Graham

As also posted in the VF-19 Master Files Thread:- Well, although some of the CG art in the Master File shows a common thigh/intake, the front view line-art on pages 66 & 67 still shows the two district intake shapes that we have come to associate with (1) the YF-19/VF-19A and (2) VF-19E(Kai)/F/S/P. In fact all the side view line-art also seems to show the two distinct intake shapes, although admittedly the difference is a tad more subtle than Kawamori's original line-art. Graham

Well, although some of the CG art in the Master File shows a common intake, the front view line art on pages 66 & 67 shows the two district intake shapes that we have come to associate with the YF-19/VF-19A and VF-19E(Kai)/F/S/P. In fact all the side view line-art also seems to show the two distinct intake shapes, although admittedly the difference is a tad more subtle than Kawamori's original line-art. Graham Yes the shape of the bottom edge of the canopy on the VF-19E/F/S/P/Kai is very different to that of the VF-19A. Graham Will give a proper answer to this post in the next day or two. Too tired and drunk too much red wine right now to give a proper reply. Graham

Anybody know a good online source for preordering the two accessory sets for the Fire Valk (Sound Booster & stand)? Just looked at HLJ & amiami, but couldn't see them. Graham

1) Doubtful on an alien planet that any of the flaura and fauna would be compatible with human biology (i.e. would likely be inedible to humans), so I guess he likely survived by killing and eating other humans, or eating the their remains after they'ed been killed by Preds. 2) Agreed. 3) Good point, I hadn't thought of it in terms of a booby trap plantd by the the Super Predator. The lead character (Royce?) looked to have carried 2 x 20rd drums for his auto shotgun (one drum in the gun & one drum in a pouch on the back of his belt) + another 16 loose rounds on his chest webbing (I counted during the movie). That would give him a total of 56 x 12gauge rounds. He also looked to have a 1911 pistol in a thigh holser, with a spare double magazine pouch, which depending if he carried 7rd or 8rd mags, would give him a max total of 24rds of .45ACP ammo + another 1 in the chamber if he carried that way. Graham

A VF-5000B in white with blue stripes would be a dream. Graham

I've found that so far my Yamato YF-19 Double Nuts and Bird of Prey are still pretty tight. But yes, the anime colored YF-19 releases do often get pretty loose in battroid mode. Graham

Basically just the feet and swing bar are die cast, so more like 90-95% plastic. Graham

Well, you are in for some good news then. Bandai have already said they will make a Hi-Metal YF-19. IIRC, it was on mentioned on a Bandai blog post on th Tamashii site, or perhaps in a magazine article. I'll try and dig out the relevant post. Personally, I prefer the VF-19S and VF-19F, but I'd definitely buy a Hi-Metal YF-19 as well. Graham

Although I'm sure the Predators as a race have other advanced weapons, armour & technology than what is shown in the movies, I imagine that they are perhaps limited by their honor code or hunting code to only using certain types of weapons and technology on hunts, in order to give their prey a fighting chance. Standing off from a couple of klicks and blasting your enemy with some sort of super-duper, ultimate mega-death ray is hardly sporting now is it? Graham

Just noticed that on the markings pages, both the A type and F/S types have wingtip verniers. Nice to have confirmation of that. Graham

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Predators last night. It's not without it's flaws (more on that below), but it was a fun, enjoyable movie with a nice 'old school' vibe to it. Definitely a worthy successor to the original Predator movie in my opinion. Although of course, nothing tops the original. I'll definitely be picking up the DVD when it comes out. I do feel the movie could have done with a bit bigger budget and perhaps a different director with a bit more experience under his belt. The pacing felt a bit off to me in places. There were also a few plot holes: Would give the movie a solid 7/10. Graham

Sorry, I can't stand football, so I've not watched any of the world cup. I'm more of a rugby fan. To be honest, football bores me to death. I would rather go to the dentist to have teeth pulled without anesthetic, than have to sit through a football match. I'm seeing Predators at the AMC in Pacific Place, which is close to my office. I originally planned to watch it at AMC Festival Walk (closer to my home), but stupid me had a brain-fade and booked the wrong cinema online.....doh! Anyway, less than 4 hours to go before I watch it........yipee! Graham

No, just tried. The gunpod angle is controlled by the forearms. Graham

Do they have the shoulder pins that are smooth on both ends? Graham

Just noticed something else. In fighter mode, when viewed side on, the gunpod is not parallel to the bottom of the fighter. The muzzle is angled up, so the muzzle is nearly pointing at the plane's nose. Looks weird. Graham

