lechuck

Looks fine to me, I'm (still) in.

Unlike with the Yamato one there is actually a proper Battroid mode to be had.

So any guesses as to the size/scale is this Orguss?

Better images of...

Metal Build Shin Getter 1/Tarak

Was hoping Sentinel would reissue their Riobot Shin Getter, this will be interesting to find out how the MB compares.

Metal Build Lancelot Albion

Look great, but will probably skip it the minute I find out cockpit is void of a pilot again (just like Guren). Sounds terribly pedantic, but things like that irk me to no end.

Metal Build Sirbine

16 hours ago, M'Kyuun said:

On the periphery of my memory, I somewhat recall those shows being released on DVD. Needless to say, although I'll say it anyway, I didn't pick them up.  I wasn't sure if Hasbro had put them on their YT channel or not; I know all the G1 stuff is there, but I didn't know if they put the Japanese shows on there too. Might've been a good strategy, prior to revealing both Star Saber and Deathsaurus, to get those shows dubbed and put on there to attract more of an audience leading up to selling toys. I'm no marketing exec, but that kinda seems right to me.

I think you are asking to much of Hasbro.

• They probably don't have command of the G1JP cartoons like they do with the Sunbow, so it would mean licensing and distribution discussions.
• These are 30+ year old cartoons now with an inclination of Japanese/Asian story telling and themes, not sure that is going to really attract a new audience.
• The greater audience – who is that exactly going to be? Those that are buying into Star Saber and Deathsaurus already know who they are and don't need the cartoon as an introduction. It's doubtful your average mum and dad, auntie/uncle or grandparents buying toys for the kids know of or care about Haslab/Pulse, so the cartoon won't help. Even if today's kids got to know Victory and started nagging their family for the Haslab offerings, the sticker price would instantly kill any discussions to be had.

Licencing, dubbing and maybe editing an old cartoon for a western audience in the hopes of increasing the user base for Haslab would be a poor ROI for Hasbro.

I keep forgetting we have this wonderful thread for cool toy action posing pictures...

Sentinel's next Riobots are going to be Tetsujin 28 FX and Black Ox.

https://www.taghobby.com/archives/663550
https://www.taghobby.com/archives/663555

4 hours ago, Scyla said:

Something has to be said about the general design of the Metal Build Hi-Nu. I was on the fence when it was first announced, derivating too much from the source material (and my beloved MG Ver. Ka kit). Having the piece in hand it is absolutely stunning. However there has to be said about the sculpt of the Ver. Ka. Katoki Hajime managed to marry the blocky, functional design of a war machine with the sleek roundness of a high performance Formula One car which makes it special. This is something that the Metal Build didn’t manage to capture.

4 hours ago, PsYcHoDyNaMiX said:

I completely agree with the MB Hi-Nu. Although after fiddling around with the first funnel I got the hang of the rest.

Yea this version does have some presence and it does lose the F1 sleek roundness appearance. The open hatch/expanding panels help with compensating the overly lean look, but yes the blocky look still dominates. This design has grown on me. It towers over my MB Astray Red Frame Alt Strike Ver by about 3cm.

It was the same for me, from all those preview images it just did not look right – especially the lower part of legs felt like it was wrongly proportioned – but once in hand any issues I had were gone. The design style has really grown on me and can appreciate it, in a way it feels like an in-between of MG Ver.Ka (Izubuchi's original design) and the first MG with the revised look that Izubuchi did on it.

Also I just want to say that it feels so gratifying to have the Hi-Nu able stand with all the funnels attached and not toppling over or needing something to lean against.

Anybody else have the Sentinel's Riobot Mazinkaiser?
Getting a lot of enjoyment out of it, really like the articulation and accessories this toy has.

Optimus Prime with GBP-1S armour... meh, not my cup of tea.

I guess FM-01 (why are they calling themselves Fans Models now?) is going to be their Masterpiece OP.

12 hours ago, sh9000 said:

For anyone wondering:

The HMR VF-1 in Battroid mode is approximately 1/89 scale.  The HMR VF-0S in Battroid mode is approximately 1/90 scale.  

The Yamato/Arcadia VF-1 in Battroid mode is approximately 1/60 scale.  The Arcadia VF-0S in Battroid mode is approximately 1/55 scale.

So that raises the question – what is Bandai doing differently with their VF-0S (transformation) to achieve better scale compatibility compared to Arcadia?

19 hours ago, Hikaru Ichijo SL said:

It is such a awesome update of Galaxy Convoy.

Looks great! Really wish Takara would start branching out their MP line for the other continuities.

On 10/15/2022 at 5:11 AM, Dangard Ace said:

Wish these guys had Seijushi Bismarck(Saber Rider) on their radar.   The old GC-22 is nice but the articulation needs updating.

This!
I just don't get the disinterest on Bismark, did the show perform that bad in Japan back in the day? Or is WEP doing a HG and having some type of stranglehold on the licence?

Anyway some fresh pics of SOC Mazinkaizer SKL. More at https://www.taghobby.com/archives/622667.

