Renato

I don't think that's a 1/60 custom. It has the tow hook and a line across the front hip joint placement. It's most likely a 1:48 custom even though it's on the 1:60 page. Yea, thanks, EXO. I didn't even see the tow hook. Hey, for those who have the magazine, check out the last page of the feature. That custom 1/48 in the pic is actually up for grabs. I can't remember what you have to do (I don't have the mag with me right now), I think you have to write a load of crap about Valkyrie toys or something and then you send that in for a one in a trillion chance of winning the valk.. Actually there are other prizes too, including a Kawamori-autographed 1/48 FAST pack set, a bunch of CMs and other PVC figures, and a whole load of other stuff I can't remember. You have to choose, apparently. What's really strange is that the "choice" of prize which includes the custom valk ALSO includes the signed FAST pack set and a bunch of other crap, while the other choices are lame stuff. Obviously EVERYONE who enters the competition is gonna go for the main prize option.

MAGICK!!

If you can send just the script that would be nice.

Yeah, what was the deal with Gilliam again? He defected over to the anti-UN because the UN were corrupt or something... I can't remember any of that, can anyone summarise the VF-X2 plot?

What, you mean it's NOT real? Graham I think it's a general dumbed-down umbrella-term for the Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, etc. type of dinosaur. In any case it is, strictly speaking, not correct terminology and you'd never hear any paleontologists talking about one.

I love the tiny Nichimos, they're great and you've really done them justice, they look nice. Are those the reissues? The reissue macross comes with both cruiser and storm attacker mode, I'd really like to see the latter, especially with the ground and Tokyo tower thrown in there. I have loads of them, but I've only made a few, I won't have time to make them again in the near future. Also, put a coin or something in there to show people just how small they really are. On the whole, awesome kits.

Then as... what, exactly? A religion?? What is it, if not merely a source of entertainment? Explain, please.

Nah, I agree with that. Recently the new Appleseed incarnation has been really hyped up, though, so the powers-that-be are obviously making an effort to push it into the mainstream. Too bad it's a piece of crap. I heard from a fellow gaijin friend a while ago, "If anime is sub-culture even in JAPAN, where the hell is it mainstream??" Nowheresville, baby.

Yeah. I mean, with the Koenig they've already got two VFX2 items out, so why not do the rest? The VF-22 would just be a recoloured and slightly resculpted YF21, and like you said they can easily bring out another VF-19A if in fact they really haven't given up on the resculpt. The problem with VFX2 stuff is that I don't think Yamato ever wanted to go down that road in the first place. They only released the blue VF-19A in response to the problematic first and second edition YF19's. Even the box design was half-assed and rushed. As for the Koenig Monster, that's pretty much a direct response to fan wishes. So basically, all we have to do is keep telling Yamato what we want SPECIFICALLY (e.g. specifically state "VFX2 version VA-3", or "Manfred-type Crimson VF-17", "Pheyos Vakyrie [could be easily based off the SHE kit]", "Full Armor VF-11", etc.) and there's a chance they'll respond. However, buying products nobody wants (i.e. 1/100 VF-0S) in the hope that Yamato realises there is a market for other stuff is, in reality, only going to give Yamato the impression that THAT PARTICULAR type of toy sells, and we'll be inundated with stuff we don't want in the vain hope that we may get some rare design put into production. Yes?

Hmm... Certainly most of them. I got a Low-vis last month but I don't think that came with one.

How did you fill out the questionnaire? Did you fill it out in Japanese? Is it the same questionnaire that is included with the VF-11B FP? Yes; and yes, I believe the FP version also came with one. In fact I just got the FP version in April and yeah, I think one was in there.

Correction for me, these are the new stats: 1/48 - 1 1/60 - 3 1/72 - 4 And also a set of Fast Packs for the 1/48. Does that count for anything?

Really? Surely you mean "reduce"..? Anyway, I've already seen it happen to several Yamatos, in particular the first Hikaru VF-1A 1/60... It looked pretty bad. It would be a real shame for the 1/48s to go down the same path but I guess it's inevitable...

Wait.. We KNOW this? Why? Up until a month ago I thought the Koenig was a slim possibility.... Have Yamato told you in the past that they didn't put too much priority on the VT and VE?

yeah, I thought that is French too, anyone can confirm that? what that means? Yes it's French. Confirm what that means.. Hmm. Well, there are translations out there, if that's what you're looking for. Or did you mean what the significance is? I suppose French just sounded cool, much like the Pseudo-French in Macross Plus.

