Revoltech

[Shockprowl]

Anyone else getting into these/into these already? I've just ordered 2 (have to break that news to Mrs Shockprowl later! Eek!), Griffon and Patlabor. I'm just really lovin' the articulation on them, and although I know NOTHING of Evagilon etc, the designs are fantastic. Also got Optimus on the way to fight Megatron!

[legios]

shockprowl said:

Anyone else getting into these/into these already? I've just ordered 2 (have to break that news to Mrs Shockprowl later! Eek!), Griffon and Patlabor. I'm just really lovin' the articulation on them, and although I know NOTHING of Evagilon etc, the designs are fantastic. Also got Optimus on the way to fight Megatron!

Which Labor have you ordered? I've been looking at those and thinking about getting the OVA ones (mostly because they both seem to come with the riot shotgun so beloved of Ota), the Griffon looks quite nice - not familiar with the rendition from the show but it looks quite true to the feeling of the comic version.

I'm quite tempted to pick up one or two of the Macross ones as well - the Roy -1S looks especially nifty with a nice sculpt on the dual beam cannon.

Not so fussed about the EVA's, but then that's mostly because the designs themselves don't appeal to me. The actual sculpts on the line so far have been fantastic - very true to their respective line arts. In fact the only ones that have really stuck out to me as looking like "er...what is that?" were the Prime and Megatron.

Not sure whether my budget can allow me to develop a significant Revoltech habit, but I will be interested to hear what the Patlabor and the Griffin are like, because they are very tempting.

Karl

[Shockprowl]

Oh my budget definately can't! So just gunna dabble for now in the pool of Revoltech. Its the 'movie version' Patlabor, looks like a police car on legs. In the pic he did appear to have a shot gun. I'll let you know! I reallly like the look of the macross as well. I'm hoping they're gunna repaint one into G1 Jetfire! That'd be very cool indeed! The Griffon in partic, though, caught my eye. His design looks wonderfull.

[legios]

shockprowl said:

Oh my budget definately can't! So just gunna dabble for now in the pool of Revoltech. Its the 'movie version' Patlabor, looks like a police car on legs. In the pic he did appear to have a shot gun. I'll let you know!

They all look pretty much like that - Patlabor's schtick is that it has a slightly "real-world" logic influence. So once they created big humanoid construction machines, someone got it into their head to use them to crime (imagine a bank job where you can just carry off the safe....), so to stop Labors the police need Labors. And as they are police vehicles they get the whole shebag. Paint job, lightbars, siren... baton (yes, they have Labor scaled Batons.)

The movie ones have the nicer paint jobs (more detailed animation models) in my opinion. I shall look forward to hearing what you think of it.

In the pic he did appear to have a shot gun. I'll let you know! I reallly like the look of the macross as well. I'm hoping they're gunna repaint one into G1 Jetfire! That'd be very cool indeed!

Not sure I'd agree. I'd see it as a weird non-show coloured Valkyrie. (But that's my one remaining real area of purism speaking). I'm half-hoping that they will do a repaint of the VF-1J in Milia's Red/White or her husbands Blue/White scheme.

The Griffon in partic, though, caught my eye. His design looks wonderfull.

Griffon is great - one of Izubuchi's most iconic designs after the Ingram Patrol Labor itself for my money.

Karl

[Shockprowl]

Thanks for the history there, Karl. Do you know how easy it is to get hold of these stories. I'll certainly let you know what they're like.

[legios]

shockprowl said:

Thanks for the history there, Karl. Do you know how easy it is to get hold of these stories.

The first two Patlabor feature films have had a DVD re-release in this country quite recently, with a new dub and sub that is said to be more faithful to the original dialogue (I've got the second release from two years or so ago). They don't tend to show up in many bricks and mortar stores but you can snag them online. (Labor 01 and 02 show up in there, no Griffon sadly).

The TV and OAV series have come out on R1 DVD a while back but are getting harder to track down now. They've not had a R2 release unfortunately.

The comic finished its run in Japan but only the first few parts came out over here in digest sized trades. Unfortunately they never got far enough that the Griffon showed up. :-(

Karl

[Shockprowl]

Too bad, very intruiging design and story concepts. Thanks for the info matey, may see if I can track copies down.

[legios]

shockprowl said:

Too bad, very intruiging design and story concepts. Thanks for the info matey, may see if I can track copies down.

First feature film is definitely worth a look - a nice police drama that just happens to have central characters that pilot giant mecha. The second one is a bit more on the conspiracy thriller kind of wavelength - still quite interesting but just with a different feel.

The comic is much more like the TV series in that it has a much higher humour quotient than the features. (I like both takes on "Patlabor" but other folks mileage varies.

Karl

[The Doctor]

The first two films are ace. I have the original R2 double-pack release, which still pops up in bargain bins. Can't speak about the newer editions. There was a Patlabor 3 but I don't think that's been released here.

-Ralph

[legios]

thedoctor said:

The first two films are ace. I have the original R2 double-pack release, which still pops up in bargain bins. Can't speak about the newer editions. There was a Patlabor 3 but I don't think that's been released here.

-Ralph

Yes there was, "Patlabor WXIII" based on a "side-story" from the comic. It came out on DVD for R1 a couple of years back and to be honest vanished without trace. By all accounts (not seen it myself) it is barely a Patlabor movie at all, with the regular characters only showing up in the last fifteen-twenty minutes.

The double-pack release of the first two films is worth getting if it is still kicking about though - it's just a repackage of the masters for the VHS release but it still looks pretty good, and both the dub and the sub tracks are decent. That's actually the release I've got - although I've heard good things about the release from last year I decided I would stick with what I had rather than buy the films all over again.

