Stampeed Valkyrie

Anyone plan on hitting this up?

Last years had a surprising amount of Macross Content,  hopefully this year has some excitement as well.

And it arrives.

KC GOF Purple Variant.   

I actually like this Purple schema more then I do the Red.     Basic box with trays mounted on this inside,  did a quick once over and not seeing any "errors".

I would say if mine arrived,  others should be in short order.

So what's the current going rate for a  Bandai 1/72 Hikaru TV 1J HCM with box.   Appears to be in Good to Very Good condition.       I know these were up there a few years back,  just curious if these cooled off at all.

I can safely pass on this one.

I personally would wait until we see some production photos before I pass judgement,  but these early photos are not promising.      

This goes double considering the general lack of Southern Cross merch out there.

I forgot to mention this one..

Otonari ni Ginga..   A few people referred this series to me and I figured I would give it a shot.     Only a few eps in and it appears to be an easy watch style anime.   If you liked Tonikaku you probably will enjoy this.

Well more then halfway through the spring Anime Season...   I am trying to keep up and I paired down my watchlist.

Tonikaku Kawaii Season 2,  I really enjoyed the first season,  and I am continuing to enjoy this season.   

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo!..  I am a few episodes behind on this series,   While I am not disliking this series,  I don't quite think it has the spark that the full cast brings to Konosuba.     I don't think Megumin is MC material hopefully this gets better.

Mahou Tsukai no Yome Season 2..    This is another series that I really enjoyed,  not sure where this season is going and at this point almost seems like they don't have any direction currently.

Yuusha ga Shinda!..   Probably my vote for AOTY...  lol   The only series this season which has consistently made me laugh out loud.   Its stupid funny with a good helping of Ecchi.

Megami no Cafe Terrace..  This one has a very Love Hina vibe to it.    I am enjoying this one along the same lines of Yuusha ga Shinda as an easy watch with a good dose of humor.

Looks like KC is starting to ship the Purple "God of Flame" variant.   

Just got an email stating that its on its way. 

1 hour ago, jvmacross said:

You'll now need to wait until the SD God of Fire gets released!

At this point,  I'll take it.

12 hours ago, TheLoneWolf said:

I dunno, their notorious quality control shows saving money is a priority.

While I understand people making these comments,  I think its remiss to not point out the elephant in the room.   Bandai?    Anyone?  Bandai?

I will admit with MYs departure from KC their responses have been lacking,  but they are still making good on issues if you contact KC customer service.

Compare that to Bandai..  where you have an issue and Good Luck!    Hopefully a vendor that will offer support or MW,  or nothing.

And I'll take this moment to gripe about KC..  where is my SD GBP 1J!!!   

I leave the civilized world for 1 weekend and this drops... FML.

It's purple so the Mrs should be cool with it.

As for the other figure.. meh looks good but getting 1 figure of each character will do for me in this line.

Sloooooow on my part,  but not in any hurry either.

I got the new Control Panel in..  its pre drilled for SF2 setup,   but this works for me,   just need to decide where I want to place the 2 buttons for each player.   My only complaint is that it had a fairly large paint knick on the underside visible from the outside but near the coin door.    I probably would have made a big deal out of it,  if it was in a more obvious location,  however I used a paint pen for touch up and it looks like its passable.

I have been chasing a phantom issue with the coin acceptors,  the right one works 100% everytime,  and the left one now takes coins,  but does not register a credit.   Been at it with a meter and everything is testing out..  its wierd.

Have you opened them up and made sure everything is good?    KC customer service has definitely taken a hit with MY moving on.

However they have responded to the requests I placed just delayed.

On 4/1/2023 at 6:56 PM, Hiriyu said:

Cheers, Stampeed Valkyrie. I'm very enthused to get to follow along with your project! The Dynamo cab is really a great basis for it. Please keep the updates coming.

On the control panel, I don't think the swiss cheese factor is all that bad - the buttons don't need a ton more local support than a plexi overlay will provide on it's own, and it looks like you've still got some metal under them. I like your idea to shift the controls over to the right a bit and to tighten up the button spacing. I'd see how much panel flex you get with the sticks mounted where you've projected them in those large openings - I'll bet it works out fine with the existing panel.

Aero Fighters is a fun shmup in it's own right, have you tried running that pcb too?

I went to media blast the control panel and my compressor took a dump, got about halfway done with it..    So add another to this project.. lol.

As for Aero Fighters..  I was more familiar with the Japanese version which I think was called Sonic Wings.    It had several endings and changes to levels.     Aero Fighters seemed to have removed quite abit of content.

Fun Facts about Aero Fighters..  8 characters can be chosen with each having their own story lines and endings.     There only appears to be 1 final Boss.. a Space Monkey as opposed to 3 possible final bosses depending on who you chose and how well you did.    

8 levels total with the first 4 being randomly chosen each play through. 

So doing some messing around with my MS Paint Skillz..

I found a way I could save this..  on the fence about it.    P1 has pretty much ALL the room,  and P2 feels like its hanging off the right side..    Max Deserves better if you ask me..   X marking joystick positions.    

@Shawn  Jeesh... no pressure or anything... lol      I do like the Banpresto Vintage artwork,  I'd like to try and find a cleaned up scan of that,  maybe use it for artwork on the sides of the monitor bezel.      I did get pretty good scans of the english instruction cards thanks to items Yotsuya posted.

