Posted August 9, 200618 yr This is my first review, so please be gentle with me ;-) Also, as I write this, it's 1.26am :'-( The pics are on my Yahoo photo space, so I shall link to them. I took them on my Sony Ericsson Wi800, and the lighting in this room isn't great. I didn't resize them, as I thought the extra detail would help under those circumstances. The Exo-Force Minifigs Exo-Force We have (from left to right) Keiken, Hikaru, Takeshi, Ryu and Ha-Ya-To. Keiken is the only new minifig here, and is my favourite of the team. I have nothing against the anime hair, but it's nice to have some that would not look out of place in my City layout. The addition of a walking stick is nice, though I like to think he is a bit more nimble on his feet that appearances show... The Robots The Robots Meca-One is a nice looking robot, with the extra paint aps to befit the Robot leader. The two Iron Drones come with the its-not-really-a-camera gun accessory. Though the robots do not have much in the way of articulation, I do like to see a nice big group of them - they do look very menacing. Spider-Robot The Spider-type Devastator is my favourite piece in the whole set. I've always thought there is nothing more scary than a multi-legged monster! And one with a big gun to boot! The use of harpoons as it's legs is a good move, and looks better than the spider-droid from Jabba's Palace, who used swords. Ha-Ya-To's Machine Machine Not sure what the name for this 'thing' is. It's a bizarre little contraption, which defies the laws of physics. What does he do, flap his arms really fast? Could have done with a bit more mass to it, I think. Silent Strike Silent Strike The 'meat' of the set. This is a very nice mech. I prefer this, and Supernova, to the first two mechs, as the addition of hands makes all the difference. Not quite as bulky as Supernova, still a good design with a fantastic sword. I do have one gripe though... Side Profile It is VERY thin. Not too much of a problem, as I tend to display from front anyway. Meca-One's Mech This has a very interesting design, unlike any of the Mechs that preceeded it. Unfortunately, I found it to be rather hit-and-miss. I did like the swiveling torso, but the arm/shoulder apparatus was too loose to really pose. Maca-One's Mech (1) Meca-One's Mech (2) Also, I'm not a big fan of firing launchers. I'm sure kids will love it, but I just find the over-sized weapon to look out of place. Sentai Fortress Front View Top View The main part of the set - the fortress itself. First of all, it's BIG. By far the largest set (in amount of space needed to display) that I have. Though 'fortress' probably makes it sound more grand than it actually is - it is more of a large wall with features built onto it, which I shall go into more detail later. The main gate is not bad, certainly big enough to accomodate the Mechs. I found the bolt to keep the gate shut very basic, with it just sliding completely out. This willprobably be something I will modify, so it stays attached to the gate. The two towers look pretty good, but seem very exposed. Moving onto the inside... Repair Bay The repair bay is nice - all decked out with various tools, and split level to allow acess to the Mech being worked on. For some strange reason, it has to revolving sign posts in front - not quite sure what that is all about. The crane, which can move along the rop 'rail' is a nice touch. Control Tower The control tower has a couple of twin-cannons that look like they mean business! The 'pod' can rotate, though it has no vertical movement. Lower Room The roo underneath has a few weapons, and not much else! Medical Bay The second tower is the medical bay, with light-up scanner, ans elevating bed/chair. Now I shall move onto the four rail-cars. Each can move along the top of the wall section it is housed on, like a mini-monorail. Cannon The cannon is not too bad. As you can see from photo, the weappn handle is a little low, but this is something that can easily be modded. Cargo Transporter This mini transporter carries weapont to the repair area. Launcher Another disc launcher. Again, the over-sized weapon makes it look a bit out of place. Crew Transporter A little car to get crew around. The usefullness of the mini-carriers is limited by the fact they can only travel on the small sections between towers. Final pic - Silent Strike in repair bay. Looks pretty neat? To sum uo, a nice set. Took me about 9 hours to build, but that includes breaks and dinner! I put stickers on as I went slong, so didn't seem too bad despite the number.If I was ever to see one in a sale, I'd pick it up to increase the wall size.
August 9, 200618 yr thats an excellent pic review ultraprime however i still dont like the set. It seems all the latest reviews are warning me about sets rather than influencing me to mgo out and buy them. TO tell you the truth i wouldnt even buy this set if it was free *exageration*. However it looks like it uses some pretty cool concepts like the mini monorail system and the repair bay, my only beef again is with juniorization and bley, blah! :-X
August 9, 200618 yr Well,Ha-Ya-To does not flap his arms to fly.It has jets inside the wings,and inside the legs.And he controls this glidersuit with controls in pods attached to the suit's limbs.Look at the Sentai HQ box-comic if you're confuzzled. Also,i believe the name for this glidersuit is Stealth Scout. Anyway,great review.I really want the fortress...but i don't have enough money and room.My room is tiny...
August 9, 200618 yr Author Well,Ha-Ya-To does not flap his arms to fly.It has jets inside the wings,and inside the legs.And he controls this glidersuit with controls in pods attached to the suit's limbs.Look at the Sentai HQ box-comic if you're confuzzled. I was joking ;-)
August 9, 200618 yr hmmh Thanks for the info after seeing it I'm not interested, not for that price. It just seems too empty, none of the features are really impressive, and the walls are kinda thin. No actual buildings either... just those open towers a small building or two, maybe a barracks with pilot's quarters would really add to it.... aside from that the fort design is pretty archaic... that design went out of style with the advent of cannons in warfare... just too easy to knock out the walls if you really want to be a realistic fortress some squat buildings with sloping walls and underground areas would be better... they are on a mountain after all...
August 17, 200618 yr Unlike the official Lego pics of it, your review has straight-on shots of the base, as if you were driving up the road to it. I didn't think it was all that until I saw the front of the base fully built. And now that I have... can you say Castle? No, Technocastle. I usually never build the intended product, using the parts for mocing... but I could see myself building this, as a template on how to make a mammoth-sized version.
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