Gigantor has been kept at bay for now. It’s only a matter of time before the Diaclone will have to face its terror.
(shameless self-promotion) If anyone wants this set on the cheap, it's sitting at $26 with under 15 minutes left Diaclone Reboot DA-30 Maneuver Delta & Gamma Set (Cosmo ver.) * great condition | eBay
Late to the game with DA-92 because I kept postponing doing the ankle mod (the "sand and lube" method), which I finally decided to do last night. Hopefully the mod at least prevents the ankle shafts from breaking. I haven't tried suiting him up, will do so today and post results.
So I hear you guys like doing Lore for this sandbox toyline. Deciding to throw my hat into the ring by trying to sort most of the varying releases into a few "battalions" of sort. Battalion 1 1. DA-95 Robot Base ⟨Ground Dion⟩ 2. DA-??? Robot Base ⟨Cloud Across⟩ 3. DA-93 Robot Base Machine Set x2 4. DA-97 Ground Dion & Dia-Guardion ⟨Expansion Unit Set⟩ 5. DA-98 Ground Dion Enhancement Unit A: Second Main & Secondary Turret Set x2 6. DA-11 Dia-Battles V2 Alpha Plus Version 7. DA-07 Cosmo-Battles-02 8. DA-02 Powered System Set A Type x4 9. DA-03 Powered System Set B Type x4 10. DA-04 Dia-Nauts Set x2 11. DA-04-2 Dia-Nauts Set x2 12. DA-04-3 Dia-Nauts Set x2 13. DA-08 Powered System Set C Type x4 14. DA-09 Powered System Set D Type x4 15. DA-12 Powered System Gyroseptor x4 16. DA-13 Powered System Dartloader x4 17. DA-21 Powered System Maneuver Alpha x4 18. DA-22 Powered System Maneuver Beta x4 19. DA-28 Powered System Maneuver Delta x4 20. DA-29 Battle Buffalo Mk. IV ⟨Striker⟩ 21. DA-32 Powered System Maneuver Skyjacket x2 22. DA-40 Trivers Tridasher ⟨Special Ver⟩ 23. DA-41 Dia-Woman Nauts Set x2 24. DA-52 Versriser-Unit 01 25. DA-55 Versriser-Unit 02 26. DA-60 Versriser-Unit 03 27. DA-62 Mobile Base Dia-Nauts Set x2 28. DA-64 Powered System Maneuver Gamma & Delta Mobile Base Set x2 29. DA-65 Battle Convoy V-Max 30. DA-66 Versriser-Unit 03 ⟨C-Grasper⟩ 31. DA-70 Powered System Maneuver Epsilon & Taurus Mobile Base Set x2 32. DA-71 Trivers Trijeter ⟨D-Caliber⟩ 33. DA-72 Trivers Tridigger ⟨D-Caliber⟩ 34. Diaclone Extra Pod Grander Expansion Unit 35. DA-73 Mobile Base Dia-Naut Set 02 x2 36. DA-74 Trivers Trirambler ⟨D-Caliber⟩ 37. DA-80 Big Powered GV ⟨Verscaliber⟩ 38. DA-81 BPGV ⟨Verscaliber⟩ Expansion Set x2 39. DA-83 Dia-Nauts/Ver. 2.0 Set x2 40. DA-85 Powered Greater 41. DA-88 Powered Greater Armor Strengthening Weapon Set x2 42. Dia-Nauts/Ver. 2.0 Set 2 x2 43. DA-91 Super Heavy Machine ⟨Pod Gantry⟩ 44. DA-92 Powered Convoy (Battle Convoy only) 45. Combat Chronicle Cross Septor x2 46. Combat Chronicle Rapid Loader x2 47. Tactical Mover Tread Versaulter x4 48. Tactical Mover Tactical Carrier x4 49. Tactical Mover Tactical Carrier Expansion Set x4 50. Tactical Mover Tactical Carrier Option Unit Set x4 51. Tactical Mover Tactical Mover Expansion Set x2 (Airborne Unit only) 52. Tactical Mover Argo Versaulter ⟨Voyager Unit⟩ x2 Battalion 2 1. DA-20 Powered System Set E Type x4 2. DA-27 Powered System Maneuver Gamma x4 3. DA-33 Big Powered GV ⟨Destroyer⟩ 4. DA-39 Powered System Maneuver Epsilon x4 5. DA-44 Trivers Shadowdasher 6. DA-45 Dia-Battles V2 Red Lightning 7. DA-46 Trivers Shadowjeter 8. DA-47 Trivers Tridigger 9. DA-48 Cosmo-Battles-02 ⟨Red Lightning Set⟩ 