Tober

What ever happened to Bandai's supposed plan to re-release the VF-2SS plastic model, among other models?

I know I've got mine pre-ordered.

HLJ.com has the release date set for this month. link

edit: Added link cos HLJ was down before.

anyone know of any sites or forums that have side by side comparisons of the Wal Mart Starscream vs. the Takara Tomy U.S. version?

i'd like to know just how different they are

according to Tfsource it has additional weathering from the US version, as well as a Decepticon insignia on the nosecone, but I'd like to see them side by side

The "weathering" varied from toy to toy as I guess it's applied by hand airbrushing. The Japanese release has the Decepticon faction symbol on it and apparently has the slightly longer tips on the tail fins. The shots of the Japanese release I have seen appear to have less weathering.

There is a small comparison shot on the last image on the first page of this thread.

Its common sense for everyone buying one of those that they aren't meant to be played with.

They are releasing these as unassembled kits at about $100 each. No complaining about them messing up the colors at least

Sure they do, but the return shipping is on your dime; or you can get just a replacement part, but besides shipping, they'll charge you a handling fee akin to buying something 1/8-1/3 the cost of the original toy even if the parts are supplied to them at no charge by the manufacturer: see VF-0 replacement shoulders.

So there was a definate answer to who was charging so much for those sholder parts? And it was HLJ!?!?

I broke one of the fingers on my ML Soundwave and ordered a replacement part from HLJ. Within a few days it was posted. The costs were about $US4.50 for the postage and another US$4.30 for the parts (both hands were included). As you don't have to be a customer of HLJ to order replacement parts I expected a small handling fee. So these prices are about 1/20 of the cost of the (overpriced) toy.

Those pics make it look like a sweet little toy, but the thing that keeps going through my head is that the Beagle should be roughly double that size. I can't justify spending US$60 + shipping etc for such a small toy tho - not with the MH version on the horizon.

Didn't he also make the MP3 player bird?

yes

Alex Kubalsky

Nice custom A7.

Premium and Stealth Bunblebees will be shipping in March. They have the battle mask heads.

Imo he is the best toy in the movie line and the only one I own. Aussie design too

So... this hasn't got the white wing joins? I have just been hit with a payment request, and i am thinking of cancelling.. I mean come on where's the Japanse version with Takara box??? I'm cancelling.

There might be very mild paint differences as far as the scorch markings go. The only thing I've noticed is that the Jap version has the Decepticon faction logo on the nose.

Really disappointing lack of effort from TAKARA.

Megahouse lists them to be released "Mid-February"

Cool, thanks.

Wonderfest is in three weeks so hopefully we might see more from Beagle then, but probably not untill closer to mid-year.

I don't suppose anyone knows the actual release date for the Megahouse? All I know is that it's this month sometime... I have high hopes

Revoltechs from that site seem to be $32 upwards + shipping, so not any cheaper for me than going into the city...

Hideous price for the YF-19 w/Fold booster there - $345!

Price of convenience really getting them locally, plus I have no credit card so I'm somewhat stuck.

HLJ's smallest box is about AU$6 and a Revoltech will fit in there easily.

HLJ accept credit cards, PayPal, money order or cashier's cheque.

F2F have some good deals too. They prefer PayPal.

Empire Toys are worse then Transfigure Toys.

Have Beagle done any types of transforming mecha before? I only vaguely know them for a few (rather nice) PVC models.

It's the ankle armor that makes it look skinny, don't you think? It would be rad if they included a fatter ankle armor piece so we could decide which look we wanted.

Between the CM and the Megahouse, I like the overall look and proportions of the CM. Damn, I wish the CM legioss Looked so good.

Yeah, around the shin area downwards it looks too small. Tho in the bike pic it looks fine.

At 20cm tall I don't expect it to be cheap either, hopefully in the $80-100 range. And hopefully less due to the healthy competition.

The Beagle looks fantastic. I'm thinking I will still keep my MH pre-orders tho. The only thing that bugs me about the Beagle is that the legs look kinda skinny giving it a top-heavy look.

I found Alternators to be supremely boring, then again, I find most collector toys to be boring because they exist to be put on shelves, and little else.

