blacklotus

I can't tell but it looks a bit raised like water decal without excess edge.

The VT-1 is production toy, as you can see the sprue marks cut on the fast packs, but nobody is sure about the tempo printing, kinda vague.

One thing I must say is the Vt-1 and VE-1 are awesome in V2 form. I have ordered 2 of each.

Pre-ordered my VT1 and VE1 as well. Gonna burn a hole in my wallet for the next few months though...

1)VT1

2)VE1

3)LV VF1S

5)Max 1D + 1J

4)Macross Quarter

+ side orders like the Bandai armored Ozma VF25S that I bought after Graham's positive review.

A Thousand Thanks, Graham. You just made me poorer by US$200.

I ordered mine after reading your reviews. Didn't pre-ordered as I was afraid of loose armor falling all over the place.

the vf-1 is significantly smaller than an f-14.

Huh? I thought they're about the same size, VF1 being a little shorter as it doesn't have turbine engines. I guess I mixed up with the VF0.

Definitely not as small as a F16 compared to a F15 right? The F16 is absolutely petite when placed side by side with the Eagle.

I pre-ordered from HLJ in March and I've not heard from them either. Have to admit, I'm getting kinda antsy about it...

Japan's celebrating Bon Holidays from 12 to 16 Aug 2009. So you won't hear from sites based in Japan for a while as they're all on a long, well-deserved holiday.

Zoomed in, those markings appear to be waterslide decals...

Are these final mass production models or are these just prototypes? Because if they're just prototypes, I won't trust the tampos and decals to be present in the final product. Probably more stickers for us instead.

that's not the box, it's a poster talking about the toy.

seriously, Graham NEEDS to ask Yamato about the hands. pacifically, Will there be a way to use existing hands with the new armor?

Yeah. Please request Graham to ask Yamato about this. I definitely prefer the mecha hands. I guess I'll wait till the GBP sells in a separate package. I want to use it with my pre-ordered Roy's LV 1S. Maybe Yamato will release them later in an alternate colour scheme, preferably something stealthy.

Maybe Yamato will decide to do a limited Minmay guard scheme too. One can dream.

I can't even fathom what 1/32 scale would be like, but I know it would be larger than 1/48. Just as long as it's a magnified mold of the new 1/60 scale with the same tightness and poseability I'm all for bigger. And what EXO said...tampo everything and completely do away with a sticker sheet! I can only imagine what a big gargantuan Valk would look like next to that new huge SDF-1 coming!

a 1/32 scale VF1 would be similar to a Tamiya's 1/32 F14 in size (since the VF1 is modelled after a F14 Tomcat). About 50cm (18") in length. SWEET!

yeah, i'm looking forward to getting the PLUS valks myself. the VF-1 is my first love, but not the only one, not by a longshot!

i'll first be getting a VF-11B, as i am looking forward to that greatly, what with being a very disappointed early adopter of the infamous, fragile 1/72 VF-11B Ver.1.

the YF-19 and 21 however, will be totally new undiscovered country for me, though. i look forward to them with anticipation. gee, i can't think of a better time to be a MACROSS fan!!

My order of preference wrt the plus models in terms of toy QC: YF21, YF19 black version (because I got this on 30% discount sale from HLJ), YF22 (lovely grey-purple color, but the 21 comes with more stuff at only 3000yen more (a stand and the fast packs), VF11B (small compared to the 19/21, same size as the VF1 but priced like the 19/21. But it comes with the fast pack...could be cheaper though...)

QC wise, I'm lucky. All are alright. There are minor issues but nothing I could not correct with a little bit of touch up with acrylic paint.

I would love to show some pictures. But I don't have a digicam. No budget for them after buying the Macross stuff.

Thanks for your photos and review. I'm waiting eagerly for my LV Roy 1S.

It'll be the 1st VF1 I have in 1/60. So far, all I have are the more advanced models (22, 21, 19, 11)

Damn...I don't like the bubble hands. Couldn't they have included a set of mechanical hands too? ...sigh...

IF SOMEONE SAYS "OH SNAP!" ONE MORE TIME I'M GOING TO DOUSE MYSELF IN GASOLINE AND SET MYSELF ON FIRE!

"Oh, Snap!" Isn't that a card game we used to play before the Atari/PC age?

Anyway, I never did like Stig. Rey is ok. But my favourite characters are still Houquet and Yellow. If that Beagle guy is a fan, he would know better than to release 2 so-so characters instead of the really popular characters like Houquet and Yellow.

IMO, Houquet should have followed Stig in the release sequence. Rey is so much like Stig (toy wise), that buying him is like buying a version 1.1 Stig.