On 10/9/2022 at 9:41 PM, Robin-11 said:

Same exact thing here. Bandai's policy is getting every day more absurd... personally i couldn't even find the pre-order for it on AJP...good thing gunpla are not very expensive so custom taxes won't be so tragic...just out of curiosity, how much do they charge in germany for importing this kind of goods? In italy with DHL is around the 30% of the purchase(including shipping which is absolutely ridicoulous).

Sorry for the late reply – German VAT is at 19% and so far I have never come across additional custom taxes for importing. If the store doesn't declare the item value at all or doesn't collect/register the VAT beforehand at purchase (see EU IOSS), then DHL Germany will charge an additional flat fee of €6.00 for handing and up-fronting taxation.

On AJP for example I normally just pay the 19% VAT (after subtracting the 10% Japanese tax) + DHL shipping cost. I can't evade the VAT, but their pre-order discounts normally compensate for that and I have absolute transparency of eventual costs. With AE I seem to evade any required VAT and never been charged anything additional by DHL – not quite sure what magic they are working here.

Definitely the VF-0S is physically a bigger toy, but I'm not convinced it scales properly at all between them.

The HMR VF-1S is not true 1/100 scale (more like 1/90) and from the image one can see that the feet of the VF-0S have been over extended for increased height, which is not really the default position for Battroid mode.

If anyone wants to follow this latest Gundam show, you might want to keep an eye on GundamInfo Youtube channel. They will be streaming it regularly from 9 October, but seems to be region locked a the moment.

https://www.gundamkitscollection.com/2022/10/gundam-info-will-now-stream-witch-from.html

3 hours ago, Robin-11 said:

Well, i live in europe so i guess i am pretty much screwed. Damn Bandai! I don't think there are any reliable local sites in my country which sell gunpla. Here in Italy it's all about myth cloth and soul of chogokin...and if there are i am pretty sure i will be getting my copy six months after the release date. Thank you anyway for your answer.

In the same boat, options have really dried up since Bandai gave Europeans the finger. Options would be HLJ, Amazon JP or once in a while Anime-Export. First two are not really attractive for different reasons and AE seems to be more focused on the P-Bandai stuff.

HLJ – stock and pricing is weak and you'll be greeted by the courier with an open hand asking for the VAT and an additional charge for handling the taxation with the customs.
AJP – good luck getting in on a pre-order. Tried with MGEX Strike Freedom and Zeta Ver.Ka and failed miserably.

On 10/7/2022 at 4:02 PM, Scyla said:

Horrible (bot-mode); I ordered one!

I have it on pre-order too, but I actually think Suiken might be the best bot so far. MPG-04 seems to have better articulation with the ab-crunch and forward pivoting shoulders, something the first three train bots are painfully missing.

Anyway Takara posted another video going into more detail about Yukikaze and Suiken.

It had to be a new Enterprise with a new letter tacked on it.... and so a little less than 30 years of service for the Enterprise-E this time around?🙄 Pretty lame decision by the producers if you ask me, would have been more refreshing to just stick with the Sovereign-class.

I don't mind the Odyssey-class (not my favourite), but I'm more annoyed that they couldn't even come up with an original design for the successor ship. Reusing designs from a video game or borrowing from kitbashes is basically the designers declaring bankruptcy at their profession.

MPG-04 Suiken revealed and available for pre-order.

https://www.taghobby.com/archives/650021

YF-29 seems to be next in the new HG line.

https://hobby.dengeki.com/news/1693968/

At first I was kind of "meh" with this announcement as I thought the 2.0 kit was still fine enough to go along with other more modern MGs. But looking more closely at the refinements, my appreciation has grown. The chest now sitting more vertical or the smaller profile of the wing binders and the enhanced articulation give this release some merit.

Also note that rotating cockpit – never ever tell me that something like that is not possible for the VF-1. An absolute sin that the much larger the DX wasn't designed to pull this off!

Only have a basic Alto, so I am considering. Great that it is WWM, so not going to bother with the JPN pre-order hassle.

But this also feels like Bandai just short-changed fans that recently bought the naked, non-canon, non-descriptive blue 25F.

On 9/27/2022 at 11:36 PM, Scyla said:

Sounds reasonable to me. The ones on Mandarake are at about ¥26,000 so if you factor in shipping, sales tax, customs and handling fees when importing it would be around €250.

MSRP for the item was ¥31,900.

Thanks, I went for it.

It's kind of funny, because I did the same cross referencing and factoring with Mandarake, but thought I might have something wrong in my assessment. Also local EU stores... when are they ever reasonable or competitive with their pricing right?

This looks like a solid offering by Bandai. Perfectly fine with "shortcut change", it was kind of expected and probably for the better as to not force ugly concessions on the different modes.

Battroid feels like it is going to be fun putting it in dynamic poses, just wished one could detach the cockpit area and somehow insert into the Battroid spine piece with a little egress hatch. That would have been a nice touch.