Mr March

I gotta disagree about the battroid mode. If anything, the battroid mode of this new VF-0 looks far superior in proportion and design than the VF-1 1/48 Yammies. 313833[/snapback] No, no. What I meant was that the nose needle or as Graham puts it, nose antenna looks silly on the bottom of the crotch in battloid mode. It almost looks like the mech is peeing. I love how the battloid looks despite the antenna. 313926[/snapback] Hehehe, yeah it would look silly. Gotta be a way to remove or retract.

Such is to be the fate of the flat character in a horror flick

That's a very good question. Given the hip bar that must be place inside the nose (specifically under the nose, if it's anything like the 1/48), I'd say the nose aerial would be either detachable or not included. I gotta disagree about the battroid mode. If anything, the battroid mode of this new VF-0 looks far superior in proportion and design than the VF-1 1/48 Yammies. I am basing my opinion of the final VF-0 product upon the CAD drawing on the first page. Yamato may compromise the design so that the results are not as good. As it stands right now, it's looking better than my VF-1 Yammie in battroid.

I have to admit, the grey schemes on the VF-0A and the VF-0D Grey-Type are very good colors for a more realistic, atmospheric fighter. I won't mind if the VF-0D is put in grey and I would prefer a VF-0A before the VF-0. I just think the Big Blue VF-0D would be that much more visually stunning as a transformable Yamato Valkyrie than anything they put out yet. It would be different from the greys and whites released so far (Max and Milia excepted of course).

Wow. I'm very shocked by this news. I gotta say though, I am really hoping for the Big Blue VF-0D to be made. The 1/60 sculpt of the VF-0 looks very nice. It's everything I hoped the VF-0 Yamato would be the first time around.

Given the lack of detail with the marine and alien figures, I doubt there's any resemblance with the possible exception of the pilot's outfit.

This is ever the heated topic. It's always a bitter fan debate between Max, Isamu, and Roy every time it starts

Super Dimension Fortress Macross Max Jenius vs. Milia Fallyna (SDF Macross Episode 18) VF-1A Max vs. Queadluun-Rau Milia Macross Plus Isamu vs. Zentradi Rebels Fast Pack VF-11 vs. Nousjadeul-Ger Kai Isamu vs. Guld Fast Pack YF-19 vs. Fast Pack YF-21 Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket Christina vs. Mikhail Full Armor RX-78NT-1 Gundam Alex vs. MS-18E Kaempfer Christina vs. Bernie RX-78NT-1 Gundam Alex vs. MS-06FZ Zaku Kai

Makes sense. I like the attention that Aoshima paid to the film making these dropships. I have a friend who is just as big a fan of the Aliens series as I am. I'm gonna consider buying him a dropship for his birthday and I'll get him Unit 01. Thanks JsARCLIGHT

It's just a way of marketting. They probably saturate the colors in any photo they take, just to make the product seem more colorful and hence more appealing.

Hmmm, I'd like to know this as well. I wasn't aware there was any significant differences, at least not as advertisied on any of the websites selling the dropships.

I'm okay with part swapping the Landing Skids. It would have been difficult to make gear that could support such a large diecast piece. Even from the limited pictures available on HLJ, it was clear the figures lacked any significant detail. Especially the small marine figures. I agree that this Dropship and APC is way too overpriced. As impressive as they are, they simply lack the detail one would expect to find in such an expensive product. For the kind of money you pay, the landing gear should be built-in for both retractable/extended modes, the APC should be included, the cockpit/pilot should be accessible, etc. Problem is, there just isn't any other option if you want a dropship. The old Halcyon model is way too delicate, the customs are too few, and this is about the only non-model version of which I'm aware (it's also the best looking I've ever seen). So like my Yamato Valkyrie, Aliens Tech Manual, and all my other small, meaningful but unique products, I'll have to shell out the cash to get this ship cause the time between such product releases are decades and I don't have the time to wait that long.

You have to purchase the Dropship and APC seperately (at least from HobbyLink Japan). I've been hit with 16,600 yen total for the two, which is about $177.14 CAD or $145.37 USD.

Whoa! "Missing pages"? I have to know what those are!

Well VT 1010 is basically right about the book. Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual is basically all about the USCMC from the movie Aliens. It contains numerous full color photos of the props and large photos of the full sized mock-ups; including the actual working APC from the film. You'll also find large cross section drawings of the UD-4L Dropship and the USS Sulaco, as well as three-view schematics of the UD-4L Dropship, USS Sulaco, and the M577 APC. While the focus is on the three most prominent pieces of military hardware we see in the films, the book also features details on the extended universe equpiment of the USCMC, including sniper rifles, rocket launchers, tanks, space suits, and more. There are also pictures and scehmatics on synthetics and power loaders. What seperates this book from most other fan books is the thought and effort that went into creating the descriptive text and technical analysis. The book goes into detail you'd find in modern military texts, talking about everything from design purpose, limitations, logistics, cost, effectiveness, combined arms, and all the factors of military hardware you'd expect to see considered in a proper dossier. While it's not flawless, author Lee Brimmicombe-Wood presents a work which is on par with fictional technical authors like Curtis Saxton and is about the best a fan can ever expect from this franchise. As has been mentioned before, the book is somewhat hard to find. The Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual was published in 1996, a decade after the 1986 film and well past time the popular culture hype had disappeared from public notice. As a result, it had a relatively low initial print run. I personally wasn't even aware the book existed until the late 1990's, mostly thanks to internet access and investigation on my part. It is no longer in print and you must find it via eBay, various online new&used traders, and used books stores. However, I only purchased my copy (in near-mint condition) about two years back, so you can still obtain it. Here's a link to the details Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual

Ordered the Dropship and the APC. Can't wait. This has given me the urge to read through the Colonial Marines Technical Manual again. Fantastic book. If you're an Aliens fan and you don't own it, you're really missing out.

Looks spot on so far. I've seen the schematics in the B5 Security Manual and your models are very accurate as far as I can tell. Looking forward to the finished model.

Just got my order confirmation from HLJ. Looks like you were right, today the stock on the APC just went low

A lot of film can be pretentious, regardless of its location on the atlas. But don't be so upset by a few bad films. Korea in particular is beginning to experience a reniassance of sorts in the film industry. Some of the films coming out of Korea are truly bold and have some compelling drama. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance was quite moving, despite the high level of violence in the subject matter. Keep watching and I'm sure you'll find a few more gems. I'd recommend some Kar Wai Wong if your looking for some good "Artsy" film from Asia.

"Half of everything is luck James" While I can't argue that, I'll probably go see the Transporter 2, just to watch him kick someone's ass. I'll go see it just because it's Statham. I don't make this exception all the time (I only considered going to see Cellular, but luckily came to my senses), but I do love action flicks, even some of the bad ones

Statham, you deserve so much better than Hollywood is giving you. I can only pray Vaughn makes it in tinsel town someday and maybe then you'll have some material worthy of your talent.

Don't wait .. go for it mate I brought mine to my office yesterday because some of the folks want to see it .... it only takes around 10 minutes before a couple of the guys run back to their desk and place an order at HLJ 312423[/snapback] Damnit! Better make that order today.

VERY NICE! It would be very cool indeed if the hands came painted with the black internal structure. One more reason to buy the GBP.

Glad this thread popped up again and I could get another look. You don't happen to have a website with your work do you? It'd be nice to visit every few months to check out new stuff.

Well, there it is then. I'm almost sold