10. DA-54 Trivers Trirambler 11. DA-56 Versriser-Unit 01 ⟨Shadow Caliber⟩ x2 12. DA-79 Battle Convoy V-Shadow 13. DA-88 Powered Greater Armor Strengthening Weapon Set 14. DA-90 Motocruiser/Raidbullet Set x4 15. DA-92 Powered Convoy (Powered Greater ⟨V-Shadow⟩ only) 16. Tactical Mover Gamma Versaulter x4 17. Tactical Mover Gamma Versaulter ⟨Airborne Unit⟩ x2 18. Tactical Mover Tactical Carrier Black x4 19. Tactical Mover Tactical Mover Expansion Set x2 (Chariot Unit only) Battalion 3: 1. DA-06 Dia-Battles V2 Cosmo Maneuver Type x2 2. DA-05 Powered System Set A&B Type Cosmo Marines Ver. x2 3. DA-10 Powered System Set C&D Type Cosmo Marines Ver. x2 4. DA-16 Cosmo Marines Armament Set x2 5. DA-25 Powered System Maneuver Alpha & Beta Set ⟨Maneuver Prototype & Space Marine Corps Ver.⟩ x2 6. DA-30 Powered System Maneuver Gamma & Delta Set ⟨Space Marine Corps Ver. & Aerial Tactical Unit Ver.⟩ x2 7. DA-37 Strike Buffalo ⟨Moon Assaulter⟩ 8. DA-49 Powered System Maneuver Epsilon Cosmo Mariner Ver. x2 9. DA-51 Trivers Tridigger Cosmo Mariner Ver. x2 10. DA-61 Versriser-Unit 02 ⟨Cosmo Mariner Ver.⟩ x2 11. DA-63 Versriser-Unit 02 ⟨V-Mover 02 Set⟩ x2 12. DA-68 Versriser-Unit 03 ⟨V-Mover 03 Set⟩ x2 13. Tactical Mover Tread Versaulter ⟨Chariot Unit⟩ x4 14. Tactical Mover Gamma Versaulter ⟨Airborne Unit⟩ Cosmo Marines Ver. x4 15. Tactical Mover Tread Versaulter ⟨Chariot Unit⟩ Cosmo Marines Ver. x4 16. Tactical Mover Hawk Versaulter ⟨Orbithopter Unit⟩ x2 "Battalion 1" is what I consider the main Diaclone Corps battle group, hence the lion's share of them (though realistically if I ever achieve these I'll probably part out Tactical Carrier expansion sets to the Cosmo Marines and Dia-Nauts sets to the others), "Battalion 2" is comprised of all the primarily black/dark gray mechs, so I imagine this one being more "black ops". "Battalion 3" is essentially Cosmo Marines with a bit of normal Tread Versaulter sprinkled in for flavor. They uh, don't really have much, hence the doubling up. Now I'm imagining a Cosmo Marines GRB...
Lol this takes up quite a bit of room… I don’t think I’ll be able to keep it on the dresser for long…. It just feels like a shame having to keep these locked up in a cabinet downstairs. the gantry makes for such a great display piece.
A couple reports of overly tight ankles which caused breakage. Not sure how common it was as people who have problems are always going to be louder than those without (I’m not saying that there isn’t an issue or that it isn’t serious, just that we don’t know how common it is). mine was fine, but I took it apart and added some shock oil to make it move smoothly. Others might have sanded it a bit. Either way, it was a good idea to check and make sure there was nothing wrong.
I love this. Being sans DA-65, I kinda wish you were my uncle! Also: sorry to be *that* guy, but friendly PSA that swallowing a pair of magnets can be fatal. Of course everyone here knows this, except maybe newcomers. Bikeception Holy cow! I was assembling Powered Convoy when I realized I needed glasses. I bought this Dianaut set first, completely failed to notice the red stipe. Yay! I didn't know I had a commander figure. Thanks for pointing this out We're talking about the long gun w/ Jetter? I didn't notice any bend on my D-Cal if so, FWIW.
