Graham

The main differences between the DYRL FAST Packs and the TV FAST Packs are that the TV arm FAST Packs are slightly shorter and have a slanted front section and the TV packs are a slightly diferent color. Also, the TV FAST Packs do not come with the DYRL Double Strike Cannon. Graham

Call me silly, but I quite like vs debates as long as they stay civil. Anyway, I'm not that familiar with the Mave as I've only seen the first two episodes of Yukikaze. I've been trying to search online for some specifications on weapons loadout, engine thrust, weight etc, so we can make a more meaningful comparison, but so far I have not been able to find any technical information online on the aircraft of Yukikaze. Regarding the original Super Sylph Yukikaze, which I'm slightly more familiar with, it would seem that as far as weapons load, the VF-0 would have the edge. I've definitely seen written somewhere that the Super Sylph is fitted with a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon, whereas the VF-0 has the far more powerful GPU-9 35mm gunpod as well as either 1 head laser (VF-0A/B/D) or two head lasers (VF-0S). Also, IIRC, the Super Sylph and AFAIK the Mave are only shown carrying a total of 4 missiles, although they do look like they would be fairly powerful and long range due to their large size. However, the VF-0 series carries as standard 12 medium range missiles on the wings as well as 48 short range micro-missiles in the leg-mounted FAST packs. Regarding defensive systems, I've honestly no idea about the capabilities of the aircraft of Yukizaze. However, the VF-0 series has an impressive defensive suite including the AN/ALE 55 flare and chaff dispenser system. The AN/ALQ 220A IDECM. ASS/PS 110 active stealth system. AWAG/RA 105 SW-AG energy converting armor system (info courtesy of Macross Compendium). Without any specs for the Mave or Super Slylph, it's difficult to compare speed and acceleration. Regarding agility, the Super Sylph is a huge aircraft, so I find it difficult to believe it would be as agile as the smaller VF-0, even though both aircraft have thrust vectoring. I would think that the three mode transformation ability of the VF-0 would give it an edge though. Perhaps David could comment? Graham

I'd go with the compressed air theory. Nice to know we have other Vf-17 Nightmare lovers on this board Graham

Yesterday I bought one piece each of both the VF-1J with GBP and the separate GPB armor set. As I had a lot of baby stuff to carry home yesterday, I was only able to carry the armor set home last night and I left the GBP with VF-1J at the office. Anyway, last night I fitted the armor set to my Hikaru VF-1J Super and here's a very quick review (and a short rant) about the 1/60 GBP armor set, without pictures. The armor set (without valk) comes packed in a nice green box. The style sort of reminds me of the old Takatoku GBP box, although of course the Yamato box isn't made of the nice textured card of the old Takatoku boxes. At least the Yamato box is nice and compact, which should save on shipping costs for those of you ordering the toy from overseas. Hopefully Yamato have learnt their lesson after all the complaints about the unnecessarily large (supersize ) VT-1 and VE-1 boxes. On first impressions, the GBP gives one the feeling of being a quality product. IMO it looks nicely sculpted, the plastic quality is qood and it has a nice paint finish. Also, the armor attaches easily to the Valk and stays on well, with one noteable exception (see point # 2 of my rant below). The GPB features opening missile hatches on the chest, shoulders and sides and rear of the lower leg armor. None of the missiles are removeable. The toy comes with a small sticker sheet, including stickers to mark your armor as either number '1, 2, 3 or 4'. An instruction manual containing black and white photos and a set of the ultra-large TV type fists are also included. Now for the rant. I have three main complaints about this toy: - 1) As somebody else already mentioned, when the hip and groin armor is attached, the Valk hip pegs are not really long enough to engage fully into the valks nosecone holes and the legs have an annoying tendency to fall out of the nosecone holes every time the toy is picked up or moved. On my VF-1J, the legs fall off so frequently, that I am seriously consdering gluing the hip pegs into the nosecone (thus rendering the toy non-transformable). This problem really kills any playability and effectively leaves the toy as a fixed pose statue as it cannot be moved without a leg falling off 2) As I mentioned above, the armor attaches firmly and will not fall off, except for one piece, which is the front groin armor. The groin armor consists of two pieces, a front and rear, which covers the Valks nosecone. The front groin armor connects to the rear groin armor via 4 small pins which plug into holes in the rear groin armor. Unfortunately, these pins are both too short and too narrow to have much purchase and as a result, the front groin armor pops off with alarming regularity, i.e. just about every time the toy is picked up or moved. Grrrrrrrr! Again, I am seriously considering gluing the two halves of the groin armor together, which would mean I end up with a permanently armored non-transforming Valk 3) The TV type fists are way too big. I mean we are talking 1/48 size. Obviously, Yamato was trying to capture the look of the old Takani box art from the Imai and Arii model kits, but they have definitely over-compensated for something . IMO, it would have been much better if Yamato had sized the TV fists about a third to half smalller than the current size. Also, with the large clown fists, the Valk cannot hold a gunpod. I tried the large fists, but IMO they are just too large and look too ridiculous, so I am using the original 1/60 Valk hands instead, so that my armored VF-1J can hold his gunpod. So overall, I'd have to say that the product is flawed. It makes a great-looking display peice, but the problems with the legs and groin armor take away any playability and greatly reduce the fun-factor. I'd give this a 6.5 out of 10. Graham

A quick use of the search function reveals the following helpful thread: http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?...69&hl=hong+kong Graham

Hmm....in that case, I might try to glue the hips permanently in battroid mode on one of my 1/60 VF-1J, to make it a dedicated Armored Battroid. I really hope that Yamato has a 1/48 version in the works. Graham

