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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    Likewise from start to finish. Well, other than the FT comment. I'm happy with my MMC. Still, all things being equal, I wouldn't mind a BB/CJ set that mirror their choro-Q alt modes at some point. I thought about the NA figs, but haven't bitten. But MP-45, and now this MP fig, if that proto is legit, nail the alts, but suffer too egregiously in bot mode for my liking. But if it makes you happy, then that's fantastic.
  2. M'Kyuun
    'Preciate the insights, Mike. While I was never crazy about Tracks as a character, the Corvette alt mode & flying car gimmicks won me over as a kid, and continue to do so, as I also have the RtS and MP versions. Prior reviews I've watched of this toy had me a wee bit leery for all the seeming lack of fidelity in the lower legs. Sounds like it is an endemic issue with the mold, but perhaps not as egregious as other reviewers have made out. Still, it sucks that it has issues at all, and I think your suggestion would have given us a sturdier figure. Alas, naught to be done about it. The unpainted wings are a bummer as well, as to me, they're one of those defining parts of his overall look, and just having them stark white doesn't look quite right. I also wish they'd integrated the back cannons by having them fold away into the alt mode, but again, no. And though it's never been part of Tracks' design, I've wished since owning my G1 Tracks that the front wheels would tilt downwards in flight mode to complete the look. Still do. As far as the wings and roof crest go, a sticker sheet would have been a nice low cost option in lieu of paint or tampo. Alas, all this wishing doesn't make it so.
  3. M'Kyuun
    Just got back and checked in- glad I did. 'Preciate the link! Got him and perceptor. I'm happy.🙂
  4. M'Kyuun
    I hope not. I'm surprised that's all the new 86 SS figs- I figured there'd be a few more, maybe another Dinobot, or an Insecticon. Anyway, the Fanfest segued into snoozeville as soon as they were done with the SS86 figs. Don't care a lick about Shattered Glass. I do hope they show TF: The Movie around here, as I've never seen it on the big screen, and that'd be a nice thing to experience. Waiting for them to talk about the upcoming Legacy stuff, but they're dragging feet, and I'm going to have to go take my mom-in-law to an appointment, so I'll likely miss the part I actually care about. C'set la vie. Why can't we get a good TF game? That footage looked like a promo cut scene, not actual gameplay. WfC and FoC were done very well. A G1 styled game would be great in that format. Well, Fan thing is over. Pretty underwhelming. Guess more to come on the 24th. Hopefully Legacy stuff will be on display. I thought they said stuff would be up on Pulse at 1100 ET, which would be about 2PM my time (PT). Either way, I'll be home by by then, and standing by, although Perceptor is the only thing they showed that I'm interested in. I'm not too plussed by the ER Seeker mold, and I never cared much about the Coronation scene regala for Screamer. Too, I never cared for the Sweeps' alt mode, so having Scourge, I don't need another flying bar of soap. I will say, however, that the bot mode for that mold is pretty striking: Scourge is standing right in front of me on my desk at present, so I'm admiring it even as I type. That alt mode though- ugh!
  5. M'Kyuun
    I've thought about getting the Go better upgrade for Sunstreaker and the foot kits by 115 Workshop, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. It bugs me a little that these things cost nearly as much or more than the entire fig, and due to their 3D printing, have the tell-tale rough patterns that necessitates some potential finishing work. Oh, Fan Friday starting...gotta go watch what little I can.
  6. M'Kyuun
    Figures my mother-in-law, who doesn't drive, has a medical appointment tomorrow morning right in the middle of the Hasbro Pulse Transformers event. I was looking forward to it. Hopefully, I'll get back in time before everything is already sold out on Pulse. Given the hoops I as an adult fan have to jump through to get TF toys, I feel bad for any kids that might actually want to get these things; their presence in brick and mortar is fleeting at best, with long interludes of little to nothing on the shelves. It definitely wasn't like that when I was a kid, and it makes me wonder why it's not being addressed both by stores and Hasbro. How do they expect to sell their products if they're never available? It's ridiculous.
