Destroyer has been a little too pricey for me (I only noticed it aftermarket), but DA-80 works fantastically with a pair of cannon turrets replacing the shoulder drills. I used the "Double Detonator Cannons" turrets from DA-64 and swapped the big "Pile Destructor Cannons" shoulder guns for the Destroyer-style "FZ Plasma Guns" from DA-81. The DA-64 turrets arent chromed but I still get what I feel is the best of both worlds. DA-80 has some fantastic retooling and colors, and I still get the over-armed Destroyer feel. And didnt have to pay for aftermaket Destroyer.
Solider is a solid figure with great articulation and fun accessories. However, I have to agree with others that Ripper stole some of soldier's thunder. Solider is mostly an alternate arm for Gigantor, a lot of the part count and detail is in its lower legs and the plating there. Soldier also doesn't break down into as many flexable/buildable parts as Ripper does. Soldier I is a work of art with its paint/design scheme. Soldier II is a little duller in the 'fleet grey' but it would fit in among other Waruder units. Likewise Dark Cathode Ripper almost feels too dark for me. It's a beautiful jewel of a figure... but a lot of my waruders aren't dark cathode, and Gigantor/Ghoul/Drago kind of break their colors up like Soldier I. Soldier+Ripper+Vajra would be a really fun look and three unique frames. But I do have to caution tempering expectations if you've already handled Ripper. One thing you could go for, if you're willing to flex a little budget. Buy two Rippers (regular) and one Legio Core, and put the 'spare' raider hanger (ripper parts) on it, so you have two alternately colored Rippers, flanking the darker Vajra. Spoiler With that said... the Dark Cathode Raider Hanger (Ripper parts) would look really good on the Varja core Spoiler That's one of the love/hate things in this line for me... so much combination and coloration potential Sourcing DA-64 may be a bit of a trick, but the point still stands that you can swap the drills and piles out if they're to your liking One of the only issues I have with DA-80 was the re-engineered legs (since the 04/05) units were inverted the older claw arms don't quite lay on them the same way. I also have a preference for the older version of 04/05 as little trucks with their square cab/cockpits. Though DA-80s 'train' mode is pretty cool. Makes me wish they'd release another set of the new 04/05 units like the DA-19 (?) Land Battlecruiser (which I wouldn't not recommend at it's current price- I've seen some sets north of $200). ------------------ Some DA-14 (OG) BPs have come down to a more reasonable price (still above MSRP-but probably comparable to inflation tbh) I recently picked one up from another board member here, and love it to pieces. I was mostly after the unique pieces though (the barrel fingers and shoulder intakes- which... I'm not sure come off... I haven't tried very hard). ------------------- A crazy, wonderful, idea just occurred to me: if Ground Dion can house seven vehicles, and if Clould Across (Atlas?) ends up being able to house another seven... I wonder if we'll see GATS Blocker released as an alternative to crew the whole GRB?! That'd be pretty neat!
OMG look who it is!!! Ah man it wasn't until I saw Destroyer in person that I realised how stunning it really was. I've had him on my home desk since I got it and it distracts the hell out of me constantly. I was lucky to get it at well below retail from facebook, but he's loose and missing the steel stickers. Worth it, so worth it. And yes, he really dwarfs those suits! All the best Maz
If Destroyer is sheetless, there's an Exhobby steel sheet that's got you covered (ask @puma or @TogeAtama ) Destroyer is still probably my favorite of all the BPs... I think there's just something about the ol' turtle noggin that really screams, "heavily armored destructive device". Though I miss the faceplate gimmick that DA-14 and 80 have. @Maz since I see you have the epsilon and the Riser 01 (and the E-type suit presumably in BP's chest) have you played around with all three, and from a photographic/play perspective, which of the 'types' is your favorite, if you have one? ------------------------------------------ not that many of us (certainly not me) have had a chance to try to poke these (or their protoypes) in person... but these still bug me... I feel like they're hiding something. Really hoping there's a cockpit in them... but then I suppose they wouldn't keep doubling down on 'drones' and I'm sure takara would have shown it by now.
Or maybe a set of vehicles that transform into armour for Diaguard ala Powered Convoy? On a side note, I wish they designed a couple more slots in Ground Dion to store everything (including the Diaguard components).
