Mr March

My gawd, that Helldiver looks amazing! The colors and the gun looks just like in the movie. I didn't even realize it had a big combat knife until now

YES YES YES!!! A truly first rate model building job warpaint22! I really like the colors and the weathering looks great without being excessive. I too have a strong affection for armored Valkyries. The VF-1J GBP-1S Armored Valkyrie, the VF-0S Reactive Armor and the VF-11C Protect Armor are among my favorite Valkyries in all Macross. They always have been. I love the idea of disposable armor variants. Ironically, the RX-78NT-1 Gundam Alex from Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket is my favorite gundam, which probably has a lot to do with the Full Armor mode of the mobile suit

Ah, these are the moments I love. Official confirmation that stuff is coming. I don't mind not knowing 99% of what happens (though I'd be lying if I said I didn't WANT to know), but I love when a fellow fan like Graham can be given privy to information, confirm it to be real and then let's us know. Just knowing that officially more stuff is coming is a great reassurance. I really hate it when there is nothing coming down the wire, because you can't plan for it. Now I know 2008 is going to be big, so I'm saving up

A small disk with a peg through the center and one peg along the outer edge? That's for the gun pod. The gun pod disassembles and can be fitted with that part to make it appear collapsed. The peg along the outer edge of the disk can then be plugged into either the holes inside the lower arm FAST Packs or into the underside of the lower arm itself. This simulates the gun pod being carried

Thanks! It's a new scan; much better than the old scan (which has a few scan errors). I'm going to apply a new scan to the VF-4 fighter standard colors and I'm going to include a shadowless VF-4 original as well. I stick it in the next update. I'm probably going to color the VF-4 in that two-tone brown VAT-127 color scheme as well. I like it so much, especially they way it unifies the whole craft in a single motif. One thing I don't like about the standard VF-4 hull paint is the odd patchwork-like combination of colors. The VAT-127 scheme melds the beige sections, off-white stabilizer flaps and semi-recessed missiles into the brown color scheme. It makes the VF-4 look smoother and not so messy; not to mention the brown colors are very unique in Macross. I'm eventually going to have to make a separate section on my website just for custom color schemes and fan color creations. I've got a few kicking around my hard drive and I keep making more on the odd occasion (like the black VF-4). I definitely want them posted online for fans to enjoy.

Well...that's some good news. Much better than 2009! December is just around the corner too.

Here are the VF-4 color schemes that have been mentioned for This Is Animation Special Macross Plus: I'm uncertain how these color schemes fit into the Macross universe nor if they are canon. I don't think it hurts to have them included. I did use the VF-17T color scheme in the TIAS book for the VF-17T Trainer profile on my website, since the white and orange colors seen in that book are the only semi-official picture of a VF-17T (this is excluding the VF-17T Custom from Macross 7). I also remade the VF-4 "Nightmare" colors using a shadowless VF-4 scan from Shoji Kawamori's Macross Design Works. I think it looks a little better and provides more of a clear silhouette.

Welcome to Macross World atsui01 This video was pretty good. I was really impressed with all the special effects. The dramatic superimposition effects, just like the anime used. I also love the sound effects and your ghost taking reconnaissance photos in black and white was great. Fun little video.

***EDIT*** Just went through episode 26 to double check. VF-11's only.

Well, like I've said mike, it's really hard to come to any definitive conclusion with such wild speculation. Proceeding from the anything possible premise one could argue there's a VF-4 in pink with yellow polka dots somewhere in the 8425 number and technically no one could disprove something that doesn't exist. Kinda like god At any rate, I'm going to move past this particular debate. No hard feelings and thanks for your understanding. I'm glad you liked the picture. Hehehe, I'm honored I'm not sure if Macross 7 Trash is considered canon for the continuity. Anyone else know? I don't recall seeing the VF-14 in Macross 7 until episode 32, the the added feature "Macross 7 Plus" that plays after the episode. I only recall the appearance of VF-11s inside the Macross 5 fleet.

The Patlabor movies are definitely serious dramatic films and not typical action mecha movies. It's sci-fi for adults, no doubt. I adore Patlabor Movie 1 and Patlabor Movie 2. Mamoru Oshii's work is incredible in both films.

Wow! Fantastic photograph ikhii. Very well done indeed.

Ah, I see what you mean. The good thing about Revoltech figures is they are great to put into more reserved postures as well as wild action poses. I've got my VF-1J in a beauty portrait style pose right now that looks really sexy But rest assured the Patlabors do some really wild and crazy stuff even in the more reserved Patlabor films. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I think the Patlabor Revoltech is designed for dramatic leg poses even more so than my VF-1J or Eva Unit 00. Maybe it's just the mecha design itself, but the Ingram AV-98 looks really good with the legs in an action pose, moreso than the other two, IMO.