See: I deeply respect this answer and the implications. I'm far too accustomed to the status quo from other platforms where 3 reports somehow means "[Company X] has [expletive] quality control!" And other doomsaying. This allows me to not only influence my decision to invest in this kit, but also prepares me for possible issues upon arrival, including the ability to workaround/mitigate the reported issue. Granted, my sole point of reference is a 1-day old DA-65, but comparing this product line to multiple others that I collect, I'm really surprised that this issue exists. For any other New Diaclone Collectors, I definitely feel optimistic about the long-term integrity and durability of the materials and assemblies. There is an unmistakable level of quality control and materials compared to aforementioned product lines. I'm even more optimistic even compared to Takara's own Transformers MP product line which can sometimes feel fragile and delicate in some instances. So much so that I placed domestic orders for multiple kits - pre-order and in-stock - because the initial subjective reception of DA-65 has been so positive. I am in awe of this product line and I hope it will endure for many more years ahead.
As above with the over tight ankles breaking the post. Mine came with it broken, amazon sent a replacement.... Which also had the break. So I've got one with two good feet, and one with no feet that I need to get around to fixing. Also one of mine and someone else had small tracks/treads part missing from one of the armour parts.
Not replying to anyone in particular here. There have been QC issues in this line... that is true. How widespread and how much the sky is falling is up for debating and in the eye's of the beholder. Much like how much any individual figure's price reflects 'what you get'... it's mostly subjective (minus the actual breakages). Ones that come to mind and have been mentioned relatively recently: A) Hip issues with Big Powered DA-14 (possibly others in the same family. a-2) DA-80 VERS Big Powered feet- specifically the attachment points, since they are removable. B) DA-01 Dia Battles had wing/hinge cracking and the molded clips on the bullet fighter were know to break. (Bent antenna syndrome, but that's fixable with heat treatment)\ C) Battle Buffalo DA-29, the ring holds the craws (pod crackers?) has broken on some people, the sliding mechanism on the 02-land unit when sliding around it's L-Bracket has sheared off on some folks. D)Battle Convoy Ankles. Seems to have cropped up the most in DA-92, though I recall someone checked all three molds seem to have some degree of 'screw spin' (?). From personal experience, I haven't had any of their ankles break and I've had them out with moderate play (especially DA-65). ----------------------------------------------------------------- The only 'factory defect' I've had in my personal collection was my Gigantor DA-50 had a slagged/melted peg on one of his ankles (didn't affect anything other than accessory mounting if I felt the need- I don't). My DA-80's Hard Head V-Mover was missing a pin in it's toe... easily fixed with a paper clip and some nippers. My DA-71 Jetter had a noticeable bent cannon... I haven't looked too closely at DA-46 or DA-42. It would be weird if it was a one-off since... I wouldn't expect Takara to have forged new molds... maybe it was cause of degradation by the time they got to 71?
I'm really confused... and need to vent. TF Source (the slowest etailer in US) got the Tactical Carrier Options Unit Sets in before The @Chosen Prime??? What the heck? Still waiting on my 4 prepaid sets to fall into my Stash at TCP, so I can hit ship ASAP... Ugh. I was really looking forward to these, especially to fill the Dion delay void. And still waiting... TCP normally gets all TTM Diaclone shared exclusives (except the really large ones) in less than a week after Japanese release, with the exception of a few larger ones. I submitted a ticket when it was more than a week after Japanese release, and they said running late. (No details as to why they were running late were given, which annoys me.) But, I was polite and patient, but it is now well past the beginning of March, well over a month, and still not in. I'm now worrying about the sets if TF Source has them and if TCP lost or did something else with their stock for preorders. I have already had cancelled preordered items the last few months from US Amazon, Target, and HasbroPulse, so I'm probably more worried than I would normally be... I've submitted a ticket to TCP asking what is going on. I picked TCP because they usually get these fast and I can prepay on their site. (I order regular releases from Amazon Japan as I get those mailed to me in less than a week with basically 1-2 day DHL shipping and can prepay.) Part of my concern is that I believe TCP was the site that sold some Archecore preorder stock out from under some of their online preorder customers at a con, causing the preordering customers to have to wait a good bit longer for their items, but I gave benefit of the doubt after I heard that was a mistake, not a decision for quick cash as originally reported. I hope that didn't happen here or I would have to reconsider my future source for TTM exclusives... <knock on wood> I've had no issue with mine... I have taken no special actions other than let it sit in house for a full day and night to come to room temperature before I played with it. No joints so tight I felt they needed a hair dryer blast, nor floppy bits... There are some QC issues here and there, but considering how many sets I've bought, it has been quite rare. Some of them probably could be placed at the feet of Covid issues with no factory inspections...
