From: nev@whidbey.com   
      
   > I'm pretty sure all the diecast is the same, yes.   
      
       Huh- die-Cast on a Bandai USA megazord...  The last time they did that,   
   as I recal, was on the Turbo Megazord.   
      
   >> --(same) quallity of pieces   
   >   
   > Likely slightly higher on the US version. I've noticed a big tendency   
   > for Bandai America's molds to be more firm/tight in the joins and   
   > general tollerances than the originals. I think it's that they get to   
   > learn the "problem spots" in the first run and adjust the molds. This   
   > doesn't ALWAYS turn out to be a good thing, especialy the tighter   
   > tolerances when meshing with original versions. Example: My Gao   
   > Condor/Condor Wild Zord (US version) fits just fine through the waist   
   > of my Gao Kong/Red Gorilla Wild Zord (JP version) for God Foot, but the   
   > tollerances of those same parts are a little too tight on my Gao   
   > Gorilla/Gorilla Wild Zord (US version), and just pushing it through   
   > once scraped the paint off of the Condor's crest.   
      
       Hmm.  Never thought of that.   
      
   >> --(same) spring-loaded missile on staff; same strength/distance?   
   >   
   > Spring launch is there. Can't say on strength/distance.   
      
       No biggie about the distance; I prefer the overall quallity.  Although,   
   I was very disappointed with the Mega Voyager from "MegaRanger"/"PR in   
   Space" when the spring was actually shrunken because of the toy standards   
   here.  The damn MegaV3 missile couldn't even shoot 3 inches!   
      
   >> --(modified) material of staff   
   >   
   > I THOUGHT so.. However, I noticed that the gold accessories in the Max   
   > Victory Robo Sigma you linked (Thank you a great deal for that, by the   
   > way) have the rubberized plastic "gold" as well.. So the JP version of   
   > Victory Mars may not have had a chrome staff after all.. Hmm.. let me   
   > look it up in the Sentai Robo 2002 book. Wish I'd thought of that   
   > earlier.   
      
       I knew about the gold soft plastic, though how much/less was used, I   
   couldn't tell.   
      
   > Huh.. All four "megazords" for GoGo V DID have soft parts of the "gold"   
   > rubberized stuff Bandai America usually uses. Not a chromed sword or   
   > staff in the lot of them. From the single shot shown in Sentai Robo,   
   > the US version even has all of the right paint apps. (Now, granted,   
   > that is only certain on the paint apps you can see in a 3/4 front view   
   > of the combined toy.. The book only has art for the separated vehicles,   
   > not toy shots.) The US and Japanese versions may have been completely   
   > identicle in this particular year. Suprizing..   
      
       Could you possibly e-mail me those images?  I'm curious.   
      
   >> --(modified) decals   
   >   
   > Yes, the US printing of the decal sheet definately has some slight   
   > differences I can see as compaired to the previously mentioned photo.   
      
       Of course, I'm sure none of those decals had any Japanese script on   
   them, but Bandai decided to modify them anyways...   
      
   > After looking, I can't say for certain. It's still possible they may   
   > have skimped on paint apps you can only see when they're separated (see   
   > the US version of Hurricane Hawk/Hawk Zord from PRNS toys for a great   
   > example of this kind of horror.)   
      
       Oh, that I definetly know about.  I had a guy send me a whole bunch of   
   photos of the Storm Power Megazord so I could compare them with the   
   equivalent Senpuujin.  I was amazed, to say the least.  That was when I   
   decided to get all imports from now on, and I started with getting my own   
   Senpuujin.   
      
   > Thanks for pointing out that one auction, and for the tips on looking.   
   > Unfortunately, at a price of $300, I need to pay off some recent   
   > medical bills before spending that kind of money on a piece for my   
   > collection. (Though I do want that thing badly.. Hmm..)   
      
       No problem.  You're welcome.   
      
       Yeah, all imports are a heavy drain on a wallet.  That's why I wait to   
   see what changes are made for the US markets before I buy them.  If I can   
   get the one with the least modifications, but the most of the original, I go   
   for that one.  But, of course, by then, the originals are out-of-production,   
   and become history...   
       I'm currently waiting on the DX DekaWing Robo to see how it compares   
   with the soon-to-be-released Deluxe Delta Wing Megazord.  However, I'm not   
   even gonna wait for the changes for the new DX MagiKing from "MagiRanger".   
   That thing is too cool!  And I can't wait to see the DX UrKaizer too.   
      
   ---   
      
       I'm also on the lookout for original mint/near-mint versions to finish   
   off my past collections:   
      
   --DX Gouraijin, from "Hurricanger"/PR Ninja Storm   
   --DX Ginga Phoenix or Deluxe Stratoforce Megazord, from "Gingaman"/"PR Lost   
   Galaxy".   
   --DX Gao Hunter or Deluxe Predazord, from "GaoRanger"/"PRWild Force"   
   --Electronic AbaLaser, from "AbaRanger"/"PR Dino Thunder"   
   --Electronic D-Magnum, from "DekaRanger"/"PR S.P.D."   
      
       For the Ginga Phoenix and Gao Hunter, I still need comparisons with   
   their US counterparts before I start looking at price tags.   
       The D-Magnum (twin guns for DekaRed) are missing a holster in the US   
   Delta Blaster version.   
       And I already know what's wrong with the Thundermax Sabers to get the   
   originals.   
      
      
           James Nevermann ][   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)