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Post by fenrir72 on Aug 9, 2010 22:49:38 GMT 8
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Post by fenrir72 on Aug 8, 2010 21:08:18 GMT 8
Seems like iGear will only do the distribution. Maybe FanProject could take a crack at making a fembot?(aside from the upcoming Junkion fig in the works)?
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Post by fenrir72 on Aug 8, 2010 16:35:53 GMT 8
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 29, 2010 22:55:46 GMT 8
Acknowledging some picture references from tfwiki.net and seibertron.com contents: # 1 Arcee supercar # 1 wing kibble # 2 swords # 1 blister pack/card backed Background: It took HasTak all this years to finally make a direct homage to everyone's favorite fembot from the 1986 movie ............as in she actually transforms into a car. Though also borrowing from the recent hermaphrobot IDW storyline, she also comes with two energon swords to better cut you with (I'm looking at you Jhiaxus) Review: Anyway back to the lady herself. The stylized design fits her well. How the engineers of Takara fit her lithe body into the cybertronian car mode and still come out looking feminine is a feat itself (I'm looking at you Override) Other gimmicks include light piping: Btw, the highlighted details are my customs to make her look more like her animation art work, including lip gloss Kibbles? Well she has those twin ailerons which gives her a futuristic look but IMHO ruins her visage. You can also stick/store her energon blades into her rear...............fender(?) ( that becomes her shoulder armor in robot mode) Articulation? I count 10. Though the amount of poses are kind of limited (especially her front wind shield which prevents her from actually sitting properly) Differences with Hasbro's? Matte finish, silver autobot sigils (a second run of the Hasbro version is said to have a slightly different finish) and some additional/changes in paint apps on her feet and torso. My actual unit: full body shot Close up "Mission accomplished........sir!" Slice and dice baby! Complaints? Heard that constant holding of her energon blades tends to break her thumbs. So, unless you've got two versions of her, avoid doing so like a plague. Her neck is also too......thin, if not handled carefully, it's a stress point which may lead to breakage. Price: Good and bad or is it due to Hasbro's idiotic system of distribution? A lot of scalpers have made a killing off her. She was quite hard to find as a TRU exclusive. but lately, there were reports that TRU sold her on-line as a buy 1 take 1 50% off promo so go figure. The Takara version too is quite hard to find, (not sure if the Japan version too is a limited release or just that demand for her is also as high) Rating: 4.8/5.0 owing to the fact that we finally have the closest official thing to the original. So nostalgia on my part plays a huge factor on my rating. Good luck finding one brothers!
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 28, 2010 21:16:41 GMT 8
This is in honor of the upcoming 3rd pressing of the "King" of the G1 combiners! Contents: #5 Predacon mechanimals (die-cast version) #1 sonic sword #1 Predaking head #1 X-ray canon #2 spiked fists #2 canon feet #1 wing glider thingie a lot of kibbles from the various mechs' weapon #5 instruction manuals Pictures: Weapons Close up face Goliooooooon! Full body shot Right side "Blazing sword" The guy's so big I need two shots of his back Toes of doom! Left side of his legs Background: Either a minion of the Quintessons ( in the DW and anime universe), Megatron's primo hatchet men (IDW) or plain old hunters, this group is among the most wanted of the Destron gestalts. With a similar temperment like the recently released Piranacon, this beast mechanimal transformers know how to use their killer instinct. In his bio, he has no peer (well except for his royal awesomeness Sky lynx). His most finest hour (and animation) IMHO was in the Season 3 episode "Call of the Primitives". All this PR and I almost didn't buy him back in 1991(he was btw my first combiner). Similar to Devastar/Devastator, this combiner had to follow a specific combining sequence: Razor Claw (main torso),Headstrong and Tantrum feet even though Rampage and Divebomb (serving as his arms contrary to popular belief, can be interchangeable) At first look, his colors (orange/yellow/black )are like meehhhhh but it does grow on you. He is quite heavy but very stable (thanks to Tantrum and Headstrong's back pack canons. He's got a Go-lion/Daltanious lion head on his chest (caused a lot of controversy back then with Bandai). Owing to the greatness (I'm not backing out from the statement) of the QC back then, this 'bot of mine is as tight as a virgin. smooth molding, clickty click locking of the connections. To add more to his being a bad@ss, his fists are like spiked!, like them street gang thugs! Poor Bruticus never knew what hit him (reference DW storyline) Is there anything wrong with this figure, due to old age, his dang labels (especially Razorclaw) keep on pealing off. and he tends to slouch forward. He also sports some articulation, 9 in fact, so he was also somewhat advance for his time. So in honor of the upcoming fall release (which also looks awesome), the "King" will be making a comeback.....again.....and is sure to be sold out! Rating: When I first bought him...............I found it ugly so 2/5. But after all these years, he did grow on me...............4.99/5
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 24, 2010 22:55:37 GMT 8
Okay, this might be a stretch and more or less related to the comic book section of the board. But this is just gosh darn weird what with the recent release of Piranacon.