The only loose areas on mine are the knee swivel joints (a bit loose) and the gunpod fist to gunpod connection (very loose). Everything else is nice and tight. My biggest QC complaint is the glued on intake cover. I've spent a long time trying to pry this off, first with my fingernail, then with a nail file and then with a pocket knife and it is not budging. And I've said it before, but the rear of the missiles painted red, really, really bugs me. Thinking of using some thinner to try and remove the paint. Graham

The fighter definitely, just sits on top of the landing gear. The landing gear plug into the display base. So basically, it's a sort of cradle arrangement. Unfortunately, I've seen no news or pics indicating the gunpod can attach in fighter mode. Bandai may pull a last minute surprize, but I kind of doubt it. Graham

Ha! it opens here a day before the US! Tomorrow is gonna be fun............beer and good food, followed by Predators! Can't wait. Graham

Anybody got the firm release date for this. I'm guessing 25th July? Definitely buying 2, one to keep in fighter mode, the other 2 keep in battroid. Hope we get news about the VF-19F soon as well. I want to complete Emerald Force. Graham

I'm one of those people that has never been bothered by the neck on the V2. In fact, until it was pointed out on this forum, I never even noticed. Frankly speaking, the way the pilot sits really far forward in the V2's cockpit bothers me much more. Shoulder hinge issues aside, I still think the V2 is the best toy of the VF-1 so far. The Hi-Metal is good for its size. but the QC issues on mine were a turn off. Graham

Didn't he also compose Chariots of Fire and the Blade Runner soundtrack? :-P Graham

Got my ticket booked for the 8pm show this Thursday July 8th. Really looking forward to seeing this. Anticipation, is very high. Hope it's as enjoyable as A-Team was. Graham

Caught the cartoon on TV a couple of times with my six year old son. We both thought it was pretty boring, just another bland, generic toon. I personally thought the voice acting was dire as well. Absolutely zero interest to see a movie version. Predators this Thursday all the way! Graham

Decided to pick up one today. Wasn't planning to originally, as I have no desire for yet another VF-1 toy, but wanted to check out the design and engineering that Bandai put into this. Here's some initial comments, based on the 30 minutes I've spent with the toy so far: Pros Excellent articulation for the size, very poseable. Overall, very good scuplt. Nice detailing for the size and has overall balanced proportions in all 3 modes. Not quite as good a sculpt as a Yamato V2, 1/60 IMO, but certainly a nicer looking and more accurate sculpt than a Toynami 1/100 & MPC, Takatoku 1/100 or 1/55, Bandai 1/72 HCM or Yamato V1 1/60. Following on from the the 1st Hi-Metal, the VF-19Kai, the VF-1J retains the same excellent box design. Very attractive looking box. Yamato could learn a thing or two here from Bandai, as far as boxes go. Simple and easy to transform. I like Bandai's design for the arm sliders. Cons I really don't like the way the rear of the missiles are painted all red. I know this is a toy, but the missiles painted this way just look too toy-like. The right closed intake was glued tight in place on mine and could not be removed, even after 5 minutes of prying away with a nail file, which ended with me stabbing myself in the thumb and bleeding all over the toy! I found the rear closed landing gear doors a bit tricky to pry off. As you are prying from the top of the doors, the doors bend somewhat when removing them and I was worried about stressing the plastic. I don't like that the gunpod has a removeable handle. I found that the fists that have a built in gunpod handle don't really attach very securely to the gunpod (connection is too loose) and I've already had the gunpod fall off twice in battroid and fly across the room once when handling and transforming the toy. Not too keen on the feet. A bit small looking and don't like the metallic finish. Also, the front half of the foot has come off twice now when I've been pulling on the feet to extend them for battroid mode. The above-knee swivel joints on mine were quite loose. I would have liked to see these a bit tighter. Plastic looks cheap, especially when compared with the Hi-Metal Fire Valk, but it's actually good quality plastic. Overall, a good effort for the size, but not terribly exciting, to me at least. I doubt I will pick up anymore Hi-Metal VF-1 variations. Well, maybe a VF-1S Hikaru Strike Valk if they make one, as I'm a sucker for Hikaru's DYRL rides. Personally speaking, I'm far more excited about the upcoming Hi-Metal VF-19S. Although, based on Bandai's engineering for the VF-1, I must say, I'd be interested to see what they could do with the VF-0A/D/S. Graham

I love the Max VF-22S, it's one of my favorite Yamatos. Call me crazy, but I think the Macross 7 Valks (excluding sound Force) are the best looking VFs that Kawamori has ever designed. Graham