chowyunskinny Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Over at Rt.com someone pointed out that Aoshima is credited with the engineering of the toy somewhere in the packaging. I haven't looked but that sounds believable considering what an improvement it was. Interesting. Whenever you get a chance Jenius to confirm or debunk that, it would be appreciated thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominion Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Interesting. Whenever you get a chance Jenius to confirm or debunk that, it would be appreciated thanks in advance. Actually, I know that CAD was used to make the VF Masterpieces. Thus I would be really surprised if Toynami didn't use CAD to make the Alphas. By the way, I just got my Beta last Saturday...really impressed. I actually thought it looked meh from the pictures on this forum, but in hand it looks great. I posed it around a bit, but quickly put it in the fighter mode with the blue alpha. The alpha / beta combo looks so good in that mode that even my wife thought it looked cool (and she is generally unimpressed with my toys). I must be the only one, but I love the Toynami alphas. I really love how it looks in all three modes. I agree that it definitely needs ratcheting joints and could be less fragile, but they hold up very well as display pieces. Yeah, you can't play with it, but I haven't really played with any toys in 20 years so I'm not complaining. People on this forum are such Nazis about line art, but the same people are lining up behind CMs alpha / beta which looks just horrible and cheap. And as much as my Megahouse Ride Armors frustrate me by spontaneously disassemblying, they look 100x better than the CMs. I just don't get it. I guess people just want to hate anything associated with Toynami. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcroRay Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Over at Rt.com someone pointed out that Aoshima is credited with the engineering of the toy somewhere in the packaging. I haven't looked but that sounds believable considering what an improvement it was. Good to hear, if true. Not only for an improvement of product, but the partnership indicates really good things for the future, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcroRay Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I must be the only one, but I love the Toynami alphas. I really love how it looks in all three modes. I agree that it definitely needs ratcheting joints and could be less fragile, but they hold up very well as display pieces. Yeah, you can't play with it, but I haven't really played with any toys in 20 years so I'm not complaining. You're not the only one. I feel absolutely the same way on all those points. It took me some wheeling and dealing/trading to get the two Alphas I've got, and I'm pleased to no end that I've got them, and wouldn't mind having a couple more as well as a Beta. (Just one Beta. I don't have room for more!) Out of the legions of mecha toys I've got from the 70s to current, they're among the dozen or so pieces permanently on display in our living room, and regularly taken down & 'toyed' with, if not actually played with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenius Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) Three notes: 1) The back of the MPC Certificate of Authenticity (that gold certificate within the book flap) does list the people involved in the MPC's production including "ENGINEERING - AOSHIMA" 2) I just rewatched the last 5 minutes of Robotech's TNG to try and remember what note Scott leaves on, turns out Sera (Sorji) has her own ride armor paint scheme variant. My hope is piqued for a future limited edition (it look's like it's the same model as Rand's). 3) I just reviewed some new pics of the Maia MPC. All Toynami did was repaint Rook's MPC. This isn't at all accurate as it has the round intakes instead of the Shadow Intakes and it has the VTOL that isn't present on Shadow Fighters. Since it's quite clearly just a repaint and obviously not very line art accurate I've got almost no inspiration to purchase it and it definitely won't be on my site any time soon. EDIT - AcroRay, I don't think this is an indicator of things to come but rather an indicator of things that were. Toynami and Aoshima annouced the intention to make the Beta/Tread before the release of the Aoshima Legioss. After the Legioss turned out so poorly it appears Aoshima walked away from Toynami, probably after the engineering work had been done for the Beta. If we do see Aoshima repaints we'll know the hatchet was buried but from everything I've heard those two companies are done working together. Edited December 23, 2008 by jenius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chowyunskinny Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Three notes: 1) The back of the MPC Certificate of Authenticity (that gold certificate within the book flap) does list the people involved in the MPC's production including "ENGINEERING - AOSHIMA" 2) I just rewatched the last 5 minutes of Robotech's TNG to try and remember what note Scott leaves on, turns out Sera (Sorji) has her own ride armor paint scheme variant. My hope is piqued for a future limited edition (it look's like it's the same model as Rand's). Thanks for verifying that Jenius Whoa! I guess I missed Sera (Sorji) having her own mospeada. Might have to go watch that again. Was it in the final Episode? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 No in this pic the gap is less and looks different I think the arms in fighter are higher up that helps lessen the gap. Also the nose of the cm is straight while the toynami alpha seems to point up a little. I'm sure some folks have heard me harp on these points before, but let me just point out the issues I have with the CM's that are clearly evident in that comparison pic: 1) The yellow missile rack in the back is protruding up and out. It should pivot down and lower a hell of a lot more in fighter mode. 2) A significant chunk of the tailfins are still sticking out on the Legioss. The tailfins are supposed to be hidden in fighter combo mode. 3) The fighter combo still looks split-level and not flush. It looked that way in the early prototype pics. It still looked that way when the black prototype pics were shown. And the final product still had the noticeable split. The only time the CM's fighter combo looked anything close to flush was when someone on this board created a modified connecting boom. Look, I'm not knocking the quality or durability of the CM's. But I do consider the above three items design flaws. At the very least, you have to admit that these are three areas where CM's took "artistic liberties." ------------------------- Regarding Sera's (Sorji's) ride at the end, I coulda swore she was just riding Yellow's (Lancer's) Mospeada while wearing her usual getup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007-vf1 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Soooo; as I was requesting before; can someone grab a measuring tape or ruler and tell me how tall is the Cms tread in soldier mode? Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenHawk Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 2) I just rewatched the last 5 minutes of Robotech's TNG to try and remember what note Scott leaves on, turns out Sera (Sorji) has her own ride armor paint scheme variant. My hope is piqued for a future limited edition (it look's like it's the same model as Rand's). I'll admit I haven't watched Robotech: TNG in a good few years, but I just watched all of the original Genesis Cimber MOSPEADA about a week or two ago, and honestly don't remember this at all... wait, as I'm thinking about it more now, is this in the very very end when you see that she stayed on Earth, as you see her ride off on a bike? Darn, I think you're right... Anyone have a screen cap of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenHawk Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Soooo; as I was requesting before; can someone grab a measuring tape or ruler and tell me how tall is the Cms tread in soldier mode? Thanks in advance I don't have the link at hand, but I think I remember reading in one comparison of the two that the CMs is 10" and the Toynami is 12". Does this sound right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AcroRay Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 If we do see Aoshima repaints we'll know the hatchet was buried but from everything I've heard those two companies are done working together. If so, too bad indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenius Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) I'll admit I haven't watched Robotech: TNG in a good few years, but I just watched all of the original Genesis Cimber MOSPEADA about a week or two ago, and honestly don't remember this at all... wait, as I'm thinking about it more now, is this in the very very end when you see that she stayed on Earth, as you see her ride off on a bike? Darn, I think you're right... Anyone have a screen cap of this? No screen cap but you've got the timing right. Yellow is on stage still as a woman and we see Sera racing to his concert on her ride armor. Later we see her in the crowd after Yellow reveals his true identity. Sorry 007, I looked for a tape measure and couldn't find one. Edited December 23, 2008 by jenius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Admiral Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Jenius, can you tell me how large they are in combined fighter mode? Would they fit inside a Detolf display case? Also, does anyone know if Toynami plans to make a green Beta? The green is my favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenius Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Oooh, I don't own a detolf anymore but I suspect you'll have problems. If my tape measure pops up suddenly I'll try to give you better dimensions. the wing span is pretty huge so even if it would fit length-wise it might prove problematic width wise. The greenie is going to be volume 3... it's probably the one I'm looking forward to the most as well. The instructions that come with the blue Beta show that Lunk will be the guy on the book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RavenHawk Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Oooh, I don't own a detolf anymore but I suspect you'll have problems. If my tape measure pops up suddenly I'll try to give you better dimensions. the wing span is pretty huge so even if it would fit length-wise it might prove problematic width wise. The greenie is going to be volume 3... it's probably the one I'm looking forward to the most as well. The instructions that come with the blue Beta show that Lunk will be the guy on the book. Sorry if this was asked before, but does it show who will be on the book for the Shadow Beta? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenius Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 No, no art yet for the Shadow (that I've seen) but Ariel is my guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoptimus Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 Im glad that the Toynami Beta/Tread turned out pretty good. I will wait to get one on a deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Save Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 The final installment of the Beagle Ride Armor is up over at Over-Drive. Sorry for the delay everybody, this month has been a crazy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXO Posted December 25, 2008 Author Share Posted December 25, 2008 The final installment of the Beagle Ride Armor is up over at Over-Drive. Sorry for the delay everybody, this month has been a crazy one. no can see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicsp00n Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 (edited) Yeah, what a tease! Actually, the page seems to show up in Firefox, but not IE. no can see! Edited December 25, 2008 by magicsp00n Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vostok 7 Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Yeah, I saw it, and it was good. Vostok 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mar_ku Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Video review of the MPC Beta!!! Thanks to the guys from Collection DX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenius Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Another positive Beta review... it's a shame that they're following it up with the Maia MPC Alpha. Someone on Robotech.com confirmed that it really is just a repaint of Rook's MPC so none of the Aoshima improvements AND they didn't even add the slot for the Destabilizer gun so you can't attach the gun in fighter mode... WHOOPS! I'm surprised the CollectionDX guys didn't even mention the fold down cockpit and give a little praise to CMs for how they handled that but maybe it seemed like a dead horse already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperHobo Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Man. In almost every picture I see of the toynami alphas the heads are always crooked or cocked awkwardly. I'm glad to see from the CDX review that the beta has some super clicky joints. HOT! Maybe I'll pick up a cheap MPC rook and get a red beta. What is the possibility of not getting an alpha with a crooked head or broken crap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenius Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Crooked head is ridiculously prevalent... avoiding that is night impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXO Posted December 25, 2008 Author Share Posted December 25, 2008 Yeah, what a tease! Actually, the page seems to show up in Firefox, but not IE. thanks, switched over to see it... Firefox has been really glitchy for me lately. Can't wait for this baby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryHolmes Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 I'm watching the CollectionDX review on YouTube and holy crap! This Beta is gi-frickin'-normous! Either that or the review has hobbit-sized hands, but still...