Remember the now defunct Dreamwave and their take on G1? Well nearly all the 'bots featured (both story and covers (especially the covers) from Pat Lee's stint down to Don Fig have been re-issued)
Examples:
Nearly all the G1 Season 1 and 2 Autobots (TFC,Encore series and Commemorative, Key chains) with the exception of a dozen or so. Same with the Decepticons.
Now, just looking back at Don Figs stint, his wrap around cover for Issue #1 has a couple of combiners fighting (Bruticus, Menasor and Piranacon).Who would have guessed?
Well Omega Supreme and Skylynx also got the re-issue treatment recently right? We even have the second re-issue of Predaking this coming autumn.
Okay too much free time in my hands but well the Piranacon release is just too coincidental.
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 24, 2010 14:51:28 GMT 8
Superion, Defensor, Menasor, Bruticus, Predaking (1st run had die-cast) I can't confirm Abominus but am very sure Piranacon didn't have any.
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 24, 2010 12:06:47 GMT 8
No die-cast bro'. Design wise, he don't need it. I'm betting Takara's version will be similar to USA Starscream (supposedly a more sharper tail fin/upgraded mold version?)..............maybe an additional "Kanji" label on the front and that's it.
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 23, 2010 18:30:01 GMT 8
Contents: #1 plastic container #1 instruction manual # 6 Seacons # 7 biocards (1 for Piranacon) with a metallic type finish # 4 target master base stands # 4 target master support stands (long thingie) # 4 target master connectors (small square thingie) # 1 Piranacon head # 2 robot fists (with a clickity click locking mechanism) # 2 feet modules # 1 chest plate (with chromed blades) #1 chrome sword # 10 guns Background: Besides Predaking and Bruticus, this bruiser has been re-issued like 5x already. Personally, he ain't one of my most wanted figs (second to Predaking but he grows on you) given he's a 'con with all the horrid colors (he was G2 before his time). But in Masterforce, he was a bad@ss gestalt! Though his limbs more or less functioned as mindless drones. Anyway on to the figure itself. The figure: This review will be for the Piranacon figure itself and I'll gloss over the individual 'bots that make up the team. Snaptrap has this pom pom effect switch on his back for twin guns mounted on his backpack. Switch the peg back and forth and you'll know what I mean. The rest of the beasties that make him up ain't to shabby though. Above average looking mech beasts who share their Scramble City origins (limbs are interchangeable with no specific assignment). I use overbite by the way as the "target master component. One more thing that makes this set a must buy (if you are a hardcore g1 fan and don't own one) Piranacon was never released as a set "complete". Back in the late 1980's, when fan interest was dying and to off set costs, the Piranacon set was sold sans one part (Nautilator for the US version). King Poseidon was complete if I'm not mistaken). Another thing I noticed, the original Overbite was colored violet purple while this one, well pink purple. Snaptrap's head was originally colored black , joints now riveted and not screwed etc etc. so this isn't exactly a carbon copy of the 1988 version but amazingly close. Now the good/ bad news ( view this objectively brothers) 1. Expect a lot of molding degradation. ('nuff said) This is like over 12 years old baring the 5th time it's been released. If it were up to me, I wished it were all smooth and all but hey that's life...........