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captain america

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Everything posted by captain america

  1. I partially sanded the teeth on one side of the ratchet joint and inserted a washer which I machined. I can provide a step-by-step, but there are trade-offs with this mod: because the joints are now friction types, they aren't as stiff as the stock ratchets. Combine this with the rather hefty (metal) lower legs, and it will pretty much make jumping or flying poses impossible to hold, although uber-dynamic poses on his feet are still OK. Also, it's a one-way mod, so you can't really undo it. The only other solution would be to redesign the truck's front wheel wells (cameltoe) and the corresponding gray hip parts with smaller interlocking teeth.
  2. There are ratchets in the shoulders/hips for forward/backward motion, but they're crap because the gap between each set-point is ridiculously large. The movement is tight and solid, but doesn't allow for precise posing. I'll be fixing that in due course. *EDIT* Hip ratchets have been modified; now I can get a more heroic-looking standing pose. I've also added reflective window film to the inside of his winshield to brighten up hi s chest. I may tackle the shoulder joints before the weekend is out, and see if I can at least repaint the light gray on the face to something a tad darker.
  3. Except that now Maas has announced their own Southern Cross offerings, and as such put an end to my own SC projects.
  4. Nope. The closest thing to a plastic kit was the stillborn Imai 1/72 Tread, for which only a box illustration exists to my knowledge.
  5. https://theaviationist.com/2019/01/15/video-surfaces-of-f-35-hitting-five-precision-targets-at-once-including-moving-one/?fbclid=IwAR0BQ1XRQ4pdmqEhOEh5DlW-EnF_4QTqAHbn4NDYeoDtoYT4vBB9xV-haLo
  6. I thought it was great! I'm torn because I want to see it again, but you can't unsee the plot twists and that affects the viewing experience.
  7. The other factor to bear in mind is that when you're producing small-run toys like this, you're sorta kinda relying on that factory's technical experience and expertise, or lack thereof to get your project done. My own experiences in dealing with Chinese manufacturers has left me wanting to pull-out my hair because frankly, most of the time they don't listen. Maas also has a limited time window in which to engineer the toy and get it to market because HG's hold on the license expires (I think) some time next year. Regardless of the outcome, I wish them the best.
  8. As someone who has direct experience in converting line-art to pragmatic 3D forms, I can tell you just from looking at that still of the Flash Clapper that it relies heavily on Anime magic to look that way. Look at how massive the front fairing and the backpack section below it are relative to the torso. The calves have also been flattened considerably compared to how they look in Battle Sniper mode. There are ways to achieve an aesthetically pleasing compromise, but Maas didn't succeed based on their pre-production images. In their defense, it really is an art that few seem to have mastered.
  9. Probably tinier. I can't recall if there were ever some "official" stats published for the Auroran, but just based on the size of the cockpit, it would have to be quite a bit taller than the Spartas.
  10. Cherry, apple and grape variations, since those share a fair amount of parts commonality. I'm reluctant to offer them now, because I think the SC market is already so small and I suspect maas may want to protect their sales at all costs. Not looking to put myself in a position to attract Imperial attention, if you know what I mean.
  11. Hey guys! I was planning to produce some 1/48 Bioroids last month, but with the timing of the new maas toys announcements and now some official Hovertank renderings being shown, I don't know if this would be such a good idea. What are your thoughts on the matter?
  12. We can only hope it's still in the development stage. Seriously, I could have done better than that with my eyes closed.
  13. I hear you, Ted. So many of the shapes, particularly the thighs have been highly simplified... For reasons I cannot explain, because it offers no advantage from a tooling or transformation perspective. I think there would be ways to play with the lower legs and the boxiness of the main body so as to better harmonize them when collapsed into Flash Clapper (hover) mode. Then again, no one asked me.
  14. Just a quick PSA: I have 6 MF accessories sets remaining.
  15. The prime in that video looks even better than the way Prime looked in Bumblebee. I think they wasted a great opportunity.
  16. Understand that as a major figure in the franchise, he'd have to be diplomatic so as not to alienate the first 5 films and jeopardize whatever revenue Hasbro might still stand to extract from them. Diplomacy, like politics, is all about strategy. In the end, the movie is whatever you want it to be. I think it wouldn't have been too hard to more closely follow the G1 arrival of Autobots/Decepticons to earth millions of years ago, and much cooler than what they ended up doing, but then again, I'm not in charge.
  17. I have a whole repertoire of stuff from that era; much of it needs refinement because I didn't have the luxury of time to make things as I would have liked. Rest assured, my best is yet to come!
  18. And now for something a little bit different! As some of you may be aware, long ago, I used to design mecha for RPGs. I found some of the illustrations I'd done for the Jovian Chronicles, as well as a few that never saw the light of day: this is one such mecha design. I figured I'd share, since I intend to get back into designing my own mecha, so this is a drop in the bucket of things to come.
  19. That's a really cool looking Prowl. With a little tweaking, it could be a Masterpiece. Certainly better than TT's Prowl. Oh, and for those upset/concerned with TE Prime's lack of thigh swivel, it doesn't affect posing. I thought it would be more of an eyesore too, but you get used to it.
  20. Make no mistake sir, there's a whole lot more that I'm bad at than good at. You've obviously never seen me try to fold sheets, dance, do calculus or build a time-machine. Staying on-topic with the Tomcat, I had ideas on a more advanced version of the Tomcat 21 that would incorporate stealth-like F-23 intakes and all-moving vertical stabilizers and a few more interesting gizmos. She may be gone, but I think the Tomcat was just starting to reach its true potential before being axed. Oh, whatcould have been...
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