yeah, yeah I know, useless without pics - but I'm at work and can't contain my excitement before the drudgery of today, will take pics at home.

Dataframe
- Nice reuse of parts. He still suffers from the diaper crotch syndrome, but he "borrows" his hand molds from Spirit and the two "tracker fingers" work very well to simulate "typing at a keyboard" (to some extent) which I think is very appropriate for him. He's issued with a recoloured version of Dial-Tone's gun, a modified version of his computer case similar to the Tele Viper's in the Arctic set, complete with leg stands, a knife...and not much else, oh yeah cardboard cut-outs of a floppy disk and a 3 1/4 disk - retro baby!

Would have liked to see a modified version of his original backpack. I think the helmet sculpt is nice - but his facial expression is way off. I picture Mainframe a bit younger, almost like Face from the A-Team.

Rating: trade fodder for me, 3/5



Beachhead
- I really wasn't going to like him, I mean his 25th v1 was pure perfection, but if you're looking for an exact update to his ARAH v1 toy, then look no further. He's got the right flak jacket, his canteen/EOD case/saddlebag(?) thingie, grey version of his iconic weapon - again the only thing he's missing is his backpack which was a quick fix by giving him one from his 25th v1 figure. The colours are much more vibrant, the camo on his pants pop out more than in his previously faded incarnation, and the Ranger 75 badge is much clearer on his upper left arm.

I'll be honest, his 25th v1 headsculpt was perfect, the mean look in his eyes really personified the character. This version has "softer" eyes and it took a while for me to get sold on it. The balaclava is intricately sculpted, different from the first - it will grow on you. He comes with an interchangeable head too for an unmasked version; it's not exactly how I pictured Beachhead but it's a nice addition, it also has a removable scarf similar to Major Bludd's in the Desert pack or Overkill from VvV but in the new Beachhead green/teal colour.

Rating: He's replaced by 25th v1 Beachhead as the defacto Beachhead in my collection - 5/5





Wild Bill
- THIS is the figure I was waiting for from this wave, yes everyone likes the original Wild Bill because he was in army green and realistic, but I find it's rather drab looking at a shelf of joes and seeing all shades of green with the odd red (BBQ & Flash) thrown in - it's just not my thing. I like to see some colour (not neon, but colour), and nothing is more iconic than Wild Bill's cartoon/comic colours! I love these shades of blue, his yellow jacket pops out at you and the cowboy hat tops it off as the perfect-looking Wild Bill; very asthetically pleasing.

There was a problem though, out of the package his left leg was shorter than his right one on mine!!! I spent much of last night shaving off and sanding down the bottom of his right shoe just so he'd look "normal". It was dis-heartening considering my customizing skills are next to ziltch, but I think it worked out and I won't have to buy another Wild Bill. His pilot helmet is soft plastic and fits him very well - much like his SRO wave 2 version. I replaced his revolvers with some real guns - didn't like the white stock/black handle look even though I know it's accurate.

Rating: My defacto Wild Bill - can't go wrong here, 4/5 for his freakishly long right leg





Scrap Iron
- Another bonus, the Arctic Scrappy looked good - but most everyone was looking out for a version with his original colours. His head sculpt is wonderful, visor pops off to reveal one-eyed Jack ~ if his name was Jack, lots of scars on his face which is a mini tribute to the scar on his '84 toy. I'd have liked the cobra logo on his helmet to be a bit more detailed but overall everything works.

Well almost everything. I know one of the hallmarks of the 25th line is the removable webbing, and his flak jacket while very accurate in look, makes him look fat too. Same Cobra Trooper legs, diaper crotch and all - so range of motion in the legs are disappointing, and my Scrap Iron's ankles were pretty loose out of the box - how do you fix that? His anti-tank missles can now be worn as a backpack and I didn't figure that out until I read the accompanying comic book. The peg is too long on mine and therefore it's a little loose, but that's nothing than can't be fixed.

Rating: 4/5, it's not like we're going to get a single carded version of this guy - so if you need a Scrap Iron in v1 colours to add to your Cobra hiearchy then now is a good a time as any to get him





Hard Master vs Padawan Snake Eyes
- no comment, didn't get this pack - all I would have been after was the sword rack diorama piece. I've got no interest in these two and can't justify spending the doe for the rack.

_________________

But the Comic Pack Scrap Iron uses the Viper torso and crotch... so there shouldn't be diaper crotch issues.

Is there a variation here, or are you thinking of the arctic body design?

Interesting, mine has a diaper crotch - he's not sitting naturally. I'll take pics tonight.

_________________

Hey, did your Scrap Iron come with a knife for his leg holster? Mine was missing.

Nice tip about his launcher being a backpack. That's a cool homage to how he wore it in the original Marvel comic, even though the original figure didn't have that feature.

That's too bad about Wild Bill's uneven legs. I've noticed some pretty crazy warping on some of the posed figures from the comic packs lately.

_________________

Nope he comes without, fortunately I had an extra knife to sheath so he looks more complete.



And I wouldn't have thought two-shakes about it if I didn't bother to skim through the accompanying comic book. It's a nice unmentioned play feature much like the Trouble Bubble's exhausts also doubling as a backpack for the Tele Viper



Warping I can deal with (boil and re-bend) but he was literally a shoe-heel-size shorter in one leg! Maybe there wasn't enough plastic to build up his knee section *shrug* but it was very noticeable out of the package.

_________________

add pics - enjoy

_________________

The scrap iron crotch looks like the "non diaper" version, maybe the legs just sit weird in the sockets?

Also, looks like your wild bill's left knee joint might not be a perfect fit in the figure judging by the pics. but do the joints line up evenly from the top of the thighs down when it has its legs straightened out?

_________________

Oh yeah I forgot to mention, the longer right leg wasn't the only problem there. He had a loose left knee - so that slight crease you see there is me opening him up and applying a little bit of crazy glue to the joint. After the glue dried and I reassembled, the crease appeared :/ told you I wasn't ace at customizing lol.

Well Scrap Iron definitely sits weird, something I tried to capture in the second pic. It's an okay figure for what we got, it's not like his character is in the calibre of a Destro or Snake Eyes, so I highly doubt we'll see him again. For what we got this time around, he's decent at best.

_________________

thanks for the pics. I really like mainframe and beach head, not liking his unmasked head though. Scrap iron is nice too. Bill is alright.

Man, Scrap Iron rocks! I'm loving the route they took with the face design. It just gives the figure so much character. I'm loving that the launcher mounts on his back too.

Did your Scrap Iron come with a knife for his leg straps? Mine didn't. And the comic cover prominently shows his leg straps to be empty as well so I figured he was just like the HISS Trooper & DDP Storm Shadow.

- JM

_________________

This Snake Eyes' knife works great in Scrap Iron's empty sheath...
http://www.yojoe.com/action/05/snakeeyes23.shtml