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EXO Posted December 25, 2008 Author Share Posted December 25, 2008 Just saw the review... Excellent review, I gotta recommend that everyone see it in HD so you can see the toy in it's full glory. Well as one of the biggest Toynami haters here. I gotta say I'm looking forward to receiving this toy. I'll defend my distaste for their Robotech stuff. I liked the Voltron but I'll support them if it's as good as these guys say it is. Also I had the same thought before about Toynami issuing a more plastic Alpha, kinda like what they did with the Voltron toy. As long as they improve the fit and plastic quality. Now if they only worked on improving their cartoons(HG). With the positive review that Save gave the Mospeada, it looks like it's gonna be good for us Mospeada freaks... I'll be looking forward to that 1/100 Regult too if everything comes out OK. New Alphas please, don't let a good Beta go to waste... and take advantage of those molds! (but fix them first!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaka1 Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 so i guess that everyone agrees now , toynami has the better beta version Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guvava Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 I'm not sure I like the CDX review too much, good video quality and all, but lacking in not mentioning the any faults with the beta. Like Jenius said the cockpit and dissing CMs Tread like that, they seem a bit amateurish. Toyamami could have done something better with that cockpit, the bulbous shape kind of reminds me of the old Matcbox Robotech toys, but I digress. I'll probably still end up buying a beta anyhow, just wish that detail was taken care of, but Toyanmi has come a long way if we compare it with the alpha. So props to them for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holytoledo69 Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 I'm watching the CollectionDX review on YouTube and holy crap! This Beta is gi-frickin'-normous! Either that or the review has hobbit-sized hands, but still...! Damn... Im tempted again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
007-vf1 Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 well the biggest disconcert for me is the Beta cockpit..how come no one has figured how to make a new prop for it made of resin or something else so is more accurate with a new chest plate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoryHolmes Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 Now that I think of it, it seems to me that that cockpit is a little too large for the toy. All the line-art I've seen suggests that the cockpit is smaller than that. But I'm still eagarly awaying my FedEx delivery (delayed due to snow, grr). But it shall soon be mine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenius Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 well the biggest disconcert for me is the Beta cockpit..how come no one has figured how to make a new prop for it made of resin or something else so is more accurate with a new chest plate? It's still way early for that... many people haven't even gotten their's yet. Then there will be the engineering phase. I still like my idea for doing it, like thus: 1) Have a solid piece of plastic that connects to the hinge and forms the back part of the cockpit. 2) In the center of this pieace of plastic, mount the cockpit (it will have to have its own rear as well) in such a way that you can spin it around. 3) Make the bottom of the new cockpit look like the chest you'd want to see on the Beta (obviously you'd have to make some compromises so the bottom of the cockpit didn't look too freakish. 4) When transforming, simply spin the cockpit around before folding it down. It'll still probably be rounder than the CMs but I think you could probably come up with a substatial improvement. I have no talent for modifying or modeling whatsoever, that just seems like a good way of doing it to me. I'm totally salivating over that Mospeada but DREADING transforming it for the first time. I get the feeling I'm going to have to dedicate an entire evening after work to putting it through a couple transformations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0 Posted December 25, 2008 Share Posted December 25, 2008 (edited) Great Review jenius, a great thing to read on Christmas morning! Looks like next year is going to be an incredibly awesome year for all of us Mospeada fans, I am glad I got into it this past spring! So many things to love about it, so many things done well, yet the series is so overlooked. I know this is out of the loop, but is it possible to mount the CMs Legioss somehow on the Toynami Beta's connecting booms? After seeing how the Beta turned out in Toynami/Aoshima's hands, I'd hope to see Aoshima engineer an all new Alpha/Legioss from scratch, and just have Toynami distribute it here in the states. I bought an Aoshima Legioss this year and had buyer's remorse..hadn't had that in a very long time! I remember hearing about what went wrong, and things certainly did go wrong on mine, so rather than taking Toynami's Alpha as a base, it would be better for Aoshima to just make their own, still compatible with the new Beta. I might pick up a red Beta later next year, even if my red Legioss is busted, the Beta looks like plenty of fun by itself. It looks incredible. Maybe between now and then, I can figure out ways to mod my Aoshima Legioss. Edited December 25, 2008 by Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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