Graham

Yes it is expensive to have the models built. I'm usually a toy guy and don't go near models as I find them too fragile, but I figured as we'll probably never see a VF-22S toy and who knows if Yamato will make an SV-51, so I decided it was worth it to have the models built. And I couldn't resist getting the VF-0S made, as I love the design and so far the prototype Yamato 1/100 VF-0S toy looks pretty crappy. Yes, you are correct. The Ivanov and Nora types differ only in color and decals. I'm sure Hasegawa will release an Ivanov version soon, perhaps with the large FAE bomb featured in episode # 4. Graham

As the base color is white it would be a good toy to custom into a VF-19P from Dynamite 7 Graham

Last pic, the Zero and SV-51 together. The SV-51 is a huge bird, it would absolutely dwarf a VF-1! Graham

SV-51 from the front. Graham

Now for Nora's SV-51. Graham

Another VF-0S pic. Graham

Next up, the VF-0S. My only gripes with this kit is the guy who built it for me forgot to add the arrestor hook and he put one of the '301' decals on the leg fins upside down Graham

Front view of the VF-22S. Graham.

Another pic of the VF-22S with different lighting. Graham

Here's some photos of my Hasegawa Macross models. I paid to have these built, as I can't paint for toffee I asked for all of them to be built 'wheels up', as I think Valks look much better in flight. First up, Max's VF-22S from Macross 7. Graham

One wierd thing about the Full Armor RX-78 MSiA, is that the foot armor is not removeable, it's just molded onto the foot. All the other armor pieces can be removed, but not the foot armor. So if you do take off the armor, you end up with an RX-78 with big looking feet. Oh, and the new September issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine shows that Bandai are working on an all new sculpt of the GP-01 with a removeable core fighter. Graham

Try Mari's official site: www.marimusic.com Mari has quite a lot of English songs, but I still prefer her singing in Japanese. Graham

The mecha scenes in 3D VF-X looked pretty damn good as well and looked as if they were made by the same company and at the same time as the VF-X2 game intro movie. IIRC, I think there was some shared footage. Graham

Thankfully, HK is a very safe city and we have very few crimes involving firearms. There are probably only a couple of armed bank or jewellery store robberies a year here and a lot of the time the bad guys are carrying imitation (airsoft) firearms, not the real thing. It's not particulaly difficult or expensive for criminals to get fireams if they want them, as stolen PLA (Chinese Army) firearms can be smuggled across the border from mainland China pretty easily and bought cheaply. However, it's pretty rare for Triad gangs to use firearms here. Don't believe everything you see in HK movies Triads are businessmen, with their main businesses being pirating movies and software, prostitution and smuggling. Having mass shootouts in the streets is bad for business. However, back in the early 1990s, we did have quite a few big shootouts in the streets with ex-military criminal gangs using AK-47 rifles coming from mainland China to perform bank robberies in HK. Thankfully that doesn't happen these days. In HK you can walk pretty much anywhere you want at anytime of the day or night wihout fear. Although there have recently been quite a few cases of poor mainland immigrants robbing hikers in country parks. Of course we do have crime just like every other country, but according to the annual police report just released crime is down 7.5% from last year (read story here), except I think for the number of pickpocketing cases and rapes which are slightly higher. Graham

