March Hauls!

[JediTricks]

The iron heats up the pin and the plastic surrounding it, making it more pliable. Which is why that method works. It's good for removing pins, not sure how well it would work for loosening a joint, but it might be a safer place to start from.

I know how the premise works, but it's not just thermoset plastics here, it's also thick paint on the inner knee where the pin flange is situated, and the heat has to be delivered through that part, through the inner knee part, and then through the outer knee part which is also painted AND super fragile. It seems risky to me. And then if you pull the pin out too far, you have to re-tap it which presents its own risks in this situation due to the outer knee design flaw.

Wow, I guess we on this site are somewhat obsessed with Sunstorm.

Yeah, right? And they're different topics, MLP, MP Acid Storm & Soundwave, Walmart new listings, and this thread.

The current version of the mold is actually a retool, a copy with very slight differences, so it hasn't been in service long enough to suffer serious mold-rot yet. I think they've learned the lesson on that.

Actually, there are (at least?) two versions of the mould in service. I remember comparisons being made between Dirge and Thrust, with minor moulding differences being enough to prove that they were actually from different moulds. (I'd have to look it up to make sure.)

Is that right? I hadn't seen that, got a link?

[Onslaught Six]

The current version of the mold is actually a retool, a copy with very slight differences, so it hasn't been in service long enough to suffer serious mold-rot yet. I think they've learned the lesson on that.

Actually, there are (at least?) two versions of the mould in service. I remember comparisons being made between Dirge and Thrust, with minor moulding differences being enough to prove that they were actually from different moulds. (I'd have to look it up to make sure.)

Is that right? I hadn't seen that, got a link?

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Thrust_%28G1%29#Generations

Like Ghost Starscream, Thrust uses the older version of the Classics Seeker mold used from Classics Skywarp to Acid Storm, rather than the newer version used for the majority of the Henkei figures and Universe Starscream, right down to the 2006 copyright rather than 2008 featured on Gentei Thrust.

[JediTricks]

The current version of the mold is actually a retool, a copy with very slight differences, so it hasn't been in service long enough to suffer serious mold-rot yet. I think they've learned the lesson on that.

Actually, there are (at least?) two versions of the mould in service. I remember comparisons being made between Dirge and Thrust, with minor moulding differences being enough to prove that they were actually from different moulds. (I'd have to look it up to make sure.)

Is that right? I hadn't seen that, got a link?

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Thrust_%28G1%29#Generations

Like Ghost Starscream, Thrust uses the older version of the Classics Seeker mold used from Classics Skywarp to Acid Storm, rather than the newer version used for the majority of the Henkei figures and Universe Starscream, right down to the 2006 copyright rather than 2008 featured on Gentei Thrust.

Crazy, so there are at least 3 different toolings in play. I compared Thundercracker to Ramjet at the detail inside the intakes and there is a slight difference, it's not as obvious as v1 Starscream's intakes which are soooo sloppy by comparison, but it's there.

[Onslaught Six]

I think there's only two, actually--a 2006 copyright version, and a 2008 version. From the sounds of things, Hasbro either knew the mould would break down, or it already was, after the Botcon '07 set and Classics lines (it'd have been pressed six times by then) so in 2008 they made a second one, with the anticipation of Takara using it and, eventually, Hasbro again (for Acid Storm, Thundercracker, etc.)

Of course, this is all speculation and conjecture...

[andersonh1]

Two of the missing 1960s Doctor Who episodes were returned to the BBC in 2011, and one of them has finally made it to DVD, albeit as an extra. Took them long enough, and there's still no news of when the other episode will be out. Episode 3 of "Galaxy Four" is on the re-released "The Aztecs" DVD, and I'm looking forward to the rare treat of watching a Doctor Who episode that I've never seen before.

[BWprowl]

The Cybertron Crosswise I ordered off eBay (after talking about it with O6 and realizing it was a toy I still wanted) came in. I think this is the odd TF I like particularly for the altmode; the idea of a TF turning into such an absurdly scarce/expensive car is really entertaining to me, and the fact that it looks sexy doesn't hurt either (I waffled a lot between getting this version or the purple/silver Movie Jolt redeco. in the end I'm satisfied with the classy black). Transformation's pretty panel-y, but not bad once you get the hang of it, though I'm still not crazy about those bits that wind up just sticking up on his back. I like his unique head design though. All in all, a solid figure with a really cool vehicle mode. I almost wanna get Jolt now anyway.

