DarrinG

Yep - ground crew. And a missile transport / missile reloading vehicle for the Phalanx please, or least 4 guys this time if I can't get a missile truck.

The heat shield design stinks and it would bug me every time I looked at it. Yamato 1/60 v.2s are a must and are to be kept under glass Revoltech for cheap fun with lots of accessories at your desk GN-U ? Unless you come out with something no one else has I will not be considering the line.

I'm considering painting the gray bases around the necks white on the 1J and 1S. The gray makes its look like the head is floating off the body. Does anyone else feel this way? And they should have used the more military subdued white of the 1S on the 1J. I do not like the look of the bright white. -- I should always write praise though anytime I post about the v.2s - these things are miracles of quality and solid design. -- Just a quick Photoshopping with the white subdued and the neck base white instead of gray . . .

Just a quick Photoshopping with the white subdued and the neck base white instead of gray - like this much better.

I have not opened my 1J or 1S yet - only the 1D. But I will be painting the gray bases around the necks white on the 1J and 1S for sure. The gray makes its look like the head is floating off the body. Why is this gray? And they should have used the more military subdued white of the 1S on the 1J and upcoming TV 1 As. I do not like the look of the bright white in the photos I've seen. -- I should put praise though anytime I post about the v.2s - these things are miracles of quality and solid design. --

Oh - who am I kidding? Not even myself. It'll be Houquet, not a surprise Inbit, or Jeep. ~ sigh ~ But a great looking Houquet design would still brighten my day, its just that we already knew that was coming. I hope these sell like hot-cakes and we eventually get a green jeep with a bed that holds a few cycles, some enemy mechs and appendix accessory packs . . .

Jenius - can you give us a hint? Like either it's something we expect, or don't expect?

Since we already know about the 4 ride-armors here's what I'm hoping for in 1/10th . . .

I stay strictly to the original TV series only - so no Mac Plus etc. This keeps the spending down a little, or used to. My new 1S will be getting the TV 1J fastpack. On the subject of spending, I have the Beagle ride-armor and it IS great, but very expensive. Passed on the Megahouse and CMs Mospeada items for the same reason I passed on the 1/60 v.1s and 1/48ths - just not "it" for me. Now I'm glad I waited now for the v.2s I can fully recommend to members here the Beagle ride-armor and Toynami Beta though. Both very well done. Even if Yamato can't get the rights to make a Legioss, Toynami could improve on or make the remaining Alpha/Legioss 15,000 piece run with those same folks/QC as the Beta (not likely I know). If the last one they recalled is improved this way I hope they re-release using those same improvements. Unfortunately they will likely just glue it together better, and not re-cad or overhaul the building process like they should. Either way, I will not likely see a Legioss/Alpha with the quality of a Yamato VF v.2 anytime soon. I look forward to opening my new 1/60 v.2 1S and 1J/Fastpack soon.

I want the gimmick for the Phalanx to be an extended tech crew, with a missile transport vehicle or something. However they load the missiles - make that happen with this Destroid. I want to display it with the one arm full and the other getting loaded by the crew.

I received my first non-Toynami VFs last week; the 1S, 1J and 1D v.2s from Overdrive. SOOOO - variable toys CAN be made well and not flimsy and rickety! I have only had time to take out the 1D but I could not believe how solid and well made this thing is. And how the quality of materials, and time taken for every detail, makes the price seem more justified. I skipped on the v.1s and the 1/48ths so these are my first Yamato valks. Some quick takes as a new v.2 owner: • Do not like the 1D colors, not sure they will grow on me either. Loved the packaging photography colors though, wish they were like that. I like more realistic takes on color, more military - this is not. May have to customize. • From the comparison pics I like the v.1 head sculpt better. Like more green on the face, this has the gray more predominant. • They should come with gun-straps, the holes are already there for them, and these are big $$$ • Transformation is so complicated I got stuck and had to pull up the Collection DX video to get through it, but was AMAZED at the engineering and precision of the parts. • Solid, solid, solid - feels so well made. I did not think something this complex could still be this solid and clean. To think the Legioss/Alpha fighters could have been made like this well. I thought the Legioss design was so complex that Toynami did the best that could be done (and my previous experience was with mostly Imai and Arii model kits so I was pretty satisfied). Yamato shows what IS possible; variable toy perfection. Yamato - can you please make the Legioss in 1/55th now? • You find yourself saying - "they thought of everything!" From the knee guards to the back-pack clip, to the way the missile clusters clip on - attention to every detail that makes a long-time fan very happy . . .

Since it may be tough to add gimmicks to the Phalanx design to justify the price, I would love a missile truck transporting spare missiles to load, with a loading crew of course.

Got the Red Beta. Love the Annie illustration, still a massive, grin-creating box . . . Quick takes: • Great job on the new head sculpt and adding more red to the arms and gray to the body - making it different from the blue scheme. • Pilot still so freaking hard to get in. I could not get his butt-peg to go down in so the cockpit would not close all the way. Got frustrated eventually and just tried to pull the pilot straight out. Well, I snapped off the controls, bummed me out, will need some super glue. • Hips still completely loose but the soldier mode looks great no matter. • Pulled out my red Alpha for a hook-up. I have not played with the Alphas much and I see why there are so many complaints. Rickety, fragile and more rickety. ---- The Beta is a toy, the Alpha is a model kit - no way around it ---- • Blue looks better linked up in fighter mode, red better in soldier I think. I had fun in Photoshop with the pic below, may start doing more of those if I find time . . .

