RavenHawk

1 hour ago, no3Ljm said:

Looks cool, right? Even though it's not anime-accurate still looks awesome.   

Probably easier than Beagle's version too.

 

Another thing. With all the new photos they've shown, they still couldn't show a side profile of the bike with the rider mounted. I'm really curious to see how the rider looks esp the legs area while its feet is resting on the footrest.

 

Not a side view, but this shows just how far back the feet go. Toes on the ground, too...

7 minutes ago, seti88 said:

Transformation detailed in the blog....

 

and further pics of stick...

 

I like it. From what I can see, I like it a lot, especially how the tank folds over the rider, front to back.

While it might be a pain to do, it looks like you MIGHT even be able to transform the bike while the rider remains seated the whole time (if shuffling forward during the transformation).

What's that in the background? Reflection of one of the Aoshima reissue model kits?

23 minutes ago, no3Ljm said:

 on the boxart. 

 

Not that I care much, since the boxes go in storage while the toy is going to be what's on display... but the box art looks a little uninspired. Maybe I'm spoiled by the recent reissues with some of the gorgeous 80s art.

18 hours ago, jenius said:

Arcadia pushed their Garland from December to July... meaning my Max 1J is hostage fir a while... so it could be worse.

Yeah, between Sentinel and Arcadia, I'm just using the time to fill in gaps in my collections while I wait. Picked up the metallic edition Yamato Garland a few weeks ago, and just got the metalic/translucent CMs Yellow this week.

Just posted on Facebook:

So, the new factory sample is on display at the store... but it sounds like we're still a ways off.

Does this also mean that the figure cannot fit in robot mode, but only the top half of the body?

25 minutes ago, troyness said:

@no3Ljm & RavenHawk.

I'm with u guys. The race position would effect seated posing options. I sense a 3D printed attachable footpeg PF in our future...That footpeg is pinned in good. Seems integral to the EXO frame?? Could it be taken out & on an adjustable sliding track?

I have two on preorder. I'll probably leave one exactly as is on the cover illustration, and 3D print some upgrades to the other for personal tastes (a rear mudguard, which would make the armor mode actually look symmetrical with covers over both tires; foot shifter and foot brake, which would work for posing, though would be a terrible idea in real life; the rocket launcher from the cover illustration; whatever else comes to mind).

On 3/10/2018 at 7:39 AM, tekering said:

Interesting.  While I agree that Mospeada and Bubblegum Crisis are superior to Megazone 23, I prefer it to Bubblegum Crash or the AD Police Files.  In fact, I'd even rate Megazone 23 Part II far above Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, Paradise Dolls, or any of that post-90s dreck.  If it ain't Kenichi Sonoda, it ain't BGC. 

And yes, the glut of Garland merchandise is as surprising as the dearth of Knight Sabers merchandise is disappointing...!

Well, we seem to have similar tastes, but not identical. That's just how it is with these types of things: each of us have some things resonate with us more than others.

Not to belabor the point, but it really doesn't make sense to me how much merchandise there seems to be for MZ23, and how little for any iteration of BGC (like only Atelier Sai having made the Scoop Chase hardsuits; luckily, I think that Yamato really did an impressive job on their toys).

If you can find a decent price on it, I think it's definitely worth it. I usually see them on auction sites in the US anywhere from $300-600. 

In my case, I was on the lookout to try to fill out my Yamato Garland collection, and everything else was just a bonus. Ended up finding it on eBay from the UK in "used" condition (i.e. the box was a little banged up, but everything inside looked like it had never even been opened). At under $100, even after shipping to the US, it was an absolute no brainer for me and I'm super happy with the purchase. Seeing how gorgeous the book is was a thrill.

6 hours ago, no3Ljm said:

Just so you know, the Riobot figures match the concept design by Aramaki which is the basis is for. It's not the design from the anime. Though you can tell that the footrest/peg rests folder in the side thigh armor.

I knew the Sentinel version was based on Aramaki's design from the MOSPEADA book (I own that book and absolutely love it), but I'm embarrassed to say that I totally missed the folded up footpeg on the thigh armor on the cover. Wow, I can't believe I missed that...

Good catch!

If they match Aramaki's design, then I'm totally ok with the footpeg placement (even if the motorcyclist in me isn't).

I've been wanting a toy of this design since I first preordered the book in late 2008.

2 hours ago, no3Ljm said:

You're welcome troyness.

The only thing I don't like so far from what I have seen on the photos is the placement where the footrest/peg is. It's way too back. Felt like you can't pose the figure in a 'relax' ride pose (sitting relax) but rather it's always in the 'race' ride mode (leaning closer to the bike). I really like the footrest placement on the Beagle's though. If only they made the folding mechanism on the other side where it folds rather where it is now, maybe then it will look much better... for me.