  7. M'Kyuun
    Sorry to steal your thunder, Mike, but yeah, hopefully we'll get to see pics of everything on Friday. I didn't realize that Ratchet was of the smaller class; I figured a Studio Series version would be their way of making a better version than the lackluster Earthrise version. Guess not. I'm guessing blue Bluestreak will probably be some sort of exclusive. While I wouldn't mind having it to add to the collection, if they make it too expensive or difficult to obtain, I can live without it. I have MP blue Bluestreak, and I'm pleased just to have that.
  8. M'Kyuun
    Just popped in to TFW to see what's new. New Transformers Legacy/Evolution/Studio Series Listings Found - Leader Dragon Megatron, Armada Starscream, Soundwave, Energon Monster, Bulkhead, Tarantulas, Skids, Dragstrip, Ratchet, Rumble, Kickback, Laserbeak, Wheelie, & Blaster - Transformers News - TFW2005 So, just reading through that link should give those of you collecting the mainline hope for some improved figs over what we already got in the WfC line. I'm excited to see SS86 Ratchet, as Earthrise left a lot to be desired, especially those terrible feet and partsforming roof. Hopefully, this version will fix both issues in a fully integrated 'perfect' transformation, with a much better van mode. Seeing Dragstrip in that lineup, it looks like we're indeed going to get a new spate of combiners. That should make a certain fan named Mike pretty happy. Personally, I wish they'd started with the Constructicons or the Combaticons, but I'm patient. I'm curious to see how they tackle the combining gimmick without resorting once again to a huge joint that the rest of the bot needs to be designed around. Hasbro made out very well financially for the first half of 2021, so I hope that's reflected in the toy budgets for this upcoming line in overall quality, paint apps, more ratchet joints, overall improved articulation ( give all figs rotating wrists as a minimal improvement), better engineering to cover gaps, incorporate better solutions to stuff like Wheeljack's wings or Sunstreaker's spoiler, and for the love of Primus, give these figs all the weapons and accessories that their G1 counterparts came with so we don't have to continue to rely on third parties to provide all these upgrades and accessories at the same if not higher, cost than the figure itself. They're doing a pretty good job on the figs, with a few missteps along the way, but if they're well within the black financially, it would be nice to see that reflected in the product, and not going into upper management's pockets. I hope they redo the Triple Changers for Legacy- Astrotrain had a nice bot mode, but both of his alt modes left a lot to be desired, and we could do with a new Blitzwing, since the TR version had its issues as well.
  9. M'Kyuun
    Human nature; nothing to be done for it. Except evolve into an emotionless collective machine intelligence where all voices are one, and perfection is guaranteed every time by virtue of all decisions thereto made by the hive mind. I think I'll take the occasional ranting, thanks.🙂
  10. M'Kyuun
    In the toy or toon debate, my greater tendency is towards the toys. After all, they existed before the toon and were the basis for the animation models. In the case of the Vanettes, I prefer the animation model to the toys. The animation did give better proportionality, which is the one strong point of the animation. In all other regards, it's the toys that I look to for actualizing the details, as Danth pointed out (the circuitry details among many of the figs, as well as other sculpted details and real vehicle details that carried over to the bot modes, even Jazz's wings). I love mechanical details, especially realistic details like electrical cables, circuitry, hydraulics, gear detail, etc, so the more you can cram into a robot figure, any robot figure, Transformers or otherwise, I'm all for it. While I enjoyed the toon, at least First Season, the animation flaws often stuck out to me (I was thirteen at the time, so a bit more critical and observant of errors, fudged transformation sequences, dodgy proportions in both bot and car modes, which happened a lot in both cases, the 'mass shifting', and other inconsistencies and animation goofs that might not be so apparent to younger children). I loved the stories in First Season. 