[JTF] Takara Tidbits
Douglas W. Dlin
Not much at all on Takara's primary TF site that I can tell. They still
list all the SCF Act 4 figures as "coming soon." They've at least
improved on the English spellings of the names--"Convoy" instead of
"Conboy," "Ultra Mugnus" instead of "Urtla Mugnus" :-). Oddly enough,
they use "Metroplex" instead of "Metroflex" (the actual Japanese version
of the name for that character), despite the fact that they use "Convoy"
and "Rodimus Convoy" instead of "Optimus Prime" and "Rodimus Prime."
Of minor added amusement is the text blurb used as generic space-filler
around each character's name. It reads, "Convoy that restoration was
made saves compaines together with the sky Linx." Ah yes, it all
becomes clear now...
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Quick digression to Webdiver--
I see a page I don't recall mentioning before for an item called the
Granmobiler (that's with a long "i"), a wrist-mounted LCD video game
that can also communicate with the Gladion toy. It can store data about
the Web Knights and let you play a maze game, battle game or jumping game.
There's also a pic of a Choro Q version of Gladion, but no link to any
further info.
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The Web Knights page now includes Pegacion, Liga-on and Daitalion
(possibly based on the name of the mythical character Daedalus, which
would be transcribed "Daidalos" in kana). Cerberion, Orthrion, Golem-On
and Drag-On are already established members, judging by how their links
have been simplified to match those of even earlier-introduced members.
To recap on the newest trio:
Daitalion is a double-nosed sub (best guess) that becomes a large robot
and a small robot that forms the larger one's head. The small one also
has IR electronics in it that can make panels on the large body's chest
(the Hertz Gate, unless they mistranscribed "Hell's Gate") open up by
remote control.
Pegacion and Liga-On are a six-wheeled buggy and a high-tech Osprey
copter that each become animal-headed robots, then become alternate
heads for Daitalion. They can also form arm-extensions/weapons, making
him Daitalion Prime, or big roller skates for Daitalion's vehicle mode. :-)
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Okay, back to TFs...
On the Takara Hobby site, there's no news of figures we weren't aware
of, just updates on ones we knew about.
The Trailbreaker/Hoist sets will be available for order at the Takara
booth in the East 3 Hall of the Tokyo Big Site convention center at the
Cultural Convention of Characters Pre-show (C3 PRE for short), to be
held on Aug. 26. Each set of two will be 6000 yen. That's in addition
to the 1500-yen entrance fee.
Similarly offered were the Skywarp/Thundercracker sets at the Tokyo
Character Show on July 21, the Ramjet/Thrust sets at JAF-CON 10 on July
29, and the Inferno/Grapple sets at Wonder Festival 2001 Restart back on
Aug. 5.
Also available at the Tokyo Character show for 1000 yen was a
limited-edition poster commemorating all 13 re-released to date. It was
B2 size, for those who have easy references to those dimensions...
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Ooh, hey--official press release for SCF Act 4! Hmm...okay, we finally
get a proper look at the two chase figures: Metallic-colored Grimlock
and "Fire Guts" (metallic gold) God Jinrai. As with Act 3, we have six
standard-color figures, six variant-color (pewter-finish, in this case)
figures, two rare figures (see above), and two sets of bonus parts.
This time they assemble to form Metroplex, presumably in both full-color
and pewter-finish versions.
There's also a press release on the Choro Q Prime. Set for
late-September release at 980 yen, it comes in two variants--cartoon
colors and metallic colors. Besides the standard Choro Q pullback motor
gimmick it also transforms from vehicle to robot mode. Sure it's kinda
simplified, but it still has better sculpting and articulation than the
Throttlebots. :-)
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Okay, on to E-Hobby's sales/pre-order area...
Okay, not much to add. SCF Act 4 and the Rescreams are about the only
TF stuff I can see up for pre-order now. The Rescream page does seem to
have added photos of the packaging and enclosed character cards since I
last looked, though. Ghostscream's box is all blue and white, like
Crystal Hot Rod's, while Blackscream's recaps BlackRod's package style
in straight black and white.
Doug Dlin
ap...@hotmail.com