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drifand

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Everything posted by drifand

  1. drifand
    Aha! I knew *somebody* had to foot the bill for the replacement shoulders!
  2. drifand
    13cm for the Megahouse MOSPEADA would make it about 1/15 scale... approx the same as Bandai's TransArmor Kamen Rider figures. I think the scuplt looks good but since the design is inherently top-heavy, the toy will either need hips-of-steel or at least a bit of metal in the lower legs for stability. Is that likely from Megahouse? The scan only says ABS/PVC...
  3. drifand
    A hobbyshow recap of the upcoming DMZ Rabidlydog: http://ga.sbcr.jp/g-toys/wonfes07win/42/25.html http://ga.sbcr.jp/g-toys/wonfes07win/42/26.html http://ga.sbcr.jp/g-toys/wonfes07win/42/27.html http://ga.sbcr.jp/g-toys/wonfes07win/42/28.html http://ga.sbcr.jp/g-toys/wonfes07win/42/29.html It might share some similarities with the Strikedog, but there's quite a few newly molded parts as well. Definitely on my want-list!
  4. drifand
    I've fired the 7.62 FN MAG (GPMG) with 'metal blanks' during training, i.e. no blank attachment for the muzzle. The blanks are metal cased just like live rounds (instead of the plastic cased 5.56s for M-16s etc), but the tips are crimped (pinched) instead of having a proper bullet. You'd be doubly careful not to point the gun at anyone while firing this kind of 'blank'...
  5. drifand
    Yes, in-scale with SPEC Eva, but they'll be soft vinyl: 'SOFUBI TAMASHII'.
  6. drifand
    If you've gone over preceding discussions about the 1/12 vs 1/18, you'd see it all boils down to playability versus detailing. I seriously doubt the 1/12s can ever be really playable even with the improved joints and 'door wedges' to keep the arms/knees locked in-position. Besides, all 1/12 'dogs are still just variants of the Scopedog while the DMZs at least have the Strikedog (and Rabidlydog coming up). The Strikedog IS expensive compared to the first DMZ Scopedog, but it is also taller and more massive. I just like the way it all works... the articulated claw that extends a cannon barrel... the more secure rotating head, the tampo markings and the lenses/lights... the cockpit looks great and even Ypsilon has a neat headsculpt. If only they were less expensive, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the DMZ-02 with improved articulated hands as well.
  7. drifand
    I'd give 2 Michael Bleh Optimus Primes to catch this NOW!
  8. drifand
    Well, for one thing, the pix of the Fewture Models version doesn't show a full-opening cockpit hatch... only the top. They do have a reputation for drool worthy sculpts (see the EX Gohkin Gettas for example), but this one seems, you know, the SAME as every other Tachikoma that's coming out. I don't think it's that hard to sculpt an accurate Tachi'... so it all boils down to the finishing, accessories and gimmicks. In that respect, the GoodSmile version is hard to beat. I would LOVE to be able to see all 3 versions (Megahouse/GoodSmile/Fewture) side by side to compare sizes and the similarities/differences of the blue paint job. Then I could buy one expensive GoodSmile and possibly a cheaper same-size (repaint?) alternative just for kicks.
  9. drifand
    How about a reverse 'strike'? Everyone who can buys a discounted Garland, transforms it until the arm breaks and returns it. Will Yamato take notice?
  10. drifand
    Well, just a quick chip in. I feel exactly how BOB does about Yamato Toys: Gorgeous designs with questionable engineering amd unpredictable build quality. I'm one of those initial fans who cheered the new wave of innovation by Yamato but gradually realized they either didn't care enough about getting things right the first time round, OR, they really are so small and lacking in resources, they simply can't afford to do better. Regardless, I will always appreciate the beauty of their vastly improved designs while stone cold-heartedly waiting out every first run. Not every fan becomes a 'hater' just because of one or two factory/design/material defects... but every dumb preventable mistake surely does add up.
  11. drifand
    Either CSC or Lucky Chinatown, I guess... Might try my luck - the relative weight of the boxes can give you a clue: Heaviest = big Noa/Bud/Ingram Midium = Car Lightest = team mini-figs Anyway, you can see why I'm already wondering how they will milk the Griffon... make it a 'CASH Cow Disease'!
  12. drifand
    That's gotta be another form of 'mad cow disease'! 7800yen? I'm gonna check out the local price for a guaranteed complete set first...
  13. drifand
    Makes me wish all the more that the DOYUSHA 1/144 diecast Valks didn't end quite so early... but they were priced out the wazzoo for such do-nuthin', sit-pretty things. I'lll definitely keep a lookout for them when I make the toy-rounds next week.
  14. drifand
    A diecast Helldiver would be too cool... maybe a pulsing light-up cannon? Alternatively, they might release a soft vinyl Helldiver instead... WITH PARACHUTE!
  15. drifand
    That's excellent news. Now I'm thinking HOW they will try to rake in maximum profits for the Griffon. If it's released as the underwater version first, folks might just play the waiting game for the cooler winged version... so maybe they'll pull a super expensive set with 1 body but both packs (like how Bandai did the bikes for the Armor Trans Kamen Rider Black/Black RX). Otherwise, what other goodies can they include for separately-boxed Griffons to make fans buy BOTH variants? A 'smashed' No. 2 head? Guesses, anyone?
