Lego Transformers Jazz

So, I was browsing a contact's Photostream, and I came across his BrickCon pics, and there was this awesome MOC of Jazz.





Nice little MOC, I'm always a huge fan of transforming Lego!

More Alternity!

Came across this link earlier today. Amazon.jp has got the Alternity Convoy up for preorder, and they included some pretty nice pictures too. This is the best shot of the head we've seen, and the first good shot of the back. Looks like the way the legs form up is going to be pretty intricate.

A new scan of GT-R Alternity Convoy

A new scan of this figure, in it's awesomeness! The image is rather small, so there's not a lot of information to be gleaned from it. I think we can reasonably rule out the forearms claws the lineart had. The roof and windshield hang a lot lower than I hoped they would, but such is the nature of kibble. I'm looking forward to seeing how this figure transforms, especially seeing how the middle section of the bumper integrates into the chest. If I were the Transformer designer, the head would probably be in that section.

Here's a linart for the Transformers Alternity figure first displayed at the Tokyo Toy Show and I posted an article about here. This toy continues to impress me. The claw-looking devices that pop out of the arms look cool, and are a good way to make the bulk on the arm less like kibble, and more like weapon storage. The linart and the prototype aren't the same same. Let me post the prototype pic:


There's some difference in the feet and in where the hood goes, but it seems to stay fairly true. I'm so excited for this!

New information on GT-R Alternity

Information scalped from TFW2005, who in turn got it from some site called Bo-Ya.

The Alternity figure I liked so much is confirmed to be 1/32 scale, contain diecast, and will be Prime. Also it's coming in two colors, red and silver. I'm thinking that this will be something along the lines of the BT-08 Meister figure, which came in white and red. White because that's the color Meister (Jazz) is supposed to be, and red because Mazda wanted it in the RX-8's trademark color. I'm sure this is the same. The red color will most likely have blue robot parts to make some semblance of Prime's classic color scheme, and then there will be the silver color, which is to appease Nissan. I'm debating whether I want to get the red version, because a deluxe scale Prime could be oh so useful to me, or if I want to get the silver version, because there are so many Primes everywhere anyhow, and it'd be nice to have this mold and pretend it's a different character. Anyhow, the diecast is another thing for me. I don't have a problem with diecast, it's just not my favorite thing, and I certainly don't think it's necessary at all. It adds kind of a nice weight to the figure, but diecast chips and scratches so easily. If we get a US release of this like we did with the Alternators, I'd pick that up for sure.

Anyhow, I'm still gonna probably post the rest of the Toy Show report today, so look forward to it!

Breaking the silence...

I'm kind of a bad blogger. I haven't posted anything substantial in months and months. Well, I've decided that I really want to change that. About a year ago I was away from my computer for about 8 months, but that doesn't give me an excuse for the last four months. The truth is, I just fell out of the habit of blogging. Now I'm trying to fall back into the habit. I'm working on coming up with new material to put in here, and be better about posting news I like, and making reviews of sweet stuff. And heck, if enough people read this and ask, I'd be willing to post news you like too. I'm not completely heartless!

So, kicking it off again, I'm going to toss in some coverage of the Tokyo Toy Show 2008! All these images were shamelessly scalped from Fantofan, as their extensive watermarks attest.

So, this first image shows a few items of interest. First off, there is a rather large poster depicting Masterpiece Thundercracker. Thundercracker is one of the three 'fan favorite' seekers from the G1 Transformers show. I like the mold he's got (my buddy has a US release Masterpiece Starscream) but, I dunno, the blue just looks wrong on it somehow. Maybe if it were a little more muted. This release is a given after Takara came out with their MP Skywarp. BTW, that mold looks dead sexy in black! Hmmm, actually, TCracker comes with black forearms, if I recall. Maybe one could make an all-black stealth seeker!

EDIT: I just saw another pic (don't know why I didn't see this before) and he looks pretty darn good, actually.




Also in this image is shown the Japanese versions of the Marvel Crossovers figures. I can't tell if they are in Japanese packaging or if they will be getting the 'US Version' treatment.

Also shown is Encore Metroplex, and what kinda looks like Landmine on a stand, but is probably Thundercracker.


In this next shot, we have the Japanese issue Classics, known as Henkei. Shown standing, from left right, are Ironhide, Bluestreak, Prowl, Sunstreaker, Silverbolt, and the very nice red Powerglide. In vehicle form, is a prototype, Ironhide, Bluestreak, Sideswipe, Prowl, Sunstreaker, Silverbolt, and pretty red Powerglide. As the shot is blurry, oh, and I don't read Japanese, I have no idea what the gray prototype is. If I had to speculate, I would say it's a Ratchet. Oh, and my buddy would probably insist that I point out that Silverbolt is white, instead of off-white like the US release. I add in that I don't care for that character or mold anyhow.


This shot is another angle of the same display, showing Prime, Octane, um, his name escapes me, Galvatron, and Megatron. If I had to pick, I'd get Megatron from that group. Oh yes, and you can see gorgeous red Powerglide below.


This surprised me! It looks like a new Binaltech mold, but I'm not sure if it really is. It certainly has a complex enough transformation, and you can see the internals through the front windshield. The front seats are on his arms, and the back seats are on his feet, so he doesn't have BT Streak syndrome. It looks great, honestly!


