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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    I fail to see where stuff like this is interesting, likewise with the Pop Vinyl stuff. Personal preference, of course, and I respect that people like different things for different reasons, but when it comes to Transformers, or pretty much anything that should have motion, articulation and the like, then I'll stick to models and toys that allow for the greatest amount of dynamism (that I can feasibly afford). It's also the reason why most 80's TF toys really hold no interest for me anymore; I get why they appeal to some collectors, but I'd rather my figs have two legs and a decent amount of poseability. Today's TF toys are what I was dreaming of in the 80's; I'm extremely glad the franchise has remained popular, and that I now have the opportunity (and the financial wherewithal) to own all those old toys, albeit with the benefits of today's technology and engineering. But, whatever your interest, there's likely something out there TF related, so for all of us, there's never been a better time to be a Transformers fan.
  2. M'Kyuun
    Hey now, no pity parties for this Apollyon owner. I like my Apollyon; it's not perfect, but it's still a striking take on Megatron, and I like that the designer kept the G1 transformation mechanic while attempting to not copy MP-5. I read an interview with him where he tips his hat to Takara for MP-5's arm mechanics. Anyway, Despotron is shaping up to be a fantastic looking figure. I love the creative engineering on this guy, and the final result is the cleanest version in robot mode thus far. He still has his flaws, though- the transformation is not G1 accurate, so his shoulder hammers are cheats, the barrel has both a long slot and a screw hole that are clearly visible in gun mode, and clever as the lower torso transformation is, if those locking points weaken or break over time, he'll become Accordiontron. But I digress; I'm playing devil's advocate for a toy I will most likely pick up, and I think everything they did with this figure just works. These third parties are really bringing some amazing creativity to the table, and I can't help but feel that Takara are falling well behind within their own franchise. If they decide to do a new MP Megs, it's going to be challenging for them to create something new, and to meet the standards being set by these unofficial products. Despotron aside, I got my Toyworld Bulldozer in yesterday, my first ever version of Bonecrusher in 30+ yrs of collecting, and I was in love with the chunky beast at first sight. Handling this guy makes me want the rest; overall, just a great toy, except mine has an issue where the right heel wasn't pinned properly so the heel cannot swing out to a full 90 degrees. As a result of the stresses this created, the part to which the heel is attached has a 4mm crack running down its center from the point where it attaches to the linkage, essentially where it rotates to enable ankle tilt for the heel. If the heel parts weren't integral to attaching the Devastator lower arm piece, I'd just glue the crack and live with his gimp heel. But I'm eventually going to get all these guys, and I will be combining them, so this isn't going to work. I've already contacted TFSource, and hopefully they'll just do a one for one swap. It's really a shame that something so small can ruin what is otherwise a beautiful figure.
  3. M'Kyuun
    I've got TW's Bonecrusher coming on Wednesday and I'm pretty stoked. It'll be my first TW Constructor (I've had Unearth on PO through Captured Prey for months now, and I still don't think they have him in stock ). I'm hoping there won't be any issues, but I ordered through TFSource, who, by all accounts, have really good customer service. I hope the second release of the green versions is announced soon, and that Burden gets a bit of an overhaul to address some of his glaring flaws. More pics of Despotron and his Cybertronian equivalent were posted on TFW2005 yesterday. http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/08/28/maketoys-despotron-rioter-despotron-new-images-324034 Every new pic I see of Despotron furthers my good impression of the figure. I think I'll wait for initial reviews before committing, but I'm about 90% sold on him already. I like my Apollyon alot, but he's a bit of a burden to transform, is fidgety, esp in the waist section which untabs very easily, and has pretty limited shoulder movement. Despotron, OTOH, looks like he'll be a lot more fun to transform and pose. I hope I'm right. Props to Maketoys, as they made him very clean, and I love the engineering in his torso to encompass his trigger and trigger guard. Apollyon satisfies the G1 transformation for me, so the non-standard transformation won't bother me if the robot mode makes up for it with solidarity and good articulation.
  4. M'Kyuun
    Wow...terrible, but it made my day.
