CM's Corp Patlabor
Posted by cohiba
Now that I've had some time to detail up and play with the CM's AVS-98 duo, I thought I'd share some more pix with the 'Labor nuts here :-)
(D)Evolution of a high-spec product. Life imitates art: just as in the anime, CM's AVS-98 Economy and Mk-II Standard are 'cheaper' variants of the original pricey AV-98 Ingram.
All-plastic construction with the best quality to-date for a 'Mecha Action' Patlabor figure. The Peacemaker was iffy on its PVC finishing and the Brocken was downright broken with its terrible joints. I've covered most of the screw holes with colored stickers.
Here's my take on TV episode 31 'Tragedy in the Rain'... Asuma brashly takes the showroom model Economy for a spin on the last day of the Tokyo Labor Show, and found the joints and reaction sluggish compared to the finely tuned Ingrams.
Ohta confronts Asuma over his irresponsible actions. Before they come to blows, Schaft enters the fray.
A container truck comes between the two and out springs the Griffon!
Ohta typically and literally loses his head in seconds even as Asuma charges forward...
(D)Evolution of a high-spec product. Life imitates art: just as in the anime, CM's AVS-98 Economy and Mk-II Standard are 'cheaper' variants of the original pricey AV-98 Ingram.
All-plastic construction with the best quality to-date for a 'Mecha Action' Patlabor figure. The Peacemaker was iffy on its PVC finishing and the Brocken was downright broken with its terrible joints. I've covered most of the screw holes with colored stickers.
Here's my take on TV episode 31 'Tragedy in the Rain'... Asuma brashly takes the showroom model Economy for a spin on the last day of the Tokyo Labor Show, and found the joints and reaction sluggish compared to the finely tuned Ingrams.
Ohta confronts Asuma over his irresponsible actions. Before they come to blows, Schaft enters the fray.
A container truck comes between the two and out springs the Griffon!
Ohta typically and literally loses his head in seconds even as Asuma charges forward...
The Griffon fights with 'life-like' motions and quickly dispatches the underpowered Economy model.
As the Griffon lifts up the pulverised AVS-98, Ohta fires off a salvo of shots in desperation, only to smash into the back of the AVS.
With a mighty throw, the Griffon takes out both labors, leaving a stunned but alive Asuma to retrieve the operating disk and return it to a worried Noa.
Of course, the Griffon flies off in the end leaving the remains of SV2 in the rain.
Next up is TV episode 39 'Mass Production Plans', in which Shinohara Heavy Industries revamped the disastrous AVS-98 Economy into the more powerful AVS-98 Mk-II Standard. One by one, the SV2 pilots - Noa, Ohta and Gomioka (from platoon 1) - put the new Labor thru its paces. As it learns the pilots' movements, the machine becomes more efficient, until SHH manager Jitsuyama declares the Mk-II is ready for a one-on-one fight with its predecessor, the Ingram...
Noa is selected to face off the Mk-II, which is piloted by a factory test pilot. It will be a match of newer technology versus greater experience.
Armed with a staff, the Mk-II is ordered to attack while the Ingram must defend. The Mk-II charges forward in an instant, but Noa is focused and waits for the right moment.
As the Mk-II comes within range, Noa side-steps and trips the new machine, disarming it in the blink of an eye. From the observation deck, Jitsuyama blurts out 'IMPOSSIBLE!'
Noa's Ingram snatches the staff and taps the downed Mk-II in victory. Inside the cockpit the stunned test pilot is fuming mad at his 'failure'.
The Ingram turns away, as if dismissing the threat. The enraged pilot picks the Mk-II up off the floor...
... and makes a cowardly attack from behind!
Without missing a beat, Noa grabs the Mk-II's arms and judo-throws it onto the floor.
Noa finshes the move with an arm lock. Jitsuyama tells his pilot to quit. The Mk-II has been defeated!
Following the fight, Cpt. Nagumo could not accept the Mk-II as an 'upgrade' and poor Platoon 1 had to soldier on with their old Pythons... until the advent of the vastly superior AV-0 Peacemaker. The End.
