Graham

Yamato is partly to blame as well. Their master shipping cartons could do with being much sturdier. Also, IMO the card that the 1/48 box is made of is far too flimsy. Graham

The Star Wars ep 1 & 2 parodies are also hilarious, but it's not excatly difficult to make fun of them. Graham

Heh, so I wonder what the Soccer Moms would think of Tokyo Marui's new line of 'Boys' airsoft guns aimed at 10 year olds? See here. Heck, they even use Gaijin kids in the advert Political incorrectness at it's finest! Graham

Please refer to pinned topic above from now on. Graham

Well, you would think if they are out in Japan already, they would be showing up on Yahoo Japan auctions. So I just went to check and found only 2 auctions listing the 1/48 VF-1J. However, both auctions are only showing stock photos from the Yamato website. No box pics at all, which makes me think they are not out yet. Usually once a toy is released, you will see lots of auctions on Yahoo Japan. Graham

The 1/48 VF-1J Super is a pretty amazing toy. I think you will all love it. No QC problems, great head sculpt and pilot sculpt and the TV hands are simply amazing. They look so good. Not sure how that guy got pics for his auctions, as I'm not even sure if the toys are out in Japan yet (Monkey Nugget do you know?). I haven't seen them on any Japanese toy site yet, which is strange as some sites like Noda-ya usually update every day. The toys are not on sale in HK toy shops yet. When I checked yesterday at several branches of Animate and Kanto Hobby,they said the earliest they would be getting stock is this Friday 28th November, or possibly early next week (Mon 1st December). Graham

Well, I'm hoping we do get a new Macross TV series rather than more Escaflowne. Of course, it would be great to have more Macross to watch and something to look forward to after Zero finishes next year. And of course it also means we will get more new VF toys, model kits, music CDs and hopefully another new PS2 game based on the new series. As long as the new series features plenty of VF action and some decent music then I'll be happy. To me, Macross without VFs is not Macross. I personally thought Macross 7 Trash was very disappointing. And while I'm loving nearly everything about Macross Zero, I'm hoping a new Macross TV series would have more memorable music. Zero is the only Macross series so far where I cannot remember the music to hum or sing it Anyway, if Kawamori does a new Macross series, I'm sure that he will take it in a new direction that none of us can even guess at. Graham

I should be finalising the t shirts either this week or next, but I need to get some idea of the quantity. Graham

For those of you (like myself) who think Eva is way overated, annoying or just plain silly, here are the best parodies I have seen for some time. Be sure to read through the whole lot episode by episode. This is Thumbnail Theatre: - Eva TV. All 26 eps. End of Eva Graham

Heh, the way this thread is going maybe I need to discuss with Shawn whether we need to open a new section for Macross doll porn? Graham

Go on admit it, you just wanna look at pics of naked doll bodies Sheesh and I though I was bad, removing the skirt from the CM Minmay figure Graham

No, only two were released. Minmay in red dress and Minmay in DYRL Ai Oboete Imasuka dress. Graham

Just say NO! to live action adaptations of anime! I'm glad it got cancelled, dropped or whatever. Graham

Just to let you know, with the help of MW member Valkyrie, I posted a couple of topics in English on the official Japanese BBS for the Macross PS2 game. My first topic was asking if anybody knew what happened to the missing YF-19, YF-21, VF-0S and SV-51. I did actually get a couple of replies in pretty good English, but it seems like nobody there has any idea either. My second topic was suggestions for improvements I'd like to see in a sequel game. No replies to this one yet. I tried to keep the English as simple as possible. Anyway, my personal theory is that either Big West or Bandai decided to pull the other VFs to save them for a sequel game. If a sequel game is based on either Macross Zero or Macross Plus then there should be lots of Valk vs Valk action and hopefully a 2-player vs mode. Graham

Heh, about a year or two ago Universal Model Ltd (a model and toy chain here in HK) had a whole bunch of those Yellow Submarine Minmays, which they had to sell off really cheap as nobody wanted them. I think they were going for less than HK$200 (about US$25) at the time. As a side note, Yellow Submarine had plans to produce a Misa in bridge uniform and a Minmay in FB2012 concert clothes, but they never made it into production. I still have the original Yellow Submarine flyer somewhere. Graham

Wow, that is a very old B-Club issue from 1993 or 1994 IIRC. The article I think is talking about coming Macross projects. # 1 refers to Macross Plus. # 2 refers to Macross 7. # 3 (I think) refers either to the cancelled live-action Macross, Final Outpost Earth, or the Macross Plus Movie Edition. The CG pics were actuallty taken from the CG TV advertisment for the Superfamicon game 'Macross Scrambled Valkyrie'. It was a great TV ad. I think I still have it on VHS somewhere. Graham

For all we know, Kawamori may be working on a sequel to Arjuna! Graham

Luckily I can watch the movies, not just see them as stills. So, it looks like a big defensive battle around the Asuka, with Roy using the Armored VF-0S. And although it's not shown in the clips, I guess he must blow off the armor after expending all the missiles as we also see him in normal Gerwalk mode in the clip. Graham

I don't want to rain on anybody's parade here, but just because Egan Loo announces that Studio Nue is working on a new project, doesn't automatically mean it is a new Macross project! Yes, the chance is high it will be Macross, but I woudn't treat it as fact yet until we know more. Also, IIRC, there was already a thread a few week or months ago where it was announced that Nue or Kawamori is working on a new, as yet to be announced series. Graham

