Random Thoughts Part 101

So, I've been in a bit of a malaise/tailspin since my wife informed me that we were having a fourth child.  Sure, I'm still excited, but I'm also a bit freaked out.  My mind has been working overtime planning and stressing at the same time.  I was planning on getting a new car anyway this year, but now I've had to switch gears to looking at vehicles that will hold my entire brood.  I've spent the past 2 years comparing and debating cars, and now that I need something bigger, I'm forced into a smaller window of time to choose.  I work at a very slow pace when it comes to cars.  Luckily, I think that we can cram another kid into the house, which puts off the need for a larger house.  For now.

BBTS.com

Because I've been so stressed, I actually haven't given too much thought to Transformers.  The blog has been on autopilot, and I've been slow replying to comments and commenting on all of the great blogs that have posted new content over the past few weeks.  Sorry.  As a matter of fact, I currently have 5 figures that I recently purchased that I haven't even opened yet - YOTH Optimus Prime, Generations Scoop, Minicon Assault Team, and Armada Starscream.  It would've been 6, but I gave Skywarp to my son as soon as the package from BBTS arrived.  Yeah, I had no need for him, but I wanted everyone else and my recent experiences led me to just order the entire wave from BBTS.

Speaking of bad experiences, I've given up on finding Generations Skids at the brick and mortar retail level.  I've done so much research on this shortage problem that I feel like I'm trying to break Watergate.  I even went up the chain of my company and had the main office looking into why I can't a freaking case of Transformers delivered to my store.  The long and short of it is that there are system issues where the system is saying we have them, but they haven't actually arrived at the warehouse yet.  And if you don't order at the exact time, you're just out of luck.  It's something that's happening with multiple items throughout the store, so that sucks.  Apparently, Hasbro also experienced problems with this wave as well, because BBTS has stated that they've only gotten 20% of their shipment from Hasbro.  The entire hunt for Skids has left a bad taste in my mouth and reminded me of the bad days of the 1990's - running from one store to the next, trying to find the shortpacked McFarlane toy, or variant costumed Toy Biz figure.  I remember having to cajole store employees about figures because they were hiding them for themselves.  Thank goodness for online ordering nowadays - I finally broke down and preordered him from Toywiz.  I paid more than I wanted, but it was still cheaper than getting him from eBay.

Anyone know where to find plans for a DIY glass cabinet?  I'm thinking about building my own, completely out of of glass and without any wood or anything like that.  I have some ideas, but I'm not sure.  Then again, I need to find the time. 

Here's some quick thoughts on Hasbro's Toy Fair stuff:

WHAT?!

Uh, the Age of Extinction figures are, yeah.  Wow.  I kind of didn't mind Grimlock's robot mode, but the more I look at it and the entire line, the more inclined I am to do what I do with every movie figure that I've ever seen - just leave it on the peg.

Gears!

Gears!  I'm still waiting for Swerve, Cosmos and Tailgate to get released first, but so far, I'm pumped.

Ugh

So Nightbeat is horrible.  I don't know what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting a rehash of the pretty bland Bumblebee mold.  Colors are nice.

I was never that big a RiD fan, but I do have the Optimus and Magnus figures.  I'm still reserving judgement until I can see more pics, but I'm actually liking Sky-Byte so far.  I probably won't get him, but I still like the way he looks.

Not really sure what to make of Jhiaxus.  I was actually thinking that he'd be hunched over more.

Roadbuster!  He looks very G1-esque.  His feet look a little tiny, but I think he'll be pretty cool.  Look at all of those weapons!  And I bet he'll have decals.

Leader class Jetfire!  This came from out of nowhere.  While I'm a big fan of the original Classics Jetfire, this guy looks so radical.  The torso is straight "Fire in the Sky" Skyfire.  He will be mine, oh yes, he will be mine, as Wayne Campbell would say.  Finally, that brings us to the big reveal:

Windblade.  The jet mode is pretty awesome.  I love VTOL jets, and getting another one is always welcome.  The colors are reminiscent of Thrust.  Gotta love that.

Then we have to robot mode.  Look, I'm not gonna rip into this figure because it's a female figure.  I could care less about that.  A good figure is a good figure.  My main concern is the head sculpt.  What is she supposed to be, a kabuki fighter?  Shi if she was a robot?  The head sculpt is just odd.

During one of my 40 minute commutes from work, I had a very disturbing thought.  I started to wonder where the Masterpiece line would end, and I got very concerned about Shockwave.  Was he released in Japan?  I know that he wasn't created by Takara, so I wasn't sure if he'd be an entry into the line.  Should I break down and get Quakwave?  I literally pulled off to the side of the road to look up on TFWiki if Shockers had a Japanese release.  Thankfully, he did, D-49, to be exact.  That was a load off my mind.