 

Anyways, I'm still excited for this. Can't wait till end of March so they can ship the first one.

 

I agree with you on the footpeg placement, and it's something that has been bothering me all along.

It doesn't match the original animation...

It doesn't match the concept art...

(in fairness, I just did a look through a bunch of the real original concept art, and it mostly seems to just skip the footpegs entirely, so this might not be a good argument)

... and, in my opinion, the MOSPEADA would, if in the real world, be intended more like a Ducati Multistrada, where the rider might find themselves just as likely on paved roads as on slightly rougher terrain requiring more of an upright, weight off the seat, stance.

19 hours ago, tekering said:

I'd advise you to temper your expectations.  It's fondly remembered among us oldskool mechheads as a sci-fi classic, but keep in mind it's nothing more than a failed TV series.  Like Robotech II: The Sentinels, Megazone 23 got only three episodes animated before the sponsor pulled out, leaving a direct-to-video release the only option for the production to recoup costs.  The production values are no better than any '80s TV series, and it's only a small group of core fans that continue to support the production of new merchandise.  Most people have never even heard of it.

Especially in Japan.  

That's what always surprised me with the toy lines.

It seems like Megazone 23 has gotten a lot more love from toy makers and model makers than you would expect. Big Yamato line (about equal to Bubblegum Crisis), decent Aoshima line, and now three separate companies making figures, with at least one planning a full line. All of this from 3 OVAs, with most fans really only being partial to the first.

Compare that to Bubblegum Crisis with 8 initial episodes, 3 more in Bubblegum Crash, 3 in A.D. Police Files, 3 in Parasite Dolls, 12 in A.D. Police: To Serve and Protect, and 26 more in the reboot Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040, and yet the same, if not less, merchandise.

Back to expectations on Megazone 23:

All of this is just my personal opinions, and my personal tastes... but I don't think it's that great. There are SEPARATE ELEMENTS of it that I love, but most of the movie does nothing for me. I keep coming back to it mainly because of my love of bikes and Shinji Aramaki designs, as well as some of the ideas behind the storylines, rather than the actual execution of those ideas.

Most people seem to love the first OVA, and hate the two sequels (the final one of which is more like 2 separate, shorter, distinct movies). For me, personally, I think they don't stand up well together as a trilogy, but I think each is totally ok taken separately, in and of itself.

I still love and collect Megazone 23 items, but, for my personal tastes and for my personal enjoyment of watching and regular re-watching, the Aramaki rankings are:

1) Genesis Climber MOSPEADA

2) Bubblegum Crisis

3) Bubblegum Crash

4) Viper's Creed

5) BGC Tokyo 2040

6) Megazone 23

7) remaining BGC spin-offs

18 hours ago, tekering said:

Harmony Gold had 35mm prints of Megazone 23, but they only had 16mm prints of Southern Cross to work from.  The drop-off wasn't in production standards, just the quality of the film stock.  You'd hardly notice it on video, but seeing film projected on a movie screen, it makes a significant difference.

Honestly, I think you can even tell when you watch it on the small screen. it's especially jarring with the new ending adding in for Robotech: The Untold Story

3 hours ago, JetJockey said:

That's some set. What are the contents of the artbook? I think there is a standard version of it but I'm not sure.

 

It looks like that E=X Garland missed February release date was delayed a few months. And Arcadia didn't have their E=X Garland at WF. But on the plus side, I'm going to borrow Megazone 23 from a friend of mine. So I'll get to see it soon. I hope it's as good as it looks.

I think it may be the same contents as the "Maneuver Book" with the silver cover and the top-down view of the Garland, but I don't own that book to compare.

If someone on here does, and wants to post a couple pages from it to compare, I'll do the same from mine to verify.

6 minutes ago, Sildani said:

Just posted on Arcadia’s Twitter:

”[Notice] Dear customers regarding the "Garland" to be released this month, for the creation of a new mold by a significant specification change, it became that I will change the release to July 2018.
The thing that was a frequent delay, I am indeed sorry.
Thank you for your understanding. ameblo.jp/arcadiaac/entr…”

Ouch, sorry guys. 

We've been discussing over at the newer thread 

6 hours ago, locidm said:

Arcadia delayed to July, diecast will replace plastic in some areas for strengthening.

https://ameblo.jp/arcadiaac/entry-12356412578.html

So we've gone from 12/2017 to 3/2018, and now to 7/2018.

I have to say it makes me wonder 2 things:

1) If the original, more minor rework (at least as I understood it) caused an estimate of 4 months delay, and this more significant rework (again, from my understanding of the blog post) is ALSO estimated at 4 months delay, how reliable are these estimates? Seems like that July date could easily slip a couple more months, even if no new issues are discovered (especially considering that the blog post seems to say that they are reopening ordering to get more orders in, which could lead to larger production quantities and production times).

and

2) At some point, with all of these delays, and with the creation of new molds for the diecast bits, and with material cost increases, either they're going to take a big hit on profit, or they're going to have to increase the price.

