Graham

Can't remember where the quote is from, maybe a movie, maybe an old Texas Ranger, but IIRC it goes something like this - When asked why he carried a .45 for defence, he replied......"Cus they don't make a .50 yet" Graham

Why would you get a broken wrist? At only 700fps - 900fps with 240gr - 300gr bullets, the 50GI should be real pussycat, as it's a fairly tame low pressure round. And if much harder kicking cartridges like the .454Casul, .50AE etc don't produce a broken wrist, then I doubt the relatively wimpy .50GI will. If you want to talk hard kicking, try full power .44 magnum loads through the 26 ounce S&W 329PD Scandium Frame, Stainless Steel Barrel, Titanium Cylinder revolver Graham

Eek...........I just wet myself after seeing this: - .50GI Cartridge. & Model 1 .50GI Pistol. I'm not normally a 1911 fan, but this is enough to make me change my mind. Finally, a practical .50 pistol round. Graham

I'm thinking that Sega/AM-2 will release a Macross Zero and/or Macross Plus game as the VF-0S, SV-51, YF-19 & YF-21 were shown in an early promo movie for the PS2 game, but were later pulled from the the final game for reasons which were never made public. I gotta say I completely disagree with the statement made earlier in this thread that all Macross games are garbage. Personally, I loved VF-X2, I thought it had great gameplay and a interesting story that expands our knowledge of the Macross universe. I also loved Macross Plus Game Edition and the DYRL side-scroller. I admit that the first VF-X game was crap with terrible contol issues. Also, although Macross M3 for the Dreamcast was let down by weak gameplay, it did have a kick-ass opening movie, let you fly a whole bunch of cool Valks and explained what Max & Milia had been doing after Space War One. I'd also love to see a continuation of the VF-X series on the Ps2 set in the 2050s. Graham

It comes with the new style collapsible grip gunpod and small arm cut-outs with no covers, as first seen on the VF-1S Strike IIRC. And while this is generally a good thing, it does unfortunately mean that if you want to put on the arm FAST packs from the older VF-1J super onto the newer VF-1J, you won't be able to fit either the old or new gunpod in fighter mode due to the difference in shape of the arm cut-outs. However, there should be no problem with fitting the arm FAST packs from the VF-1S Strike onto the new VF-1J and using them with the collapsible stock gunpod. Graham

Wow, what I find. I wanna minty Orguss. Graham

IIRC in the TV series, hull breaches on Zentradi ships are quickly sealed by armor plates which automatically slide into position when a breach is detected. I think the same is true of the SDF-1 as well. I've always imagined Zentradi ships to have an inner and outer hull, a bit like modern submarines, with a number of emergency hull breach cover plates located between the two hulls. Obviously there must be a finite number of breach plates available and it may take a few seconds or minutes for the nearest plate to travel to the location of the breach, which could explain why sometimes a breach is sealed almost at once, but other times it takes longer. Graham

Can anybody say Stand up to her like a man, or do what I do and lie about the price...."yes dear, this 1/48 only cost $20, honest"! Graham

The 2001 reissue is better IMO as the markings that were previously supplied as stickers on the 1995 original version are now painted on. On my original version which I purchased when it was first released in 1995, the stickers are starting to peel in places, especially the head stickers. And it's not called a VF-19C. It's officially called 'VF-19 Custom', although unofficially some people refer to it as VF-19 Kai. It's also commonly refered to as 'Fire Valkyrie'. Graham

I agree. No animated Spider-Man adaptation comes close to Bakshi's version. And let's not forget 'Rocket Robin Hood' either, another of my childood favs by Bakshi. Graham

Very well written reply Radd. I'm now on, I think my 5th or 6th complete viewing of Macross 7 from start to finish, since first watching the series back in 1994 and it is my opinion that if you can get over what are commonly perceived as the negative elements of the show, i.e. Basara, battroids with human faces controlled by guitar joysticks, the appearance of the Protodeviln, than Macross 7 can be enjoyed on so many different levels. I actually disagree with Radd about Macross 7 being light on mecha action and skimping on the war aspect of the story. I'm primarily into mecha and mecha action and I still find there's plenty of that in Macross 7 to satisfy me. I also think the war is present in the majority of the episodes. I tend to view the unfolding events in the story through the eyes of the UN Spacy characters like Gamlin, Max etc rather than Basara. I also dislike the character of Basara, although not as much as in the past. So when I'm watching the show, I always think of Gamlin and Mylene (my favorite characters) as being the main characters rather than Basara I gotta say I love Macross 7 and while I realise that it's not everybodies cup of tea, I personally think it has fantastic music, great mecha designs, an interesting story, some cool action scenes, strong, mostly likeable characters and adds a wealth of background information to the Macross universe. Graham

Love both, but prefer DYRL for it's superior visuals. Also I saw DYRL before I saw SDF TV. Graham

Damn, my pocket monster just woke up. Graham

Bah....everybody knows that Bakshi's best work was on the 70s Spiderman cartoon series But seriously, the only thing I ever really liked that Bakshi did was Wizards. Blew me away when I saw it at age 10, oh so many years ago. Graham

