Graham

It only needs 3 markings, the 2 UN Spacy kites on the chest, plus the Diamond Force emblem, so I can't understand why they wouldn't tampo print them on! Graham Wrapped up, to be put under the Christmas tree and opened on Christmas morning. Graham

It only needs 3 markings, the 2 UN Spacy kites on the chest, plus the Diamond Force emblem, so I can't understand why they wouldn't tampo print them on! Graham

Hmmm.........either I've received a pre-production sample, or their really is no tampo printing! Just shot off an email to clarify. Graham

What happened to episode 13? Did it not air? Is the show taking a break or something? Graham

I love Clash too. Looking for a DVD copy, as although I still have 2 VHS tapes, I no longer have a VHS player Graham

I discovered Macross through the old Arai and Imai Macross model kits which were selling in UK toy and model shops in 1982 or maybe it was 1983. So I was 12 or 13 then. I bought a whole bunch of the kits then, well at least as much as my meagre pocket money would allow. I fell in love with the kit designs and the Yoshiyuki Takani box art and promised myself I would one day track down and watched the anime they were from. I didn't actually get to see any Macross anime until catching a few episodes of the TV series on Hong Kong TV in 1986 and then I was lucky enough to get to see a summer rerun of DYRL at the Cinema in Hong Kong in IIRC 1988, which I watched several times. That's really what really got me hooked for life on Macross. Nothing beats DYRL on the big screen! As far as TV series go, I actually identity and prefer Macross 7 more, as unlike the original SDF Macross TV series, I was able to watch Macross 7 from start to finish as it was airing in 1994-5 with only minimum delay, via bootleg VHS tapes, which arrived in HK only a few days after the episodes aired in Japan. However, I love all Macross and there's not a Macross TV series, OVA or movie that I dislike. I've never actually watched much Robotech, as I don't think it ever aired in either UK or HK (at least not while I was there/here). But from what I have seen, the dubbing and songs really make me cringe. Graham

Plus we had the Bandai YF-29 recently. I'd hardly call it dead. Graham

I'm hoping the VF-17S's gunpod has the 7-barrel muzzle detail. The lack of muzzle detail on the gunpod was the only thing that disappointed me with the VF-19S. Graham

Oh, we'll definitely get a VF-17D and VF-17S Millia and FAST Packs for the VF-17 and of of course a VF-19F and VF-19P. And somewhere in the release schedule there will be the very exciting next VF announcement. Graham

Not a production sample, as no tampo printing. Lilkely, correct colour test shot. Note that test shots go through several generations in the process of getting the bugs worked out, gaps minimized, joints tightened up, parts fitting improved etc. Even after molds are cut, they will be modified several times in order to get everything just right. Even with CAD/CAM, the first generation test shots, will be loose, gappy etc., so the engineers need to figure out how to modify the molds, then a second generation test shot is made, gaps, tightness fitting is again checked, if futher changes to the molds are required, this is done again a third gen test shot made and checked, until everybody is happy and then it goes into production. Graham

I love it when people get all panicky, pre-release about resin prototypes or ABS-test shots, which are often loose and have gaps, before final modification of the tooling. Graham Just want to point out, the coloured shoulder stripes are also visible on the fighter mode underside of the Bandai 1/65 DX VF-17S/D toys. Graham

Ho Ho Ho! I've just heard that Santa may be leaving a nice 'stealthy' present under my tree in time for Christmas. Oh, what a nightmare........heh, heh. Graham

Yes, but on the original resin prototype, the yellow stripes on the shoulders were too low down. After this was pointed out to them, the stripes were moved higher up to the more correct poosition. Graham

No, wouldn't buy. Not interested. Prefer Yamato make a 1/3000 Battle 7. Graham

But the gunpod is supposed to be long. Make it to short wouldn't look right. It's all about anime accurate appearance, not feelings IMO. Graham

Interesting, so the gunpod halves can't fit fully ino each leg. Still ok with that, as the are completely concealed in fighter mode. Graham

Looks like a repaint of the Docker sculpt from the VF-19S. My one complaint about that figure, is the helmet faceplate is too flat, it should be more of a convex curve. Graham

Yes, the VF-17 does, both to the rear, to give the pilot better rearward visability and also down by his feet. Graham

Yes they do. The 'This is Animation Material, Macross 7' book clearly shows that both the VF-19Kai and VF-19S have the through the floor monitors. Graham

I hope for some black panel lining on the intakes on the final version though, like on the VF-19S and Kai. Graham

Yes, it's probably the most durable Macross toy ever made. I have about a dozen that have been seriously used and abused over the past 16 years and never had a single breakage. They are the Tonka toys of VF toys. Graham

Sometimes don't understand you guys. Before you all want a toy that can do dynamic gerwalk A-stance and now we have a toy that can do it, you wanna go back to stiff, legs in parallel gerwalk poses???? Graham Because it's the 'pilot boarding/alighting' position for gerwalk mode. Graham

Because it's the 'pilot boarding/alighting' position for gerwalk mode. Graham

Actually, I on purpose posed them with the nose pointing down, just to show how stable they are in that position. Horizontal gerwalk is of course possible and even easier. Graham

For those 2(?) Of you having problems with Gerwalk mode, this may seem like a silly question, but are you sure you are actually transforming it right? The ankles on my 2 x VF-19Kai, are fairly loose, but I have no problem getting the toy to hold a stable pose in Gerwalk mode, even though the Kai does have the older looser painted ankles. With the VF-19S, with the improved tighter plated ankles, posing should be a piece of cake. Graham