Graham

I saw these in person a couple of weeks ago and I think they look great. The light color of Max doesn't bother me at all. And nope, this is not the pics coming sometime between Jan 22-25. That is a completely different product. Graham

I've already got Matrix, Reloaded and Animatrix on DVD. Still considering whether or not to buy Revolutions when it is released. I don't think releasing the Matrix on me will make me love Transformers. Weird guy Graham

I'm at work now, so can't take any pics, but for those of you who are not familiar with these figures, you can see them on Bandai's site here. Also, the Q-Rau and Glaug are not in scale with the VF-1 battroid and Gerwalk figures. A couple of other points: - The Q-Rau has trouble standing by itself. It comes with a clear plastic support base that you attach to the heal of one foot to help the figure stand. I'm wondering if the molds for the battroid figures are starting to wear out, as the joints seem significantly looser on these Mission # 3 Battroid figures, compared with the Mission # 2 Battroids. Also, on these Mission # 3 Battroids, I'm having real problems getting the right shoulder to attach to the torso. It's a pesky ball and socket joint and the torso mounted ball, just doesn't want to stay on the shoulder socket. Don't expect too much from gashapon figures. Graham

The Bandai Macross HG Third Mission PVC Gashapon figures are now available in Hong Kong. I just bought the set of 8 figures from the Animate branch on Nelson Road for HK$128 (approx US$16.40). The set consists of the following figures: - Quadluun-Rau (TV version). Glaug. VF-1S Hikaru Strike Valk Battroid (DYRL). VF-1A HIkaru Super Valk Battroid (DYRL) VF-1S Focker Strike Valk Battroid (DYRL) VF-1A Max Super Valk battroid (DYRL). VF-1J Max Super Gerwalk (TV). VF-1J Millia Super Gerwalk (TV). The Battroid figures are basically identical in terms of design and articulation (about 16 points of articulation) to the 2nd Mission figures. The only differences of course are the addition of FAST packs and the different paint schems. The FAST packs are removeable. However, if you remove them it leaves several obvious holes showing in the legs and pegs showing on the battroid's arms. The Quadluun-Rau, which is the figure I was most looking forward to is disappointing. It is basically a big solid lump of PVC with almost no articulation. In fact only the arms rotate at the sholders, that's it as far as articulation is concerened. My recommendation, wait for the extremely well articulated and detailed Yamato Q-Rau. The Glaug is impressive (as were the mission 2 Regults). It features about 12 points of articulation and can adopt some neat poses. I think this is my favorite figure of this set. My only complaint is that the barrel of the top gun was slightly bent (Gashapon disease), but this is easily straightened be soaking it in boiling water for a while or heating it with a hair dryer. The two Gerwalk figures are not too bad. The FAST packs are also removable, but as with the Battroids leave several obvious holes and pegs showing if you do choose to remove them. The Gerwalks have about 8 points of articulation. Graham

It's not only the YF-21/VF-22 that has wrist lasers (actually it has wrist & elbow lasers). Several other VFs also have inbuilt beam weaponry. Some that spring to mind are: - VF-17D/S - wrist/elbow and chest lasers. VF-4 - forearm lasers. Some variants of the VA-3 - palm lasers. YF-19/VF-19 - wing root lasers. And some VFs do have sensors on the back of the head. the VF-17 and YF-21 are two that spring to mind. 4 legged mecha would actually be quite practical (greater stability than 2 legs) for ground combat as shown by some of the mecha featured in the various Patlabor animes. Even Macross Zero features a 4 legged mecha in the land mode of the new amphibious Anti-UN mecha shown in episode # 3. Graham

Nope, I've always disliked Transformers, even as a kid. I tried watching a few episodes back in the 1980s, but found the robot designs, story and concept just too silly even then. I mean come on guys, how can you actually find the Transformers robot designs appealing? I just don't get it, never have, never will. Also, I've never owned a Transformers toy. I'm not really into toy cars and trucks. I'll admit the vehicle modes on some Transformers toys look reasonably okay, but the robot modes suck ass bigtime IMO. The sole exception being the Masterpeice Convoy (Optimus), which even I am willing to admit is a well engineered and designed toy. The most charitable thing I have to say about the Transformers cartoon is that the movie was nicely animated (I cheered when the good guy characters died). I love giant robot anime, but only with mecha as non-sentinent, piloted war machines in a military setting. Graham

Actually, the photo above makes the Forces of Valor Tornado look half decent. You really have to see the Tornado and F-14 in person to fully appreciate how awful they are. But I agree their Apache, Blackhawk and some of their tanks look pretty good. Graham