Karl

[Shockprowl]

Revoltech Optimus Prime (well, Convoy!) arrived the other day from Mech-a.com, va ery good site. He's pretty damn cool! The styling is in line with Megatron, someone else on the Hub likened it to Stan Lee. It's ok, I prob preffer the styling of EJ or Roche with IDW, but it's not unpleasant IMHO. Overall the figure is very well done, but I do have some gripes. Unlike Megatron, Prime has no revolver joint at the shoulder. Two very clever swivel joints still give excellant range of movement, but I feel a 'Revoltech' joint at the shoulder would have improved the fig. The joint at the hip is black, on my fig anyway, which stands out a mile against the grey of his pelvis and upper legs. His gun is alittle too 'Robot Heroes'. Not that I don't like Robot Heroes, but the rifle just seems too chuncky for Revoltech. His different hands are fun, but I'd have slightly altered the arrangement somewhat. He can't point and hold his gun at the same time, so I'd have had the pointing hand for the left side. He can't hold his Matrix accessory to well. The left hand with, kinda, two fingers sticking up (that don't sound too good does it? It's not what you think) comes the closest to holding the Matrix in a 'Alas poor Matrix' way. Also he has too much white striping for my personal taste, but that's no matter. So basically I feel Megatron is the better executed figure. But- by Christmas you can have some fun with these figs! Optimus works wonderfully with his arch foe. The poseability/fightability is tremendous with these figs. Super Action Masters! I'm definately hooked now, and eagerly await Starscream and other future releases from this line.

EDIT: Keep forgetting to mention, a draw back with Rev Megatron I've found is the fact that one cannot remove his cannon. This isn't a big deal, but the fact he cannot be unarmed does effect some poseability/fightability.

[The Doctor]

Stan Lee? Do you mean Prat Lee?

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

Somat like that!

[legios]

Hmmm. Kaiyodo appear to be making a play to muscle in on my toy budget. Not only have they done a TV series version of the Brocken military labor:-

www.hlj.com/product/KYD01163

they've done the OAV version as a limited edition (presumably hoping that if one doesn't grab me the other will):-

www.hlj.com/product/KYD01173

But more to the point they've done a lovely rendition of the SDF's airborne Labor from the first feature:-

www.hlj.com/product/KYD01162


I'm so very tempted by these, because they are wonderful renditions of the design. But on the other hand I don't own a Unit 1 or Unit 2 as yet. So they may have to wait their turn.....

Karl

[The Doctor]

Ooooooo, the airborne Labor is very nice.

-Ralph

[legios]

thedoctor said:

Ooooooo, the airborne Labor is very nice.

-Ralph

The Helldiver is indeed rather swish. It is the one that really caught my eye.(Or course I was introduced to Patlabor through the films, so the first labor I saw was the Helldiver). It is a really good sculpt. Very seriously considering ordering one of these with the money that didn't buy a Blackout today.

Karl

[The Doctor]

BUY IT.

-Ralph

[Shockprowl]

They look ace. My Patlabor haven't arrived yet, but I'll let you know when they do. I just love the designs and poses possible with these figures.

[legios]

I am a weak man, and appear to be on a piloted mecha kick at the moment. My brain kept going "Loooook. Labor 01. Looook, film version with scads of accessories." when I was putting in an order with HLJ for Mospeada ride armour. So inevitably I succumbed. Hopefully a Labor 01 will be mine in due course. Unfortunately I can already feel myself being tempted to pick up Labor-02 - how can I have Noah deploying without Ota and vice versa.....

Karl

[legios]

A shipping notice from HLJ I have received
I read it twice in case my eyes it did deceive.

It says in letters plain as day
Labor 01 is on its way
but won't be here for more than a day

To my day it did bring some cheer
because I know it will soon be here

Some time soon I will have the Labor piloted by Noah
I hope my box doesn't take a detour to Goa.

Karl

[Shockprowl]

Pleased am I your order is on the way
Where my order is I am unable to say
Ordered a Patlabour and a Griffon
If they don't arrive soon, I'll have a fit on

[legios]

My Revoltech Labor, thanks to the Parcelfare soon will be here.
It's at their depot in Edinburgh which is almost quite near.
A spot on my desk for it I think I must clear
and to the shop for a tomato to welcome it I must veer.
(the weakness on my injoke
makes me think perhaps I choke).

Thoughts I shall post, when an examine I've given it, to it to the hub,
for a better place to speak of mecha/robots there isn't unless its a pub

Karl

[legios]

Apparently Noa and Labor 01 have arrived in Falkirk, it would appear that they are currently in the care of my neighbour. (Track and Trace is a wonderful thing). Hope she and Stick Bernard are being good guests whilst my neighbour is looking after them.

Karl

[dyrl]

Big Revoltech fan as well.

Waiting on my Asuka Langley, Totsaka Rhin, Tetsujin 28... should be here tomorrow...maybe Friday...

The only ones I don't like are the Transformers Revoltechs - yucky Pat Lee designs ruin 'em...

dyrl

[legios]

I think I'm going to have to pick up some more of the Revoltech stuff, after having a play around with Labor 01. I can see me getting Labor 02 for certain. And I am very tempted by the VF-1S, but if I got that I would need to get some of these:-

Regult Pod

Can't have Roy without a bunch of cannon-fodder Zent's for him to slap about.....

Not technically Revoltech's - Yamato's attempt to go head-to-head with Kaiyodo - but the GNU stuff looks quite good:-

YF-19,
YF-21,
and more to my tastes, a good utilitarian VF-11

Don't usually go for the non-transformables, but these are looking quite nice.