Noa is selected to face off the Mk-II, which is piloted by a factory test pilot. It will be a match of newer technology versus greater experience.
Armed with a staff, the Mk-II is ordered to attack while the Ingram must defend. The Mk-II charges forward in an instant, but Noa is focused and waits for the right moment.
As the Mk-II comes within range, Noa side-steps and trips the new machine, disarming it in the blink of an eye. From the observation deck, Jitsuyama blurts out 'IMPOSSIBLE!'
Noa's Ingram snatches the staff and taps the downed Mk-II in victory. Inside the cockpit the stunned test pilot is fuming mad at his 'failure'.
The Ingram turns away, as if dismissing the threat. The enraged pilot picks the Mk-II up off the floor...
... and makes a cowardly attack from behind!
Without missing a beat, Noa grabs the Mk-II's arms and judo-throws it onto the floor.
Noa finshes the move with an arm lock. Jitsuyama tells his pilot to quit. The Mk-II has been defeated!
Following the fight, Cpt. Nagumo could not accept the Mk-II as an 'upgrade' and poor Platoon 1 had to soldier on with their old Pythons... until the advent of the vastly superior AV-0 Peacemaker. The End.
It's time to resurrect my favorite thread, because I have pics and a story:
[toyboxdx.com]
It's a Bandai kit, but it'll fit right alongside the CMs stuff.
Introducing Prometheus Rising Studio.
[prometheusrising.net]
I make 3D printed mecha action figures.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2011 10:34PM by Prometheum5.
[toyboxdx.com]
It's a Bandai kit, but it'll fit right alongside the CMs stuff.
Introducing Prometheus Rising Studio.
[prometheusrising.net]
I make 3D printed mecha action figures.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2011 10:34PM by Prometheum5.
Guess who are in da house?
Da Pickles are in da house!
Being freed from the plastic trays:
They have some color differences, and only one joint:
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2011 04:19PM by thomas.
Da Pickles are in da house!
Being freed from the plastic trays:
They have some color differences, and only one joint:
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2011 04:19PM by thomas.
Doesn't the top of this plastic tray look suspiciously like the nuclear symbol? Omnimious, omnimious.
...and so it didn't take long before I discovered Pickle-Kun's real function: a racing horse (3-legged, so eeeeeeVIL) for the Tyrant! Scary.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2011 04:23PM by thomas.
...and so it didn't take long before I discovered Pickle-Kun's real function: a racing horse (3-legged, so eeeeeeVIL) for the Tyrant! Scary.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2011 04:23PM by thomas.
The AVS-98 Standard yet again proves its worth in combat...
Let's fall apart:
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2011 03:48AM by thomas.
Let's fall apart:
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2011 03:48AM by thomas.
Taking out the trashed...
So, my red OVA Brocken is basically a paraplegic with shattered joints INSIDE the cloth shrouds. When you got lemons, make lemonade. :-)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2012 09:50AM by drifand.
Just to add on to the relative (de)merits of the Mecha Action labors: strictly speaking, only the AVS Economy and Mark-II are truly well made. Like Prometheum5 said, these two were metal-free versions of the Brave Gohkin Patlabors. The internal joints and skeletons are sturdy and the body parts are injection molded plastics.
The AV-0 Peacemaker and Brocken were NOT made to the same standard. The AV-0 still had some plastic parts – chest with opening holster, shoulders with clear red patrol lights, forearms with opening baton compartment on the left side, detachable shield held by 2 'internal bolts' corresponding to the molded detail. Hard PVC went to the legs, feet, head, hands, upper arms.
The AV-0 joints are the same troublesome clickity-slotted components as used on the all-PVC Brocken, and just slightly less annoying because they did not break inside the shrouds (so far). However, they DO come loose from their sockets during play and you'd be sweating buckets trying to re-insert them purely by feel.
