 😬 The method of forming her backpack is simple and effective, and while a bit too large and not quite the same shape as her pods are generally illustrated, it's a clever bit of engineering that gives her an accurate car mode and a bot mode with a compact, virtually kibble-free backpack. I only wish the Hasbro versions were so well executed. I think Amie is a well-balanced legends scale Arcee. She's not without her flaws, but I think they're fairly minimal for how well she cleans up, for the range of articulation she offers, and for her fairly accurate car mode. With New Age's Machinenmenscsh already getting reviews, there's no arguing NA has the better bot mode, although her car mode has a camel hump due to the way the legs fold over so her feet can form the seats. Most peeps are going to get her regardless ( I may join them), but I'm curious to see what Magic Square might offer in an Arcee fig. Final thought, if you're in the market for a well-executed pocket-sized Arcee with a good balance between bot and car modes, Amie's a good buy IMHO.
  10. M'Kyuun
    I didn't want the original Jumpstarters. I probably saw commercials for them, but whether or not I did, I knew what they were and what they did- and what they didn't do- and readily passed on them. Even as a teen, I thought they were crap, essentially Transformers in name only. I guess I've always been a transforming robot snob. 😁 The TR toys were the worthy updates I would have wished for had I been wishing for updated Jumpstarters. 😊 I wasn't.....but, that didn't stop me from checking out early reviews and eventually picking up a copy of each, which I found pleasantly well-done both in how well they captured the look of the original toys (with a little license), and the simple yet satisfying transformation. Just transformed Topspin while writing this- couldn't help myself. Man, I wish Hasbro had put some sort of paint apps on his thrusters- a little too plain back there. Love his alt mode, though.
  11. M'Kyuun
    Not for this toy in particular, but for general Transformers and my Macross collecting, this site has proven both essential and invaluable over the years. Forever grateful to all who share info, links, reviews, and all manner of heads-ups, and personal passions for these glorious lumps of plastic. 🙏
  12. M'Kyuun
    Yeah, that's not a half-bad repaint of a pretty solid fig. Both of the TR Jumpstarters were well-executed- the OG toys were terrible, IMHO. I liked the direction Has/Tak took in just making them straightforward TF figs, eschewing the old pull-back, pop-up gimmick that made them crappy Transformer toys. I'm not a big fan of single-step transformations; misses the point of the toyline entirely, IMHO. But then, I've never been much of a fan of electronics or motorized gimmicks in most toys, especially something like Transformers where it's more of a hand-puzzle. The combination of tactile and cerebral puzzle-solving is at the core of what makes transforming toys so intriguing and enjoyable. Anyway, I'm passing on this personally (I have TR Twin Twist & Top Spin, so I'm good), but for folks who like a particular character or mold, repaints are a great way to enjoy it in a different sense. In my case, although I already have the awesome Kingdom Cyclonus figure, I just couldn't pass up the Generations Selects version with all the G1 toy deco. Although I've been resisting, part of me still wants the Generations Selects G1 toy colored Galvatron, one of the few '86 Movie toys I actually owned as a kid. Just a lot of nostalgia with that color scheme.
  13. M'Kyuun
    Simple, they just politely requested the Uffizi Gallery to turn the painting around long enough to take a quick pic. You're welcome.
  14. M'Kyuun
    Wish they'd come through with Priss and her Motoslave. Of the Yamato BBC releases, I only have Linna, whose limbs fall off if you sneeze across the room. Their Motoslave isn't the sturdiest or most stable thing, either. I'd love to see what Figma can do with it.
  15. M'Kyuun
    That's good news; I'm still waiting for LEGO to finalize and ship, but hopefully it'll happen within the next day or so. I have two copies ordered, and I'm really looking forward to finally having them in hand. Yes; the old Technic figs were exceptionally well done and actually featured better articulation for the time than most other action figs. With the exception of a waist and thigh swivels, they meet today's standard of articulation. I'd love to see LEGO reintroduce them in their own new themes. They never should have been retired. Set 8252 Beach Buster is the only set I ever bought containing a Technic minifig. He's still in excellent condition with tight joints and no wear to his prints. I regret not picking up more.
