I?ve had mine for a bit now so nothing new to report except that like the 2 previous versions, it is still growing on me every day. Being that I still love plenty of the HPP released armors which were all plastic (aside from Hot Rod), I don?t consider myself a diecast snob as there are still a few plastic armors that occupy my top 10 favorites list. On that list was the original Mk. XXI Midas which was easily routed by this new one and even moved up a few spots. It has a different look than the 2 previous (as you know I?m sure) but is much more similar to the Gold Chrome version with its chrome-ish panels (they don?t look electroplated like the MMS 341 and aren?t nearly as shiny/reflective) and fresh of the assembly line look lacking any scuffs/BD. The armors that were perfectly clean in the past always bugged me because I felt even a new one would have some minor scuffing from assembly, basic testing and pilot entry/exit as well as making them look more realistic but the perfection on this figure totally fits and much more so than MMS 341.
There are a couple improvements over the diecast Mk. VII such as the shoulder missile pods mounting and staying in place much better, legs have not just fallen out at the knees from loose fitment (and I have already used Mk. VII pod parts to make a Mk. XXI-ish pod mode) and the chest RT light seems brighter with fantastic details lit up or not. I mostly feel like 90%+ of the stuff that felt loose on the Mk. VII diecast (I have 2 so I had ruled out a defective Mk. VII) have been corrected and tightened even to the detriment of a feature like the flare pods from the hips; they are so tight that I had thought they just removed them. Some issues like the lower wings that detach too easily still persist like the Mk. VII and the thigh missile armor can be knocked off too easily. And while this is a bit less expensive than the Mk. VII I still believe that that the 4 tiny pieces (2 spent thigh missile panels and 2 ejected shoulder missile pod replacement panels should have been in the box. I?m unaware of the price of this beautifully painted Midas is compared to the Mk. VII but aside from those minor 4 panels, it lacks a headsculpt, laser fists, laser beams, front pod section, pod lasers, pod back battery cover, BD chest, BD shoulder pads and pod mode feet.
Anyways, I still like my 2 previous versions but this is easily the best of the 3 and looks such boss even with other badass IM figures.
View attachment 506291