Guys, The new January 2004 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine (just out), has details of a mail-in campaign for some clear FAST Pack covers for the Yamato 1/48 (see pic below). As best as I can figure, you need to cut out some coupons that come with the magazine and mail them in along with ¥1,500. As usual, I'm guessing this offer is only available for readers in Japan Dengeki Hobby magazine has had quite a few of these mail-in offers before, but usually they are for limited edition color scheme Gundam Mobile Suit in Action (MSiA) toys. This will be the first time for a Macross item. As you can see from the page below, I think the Yamato 1/1 scale flight helmets are also part of the mail-in campaign as well. It looks like just the helmet by itself is ¥158,000 and the helmet with shoulder/back/chest piece is ¥238,000! Graham

One of the biggest problems with gameplay in M3 is battroid mode, as the turning speed is so slow. IIRC, it's a little bit faster if you boost while turning, but not much. I liked the idea of the giant bugs and they looked awesome in the opening movie. However, in the game the flying bugs were so disappointing and looked like giant fat Bumble Bees, no resemblance to the bugs in the opening movie! Also, IIRC there was a stage were you have to shoot down two bombers. This was very bad as the bombers were just stationery in the air and it was as if your Vak were attached to a peice of string flying between the two bombers. Graham

Hmmmm.....................smell the BS. I have tried the VF-1J Super FPs on a Focker VF-1S and they fit perfectly. So yes, they do fit on all 1/48s. Also, the FPs that come with the VF-1J are a slightly lighter shade of blue than the DYRL FPs. They are not green. The only parts that are different between the two styles of FP are the arm packs, which are TV style, but will fit on all 1/48s. Graham

Not sure what you mean when you say you can't follow the story of M3 as it diverges from the anime? IMO, the story of M3 is pretty easy to follow and doesn't really contradict anything from the various Macross animes, as it is set in the period 2014 to 2030, i.e. after the events of Space War One and FB2012, but before the events in Macross Plus and Macross 7. In fact M3 ties in nicely with some of the events mentioned in Macross 7, such as Milia being the Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center instructor, which is shown in Macross 7. Anyway, for those of you not familiar with the story of M3, here's what the Macross Compendium has to say: - 2014 United Nations Forces dispatch Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius aboard the UN Forces cruiser Algenicus to form the Dancing Skull special forces team and combat internal revolts and conflicts. M3 Episode 1 Aerial Dance [interception]. Battle of New Alabama Lake. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept an enemy aerial unit attacking a UN Spacy replenishment base and a spy piloting a captured VF-4 Lightning III on the planet Neo York. 2018 M3 Episode 2 Dancing Tightrope [Annihilation]. Battle of New Nile Weaponry Base. The Dancing Skull special forces team assaults the New Nile weaponry base and encounter a Zentradi Variable Glaug on the planet Cristrania. 2020 M3 Episode 3 Escort of Visitor. Operation Escort VF-5000. The Dancing Skull special forces team escort the Shinsei Industry VF-5000 being tested aboard the UN Forces cruiser Algenicus over the planet Neo York. The Free York Liberation League launches two attacks to capture the VF-5000. 2022 M3 Episode 4 Black Celebration. Invasion of the Secret Relics Base. The Dancing Skull special forces team destroy an abandoned UN Forces biological weapons research base at the site of Protoculture ruins on the planet New Asia, after the base is deemed a biohazard. 2028 M3 Episode 5 Feast of Sandstorm [Defensive]. Battle of the Weapons Research Plant. The Dancing Skull special forces team protect the weapons research plant on the planet Susia from Zentradi guerilla land units and aerial bomber formation. Major Maximilian Jenius appointed as ship captain of the stealth space cruiser Haruna. 2029 M3 Episode 6 Fire Carnival [interception]. Battle at [Dahan's] Satellite Orbit. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept an space unit and two Zentradi Variable Glaugs from a warship of the Zentradi terrorist organization Struggle in orbit over the planet Dahan. Captain Milia Jenius appointed as Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center instructor. 2030 April M3 Episode 7 Devil Gate Drive. United Nations Government Chairperson Rescue Operation. Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius temporarily rejoin the Dancing Skull special forces team with Moaramia Fallyna Jenius. The Dancing Skull special forces team rescue United Nations Government Chairperson Lawrence Yun Kemal, being held hostage by anti-United Nations forces with two shield-enhanced Destroid Monsters on the planet Bellfan. During the operation, the prototype YF-11s [also known as VFX-11s] are introduced into actual combat for the first time. M3 Episode 8 Dancing Skull [interception]. Battle Over Susia. The Dancing Skull special forces team intercept two aerial attacks on the United Nations headquarters on the planet Susia, including one by three unidentified Zentradi combining units. After the completion of the operation, the two [Jeniuses] are granted special leave. Graham

Only one Japanese Macross game was ever made for the Dreamcast, which was 'Macross M3'. As to whether it will play on a US Dreamcast, I've no idea as my Dreamcast is an Asian version. Anyway, M3, is widely regarded as being a very bad game with poor gameplay. On the positive side, it has an excellent opening movie and intro song, a fairly interesting story, which provides more background information on what Max and Milia were doing during the period after Space War One, but before Macross 7. Unless you are really a hardcore collector that must own every Macross game, I would avoid this one and pick up the far superior new Macross game for the PS2, or even the older VF-X2 or Macross Plus Game Edition for the Playstation, which are far superior to M3 IMO. Graham

It's not a hint or secret. I've stated many times on the forums that all of Yamato's future new transforming VF toys after the 1/48 would use CAD. Graham