  5. M'Kyuun
    Can't disagree with either of those points. As I said, if they reissue this mold down the line with a proper side mounted cannon and a complete fold-away head (this head master stuff is a bit ridiculous), I'll be a little perturbed. I give them points for trying to make it work, but the final result is lacking. As for Universe Galvatron in general, see JBO's post above. Could have been so much better. Opened Crashbash last night- best use of a Headmaster figure I've seen (the HM's arms are used as the T-Rex mode's arms and its legs form the lower jaw). This little guy is just adorable, and it tickles me that he's a Decepticon. I also opened Nightbeat- not as clever or fun as Crashbash, but ok for what it is. It's a shame that the HMs' legs aren't independently poseable, as the possibilities for integrating them into their vehicles would have increased greatly.
  6. M'Kyuun
    Sarcasm, right? If not, you're in a pretty exclusive club of Universe Galvatron fan(s). I like the idea of it- execution, not so much. The TR version, for all its warts, is an all around superior figure, IMHO. Did some toy hunting today, and scored TR Rewind, Loudmouth, Nightbeat, and Crashbash at Fred Meyers. I passed on Stripes; I'm waiting to find the Ravage repaint. I went to Walgreen's in search of Brainstorm, to no avail. TRU had Fortress Maximus- I passed on him. Man, that's a big box! TRU also had TR Sentinel Prime, but I'm not a fan of the mold. For a second or two, I contemplated getting the TRU exclusive RiD warrior class Starscream figure. I wish they'd made the big pauldrons fold back to cover his arms in jet mode. I passed on him, too. Anyway, I'm happy with what I did find (still haven't opened any of them-something to do later or tomorrow). I hope the G1 esque figs keep coming. A new official Reflector is long, long overdue, as well as the Omnibots, all of which were mail-in figures requiring a bunch of 'Robot Points' from the boxes/cards back in '85 or so. I'd also be interested in a new punch/Counterpunch fig- I'd like to see how they pull off the double identity.
  7. M'Kyuun
    I've been an anime fan for a long time, specifically a mecha anime fan, but had never seen any Gundam. So one of my favorite stores, Hastings, is closing shop and my wife and I went on a buying spree. Among my purchases were MSG and Zeta Gundam. So, we watched Zeta first (mostly because I recently completed a Methuss kit and just really wanted to see the thing in action ) and we were both caught up in the show- just some really good storytelling and engaging characters. Anyway, looking forward to watching MSG and hopefully checking out more of the series. I've been watching Iron Blooded Orphans on Cartoon Network, but it doesn't engage me as much as Zeta.
  8. M'Kyuun
    Well, excitement got the better of me after first pics emerged, and, believing the Takara paint job would be superior, I succumbed. In hindsight, I wish I'd just gotten the Hasbro version. It's a good figure, but for all its shortcomings (the back leg panels, no aft gear for starfighter mode, the cannon attachment), it wasn't worth the additional money for the import. But, what's done is done, and he's still the best official Galvatron to date, IMHO, unless the old CHUG tank version just does it for ya. I also bit the bullet for Super Ginrai over TR PM Prime. Both have things I like and don't, but since I already have CW Ultra Magnus, Ginrai offers a number of differences over the PM Prime remold. I like that his feet have ankle tilts, even if his feet look wonky, and his arms are an improvement over the Hasbro version. I admit, though, I think I like Hasbro's stylized cab over Ginrai. I think the differences will help set him apart from Ultra Magnus, both in hand and on the shelf.
  9. M'Kyuun
    Got my UW Bruticus and Takara TR Galvatron today. I really like the packaging for Bruticus; it's a shame Hasbro didn't follow suit and release the entire team in a big box as well. I dig the colors on this guy. Still hate those crappy hand/foot/weapon parts- they're ok for hands, but on a fig this size, they're completely inadequate as feet. Trying to get him in a dynamic pose without falling over was a time consuming process. I've got some PE Bruticus parts PO'd- can't wait to swap them out. Lots of floppiness/loose joints and loose connections (with tabs) with nearly every figure in the set. Blast Off's legs (in arm mode) are especially loose and I constantly have to squeeze them back together. I guess that's the cost of having a proper shuttle mode guy. Galvatron's a pretty neat figure, except for that cannon attachment. How hard would it have been to move the peg hole 90 degrees or, better yet, mount it to his forearm? I see that some enterprising folks have already remedied it with Shapeways. Might be worth a look. I wish they'd just given this fig a proper head; there's plenty of room for it in his chest, so a modified re-release is feasible. I'm already feeling a pang of regret.