'Fire on the Mountain' is probably the weakest ep, due to all the human stuff, and just a thin plot. But it had Skyfire in it, and since his appearances were rare, I was still pretty happy with it. But I think they did a good job of maintaining the overarching story of the Decepticons' attempts to amass resources to create energon cubes initially to return to, then to revitalize, and finally to bring Cybertron to Earth via a space bridge. It was all so unique and creative to me, storytelling wise, and provided opportunities to use unique characters like the Dinobots. It was just good stuff from that POV. I haven't watched First Season in probably five or six years, but it all starts coming back to me when I talk about it, along with that old excitement. So yeah, there's certainly an argument for nostalgia coloring one's preferences, both toy and toon. If, like Mike, the toon was all you had, well it makes sense that that is where your heart lies b/c that's what you had. I was fortunate enough to have a handful of G1 toys, which I messed about with quite a bit: Prowl, Jazz, Wheeljack, Ratchet, Soundwave, a few KO cassettes, Huffer (of course), Sludge, Shrapnel and Kickback, Long Haul and Scavenger. I think that's all I had from First Season. I also had a few figs from later seasons, including Galvatron, but by that time, I was getting close to graduation and entering the military, so my collecting pretty much went on hiatus until Beast Wars came along, and piqued my interest with , holy crap, articulated figures! Like most, I was skeptical about the animal alt modes, but once I started watching the toon, I was hooked, and that's where my TF toy collecting really started in earnest. But there was always that hope that we'd someday get idealized, fully articulated versions of the old G1 toys at some point, and now we're spoiled for choice. I never imagined it would happen; I hoped, but didn't have much faith. Never happier to be so wrong. It's still slightly disappointing that the toys are all leaning towards the animation look, but given that or nothing at all, I'll take what's available with gratitude, and maintain a flicker of hope that eventually more of the old toy details will creep in over time. But as I've said many times, given how many 80s properties are long dead and nigh forgotten, I'm extremely grateful that Transformers, my absolute favorite toon and toyline from the 80s, is still flourishing, and I'm able to get the toys that I could only dream of as a kid and young adult. While we all have our preferences concerning what we want in the toys, I think its worthwhile to just be thankful that these toys exist, that the franchise is still alive and well, and that there are so many options available to us as Transformer fans for toys and merch of all kinds. It's easy to fall prey to cynicism and being critical, and much harder just to take a moment, appreciate what we have, and just say thanks. To all who keep, and have kept, Transformers alive and thriving, eternal gratitude.Yeah, even you, Michael Bay.
  11. M'Kyuun
    Well, all trends come to an end eventually; it's merely a question of time and interest. G1 will always be the heart of Transformers for as long as the franchise exists and remains popular, but the nostalgia that drives the current total animation accuracy trend will likely end when we old Geewunners become one with the Matrix. I hope it happens before that, within my lifetime, but the current trend has a very strong following. Even the third party legends makers are going that way, except Iron Factory, who do have always taken their own direction. But, I do think there are those of us among the old guard who aren't as crazy about the slavish toon direction, such as myself, who wouldn't mind seeing improvements to characters such as I outlined for Punch/CP, or a return to what has been called the 'hybrid' style during Hasui-san's watch. I prefer the carry-over of realistic details from vehicle to robot, mixed with G1 toy details, animation proportions, and copious amounts of articulation. That combo works for me, and yields the best of all worlds, IMHO, except when it detrimentally effects the look of the figure as in MP Arcee's chest. I can live without butterfly joints if it impacts the look to that extent. I think there's there's room in the fandom for the toon stuff, and for 'hybrid', but, MP Skids aside, the hybrid stuff just doesn't carry the same weight of approval right now. Hopefully that'll change, or some company will take it upon themselves to go that route. I remain hopeful.
  12. M'Kyuun
    Curious to see what they, um, roll out. I'll see myself out.
  13. M'Kyuun
    I understand the desire to make certain toys 'just the way they've always been' in most regards, but IMHO, Punch/CP is a bit of a unique case where the original toy manifested the limitations of what they were willing or able to do, but if better were possible in a modern toy, why not. The PotP shares the same shortcomings as the original toy, so far as the bits of each alter-ego is clearly visible, and they share an alt mode. In my eyes, these characters could benefit from today's engineering to hide the alter-ego bot bits, and furthermore, change the alt mode, at least in some notable degree, so that they don't both turn into the same exact blue car. I'd like to see someone take a stab at it, as I think it'd be an overall improvement.