Got my Defender Weathering Special. This is a great piece. I took this pic in my cube and threw some disc drive packaging material behind him. A few quick comments: • My ammo packs do not click in very firmly, especially the large ones. Anybody else have that same issue? • Love the detail in the cockpit. Is there any scenerio where it would be ok to display with the main door off so you could see in better? I suppose if the techs were craning it back into place after repair, but the pilot would not likely be sitting there waiting to get sealed in. • Liked that they took out the floppy waist joint of the Tomahawk. • Chest lights would be the only way to seriously improve upon this Defender - its awesome.

As ALWAYS Jenius's site is invaluable for reference: "but oddly, while it features the attachment points for a gun strap, no strap is provided" http://anymoon.com/blog/2008/08/04/yamato-...1s-superstrike/ Awwww - now I understand. It can't be too hard to make one (or 2, or 3 or 4) but they should have included it. The 1D had been sitting in fighter mode on my desk until I can get to messing with it more. The color is growing on me, especially since I can't see the box photos I loved. Minmei should have had a peg on her bottom or something to secure her inside the cockpit (no jokes please) ! Her hair is moussed solid so that will stay in place . . .

I love the illustration that will make up the Beta Fighter book bindings. I don't usually like goofy but it just works. Speaking of - do you think we'll get to see 2 NEW sets of bookends for the Cyclones and Betas???? Like Stick firing a rocket, scope extended at an Armored Scout? And the Blue Beta blowing Corg's Commander Unit away? Not sure we will as some of the Alpha MPC bookends are still up for sale on RT.com . . .

Wait - there are 2 sets of holes in the gun pod for the very metal rings I'm talking about - I think. What's up?

Just opened my first v.2 - the 1D. Thing that I noticed right off is that I like the orange MUCH more in the box photography. The orange on the actual toy seems too cartoony and harsh or something. Maybe I'll warm to it. The figures are great - perfect detail for their size. Hard to close cockpit over Hikaru's head though. And the cockpit rainbow colors are hardly visible in person. Thing feels super solid. A gun strap for $100 bucks please, with metal rings like the Beagle Galant would have been very nice. Landing gear work and click into place with measured authority - very nice. Will try my first 1/60 - ever so careful on the shoulders - mode change soon . . .

The more I think about it the more thankful I am for this giant expensive SDF-1 coming out, TV or DYRL. Because when the 1/60 TV VERSION Monster comes out I can send the link and price of the SDF-1 to my wife and say: "See honey what I had self-control over and didn't buy? All I want is this other little green robot instead. It's 200 or 300 dollars cheaper!"

They're doing such a great job on the new Mospeada Art Book its taking extra time?

Got to look over the ride-armor a little more this morning. Can I say that just folding out the foot stands had me saying "wow"? The mechanism for the footstands is impressive for gosh-sakes! The Galant rifle; the awesome strap with metal rings, the thumb power up switch - the detail is awesome. The way the material feel in your hand! The plastics feel and look great, very low shine. The neck screw-hole did not bother me as much as I thought it would. BADS; front missile launchers flop out of place, windshield going cookoo if I breath while holding it, wish they could have made small yellow plastic lights (like the turn signals) to go into the boot lights. They would have had to make a small depression for it but it would have looked much better than the yellow paint and covered the seam there. And face sculpts? Who cares with this dark face shield! It looks so bad (great I mean) with it down I will likely never display it otherwise. Have not even tried to convert this to armor - enjoying this part too much . . .

Although I will not be getting it, I hope this SDF is a HUGE success for Yamato. So huge they release the 1/60 TV version Destroid Monster. THAT I will find a way to get.

Atlas Shrugged - anybody read that? If they get people to buy at the price they set more power to them - even if its $800 bucks or more for this ship! And if we're frustrated at all by that, all we have to do is come up with a product ourselves that people love so much they pay $800 a pop for. We then make big bucks, can give away money to the needy, and easily afford a few SDFs for ourselves in the process. And when we get there we'll understand how bizarre it is that folks squawk about our products or price, and that we can't do this and that when we've put all the blood, sweat and tears in and they haven't. Make any sense?

OK - I've seen enough. It's way cool . . . (took this pick in my cube and added the background)

Dude - a cat knocking around a Beagle? Not good. Just got my Cyclone today. Will get more reaction out soon (to the none of you anxiously awaiting my comments) but the first things I noticed: • Still do not like the Scott illustration on the outside, if that is indeed supposed to be Scott / Stick • The book-style box already had scuffs and wear right out of the box, & not sure why they had to put a label on the back instead of printing those notes right on the box (must have been last minute edits) • Was not sure about the Toynami head sculpt at first but it quickly grew on me. from the 1,000 pics of the Beagle head that I've seen I like this a little better. • Liked the look of the cloth but it made me nervous the whole time I did my initial posing tests - it makes fragile creaks and sounds just to let you know it will tear at any second! • Picked up the bike -- S M I L E -- wow, just wow. The windscreen flopped around, but wow. More later . . .