Well, it's not like they are Yammies, so I suppose double dipping isn't a big deal. And let's face it, these little figures are so cool any owner could certainly find plenty of buyers to sell what they don't want. Btw, the Type Zero looks really cool. I may have to pick that one up with the next batch of three

Well, like I said, I'm still not clear what all that baggage means or why my website was even brought into this debate. But in the interests of moving on amicably I'll just say fair enough. I think it's also important to clarify I do respect your opinion to interpret the black mystery aircraft as a VF-4, regardless of my own opinion or why I think that way. As for black VF-4's, "you can't say a black VF-4 doesn't exist, you can only say that we haven't seen one" is - with all due respect - about as contradictory a statement as it gets using any official benchmark. I will agree that as fans, we can speculate and even daydream how fantastic a black VF-4 would be and that it may be reasonable to assume it exists. But at the end of the day, a black VF-4 most certainly doesn't exist in Macross precisely because it's never been seen. And unlike toilets (gawd, I feel REALLY silly right now) a black VF-4 is not a necessary assumption the audience must make for the Macross universe to be a fully functional fictional construct (say three times real fast!) Regardless, here's something to help move my thread back into a more positive direction; I've created a black VF-4 custom color picture for you (using the VF-17 colors as a template). It isn't necessarily final and perhaps some details/colors could be changed/improved, but I hope you like it.

Very nice display. The Type Zero Patlabor and those Evangelions sure look purty. You did a really nice job with most of the poses, but I don't like the stances you've used for your two Ingrams. They look so blase compared to all the other wild and crazy mecha

What I say is in no way absurd when sticking to canon. Again, this "it could exist" rationalization is another go nowhere argument ad infinitum. From such a premise there is no limit to what "could be" in the Macross universe. When trying to unify facts into a cohesive theory we don't pull the blatantly unofficial out of thin air or damn what little evidence exists in favor of our own opinion. It may not be a VF-14 pre-M3, it may not be a variable fighter at all, it may not be a lot of things as we find ourselves once again heading down that ridiculous road of endless speculation that is getting us nowhere except to perpetuate an argument over a silly difference of opinion! However, it is far less likely a VF-4 and far more likely a VF-14 as I and others have clearly stated with the majority of official evidence we have on hand. Also, let's drop the character assassination. There's no need to drag my website into this, play veiled threats of diminishing respect nor try begging sympathy from the crowd by some faux concession that "makes me happy". This has been a fine debate of opinion up until this point. And for the record, I was enjoying myself. Regardless, officially it's not a VF-14, a VF-4 and nor any other plane in Macross made up until 1994. But if I had to state an opinion, it's design strongly resembles the VF-14 seen in Macross 7 Plus (Episode 32).

Hehehe, good size comparison I did the ankle/shoulder joint swap as well Fly4victory. I'm still at a loss to understand the attraction. With the exception of appearing under specialized studio lighting (like the advert pictures), dark shoulder joints still seem far more jarring and noticeable than white joints when on display in my room. Especially the way the dark shoulder joints create a color void gap between the torso and the arm, drawing attention to the gap itself. But at least now no one can complain anymore since both options are available to any owner

Just watched all three videos from the link. VERY pretty animation. Is there any news or rumors on domestic release as yet?

Thank you drew. That is fantastic news! You don't know how lucky I am. I was debating purchasing an AV-98 Ingram Unit 1 or a Unit 2. Even though I wanted the Unit 1 more, I purchased the Unit 2 to get the shotgun. Now I can purchase this new "film version" Unit 1 with all the goodies without having to double dip!

Here's some more Pictures of my three figs. I apologize for the horrible lighting. The Group Shot The Line Up The...er, even clone out

Oh, you're definitely more inclined to argue Keeping in mind my original post was just my opinion... The starboard engine nacelle clearly has no VF-4-style ventral stabilizer nor port dorsal stabilizer. As for the middle "fin", it's likely just that (or a dorsal airbrake). It's not large enough to be a VF-4 canard, not in the right place to be a VF-4 canard and not the right size nor the proper angle for a VF-4 canard. VF-4 FRONT Schematic case in point. The dorsal/ventral stabilizers on the VF-4 are nearly straight up and down and would be very prominent under the black aircraft, if it were a VF-4 which it is not, IMO. There are no obscured details or "black blob" problems with those forward engine nacelles. The details do not obscure that it is a smooth cone shape with no open ports on top for VF-4 cannons nor protrusions for missiles. In fact, a clear VF-14-style "ring" can be seen on the forward nacelle. Kawamori's statement stands and any attempt to diminish it only makes the statement utterly meaningless in any context. That's not unifying evidence to determine what the black aricraft is; that is dismissing evidence that doesn't serve a theory...the VF-4 theory. Same thing goes with implying the animators are clueless or the aircraft is a poorly drawn <insert aircraft here>. That's not clarifying, that's obscuring. Finally, yes there is reason to believe a black VF-4 doesn't exist; because it doesn't! But as luck would have it, a black VF-14 does exist. Ergo, more likely VF-14 than VF-4.

Well, the fact that Isamu is great and Guld nearly matched him in every way tells me all I need to know about Guld's considerable skill as a pilot. The rest of his performance in Macross Plus is just an added bonus. I've always been torn between the two pilots as far as a favorite. Guld is a very complex and sympathetic character dramatically, but Isamu is very charming and likable. I'd proably go with Isamu in the end because he's the most likable and least screwed up of all the characters in Macross Plus, with the exception maybe of Lucy or Millard

It definitely doesn't look like a VF-4, IMO. The craft under the helmet has no canards, no ventral rear stabilizers, no dorsal cannons on the forward nacelles, no dorsal/ventral missile recesses, it has what looks like a UNS kite on the outer dorsal nacelle that the VF-4 does not have and to state the obvious, it's colored black. And besides, if it was a VF-4, Kawamori wouldn't have declared the craft as unidentified

Found a picture of the magazine cover online: Indeed. Good stuff to know.