  14. M'Kyuun
    I'm a short dude at 5'2", and the proportions of this look just fine to me. It's a little more anatomically correct to actual human proportionality than most TFs, and most general depictions of robots in various genres, which usually have foreshortened thighs. The similarities, thanks to that comparison shot (Thanks, Technoblue) are beyond coincidental; they're totally going for the MP-44 look in bot mode, and I'm fine with that. I already own Light of Freedom, which departed from the thinner more lanky look in favor of a chonkier bot, which works for me in the MP scale. I'm glad this isn't just a shrunken down clone of LoF, as their LoJ V1 was. I am curious, however, if they're employing some of the same tricks as Takara and NA with two sets of windshields to delineate the truck's windshield from Prime's chest. I hope not, but if they do, I hope it's well executed, and not as obvious as NA's method. Too, I hope this isn't just a scaled down MP-44- MS have proven themselves to be adept designers, so some originality is appreciated. I'm curious if V2 is coming with the trailer. None of the proto shots I've seen have shown it, although there was one proto shot with the repair drone, so it follows that there will be a trailer. Then again, LoF didn't come with one, nor the ability to connect it to a trailer, which was a surprisingly important omission for an Optimus figure. That trailer, whether you display it or not, is part of the character, and leaving it out is like making Soundwave with neither the cassettes nor the ability to even store them. It's a salient feature of the character from the beginning, and the omission is notable.
  15. M'Kyuun
    TBF, that's pretty much how he's always been since the G1 toy, which I have, along with both versions of the recent WfC P/CP figs. But I know what you're saying, especially in a MP scaled fig. A little additional engineering to kinda cover up the fact that you just turn him around and lift his visor to change identities would be appreciated. It'd be very cool if they could make each individual bot either fully blue or fully yellow, and maybe even give him two heads depending on the identity in question. After all, the visor thing probably doesn't work quite as well at this scale. As it is, it's hard to believe anybody would be fooled that Punch and Counterpunch aren't the same dude. 14 year old me thought it was pretty cool, though. 50 year old me still does.
  16. M'Kyuun
    That would be cool, thanks.
  17. M'Kyuun
    Likewise. Target's generally better at maintaining stock, but even when they do have figs on the pegs, it's not in any great quantity. But at least they carry size classes above deluxe, which is about all my local Wally carries, in the very rare instance that they actually have anything on the pegs. I was there yesterday, and they had nary a single Transformers toy. I was at the Target closest to me the day prior, trying to score Origin Bumblebee. They didn't have him, of course, but they did have the Bee/barricade 2-pack, Buzzworthy Bee with Spike, a few copies of T-Wrecks (which were lying on the backs of the boxes on a lower shelf on an endcap a couple isles down from the TF area- I almost missed them), and one copy of the Worlds Collide Multipack. I don't recall if they had anything else from Kingdom, but I don't think so. It was fairly sparse pickings, and I left without buying any Transformers stuff, as Origin Bee was the only thing I was after. Fortunately, the Buzzworthy stuff tends to warm the pegs longer than the main line stuff, so I'm hopeful that I'll eventually stumble across it. It's not listed on Pulse anywhere, and I can't even find it on Target's site. Moreover a search at my local Targets come up nil. But good ole ebay has 'em by the barrel load, all at double and above MSRP. It beggars the question, how do these things always seem to be stocked conveniently close to where the scalpers live, but I'd have a better chance of tripping over a black-footed ferret than finding a Transformer toy at my local stores?
