Hero
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King of RULES!
Everything Rules
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Post by Hero on May 27, 2008 13:05:08 GMT
I managed to sort out the problem with Swoops chest after losening the screw a little. I filed down the sword handle with some sandpaper and that's also sorted.
I opened Prowl today and his sitting in a lotus position on my monitor. I wish my bonsai tree was still alive now.
===KEN
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 7, 2008 21:34:49 GMT
Picked up some Animated toys with birthday cash. Voyager Bulkhead, Deluxe Lockdown and Deluxe Prowl are all fantastic toys. Packed with loads of character and really clever transformations. Most enjoyable TF's I've picked up in quite a while! I think I shall enjoy this line.
Also picked up the Megs/Prime 2-pack, which I am saving for tomorrow to open then.
-Ralph
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Post by Bogatan on Jun 7, 2008 23:29:49 GMT
I still havent opened my deluxe Animated. Got Prime and BB signed which put me of as that kind of made them display things but got no excuse for Prowl and Lockdown.
Another package from Japan arrived this week. Inside were Car Robots Spychangers 6 pack, Prime er.. Ultra Magnus Super Sideburn, Super XBrawn (no good with japanese names) all boxed and complete the car brothers are still sealed there was also a great plastic Transformers backpack type thing. Also 4 of the trainbots turned out they are the diaclone versions which are a bit different to the G1. Shame as I was hoping to do some parts swapping to get a decent set but the changes are kinda interesting. They came with some other TF and Robomachine junkers. Finally, got a BW TM Labrat which I only found out about this year, really nice colours.
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 8, 2008 9:17:22 GMT
Prowl is the first great bike Transformer. In robot mode, it's hard to tell it was a bike, in bike mode there's no way to tell it turns into a robot!
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Jun 8, 2008 10:32:28 GMT
Prowl is the first great bike Transformer. In robot mode, it's hard to tell it was a bike, in bike mode there's no way to tell it turns into a robot! -Ralph Transformers hasn't been that well served by bikes in the past. (But then, there aren't that many good bike mecha at all to be honest - it is a relatively untapped idea). Prowl does look quite nifty in pictures. At some point I will be curious to see what he looks like in the plastic Karl |
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Post by Jaymz on Jun 8, 2008 15:35:30 GMT
Inside were Car Robots Spychangers 6 pack, I like the hidden rub symbols on those Japanese Spychangers that I don't think were on the US/UK releases. |
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Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
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Post by Hero on Jun 8, 2008 16:05:32 GMT
The were not sadly. I wish I had bought more of those rather than the RID releases. On a side note. TFA Blackarachnia and Ratchet due in the mail next week  ===HERO |
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Post by Shockprowl on Jun 8, 2008 17:47:44 GMT
Prowl is the first great bike Transformer. In robot mode, it's hard to tell it was a bike, in bike mode there's no way to tell it turns into a robot! -Ralph I quite violently agree with this! Couldn't beleive how nifty his transformation was! Such symetry in robot mode from a bike! Top marks designers! |
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 9, 2008 15:58:10 GMT
I'm not quite so taken with the Prime/Megatron 2-pack. Irritating power punch gimmick means they tend to swing about from the waist sometimes. Megatron robot mode looks great, Prime's I'm not so sure about.
Hopefully they will grow on me, but I'm nowhere near as taken with them as Prowl/Lockdown/Bulkhead.
-Ralph
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dyrl
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Transforming robots are no match for combat waitresses from the future!
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Post by dyrl on Jun 9, 2008 19:38:46 GMT
Today I opened my Lockdown.
Hm.
Hm.
Something in me says he'll be kind of like ...oh...I dunno...Cybertron Downshift - a case of infatuation that suddenly passes....
I don't like that the hands apparently can't be flipped out all the way - I would rather have had the choice of leaving them inverted or straightening...
I don't like that for all the loveliness of his neck.... it's not fully poseable - all of those segments should be mobile - like the arms of Getter 3! ...
I don't like his hollowed out inner legs - although what with them being black it doesn't look as appalling as it is.
In general - I like the bounty hunter persona, I like the general idea, I hate the drag racing car (really silly choice for an intergalatic bounty hunter - no good in most terrains/environments and not at all something a bounty hunter would have as an alt mode).... and I do like the head -though I am not thrilled with it being fairly visible in vehicle mode....
This is a character that needs to grow on me. I just have a terrible feeling that he, along with Blitzwing, will be my least favorites - and purely for aesthetic reasons - as I can't stand Blitzwing's looks either....
Now Lugnutz... THAT I like!
pete
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Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
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Post by Hero on Jun 9, 2008 19:45:19 GMT
Blackarachnia and Ratchet arrived this morning. Not opened them yet.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 9, 2008 19:55:25 GMT
Very interested to hear your thoughts on Ratchet.