BBTS hasn't gotten them in (as of yesterday when I last checked) We're talking the cherry picker and the mount-ables? Or the Trailers? I agree with you... I was kind of hoping the parts options would hold me over for the Month of March... but at the rate it's going... I guess I'll be getting it in April too lol. It was kind of like back when DA-92 and some of the other sets dropped in Japan and the forum was lit up... but it seemed like the majority (?) of us had to wait 2-3 months and then we went though it again.. Nothing wrong with riding the hype train twice... but it feels a bit bad when you don't get the first ride. As is... it might be cheaper (for me in the US) to actually wait for domestic import for the Dion add-ons... since Amazon doesn't hold/bundle for shipping... but I also really don't want to be waiting until Christmas for them either.
I think that's a main part of the intention behind its design. I really regret not getting it because I There are plenty of reports of the ankle issue like others have described. I checked mine and they definitely felt way too tight out of the box. Even disassembling the feet felt unnatural because of how much force I had to exert to remove the shaft from the housing and the shafts showed plenty of the tell-tale stress marks, unlike the other, shorter screw shafts which exhibited what are to my eyes normal wear marks from the screws. Did the proposed sand and lube fix, which caused the ankle up-down rocker to feel slightly too loose to my liking, but the joint shafts no longer feel like they are roughly grinding against the walls of the cylindrical housing they sit in. I also tested fully combining the dude to see if the ankles can still cope with the weight, and they absolutely still do. I was relieved to say the least, lol. Hopefully the Great Robot Base will be relatively free of the gremlins because I'm all in on the big guy and every single one of its add-on kits. And now for some pics!
Convoy-esque Tactical Carrier internal layout: The mount-ables have a few stupid design decisions that make them less versatile than they could have been: - The rear of the container has a small peg sticking out of the surface that is used when attaching a Versaulter to the container. The mount-ables' base plate is shaped is such a way that they cannot clear this peg, making it impossible to place a mount-able at the back of the container. - The pegs on the mount-able baseplates are molded directly to the plate, meaning they cannot be placed anywhere else than a few select configurations in the container or directly on the Tactical Carrier chassis and a specific location in the Tactical Carrier cab. Attaching them in different locations either requires placing them in such a way that only a single peg is used (see below), or (as shown above) using a weapon mount adapter as an intermediary piece. Improvised container vehicle: And yes, everything folds up without moving a single thing: Pseudo-vintage assistance: It doesn't look too out-of-place.
I would also warn anyone who does custom work like I do, IE panel lining specifically, to avoid using Tamiya panel line wash on smaller figures like powersuits. It eats into the plastic to stain the panel lines, and on small figures can actually eat right through a part, which is what happened to my DA 80 headder. One of the front toes broke off because the panel line wash ate through it. I couldn't repair it so broke the other toe off and flip the feet for suit mode. Its of course not a factory issue, it was my fault for not realizing that might happen, but still something people should be aware of. So yeah, if you panel line your figures, use a tiny gundam or other type of marker for small suits ect, just to be safe.
Tamiya panel line wash is essentially lighter fluid + some pigment. When used on surfaces painted with their own paints it will work fine, but when used on bare plastic it will attack the plastic, either crazing it (translucent parts), rendering it brittle (ABS and similar) or otherwise damaging it. Also, don't smoke while using it, unless you fancy setting yourself on fire due to igniting the vapours. Use an alcohol- or water-based marker instead.