  10. M'Kyuun
    I'll chime in with my disappointment that more of the cassettes weren't made; they've always been some of my favorite TFs. The MP designs are pretty incredible, esp the condors, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw. Ravage was always my favorite, though, and I had really high expectations after seeing what was done with Laserbeak. Alas, he's not as good as I'd hoped he'd be, but still decent. I think the Ravage that came with Hound has a better overall aesthetic. Anyway, glad I got my Hasbro Soundwave when it was first released. I was dismayed about not getting Ratbat, too, but I ended up getting a well done KO for about $15. It does the job. If they make a MP Blaster sometime in the future, hopefully that'll open the door to more cassettes being made. Fingers crossed.
  11. M'Kyuun
    I just went ahead and got him through HLJ; I've had nothing but good experiences with them, so I don't mind spending a few extra dollars. Looking forward to getting this guy in hand. I wish they could have integrated the bot mode feet a little better, but overall, he looks pretty amazing.
  12. M'Kyuun
    Odd that he wasn't included in the next wave, or even the first. He looks like he'll likely be a partsformer, similar to Rod Drill, with the option of keeping his head as a short nose, or popping the long nose on him.
  13. M'Kyuun
    Fortunately for those of us buying this guy, AT didn't feel the quality was up to par and made changes which have delayed the figure beyond their original estimate. Moves like this give me hope that the next wave will also have issues addressed rather than just being put on the market as-is. It's not like Bike Robo wouldn't have sold, even with messed up wheels. Nostalgia fuels strong desire in alot of fans, and it's not uncommon to see standards lowered if only to get a dream toy that may never again get made. I'd have thought preorders would be up on all the major retailers after the next batch's pics were shown, but thus far, I haven't seen any. I'm all in for Space and Blackbird, and I'll likely grab Turbo as well. Blockhead, I'm kinda 'eh, either way'.
  14. M'Kyuun
    I went with MMC's Trailbreaker- I like everything about it, especially the thinner look. But I'm glad BC went a different route, b/c options are nice. I doubt I'll bother getting Hoist, but if I do, I'm not sure who I'll go with. I haven't given it much thought, and having Terraegis in hand may sway me one way or the other. Phoenix is a pretty excellent figure except for the wonky head linkage; I wish they'd found a way to lock that down better. But, it's a small quibble on an otherwise great toy. I've been scrutinizing those Despotron pics, and it looks like the arms stay put and just transform into parts of the gun on either side of the chest area. It's not canon, but engineering-wise, it eliminates the need for fragile swing bars like Apollyon has to move the arms into position. They've found a brilliant solution for the legs: they sit tandem, both shins facing forward, with the outermost side leg panels swinging around to cover the inner surface of the opposite leg- if that makes sense. There's a lot of origami happening in the lower torso and waist area that I haven't tried to figure out, but if they can make this a solid figure with a fun transformation, I'll consider getting him, too. Apollyon looks great, and his transformation follows the G1 toy, but he just really isn't fun to transform. The only detail I see on Despotron that might make people upset is the slot on the barrel that I'm guessing is there for transformation. It is a little detracting, and hopefully they'll find a way to cover that on the final. Aesthetics wise, I think his chunky look fits with the look of MP-10 really well. IMHO, this should have been TT's version 2.
  15. M'Kyuun
    Despotron looks pretty good; at least from this angle, they made him kibble free, unlike Apollyon. I guess some folks might not like the chunkiness, but side by side with MP Prime, he 's very clean, much more like what I'd expect an official version to look like. There's definitely some interesting engineering at work throughout - I'm curious to see this guy transformed. Looks like those legs sit one behind the other, and that torso below the chest plate breaks up somewhat. I'm digging him so far.
  16. M'Kyuun
    Ha, no kidding. New brains, depending on what head you pop on there. I'll never get the allure of the Headmasters gimmick. But, I like the current G1 inspired trend in both CW and TR- it feels like I'm getting the toys the way I wanted them to be 30 years ago. I like that they're very close homages, but not absolutely slavish to the old toys or animation. There's a nice amalgamation of the old and modern artistic license, and, HM gimmick aside, I've been pretty pleased with all the figs I've bought so far. I think they've struck a good balance. Thanks for the TFClub rumor, Mike. At this point, if Has/Tak follow the current heavy G1 homage trend, I'd welcome a minty new set of Dinobots, Headmasters or not. I had hopes for the MP line when they did Grimlock, but they did him and quit. The CHUG/TR line would be the next best thing, and hopefully in voyager scale. Deluxe would be a bit small. Keeping my fingers crossed, and hoping they're not as poorly done as the individual Constructicons if they indeed make them. Concerning Ginrai compared to Hasbro's PM Prime- Hikuro stated my thoughts above. However, since I have Ultra Magnus, I feel drawn to Ginrai because of the differences in the mold. Still in the air for now, but that's likely the way I'll go.