Andy
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Gav
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Post by Gav on Jun 9, 2008 20:11:25 GMT
Wow, Dryl - those sentiments are why i love the Animated line so much - it has people talking about aesthetics of the toys against their personalities again. My favourites in terms of looks are actually Blitzwing and Lockdown - and i really don't like Lugnut.
My thinking is that Lockdown almost has this kinda...i don't know..Rockabilly feel to him - kinda tough - heavily stylised...i think the muscle car suits him perfectly.
As for Blitzwing - when i saw he had a Man-E-Faces style headspin - I instantly fell in love with the design.
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Post by legios on Jun 9, 2008 20:37:51 GMT
The Blitzwing design is one of those things that I think works reasonably well on-screen, but I'm not sure how well it translates into a physical toy. In the frame of the animation style of the series - where even the buildings have a distinctive "non-real" style to them - I think Blitzwing looks fine. Once you plonk the toy down on a table-top in front of a camera I'm not so sure how well he works.
Karl
(I am curious to hear what folk have to say about Ratchet though - Pete has come close to talking me out of getting Starscream, so I may be down to just picking up the one larger toy rather than two from the early waves).
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 9, 2008 20:38:55 GMT
I'm not quite so taken with the Prime/Megatron 2-pack. Irritating power punch gimmick means they tend to swing about from the waist sometimes. Megatron robot mode looks great, Prime's I'm not so sure about. Hopefully they will grow on me, but I'm nowhere near as taken with them as Prowl/Lockdown/Bulkhead. -Ralph Well, that didn't take long. I think the problem was that unlike Prowl/Lockdown/Bulkhead, they lack one of the main things that impressed me about those toys was that in the alt modes it was hard to tell they turned into robots, and vice versa. Prime and Megatron turn into things that are...less convincing. I puzzled over this for a while until I realised they are like very articulated Action Master Elites! Particularly Megatron. The aesthetics of the robot designs are marvelous though. More for 'try before you buy' whereas I say with Prowl/Lockdown/Bulkhead that they get my highest recommendation. Especially Prowl. It's a bike transformer, but good! And he comes with a traffic light as a melee weapon! Which Prime can hold too, btw. I love this line, I really do. Putting the fun back into TF toys. Even if they are a bit naff (the 2-pack) they still have a sense of fun. Damn it, I need more Animated! RE: Lockdown. It didn't do anything for in pics, but is great in the plastic. -Ralph |
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Post by legios on Jun 9, 2008 20:45:25 GMT
Well, that didn't take long. I think the problem was that unlike Prowl/Lockdown/Bulkhead, they lack one of the main things that impressed me about those toys was that in the alt modes it was hard to tell they turned into robots, and vice versa. Prime and Megatron turn into things that are...less convincing. I think that is why I am a not entirely fussed about them - they have that 'master era feeling about them. They seem to turn into vague approximations of something vehicleish. Whereas I do like the look of Prowl in photos, and I am seriously considering picking him up - he looks like a proper bike, and has a transformation I still can't work out by looking at the photos. (Coming with a traffic light to lamp other robots with is amusing as well). Roll on the proper release so I an actually see these things in shops! Karl |
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Post by The Doctor on Jun 9, 2008 20:54:54 GMT
Knowing your tastes, I don't think the Prime/Megs 2-pack is your thing. I am convinced you will love Prowl though. And I defy anyone to work out the transformation from pics.
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Jun 9, 2008 21:02:26 GMT
I suspect you are right on the Prime/Megs two-pack. It hasn't done much for me in pictures, and I'm not sure that seeing it in the plastic will reverse that trend.
But the nice thing about Animated is that there seems to be some nice diversity within it - I reckon that there is something that will suit a fairly broad range of tastes. I for one am not expecting to like everything, but that's ok. It means that I just buy what I like and leave the rest for those who do favour them.
