drifand

Methinks you could try to take apart the GBPs and repaint the red sections in the signature colors... [attachmentid=39972]

Don't know how much it costs you but I bought mine locally in Singapore for about 60 USD. It's 'small' but packs a lot of diecast, weighs nearly twice as much as Xabungle and is a lot sturdier too. All the joints are detented and diecast. I really like the thought the designers put into it - they've include quite a few new features and gimmicks that were never executed before in either the huge Clover DX, the 90's HCM, or the rubbery WMiA: - Elevating guns in the torso turret - Hidden clips in the arms and legs to secure the vehicle modes - Landing gear for the Gally Hover - Flip out search light - Waist joint! - Actual stowable fists (only when using the smaller clenched fists, but nice to have them) - Stowable bazooka on the hover fan assembly (hard to believe it took so long) - Elbows that can bend more than 90 degrees - Beautifully detailed tires (molded with the word 'INNOCENT') Plus the very nifty hover truck that can pack away the spare weapons and extra fists (but is not as easy to assemble as I thought!). The Durun Type is also excellent, although the long blue arms are a bit fragile - I fractured one of the spars (not totally broken) because I press down too hard when assembling it. Only one quibble: the feet (feet, not legs) cannot rotate forward, unlike all previous versions of the Galliar. Why? I don't know. This means that when you pose the toy with one leg forward and one back, the foot on the back leg cannot lay flat on the ground. Instead, it wil be on tip toe (see my first pic). Ach! Still.. definitely worth it to any 80s Real Robot fan :-)

But now they all look the same! That's a Thousand Dollar Pose if ever there was one. :-)

Here's my SOC Galliar versus a grunged up Durun Type... The whole SOC Walker gang, plus old school Clover DX Iron Gear in the back :-)

Soul of Spec EVA... NUDE!!! http://www.toysdaily.com/discuz/viewthread...;extra=page%3D1 I gotta say, it looks like a heluva lot of plastic...

Could it be they're 'hugging' it because the legs are not attached in any way to the torso?

AMEN. It is fantastic that Yamato has moved on from hand-drawings to CAD for designing their transforming toys, but CAD alone will not automagically resolve engineering problems that arise from LACK OF FORESIGHT and FAILURE to consider materials usage and mass production issues. How else to account for the tragic metal fatigue and snap-off shoulders on the otherwise crisply sculpted and molded Garland? How else to account for the low tolerances on the BP8 hinge? The VF-0 shoulders? All the new CAD'd toys LOOK and FIT together fantastically! It just makes your heart hurt even more when something breaks because Yamato didn't think harder about HOW to make it last. 'Being lucky' should never be part of the sticker price.

Reading this thread (and the related issues from the Garland, VF-0S) has doubly affirmed my decision to wait out the initial euphoria for ALL 1st release toys by Yamato. This 'luck of the roll' kind of QC takes away a lot of the joy of owning such expensive collectibles for me. I have no qualms about modding toys to improve appearance/functionality - I did that for my trio of 1/60 VF-Js - but I've had my fill of Yamato's track seeming record of 'planned obsolesence'.

Not 100% the same, but close :-)

I enjoy the 1/60s for their much better over proportions, especially the Battroid mode. While the Gerwalk is more limited than the 1/48, it is by no means a slouch if you're willing to play with the toy and discover the best ways to pose it. Check my post on the 'Strike A Pose' thread :-) http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...st&p=425650 The weakest part of the 1/60 is not the fact that you have to detach the legs for the transformation, but that the hip joints have NO locking systems - the pegs just slide into a smooth slot, and can just as easily slip out during play. So, do buy your favorites (except the 1S with its squashed head) if you want to have some VF-1s in-scale with the newer VFs, but don't overpay for any of them. Yamato may just pull a complete 1/60 revision someday.

Try 'mirror fields' like those in the 'Culture' novels by Ian M Banks. The sentient AI controlled megaships had 'effectors' that could do just about anything with magnetic fields: Displace (teleport) matter/people/weapons; Scan/'feel' volumes of space/matter to seek out specific objects; Grip the hyperspatial energy grid for motion/FTL travel; Manipulate less sophisticated machinery/computers; Generate an englobing field that is mirror-surfaced to almost all frequencies of light, etc No need to explain everything, if the storytelling is great it'll be believeable! :-) In fact, one of my favorite Culture novels is told from the POV of a technologically backward race being manipulated by these well-meaning, meddlesome AIs and their human charges. To the swords 'n' sorcery inclined people of the planet, these interlopers with advanced medical/military knowledge, emergency backup semi-sentient micro weapons etc were really MAGIC. Only the fans/readers could see the 'truth' and enjoy the story doubly well.