  17. M'Kyuun
    Well , the VF-4 had a few seconds just flying in DYRL and we got a toy. The VF-22 was involved in a major plot point and a prime motivator for the Windemereans to seek revenge on NUNS. Kawamori could have used any valk, or even a non-transforming aircraft, to drop the bomb, but he used the VF-22. I doubt it was coincidence. After making the VF-19 for Frontier, I bet Bandai were chomping at the bit to have a go at the 22. All they need is an appearance in Delta for justification. That's fine by me. Interesting ep. I did a double take when "Dickculture" showed up in the subtitles. Pretty much sums up the episode. The scene with the Windemereans watching Walkure vids and getting caught was pretty amusing. As far as the romance angle goes, the question of her age aside, I think they've gone to pains to show that Hayate and Freyja have a unique connection, and given her short lifespan, personally, I'd like to see those two end up together eventually. From the get-go, they complimented each other. I think Mirage makes a good friend and confidant for Hayate, the way they've portrayed their relationship thus far. I normally don't comment on the romantic aspects, but this ep struck a chord with me.
  18. M'Kyuun
    I've also seen posts enamored of the name 'Terraegis'. Beyond its being Greek, I don't get the exuberance. 'Apollyon' is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Abaddon, the Angel of Destruction, which is an apropos name for a Megatron based fig, but I never saw any fanfare over that. Toyworld's version of Trailbreaker didn't really appeal to me, based on those proto shots. If MMC had gone the more toy-based route like Badcube, it would have been a tough decision. But I like the engineering Jesslyn brought to the character, as I never cared for the front of the truck just hanging there like a beer gut. Slim and trim Trailbreaker FTW. Now, contrarily, and for variety, I'd consider Badcube's Hoist, although I'm still waiting to see how MMC's turns out, too.
  19. M'Kyuun
    Both Badcube's and MMC's Trailbreakers look good, despite their differences. I guess it comes down to whether you prefer a more svelte bot mode (MMC), or a more toy/animation accurate version. They both nailed the truck mode- beautiful. personally, I'm going with MMC; I prefer the thinner bot mode. I believe, if one is so inclined, that Terraegis can also be transformed to better represent the G1 toy/animation- so it's a win-win. I'll keep him in Jenny Craig mode. I have to say, that's a lovely group shot with Badcube's TB and Hoist with MP Ironhide. Badcube did an admirable job differentiating the arms and legs between their Hilux bros.
  20. M'Kyuun
    Technoblue, concerning customs and gun restrictions, I can speak from personal experience getting Apollyon. He arrived completely unmolested from the sender, so my thinking is that Customs folks are simply scanning the packages. It helps, too, that Apollyon, at least, is packaged in robot mode, so when they scan it, that's all they see. Now if one of these companies packages their not-Megatron in gun mode, I suspect they might not make it through customs unscathed. But, I'm guessing most of the 3rd party folks are aware of the restrictions on guns, including toy guns, and will act accordingly to elicit the least amount of scrutiny, at least for U.S. imports. Hoping POs open for MMC's Trailbreaker soon. That truck mode is incredible, and they did a great job eliminating the beer belly while still maintaining his overall look. I'm really pleased with my copy of Sphinx, I passed on Backdraft in favor of the official MP Inferno, but TT are a bit slow in getting these G1 characters out, and honestly, I'm not sure what they could do to really improve on MMC's design. Plus die-cast and rubber tires. These toys feel more like MP quality to me than the official toys.
  21. M'Kyuun
    That triple changing Prime/ Octane's alt modes both look heavily compromised and just really poor. The truck might look better from a different angle and with all the weapons removed, but there's little help for that stretch Harrier. After seeing Megatron/future Blitzwing, which looks pretty decent to me in all modes, I was anticipating a new Octane, having passed on the Classics version. I daresay, the Classics looked better to me than this thing. I don't think Prime's color scheme is helping it much, either. It looks gaudy, and more like a preschool toy. With all the experience they have between TT and Hasbro, I'd have thought they'd come up with a much better design. Finally, Kickback. Kinda odd that they didn't make the thighs fold into the lower legs, as they look a bit odd, as do his wing connections, in locust mode. Weird design choices aside, they got the likeness to his G1 figure down pretty well, and I'm stoked that they finally made him. Rodimus looks to be a worthy successor to his Classics figure. His arms look a bit large, or maybe too long- I get an apish vibe from it, but otherwise, in both modes, I think he looks pretty good. IMHO, his bot mode proportions are better than the MP. So when, I wonder, are they going to make a new G1 inspired Dinobot team? I just don't want them as headmasters, but updated voyager scaled figures would be great.
