Graham

I've now got SS rank on 8 of the Freeplay missions and A, B or Cs on the rest. Using Keith's tricks of having 3 Gigile's in Fz-109Fs as your wingmen, to freeze your opponent, so you can hammer them with gunpod or machine gun fire for insane combo bonuses really works well with the bigger enemies. Still having trouble getting an S rank against the smaller faster enemies on the Freeplay missions though. Will keep on trying Graham

VF-11D is a different head (and cockpit). Graham

Besides the hads, I'm thinking it may be necessary to remove the head fin in fighter mode and the peice on the back of the neck in fighter mode. If you look at the fighter and gerwalk mode poics of the test shot, the peice on the back of the neck looks completely different. As long as it locks together well and is not a froppy mess, I will be very happy. Graham

You mean Isamu is bayonetting baby dogs!? Someone call the SPCA!!!!! Graham

I gave up on these new Yamato stands. I far prefer the older Yamato 'Launch Arm' stands or Flexi-stands. These new stands might be great for smaller figures like the Macross GN-U, or Revoltechs, but IMO are absolutely not suitible for 1/60 VFs, even the smaller ones like the VF-1. The friction fit of the attachment piece to the support stand is just too loose, meaning the VFs constantly want to tilt to the side. With modification as in the post above and multiple stands attached together to create a more stable base, they may be better, but Yamato should not have released these in the first place with such a loose fit IMO. Graham

Me wants a VF-171, they could certainly milk a VF-171 mold more than they can the VF-27. VF-171, RVF-171, VF-171EX Alto, RVF-171EX Luca, VF-171EX Standard. Graham

Still haven't seen these here in Wanchai, but then again, I'm too lazy to get my ass over to Ins Point. My pick up 1 if I find them. Graham

Ever since I saw the first episode of Macross 7 way back in 1994, I've wanted a VF-11C toy. I just think it looks so beautiful especially in fighter mode. Graham

Unless Keith answers first, I'll run through that mission tonight and come back with some tips. I've got either S or SS on it. Graham

Ha, sounds awesome. Can't wait, but I will. Gotta get S or SS on all the MAF Freeplay missions first. It is my new challenge. Graham

Yamato's head office is and always has been in Japan. They have had a sub office in Hong Kong since the late 90s'. It's an open fact that I've had a long relationship with Yamato and am personal friends with several of the people from Yamato. It's also open knowledge that Macrossworld has accepted paid advertising from Yamato. Nio secrets there. I'm critical, only when I feel critiscim is due. When I have found a problem with a Yamato toy, I publicize it and do my best to try to get Yamato to resolve it. I think you'll find my reviews are quite unbiased and I report the good with the bad. But yes, I am a Macross fan and do generally love Yamato's Macross toys, so I may come over as sounding very enthusiatic in my reviews. If crap is crap, I will say so, case in point, their new display stand, which is really crap, at least for use with 1/60 scale. Repaints are both good and bad depending how you view them. Unfortunately, for a small company like Yamato, they are a financial necessity. With the high cost of design, development and tooling versus the small production runs that Yamato do, they are lucky if they break even on the first release of a new toy. They only way to amortize the development costs and actually make a profit is through releasing repaints. Without making a profit, Yamato would not be able to invest money in making new mecha. However, nobody is holding a gun to anybody’s head and forcing them to buy repaints. If you like a color scheme, then buy it. If not, then don’t. It’s as simple as that. The fact is many people actually like buying repaints of the secondary character’s mecha or cannon fodder mecha. Personally, I’m glad Yamato gives us the choice. I'm over the moon that after so many years, we are finally getting the Max & Millia VF-22S and VF-11C from Macross 7. Hopefully if these sell well, Yamato will release other Macoss 7 mecha. If I not mistaken, Yamato's QC has been excellent overall for recent releases, with most coments about the Destroid Defender, Destroid Tomahawk, VF-11B, YF-21, VF-22S Gamlin, VF-1D, VT-1, YF-19 Double Nuts, YF-19 Bird of Prey being very positive. I know some people had shoulder breakege with early 1/60 ver.2 VF-1, but all recent releases since they changed the shoulder pin seem to be fine. Lowering cost isn't going to happen unfortunately. These are niche products with a high development cost sold in small quantities to a limited fan base. If the rest of the world was open to Yamato, then maybe they would be able to sell more and could lower the cost slightly. As for customer service, again the licencing is the problem. However, this as been at least partially resolved by the help that OverDrive has provided. GBP armor is already coming for the 1/60 VF-1. It may be developed later for the VF-11 and VF-0. If sales of existing products ae good, new products will be developed. The Phalanx is still coming. Graham

Are the SV-51 machine guns still uber-powerful in MUF? Graham

LOL......BoB is is that you?

Good. It was was too overpowered IMO. Although I must admit it's saved my bacon more times that I'd care to admit. Mmmm...........bacon! Graham

Hopefully, we'll get the cannon fodder green VF-27 DX toy AKA 'Grace version'. However, I'm not holding my breath, as we are still waiting for the cannon fodder tan VF-25A DX. Graham

McG IMO is only a slight step up from Uwe Boll IMO. Graham

Don't think the problem is so much the wildly escalating budgets. The problem IMO is more that T3 and Salvation had mediocre scripts, piss poor directors and could have had better actors cast in some cases. With better writting and a better director, I doubt the franchise would be in the poor shape is is today. As for Sarah Connor Chronicles, I echo the sentiment that the show should have been more about John and Cameron and less about Sarah. Graham

Actually, I quite liked Predator 2. Not as good as the original of course, but still a respectible film in it's own right. So for me, there's: - Only 2 Alien movies. Only 1 Highlander movie. Only 2 Predator movies. Only 2 Mad Max movies. Only 1 Robocop movie. Only 1 Matrix movie. Oh, and while not genre movies, there's: - Only 1 Lethal Weapon movie. Only 1 Die Hard movie. Any sequals to the above are just figments of someone's feveed imagination and don't actually exist. Graham

I think the distance between the toys in the photo, is enough to account for the apparent size discrepancy. Also, the VF-27 is leaning backwards, makin it look shorter/smaller that it is, plus the legs may not be locked in the correct position. Just from the overall construction and design, it looks very much like the it comes from the DX design team. Graham

Just like in the anime. Graham

Yep, this is the one. Not sure why you thought it was the VF-19Kai. That would involve a completely new sculpt over the YF-19. The two share nothing in common, except possibly hands and biceps. Graham

Definitely looks like a DX to me. Graham

Ever since first watching Macross 7 back in 1994, I've wanted a VF-11C toy. I was so upset with Bandai when they didn't follow through and produced the planed VF-11C Micro-Macross toys, that were advertised on the pack of the Micro-Macross packaging. Graham

Episode 7 of Macross 7 'Summer Accident' is another great VF-11C episode. Gamlin commandeers a VF-11C twowards the end of this episode and proceeds to kick Varauta ass. Graham

Mine is already pink, thank you very much! Graham