  18. M'Kyuun
    I'm also not a fan of the double windshield. I don't mind Prime with a flat chest, nor do I mind a truck with windshield windows angled. Pick one and go with it, but this sudden need to have two different windshield shapes in a single figure brings with it some compromises that generally affects one or the other mode negatively. That said, since that's the direction NA went with this version of Prime, I think it's pretty well implemented- the bot mode still looks really good from any angle except straight down where you can see the bot mode windshield sandwiched against the truck windshield, along with the double set of cab lights that looks weird. The back set of wheels stick out away from the truck, which looks a little odd in a 3/4 view. Beyond those niggles, it's a fine looking figure in both modes. High praise for the insane amount of articulation they achieved. It's hard to believe this is a legends scale figure. There's definitely passion at play in this design, and I tip my hat to NA for the design and finish. It's beautiful. Fit, of course, remains to be seen with in-hand reviews, but as the owner of several NA figs, I can attest that the fit on my figs is pretty good. Now they need to go back and redesign their Megatron, which was a pretty nice fig in its own right, but lacked the polish and toon accuracy of the Magic Square, which is the best G1 Megatron toy I've seen or owned. I wish MS would upscale it to match Light of Freedom, my MP Prime of choice. As it happens, I also chose MS' Light of Justice 2.0 for my legends Prime as well. I just really love the look of their Prime figs. I wish it had clear windows, and the final may have them, but painted windows are fine. Anyway, looking forward to seeing painted samples, and of course, having the thing in hand to stand next to my MS Megatron. @technoblueI look forward to your MS Prime comparison, as I don't own V1, and am glad now that I waited, as V2 nails the backpack aesthetics better, and just overall incorporates any number of improvements. Its articulation is also quite impressive based on the proto shots I've seen. As a kid, and even a young adult, I never imagined that I'd see Transformer toys anywhere nearly this well done. I hoped for better versions of the G1 characters, but I never would have guessed that it would happen, and certainly that it would happen at this level, but I'm ecstatic that I'm alive to see it, and financially capable of picking up the odd fig that I want. I hope the younger collectors among us appreciate just how far these Transformer toys have come, both official and non. I think we're exceptionally fortunate that, unlike many 80s IPs, the franchise is thriving, and the toys just continue to evolve. I'm grateful.
  19. M'Kyuun
    I fence sat for Blackout for a long time until finally seeing him at the Base Exchange at Fairchild for $40. There's no sales tax on base, so I relented and got him, as he's a realistic Pave Low, and he was one of few Baybots whose look I liked, as it was readily apparent from those cockpit halves on his chest, the intakes on his shoulders, and that huge rotor disc on his back what his alt mode was. In other words, he, more than most, rocked a bit of a G1 look in his bot mode that appealed to me. Still appeals to me. Anyway, seeing the improvements, especially those hands, makes me wish I'd kept on waiting. Alas, despite the improvements in paint and articulation, I feel no compunction to double dip. I'll just consider my Blackout with an iota of buyers regret from now on, but as it is, it's still a pretty neat fig. As a personal aside, I was stationed at Hurlburt Field in the early to mid-90s, which some of you may know as the home of USAF Special Ops. I worked the MC-130E Talon I fleet while I was there, but we shared the ramp with the Spectre and Ghost gunships, the Talon II multirole MC-130Hs, as well as HH-60 Pave Hawks, and the MH-53 Pave Lows. I worked maintenance, and sometimes when our own bench stock was missing some hardware we needed for a job, we'd go on sneaky recon to the other AMUs (Aircraft Maintenance Units) to forage in their bench stocks for items we needed. And sometimes we'd get a chance to climb aboard a chopper for a little looksee. Never got to fly in one though- I would've loved to have had the opportunity. Huge sigh.
  20. M'Kyuun
    Dreamstar Toys DST01-002 Highdive (Aerialbot Skydive) Gray Prototype - Transformers News - TFW2005 This is the F-16 figure in Dreamstar's original take on the Aerialbots. I PO'd this guy and the Harrier fig awhile back, as the alt modes for these things are extremely well done, relative to jetformers historically, official and otherwise. Unfortunately, their take on Silverbolt isn't nearly as refined as their limb bots, and he has the old tried and true boxy bot under a sleek Concorde fuselage. I wish they'd look at what Fans Toys did with maverick and redesign to make their Silverbolt closer to the real jet's proportions like the rest of their Aerialbots. OR, make their Silverbolt a B-1 Lancer, which IMO, would be more fitting for a group of military jets.
