Graham

Guys, Probably about a decade ago, a friend e-mailed me a piece of rare VF-17 line art that is not in the TIAS Macross 7 books, or in any other common reference souce. In fact I was never able to trace where it was from. I've never seen it on any Macross website either. The piece of line art shows a front or three quarters view of the VF-17 battroid (I think it was a VF-17D), IIRC from the waist up. What was special about this battroid line art is that it showed the chest plate lifted up, so that you could see the cockpit inside the chest. The cockpit canopy may also have been open, but I don't remember clearly. Unfortunately, after going through several computers since then, I can no longer find that piece of line art. My friend who originally sent it to me is also in the same situation. I'm just wondering if any members have that piece of line art and can post it? Also, if anybody knows the original source? Graham

Err......shouldn't that be "change the course of history", NOT "change the court of history"!!!!! Graham

Yeah, I still haven't seen them anywhere in HK yet. Really surprised that nobody is importing them. Graham

Seems like the VF-19F/S internal micro-missile capacity has been retconned down to half of what it was. Earlier sources from the 90s listed it as 48 in total (24 per leg), but Chronicle seems to have now halved that to 12 per leg. Graham

Tough call. Live action movie = Aliens. Anime movie = DYRL. Graham

When you are talking about cannon shells, as opposed to small arms bullets, increasing propellant and velocity is only half the story. Unlike small arms (pistol/rifle) bullets, which are generally just lead with a copper jacket, cannon shells have far more space available internally to make a multitude of different shell types, such as Armor Piercing Incendiary, High explosive incendiary, etc. We should not only be asking what are the improvements in propellants in the Macross Universe, but to me what is just as if not more interesting, is improvements in the actual cannon shells. Of course higher velocity is generally good, and increasing velocity provides the benefits of higher energy on target, longer range, flatter tragectory, shorter flight time to target etc, etc. But too much of anything can be a bad thing, and increasing the amount of propellant and velocity, you can get increased wear on the weapon and barrel(s) = shorter lifespan, not to mention increased recoil. A downsize in calibre does not necessarily mean less lethality (although that greatly depends on what your target is!). I do find it extremely interesting that for the VF-25, the calibre of the gunpod is the largest ever seen in Macross. Was the VF-25's gunpod specifically designed with possible future encounters with the Vajra in mind I wonder? Graham

There's at least one, possibly two instance of the VF-25 wing root guns being fired in fighter mode in the anime that I can recall. Will try to post screen captures later. Graham

Another interesting piece on the T-50, which echos some of the comments made in this thread yesterday. http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,2...SRC=dodnews.RSS Graham

Heh, that is so old. I wonder when I wrote it. Graham

Guys, There is now an order stop on the off-white shoulder hinges for the DYRL VF-1A/S Valks, as all the avilable quantity has now been allocated. I will see if it is possible to obtain more. Still plenty of the bright-white and cream hinges available. Graham

I should really look at how to get those on my PSP as well. Well, maybe not the GB Mac7 game, I think I can live without that one. Graham

Back in the mid-to-late 90s, I did spend way too much time pouring over every piece of Mac Plus and Mac 7 mecha lineart available and also spent hours freeze-framing my M7 & M+ VHS tapes to study mecha details.....LOL! That and the fact that I've owned most of the available YF-19 and VF-19 toys and models over the years. I must admit I do tend to be a little short on patience, when people say the YF-19 and VF-19 are the same or nearly the same. Graham

Actually, I don't understand why so many don't get it. Even a cursory inspection of the lineart shows the complete difference between the two. Graham

Nope, the VF-19, shares almost no commonality of parts with the YF-19. Possibly the hands, biceps and canards are the same, but that's all. It is like 98% all new parts. Graham

A couple of interesting Australian articles on the Russian T-50. http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/20...f-wake-up-call/ http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/20...50-been-flying/ Graham

Pardon my ignorance, but what's different/special about it? Looks just like any other 747, except no passenger windows. A cargo version?, but I thought they had those for decades already? Graham

I've already informed Yamato that a locking chest is the number one request among our members, followed by smaller gulllet, lower nose, opening leg missile launchers and opening shoulder speakers. Anything else? I'm afraid there is almost no chance of seeing a MAXL. There is 0% parts commonality between it and the VF-11B/C. Also, no mold-milking potential. And let's face it, it's probably one of the least popular Valks. The VF-17D/S is an almost certainty after the VF-19. Graham

Now that I'd buy, rather than the Yamato PVC Breetai. Graham

Yeah.......right. I think you can safely add another 10,000 yen on top of that! Graham

Crappy phone camera pic of what just arrived on the 'alternate source's' desk. Each and every hinge will be inspected before it is shipped to make sure it is free of stress marks or cracks and has a pin that is smooth on both ends. PM your address if you haven't already. These will ship out starting end of Feb. You will be contacted with payment details for the shipping charges. Graham

Apparently still on schedule for end of Feb. That's all I got. Graham

Pass. If it was a DYRL I might buy it, but I never liked the TV version of Breetai. Graham

From what I understand, it is a mix of 1) cream for VT/VF-1D, 2) off-white for DYRL VF-1A/S 3) bright white for the TV VF-1J. Not arrived yet. Graham

There was a last minute color change to the pilot and some fitting issues with the gunpod that needed to be resolved, so the release date may get pushed back again a bit. I will check. Graham

A quick update: 1) Some good news, the replacement shoulder hinges should be arriving today. 2) Some more good news. There should be enough for everybody that has requested them so far (a larger quantity is being provided than was expected). 3) Anticipate these will start shipping out to members round end of February. Sorry, the 'alternate source' is busy until then. 4) PM me your shipping address if you have not yet done so. Graham