Mog

Has any of the toy companies ever made "chibi-fied" versions of the major Macross characters?

That was definitely a good read. From the dumb American Yank' perspective, there's a few other things I'd like to point out about cost and time on this issue. Most box DVD sets for an anime series cost a heckuva lot more than one season of a typical US television series. Sure, I understand that an imported series is gonna cost more than a domestically produced series. But geez!! You mean to tell me that I should pay a heftier price for a 24 to 26 episode anime series than I would for one season of a show like 24 or BSG or even one season of a DC animated universe series? Sure, I'm willing to pay a bit of a premium for a quality anime series. But sometimes that premium is just too high, especially when there's cheaper DVD alternatives that give me more bang for my entertainment dollar. Plus, there's the whole issue of special features and commentaries that you don't often see in most anime DVD's. The other issue is the time-lag that comes with these anime releases in the US. I understand that they probably need the time-lag to do the dubs and stuff. But it literally takes a year for an entire anime series to be fully released. I mean, why do they still follow this snail's pace "release only one disc with 4 episodes every one to two months" format with some anime series? Eureka Seven already finished its run on Adult Swim over 6 months ago, and they still haven't released the entire series on DVD here in the US yet. From the US perspective, the cost premium and the time-lag are definitely contributing factors to why anime DVD sales are down. When you've got free and almost instantaneous fansubs on the internet and less expensive domestic DVD alternatives to choose from, is it any wonder why the current anime model isn't working anymore? Sure, I'd love to add a few more anime series to my DVD collection. But these two factors usually stop me from doing so.

I liked it. (The fanboy in me got a big smile during the three Centurions/"By your command" bit. ) Yeah, we knew and had heard most of Pegasus' backstory. But it was still cool to see that backstory play out and unfold before us. Wonder how the whole apocolypse deal will pan out. My guess now is that it will probably mean the end of the cycle, the end to the whole "all of this has happened before and will happen again" stuff. ......And the next time I think of lesbians and overstating the obvious, I'm gonna think QUIZNOS!!! (And I thought Sci-Fi and/or their sponsors couldn't do something dumber than those stupid survey craps from last season. ). Why didn't they just do some witty spot with Grace Park, Tricia Helfer, and/or some of the other Cylon babes and have 'em say the phrase, "Mmmm.........toasty" with a sexy wink and a bit of smirk?

So, I take it this is the "saturation penetration" you were speaking of, Sir Graham?

I know we've gone over this issue ad naseum with the Toynami Alpha MPC's scale (1/55, 1/48, or somewhere in-between?). But considering this old quote from Graham, I seriously doubt this CM's set will be 1/72 scale. And based on SaveRobotech's old YouTube video of the original CM's Tread prototype, I also doubt the Tread will just be 17 cm tall. I could see the Legioss being 17 cm tall, but the Tread's just too much of a big boy for that sort of height. Call it an educated guess on my part, but the set will probably be that 1/52.335353552358979823 scale that the Alpha MPC's are.

One change I'm glad to see is that they made the connecting boom a little thicker. They shortened the thinner piece that connects to the Legioss' chest and expanded that thicker boom piece that connects to the body of the Tread. Still want to see a side profile shot of the combo though. Soldier mode for both still looks intimidatingly good, of course.

One thing you gotta hand to CM's design is they made a working cockpit for the Tread that hides perfectly when the Tread is in soldier mode. .......Now, just to get everyone comparing the two prototypes: OLD PROTOTYPE (top half of picture): NEW PROTOTYPE: Major thanks to the folks (Lynx7725 and VF5SS) who originally posted these two pics earlier in this Tread thread!

Don't be so "reactive." (mere speculation on my part.)

Fast Packs coming with the first release, eh? That's all I needed to hear.

Even I wouldn't be able to pass on that. At this point though, I'll wait for your guy's reviews on these various Ride Armor puppies. (But in return, I'll take care of some loose T[h]reads..... ).

Guys, can we hush up about price for just a bit?! There's still no definitive word on how solid and tight the Legioss' and Tread's joints will be. (Except for that beautiful pic near the bottom of VF5SS' post where the Tread is defiantly raising both arms parallel to the ground! ) We still don't know whether the Legioss' legs collapse in like the Toynami version or if they fold and flare out to the sides. Nor have we seen the Tread in bomber mode without the landing gear and connection piece in place. And most important of all, we still haven't seen the Legioss-Tread fighter combo from a side profile view. No doubt, I love what I'm seeing now. But I still gotta see how flush and in-line that Legioss-Tread connection is before I crown CM's the all-out winner of this "Build a Tread/Beta" contest. CM's picked some good camera angles to show off their products. But I still need to see a few more angles and views before I can pass judgement.

