Graham

Well obviously there will be the improved nosecone and flaps, first introduced on the Max 1/48. I'm sure we'll also see the improved 90 degree capable elbow joint, and redesigned easier opening front landing gear doors introduced on the Low-Vis as well. I'm not sure what other improvements we will see, if any. I was hoping for painted panel lines and optional swapable hands, but it doesn't seem like we are getting those. Graham

The 1/48 is much more stable than the 1/60, so I don't anticipate any problems. Don't be so pessimistic....lighten up and think happy thoughts Graham

Nah, IMO it looks more like an Armored Core (AC) mech, which considering that Kawamori designs all the mecha for AC is hardly suprising. Graham

Guys, the new October 2003 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine, just out today has some proper pics of the upcoming 1/48 VF-1S Hikaru, not just the photo-shopped pics we've seen so far. And yes, the heatshield is red This may just basically be a Hikaru VF-1A with a head swap, but IMO, it's still one damn-fine looking Valk. I'm just a sucker for the Hikaru VF-1S. Graham

Guys, the new October 2003 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine, just out today has exclusive first look pictures of the new Destroid design from Macross Zero, that briefly appeared in ep# 2 and should make a bigger appearance in ep# 3. Looks like those who theorised about the Destroid having hands on the elbows ala the VB-6 guessed correctly. Graham

Name: Graham Height: 5' 8". Weight: 150lbs. Age: 33, fast approaching 34....ugh! Location: Hong Kong Relationship status: married for nearly 6.5 years and been with the same woman for 13 years in total. Favorite Food: Cheeseburgers.

not even gonna ask... If Abombz is really SOL, then who is Tess? I've never managed to get this clear in my mind. Hey, here's an idea, 3 names........perhaps it's a Macross style love triangle Graham

Well, Newtype Asylum is still sorta around as Fantoysia Graham

2 of my 1/48s were free pre-production review samples. The other 8 I bought myself. Nope, no discount from Yamato. In fact Yamato won't even sell directly to me due to the HG/BW issue. I buy all my Yamato toys here in Hong Kong, usually from either Kanto Hobby or Animate. What you have to remember is that prices here in HK are cheaper. For the 1/48 usually around US$90 each. Graham

hint..hint... B) 1...vf-1a 2...vf-1s 3...vf-1a max 4...low viz 5...vf-1j 6...vf-1s hikaru 7...???????????? CF maybe No, no, no.......nothing like that, it's just that I have the following ten 1/48 VF-1 toys: - 1) VF-1A Hikaru displayed in Battroid mode. 2) VF-1A Hikaru displayed in Fighter mode. 3) VF-1A Hikaru displayed in Gerwalk mode. 4) VF-1A Hikaru kept in box. 5) VF-1A Max displayed in Battroid mode. 6) VF-1A Max kept in box. 7) VF-1S Focker displayed in Battroid mode. VF-1S Focker kept in box. 9) VF-1A Low-Visibility displayed in Fighter mode. 10) VF-1A Low-Visibility kept in box. I'm planning to distribute my 7 sets of FAST pack as follows: - 1) 1 set on VF-1A Hikaru Battroid. 2) 1 set on VF-1A Hikaru Fighter. 3) 1 set on VF-1A Max Batroid. 4) 1 set on VF-1S Focker battroid. 5) 1 set on my future purchase of the Hikaru VF-1S Battroid. 6) 1 set on my future purchase of the Hikaru VF-1S Fighter. 7) 1 set kept in box. Graham

I gotta agree, the FIX FA-93 Nu Gundam looks way better than the MSiA. I've never liked the FA-93 design much anyway. It's got all that extra armor, except over the area you really need to protect, the cockpit...stupid! Graham

Kawamori had nothing to do the design of the VF's in Macross II. In fact Kawamori hates Macross II. The mechancial designs in Macross II were handled by Kouichi Ohata (Mechanical Design Supervision) and Junichi Akutsu & Jun Okuda (Mechanical Design). Graham

The *quality* of the Bandai 1/65 DX VF-17S & VF-17D toys is excellent, it's the design, or more correctly certain parts of the sculpt that is not so good. While it looks great in battroid mode, in Fighter and Gerwalk modes it is far too chunky looking from most angles especially when viewed from the side, although it does look good in fighter mode when viewed from the top. The toy is all plastic, no metal parts at all except for screws, but despite this it is increadibly durable. It's probably on of the most durable transforming Macross toys ever made. The VF-17 toy actually features very good detailing for the most part, lots of panel lines. However, it does have a couple of issues: - 1) The landing gear is awful, far too simple. 2) The knees lack articulation to bend backwards, so you cannot make the toy kneel in Battroid mode, although if you are brave enogh you can modify the knees with some careful file work. Graham

