tekering

Hell, I'd love that playset myself. Over a meter high!

Actually, I think this Minmay figure is far better... ...but it's not Robotech. I'm looking forward to pre-ordering Rick as well.

Well, I would argue that Titan Comics is trying to do something different, with new designs and a different story, and that's gotta be a lot harder than simply reproducing what already exists in animation... ...whereas all Comico had to do was reproduce exactly what appeared onscreen. With all the animation reference, storyboards and model sheets available to them, how did they manage to fail so badly? Thirty years later, and I'm still dumbstruck.

Holy smeg! I'm the guy from Victoria who sent Johnny those Beta tapes thirty years ago!

Still better than Comico... ...which may be the saddest qualification I've ever had to make.

Yes. A single set includes a lot of parts, actually. Mind you, this shot was done against a mirror: ...and this playset combines two sets (and an unrelated table accessory). In all fairness, it's much too early to make comparisons like that. Your examples are heavily modified, with custom paint, lighting, panel work, and markings added. I have a lot of similar ideas for customizing The Ubiquitous, but I've only been allowed to post photographs of the product as-is... However, since it's shipping to retailers now (Hobby Link Japan has already sold out all their pre-order stock), we'll soon be seeing the true potential of the product!

DST released 30 Battlestar Galactica figures, by my count. Most of them are decent likenesses, and come with character-specific accessories. I opened a handful recently, just to photograph with The Ubiquitous: 1:48 spacecraft models photograph quite well, too.

Pre-order sales have guaranteed the release of further expansion sets, which include a whole new set of optional panels; I know they're designing a Death Star-specific set, but a 1:100 (or even 1:144) mecha-compatible series would also sell well, I'm sure. Thanks for the suggestion! In the meantime, I continue to explore the possibilities for action figure playsets: I've been experimenting with Photoshop enhancements, too. Endless possibilities!

For mecha hangars, there are several options available. For action figures, however, there's nothing on the market like this. Which is not to say it doesn't suit mecha as well, mind you...

Oh man, I've always wanted something like this! http://news.toyark.com/2018/02/22/nova-ubiquitous-ub-01-modular-diorama-set-hand-gallery-290523 It's just generic enough to work as any space station, starship interior or spacecraft hangar... which is probably why they call it "The Ubiquitous."

I can tell this thread doesn't get much regular traffic, given all the repetitive content being posted. The 1:12 figures are a must-buy, but 1:72 Veritechs? After Bandai's 1:55, Imai's 1:72, Yamato's 1:60, Yamato's 1:48, Yamato/Arcadia's 1:60 v.2, and Bandai's 1:100, I honestly can't justify investing in another line of VF-1 Valkyrie toys... regardless of their quality.

Actually, I've got hundreds of anime figures still in storage -- Sailor Moon, To-Heart, Haruhi, Hatsune Miku, K-On!, and less innocent stuff -- that must safely remain out of the public eye. A significant part of my business is teaching elementary school girls, see, so I have to be concerned with my professional image. Even the more sexualized Evangelion or Ghost in the Shell figures remain in the closet (along with a hundred Mobile Suits I just haven't found space to display). Not that it mattered, really, given how totally clueless the reporter was. He'd never seen Star Wars, never even heard of Macross, and standing before my wall of Transformers -- mostly G1, Animated, or movieverse characters -- he turned to me and asked "Are these all Gundams?"

Interesting. While I agree that Mospeada and Bubblegum Crisis are superior to Megazone 23, I prefer it to Bubblegum Crash or the AD Police Files. In fact, I'd even rate Megazone 23 Part II far above Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040, Paradise Dolls, or any of that post-90s dreck. If it ain't Kenichi Sonoda, it ain't BGC. And yes, the glut of Garland merchandise is as surprising as the dearth of Knight Sabers merchandise is disappointing...!

Harmony Gold had 35mm prints of Megazone 23, but they only had 16mm prints of Southern Cross to work from. The drop-off wasn't in production standards, just the quality of the film stock. You'd hardly notice it on video, but seeing film projected on a movie screen, it makes a significant difference.

I'd advise you to temper your expectations. It's fondly remembered among us oldskool mechheads as a sci-fi classic, but keep in mind it's nothing more than a failed TV series. Like Robotech II: The Sentinels, Megazone 23 got only three episodes animated before the sponsor pulled out, leaving a direct-to-video release the only option for the production to recoup costs. The production values are no better than any '80s TV series, and it's only a small group of core fans that continue to support the production of new merchandise. Most people have never even heard of it. Especially in Japan.

I snagged this unusual piece on Yahoo! Japan auctions for pocket change last week. Legitimate Tatsunoko merchandise, it was!

Sorry, my Invid projects have been temporarily shelved while I focus on displaying my collection for the local news media: It's been a very time-consuming process, as you can well imagine.