Karl
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dyrl
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Post by dyrl on Jun 9, 2008 21:09:30 GMT
Good points about Lockdown Gav - I suppose there's some getting used to I must go through... As for Blitzwing - you know - I think I would love the toy and the character and the design just fine if they had named him Roy. But since they named him Blitzwing, I just can't help myself referencing the G1 character... And to me, Blitzwing is defined by his role in 5 Faces of Darkness; where we saw a thoughtful, impassioned Transformer who was anything but the ...err...fellow we see in Animated... And I guess that's what's making it hard to compute - Blitzwing is not this clownish bloke... vaguely reminiscent of the G1 incarnation - all of the elements are there - including the head design which, if you look at the original Blitzwing G1 toy - it does have a head design like the Animated fellow (without the three faces)... But I just can't make the transition.... And yes - Animated is great because finally aesthetics and character are linked. No more of these stale blocky blokes who just look like random robots - now we have looooaaaaaddddddsss of character going into each one and that is great! Finally - didn't mean to talk you out of Starscream Legios  I imagine that Macross lovers especially will be far more picky about jet mode Transformers - particularly since Animated Starscream looks like a Macross reject in many ways - his feet in particular mimic the VF-1's thrusters - which in no way helps him in jet mode... But as I wrote - his robot form is lovely and evocative of a great character.... and perhaps he will look all the better with his Clone Army of Seekers Pete |
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Post by Bogatan on Jun 9, 2008 21:24:24 GMT
I think that is why I am a not entirely fussed about them - they have that 'master era feeling about them. They seem to turn into vague approximations of something vehicleish. Whereas I do like the look of Prowl in photos, and I am seriously considering picking him up - he looks like a proper bike, and has a transformation I still can't work out by looking at the photos. (Coming with a traffic light to lamp other robots with is amusing as well). Roll on the proper release so I an actually see these things in shops! Karl For me its not so much that they are actionmasters (which for me wouldnt be a negative anyway) but that they suffer from the same problem as many other TF's. Cybertronian mode toys, without a real world aesthetic tend to have elements sacrificed from the vehicle mode to improve the robot form. Personally I like Primes truck and love the transformation. Megatron is just a wonderful robot with a, well odd alt mode. Though it would make an amazing Straxus. I just stood voyager Megatron next to deluxe and theres no doubt in my mind that he deluxe is better. Voy Megs has a slightly more developed alt mode and is bulkier, but is only a little taller than deluxe Megs. Deluxe Megs is a much darker and nicer looking grey and the robot mode just really does look stunning. I just started playing with Bulkhead again and oh my word its just such a lovely toy. Love the wheel transform on his feet. Andy |
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Gav
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Post by Gav on Jun 9, 2008 21:34:58 GMT
Every fucking person and their grandmothers have Animated toys, except me!
Is it too much to ask for ALL OF THEM, SOMEHOW FOR FREE?
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Jun 9, 2008 21:36:04 GMT
It would appear so!
Andy
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Gav
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Post by Gav on Jun 9, 2008 21:36:50 GMT
Shit.
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Hero
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King of RULES!
Everything Rules
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Post by Hero on Jun 9, 2008 21:42:00 GMT
Very interested to hear your thoughts on Ratchet. Andy Still not gotten round to opening him yet mate but I will let you know. |
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Nigel
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Post by Nigel on Jun 10, 2008 9:44:42 GMT
Every fucking person and their grandmothers have Animated toys, except me! If it makes you feel any better, I don't have any, either. Hopefully two weeks today.... |
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dyrl
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Post by dyrl on Jun 10, 2008 11:47:02 GMT
Well if it makes you feel any better, I have all of them - but my grandmother doesn't have any either Pete |
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Post by legios on Jun 10, 2008 11:50:20 GMT
Finally - didn't mean to talk you out of Starscream Legios No worries, I may still end up getting him - he has just been "reprioritised". Fair to say that I do have a habit of judging all TF aircraft by the standards of Kawamori's output. But then I tend to judge all the bikes against Shinji Aramaki's work. In actual fact it wasn't the Valkyrie that Animated Starscream reminded me of so much as the Excaliber - specifically the VF-19S version from "Macross 7" from the forward wing-roots back there seems to be a lot of similarities which cross the line from coincidence to outright homage (the feet/exhausts as you mention, the fact that the arm detail matches together in something rather similiar in appearance to the -19S's anti-projectile shield, the layout of the V-stabs). (From the wing roots forward he seems to be angling for something not too far from the Russian Berkut prototype). A Grand Army of the Animated Republic......... Karl |
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Post by grahamthomson on Jun 10, 2008 11:55:39 GMT
I don't have any.
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dyrl
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Post by dyrl on Jun 10, 2008 12:42:49 GMT
I suggest you purchase Supreme Optimus Prime - I think he'll offer another chance at an "Hour with Supreme Bumblebee" style review I was fiddling round with Starscream again today - and the fellow is just so utterly annoying. It's very hard to transform him back to jet mode without ripping his legs off - and the "animated" nature of the jet makes it all the more difficult because our instinct is usually to have things symetrical whereas here the craft necessarily must look somewhat "goofy." I dunno. The character in the cartoon is great, the look of the robot, the colors, the voice and the toy robot are great... I guess the jet isn't THAT bad - but just avoid looking at it from below pete |
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Post by grahamthomson on Jun 10, 2008 13:31:34 GMT
I suggest you purchase Supreme Optimus Prime - I think he'll offer another chance at an "Hour with Supreme Bumblebee" style review I shall take your suggestion into consideration. |
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