[JediTricks]

I think there's only two, actually--a 2006 copyright version, and a 2008 version. From the sounds of things, Hasbro either knew the mould would break down, or it already was, after the Botcon '07 set and Classics lines (it'd have been pressed six times by then) so in 2008 they made a second one, with the anticipation of Takara using it and, eventually, Hasbro again (for Acid Storm, Thundercracker, etc.)

Of course, this is all speculation and conjecture...

That's wrong, there are two distinct 2006 copyright molds, the Skywarp mold is different from the Starscream mold, the number of lines inside the intake detail are different (Skywarp has 4 vent lines, Starscream has 3) and there are other little differences. And the 2008 mold differs from both of them (and has no copyright date at all). I just physically checked my figures to re-verify and it holds up, 3 distinct molds in my collection of US seekers. I think they created a second '06 mold originally for volume so they could run multiple Seeker figures at once, and since then have gone on to ensure the tooling doesn't degrade.

The Cybertron Crosswise I ordered off eBay (after talking about it with O6 and realizing it was a toy I still wanted) came in. I think this is the odd TF I like particularly for the altmode; the idea of a TF turning into such an absurdly scarce/expensive car is really entertaining to me, and the fact that it looks sexy doesn't hurt either (I waffled a lot between getting this version or the purple/silver Movie Jolt redeco. in the end I'm satisfied with the classy black). Transformation's pretty panel-y, but not bad once you get the hang of it, though I'm still not crazy about those bits that wind up just sticking up on his back. I like his unique head design though. All in all, a solid figure with a really cool vehicle mode. I almost wanna get Jolt now anyway.

Nice get! I really like how the weapon integrates with the car, and how the cyberkey gimmick integrates. He is very panely, the ones on the shoulder bug me the most, but you're right that he gets past that for the most part.

I didn't buy Jolt, something about that paintjob makes the back end look blocky instead of sleek in the photos I've seen. If you get one, please let us know if it looks better in person.

[Onslaught Six]

I have Jolt, and I never thought it looked blockier than Crosswise's.

I also always wanted Smokescreen, because he looks like Rad.

[BWprowl]

Nice get! I really like how the weapon integrates with the car, and how the cyberkey gimmick integrates. He is very panely, the ones on the shoulder bug me the most, but you're right that he gets past that for the most part.

Yeah, the way the spoiler works is nice, particularly since the Bugatti Veyron actually has a retractable spoiler as an option, so it makes sense (and I daresay the car mode actually looks even better without the spoiler, goddamn this is such a sexy altmode). And the Cyber Key gimmick is classy and understated, very Bond.

I also always wanted Smokescreen, because he looks like Rad.

Smokescreen was all over the place here during the back half of Cybertron (which was incidentally when I got back into buying TF toys), but I passed on him because I vastly preferred the black Crosswise deco (despite not being able to find that one anymore). The Smokescreen color scheme has never been one I'm crazy about, though after realizing it was actually a Rad homage I could get behind that more. I dunno, that particular look just didn't do anything for me.

Anyway, haul: was at Kohl's last night buying new work pants (and a shirt that turned out not to fit goddamn it I am getting fat time to hit the gym), and snagged this orange-t-shirt-with-a-Decepticon-symbol they had, god bless Michael Bay and his stupid movies for prompting the regular outpour of TF merch (Seriously, you can almost always find one or two cool TF shirts at Target or Kohl's for like 10-12 bucks these days. Used to be you'd have to dig one up at Hot Topic for $20)! No idea when I'll actually wear it, I have little use for t-shirts these days, but damn if it didn't look neat.

[andersonh1]

Bought Generations WFC Shockwave. I've been eyeing this figure for some time but the $16 price tag kept putting me off. Finally bit the bullet and bought it. Still seems strange to have such a tiny version of Shockwave, though the Action Master version is certainly smaller than WFC Shockwave.