Graham

Oh and here's some pics from the Feb 2005 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine of the upcoming HCM Pro Force Impulse Gundam and HCM Pro Zaku Warrior, which are both due for release in March 2005. I'm definitely picking these up as the HCM Pro toys are great quality. Graham

Well, the Feb 2005 issues of Hobby Japan and Dengeki Hobby magazine just came out today and no new news or pics of the Yamato VF-0S at all . Cough.....vaporware....cough! Graham

Wow, Bandai are really pushing Impulse Gundam toys. As well as the already released MSiAs, soon to be released MMM GQ toys, upcoming HCM Pro and various gashapon toys, it looks like there will soon by a GFF (or GFF type toy) of the Force Impulse Gundam. Both of the newly released February 2005 issues of Hobby Japan & Dengeki Hobby magazines have a small article (shown below) that if my guess is correct seems to show that a 13cm tall, CAD designed GFF type toy of the Force Impulse will be released in March 2005 for a price of ¥4,179. While I can't read the article (somebody else can hopefully provide an accurate translation), I notice that 'G.F.F.' is mentioned in both articles. The number '0001' is shown, perhaps implying that this is the first of a line of Destiny GFFs, parallel to the UC GFFs? Graham

Yeah, but this is no longer the good old days, where we could expect an 'ultimate version' of every Valk from Yamato. In these lean times we gotta take what we can get my friend. I expect this Liquid Stone YF-19 will be the only variable YF-19 we see in a long, long while. Graham

Looks like the hands are removable and cannot retract or fold into the forearms. No biggie, I can live with that for 1/100 scale. I wonder if the final item will be fully painted or not, or sold as shown in the photos molded in 3 colors (cream, black and clear)? Graham

Yep, those are the Chaos, Abyss and Gaia MSiAs. Nah on the merging. I think it's better to keep the 3 separate main Gundam threads we have now (models / GFF / SEED Destiny). Graham

Um......a spider with a fridge on it's back? Just kidding guys Graham

Yes, the Chaos MSiA can transform, but it's impossile to get it to stand up in Mobile Armor (Gerwalk) mode as it's just too top heavy. At least I have yet to find a way to get it to balance by itself without resorting to using some sort of stand. Graham

Funny, funny song and oh so true (unfortunately). Unfortunately I think we are going to be in for a long dry spell as far as new Macross products are concerned. All signs seem to indicate that Yamato is going to drop Macross after the release of the VB-6 and 1/48 GBP. Both those projects have been in development more than a year, but AFAIK, nothing else new is in the pipeline. Of course my info is very dated, so I could be wrong. I'm getting more and more sure that the YF-19FP is as dead as the Dodo. After Kawamori got all anal and rejected the first prototype, it seems like Yamato don't want the expenses of starting all over again with another sculptor. Heck, I'm even getting a feeling that the 1/100 VF-0S is going to be quietly dropped due to the overwhemingly negative response it has received both here and in Japan. The 1/60 Destroid Monster is probably another dead project. As for Hasegawa, who knows? Some more battroids would be nice, but I'm wondering did the VF-1 battroid kits sell well enough for them to risk making other battroid kits? And a VF-11 and VF-17 fighter would be nice as well, but how well would they sell outside of a small group of hardcore fans? Graham

YF-19 is a big plane. 1/100 scale is not that small. Graham

Picked up a second Chaos MSiA last night as I found one selling for just HK$69 (USD8.80). This is cheaper than the HK$99 (US$12.70) I paid for my first one. Happy to report that my first one was a dud and the second one is much better than the first. The joints are much tighter and the arms, head cowling and beam saber hilts all stay attached much more firmly. however, the toy still cannot balance in MA mode though . Graham