Nobody talks to me............... (Cue violins) Graham

Hmm.......OK, let's make it how many you have bought. Graham

1/72 = 17pcs. 1/60 = 15pcs. 1/48 = 10pcs. Graham

Been meaning to do this for a while. I'm curious as to how many Yamato's everybody has. Can you please reply in the format below: - 1/72 = pcs. 1/60 = pcs. 1/48 = pcs. Please, just post like above. No pics, no irrelevent text. I don't need to see breakdown by type, just by scale and I don't care how many you are going to buy in the future, I just want to know the quantity you have on hand now. Be warned I will delete any irrelevent or off-topic posts. Graham

Is it going to be bundled with the Fast Packs as some sort Anniversary product (for DYRL's 20th)? Nope, it will not come with the FPs. So far there is no special DYRL anniversery product planned. Even BW apparently don't have anything special planned Graham

As others have mentioned, the photo on HLJ and Noda-Ya web sites is just a photo-shopped VF-1S Focker, not the actual VF-1S Hikaru. I have confirmed with Yamato that the VF-1S Hikaru will have a red heatshield. Graham

Sorry, couldn't resist posting these pics again from the old forum. Minmay and Mylene perform a duet! And then later that night, Minmay gives a special *private* show for Hikaru's eyes only................ Graham

I don't know the production run numbers for the Low-Vis and even if I did I wouldn't be able to say as Yamato never likes to reveal that information publically. Despite the Low-Vis having a Macross Zero style pilot and USS Asuka stikers, I'm having doubts now as to whether the VF-1 will actually appear in a later episode of Macross Zero. My theory is that any apperance of the VF-1 would make it that much more difficult to get the Macross Zero OVA past HG's lawyers and officially released outside of Japan. Graham

I'm going to buy 7 sets of FAST pack. Based on my conversations with Yamato yesterday, although they are trying their best to meet the end of August release for the FAST Pack, there is a possibility that it may slip to first week of September. Graham

OK, I'm back. Went out for an Indian meal last night with two of the guys from Yamato. Lots of beer was drunk and a good time was had by all. Unfortunately, although I got a fair amount of new info on what's planned, there is very little that I'm publically allowed to reveal. Last time I went for one of these dinners earlier this year I released far too much info on MW and got in big trouble. Anyway, I saw the finished VE-1 and VT-1 last night and very pretty they look. However, the boxes are huge, nearly rivalling the 1/48 boxes in size. I think Yamato must have 'Big Box Syndrome' or something Anyway, the VT-1 and VE-1 are currently on route to Japan from the factory so should have no problem meeting the scheduled August 31st release date. Didn't get to see any samples of the 1/48 FAST packs which bummed me out. I gather the FAST packs are currently in the middle of production and should be shipping to Japan soon, so hopefully they will reach Japan in time for the planned August 31 release date, although there is a possibility that we may end up with a first week of September release. The 1/48 VF-1S Hikaru is defintely scheduled for an October release. I can confirm that the heatshield will be red, not black. The official explanation is that when you see it as black in the anime, it is just because of shadow. No additional interchangeable hands are planned at this time for the VF-1S Hikaru which is disappointing. Basically, there wouldn't be time to get them sculpted, approved and into production by October. The posibility does exist that additional non-articulated DYRL hands may be offered at a later date as an upgrade kit though, so keep your fingers crossed. Lastly, I did suggest that we would like to see light grey painted panel lines on the VF-1S Hikaru, ala the 1/48 Low Vis, but the guy in charge of Macross product development didn't seem too keen on the idea. You guys are going to hate me, but I just plain forgot to ask about the 1/60 upgrade parts Other topics such as Macross Zero & Macross Plus toys, other future Macross toys and HG/BW legal issues were discussed in depth, unfortunately, I'm not allowed to talk about any of that. Sorry for the sparsity of new information, but my hands really are tied. The last thing I will say is expect to see some of the new really exciting Macross items starting sometime in Spring next year. Graham

CD Japan still doesn't list episode # 3 for pre-order yet. Anybody know of any other sites that have it listed already? Graham

I'm still sulking about losing the old post counts, although I understand the reason for it. But I was getting close to 3,000 posts damn it! Graham