(expected) 2. Pre applied labels (a mixed bag depending on your taste, me I'd prefer applying them (it was quite fun back then). In my unit, the labels were nicely applied anyway. (depends on your preference) 3. Chromed sword (not the BBTS version btw). The original G1 version for both Piranacon/King Poseidon was pink. (Good) 4. Loose connecting joint on Snaptraps right leg. Remedied by changing a specific limb Seacon. (The original gestalts had very tight clamps.) (Bad and good depending how OC you are) 5. Reports at seibertron.com member Diem was unlucky enough to get two clunkers (one missing either Seawing's gun or Nautilator's connecting pin) (verified with pics so HasTaks QC might have been slipping again........like henkei Starscream.................so it's like a hit or miss) Mine thankfully has no such problems. So good and bad again The verdict: I never owned one. Now I do! In a consumer friendly price. Sure it has a lot of molding issues (which was expected though it would have nice if this was minimized) Plus verified QC issues don't help either. If you have never owned one get him now! Once in a lifetime opportunity. Get him while his hot! So I give this a 3.9/5.0..........that is my honest opinion. Edit: I was recently informed that the BBTS exclusive will also come with a chromed sword.
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 22, 2010 20:46:11 GMT 8
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 22, 2010 18:11:17 GMT 8
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 18, 2010 0:56:08 GMT 8
Supposedly some heavily armed NASCAR cars are said to be the "Stunticons"?
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 14, 2010 21:30:27 GMT 8
Pics are up: All robot mode mein freunds............... full body face close up added yellow paint apps side view back radials hands feet (veryyyyy G1 no?)
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 14, 2010 21:25:00 GMT 8
Pics are up! (Please note that I added several destron sigils to cover the "white" ones printed by Hasbro) Jet Mode VTOL robot mode (front) close up face chrome cockpit back functional VTOL blades
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Post by fenrir72 on Jul 12, 2010 20:15:44 GMT 8
Finally..........a more affordable version of G1 inspired Thrust!
Contents:(pics to follow)
#1 Thrust (custom F-15) with functional VTOL (Vertical take off and Landing) accessory #2 missile holders #2 machine guns #2 VTOL accessories #1 blister pack #1 box
Background:
One of the three "cone heads" of G1 , Thrust together with Ramjet were released back in 1985. Sporting different sets of wings(and missiles) from Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp, they were rendered a bit differently by Floro Dery, which made owners then transform them with the nosecones standing up.
Fast forward 25 years and Hasbro released the classics versions. Unfortunately they never received a mass release (for Dirge and Thrust anyway). Then Takara released their own exclusive versions......again waaaaay expensive.
Now we are fortunate that a mass release version has just been re-issued. An odd thing is, it is a virtual carbon copy of the Ganbo version (with the exception of some paint apps and destron sigils). His cockpit by the way is chromed.............an oddity in the international releases.
Again as previously mentioned, he's got functional VTOL accessories (it actually spins), not sure if the original 1985 release also was functional. Like the original, his missiles are the default machine guns, which this time, thanks to the shorter wings, allows you to pose him pointing the machine guns without it getting in the way (that is if you pose the wings correctly).
PVC/ABS plastic molding is neat and smooth..........no noticeable degradation at all. Machine guns fit well, joints are tight and all.........and no two left feet.
Face paint apps is anime accurate.........as in yellow optics(the normal destrons have red optics) and whiteface paint. He's maroon color(it is maroon right?) greatly replicates his original G1 incarnation.
One thing I noticed though, his instruction manual have his wings mis transformed( no surprise on how "helpful" the modern instruction manuals are today)........and no more twisty ties(yay!)
If I have any complaints, it's the packaging....it .......... well ruins the box once it is opened(can't Hasbro copy henkei's packaging style?)
Rating: 4.9 out of 5.0 (nitpicking on the packaging otherwise a real steal for it's price).
Get it from greattoysonline while it's hot!
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