I'm incredibly hyped about this and will be looking to get at least two or perhaps more depending on the price. By hook or by crook they will be mine! As I mentioned in the other thread, it looks like the gunpod may not attach in fighter mode. Heck as I grew up with 1/55s with no fighter-mode gunpod attachment I can live with that . Another thing to consider, is that if this is resin, it may be quite fragile and may not lock together very well. It may also suffer from floppy joint syndrome and require constant tightening of joints with a screwdriver, just like the old SHE kits. But heck, I don't care.....It's a variable YF-19 that actually looks pretty good in fighter mode, so I can forgive it . Graham

Gotta say I'm really hyped about the 1/100 YF-19 esecially as it's not a Yamato product . I haven't been this excited about a Macross toy or model for a very long time. Graham

I actually prefer last years 1/60 HG Strike kit or the 1/100 MG Strike over the new 1/60 PG version. While the PG may be more articulated, it's too fussy in my opinion. Bandai added too much detail that is not on the lineart and changed some parts so they are not accurate to the lineart. A prime example of this is the PG's front skirt armor, which looks nothing like it should. Personally, I think the 1/60 HG Strike set that comes with the Aile, Launcher and Sword packs can't be beat for value. It looks great assembled and here in HK sells for a third of the price of the PG kit. Graham

Actually, the 1/60 Force Impulse kit is quite a bit better than the 1/100 version. Off the top of my head, improvements I can think of are:- The 1/60 Core Splendor cockpit opens and includes a pilot figure. More inner mechanical detail under the removeable armor pieces on the 1/60. The 1/60 Force pack's wings are molded in two colors red and black. On the 1/100, they are only black plastic (w/probably a red sticker...yuck). On the 1/60 the 'V' on the chest is actually a separate peice of yellow plastic. On the 1/100 it's just molded detail on the blue plastic part. Basically, the 1/60 has a bit more detail than the 1/100 and will look more accurate without painting than the 1/100. Graham

Wadda ya mean coming out next month ? The 1/60 Force Impulse is already out in Hong Kong since at least Monday December 20th. Cheapest I've seen it is HKD278 (US$35.65). Looks like a nice kit, but I'm waiting for the MMM GQ toy instead. Graham

Ah, I see. Yes it is quite nice. Wonder if we'll see an MSiA of it. I'm sure we'll at least get a 1/144 HG model. Graham

Hmm interesting! Shin's mid-season replacement after Impules inevitably gets destroyed perhaps? Graham

Lastly, one of Chaos's Mobile Weapon Pods with weapons open. Graham

Now Chaos in MS mode. Sorry, no MA mode as it's just too much of a pain to set up. Even setting up this photo for MS mode was difficult, as the arms, beam saber hilts and head cowling kept falling off if I breathed the wrong way . Graham

Gaia in MS mode, I couldn't be bothered to change hands for this photo so it could hold the beam rifle and shield. Just trust me it does come with extra hands and can hold them, just I'm a lazy git. Too tired actually. Graham

Now Gaia in MD (Mobile-Doggy) mode. Graham

Here's some very quick pics. Only a few though as it's late at night and I'm knackered. First Abyss in MS mode. Graham

Heh, if good Jedi are not allowed to have girlfriends, marry or even have sex, becoming a dark Jedi would sort of be a no-brainer (for me anyway ). Heh, I can think of an awful lot of uses for the old Jedi mind trick. No more "not tonight dear I've got a headache" Graham

Can somebody please confirm/deny/clarify these points for me please: - 1) Jedi are not supposed to fall in love, have girlfriends/boyfriends, get married...correct? 2) Are Jedi supposed to remain celebate? 3) If a person is strong in the Force, i.e. has a high midi-whatchmacallit count, then their offspring will also be stong in the Force? 4) If point 3 is correct, then wouldn't it make sense for Jedi to get married (especially to other Jedi) and have kids, thus creating more Jedi? Seems that by not allowing mariage, the Jedi are shrinking their numbers. Several years ago (before the prequel trilogy I guess), I seem to recall reading an SW comic about Jedi that featured a married Jedi couple. Wouldn't this completely fly against what is now accepted Jedi lore? Graham