Cappy

I always figured they had to leave that shoulder notch out for engineering reasons -- the scale being just too small. It is the one thing I missed when the 'Mates got shrunk down to 2".

I'm not sure I understand the difference, any body want to take an action shot?

If you look at a front view of the 3" Minimate in that link to Ivan's Database, you can see the lower arm inserts between a pair of flanges to make the hinge.

Our now-standard 2" 'Mate has a single flange overlapping with another single flange. I do believe that is the difference Customizer is talking about.

Over the years, the 2" body has actually enjoyed a greater range of motion even compared to their 3" predecessors. I agree with Twisted Two-Face; we'd need another point of articulation like a bicep cut in order to be able to hold rifles better.

I have to disagree with you on that, PL. The 3" Minimates have a distinctly wider RoM in the shoulder (they can raise their arms level with their shoudlers) and hips. The only point the little brothers win is in the elbow, 3" 'Mates stopping shy of a 90-degree bend.

There's certainly enough to warrant their own section, which in turn would give them more of a presence. Without a minimate section, the Battle Beasts will get lost in the sea of marvel, batman, avengers, star wars, and spiderman without a kid even noticing them.

I dream that one day 'Mates will all be stocked together in one spot. And that spot being the Lego aisle. I know Minimates aren't really building block toys, but they'd fit right there next to the lines Mega Bloks and K'Nex are kicking out.

So I put together a couple of small Kre-O sets finally, rather than just playing with the minifigs. And I must say, the quality is top-notch, feeling pretty much like Lego. The pieces snap together with no fuss and, unlike some other knock-off brands, stay together.

Now I'll be buying a larger set with a transforming build in it, just to check out that aspect of the engineering.

I suppose I should try snapping them to Lego and see how well they mesh. But overall, no complaints!

They also make a cobblestone pattern. Picked some of this up at Michael's on super sale.

Oh, who hasn't dreamed of a giant gelatinous mass somehow represented in 2" form? Just me?

Wouldn't that be, like, the Jell-o salads we had to eat as kids?

I picked up the second box set and puzzled over a funny little white accessory piece. Then I realized that it's clasped hands for the Beaubier twins! This totally rocks and gets my vote for best accessory!

I've just go to say, the 10th Anniversary exclusive 'Mate rocks. It's nice to have a new logo 'Mate and DST handled the distribution well -- basically, they were available when the doors opened. No obnoxious line clogging the aisles and sucking in clueless passers-by. Just a quiet booth early in the morning and a chance to chat with Chuck.

Chuck and Zach both are great people. They treated me well, offered to cover any needs, even though I don't "know" them as well as some fans here.

The Anniversary Exhibit was a blast. I toured it with a non-Minimate collector friend, so I got to play the guide and whisked her through the way-back machine. I suppose the exhibit was particularly meaningful to me because I've been there, seen those figures, as they were released.

Diamond's presence at the con gets a thumbs up from me.

I think b00sted is the original owner of that Armovor. I know I received mine in the mail yesterday. That Minimate head looks great on the body -- guess I'll finally sit down and figure out a Minimate/Glyos conversion connector.

A basic 'Mate will fit in the pod, that I know. Never tried a fully armored Spartan, though. Hmmm.

[edit] Yep, looks like they do:

Not a lot of room for gear, but you can close the hatch. So I guess the right and proper answer is: the scale is way off, but Minimate Spartans will fit in the MegaBloks drop pods.

To me, a "blank" is any basic Minimate with no details, tampos, or other markings. All the production ones are a single color, that color can be the raw plastic or paint. Right now, I've pulled the 'Mate out MODOK and he's standing on my desk as an orange and metallic purple blank (the mixed color scheme probably doesn't count for blank purists).

A "logo 'Mate" is a blank with the only addition of markings on the chest and sometimes the back. Generally, these markings are the commercial logo of some company or organization.

Trademark, copyright, and production run info printed on the butt and thighs is ignored in these definitions.

Is that manic enough for you?

Oh cool, I'm glad Corner Store Comics scored some.

I currently possess the red Agent 88 blank and I must say: I like him. The red is deeper, richer than previous logo 'Mates.

ALTHOUGH -- and this is important to customizers -- he's a painted 'Mate. Any one (like me) who thought they might pick up extra ones, remove the "88" tampo and have a blank -- it's not going to work. Unless some one can tell me how to remove a tampo without hurting the paint job underneath.

Er, yep, that makes sense. (Are my logo-centric Miniverse ethics showing? )

Thats good to know Lobsterman. I may pick up a few afterall. There are a couple that I really like.

Knowing what I do know of you, Shanester, I'm surprised you don't already have some of these. I own nearly all of them and heartily recommend the series. No need to get into the many variants, just stick with painted Infinity editions.

The scream 70's science fiction, the designs are quite imaginative and you can snap 'em apart and reconfigure them (this is where the addiction starts for me). Check out the last gallery pics here: http://www.itsalltrue.net/?p=16781&page=2

They have a joint system compatible with Onell's Glyos system, which opens up a universe of character building. http://www.glyos.com

Say there, kind and benevolent mods, might we move this thread to the Blanks and Others forum? I know I have at least one actual Agent 88 Minimate in hand, and more on order!

And... got a set. Yippeee!

Sounds awesome Luke. Too bad you don't have any pictures of what the no-logo ones will look like.

Ummm... probably just like the picture above, but without the big "88" on each chest. Just guessing. :tongue:

You can only select one pledge per account. Gotta use other email addresses to get more stuff (or even multiples of a single reward).

[edit] ummm.. what Luke said.

You're doing something right when I cringe with sympathetic pain at the pounding a 2" piece of featureless plastic was taking.

Wow. I occasionally have checked Craig's List for 'Mates, never any luck. Nice score, Shane!

Are you kidding me?!? They couldn't paint She-Hulk's "shoulders" green? That's not a QC issue, that's just plain cheap-ass production. Urg.

Geez -- nothing like a ram butting your crotch to take you down. Was tossing Red off the edge of the world really necessary? :o

And Dinobot, great work. It was like watching a short in the theater after the credit roll. heh

Nice. I'll have to start haunting the Super Hero Squad aisles again.

So b00sted posted a pic of this stuff that he had in hand (in another thread). Where are these being sold?

So... are the Ninja 'Mates different from the retailer-exclusive option that Luke has backed? I thought Digger was referring to the logo 'Mates as the Ninja 88s. Am I wrong?