Saw it, enjoyed it.

and Sienna Miller was effin HOTTTTT. if anything, the chick fight between her and scarlet alone was already worth the price of admission.

There's a chick fight? WHOA! Ok, that settles it. I'm watching it tomorrow.

I'm currently busy with my other passion

but that should be done by the end of next week, and I'll take care of the Sylphid again. I can basically start painting.

That's a beauty. I don't come across FSS modeller often.

That's why I hate when they do the blind box game. The more you buy the better chance you have of getting duplicates rather than completing a set. Even worse if there's a secret figure. The alternative is to buy the whole set from someone who has collected them all, but at an even higher price.

Yup. Same here. That's why nowadays, I only buy these blind box collection if I don't mind having extra copies of any figure. This means I buy only those Queen's Blade blind box sets as I can display the extra copies in all their glory, Queen's Blade style.

FWIW, she appears to have surrendered to the police.

News Article

Are you a Singaporean? I'm surprised someone actually linked to Channel News Asia.

Nothing wrong. Just surprised. I didn't think CNA was popular outside Singapore.

Back on topic:

I'm glad Noriko's alright. Still looking radiant I see. I still don't understand why she'll hook up with a loser like her husband. With her talents and looks, she can get any better man she wants.

Then again, who am I to judge about love? Sorry I spoke my mind.

BTW, on 7th Aug 2009, nobody bothered that Michael Douglas's son Cameron, was arrested for being a drug dealer.

Michael Douglas' son charged with drug dealing:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/ent.../447551/1/.html

Perversely, since upgrading my video card a few months ago, IL-2 no longer works correctly for me, and I spent hours and hours troubleshooting to no avail. There's something about my 4890 or the current ATI Catalysts that it don't like . I can either run it with minimal detail and lighting effects (runs great, looks like poo), or I can run it with full detail and lighting effects (runs great, looks like poo due to crazy artifacts). It kind of bites, as I've been playing since '03 and have been without my fix for a while now. Hope the driver gets sorted.

All that aside, IL-2 is my absolute favorite combat flight sim. I'm holding out for its replacement, the BOB:SOW series.

I didn't even know that there was a console port in the mix until I read this thread. I'll have to take a look at it.

That's one of the reasons why I kept my old Pentium 4 machine with a 9800 radeon around running winXP/98se: To play old games.

I went to gawk at Sienna Miller. I was pleased.

Thanks. I guess I will do that too. I need a change of scenery after gawking at Megan Fox's baywatch-like running scene in sand wearing only tees and shorts.

I do like Nori-P's songs and concerts. I actually flew to see her Farewell concert in year 2000(?) in Hong Kong. I need to check my passport to confirm the year. My memory's ain;t as good as it once was.

I still have a Laser Disc of her 1995(?) Stellar concert.

She was immersely popular in Singapore after acting as a mute in Heaven's Coins. She actually herald the 2nd wave of the J-drama craze in Singapore. The 1st wave was during the early 80s with the drama called Oshin.

I do hope she doesn't do anything silly (like committing suicide). All those signs about leaving her son under the care of an acquaintance doesn't sound good...

I just emailed them around 10am Monday morning Japan time and have not heard from them either. Maybe they are doing A LOT of work to get the shop shut down for their vacation? I hope you hear from them soon. Or at least get your items soon. Good luck to you.

No news from my regular webshops Amiami, Hobbysearch nor HLJ. Guess they're all preping for the long vacation. I know I would too.

Guess I'll wait patiently till the holidays are over. Luckily, neither Amiami, Hobbysearch nor HLJ needs to be paid in advance for pre-orders.

Definitely interested in Mechwarrior (5). It's been a while since I've played a good MW game. Which is why I'm even more interested in the generosity of the developers to give away MW4 free for download soon.

Hmm, coupled with the fact that I finally have a macro capable mouse and keyboard, I think these MW games will be even more fun than the last time.

They don't have pictures up but I preordered these from HLJ already.

I really prefer the Megahouse ride armours to the CM ones but it seems like if I want to have the widest variety of characters and armours for display purposes I might have to shell out for all the CMs too.

Yeah, the CM prototypes actually looks good. And they have Houquet and Yellow Belmont, the 2 characters I definitely want, especially when the secret figure is Yellow disguised as his female persona/alter ego. Sorry, I like Stig and Rand. But I love Houquet and Yellow as they are more interesting and multi-facet as characters.

Also, I prefer them Red and Blue ride-armours. At least they looked like customised ones, unlike the generic pale blue of Stick's and Rand's.

Thank jenius,

Here's a photo to break the text posts a bit, took it at the office today; had a little show and tell with co-workers. The chicks were only interested for a few seconds, lol.