  16. drifand
    Well, for now, you show grab the Revoltech Zero... it's not perfect but so nice to have it match up against Noa's Ingram, regardless of the TV-style shield emblem and antenna colors. Personally, what I really want is the production AV-0 Peacemaker, with it's more angular head that bears a closer resemblance to the Ingram's design. The peacemaker was never made into a toy or kit, whereas the Zero was available in the original 1/60 kit line-up. I think at the least we should be able to get Revoltech Peacemakers, even if a Brave Gohkin version is still a pipe dream.
  17. drifand
    Trade away your Ingram? You'll be missing out on a lot of fun! The current rumor is that Brave Gohkin Griffon is on the way, and Anavel has posted this tidbit on TBDX: OMG, another 5000 yen rubber ducky for me!
  18. drifand
    They can't lose. Some fans will totally buy into the new designs, or win new converts from the movies. Fans who say 'meh' will simply buy more of the original designs, of which there is no lack of.
  19. drifand
    Looks more like a remodeled/detail-up DX Gakken. You can see the original red and green plastics peeking out under the grey primer. And the diecast swingarm hub is unmistakable.
  20. drifand
    I believe the general consensus is that the first issue MP-01 had the best finishing and QC. The reissued MP-01 was hit-or-miss; some folks reported that theirs had shoddier paintwork and/or chest panels that didn't close properly. The MP-04 was considered a rip-off because not only did the main robot have the QC problems of the reissued MP-01, the trailer seemed to be a mere 'scale-up' from the THS Convoy and lacked the sidekick Roller. Of course, the problem now is that visually you can't tell an original MP-01 box from the reissued version... the packaging is exactly the same down to the mis-spelled 'MORE THAN MEETS TEH EYE'. A friend who didn't want to open his original MP-01 went for the Hasbro 20th Anniversary OP instead, because he could at least visually inspect the paint and chest-fitting through the window packaging, notwitstanding the too-short smoke stacks.
  21. drifand
    Yeah, the original Chogokin Go-Lion/Godaikin/Lion-Bot was already pretty impressive, so I really don't have a hankering to go after the Toynami version. If anything, the 54cm tall 'Voltron Mighty Lion Vehicles' version is prabably the most impressive version of the design... it's TWICE the height of the old DX Godaikin: [attachmentid=42245] As for Optimus, the MP-01 is also a shoo-in for favorite rendition. I know some folks like the smaller Hybrid Convoy, but the vehicle mode is just messed up... even with Shoji Kawamori's involvement. Other cool combiners from the 80s? Some of the pre-Power Ranger era Super Sentai robots were excellent designs. Although today we can recognize the 'head-jet, body-tank, leg-truck' configuration from a mile away, Dynaman/DX Dynarobo is probably one of the best renditions of this basic gattai formation... with a feat of engineering in the diecast swivelling cab for the legs/truck. Another favourite Sentai robo is Flashman/DX Flashking... It really surprised me how the arms are integrated into the robot... not as part of the usually head/jet or tank/body, but linked ingeniously with the legs to form 2 jets. The round shield forms an EW radome on one of them. Someday, I'll do a detailed review on this toy...
  22. drifand
    FOR HARDCORE FANS ONLY! I bought my first expensive sofubi: The Hishi Industry HL-96 TYRANT 2000, made to be in-scale with the Brave Gohkin Patlabors... Review on TBDX: http://toyboxdx.com/brog/?p=246 [attachmentid=42235]
  23. drifand
    Actually, that was from a post by Matt, translating part of a Japanese reviewer's impressions of the SOC GB. On my part, as far as I can recall, I've only had 3 real problems with my SOCs: 1. Paint on PVC parts like fists and heads starting to get sticky with age. (True for any painted PVC toy). Bandai should use less PVC except for things like antennas. Fists should be made from tougher plastics; same goes for heads. 2. In-extractable claws on one of Combattler-V's component vehicles... Design was too smart for itself. I do believe Bandai learned from this and made it better on the Voltes-V. 3. The too-loose posable neck-block on Dancougar. This was just LAZY. As long as you displayed Danny upright, nothing would happen, but if you 'flew' him thru some loop-de-loops, then the whole head chunk is liable to fall off. (Not very likely, I guess.) All in all, no fatal 1st issue errors thru 27 SOCs I have bought to-date, although the paint/PVC reaction is debatable. Bandai does have occasional problems on their other toy-lines, but then again, look at how many toys they're pumping out every day! At any one time, Yamato probably only has a dozen to look after at most, and they STILL can't get their first runs RIGHT. Not even after 5+ years of experience. Other makers with major screw-ups? There was the pricey Kaiyodo GGG which had too-loose 'mono-shaft' joints and the entire first run was recalled with a free 1-1 exchange all over the world... WITH APOLOGIES. I'd like to see Yamato start behaving with the same kind of class towards all their customers... instead of allowing faulty goods like the 1st run Garland go off on 50% discount on still unsuspecting folks.
  24. drifand
    Delicious looking afro!
  25. drifand
    Hmm, exaggerated proportions on Real Robots... these are not for me.
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