  22. M'Kyuun
    I also have Apollyon, and out of the three here, I still think he has the best overall proportions. However, I like the look of Despotron; he's a little chunky, but still a nice looking Megatron. I kinda wish he was Voyager scaled for the CHUGs. Looking forward to reviews.
  23. M'Kyuun
    The entire RiD and Unicron Trilogy, as well as the Bay films, are dead spots in my personal TF universe. I couldn't get into any of the Japanese toons, and the toys were so-so. I have a number of them, but ultimately, few of them have any value to me today. They remain boxed up and out of sight. As for Bay, the one positive that came from his involvement in the franchise was the increase in complexity of the toys, without which to pave the way, I doubt the TF:Animated toys would have turned out as well as they did. TT and Hasbro have simplified things a bit in the last few years, but every now and then, esp in the MP line, they surprise with a nice bit of ingenious engineering. So far, Cheetor looks like he benefits from some of that ingenious engineering.
  24. M'Kyuun
    Another big monster movie full of the same old cliches. When is Sam Jackson not extreme in a film these days? Like it or not, it's his schtick. It's being produced by the creators of Godzilla, so I'd assume it's in the same universe. Hopefully, they'll make me care more for the characters in this film, but I doubt it. Really, though, I kinda empathize with folks trying to create a kaiju movie- I'm not sure what can be done to make it fresh without totally screwing it up. I think Attack on Titan succeeded in this regard- while they're not fighting traditional big monsters, the basic premise is the same, but the approach of having slayers using cables and swords to achieve the necessary verticality, while realistically improbable, makes for a new approach with some nifty action. I like the idea of using the military, but honestly, maybe a more near future sci-fi, or steam/ dieselpunk, approach would give the needed revitalization this kind of movie needs to make it interesting again. But yeah, the cliched helicopter approach has lost its impact, as well as shooting at it with useless M-16s, etc ad nauseum. Evangelion, to me, illustrates the best example of the humans vs large monster scenario done well in a sci-fi setting. Pacific Rim was ok, but there was more I didn't like than I liked in that film.
  25. M'Kyuun
    I'm a BW fan- alt modes aside, I think it's one of the best TF shows in terms of writing and character development- from start to finish, it's a fun show to watch. That said, I'm with those who are 'meh' concerning MP Primal. For a MP figure, I didn't feel he was quite MP material, but a solid Voyager in the Generations line. I still think it'd have been cool had TT gone with faux fur and various other materials to make them feel more authentic as animals, but that ship has sailed. Anyway, Cheetor has me far more convinced, even at the gray-mold stage. This colored version really sells him, and he's a must-buy in my book, which also means that, sometime down the road, I'll likely cave and get 'Big Bot' for my little BW collection. I'm curious how many of these guys TT are going to make; I imagine the challenges are far dreater to make these characters look like their animation models in both modes without greatly compromising one for the other. Dinobot, especially, comes to mind; he was a pivotal character in the show and needs a good revision, as all past figures have pretty much been crap. Bought TR Wheelie yesterday; Cool little figure with two caveats: first, his arms don't lock very well, and rely solely on friction, both at the elbow ball joint and the forward silver painted area( basically a small tongue and groove joint), and a tab by the hand, to keep the arms in place in car mode. The tongue and groove joint on mine doesn't lock in flush very well and takes some fidgeting to compress it . Second, the rear of the car is just an open area where the head and shoulder joints are clearly visible. It would have been cool had they made a small cover plate, and there's room enough for a small panel, but I guess they didn't have enough budget for another piece or two. That bit of negativity aside, it's a great likeness in both modes to the G1 character, is decently poseable (shoulders are pretty limited), and the way the body folds to allow a Titan Master to sit in the car, and then the robot body to compress, is very well done. Glad I got him. For those eyeing the TT version, IMO, not worth the extra money. Oh, just thought of a third negative- he doesn't come with a weapon, specifically his iconic slingshot, even though his card art shows him with it. I'm sure third parties are already working on solutions.
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