Graham

Ah, but assuming that the VF-17's leg weapons-bays are legit (Egan?), then it may be possible to replace the normal hinged opening type doors, with flush mounted micro-missile launchers, similar to how the doors on the leg-mounted weapon-bays of the VF-19Kai/F & S were replaced with twin flush-mounted micro-missile launchers on the legs of the VF-19P. Just fan speculation Graham

Kurt, I'll add this to the MW Custom Toy Gallery as soon as I have time. Sorry, the new baby is taking most of my free time at the moment. Fun critter tho Graham

I'm guessing that the above screen capture from 'The Galaxy is Calling Me' is simply an animation error as a VF-17 without FAST packs fitted should AFAIK only be able to fire 4 micro-missiles per salvo, not the 14 missiles at once shown in the picture. And the VF-17 shown in the above picture does not appear to have any FAST Packs fitted. Unless of course that is the leg weapon bays first shown being loaded with reaction weapons in episode # 43 are in fact canon and can possibly be loaded with different weapons pallets, i.e. reaction missiles or micro-missiles. Graham

I have one of each. I might end up selling the Valk + armor tho. Graham

Well, for removing paint from a Transformer I was going to suggest a liberal dousing in gasoline followed up by the application of a cigarette lighter, but I better not, otherwise I'll probably get flamed for being mean to transformers I also hear that a blow-torch works well Graham

They way I look at it is to consider the way the Ghost X-9 is shown to fight, which seems to be mostly ultra-high speed slashing attacks, i.e zoom in guns blazing and then zoom away just as fast and circle round for another attack. I would think with this sort of attack method, if the YF-19 or YF-21 were in Gerwalk or Battroid mode, they would only have a spit second (a few seconds maximum) to target the X-9 before it was out of effective weapons range. The YF-19 and YF-21 would certainly not be able to keep up with the X-9 if they were in Gerwalk or Battroid modes. Basically, the only way that they would be fast enough to get into and stay in effective weapons range would be in Fighter mode. Graham

Let's hope that both Egan Loo and Nanashi keep up the good work for many years to come. The worldwide Macross community would be so much poorer without them. Graham

Gotta disagree with you there. I think the fight choreography in Macross Zero is absolutely breathtaking, even better than in Macross Plus and truly shows how Valks would be used in combat. I'm loving Macross Zero, but also hope the last episode is extended to 45 - 60 minutes to tie up all the loose ends and hopefully show lots more mecha combat. Graham

how about stealth losing it's usefullness due to advancements in radar and tracking systems Yup, that's another good reason I didn't think of. Graham

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Nightmare purely passive stealth? Releasing it without stealth would've meant creating a whole new plane. Not likely, if something as early as the VF-0/SV-51 has active stealth-lost technology or not it would have been regained by the time the VF-17 was engineered. The VF-17 probably would have both passive stealth structure and an active stealth system. I've also been pondering why the SV-51 and VF-0 have active stealth technology and later VFs like the VF-4, VF-5000, VF-11, VF-17 etc do not. Here's a list of possible reasons that I've come up with: - The technology was lost during the bombardment of Earth during Space War One. Early Active Stealth technology was deemed too expensive to add to mass-produced fighters. Early active stealth technology was not that stable and did not mature until the 2040s. Personally, I tend to discount the technology being lost. No real reason, just a gut feeling Graham

Please do not use Macross VF-X2's game-specific armor strength ratings as Macross technical specifications without corroboration. As with other games, Shoji Kawamori has specifically stated that the game-specific capabilities of Macross VF-X2 are not intended to always reflect the "reality" of Macross. http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...ndpost&p=163482 If we discount the game stats and instead focus on the Macross 7 anime, the VF-17 does appear to be far more heavily armored than the main VF in service at the time, the VF-11C. One episode that springs immediately to mind is episode # 6, 'First Contact', where Gamlin's VF-17D takes multiple missile hits yet suffers only relatively minor damage while protecting the escape pods. When first watching this episode back in 1994, I'd assumed the VF-17 was fitted with a Pin Point Barrier system, although my later research finds no mention of this. However, since Macross Zero, my current assumption is rather that the VF-17 just has particulaly tough armor and a very efficient SW-AG energy converting armor system. Graham

