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drifand

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Everything posted by drifand

  1. drifand
    Spiff is most definitely NOT mad... the first 1/60s looked even more balanced than the current 1/60 series. It was their ugly hip-joint casing and non-perfect transformation that was their true Archilles Heel. But for realists, the new 1/60 offers scale compatibility in addition to PT gimmick. Some MWers have the right idea: collect mostly new 1/60 to flesh out a 'holistic' in-scale Macross collection, then selectively keep a few 1/48s that they really like.
  2. drifand
    I feel your pain, mr chogokin. I really wanted to like this toy... had plans to detail-up and paint over the plasticky-white surfaces! Now that you mention the dumb glued-shut parts, I'm much less inclined to do so. I also just noticed: The upper arms are assembled wrong-sided... the screw holes are exposed face-up in robot mode. CR@P! In any case, I am taking my Army Garland back to the shop this evening and try to work out something with the owner... I'm certain he stocks at least one more of the same, but I'm not sure I want to take the chance anymore.
  3. drifand
    Ditto for Yamato, yes? The vast majority of their releases certainly cannot be treated in the relatively carefree manner as a Soul of Chogokin toy. It's just the way things are... I definitely got a lot less satisfaction out of my Yamato purchases over the years compared to my SOCs. It's just a matter of different collecting priorities.
  4. drifand
    Oh yeah, I still cherish my SOC EVA-03 and 04. Those two had the best looking paint finish of the lot and I was disappointed by the non-release of 'anime color' versions of 01 and 02. I was ready to buy the blue 00 but without the first two, it was kind of pointless... Now I'm waiting to see how the SPEC 03 and 04 will turn out, not to mention the (almost) inevitable Mass Production models...
  5. drifand
    Quick note on the SPEC Eva love-in... I got the renewal 01 as well as the original color blue 00 and 02. In each case, I loved the color matching of the plastics to the painted diecast, however on the thigh armor I found that the plastic front and back pieces tend to dislodge too easily during play. I ended up gluing the pieces in place, but I doubt there is any real down side to it beyond the inability to show off the 'naked' form. :-)
  6. drifand
    I hear you Graham, and perhaps we should all be familiar with the realities of Bandai's business methods. Toys, even the SOCs will almost never equal the detailing found on the best of Bandai's model kits. This is the 'advantage' of Yamato's 'display-first' approach to their products over Bandai's established 'toy-first' approach for.. toys. I can easily envision a total step-up beyond anything Yamato has achieved if Bandai so choose to make a 'Perfect Grade' VF-25, but that''s moot for now. I am just certain of this: I love to play and transform my Macross toys more than just leaving them on the shelf or stand, and with Bandai's VF-25, I know that 5~10 years down the road, there's a much higher probability that I will still be enjoying the toy as a careful adult collector who takes care of his things. This same belief cannot be applied to Yamato as yet for all the reasons you've put up so succinctly. Until Yamato really, really steps up their 'Quality' game, I will always see them as a 'wasted potential' company. I would love to see them prove me wrong.
  7. drifand
    Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way outside of Japan and the infinite kindness of YamatoUSA. At this point in over 30 years of collecting Japanese toys, it's just bloody disappointing to see a company drop the ball like this when they have the means to produce something absolutely fantastic.
  8. drifand
    I'm emotional now because I felt I could trust 'Brand Y' after so many positive reports, but ended up with a great big brown POS anyway. I would point out that the big 1/12 Votoms had it's fair share of problems, mainly in the first couple of releases unable to support bent poses in the knees or shoulders. The 'solution' came later in the form of slot-in joint-locks... how much better can we expect with the even bigger Ingram? Yes, my paranoia is back to record highs. :-/
  9. drifand
    I'll take a more than reasonably sturdy and well-detailed toy over Yamato's hit-and-miss 'perfection' any day. Bring it on, Bandai!
  10. drifand
    With my recent bad experience over the supposedly 'no-problem' Army Garland, I'm giving serious thought to shelving my plans to get one of these bad boys. At these prices, it is really not worth the worry that something was overlooked by the designer/QC foreman. Yes, I'll get my Patlabor fix from CM's and Wave and leave 'Brand Y' for the more courageous and lucky collectors out there.
  11. drifand
    On Sunday, I finally purchased the Army Garland after seeing it on sale at about 99USD from my regular store here in Singapore. I opened it today to give it a spin and this is what I found: 1. Nothing missing or broken OOB, good. 2. Upon extending the right foot, the ENTIRE foot assembly popped-off the leg. (Managed to shove it back in) 3. In my shock, I grabbed the main body and the upper torso popped-off the hinges at the handle bars. (Managed to re-attach) 4. Next, I found that the entire left leg is limp; no grippy when fully extended. (Can't fix without prying off screw covers) 5. Both fore-feet are looser than a $5 hooker. 6. While locking the seat down for robot mode, the entire rear red-light popped off. No glue. 7. Splitting the front wheel, the right-side magnet pulls off its socket. No glue. 8. Pulling it off yanked the OTHER magnet out as well. No glue. 9. The fists... they're perfect mates of the floppy feet. Loose as heck and cannot grip the weapon well. I was only kidding about "using up my quota of Yamato luck" when I got a problem-free Proto Garland, but this is !@#$ing ridiculous. I think the factory foreman was hoarding the glue supply and sniffing it up. :-/ So I stand by opinion: "You cannot trust Yamato at any price. Even if it looks nice, every purchase is a roll of dice." P.S. I can't wait for Bandai to show up with the DX VF-25. At least I know what I'll be getting for my cash.