@Hiriyu Yeah I have been trying to reach out to him to see if he has any of the art he used.    I am not looking to replicate exactly what he did,   I have some ideas but right now I am focusing on the Marquee,  control panel art and monitor bezel.     Side panel art will involve ALOT more work and how far down the proverbial rabbit hole does one go?

With that said.. I tore the control panel apart, since button configuration was really getting to me..   and I found Swiss Cheese..

This drove home the past lives of this cab..   This next picture is showing the Plexi overlay with button placement.    

You can see how some buttons are completely unsupported.     Not 100% on if I am going to try and save this.     Or just order a replacement.. 

I have the Macross PCB installed,  and have some video on FB  game does play but needed to be tweaked abit wit some dip switch settings.

Joysticks appear to be solid,  buttons are sticky as to be expected and I have replacements coming in short order.  

I am going to try and save as much of the original Aero Fighters Art as I can,   the Marquee is a lost cause,  vinyl is old and cracked,  however bezel cards are faded but in good shape overall.  

Next is what to do about Art for the Macross conversion.     I'd like to start with the Marquee so I can close that up,   I have seen Fabtek's art and I am very meh about it.

I figured someone else has done this already and may have some art or a good source scan for a marquee.      Then next is the monitor Bezel,   I was able to locate some english instruction cards that I may put here,  but I am wondering if maybe some additional art would look nice.

Lastly is the control panel.     No idea.    I could even really go down the rabbit hole and do some side art.

Next some shots of the innards pre cleanup.

Control Panel,   not sure if I am going to keep the original,  as hole placement needs to be addressed.    At best I will need to strip and powder coat the metal backer and template.

Then the other areas worth noting..

Aero Fighters PCB..  needs a cleanup pretty dusty.

Powersupply,   I think this is original.   I hit outputs with a meter and its still running within spec.. so it stays.  

I am curious what the transformer is doing,  not sure if the monitor needs it or if its for the Marquee..   anyone have any ideas?

And lastly monitor controls..

I had to make some minor adjustments to get the monitor to work properly,  but it appears to be pretty solid.     A cap kit might be needed down the road but right now its acceptable AS-IS.

I am finally getting off my arse and putting my Macross PCB into something other then the cardboard storage box that has been its home for 20+ years.

I got the PCB from here of all places back in 2001-2002ish and other then every now and then taking it out,  plugging in a JAMMA adapter to a TV and having a go at it that was it.

A visit to a fellow MWers residence to pickup unrelated items and he had a dedicated cab for this.. and it lit the fire.

My original plan was to convert an Arcade 1up cab into a Macross theme'd cab using emulation,  after some research and some discussions with others the overall cost would have put me very close to just actually doing an Arcade cab...  so..

Arcade prices going bonkers I figured its probably now or never before a cab I can use becomes unobtanium for a reasonable price.

Starting point..

I located an "Aero Fighters" in a fairly good overall condition Dynamo HS-5 cab locally.    Not perfect but a very good starting point.

Other then being REALLY DIRTY,  my biggest gripe is button placement which will eventually be corrected.

Started with the monitor and glass bezel and the amount of greenish yellow whatever that was came off in droves,   smoke residue?

Then out came the shop vac and cleanup began on old spider webs and other critters of its past life.      I got lucky and found a Dynamo registration card and the Aero Fighter Instruction manual.

This came in along with my FP set that was for my VF-1S TV Rick.

I'll take it out at some point,  initial overall impressions are not bad I do wanna see more SDFM figures get released.

Located.. kill it with Fire!

Side note anyone have any scans of the placards or playcards?   Marquee?   

Thanks,

Rob

3 hours ago, Scyla said:

I've only seen season 1. I would describe it as cute but inoffensive with a terribly convenient plot. But it is good fun if you like a lighter watch (at least season 1).

Yeah I'd 2nd this.    I haven't finished S1 started watching to prepare for S2 and I kinda just gave up on it.    It wasn't strong enough to keep my interest,  not that I probably wont go back and finish it.. but very meh.

Just did a binge of DanMachi S4 and wrapped it up.

Probably one of the better seasons for this series,  possibly even the best one yet.

Long shot,  I have a buddy looking for the SDF Macross PCB from Banpresto.   

PM if you have a lead on one or have one for sale.

Thanks,

Rob

I took a step back mostly because I was and still am utterly disgusted with how they f'd up Utawarerumono.

But with that said..  we just finished a viewing of the original Armitage III ovas.    I dug out the PolyMatrix movie and probably will screen that next.

As for this season..

Tomo-chan was my real interest.   The anime is funny and the manga is even better.

Danmachi 2nd part of S4 I am playing catch up with.  Looks good so far.

Angel Next door is pretty amusing.

S2 of the vampire dies in no time..   its stupid.    But pretty funny.

And yet another loss to the anime community...

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-09/code-geass-gaogaigar-character-designer-takahiro-kimura-passes-away/.195750

I was introduced to his artwork with the Viper Series PC games 😝

He was credited in many works.. including Macross Plus.

Also worked with Clamp and produced some excellent artwork and animation.

Sad day indeed.

RIP