Then you are applying the wrong criteria. I found them to be exceptional pieces of engineering and an amazing homage to the origional G1 characters they represent (largely). It's because the BIN/Alt?KP line has officially ended that I find myself returning to Macross again. Masterpiece (and selected orters) is all that interest me as far as TFs go now.

The text next to the Masterpiece Grimlock suggests that the Gundam 00 designer is involved in the creation of MP Grimlock, kinda like Kawamori was for MP Starscream.

Guys, has anyone said here yet why the Jap release "usa" version of Starscream is so expensive compared to the USA version??

Just coz of the properly coloured wing transforming/joining system? I'm thinking of cancelling my pre-order and try to find the USA version for 20 or so USD less...

The USA Hasbro release was a Walmart exclusive - just about all Transformers are about half price compared to down here. Here it was a TRU exclusive... yeah.

I havent seen any pics with the "properly coloured wing transforming/joining system", if by that you mean the black hinges. There are a few color variations floating around, but all I have seen have the black hinges and scorch marks.

A friend of mine showed me this interesting and simple custom for a Classics Cliffjumper.

I'll have some pictures up at some point on mine when I get it done, but this is as I said, interesting.

I remember someone on ebay was selling upgrade parts, new head, some car body moldings and I think a BFG. I wanted it, but I think the price was a hundred bucks or some BS....it was probably back in november or december.

Sounds a bit like this one. But it hasn't been released yet.

They are from the same group as the afore mentioned Starscream add-on parts.

oh i meant they have a prototype of yellow's already.

chowyunskinny's post #248 of this thread:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18251255@N00/...57603644801302/

Thanks

CMS cyclones are really tiny - and ugly =X

but they already have yellow's!!! a plus point for them. although i hope they improve on the looks.

Do you have a link for Yellow Belmont's Blowsperiour? (sp?) I don't think I've seen it

Megahouse have basically sacrificed the bikes scale for a superiour ride armour look. I think the bike mode looks ok with the rider standing over it, so the sacrifice is worth it to me. If the (tbc) Beagle looks good in bike mode then I will order that over the CMs which I don't think looks good in any mode. Those cad drawings on HLJ look more like the CMs/Toynami proportions.

What's wrong with Amazon.jp? HLJ.com are fine as well but arn't accepting new orders untill March. Fantofan.jp might also still be taking orders - you need to email him to find out tho.

This is the movie that really got me into Kenji Kawai's work. The opening theme "Log In/Off" starts around the 7 minute mark.

Avalon Intro

Mmmm... Polish Opera

Anyone willing to provide a subbed torrent please? I've been searching and searching but I can't find it anywhere.

Thanks.

try this .mkv format.

'Paprika' and 'MindGame' were other good anime movies I liked. 'Paprika' is a kinda cute sci-fi adventure. 'MindGame' is very surreal and deviates from the anime style, but makes you think.

I will try to watch 'Pale Cocoon' this weekend.

A little off topic but how would you (or anyone whom seem it) rate "The Girl Who Lept Through Time"?

When I first saw the "The Girl Who Lept Through Time" poster, I thought it has a Ghibli quality and the theme title seems very intriguing. Is it worthwhile to purchase it? I was a little disappointed with "The Place Promised in Our Early Days" when I brought the DVD.

"The Place Promised In Our Early Days" has a heavier feel and was more abstract - I could never really relate to the lead characters or their situation. It was an interesting story, but it just didn't really grip me.

"The Girl Who Lept Through Time" has a simpler story although it can get confusing a few times - it is much more light-hearted than TPPIOED. I found it more involving and profound however. As a story it just works much better imo.

I didnt say I was going to go that far ,but that would be allright too anyways she is a major anime fan herself, and she has a thing for school love aime that is about comeing of age. I mean if I showed her macross, or any other anime similar to that caliber she would look at me all weird and prob leave me.

Try "The Girl Who Lept Through Time". (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo) - I liked it anyway.

There are a couple of Ghibli ones like that too, but they bored me senseless.

I want to see Blitzwing's vehicle modes soon. That is one character I am very excited about.

There's lineart for them about 3/4 of the way down this page.