Graham

Any box pics? Curious to see whether it says "Mass Production Type" like the model kit and 1/250 scale toy, or actually says "Grace type" or something like that. Anyway, it looks nice. I'm gussing the missing stickers may be for the tail numbers. Graham

Judging from the picture from operation "Phanton Sword" on page 97 of Master File (scan attached), the mounting pylon for the NP-BAP-15c Booster Unit is definitely angled and attaches to the back of the fighter, not the shoulders. I may try to jury-rig a mount out of stiff card and tape for the toy, just to see how it would look. I'm also curious to see, if the mount had a hinge on it, would there be enough clearance for the boosters to fold down on to the back in Batroid mode. Graham

Although looking again at the lineart in the Master File, the boosters should be mounted further forward than how I have them in my pics. Grahm

OK, in an effort to see how the NP-BAP-15c boosters shown in Master Files could attach to a VF-19A, I fitted the Super Packs from a Yamato 1/60 VF-11B (as they are close in design to the NP-BAP-15c), to a Yamato 1/60 YF-19 "Double Nuts". Attached are some pics of the YF-19 "Double Nuts" with Fold Booster, YF-19 FAST Packs, Reaction Missiles & Micro Missile pods from Bandai 1/60 VF-25 weapons set and Super Packs from a Yamato 1/60 VF-11B. The VF-11B Super packs are just balanced on top of the shoulders in the photos. If, as the book seems to show the NP-BAP-15c boosters attach to the back of the VF-19A, there isn't a lot of space for the mount, what with the Fold Booster pylons already there, but it probably would just be doable. Graham

Will pass on this. Never a fan of the original movie and not a Jackie Chan fan either. Graham

Really excellent work Jarrod. Graham

Wow, I see what you mean about the ceiling! Graham

What the heck is a 'shoegazer'? Apart from the obvious - somebody who gazes at their shoes? Graham

Very hi-speed, military VIP transport, I guess. Perhaps it was cheaper to convert older surplus VF-19A airframes to the non-transforming VC-19V configuration, rather then develop an all new aircraft from scratch? Definitely can see uses when a very high spped transport would be useful. Graham

Given that the VF-19F/S NP-BAP-21 booster units are significantly wider than the VF-19A's NP-BAP-15c Booster Units, I wonder what the micro-missile count is for them. Should be higher, unless more internal space is used for fuel. And yes, I also think the next book will most likely be on the VF-25, as they seem to be concentrating on main hero mecha. Probably think a book on the less popular VFs wouldn't sell. Graham

With the VF-17D/S and VF-19F/S Super packs, there is certainly no need to ditch thethe Super parts in order to transform between fighter and battroid modes (not sure about Gerwalk though). In the Macross 7 TV series, we do see both the VF-17D/S and VF-19F/S with Super parts in both fighter and battroid modes. And yes, if all missiles and fuel have already been expended the Super parts are pretty much dead weight. If you still have fuel, but no missiles, at least you've got some extra thrust available. Although, The VF-17D/S Super parts do have the two beam cannons as well, even if the missiles are spent. I find it very hard to accept that in the 2040s, Super parts would be designed for the VF-19 that could only be used in fighter mode. However, that's what it looks like with the NP-BAP-15c Booster Units, which definitelt don't attach on the shoulders. The CG pic of the black VF-19 with two fold boosters (ventral and dorsal) and NP-BAP-15c Booster Units(page 68? IIRC), definitely seems to show angled mounts for the NP-BAP-15c Booster Units that connect to the back, not the shouders. Graham

I've recently seen these heavily discounted here in Hong Kong. 50% cheaper than what I paid when it was first released. Graham

Hmm........if the NP-BAP-15c Booster Unit does attach to the back of the VF-19A in fighter mode and NOT the shoulders, then the mount for them would have to be quite angled, espcially to accomodate mounting of the Fold Booser as well. Wondering why the shoulder was not the preferred mounting place for the NP-BAP-15c Booster Unit, as per the VF-19F/S, as it seems the logical place to mount boosters on a 19. Graham

Thanks for starting with the translation of the VF-19 Master File, Sketchley. I find it very interesting that mention is made of using the NP-BAP-15c Booster Unit in an atmosphere as it doesn't seem particulaly streamlined to me, unlike the later far more streamlined NP-BAP-21 Booster Unit used by the VF-19F/S. I really hope you will have time to do a translation on the Block Numbers section as I'm hoping this section may offer some insight as to whether the E/F/S/P types were designed to replace the older A/B/C/D types. Graham

That's what I was thinking as well, which is why in an earlier post I wondered if they would need to be jetisoned to transform into Battroid mode? Graham

Anybody know when is the next big Japanese electronic games show? Hoping we might get an announcement on the new PSP Macross game (cross fingers, touch wood, etc, etc). Graham

Still bugging me exactly where and how the new back FAST Packs for the VF-19A attach, as the weapons loadout chart in Master Files seems to show it is not to the shoulders. Going to try a little experiment tonight. Will get my Yamato 1/60 YF-19 with FAST Packs & Fold Booster fitted and will try to see how it looks with the back FAST Packs from Yamato VF-11B, as they look fairly close in overall shape and size to the new VF-19A back FAST Packs. Will also try to determine the best mounting position. Graham

Still on the fence over whether I will get the mass-production green VF-27DX. The easily scratched nosecone paint has sort of turned me off this toy. Guess I'll have to see how good a price a I can find it for. Cash is a bit tight at the moment, as I just has to spend way more than I expected (or wanted), at the chiropractor. Graham

I played a three-way game of MAF once, with 2 other HK-based MWers. Not had the chance to play MUF with anybody else yet. Would love to try. It's a pity we didn't have a chance to try in Japan, when I was in Tokyo. Also, have to apologise about not trying to meet up again when I was there. Had a work crisis and spent most of my remaining time on damage control emails and phone calls. Graham

Damn, Ultimate Mode is difficult. Keep running out of time on the harder missions. Graham

Interesting to see an F-22 try. Graham

I had a look through this book while I was in Tokyo in April. It doesn't have much Macross stuff in and of that very little is new art. I can't remember the page count for Macross art, but IIRC it's somewhere between 6 to 12 pages. The only new Macross art that interested me was the box art for the Bandai YF-25 Prophecy. The majority of the book is Gundam and some other mecha, so I chose not to buy it, as I have no interest in Gundam. If you want more Macross art, wait for Tenjin's 'Valkyries 2' book, which hopefully will be out by the end of the year. Graham

I have a feeing that the little 30mm ball turret will be a removeable part that you have to take off to transform to Shuttle mode. I'm fine with that though. Graham

Wondering exactly how and where the new FAST packs for the VF-19A attach? Looking at the pics, they don't seem to attach to the shoulders like the VF-19F/S FAST Packs. Looks more like they attach to the chest plate some how? Makes me wonder if they are for fighter mode only and have to be jetisoned if the VF-19A transforms to Battroid or Gerwalk mode. Also, it looks like the new FAST Packs can be fitted with two different types of missile launcher. I see mention and lineart of an HMMP-15 and an HMMP-12. Interesting that the missile launcher for the internal leg bays is also listed as HMMP-15. Graham I'm hoping that the pages on the block numbers will clarify whether the VF-19E/F/S/P types were indeed meant as more advanced replacements for the earlier VF-19A/B/C/D types. Graham

I asked Tenjin on his Facebook page about the '011' marking on the Hikaru VF-1S on the cover and poster of issue #50 and he replied: - Any idea what the comment in Japanese means? Graham