The VF-17 is not that suited to the atmospheric role due to it's minimal atmospheric control surfaces. With it's large number of verniers (more than any other VF I think) it is far more suited to and is primarily designed towards operations in space. Also, although the VF-17 packs an impressive amount of beam weapons (head, forearms (wrists & elbows), & chest) as well as a gunpod and gunpod beam adaptor, it is very light on missile armament, unless the optional FAST Packs are fitted. Although no official figures have been given, I would guess that the 4 x shoulder-mounted micro-missile launchers probably only have enough internal space to hold no more than 2 to 3 micro missiles each. Graham

This was already discussed in the model forum a month ago when the magazine first came on May 23rd I posted pics in this topic. Graham

Even though I've got the R2 original, I thought I'd pick up a copy of the HK boot as well. The thing that made me laugh the most is that in the begining, when Nora is kicking Shin, Sara calls out Shin's name and the subtitles translate it as "New" 'Shin' being Japanese for 'new'. Idiots. Graham

As for the perceived lack of panel lines, I think that some of them are perhaps not showing up well in the photos due to the lighting and the color of the plastic, but they are there. And remember, Yamato should only put whatever panel lines are on Kawamori's lineart. I personally don't agree with adding additional non-canon panel lines just for the sake of having more detail, as Hasegawa are prone to do with their Macross model kits. Regarding the length of the 4 top cannon, well this is limited by necessity. The cannon have to be able to fit inside in shuttle modeso can only be as long as the internal bay in shuttle mode. And I'm hoping the small 30mm chest gun will be on the final version. Judging from the photos, I suspect this is still not quite the final version. Graham

I've got 10 FP sets altogether, although only 6 of them are on the toys at the moment. Never had a problem with them. Graham

Thanks for all the kind words guys. So to answer some of the questions that have been asked..... The baby and mother should be home from the hospital on Monday. No, we haven't chosen a Chinese name yet. My wife's parents are trying to come up with a Chinese name for him. All my Bandai 1/55 reissues are back in their boxes and will be given to my son as his first Valk toys when he is old enough, say 5 years old. Although I'll probably remove the landing gear springs so he doesn't hurt his fingers. My Yamato collection is safe in a glass display cabinet, which will soon be getting a lock . I originally wanted to name him Roy, but my wife didn't approve the name. I would also have liked Gamlin as a middle name, but again I was overruled And no, I haven't tried to transform him yet Here's a photo of me with Jeffrey on day 2 (Saturday June 12th). Graham

Looks like Yamato forgot the 30mm cannon, mounted just under the chest block. See pic below. Graham

Nope, That's the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the Jordan district of Kowloon, Hong Kong Graham

And one more photo. Graham

Our baby boy, 'Jeffrey John Parkes' was born at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Friday 11th June at 5.51pm (HK time). He weighs 3.46kg (7.62lbs) and is very cute, well I think so Here's a photo taken a few minutes after birth. Graham

There will not be any 1/48 Macross Plus toys ever. They would be too big and too expensive. There may be new 1/72 scale or perhaps 1/60 scale versions released sometime in the future.....or not. With no news for such a long time, perhaps Yamato has given up on Macross Plus toys. Graham

Got it on the 4th try. Initially I was thinking I wouldn't be able to solve it, as I'm crap at maths, but that don't matter none anyway Graham

Xmods?...........The MW moderators are mutant super heroes? So which is the one with the retractable claws then ? Graham

I generally prefer the OVA as the movie cuts Isamu's battle with the powered suits from episode # 1 and also the fight in the training city from episode # 2. However, the movie has a slightly better death scene for Guld. The best thing would be for somebody to edit an ultimate version of the movie which included the deleted fight scenes from the OVA. As a mecha action junky, I also have to say that episode # 3 of the OVA is a real snooze-fest due to it's lack of any mecha action. Graham