Err.....why does the A-10 have a blue tortoise sitting between it's engines? Graham

Any topic relating to Transformers belongs in the Other Anime section. Graham

I'd say that was true with today's technology and conventinal Jet engines vs conventional missiles. However in Macross, epecially the later more advanced 2040 era VFs, have such an insane thrust-to-weight ratio, acceleration and top speed that at least based on watching the anime it seems like VF propulsion has outstripped missile propulsion. We've seen time and again that as long as the VF pilot is aware of an incoming missile, he stands a good chance of outrunning it if he can crank up the speed (note, I'm only refering to the more modern VFs, not older types like the VF-1, & VF-0 series). Graham

I still doubt that the VF-17's shoulder launchers could hold so many missiles. After spending a lot of time studying the line-art as well as the Bandai 1/65 toy, Bandai 1/144 model and Wave 1/72 Battroid mode garage kit, I'm thinking that the maximum capacity in the shoulder launchers is probably 2 missiles each for two of the launchers and either 2 or 3 missiles for the other 2 launchers, meaning a total of between 8 to 10 missiles. Graham

I loved this song as a kid: Spiderman, Spiderman, Does whatever a spider can Spins a web, any size, Catches thieves just like flies Look Out! Here comes the Spiderman. Is he strong? Listen bud, He’s got radioactive blood. Can he swing from a thread Take a look overhead Hey, there There goes the Spiderman. In the chill of night At the scene of a crime Like a streak of light He arrives just in time. Spiderman, Spiderman Friendly neighborhood Spiderman Wealth and fame He’s ignored Action is his reward. To him, life is a great big bang up Whenever there’s a hang up You’ll find the Spider man. Graham

I also picked up the August issue of HJ yesterday and I gotta say there are two things that are bugging me about the F90. Firstly, the head sculpt just doesn't look right. I can't put my finger on it, but something looks off. Secondly, I suspect that at least some of the hardpoint covers may not actually be removable, which could mean that none of the add on weapons are planned. I gotta say that that's the nicest looking toy rendition of the F91 to date. Just a pity I'm not really a fan of the mecha. Graham

Sean Connery and giant flying heads, I'd completely forgotten that one. Graham

Err....in which parallel universe? Graham

Good list. My other favorite dystopian future movies from the 70s include: - Death Race 2000. Rollerball (the original, not the crap remake). Graham

Ya know I still don't accept that the VF-11 has no capability to accept underwing hardpoints. Otherwise this would leave it armed only with it's 30mm gunpod and headlaser for atmospheric combat. That is unless the streamlined atmsopheric FAST Packs shown in Nightmarish invasion are fitted. And for space based combat, the standard VF-11B&C FAST Packs certainly look large enough to hold more micro-missiles than the VF-17's shoulder launchers. However, a theory I've developed during the last decade since first watching Plus and 7 is that by the 2040s' or possibly even earlier, the trend in combat is that missiles of all sorts seem to be far less effective and used less frequently than say during the Space War One era. In both Plus and 7 we see gunpods and beam weapons being used and scoring hits far more frequently than missiles. Some examples that spring to mind are: - The opening fight in Plus ep # 1. None of the VF-11Bs use missiles instead relying on gunpods and bayonet. And when Isamu is targeted by enemy missiles, he outruns them with comparitive ease. During Isamu and Guld's final combat, no hits are scored with missiles and the missiles fired at each other seem to be easily dodged or shot down. During the first time the Macross 7 fleet encounters the Varuta, the VF-11Cs choose to attack with gunpods only. This perhaps reflects a belief by pilots that missiles are not regarded as being very effective. In fact, it is not until at least episode # 5 or 6 IIRC, that we even see a VF-11C firing missiles. This decreased use of missiles is probably due in part to the increased thrust of VFs giving them a better ability to outrun missiles, improved effectiveness of defensive systems, such as PPBs, stronger armor, better anti-missile tracking, improved decoys etc. Graham

Gents, Scroll down to the VF-11 entry note: http://www.anime.net/macross/feedback/index.html I remember reading previously on the Compendium that the VF-11's leg weapon bays were not official, but I didn't recall any mention of the VF-17's leg weapons bays. Anyway, for those of you too lazy to read through the Macross Compendium, it has the following to say on the subject: - "Shoji Kawamori did make leg weapon bays part of the official specifications for the VF-11MAXL variant, as well as the General Galaxy VF-17 Nightmare and Shinsei Industry VF-19 Excalibur". Furthermore, the Armament section of the Compendium's VF-17 page includes the following statement: - "Internal standard equipment capable of being exchanged for other weapon packs" This seems to support my theory that the VF-17's leg-bays which were shown holding Reaction Weapons during Operation Stargazer, could instead be optionally fitted with other weapons such as extra micro-missiles, which would explain the greater than normal number of missiles being fired in 'The Galaxy Is Calling Me'. Graham