Yeah, somebody go bang on his cage with a big stick Graham

I'd hardly call M7 a failure. While it may not be a fan favorite of mecha fans like Macross Plus, it does have a large hardcore fan base. When Macross 7 first aired on TV in Japan (1994-95), merchandise sales, which are a good indicator of a shows popularity were pretty stong, expecially the CD sales, which were very high by all accounts. And compared with many non-Gundam mecha shows, there was also quite a large number of toys (12), plastic models (9) and many garage kits produced. While the number of toys and models can't compare to Gundam, it does compare very favorably to other contemporary mecha shows like Escaflowne, Nadesco & Gasaraki. Also, for a while both Mylene and Basara were ranked very highly in the Newtype magazine readers poll of favorite characters. I'd have to dig out my old issues, but IIRC, for a while the may have even held 1st place and were definitely in the top 3! Also, since Macross 7 finished it's run on TV, it has been released at least twice on LD incluing a boxed set and been released on official R2 DVD at least once as well. Unpopular shows don't get that many releases. Also, a show which is a 'failure' would be cancelled before running it's full term (cough, cough Gundam X), not to mention having an additional 3 episodes released as an OVA and a 4 part sequel (D7) released. No, I think it's safe to say that Macross 7 was not a failure! Graham

I haven't heard about 'things getting in the way'. The rumor I did hear was that the CG character designs, which IIRC were first shown in an issue of New Type magazine received a lot of negative comments and so the project was cancelled. Perhaps Egan Loo can clear up this matter for us. Personally, I liked what I saw of 3D VFX on the 20th Anniversery DVD and would have liked to see it completed. Graham

Unfortunately, the TV animation is not consistant in its depiction of the colors of Max & Milia's FAST packs and IIRC, the colors change a few times in the episodes where the FAST packs are shown. Yamato will have asked Big West what are the correct colors, so it can be understood that the Yamato colors are official. Graham

That diorama is from an old issue of Hobby Japan. I used to have that issue, but unfortunately, no longer keep it as due to space limitations I only save the Macross pages from my hobby magazines these days and junk the rest of the magazine. Graham

The shoulder weapon, actually predates the design of the Strike Valk cannon by 5 years. On the blister packing of the US version of the Kaiyodo Powered Suit action figure toy, the shoulder weapon is described thus: "Rail Gun Launcher discharges missiles using magnetism, and smashes enemy fortresses". Graham

I've had the anime on VCD for about 5 years, no English subs though I actually first watched it on rental LD about 12 years ago. The Powered Suit designs are gorgeous (of course as they are by Studio Nue) and the anime sticks fairly closely to the book. However, there are no Skinnies, Johnny is blond and the bugs are not really bugs, but wierd, energy spewing beings. Also, apart from a few training scenes there is not much combat, except for the last episode. It's worth watching just to see the action in the final episode though. Graham

Nope, they are supposed to be colored. Graham

Shall pass on this. Not into cutey comedy anime at all. Graham

While it's true I did coin the term 'Chunky Monkey' in reference to the 1/55, it was always meant with affection After all, I've owned 1/55 toys for 13 years now. I wouldn't keep them that long if I didn't like them. However, I still consider the 1/55 to have a very inaccurate sculpt compared to both the 1/60 and 1/48. Also the 1/55 is fairly limited in it's articulation and poseabilty, especially compared to the 1/48. However, despite these drawbacks I still consider the 1/55 a good toy, and for it's time (early 1980s') it was a great toy. IIRC I coined the term 'Chunky Monkey' when Yamato first released the 1/60 VF-1A Hikaru toy. Initially I was wowed by the more accurate-to-lineart sculpt of the 1/60 and it's wider range of poses. However, the various well documented problems with the 1/60, especially the loose hip joints and stability issues, as well as the coming of the far superior 1/48 have left me somewhat jaded as to the 1/60. If asked now as to which I'd buy if given the choice, a 1/55 or 1/60, I'd probably have to think very carefully before deciding. Of course, the 1/48 is king and rules all, so I don't need to think about buying anymore 1/55 or 1/60 Even though my 1/55 toys are all in storage now and no longer have a place in my display cabinet (apart from a single solitary DYRL VF-1A Hikaru reissue), they will always have a special place in my heart. In fact I'm saving the Bandai reissues for my son, for when he is old enough for his first Valks. Graham

Huh. Well, where does that rumour come from, then? The Macross Compendium has a list of animes on which kawamori has worked in various capacities. See it here. Dorvack is not mentioned, but then again the Compendium's list may not be complete. Graham