Graham

After studying the Bandai 1/60 DX VF-25 prototype pic some more, one of the reasons for the exposed cockpit hinge may be because the rear of the cockpit is right on the parting line, where the nose separates from the chest plate. There may just not be any room for a hidden hinge mechanism. If you look at all the 1/48 and 1/60 Yamatos that have hidden cockpit hinges (VF-1, VF-0, YF-19, YF-19), there is sufficient space behind the canopy for a hidden hinge. Perhaps the Bandai 1/72 VF-25 model prototype pics does not show a cockpit hinge, because the cockpit doesn't open? Let's give the Bandai guys the benefit of the doubt and wait before we see some more advanced pics, before we start poanicking. Graham

Latest pics of the GN-U Macross Plus action figures from the new July issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine, just out today (the magazine not the figures, that is). Notice for the first time the photos of the internal frame (skeleton). These are really cool figures and should be out within 2-3 weeks. ABS construction and bigger than Revoltechs. Graham

More pics of the Bandai 1/72 scale VF-25 model, from the new July issues of Hobby Japan m9agazine and Dengeki Hobby magazine, just out today. IMO, the 1/72 kit is definitely looking far better than the 1/60 DX toy at this point. I'll try and do better scans when I get home tonight. Graham

Just place holder colors from a very early promotional clip from last year. Graham

The UN Spacy kite could be removed from the VF-1 for 2 reasons that I can think of. 1) Perhaps there was some sort of civil war (as has been theorized) and NUNS had an acrimonious split from UNS, so the UN Spacy kite logo is verboten to be displayed in the Frontier fleet. or 2) As previously mentioned by removing the UN Spacy kit, BW or Bandai Visual hope to be able release the series outside of Japan. Graham

IMO, at the moment the Bandai sculpt looks like something Yamato would have put out 8 years ago. Oh, the toy can definitely be improved a lot by a few small changes, but whatever they do, they have to get rid of that hinge pin on the canopy. I really, really can't believe that. Graham

Heh, I've said it before, but Bandai have no idea about designing Valks. Other mecha, epscially Gundams yes, but Valks no. They should go crawing to Yamato on hands and knees to ask for design help "Help us Yamato, you're our only hope!" Heh, the master (Bandai), has become the student.......LOL! In a few years (I hope) you will all kneel before the awesomeness that is the Yamato VF-25 .....Mwahahahaha! No wonder Kawamori-san has been frowning in all the photos with the Bandai design staff. Graham

While it's certainly true there was an overusage of recyled footage in Macross 7, epcecially for the stock transformation scenes and many of the combat scenes, I didn't find the overall animation quality bad at all. I thought the character drawings and animation was pretty good and consistent throught the run of the show. There were no episodes that I can recall were there was a noticable drop in animation quality. Note how Frontier neatly sidesteps the issue of recyling transformation scenes, by having ultra fast transformation for the VF-25. The main thing I didn't like about Macross 7 was the somewhat washed out looking and mainly pastel colour pallet they chose to use. That was an artistic choice on the part of the production team, not a quality issue. Graham

Just my two cents. The mecha drawing, animation and choreography in Frontier is gorgeous IMO and beats any other mecha anime ever, IMO. Only some mecha scenes from Zero, Plus DYRL or original BGC come close or equal it IMO. However, the Frontier mecha animation has been consistently brilliant so far every single time the mecha have had screen time. IMO, no Gundam show can touch this on mecha animation quality. Backgrounds in Frontier have also been simply stunning, absolutely beautiful and easily surpass the background art of pretty much any other anime I can think of. I love the character designs in Frontier and generally the character drawing and animation have been of a high quality, although with noticable dips in quality in the actual character drawings in certain scenes, mainly in those episodes where the character animation duties have been farmed out to other studios. Graham

Looking forward to watching this later today. I'm wondering if we'll get a recap episode half way through the series, I certainly hope they avoid that. Graham

Sigh.........the Nora SV-51, has just about perfect QC and pretty much everyone says that. The only problems with the Ivanov SV-51, was a loose missile fit, slightly saggy wings with all weapons attached and a small quantity came fitted with two right (or was it two left?) wing hinges, easily fixed and hardly noticible. All the above issues were fixed on the Nora. The Nora is one of the best toys Yamato have ever released IMO. Don't believe all the crap you read online, spread around by people who like using the word "turd" in every sentence. Graham

For those that have seen it: - 1) Any mecha Pr0n at all, even just a teensy flyby shot of a VF-25 or VF-171? 2) is it animated by the same Philippine studio that did ep 6? Graham

Arghhhh...........................my eyes, they burn! Graham

Judging by the battroid pic, you can see the right knee cap armour is open far more than the left knee, so I think the knees will be able to bend forward more than in the Gerwalk pic. I certainly hpe so anyway. The Gerwalk pic, definitely looks mis-transformed, or perhaps not locked together, would be a more accurate term. Graham

I just noticed the canopy hinge...........oh dear! They better make that go away on the final version. IMO Bandai has a lot of catching up to get to where Yamato are today in terms of looks. Graham

I must admit, that Klan is not my favorite female character in Frontier, nor the cutest IMO. However, I'm absolutely blown away by the quality of the Klan fan art being posted here. Color me impressed. Graham

Probably very likely. While it's been stated that they can regenerate the chaff or missiles, I'd imagine it does take time. Graham

I suspect that even with their high efficiency energy converting armour, the Red Vajra may still have some week spots where they are vulneable to gunpod fire. IIRC, in episode 1 or 2, don't we see the Red Vajra shielding itself with its forerms to protect itself against gunpod fire. Perhaps Alto just got lucky with his point blank gunpod fire, or SMS are starting to get a better idea about which specific areas on the red Vajra to target. Obviously, it's easier to hit a small target the closer you are to it. Graham

I was going to post this in the Klan thread, but as we are trying to keep it clean, I'll be naughty and sneak it in here instead...tee hee! Here's my 'safe sex' solution for when the male is micronized and the female is macronized, ala Klan and Mikhail. Bad Graham

Known and confirmed for quite a few months already. Graham

We'll, presumably one of them has to either micronize or macronize until they are both the same size and then they do it the good old fashioned way. If you don't know how it's done yet, google 'sex education', or ask your parents. It's not my job to teach you the facts of life! Graham

Definitely some differences. Let me get back to you on that. Need some time to compare the Frontier screen capturers, with the CG pics of the Cheyenne that were published in an old issue of HJ. Graham

I'm a big fan of watching TV in bed. Graham

Hopefully, 23cm is to the top of the head, not the tips of the head lasers. Graham

What, you mean reverse engineered from a Walther P-38 9mm pistol? Graham