Comments on: Kits: Cougar Type I http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/ New Spirit of Hot Robot Burning Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:43:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tollmaster http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-4606 Tollmaster Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:33:31 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-4606 My sixth grade notebooks were filled to the brim with Battletech designs in the margins, and I always made sure to give them toes. Mecha require a suspension of disbelief but that doesn't mean we shouldn't occasionally factor in real-life limitations, and having flexible feet makes them more possible, or at least, less impossible. That this seems to carry over into toys and model kits helps improve the verisimilitude of seeing toes in games and anime as well, as we have a working model of why it seems to work. My sixth grade notebooks were filled to the brim with Battletech designs in the margins, and I always made sure to give them toes. Mecha require a suspension of disbelief but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t occasionally factor in real-life limitations, and having flexible feet makes them more possible, or at least, less impossible. That this seems to carry over into toys and model kits helps improve the verisimilitude of seeing toes in games and anime as well, as we have a working model of why it seems to work.

]]> By: Prrrowr http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-4605 Prrrowr Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:00:30 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-4605 I really wish mecha designers would give their robots flexing toes that really work. A lot of really cool designs don't have toes and thus do not have that spring in their step to make them nimble (animators just make it seem that way). This Cougar and the rest of its Blast Runner progeny all appear to have flexing toes. But the actual toy itself doesn't have one that moves. Flexing toes will give the toy more ground poseabilty even if it will be more challenging to balance (that's what crotch grabbing stands are for). Look at Bandai's latest RX-78 MG kit, thay decided to put in flexing toe tips to improve its crouching poseability. Other toy makers should follow suit. Border Break should break the usual mold and follow suit with their next production batch. I really wish mecha designers would give their robots flexing toes that really work. A lot of really cool designs don’t have toes and thus do not have that spring in their step to make them nimble (animators just make it seem that way). This Cougar and the rest of its Blast Runner progeny all appear to have flexing toes. But the actual toy itself doesn’t have one that moves. Flexing toes will give the toy more ground poseabilty even if it will be more challenging to balance (that’s what crotch grabbing stands are for). Look at Bandai’s latest RX-78 MG kit, thay decided to put in flexing toe tips to improve its crouching poseability. Other toy makers should follow suit. Border Break should break the usual mold and follow suit with their next production batch.

]]> By: Marc McKenzie http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-966 Marc McKenzie Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:48:06 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-966 Oh wow, thanks for that! I was not familiar with Yanase's work, but now I will definitely check him out. Oh wow, thanks for that! I was not familiar with Yanase’s work, but now I will definitely check him out.

]]> By: Cacophanus http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-879 Cacophanus Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:07:19 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-879 The kit in the review is fully assembled, just not painted (hence the painted pictures below, for comparison purposes). Just thought I'd clear that up. It's a really lovely kit though. The kit in the review is fully assembled, just not painted (hence the painted pictures below, for comparison purposes). Just thought I’d clear that up.

It’s a really lovely kit though.

]]> By: Cacophanus http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-878 Cacophanus Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:05:59 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-878 The anime versions of the mecha were penned by <u><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=38526" rel="nofollow">Takayuki Yanase</a></u>, who also does the designs for Kotobukiya's Frame Arms toys. The anime versions of the mecha were penned by Takayuki Yanase, who also does the designs for Kotobukiya’s Frame Arms toys.

]]> By: Marc McKenzie http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-861 Marc McKenzie Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:00:37 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-861 The Cougar looks very good (even though it hasn't been fully assembled yet). I would definitely compare it to Bandai's Master Grade kits, and it has quite a bit of detailing. I am building it about the same time that I'm finishing up a MG RGM-79C kit, so I can compare both. Loved the Gundam kits from back in the day, but I've also had experience with the old-school Imai and Arii Macross kits. Never touched a Hasegawa kit though. The Cougar looks very good (even though it hasn’t been fully assembled yet). I would definitely compare it to Bandai’s Master Grade kits, and it has quite a bit of detailing. I am building it about the same time that I’m finishing up a MG RGM-79C kit, so I can compare both.

Loved the Gundam kits from back in the day, but I’ve also had experience with the old-school Imai and Arii Macross kits. Never touched a Hasegawa kit though.

]]> By: Persona http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-860 Persona Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:08:08 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-860 True, talking about the movie Transformers mecha design is like inviting people to pick on a crippled child. :/ How are Kotobukiya kits like? The only experience with plamo I've had are simple Gundam models as a kid and the Hasegawa Fei Yen that was a nightmare for an amateur like me. True, talking about the movie Transformers mecha design is like inviting people to pick on a crippled child. :/

How are Kotobukiya kits like? The only experience with plamo I’ve had are simple Gundam models as a kid and the Hasegawa Fei Yen that was a nightmare for an amateur like me.

]]> By: Marc McKenzie http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-854 Marc McKenzie Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:45:07 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-854 Hey Persona...let's not go there...8-). You do have a valid point, but remember that those designs were approved by Hasbro. Also, Michael Bay had a lot of input into the designs, which might explain things. Speaking of Kotobukiya, they have an upcoming kit from the manga/anime of BROKEN BLADE (BREAK BLADE) that looks stunning....wonder if Kotobukiya is moving into territory previously ruled by Bandai's venerable Master Grade series? Hey Persona…let’s not go there…8-).

You do have a valid point, but remember that those designs were approved by Hasbro. Also, Michael Bay had a lot of input into the designs, which might explain things.

Speaking of Kotobukiya, they have an upcoming kit from the manga/anime of BROKEN BLADE (BREAK BLADE) that looks stunning….wonder if Kotobukiya is moving into territory previously ruled by Bandai’s venerable Master Grade series?

]]> By: Persona http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Persona Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:27:05 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-850 Wow, that looks pretty nice even unpainted. I really wish the Transformers movie looked like this rather than the shit they had. Wow, that looks pretty nice even unpainted.

I really wish the Transformers movie looked like this rather than the shit they had.

]]> By: Marc McKenzie http://www.mechadamashii.com/videos/kits-cougar-type-i/comment-page-1/#comment-844 Marc McKenzie Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:25:17 +0000 http://www.mechadamashii.com/?p=2483#comment-844 Excellent review. And it's the truth--I've purchased the Cougar from HLJ and even though I have not built it yet, I've been amazed by the detailing and the quality of the kit. It certainly is comparable to the MG series from Bandai. While I have never played BB, the game has caught my interest with its designs and gameplay. It's certainly a worth successor to VIRTUAL ON. Kotobukiya has done a masterful work with this kit, and hopefully future BB kits will continue the quality work. Excellent review. And it’s the truth–I’ve purchased the Cougar from HLJ and even though I have not built it yet, I’ve been amazed by the detailing and the quality of the kit.

It certainly is comparable to the MG series from Bandai. While I have never played BB, the game has caught my interest with its designs and gameplay. It’s certainly a worth successor to VIRTUAL ON.

Kotobukiya has done a masterful work with this kit, and hopefully future BB kits will continue the quality work.

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