Here's what could be considered a catch. Here a early prototype is shown posed with Movie Concept Bumblebee, a deluxe class figure. This guy is not Binaltech sized. Also, the line seems to be called Transformers Alternity. This could be a play on the name of the US Alternators. All in all, this points to a smaller figure with no die cast. Some people will hate this, I'm sure, but I couldn't be happier. I love smaller figures with high complexity, and die cast is a thing of the past, expensive, heavy, and makes the figure hard to pose. Bring on the Alternity!

Anyhow, enough about Transformers.




Here is Bandai's 1/60th scale VF-25 from the latest series, Macross Frontier. I am really happy that Bandai is doing the valkyrie instead of Yamato, because Yamato is just overpriced. Great stuff, but pricey. Bandai on the other hand, makes things like that Aquarion there, which is bigger, more parts, more complex, more 'expensive diecast', less Quality Control issues, and cheaper to boot. Go Bandai!


This is displaying some of the Gundam merchandise at the show. Looks like the Metal Composite GFF Psycho Gundam and Gundam Ver Ka. Also looks like the Kahen Senshi Zeta Gundam, it may be being rereleased. Also, there seems to be an action figure, probably ExMSiA, maybe MSiA Ver. 2.0, of the G3 Gundam.


Here is the last shot of this post. This picture shows the upcoming Metal Composite GFF Psycho Gundam Mk-II, and it's box, and a gray prototype of it in Mobile Armor mode. It also shows a painted, probably production version, of the upcoming GFF NT-1 Alex, which is an awesome Gundam. I don't know what it's alternate mode will be, or if it will have one, but you can see most of a gray proto with the Chobham armor attached.

And thus concludes this post, but not the report, as I've got more news that I will post after I let my fingers rest.

Unformatted Prime

At first I was just loading this through the Blogger server so I had a place to host this image, but then I figured that everyone would like to see this, so here it is!

Scorponok, BoooooooOoooooooOOoooOooO!!!

So, I just went to TFW2005 again, and what awaited but more amazing Transformers the Movie news! I load it up, and I'm like, "Woah! Movie Scorponok! That's really cool looking! He looks better with color than he does without it!"

Scorponok is one of the Decepticons that apparently shows up early in the movie and chases down a bunch of Marines, making them all crap their collective pants. Of course, being Marines, they can't acknowledge the fact that they were scared spitless, but we know the truth. "Uh, it was a STRATEGIC RETREAT, sir!" Scorponok apparently seperated from the character Blackout, who turns into a helicopter. This is supposed to explain the airframe markings all over it.




Then I scrolled down to the robot modes.





And I said, "!......................................................................................................?"

Yeah, I was actually left speechless after seeing them. This is, without a doubt, the crappiest actual transformer that I have ever seen. Go Bots were better. McDonalds Kids Meal TFs are better. I mean, you rotate down his head, fold down his legs, and reposition his arms. That's all! I don't even have words right now to say how incredibly lame that is.

Transformers Movie toys!

Logged onto TFW today and saw these suckers. Pretty nice reward for just loading a page. These are the toys for the Transformers Live Action movie, and I guess they look pretty good. At the very least, they actually look like transformers, instead of just robots, like Prime and Bumblebee, did in their CGI forms. Anyhow, this first one is named Barricade. He's a Ford Mustang Saleen, and he has an awesome lat mode. His bot mode looks pretty decent too, though it appears to be full of kibble. His legs don't look like they integrate any car parts, so it kinda look like he's gonna have most of a car hanging off his back. BTW, the little freaky-bot is called Frenzy. I think it's supposed to turn into a CD stereo or something.

This next one is Bumblebee, the old Camaro version. There is a new Camaro coming out, and Bumblebee upgrades to the latest model sometime in the movie. Since the bot mode of this toy looks very similar to the bot mode of the movie (upgraded) BB we've seen, you can count on THAT toy being just a remold of this toy, only the alt mode changed. Anyhow, the smudged you see on this toy are supposed to be rust spots and whatnot. The original prototype we saw of this toy had clear plastic for all the parts that had windows, but now they are all obviously yellow plastic. The Bot mode is pretty good too, though it really emphasizes how much of a liar Michael Bay is when he said the transformations would involve no cheating.






This last brute is called Brawl. As you can see, he's a giant friggin' tank. And then he turns into a giant friggin' robot. Not much more to say at this point, maybe more later.






I guess these guys look okay, but they really don't make me super excited to go out and get them. I guess I'm not going to be too broke up about being on a mission when these things hit shelves.



Again though, all I can say, is that SPX guy has the best job. All the Transformer prototypes go through him, it seems.



Movie toys 2.0 - TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards

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Hotness in a truck!!

Yeah, saw the test shot images of the Classics Optimus Prime. (was Neo-G1 Prime) Good golly, that thing is pure love. When they have it in a decent pose, it really makes it way cooler. There are a few minor changes from Don's lineart, but that's to be expected. I really really like that he comes with a choice of weapons, instead of just one gun that detracts from the robot mode when he holds it, like Galaxy Convoy. Or one that detracts from the alt mode, like energon Prime. Or a gun that is an undersized pea shooter, like RiD Prime. Or one that doesn't attach at all, like G1 Prime. Yup, Classics Prime is definitely the best! Hastaktomy has done it again!! Now, to find one on the shelves......

Wahoo!! Google Video rocks even more now!!

Google Video was rockin' awesome before, but now it's even cooler, because I'm on it!! Yes, they posted my Primus video, where I show everyone how he is transformed, and do it without the benefit of my Chip Square which Takara said was 'required' for transformation.