Graham

Did something actually break, or did the cover just fall off? If it can be reattached, by just slotting it back into place, that doesn't count as a breakage. Graham

Ah, the good old days Graham

Yep, that's what I meant, Master Grade models of mecha from other non-Gundam anime. I'd definitely buy Master Grade Kits of: - Macross VFs & Destroids .....that's a no brainer of course Tactical Armor from Gasaraki. Armor Shrikes from Blue Gender (never gonna happen unfortunately ). The MADOX-01 from Metal Skin panic. The mecha from Dragonar. Graham

Still hoping one day for some Master Grade Gasaraki Tactical Armor kits. Graahm

I wonder if Bandai has completely given up on non-Gundam Master Grades? Graham

Nah, I'm only listing actual broken parts, not floppy limbs, otherwise the list would be a mile long already Graham

I've transformed some of my 1/48s dozens of times, without fear of breakage. I even speed transform them and I'm not really gentle about it either. Graham

The 1/55s are still great toys even now more than 20 years since they were first released. They are very durable and quick to transform. The only down side is that they are not that well articulated, the sculpt is not particularly accurate (especially for the A & J heads and plane nose) and the gunpod doesn't attach in fighter mode. Transforming toy design is always a trade-off. If you want more gimmicks, better articulation and more detail then you have to accept a longer and more complicated transformation sequence and perhaps slightly decreased durability. I think though that with the exception of part # BP8, the 1/48 has proven itself to be much more durable than expected. Of course not as tough as the 1/55, but it's still more a toy than a fragile 'display only' model kit as some people claim. Anyway, I do think that Bandai would have sold many more 1/55 toys if they had made some minor redesigns to update the toy. I'm not talking about turning it into a 1/48 clone, but just doing minor resculpts of certain parts so that the toy would look better, but still transform quickly and keep the legendary 1/55 durability. Here's the bare minimum changes that I would have liked Bandai to have made to the 1/55: - Resculpt the A, J & S heads, especially the A, which is terrible. Slightly resculpt the plane nose, especially the FLIR sensors which are too big and the wrong shape on the original 1/55. Remove that stupid scope from the gunpod and change the gunpod design so that it can attach in fighter mode. The HCM method would be perfect. Add wing hard points and missiles. Add wrist rotation (I don't care about an articulated hand tho). Add a pilot figure, even if it's only from waist or chest up. All the above changes would make the toy look better IMO, but should not negatively affect durability or transformation time. Graham

Pray to the toy gods Oh, that's SOP when it comes to toys these days Repeat after me ten times: "Open the pod bay doors HAL". Maybe it will work. He He He sorry, I'm in a silly mood. Graham

Pray to the toy gods Graham

Updated MPC Alpha Casualty List EXO = Broken hinge on the shoulder missile hatch. Opus = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Opus = Thumb fell off the left hand due to stress crack. Opus = Ratchet mechanism broken in left shoulder. Opus = Left hand broke at the pinky edge of the finger joint. dejr8bud = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Mechafactory.com = Arm fell off straight out of the box. I guess we can say that Opus is officially having a bad day with 4 breaks on his toy. Graham

When first shown in fighter mode in the Zolan Patrol hanger near the end of episode # 3 (IIRC), the VF-19P is white with red trim. However, once in space in episode # 4, there are some shots where the red trim appears pink (see attached picture). Maybe the paint heated and faded during the VF-19P's launch and flight up into space Graham

It should still be pretty easy to buy on bootleg DVD. Graham

I'm guessing the addition of the fins on the lower leg of the VF-19P is the reason for the change to launching the micro-missile through the hexagonal ports. If the VF-19P used the hinged weapons bay door of the VF-19Kai/F/S, then at least some of the missiles would hit the leg fins as they fired. It's previously been suggested that the change of missile launch system was a cost issue, but I don't think so now. Graham