Nice photos.

BTW, chicks....sorry, women will be more interested in you if you bring the latest Hermes or LV bag to show them, not a US$200 plastic toy, which they'll think it's just another GI Joe figure. You can try explaining Mospeada ain't GI Joe, but from my experience, it just doesn't register in their heads.

God...kinda regretted not grabbing the Beagle Stig ride armour when it was on a 30 percent sale at HLJ. But then again, I was holding out for Houquet, and since my job's ain't safe, and my pay's ain't a banker's pay, I didn't do so. Oh well, at least the money I save on getting Houquet can go to the Macross Quarter instead.

Hi Guys,

I just opened up my Toynami Scott Bernard ... it's cool! I'd always liked the Toynami book-like packagaing. The 1/10 figure is taller than the 1/8 Gakken cyclone...interesting.

Anyhow, I wanted to ask you guys if you have problems standing up Stick Bernard by himself, in a relaxed position. I have problems standing him up.

And also, I'm surprise to see that his red suit is like pleather ... it seem like it'll crack easily over time, and the suit is stitched. I see the stitching already ripping a bit when you spread his legs to sit on the bike.

Any of you guys have this problem? I am surprise that not much attention has been given on the bottom legs/anke and foot area.

The legs on the beta version looks way better ...

Now I'm deciding whether to get Rand or not, knowing the quality, I'm at 50/50. If I were to get it, it'll just be to complete Volume 1 & 2. But I'm sure of it that this toyline will emerge a year or two from now.

Lastly, do you guys have any idea why the price was bumped from $79.99 to $199+ ?

Your answers are found in this post from Jenius who just posted yesterday, a page away from your post:

It's a misconception that Toynami marked up the toy from $79.99. Here's what happened:

1) Toynami developed a kinda crappy Cyclone toy they were going to call an MPC and charge $79.99 for it.

2) Right before Toynami was to begin production on this toy they saw what Beagle was cooking and realized they'd look retarded selling their toy as a "masterpiece" when a Japanese company was putting out such an obviously superior product.

3) Toynami scrapped their idea to make their own crappy toy (for $79.99) and instead offered to buy several thousand units from Beagle of the toy they had designed.

4) Beagle's toy, being absolutely amazing in comparison to the crappy Toynami design, was ALWAYS going to be a $200+ toy. Never, ever, not once, did Beagle imagine their toy would be under $100 and never ever did they say so.

5) Toynami notified retellers that they would be supplying an MPC Cyclone, but not the $79.99 one but an improved $200 one. A better way to think of it is that Toynami notified retailers that the $79.99 MPC Cyclone was CANCELED. Then, they announced that a new vastly superior toy, going by the same name, would be made and cost quite a bit more.

Anyone who handles the Beagle/Toynami Cyclone that eventually was released and thinks "This toy should only cost $80" is straight up insane.

This post has been edited by jenius: Yesterday, 12:38 PM

So in actual fact, you paid for a superior Beagle ride-armour sold in a Toynami packaging.

On a slightly happier note, CM is coming out with a series of 6 Mospeada figures. And Yellow's on his ride armor, as a civilian though. But still looking cool and beautiful.

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10095681

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10095681b/30/1

( I will miss having a Beagle Houquet ride armour always...so near and yet so far... )

I too saw the trailer and was pleasantly surprised. Mind you, I still don't like those special suits they've got for GI Joe, but the Ninja scenes look great, as do Cobra. I'll probably go see this.

I STILL haven't gone to see ROTF. I hate the toys and am sore at Hasbro. That and my girlfriend insisted we go see Bruno instead, which was educational, but the concept is kind of worn out by now...

anyways... GI Joe might actually be good.

In a...er...kind'a sorta way...

I also looked at pictures of the toys. Not sure I like what they've done to Cobra Commander. In fact, all of the masks and uniforms look too fluid and CGI rendered... actually - heck... it almost looks like they decided to cover them up in all that armor so that they could then get away with the classic GI Joe visuals (lots of people shooting high caliber weapons and nobody even getting a scratch:) ) ....

I dunno... it certainly has cheesy posters. But then again, so did Transformers... I'm trying to put myself in the mentality of fifties SCI-FI horror/camp on a summer afternoon or something...

Will probably waddle my way into the cinema to see both of these eventually...

Pete

Well, I got a 2 for 1 offer - I watch RotF and the trailer happened to be GI Joe - RoC. And I actually liked the trailer more than the RotF movie, well, except for the Megan Fox bit, and the BigFoot RC Decepticon.

I guess the same caution applies to both movies: Leave your brain at the door, and enjoy the CGI fireworks.