Thanks guys. I'll be sure to post pics. BTW, has anybody tried to see if the big fists that come with the GBP will fit on the 1/48 as they look about the right size. Graham

amen. I'd also make a plea to the moderators to possibly close this topic before it gets any further out of hand The problem is, as soon as we close one 'let's bash Macross 7' topic, another one springs up almost immediately to take it's place and the whoe cycle starts all over again. Graham

Yep, that proves it's an FAE bomb I reckon. Based on the pics in Nanashi's above post, that's pretty much identical to the bomb in ep # 4. Graham

Just got my GBP armor set and GBP with Valk at lunch (thanks Neova). No time to play with them yet as I'm still at work, but I did take the armor set out of the box to have a quick look and it's pretty nice. I'll try and do a review, but no promises, as my son is due to be born in the next 5 days, so as you can imagine I have other things on my mind rather than toy reviews. Graham

I can't recall the last time (if ever) that I used the term 'Oriental'. To me it sounds outdated & antiquated like it belongs in a turn of the century costume drama Usually, I'll just refer to Japanese, Chinese, Thais, Koreans, Philipinos etc as Asians or by their respective nationality. If people ask me what is my wife's nationallity, I say she is Hong Kong Chinese. As someone mentioned back on page 1 of this thread, in UK it is common to refer to Indians and Pakistanis as Asians, but I personally find this a bit weird as in my mind I don't link people from that part of the world as being 'Asian', so I'd refer to them by nationality instead. Graham

Not really MPC related, but it has to do with Toynami, so I thought I'd post it here. Anyway, I was in my local Jusco department store yesterday (a Japanese department store chain in HK) and I noticed they were selling Toynami Mospeada Legios Superposeables. That's right, Mospeada, not Robotech. The style of the packing was very similar to the US versions, but Robotech was not mentioned anywhere on the packing, instead it clearly said Mospeada on the box front. The toy looked identical to the US version and was selling for HK$89 (US$11.50). I didn't buy one though. Although a Japanese release of the Alpha MPC has been announced a long time ago, this is the first I've head of an Asian version of the Alpha superposeables. Graham

You say that like it's a bad thing Graham

I didn't vote as there was no choice that fit me. I would probably buy an HG DYRL and M7 DVD only if they were subbed and the character names, BGM and songs remained completely unchanged. Also, they must be titled as 'Macross' products, not branded 'Robotech'. I own the following original Japanese R2 DVDs: - Macross Plus vol. 1-4. Macross Zero vol. 1-4. DYRL FB 2012 I own the following original R1 DVDs and VHS: - Macross Plus vol. 1-4 (DVD & VHS) Macross Plus Movie (DVD) Macross II vol 1-6 (DVD & VHS). SDF Macross (AnimEgo DVD). I own the following DVD boots and fansub VHS: - Macross 7 (DVD boot and fansub VHS). Dynamite 7 (DVD boot & fansub VHS). DYRL (DVD boot & fansub VHS). Macross Zero 1-3 (DVD Boot). Graham

It's extremely rare and has been out of production for many years. There's only a couple of MWers who own one of these. Anyway, your best bet to find one is probably Yahoo Japan auctions, but even then the chances of finding one are slim. Graham

I bought that magazine last week. In fact the cover pic from the magazine is now the new MW main page pic The pic of the VB-6 is nothing special. It's just a very small pic that shows a grey color VB-6 in Battroid, Gerwalk and Bomber modes. I'll try and scan it tonight if I have time. Graham

Please discuss MPC related matters in the pinned thread at the top. Thanks, Graham

I also think they are FAE bombs as before the bombs hit, they seem to spray out some sort of grey substance in a dome (umbrella shape), which could be the fuel. If the Anti-UN was using nukes, we could probably say goodbye to Shin, Sara, Roy and Aries as well Graham

Mine just arrived at my office, but unfortunately I have a class tonight, so won't get home until midnight to watch it Graham

just received an email from CD Japan to say that my R2 DVD of Macross Zero episode # 4 has shipped today by EMS. Should be in my sweaty little hands in a day or two Graham

i used good old crazy glue but i didn't go overboard since crazy glue melts plastics. Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. I'm trying to track down a source of Neodymium (sp?) magnets in here in Hong Kong, as I think this modification is such a good idea, I but don't want to end up melting my 1/48s. BTW, what is the diameter (in mm) of the magnets you are using? Graham

I'd say buy and watch the 110 episodes of the main story first, then buy and watch the set that contains the 50+ episode sidestory and two movies. Great series, I just recently finished the 110 main episodes and the two movies, "My Conquest in a Sea of Stars" and "Overture to a New War" and I'm just starting on the sidestories. Highly recommended. Graham

Haterist, what glue did you use to stick on the magnets? Is normal super glue OK? Graham

Of course, I'd love to see a line of Macross Zero HCM Pro toys from Bandai, but I really doubt it will happen as Bandai seems to have no respect and interest in Macross. When Bandai have made Macross toys or models in the past, they either do a half-assed effort like the Macross 7 toys and models or are too late and miss the boat completely, like with the 1/55 reissues which flopped due to too much competition from the existing Yamato 1/60 and 1/48. And if Bandai did decided to release some Macross toys in the HCM Pro line, I bet they would just release VF-1 toys (yawn, like we don't have enough of those already) and then they would wonder why nobody bought them....jerks! Bandai, if you are listening, lets' have either a 1/55 Chunky Monkey VF-0A/B/D/S or a line of HCM Pro Macross Zero toys. Graham

Although the HCM Pro line seems to be well sculpted and engineered from the photos we've seen, I think Bandai is making a huge mistake going with this tiny 1/200 scale. Even if I was still into Gundam, I don't think I'd be interested in toys this small. And I personally strongly doubt that we will see any Macross toys in this line. Lots of Gundam, some Super Robots, maybe some Dunbine, Patlabor and L-Gaim, but no Macross. Graham