  12. drifand
    From earlier discussions, the WHAM 1/48 Ingram does have some diecast, however the general opinion is that the sculpt is inferior to the CM's and poseability limited by the use of rubber/PVC shrouds instead of cloth. The WHAM 1/48 Helldiver however, is an ABS/PVC model. No metal in that one. For the Yamato 1/24 Ingram, it boasts a 'diecast frame', as per official site news, although I wouldn't count on it being a significant percentage of total mass. (i.e. more like Takara's MP Megatron & SS than MP Convoy.) http://www.yamatotoysusa.com/page.cfm/588
  13. drifand
    Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I'm looking forward to the 2 Bartley's next, but in the meantime I think I'll try to post more in the 'Strike a pose' thread and leave this one for NEWS. :-)
  14. drifand
    No roulette action on the CM's. Friction holds the axles to the various attachment points. Perhaps the larger scale of the Beagle can overcome this problem. The CM's are at their best as 'playable display models'. :-)
  15. drifand
    Some quick snaps of the CM's trio... The bonus heads are pretty good; Yellow's is best, Stick looks a bit too serious. All 3 toys have had weathering applied to cut back on the plastic sheen. Put on yer helmets! The rider-to-bike proportions on the CM's are second only to the Beagle. Another bonus part is the rifle mount for Stick's ride, which is also only found on the Beagle. Both Yellow and Ley require custom front-fork pegs to overcome fit-problems. A closer look at the fine printed details. On the Blowsperior's box, the product photos depict a featureless face under the visor, so I was plenty happy to see it wasn't the case. The facial features may not be 100% accurate but they sure don't look bad at all. Riders are go! Last one's an Invid bum... The Blowsperior's tail-end features different detailing from the first two toys. Ride Armor mode... I love the almost-perfect transformation design. Heck, even the almighty Beagle can't overcome anime magic :-) Strike a pose! The CM's Ride Armors have surprisingly good balance. The supporting stick is not really necessary but proper display stands do add to the fun. See? No stands... :-) Lookout Megahouse, the girls will be here soon!
  16. drifand
    OK, devil's advocate: Other than the big sticker shock, would anyone want to own one of these puppies? I'm actually hoping the Japanese market and fans will make this a big enough success so that numbers 2 and 3 etc will get produced, not to mention the supporting goodies like Command Car(s) and even a Griffon. With enough time, discounts could happen, just like how the 1/12 Votoms reached 50% off on HLJ. Patience!
  17. drifand
    I don't know about '1000x' better, but the nicer proportions have always been the main appeal of the CM's for me. My 'weathering' covers: - brown-lining for lower leg to simulate dirt/mud caking - brown mud + oil stain Gundam markers for the boots/soles, foot pedals, inside surfaces of the hip plates and knife-hubs. - oil stain G-marker for the exhaust tube - minor retouch in blue for the windshield 'nubs' - painting over all the exposed screws to match adjacent surfaces. (no qualms about smudging grey G-marker over still-wet blue-paint) - light shading for the helmet's inner surfaces (otherwise it's too white) And like Jenius said, real kudos to CM's for being accurate in the things that you will see, e.g. Yellow's helmet having a proper face and chin guard. This is in the same vein as Ray's beam gun being designed to mount correctly versus the kludge on the MH. True, shame about the fiddliness and lack of chest missiles, but them's the trade-offs.
  18. drifand
    Amen on the improvements, and a BIG heads-up on the again too-short pegs for the front fork. Yellow's ceramic knife hubs cannot fit flush against the metal wheel arm due to the attachment pegs, thus in bike mode, the front fork's peg can't quite reach the left hub. Solution? Custom peg ala Ley's ride. I've just finished some light weathering on mine, the dark colors don't need as much 'disguising' as the first 2 toys to look good. Hope to shoot up a storm this weekend. :-)
  19. drifand
    The RDM-3 is probably the best ever issue/re-issue of the classic Takara 1/24 Scopedog toy. As long as you understand that this is from the time of the 1/55 Chunky-monkey era, what you get is a highly detailed and durable classic toy complete with fully painted standing/seated pilot figures... which has never been done before for any 1/24 Scopedog Dual Model. The bonus is a fold out poster with original art by Kunio Ohkawara... No CGI can't beat that that painted funkiness!
  20. drifand
    Vote goes to Sheryl... mostly because of Empty Diamond Crevasse in Ep 20.
  21. drifand
    Well, favorite is definitely LION... I love the build-up, pace and urgency of the lyrics, and now I always see the final attack whenever I hear it on my iPod. I've registered for AFA08, now eagerly awaiting the details of May'n's performance. :-)
  22. drifand
    Just 1 quick question: is the Shinobu repaint 'canon' to Mospeada? Don't really recall seeing it when I last viewed the series years ago... Anyway, I'm hoping to grunge up my CM's Blowsuperior (ugh) this weekend... it's been too long since I had something nice to photograph. :-)
  23. drifand
    Very interesting! Looks like the 'rubber/PVC' shroud... ISN'T what it seems. Check out the 'joint hinge' in the elbows...
  24. drifand
    Maybe we'll get a OST 3 'For Fans Only' ala MacPlus with all the rare performances included. I wouldn't mind if it was just 10 tracks if at all. :-)
  25. drifand
    No more No. 1s? Really? I could've sworn there was still a stack left. And the Liang Court branch is actually the head office for Kino, magazine subscriptions have to be processed and picked from there, IIRC. But I'm also pretty sure there are no more No. 1s there... I bought the last few for me and a buddy weeks ago. PM me if you want my spare copy of MC 1. Anyway, the coupon toys are for custom detailed 1/48s... not my cup of tea either. I'm really more interested in the postcard set that needs cover-cutouts for issues 3-10(?), but too bad TnT isn't rounding those up... probably no profit margin in it.
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