I remember being distinctly disappointed by the matte PVC finish of the Brockens right out of the box. I was hoping for the shiny finish that came with the AV-0s... that would have mitigated the joint troubles somewhat if I could at least have some labor-showroom worthy eye candy on my shelves. As it is, I'm still amazed that my blue Brocken (decked out as a good guys' GSG-9 labor) is still in one piece.
To end off, here's 2 more shots after I fiddled some more with the display:
The unlikely Trasher...
A different hatch...
Overall, I'm really pleased with what CM's managed to produce, blemishes and all. I've seen customs by a Japanese fan who made his own AV-0 Unit 3 as well as a beige-theme 'production' Mark-II that was seen in the last couple of OVA2 episodes (taken down by AV-0s). Right now I'm gearing up to obtain the W.H.A.M.! Helldiver, scale be damned. I think it'll look great next to my surviving Brocken. :-)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 08:35AM by drifand.
The AV-0 Peacemaker and Brocken were NOT made to the same standard. The AV-0 still had some plastic parts – chest with opening holster, shoulders with clear red patrol lights, forearms with opening baton compartment on the left side, detachable shield held by 2 'internal bolts' corresponding to the molded detail. Hard PVC went to the legs, feet, head, hands, upper arms.
The AV-0 joints are the same troublesome clickity-slotted components as used on the all-PVC Brocken, and just slightly less annoying because they did not break inside the shrouds (so far). However, they DO come loose from their sockets during play and you'd be sweating buckets trying to re-insert them purely by feel.
I remember being distinctly disappointed by the matte PVC finish of the Brockens right out of the box. I was hoping for the shiny finish that came with the AV-0s... that would have mitigated the joint troubles somewhat if I could at least have some labor-showroom worthy eye candy on my shelves. As it is, I'm still amazed that my blue Brocken (decked out as a good guys' GSG-9 labor) is still in one piece.
To end off, here's 2 more shots after I fiddled some more with the display:
The unlikely Trasher...
A different hatch...
Overall, I'm really pleased with what CM's managed to produce, blemishes and all. I've seen customs by a Japanese fan who made his own AV-0 Unit 3 as well as a beige-theme 'production' Mark-II that was seen in the last couple of OVA2 episodes (taken down by AV-0s). Right now I'm gearing up to obtain the W.H.A.M.! Helldiver, scale be damned. I think it'll look great next to my surviving Brocken. :-)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 08:35AM by drifand.
From the available reviews online, my impression is that it is a very nice finished model but lacking in poseability and accessories. For example, the trademark 'left-arm grasping cannon handle' pose is impossible to achieve. And the pre-production photos showed the serrated combat knife (used to great effect against the remotely piloted Brockens) which was omitted in the actual toy... damn shame cheapo.
But mostly, I was just concerned about its relative size to the CM's Ingram et al. Nobody (in the English speaking Internet) seemed to have any side-by-side pix, but I managed to composite one from an owner who shot the Helldiver next to a Griffon, and a Griffon next to an Ingram:
So, while the Helldiver is too big to be shown next to the AV-98 – I believe they were almost the same height 'IRL' – it looks ok next to beefier labors like the Griffon or Brocken.
The W.H.A.M. is probably as good as it gets for fans of the design... alternatives are the scalpers' darling Revoltech edition, or the ol' 1/60 kit. Some Brave Soul™ might try to hack the toy to make it more poseable but I doubt it'll happen.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 09:55PM by drifand.
But mostly, I was just concerned about its relative size to the CM's Ingram et al. Nobody (in the English speaking Internet) seemed to have any side-by-side pix, but I managed to composite one from an owner who shot the Helldiver next to a Griffon, and a Griffon next to an Ingram:
So, while the Helldiver is too big to be shown next to the AV-98 – I believe they were almost the same height 'IRL' – it looks ok next to beefier labors like the Griffon or Brocken.
The W.H.A.M. is probably as good as it gets for fans of the design... alternatives are the scalpers' darling Revoltech edition, or the ol' 1/60 kit. Some Brave Soul™ might try to hack the toy to make it more poseable but I doubt it'll happen.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2012 09:55PM by drifand.
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