RavenHawk

I'll give it a shot tomorrow. Thanks.

Thanks. I was actually planning on trying the exact same thing with the scotch tape, but you beat me to the punch. I'll give it a try.

You're right. My mistake. Ok, so I'm taking about the blue bike she steals from a guy...

Thanks, clearly the legs weren't fully extended. No, I DO mean the Sue Graham "Shadow Fighter" Alpha. Why?

Though there are some slight similarities to the Morpho 2. Maybe this is more based on 80's views of future bikes, than direct inspiration.

I started rewatching the original Bubblegum Crisis (2032) last night. I noticed Priss' blue bike (her personal one, not a moto-slave) in the first episode (and, to a lesser degree, in the second), before she starts using a red one. Does anyone have any good screen captures of this bike? From what I could see, it looks very very reminiscent of the Yamaha Morpho. I wondr if it may have been any sort of design inspiration for GK Dynamics.

Ok, so I put in some more time with the Shadow Alpha and blue Beta (Robotech Masterpiece Collection). As before, absolutely love the Beta. Still, only complaints are the connector boom sliding out of the Beta, and the slight flimsiness of the stand. To an earlier question, no problems with paint on the Alpha. Nothing broken. Looks great. Got the arms to fully extend. Not sure if I'm getting the legs to fully extend. Leg posability seems a little limited. Transforms fine now that I have the hang of it, but I can't seem to get the arms to fully close, and the lower torso to fully collapse, so that the arms can be fully collapsed in fighter mode. I am definitely happier with this than when I first unboxed it, but still have some issues.

That may well be, we'll have to wait and see. I hope I get my Shadow Beta and Shadow Masterpiece Cyclone before that happens...

I see what you mean. Ok, based on that, it sounds even more like I made the right choice going with Toynami, at least for what I'm looking for. I'll see if I can get the two to connect closer together tonight. The connector not locking to the Beta though... still a big deal to me, especially considering how obvious and easy it would be. Thanks for the input.

Nothing broken on my Alpha (hopefully nothing will break tonight when I muck around with it some more). Seems to be fine. Paint seemed just fine everywhere, but I'll take a really close look tonight if you want.

Don't get me wrong, I'm still glad that I got the Toynami and not the CM's, if for no other reasons that the scale of the Beta relative to the Alpha, and the darker coloring. Just, still disappointed by some elements. Have to get back to finding a blue Alpha now...

Looking at your site now, at the comparison. Obviously I don't have one now, but it looks like the connector holds the Beta more firmly on the CM that the slide-in piece on the Toynami, and it doesn't look like it holds the Alpha any WORSE... what am I missing? I don't know what we need for a display stand... maybe 4 legs joining to a smaller platform, which connects to the connector boom.

I think they could have, but it would've required more development time (removing the "fast" from the three choices, and possibly costing some of the "cheap"). If the Alpha was designed anywhere near as well as the Beta, I'd have almost nothing but praise. Still don't like the connection between the two. I thought I had read that the CM's connection was even worse, though I'm having some trouble picturing that.

I just loves JT Marsh's eframe that changed into a motorcycle... Too bad it never made it into the show.

So does any one have any affordable stronger stands that they could recommend for the Alpha/Beta combo? Any fixes for getting the connecting boom to hold the two together better as well?

It is the rear landing gear, like you said. I'll try what you suggested tonight. I think I've been very gentle with trying to get the arms to pull out fully and with the landing gear because I've read so many stories on here about these things breaking. As simple as it is, you do make a good point: if it started out in fighter mode, it can get back to it. I'll try to play around with it some more tonight. Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about it. I used the non-broken one last night, and no tumors yet. The issue is really, I THINK, about there being these more-or-less carcinogenic materials that it's made out of, not that leach into your drink. Drink out of the mug, just don't grind it up into your breakfast.

Wow, very helpful stuff. I really appreciate it. I'm going to muck around with this over the next few days and let you know how it turns out. I think I'm frustrated because: 1) I've wanted these since I was 9 2) These things are pretty pricey, even if limited product runs somewhat justify the cost 3) Having worked as an engineer for a decade now, from design through project management, I get frustrated when I see something produced with these kinds of issues while knowing that they COULD be remedied at the factory (just look at how nicely the Beta works) Thanks again.

Yeah, I did spread the feet/thrusters and recess the "connection points." It's definitely clear that that is where the Alpha's arms arm supposed to fit into, but mine don't even come close to it.

Ok, so my package from Robotech.com arrived yesterday, containing a blue Beta, the Shadow Alpha, and the two Mars Barse mugs. I didn't have much time to mess around with everything last night, but here are my initial impressions: Mugs: The one that didn't arrive broken is really nice, though the label on the bottom that says that California law requires them to tell me that it coontains substances which has been found to be carcinogenic really isn;t as reassuring as your might think. Guess I won't be eating that mug. Now I have to find out whether it will be expensive enough to ship back the broken mug where I should just glue it together instead. Alpha & Beta: These are my first Toynami products, so some of the commments below may seem like old news to people here. Shadow Alpha: Very nice and heavy, feeling lots of diecast. Feels like it SHOULD be sturdy. That's pretty much it for the pros. For the cons: 1) I can't get the arms to fully extend 2) Can't get the landing gear to stay deployed 3) Cannot get it to transform back to fighter mode. It seems like the legs/lower limb assembly just won't slide back enough to let the arms lock in with the legs without the arms having to be extended, plus the entire front of the fighter seems to be angled down strangely. Nothing really seems to lock into place to any real degree. Am I doing something wrong? Any advice? Beta: This thing is nice. I am very impressed. Very solid, and I LOVE the transformation. Yes, I know it's simple, but everything locks into place so nicely, and stays there. Yes, the legs are loose, but it still stands up and holds position, so it's not really more than a minor annoyance. The cockpit doesn't seem to fully close, and the gap under/behind it in fighter mode is kind of noticable, but again, not a big deal. In general, I really like this one and wish that the alpha was up to the same standards. Alpha & Beta together: First of all, I opened the Alpha first, and was actually surprised by how small it is. Maybe it's because it's my first time paying so much for essentially a toy, but I expected something bigger. Now, putting the Beta next to it, after I had opened the Alpha, really impressed me. The larger size is fantastic, just what I wanted to see (and what I heard the CM's were missing, which kind of sealed it for me on getting the Toynami instead). I do have some complaints however. 1) The stand is just way too flimsy. Yes, it holds everything well, but is so weak that the GORGEOUS Alpha/Beta combo tilts and swivels around a good bit, just because of the stand flexing. 2) The connecting boom between the Alpha and Beta, both in fighter modes, doesn't lock into either one! It just slides into the Beta, but doesn't lock, no press fit or anything. It just freely slides in and out. On the Alpha, it just kind of cups the Alpha, but again, doesn't really hold onto anything. Pretty much any position but on the display stand, and the two fall apart! 3) There is a big gap between the Alpha and Beta. The Alpha doesn't slide all the way back into where the Beta has recesses to fit Alpha, so they don't really look like one larger craft, just like two separate ones barely touching in a couple spots. Again, am I doing something wrong here?

Thanks again

Nice. Thanks for all the info everyone. I appreciate it.

I prefer the more brooding face too. I know it's a cartoon, but I still don't like my cartoons too cartoony... It is true that I, like most people here, will probably leave the helmet on almost all of the time. I just feel, for $200, it should be perfect, and I know this head sculpt is going to bug me.

Look at this: http://wildcats.pupui.jp/mt/archives/2008/...eview_pa_4.html

The Beagle one, not repackaged by Toynami, is MUCH less cartoony.