  16. M'Kyuun
    Thanks, Mike! I vaguely remember seeing this, so I was likely watching the livestream. I have a goldfish memory, so stuff just sieves right on through to oblivion. anyway, my copies of Bee Movie Arcee and Ironhide showed up today and I've already been transforming them and putting them through their posability paces. My Ironhide, like my copy of Ratchet, barely has any friction at the hips or waist- it can hold a pose, but those things are way too loose for a new toy straight out of a sealed box. Very cool mold though- love the transformation, the sculpt work, and the overall chunky look of the fig. Even after perusing your review, @mikeszekely, I was pleasantly surprised by the intricacy of the transformation, although I find the tabbing friction of her torso a bit reduced after the initial transformation. I made sure both the internal tab and the two tabs that actually go from the backplate into the chest piece are all tabbed, but it takes very little effort to separate them. It's a shame they didn't copy Animated Prowl's arm design with the moveable arm guards that cover the hands- would've made a difference, methinks. Too, some sort of flap to fill in her neck hole would have helped disguise the fact that the back of her bike mode is her chest. but, FWIW, I still dig her quite a bit. I love the separating calf bits to which her feet are attached- the whole thing can pivot about 10 degrees toes up, which gives a nice range for posing, not to mention a cooler silhouette to the lower legs. She does have noticeably chunkier thighs than the CG concept art, and I have to wonder why when they were able to give Prime First Addition Arcee much thinner thighs in a taller heavier fig with comparable articulation. Who knows? In bike mode, I have the same complaints as Mike- the front wheels barely stay tabbed, and the obviousness of the shoulders and hands spoils the illusion a bit. It would have been nice had they adhered to the concept art for the bike a bit more, or instituted a few additional gimmicks to help disguise the obvious bot bits. I don't mind seeing alt mode parts on the bot mode as much as seeing bot bits on an alt mode. With the negatives out of the way, I think Has/Tak did a decent job of taking something that had no definitive alt mode and creating a really suitable and nice-looking one for her. I can best describe her body proportions as those of an Olympic gymnast- short stature with well-defined musculature, especially the legs, and I'm fine with it. The sculpt work is well-done, especially the mechanical details on her shoulder pods, her little exposed belly section above the waist, and on her arms and knee areas. It's a good reimagination of G1 Arcee, one that arguably works better than her original human-doll- with-shoulder-pods look that lacks the necessary mass to assume a car mode without a bit of animation magic or some very clever engineering (looking at you MMC Azalea).
  17. M'Kyuun
    Love that ep. Didn't realize who it was under all that makeup. Alas, David Warner has a rather impressive list of credits on IMDB- it's really amazing how so many of these actors have contributed to media, whether voicing a character in a toon or a documentary or piling on the makeup to morph into someone completely new. Mr. Warner left an indelible stamp on entertainment, giving unforgettable and significant performances that remain in memories long after the credits have rolled. We're all the poorer for his passing.
  18. M'Kyuun
    That's a really fair point- why even have the semblance of a cockpit or cabin if you're autonomous? But of course, the answer is that the engineering is going backwards, starting with Earth alts and projecting those vehicular characteristics onto their Cybertronian alts as a way of making them relatable. Hey Mike, where'd you see sketches of Arcee's proposed bike mode? I've expended the limits of my Google-Fu to no avail. TFW2005 has a whole thread on Bee Movie concept art, and after perusing every page of the thread, I didn't see it there either. If you have it saved, and you don't mind, please post it for reference. Thanks. Your review is the first where I really saw those arms and chest forming the back of the bike, and yeah, the arms are woefully obvious. Woulda made a difference if the hands weren't just hanging out there obviously. But then again, being a Cybertronian alt, like the cockpit question, would all bot bits really need to be hidden away in an alt mode? Maybe they transform as much for rapid locomotion as for disguise where having obvious bot bits wouldn't make a difference. I'm playing devil's advocate, of course. I'd prefer all obvious traces of the bot be hidden or disguised believably as part of the alt, but the practicality of hiding everything beggars questioning on a world of bots that can transform into this or that and not every bot is involved in fighting or requires a disguise, but where the alt is a practical extension of their occupation, perhaps. I dig this version of Arcee. Mine's allegedly in the mail and should reach me soon, and I'm anticipating her arrival. That said, I'm not at all crazy about the face design, which looks to me like a cross between a marionette with the chin cutout and Sil the Alien from Species. She's actually kinda creepy looking, IMHO. But, I do think the alt they designed for her ultimately fits her body design better than her traditional car alt. It's a shame they couldn't find a way to streamline her and hide more of her bot bits away in bike mode, but IIWII, and I still think she's a nice addition to the Bee Movie crew.
  19. M'Kyuun
    NASA's X-59 may pave the way for an American supersonic transport (at long last).
  20. M'Kyuun
    I wasn't clear in what I think a midi-fig, as I call it, should be: I think they should keep the same aesthetic as the original minifig, which I agree has its charm. But I wouldn't mind a slightly taller minifig with knees and elbows as well as jointed shoulders that allow for adduction/abduction. I think they should keep the same basic torso shape and size. I think a fig at this scale would still integrate well into most of LEGO's existing themes. Of course, seating would have to be adjusted somewhat to allow for the knees, but that would also introduce more realism. I don't think they should retire the original minifig- it's iconic. But in action themes, I think a more posable fig would prove its value.