According to this Mandarake listing, it came in the regular blue and red color scheme, a weathered version, and a silver version. The packaging appears to have been identical for all three releases.

As a huge Harlock fan myself, I'm happy to help out. The Queen Emeraldus was primarily black in its original incarnations: ...including its depiction in 1978's Space Pirate Captain Harlock TV series. Most merchandising, however, is based upon its appearance in Arcadia of My Youth (and the follow-up SSX TV series): Or the Galaxy Express 999 films, for that matter. It was usually depicted with a predominantly blue air sac. Recent CGI versions, however, have a much more muted blue color, almost silver in appearance. Like anything in the Leijiverse, however, the only constant is change.

Yuck. Who overlaid the modern pop? That was a helluva lot funnier when the alien sang.

It's obviously USPS's mistake, then, and their responsibility to fix it. But it's not nothing to do with either of them. Clearly, everyone in Japan did their part, since you've got proof of delivery. All Nippon-Yasan should be responsible for is providing proof of what you paid, so you are properly reimbursed. What a stupid situation. You must be livid!

To be honest, I've never been much of a fan of the barely-glimpsed "ELINT Seeker" Valkyrie, but Bandai's version is unexpectedly cool. Certainly my favorite rendition of this design to date... and another solid win for the HMR line.

I'm interested, too. Where did you get them?

Wow. Here in Okayama, there are not many Star Wars fans... but everyone's aware of it, at least. Macross is hardly remembered by anyone, and when I clarify "Chohjiku Yohsai Makurosu," they usually giggle. (Most anime titles sound vaguely stupid in Japanese, "Super Dimensional Fortress" among them.) In other news, Solo: A Star Wars Story might suck a lot worse than The Last Jedi...

Last month, I put together this Star Wars top-ten list for my blog, ranking each iteration of the franchise* and my response to it. Since this thread seems to be expanding into how The Last Jedi fits within the mythological framework of the saga, it seems relevant to this discussion: Despite some terrific world-building, epic visuals and ground-breaking new special effects work, neither Episode II nor III is any good, really. There are some terrific action sequences, sure, and the John Williams music has never been better, but the dialogue and acting are so distractingly bad that it’s hard to appreciate the stories. I’ve lumped them together because they’re equally weak (albeit for different reasons). Attack of the Clones is generally considered worse, although it's easier to ignore; Revenge of the Sith does far more damage to the overall mythology by establishing that the heroic Anakin Skywalker suddenly becomes a Sith Lord and starts slaughtering children because... he had a bad dream. Inexcusable. Liam Neeson’s miraculously fine performance -- and the classic pod race sequence -- save an otherwise preposterous film, one that at least benefits greatly from improved editing and special effects for its current Blu-ray release. Spanning six years and 120 episodes, this entirely computer-generated TV show started weak but got better and better as the series progressed, eventually surpassing the prequel trilogy in its epic scope, thematic depth, and occasionally unconventional narrative style. Depressingly derivative of every other sci-fi fantasy film made over the last 30 years, this nonetheless provides some engaging new characters and exciting potential for the future of the franchise (much of which was unfortunately squandered by Rian Johnson's follow-up). Schizophrenic as hell, this divisive new entry is in equal parts brilliant and banal, thrilling and tedious, satisfying yet infuriating. Lots of wasted potential, but some genuine surprises as well... and for what it lacks in narrative logic, it makes up for in thematic resonance. After six years honing their craft on The Clone Wars, the staff now responsible for Rebels has provided consistently entertaining stories, dynamic and evolving characters, and a rich backstory to the original trilogy that deftly incorporates elements from every facet of the mythology. Despite all expectations, Rebels has turned out to be better than any of us could've hoped for. The original Star Wars would place higher on this list if it weren’t for all the awkward changes made for the 20th anniversary “Special Edition,” still the only version available in high-definition. Controversial editing decisions and twenty year-old CGI have unfortunately damaged the film irrevocably. Eschewing the childish humor and mystical elements of most films in the series (but maintaining a strict adherence to the editing style, costume and production design, and the overall aesthetic of the original trilogy), this stand-alone feature is a more hard-edged sci-fi war story intended for a more sophisticated audience. J.J. Abrams may claim to be a huge Star Wars fan, but Gareth Edwards proves it; Rogue One provides so much fanservice that it's impossible to be disappointed. An action-packed thrill-ride that defined the blockbuster tradition of the ‘80s, this classic combines epic mythos and high drama with masterful editing and pacing, weakened only by those few character moments between the action sequences (and again, some regrettable Special Edition "enhancements"). Everything the series aspires to be, this timeless sequel manages to be poignant and thrilling, fresh and unique, richer and more imaginative than its famous predecessor, and boasts the finest performances of the whole saga... and best of all, isn't ruined by the newly-added elements, either. * Note that I’ve ignored the Ewok movies, the Ewoks and Droids cartoons, and everything else Disney has rendered non-canon because... it’s crap.