4 hours ago, daBlah! said:

If they could toss in those attack parts to make up for the 2 delays now that would be fantastic! 

I'd preorder a second one if that were the case!

9 minutes ago, DestroidDefender said:

The Yamato Garland was cool until the shoulders disintegrated. I was planning on designing and printing 3d replacements but never got around to it. Has anyone been able to source replacement shoulders for the original Yamato edition?

There were some on shapeways, but I don't trust their quality.

I run a 3d printing business on the side, and was expecting to be modeling and printing up some new ones just for myself for my new metallic Garland. I was assuming they would arrive disintegrated, like on my old ProtoGarland (which is why I have two of that one; Yamato sent me a whole new one when one shoulder broke on my first one). However, the metallic Garland actually has the later improved joints.

On 2/23/2018 at 6:28 PM, Chas said:

https://hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?Word=1/15 aoshima ride armor

Up for order at HLJ.

Darn, i was hoping for a transforming Houquet. Guess we're still stuck with just the 1/18 CMs and the 1/20 Gakken.

Since we're still waiting on the new MZ23 stuff, I figured I'd try to fill in my collection of older toys. A few weeks ago, I came across the Megazone 23 Complete Box for an absolute steal of a price (it seems to currently run anywhere from $200-$600).

This is the big box that includes the 1/15th Yamato "Metallic" Garland, the DVD, the original soundtrack, an art book, and what I think is a promo disc for the MZ23 Playstation game (haven't tried it out to confirm, and it isn't listed on the contents).

To keep this thread going while we wait, and for some comparisons once the new Arcadia stuff comes out, I'm including some pics.

Front of the box

Back of the box.

It's a nice, big, flipbook style of presentation. The flap includes the insert which has the book and discs, while the main box includes the Yamato figure.

The front of the book (in it's protective plastic sleeve, which includes the title (on the sleeve, not on the book itself).

The book is really nice, on very glossy and heavy stock paper, almost all in color. It is all in Japanese, though, interestingly, the pages go left to right. It's around 100 pages long.

The back of the book shows some alternate paint schemes. In addition to a lot of concept artwork (including some that I was surprised not to have seen before), there are more alternate color schemes inside.

The disc "twin pac" is nice and solid, including the DVD on a first flap, the soundtrack behind it, and a paper sleeve with the (I think) Playstation game inserted loosely.

The Garland is in the standard Yamato plastic insert, inside a cardboard sleeve. Usual accessories for the standard Garland are included, as well as a decent instruction booklet.

This is the "metallic" edition.

I don't know if I would call this really "metallic". I have the Yamato metallic re-issue of Priss and her Motoslave, and that one actually has a genuinely metallic finish to it, a bit like an aluminum anodize. This is more of a darker, richer color than what was on the regular edition.

Same mold as before, so Shogo can either be seated fully, or he can be holding the handlebars, but not really both. This is probably necessary in order for Shogo to fit inside when it is transformed into robot mode.

Basically, the bike is 1/15 scale, and the figure is closer to 1/18 (in my opinion).

Just for fun, and size comparison, here is the Garland in bike mode with the Mayhem Mekanics Spector Rogue (which arrived recently, too).

A bit more of a size disparity in robot mode (partially because the Garland's legs extend during transformation at both the knees and the ankles).

The "metallic" finish is a bit more evident in robot mode, especially on the brown parts of the legs, which look much richer (for lack of a better word).

And, of course, we need to bring out the rest of the crew (well, the ones that I have that seem to be close to that 1/18 scale, anyway).

Don't mess with those Shinji Aramaki designs.

I already picked up the re-issue of the Stig and Yellow, but haven't seen the Houquet before.

On 2/18/2018 at 3:26 PM, F360 said:

wf2018

http://hobby.dengeki.com/event/527535/

Oh Arcadia, it looks like you're going to be taking even more of my money...

27 minutes ago, easnoddy said:

Both were delayed another month...

Gonna be an expensive April (ET Legioss, Sentinel Mospeada, HMR VF-1A)

You beat me to it. Was wondering about these, and was literally on HLJ checking if the release dates had changed when you posted this.

I'm getting a little concerned with the delays and the lack of any updated prototype pics or samples.

1 minute ago, Sandman said:

More like $60.

That wouldn't surprise me.

I have SolidWorks and three 3D printers. I'll be content making my own.

35 minutes ago, jenius said:

I bet the bazooka shows up at Wonderfest, it's just too cool.

... for $30...