dr_vandermeer

Blazing Sword!

Wouldn't be the first time he's been banned for this kind of behavior... http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:DM0KL1...p;client=safari

That footage that they showed makes me super excited for this movie. Anyone got a comparison of the first venom design that came out with the first trailers with the more recent one as seen in Ladic's post? For some reason, I remember it being slightly different.

MOTOSLAVE FTW.

He looks BADASS.

To me this is more about our end cost so I'm totally going to avoid the gold vs. crap debate about the quality of Yamato's output... The way I see it, there are a variety of factors that leads to the end price that a consumer pays for these items - final destination, import cost, manufacture cost, taxes, retailer, etc. Most of it is just unavoidable, so it's just a fact of life that Consumer A will pay $100 and Consumer B pays $130 for the same item. However, one thing that I do see that has always bothered my is the size of Yamato's packaging. There are surely a number of ways that it can be reduced, and yet they continue to create humongous packaging that as far as I can tell, adds cost to the end price that a consumer pays. Not to mention that from a business standpoint, they're making it difficult to buy more of their toys by virtue of them taking up so much space, especially in space-starved Japan where room is a premium. I do understand and appreciate that they are trying to create a desirable piece of packaging to enhance the toy's value, but it's personally not worth the extra cost to me. Reduce the size of the packaging and the end costs for these items for everyone will drop.

Did you get it from them? How much was it from HLJ plus shipping? I think I remember that they also don't guarantee that the condition of the box will be good, or am I mistaken?

One thing it definitely has is interchangable hands. I think I would've preferred jointed fingers, but let's see where the prototype goes from here.

Agreed. It's definitely a nice touch.

That is cool. So does anyone know what is says on the stickers exactly?

So you're saying that Takara has those spaces so that you don't have to take the gun and backpack apart to put back in the spaces in the other side of the box? That's interesting.

For those of you with the new Jin-Roh igure, I was wondering if you knew about the pieces that look like they are missing in the tray next to the main figure's legs? A dealer told me that they come like that on all the figures, and the black stickers look like they say something about it that I can't read. Wish I had a better closeup pic, but I don't.

Anyone have any leads on where to pick this up at a good price?

Man, you either made Ravage look really good, or Hasbro's photographers make him look really bad. I wrote him off from the pics I had seen before, but may just have to get one now!

VERY COOL! Your work and photos are great!

Anyone have size comparison pics with the original Large SDF-1?

Japantown.

Also if you are in the Bay Area or plan a trip there, make a stop to Super 7s brick and mortar store too. A great place and highly recommended!

Not me, but my friend works as a designer at Hasbro. She gets me the hook up every now and then.

Styrofoam is the only thing that should be used for toy packaging. Accept no substitues.

I was just there and have some suggestions... Take the Limobus. Super easy, especially when dealing with big bags. Stay at a hotel that the Limobus stops at and picks up from. Again, this makes it incredibly easy when dealing with big bags. Bring extra suitcases, or buy big ones in Tokyo. Makes sure they are strong on as many sides as possible. When packing your items, what helped me out what putting another sturdy cardboard box within your large suitcase for extra protection. Mandarake will even sell you one of theirs for like $2 for a strong, nice sized one that you can cut down and tape up. Good luck!

Congratulations on the recent marriage! I am sure that you are doing what is best for you in the long run. Although I never purchased any of your products, I don't think I'd be wrong in sayig that we are all grateful for the wonderful service you provided over the years. Now go get that Ph.D!

THAT. IS. AWESOME. And diecast?! DAMN!

Now THAT is freaking awesome. Wow!

I've got a bunch of old Japanese ones, including the big Godzilla looking one. He was so bad-ass.