In order of my personal preference/priority: 1. Large-scale SDF-1 (TV-style preferably) (2.5 to 3 feet tall with the head/bridge noticeably above/taller than a 1/48 Valk in battroid mode). 2. Nicely-articulated Regults w/poseable Zent' pilots. 3. Maybe a Glaug to lead that squad of Regults.

Thanks for the updated info, SaveRobotech!! Two additional questions: 1) Does it look like CM's made the Legioss/Tread connection more flush this time (no noticeable split/dip in the combo this time around)? 2) How's the Legioss look in fighter mode now?

Just checked the original Flash's filecard, and his grade on the original card was listed as E-4. Guess Hasbro should have named him "Specialist Flash" or "Corporal Flash" instead.

Finally saw Part 7 of the webisodes. Well that was a rather anti-climatic ending to this little set. Probably only got about 30 seconds to 1 minute of new stuff shown. Parts 3, 4, and 5 were definitely the best.

I don't know if I'm in the minority on this, but if they do release Ace (and the Skystriker ), I really, REALLY hope they give him a more realistic pilot jumpsuit and helmet. I never did dig the astronaut get-up the first release Ace had.

Damn. Piloting a Valk' AND holding a fidgety baby. Milia's definitely a crazy ace. I just love the fact that Hik' and Misa's kiss didn't do a damn thing, but seeing a baby just absolutely freaked the hell out of the Zent's.

Ah crud, just noticed that Rock 'n Roll has that wonky wrist-cut joint that Duke and Flint have.

Ah Sh*t!!!! Torpedo and Rock 'n Roll?! SWEET!!!! Really wish they would pack the red-sigiled Cobra Trooper rather than the Red Ninja with this wave. I'm gonna need to start bolstering the Cobra side of my collection with some regular Troopers and Vipers (hopefully), if Hasbro keeps releasing my favorite old-school Joes. What's next, they gonna release Airborne and Cobra Eel's in Wave 7?

To protostar8: The thing about CM's old Legioss and Tread designs were that they both looked really great in soldier mode (bulky, burly, and bad-ass). So, I don't believe that the Legioss was just thrown together. I don't mind CM's style all that much. But I really hope CM's reworks the Legioss' fighter mode with better proportions and completely overhauls that Legioss/Tread connection. And to Toynami (since this is a thread about their Beta): RATCHET-JOINTS ON THE SHOULDERS AND KNEES!!!!! AND SOLID, BALL-SOCKET HIPS ALA THE 1/48 YAMATOS!!!!

.......Hypnotizing Blue-Eyed Boobies OF DOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <singing> "These eyes (doo, doo, duh-doo, doooooo!)..........These eyes (doo, doo, duh-doo, dooooo)........cry every night...." <Must use comedy to dull the pain of that vile image>

As I look at my YF-19, I want to tell it that Guld's coming with two barrels of gunpod whup-ass. Thanks for the pics and links everyone!!!! Hopefully they pack the first release with the FP's. The only real nit I have at this point is that I wish the yellow sections on the nose and intakes were a bit slimmer. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta watch that commercial a few more times.

I guess "booze and sex" wouldn't qualify as "stuff from other anime and toys," huh? Seriously though, out of all the toy stuff currently out there or projected to be released by Xmas time, there's really not much that I absolutely want or don't already have. .........Except maybe this (for my own stupid little amusement): Link. There's something about one of the Obi's perplexed/"WTF?" look that makes me smile.

Along with the intakes, I remember CM's other issues being as follows: 1) Legioss in fighter mode looks badly out of proportion (nose section too stretch out, back part mashed/squashed too close together). 2) Legioss/Tread connected combo wasn't horizontally flush. And might be a minor nit for most people, but the Tread cockpit was a little on the small side. As I've said before, I prefer the Toynami asthetic design just a bit more than CM's. It's just that Toynami's track record in other areas (timeliness, materials used, QC standards, sturdiness of overall toy, updates to fans, etc.) pretty much chucks that design/look advantage down the toilet.

Very nice, LSB!! Thanks for sharing the mod.