Yeah, these are sorta based on the old 1/100 toys but scaled up. Still smaller than the 1/55 though. I bought one early last year for HK$16 (US$2) and frankly it wasn't even worth that. The plastic was very brittle and the toy snapped in three places (hip bar, tail fin hinge and shoulder joint) after only two transformations. Graham

Nice, but why did you chop off the front of the gunpod? Graham

Well, I didn't measure the Millia figure last time I got to handle the Q-Rau toy. However, if we assume the Millia pilot figure is to scale, then according to the Macross compendium, the full size Meltran Millia is supposed to be 855cm (8.55m) tall, which means a 1/60 scale version should be 14.25cm tall. Graham

Nice Dual Strike pic, but what the heck is that really ugly blue robot standing next to the Dual Strike? Graham

Australia is dumping their F/A-18s in favor of Flankers? That's the first I've heard of that! IIRC, I thought Austalia was planning to go with the F-35 JSF (which is a big expensive mistake IMO), as that plane tries to be too many things at once and does nothing particularly well. Australia would be much better going with the Eurofighter Typhoon, which I consider to be superb multi-role plane (at least in it's Tranche 2 or full up Tranche 3 configuration). Graham

The Millia figure is anatomically correct Graham

My top 10 anime are: - #1 DYRL (of course). #2 Macross Plus. #3 Macross 7. #4 SDF Macross. #5 Macross Zero. #6 Bubble Gum Crisis (original). #7 Wicked City. #8 V Gundam. #9 08th MST. #10 Combattler V (My first introduction to anime back in 1976). There's lots more anime I like of course. Honorable mentions go to: The Guyver, Patlabor OVA/TV/Movies, GITS SAC, Jin-Roh, Akira, Nausica, Laputa, Legend of Galactic Heros, Mospeada, Orguss, Vampire Hunter D (new ver.), Memories. Ninja Scroll, Cowboy Bebop, CCA, 0080 War in the Pocket, Blue Gender, Escaflowne, Nadesco, RahXephon. Graham

The chance of seeing any Zentran/Meltran mecha in 1/48 scale is zero. Graham

Corgi don't make an F-14 in their 1/72 scale Aviation Archive series. IIRC, the only Jet fighters they make are the F-4 Phantom, the English Electric Lightning (one of my favorite planes), the Harrier, Tornado and the Bucaneer. All the aforementioned planes have been made in several different color schemes. Corgi also makes some great WWII 1/72 and 1/32 scale aircraft replicas. Graham

That grey part is the removeable engine intake cover, which you should remove for displaying a non-FAST pack equipped Valk in fighter mode. Or to make that a bit clearer, the only time this cover is open in the anime is when the valks are flying in fighter mode (and perhaps also Gerwalk mode as well) in an atmosphere. In battroid mode, or when the Valk is in space this cover stays closed. When you remove this cover, you can see the front of the engine. Graham

If your alternator is smokey, I suggest a visit to an auto mechanic to get it fixed. Graham

I've found a chainsaw, machette or meat clever works well on Harmony Gold products Graham

If you had a Roy type VF-1S I'd say go either Super or Strike, both look fine. But as you have the Hikaru VF-1S (my favorite 1/48 BTW), I'd say go Strike. It really looks much better as a Strike, which is how it is shown in DYRL. Graham

Forces of Valor toys recently started selling here in HK, so I've had a chance to examine them and I think if anything, David is being too charitable about the quality of their products. IMO, the panel lines on their 1/72 scale F-14 and Tornado suck bigtime. Basically a half blind retarded drunken chimpanzee with parkinsons disease could do a better job of panel lining. The panel lines on the Forces of Valor toys are ultra thick and way too dark. Most of them are not even straight, they wobble all over the place and there are lots of overruns, where the panel liner slipped and didn't clean up. The only Forces of Valor products that look half decent IMO are the 1/48 Apache and Blackhawk. PS, anybody wanting a good Tornado should buy the Corgi Aviation Archive version. Graham (still waiting for a 1/72 Corgi Eurofighter Typhoon)

Yes, the pilot has a face (Millia) under the visor. The visor is a seperate piece to the rest of the helmet/head. However, I'm not sure if on the production version, the visor will be removable or will be glued in place. Graham

As we have two near identical topics active at the same time, I'm closing this one. Graham

Quite looking forward to this. I'm a big fan of zombie movies, and I like Milla (especially naked) Graham

Tenjin's Valkyrie Maniax site has this good size comparison pic of a VF-1 and F-14. Graham