I dunno, they shouldn't work in space. And by the way, this has nothing to do with the Varauta. Those speakers were added by Lawrence to test his theory. They're not part of the P varient per se. Better watch the show. It's been several years since I last watched Dynamite 7, but wasn't Lawrence also a fan of Fire Bomber? And IIRC Lawrence's theory was that Basara's music could be used to try to communicate with the Galactic Whales? I think the speakers Lawrence constructed for the VF-19P and VF-5000G & VF-5000T-G (2-seater) were not conventional speakers, neither were they a sound energy system, but utilised some method of transmitting music in a way that the whales could recieve it. And Renato is correct, the speakers were not originally part of the VF-19P or VF-5000. Graham

IIRC, from discussions about this with Monkey-N, that "Meteor Busters" 1/48 VF-1A custom with a box autographed by Kawamori is the grand prize for a 'write a Macross essay' competition being run by Figure Oh magazine. Basically, you have to write an essay (in Japanese) explaining why you like Macross and the best essay wins the custom 1/48. Other prizes for the runners-up include IIRC a full set of Doyushas, some Hasegawa Macross models, CMs Macross figures & some K&M Macross figures. And of course the competition is only open to those residing in Japan. Graham

Not just the head, you also need to modify the lower legs to add the two micro-missile ports and of course add the speakers on the shoulders. Graham The VF-19Kai already has micromissile launchers in the legs. And it has speakers in the shoulders, but they're not exposed. The VF-19P fires it's micro-missiles out of two hexagonal openings (ports) located on the outside of each lower leg. The VF-19P does not have the same opening weapons bay doors in the lower leg that the VF-19kai, VF-19F/S, VF-19A and YF-19 have. And yes, I know the VF-19Kai has speakers in the shoulders. However, the point I am making is the "Lawrence" Speaker system on the VF-19P is located on top of the shoulders nacelles on the VF-19P, it is not internal. Graham

Still think Jolt is the best cola. Just a pity you can't buy it in HK anymore. Graham

I'm guessing that just like the Yamato 1/60, the MPC Alpha was not designed on computer, hence the problems with poor parts fitting, large gaps and seams, asymmetrical parts etc. Compare that to the 1/48, which was designed on computer and exhibits far superior parts fitting. Still like my Alpha though despite all the minor problems. Graham

I was just thinking that we should try to keep a running list of parts breakages on the MPC Alpha. After reading through the last few pages of this thread, here's what's been reported so far: - EXO = Broken hinge on the shoulder missile hatch. Opus = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Opus = Thumb fell off the left hand (is this a parts breakage or not?) dejr8bud = Broken hinge on the sensor pod door. Mechafactory.com = Arm fell off straight out of the box. Please let me know if I've missed anything. Graham

In Hong Kong at the moment, there are Gundam can tops for Coke cans at some of the convenience stores (can't find a link). There's always some sort of Gundam promotion going on here for bottle or can tops or mini-figures......sigh. Graham

Errr hang on, IIRC, the mini Transformers (the truck & the gun whatever their names are) came with the September issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine, NOT Hobby Japan. Graham

Not just the head, you also need to modify the lower legs to add the two micro-missile ports and of course add the speakers on the shoulders. Graham

Looks interesting. Think I'll check it out. Graham

Well, if an anime can be judged by the amount of merchandise released during it's initial run, then V-Gundam can be said to have been pretty successful! The following V-Gundam merchandise was released during it's TV run in the 1993-1994 period: - 16 x Bandai 1/144 scale plastic models. 5 x Bandai 1/100 scale models. 1 x Bandai 1/60 V2 scale model. 2 x Bandai electronic V-Gundam 1/60 (or were they 1/72 scale?) scale toys. 1 x transforming 1/48 V-Gundam scale toy. 1 x Electronic V-Gundam Beam Rifle Toy (scale ?). 12(?) x 1/144 scale Mobile Suit In Pocket (MSiP) toys (the predecessor of the MSiA line). Numerous resin garage kits and resin conversion kits by B-Club and other manufacturers. Several OST CDs (3 I think?) as well as CD singles. Numerous art books (I own, 3, there may be more). I mean if the show had been a flop and the merchandise had not sold well with the initial release models and toys, then Bandai would not have continued to release so many toys and models during the year that the show ran. Please feel free to correct me if I've made any errors or omitted any items from the above list. And I'd like to add that although I'm not really a Gundam fan, V-Gundam is the only Gundam TV series (including Zeta which I think is way over-rated) that I really enjoyed watching. Graham