  21. M'Kyuun
    Give it time; Hasbro's never shy about getting mileage from a mold, so tradition dictates that there will be toy decoed versions released at some point with the transparent bits over golden innards and likely tampoes to represent the G1 sticker details, not to mention sword and any other weapons that the G1 toys came with. When the first pics of Kingdom Slug were shown, he had the clear bit over his dino nugget, so I believe these were designed from the onset with toy versions in mind. I looked, but couldn't find the picture. It's likely somewhere in the forums on TFW2005, but I don't feel like parsing through all those pages. I'm getting these SS Dinos, but honestly, my preference is for the toy look. I'm still enamored by the golden mechanical bits beneath transparent sheathing that really stood out on the old G1 toys, and I'd love to see it on these guys, too. Like Mike, when they come, I'll be double dipping on some Dinobot goodness. @mikeszekelyAnother great review! I've seen vid reviews of this guy, but something about reading all those ranges for articulation is hitting home- this is the level that Hasbro, and Takara by extension, need to maintain going forward, hopefully filtering down to all class sizes eventually. If third parties can manage it at legends scale, then there's no reason they can't do it at deluxe and up for all figs. That should be the expectation and the goal.
  22. M'Kyuun
    Thanks for the heads up. I've never bought anything from XTB or KFC, but I've read many a complaint about KFC stuff over the years which gives pause. As much as I like cassette bots, $70 is a lot of cash to throw at toys, and there are certainly things of better quality I could throw money at, like LEGO, my preeminent vice, or even a legends from MS or NA. Yours is sage advice, and I think I will indeed wait for reviews.
  23. M'Kyuun
    Truth be told, I'm not sure where I'd display them. My Detolfs are getting pretty crowded these days, but I'm sure I could squeeze them in somewhere. I also intend to get the larger MMC versions when they come out, but I thought it'd be nifty to have a pair of updated micro-cassette figs that actually fit in MP Soundwave, or some future MP Blaster, should Takara ever get around to it. I passed on the original KFC cassette releases, as well as his Blaster, and these updated cassettes make me glad I did. To get 'em, or not to get 'em; that's the question, to paraphrase some old British playwright. Anybody got anything recently from Keith? Just curious how the quality of his stuff has been of late.
  24. M'Kyuun
    As an AFOL who's been privileged to attend large LEGO conventions in Seattle and Portland, I've seen my share of large ornate MOCs. That said, this is an extraordinarily impressive display. I can't imagine the investment of time, money, brick, and other resources (lights, stickers, etc) he put into this, not to mention the painstaking research to try and nail all the details. Wonderful job. Love the wall detail in Snoke's holo-throne room. Just so much detail and personal flare thrown in everywhere.😍 I fervently hope he brings this to BrickCon in October; I'd love to salivate over it in person, and offer a well deserved tipping of the hat to the builder. I wish LEGO's official Troop carrier from TFA had looked nearly as good as his. It definitely wasn't the most inspired ship, looking more akin to a flying shoebox, but his MOC makes it look much better to my eyes than it even looked in the film. The greatest missing element of the sequels was George's incredible imagination for ships and such; he may not write good dialog, but the guy's a visual genius, and the blandness and general lack of originality in the vehicles was remarkable for a series notable for its incredible designs over the years.
  25. M'Kyuun
    I'm a big fan of the cassette bots, and KFC has just revealed updated versions of his original Ramhorn and Steeljaw, and to my eye, they both look pretty good. I've never bought any KFC stuff, and my general impression is that it's not the best quality, i.e. loose pins, floppy joints right out of the box. These things are $35 a piece, pretty steep for such a small figure. Should I take the plunge? CST-14 Rhinohorn 2.0 | KFC Toys (tfsource.com) CST-15 Ironpaw 2.0 | KFC Toys (tfsource.com)
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