Yeah, no need for regrets - we all buy toys with different expectations. The 1/12s are THE ultimate in details; I just like the 1/18s more for the greater emphasis on playability. So far, the 1/18 DMZ line is pretty much confirmed in the various hobby mags for a third release: the all-green Scopedog II with 'Solid Shooter' bazooka and 'Round Mover' space-pack. Can't say I'm as eager to pick this one up... although I am intrigued by the new fully-articulated MG/PG style hands. That's something Yamato hasn't been able to get right... yet.

I bet it was just like hitting the black and white segment in the middle of all that CG eye candy in MMI... pure RELIEF! Panels where you can actually focus on the action because Shirow had to THINK about what he wanted to draw instead of relying on Photoshop layers to composite his figures over half-assed backgrounds and shading everything with a motion-blur filter. I'll definitely be looking out for this one in the local Kinokuniya. :-)

NOW we're talking. That's more like it. I gotta scrounge up some spare hands (preferrably in blue) for the 1/72 as well!

Thanks, I had fun balancing that bike with a piece of clear acrylic proping up the 'hidden' side. A nice bright light overhead 'blew out' the acrylic totally. :-) Here's an old one to share with everyone.... MSiA Qubeley, the very last MSiA I ever bought: No props. Just a clean table top, a white kitchen wall (kept out of focus), a handheld tablelamp and the camera mounted on a tripod. I love the moody feeling... really brings out the eerie styling of the MS.

Hmm, so far, I think ruskiiVFaussie has done the best job of showing off the 1/60. That last photo is excellent for the angle on the head. Good job! But you used stands! No fair! (Kidding) Kicker773, good attempt, but every toy has its own pluses and minuses. In mirroring the poses I put the 1/72 into, the 1/60 isn't holding up too well, especially when the limits of the elbows are exposed. Try posing the 1/60 on its own strengths, which come from the much improved leg articulation (hips, knees, ankles). The kneeling shots are a great start! And the head definitely looks best when it ISN'T staring straight into the camera. Keep 'em coming, guys! :-)

That's probably the Chogokin 'Soul of SPEC' figure... nobody knows where the metal goes yet.

Bandai's Chogokin 'Armor Transformation' Kamen Rider Black on his Battlehopper...

It's a stock ver 1.5 with the revised 'tab-b' and non-diecast shoulders. I think the key to making the 1/60 look more aggressive is definitely to panel-line some of the key areas, esp. the 'mouth'. Otherwise, the matte plastic just doesn't show up the details under normal lighting. The slimmer frontal profile of the head may also mean that it may look better when turned-sideways...

I got mine from Ng. Cost me S$160... pretty reasonable, I think. Problem is, there doesn't seem to be a lot of stock for this blue beauty.

Had some fun with my two DMZs and the new camera tonight: One thing I really like about the DMZ 'Dog is that it can lean back for that sliding-attack pose. I also like that the arm joints have absolutely no problems supporting the beefy AT rifle in any pose I care to put it in... The much bulkier Strikedog can also achieve a similar pose, but I cheated a bit: I added ballast to the feet to help it balance better. The articulated claw-arm cannon is a simple but very fun gimmick. I'm especially impressed that the claw arm even managed to incorporate a spring-loaded 'arm-punch' as well. The 1/18 size is just right... perfect to play around with when you don't want to just place them on a pedestal. I'd love to see more 1/18 Votoms 'irregulars' someday. Turn-pick deployed! Deck 'em with a left hook + arm-punch, baby!

Somehow, I still like the meaner looking face on the 1st generation YF-19. That old hunk can still pull off good poses, plus he has the looks that say "I'm all business... and I'm gonna blow you away!" Check it: Standing at ease... ... but ready to burst into action in an instant! Who's looking to get some? Hunkering down... Engaging the enemy... Still standing tall after 5 years. I know the new '19 is awesome in Fighter and Gerwalk modes but the Battroid seems pretty limp. So come on guys, show me what else the new '19 can do!

Big-nuts indeed! Looks like Prime and Magnus have got theirs hanging out of their 'shorts'!!

Live and learn: Yamato and their history of buggy Ver. 1.0s...

BEST: 1/18 DMZ-02 STRIKEDOG - Seriously, this is way more exciting and fun than the DMZ-01 Scopedog! And it's definitely a toy you can play and pose without having to worry about paint-chips or CAD oversights. WORST: MP-04 CONVOY 'PERFECT EDITION' - Reissue an excellent toy with lousier QC on parts fit and finishing, then nearly double the original price because of a half-hearted trailer that doesn't even include Roller or even come close to the Hong Kong bootleg trailer from over a year ago. It's a PERFECT RIPOFF. BEST TOY CRACK: REVOLTECH AV-98 INGRAM Kaiyodo delivers! Dynamic poseability that isn't fragile! Useful display stands! Cheap! Excellent sculpts! Extensive line-up!