  21. M'Kyuun
    You're welcome! Aw, thanks technoblue. It means a great deal to me. As for sharing my knowledge of LEGO, I enjoy sharing what I know if I think it'll make the experience for others more fulfilling and enjoyable. I sincerely hope it's helpful. I too get schooled by other fans as well, so I appreciate the give & take of info to make the hobby better for everyone. As for improved joints, LEGO's been making improvements here and there; this year alone has seen the release of 79505 and 80563 which I've long wished for, and which are sure to greatly improve joint integrity and function on larger mecha/creature builds. But the old Exo-Force ratcheting joint system, while wonderful in its compact form and range of motion, lacks the inherent strength to handle much weight and beggars improvement. I'd also like to see them improve the friction on their Technic cup and ball joint system. I've been wishing for a minifig with improved articulation for very long time. The minifig is a great design, but it's also an anachronism from the late 70s and it betrays its extreme limitations. After handling Mega Bloks' superb minifigs, with shoulder, elbow, wrist, head, waist, hip, and knee articulation at a similar size to the LEGO minifig, it only cements in my mind that not only is it possible, but it should be imperative, especially as LEGO continues to expand their action-based lines. More and more, the limitations of the minifig are manifest. Whatever your feelings towards Mega Bloks, you can't argue that the range of articulation capable with these figs wouldn't enhance your LEGO play experience.
  22. M'Kyuun
    That's a clever transformation system. I'm not crazy about the huge hump her car has as a result of using her legs to form the back of the car, but using her feet for seats is pretty cool. It's yet another clever take on one of the more difficult G1 characters to translate into toy form. Her bot mode is ace, and the compromises to her car mode are minimal. New age did a good job. I wonder if Magic Square has one in the works. I usually like to look at both offerings and make a decision on one or the other.
  23. M'Kyuun
    It is, but the Comanche just looks cooler. Whatever its detractors, it's a beautiful bird. He looks happy. I'm happy for him. 👍😊 Both look great. Fantastic! 🤣 I didn't know that, but not surprising. The F-104 was an incredible jet in its time- lots of records. With no regard towards Batplanes past, or their association with any particular company, that comic is hilarious.
  24. M'Kyuun
    That's a very well-elucidated critique, Lechuck. I like Skullface, but even by his own admission, transforming stuff isn't his forte, and I've watched any number of vids where he missed things on a review that earned his ire, and were later pointed out in the comments or by people he knows. He's generally good about admitting mistakes, though, which speaks to his character. However, your point that he's often overly critical and misses salient features of a toy he's reviewing is certainly valid. Bobby has his particular standards and opinions, so one must go into his reviews knowing that. Again, I appreciate your point-by-point critique- clear, concise, with well-stated counterarguments. Excellent. For transformations, EmGo is generally my go-to. Some may not care for his brand of humor (sometimes it's a bit much for me, too), but so far as skill in handling and explaining the toys he reviews, he's thorough, positive, and also willing to admit when he makes a mistake, which in my experience, isn't too often. Em comes prepared to his reviews, having handled the toy a fair bit prior to going on-camera. He's also not shy about pointing out the things that are wonky, tricky, or just unpleasant in handling a particular toy, which makes for a fair and balanced review regardless of his personal opinion towards the toy in question. I also enjoy Wotafa's reviews. Wotafa always offers a cheerful, exuberant presentation of the toy he's reviewing, and regardless of whether or not I care about the toy, Wotafa's performance alone is worth the watch even though I don't understand Japanese. He, too, always comes prepared, demonstrating the features and transformation with great skill and attention to detail. Always a fun watch that gives me a chuckle or three by the time I'm done watching. Love his positive and enthusiastic approach.
  25. M'Kyuun
    I get you. As I said, as with most of what LEGO does in their Creator Expert, Icons, and Ideas lines, I am in awe of the sheer talent manifest in the various models, and the Atari is no exception. The subject matter, however, has little appeal for me personally. By contrast, although I'm not a car guy, I appreciate models like the Volkswagon Beetle, the Ford Mustang, and the Mini Cooper, just to name the ones I have in my own collection. I'm tempted to add the James Bond Aston Martin DB-5 to that list- I think it's brilliant. Going further, I think the Botanical line is a brilliant as well; I don't own any, although I'm tempted to pick one or two up. They have a certain appeal- not for everyone, but I think it's cool that they're doing something so outside of their traditional norms. Likewise the Murals and Architecture lines. I was playing with LEGO before the minifig made its debut in '79, so I've seen a lot of evolution and progress over the years. I also remember the dark times in the early 00s when they were producing lackluster sets and nearly went bankrupt. They've had quite the journey, and I've been along for the ride. Thank goodness for Jorgen Knudstorp and LEGO's willingness to listen to his advice. From just going back to basics and making nice looking sets again focusing on the building experience to almost twenty years later with all the eclectic themes they now offer, I'm grateful that my favorite hobby has persisted and been so successful and open-minded. As a mecha MOC builder and articulation fiend, I do wish they'd make stronger and more varied joints, as well as a fully articulated midi-fig as an analog to the beloved minifig. Alas, their open-mindedness has its limits.
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