Yeah, while it quickly occurred to me “this want is not realistic for a physical toy” the legs not having storage/space for full lower hanger made me a little sad. Maybe we’ll get that in the chest with Cloud Across. I’m real curious to see what gets shoved in the chest. Hoping they do some interesting stuff with the arms as well. The rumored expansion parts may help with some of this, but I doubt we’ll hear much more about those until after Ground Dion is in-hand or close to release.
I can't see where they could put more slots, every bit of it has an internal space except for the crotch & upper legs which contain most of the articulation and the backs of the lower legs which just aren't thick enough to have internal spaces.
True the upper calves don’t really exist, as much as, superstructure coming together form several different parts of the whole. If not for the thigh-cut I could see them stashing something in there. But I’d rather have the articulation.
Great picture! Maybe it’s the visor being down, but I get big ‘I just flipped these out of my holster’ energy. Also fwiw, VERSaulters (Hard Diaclone) are about twice as tall as those maneuver suits
I'm interested in the Gamma, but for now my focus will be getting some Warudaros whenever I can spare it. Already have Soldier 2 on the way, though it seems the bug head I was eyeing has sold out.
In the past couple of months i chosed to give those guys a try, just to see how cool they were. Now, a little premise: my favorite color scheme for a robot would be black or grey along with gold and red, which is why i literally tore apart my 2 Gigantors in order to swap even parts that weren't supposed to be swapped. Spoiler: Pics of my custom GRG Gigantor as a reference Unfortunately, none of those lil' guys had the proper color scheme. So, my first choice was the DC Ripper because i thought "hey, might have green and purple details instead than red and gold, but they match well with dark gray so he might be cool enough even tho he doesn't fit my color standards". I was right. He was cool as fuck even tho he didn't have proper colors. Then i got the DC Soldier just to see if he looked as cool as the DC Rip in hand. Spoiler alert: he doesn't. Unless you desperately need a dark colored version of his unique molded chest/legs and/or you have enough money and experience to do on that guy a custom job as complicate as the one i did on my Gigantors, i wouldn't recommend this guy. But in the end, i realized i was trying to aim at an unreachable target: a GRG Ripper? There's no way to get one. So i choosed to buy a regular Rip and a Legiocore, in order to get a white/pearl/gold-ish Ripper with red and gold details (the fact i already had a Grappler made it far easier, because it allowed me to give him a proper dino mode) and HE IS FUCKING AMAZING AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH I COULD MARRY IT IF MY COUNTRY'S LAWS ALLOWED ME TO MARRY SOMETHING THAT ISN'T EVEN ALIVE, NOT TO MENTION HUMAN AND/OR THE OPPOSITE GENDER. Just take a look man, you'll agree with me. The standard color Rip+Legiocore+Grappler deserves your cash. I dare you to tell me it doesn't. Edit: i preordered the Vajna just to see if there's a way to get a GRG dinoformer, i really hope i didn't waste my money. Edit #2: i forgot to mention i tore apart all the Ripper heads in order to get a black, red and gold head with red eyes. I had to break the pegs that holded them together in order to do so tho, first time ever, i didn't have any issue with my Gigantors' parts.
Good shout on the Ex-Hobby sheets! I think Destroyer is superb. My favourite remains the IMS variety, though. OK so I had every single suit mould up to the F-type and even the Maneuver Delta in my previous Diaclone life, and now I have Risers 01, 02, Maneuver Epsilon and the Taurus Base/fishbowl and I think my favourites are the fishbowl from Buffalo/Taurus and the Riser 01. Big clear curved canopies = suit win for me All the best Maz
The plating on Soldier’s lower legs might look like individual parts, but it’s really just intricate sculpting. The lower leg itself is comprised of only two halves.
So, I am think of going down the Tactical Mover / Takara Tomy Exclusive rabbit hole. Anyone in the UK or Europe had any dealings with The Chosen Prime? Is the shipping any cheaper than buying from a US supplier? Is there a better alternative?
If you're in the UK I would buy direct from Japan whenever possible. But if it's the TTMall stuff you want then I'm afraid options are more limited, you could look at Oh My Primus though. Diaclone Reboot - Hasbro Takara Transformers / Diaclone - Transformers