Hehehe. "Do you remember love?" LITERALLY!!

I did too. In fact, when I bought the original VF-11B I filled in Yamato's little postcard questionnaire and sent it back to them, putting the VB-6, Full Armor VF-11 and VA3 (I think, cant remember) in the space where you're supposed to put your Yamato future wish-list. I never thought even ONE of them would actually get made, but here we are... Looks like many other people wrote down the same thing. I guess that means Yamato does listen to the fans after all..

I believe that's what the Gerwalk mode is SUPPOSED to look like, without the shoulders turned out.

"Make Basara an archaeologist"?? Bwa-haha-ha! What you mean is "Have an archaeologist as the main character and call him Basara if you wish". I don't think you've thought this through. And where does Gamlin fit into all of this? Character development?? No, there wouldn't be any, because character development in M7 is centred on people getting to grips with Basara and his randomness. Roll on "Super Fanstastic Archaeological Space Adveture Show"!! By the way, the premise of your show sounds a lot like Macross Zero to me...

I'd like it even more if certain people bothered to make a decent toy of it.... By the way, just a little off-topic, how rare are the TECT customization parts for the old Bandai 1/144 M7 kits these days?

First of all, there's nothing wrong with hippies, as long as they wash and are responsible. As for your "epic space saga" scenario, yes, you are absolutely right, that's exactly what they should have done. You forgot to add one thing, though, and that's that they should have not called the show "Macross 7", but instead "Super Spectacular Space Battle Show #346" because that's exactly the kind of bog-standard anime it would have been. Here is what that show would have been like: -------------------------- UN Spacy: "We did it! We killed all of the Protodeviln! And we did it while you were running around wasting time and singing retarded songs, you stupid hippy." Basara: "Oh yeah, you're right. I guess I'll load my Valkyrie with missiles instead of Sound Boosters from now on. Feel my bullets!!" The End. ----------------------------- But why stop there?? Why not go back to SDF Macross and change that too?? ---------------------- Exedore & Britai: "We cannot allow Protoculture to become extinct. We have heard Minmay's song and have chosen to protect SDF-1 Macross" Global, Hikaru, Minmay, etc. "Die, evil aliens!!!" Exedore & Britiai explode. Massacre of Zentradi ensues until only Macross is left standing. Minmay: "We WON!! I told you WE CAN WIN!!" The End. ---------------- I've always thought Minmay singing to Bodolza asking if he "remembers love" while he's getting his brains literally blown away was a bit stupid. Or even Macross II?? ---------------------- Hibiki and Sylvie find rows of Zentradi being brainwashed. Sylvie: Are you gonna shoot them with your camera? Hibiki: No.... WITH MY FAT-ASS GUN WHICH I HAVE RIGHT HERE, LOOK!! DIE, MOFOS!!! All Zentradies are killed. Sylvie: My hero! Hibiki: Now that we know Ishtar is one of the bad guys really, we gotta kill her too! Sylvie: Yay! Then we can WIN. Everything explodes. The End. ------------------- Lastly, I have plenty of opinions regarding warfare, morality and pacifism, but I am not prepared to express them in a move to get into a half-assed debate on an internet board. I come here to talk about Macross in my free time of which I have little and I am sick of reading crap which gets in the way of my hobbies. I enjoy debates, but there is a time and a place for everything. Also, people should know the rules of a civilised and adult debate instead of the childish things which go on here. Well, I guess I'm talking to a brick wall here. What the hell do I know? I just come here for fun.

... But unfortunately I don't have a scanner. Anyway, for those that can check out the latest issue of "Figure Oh" magazine, there is a 20-odd page feature detailing the history of Macross toys from Takatoku to Yamato, with a little bit of news on upcoming items too. Oh, and the VF-0S still looks crap.

I saw it the day before yesterday, they were playing it in a shop. Unfortunately, there were TV screens at full blast all around, so it was difficult to hear what they were saying. I'm gonna rent it and watch it properly as soon as I have the chance. Watching that last scene -- that Ivanof is one major a-hole.

But you have to admit, Graham, the bloody Banprestos are better designed and better value than this thing. All you need to remove are the heatshields and maybe hands. And swing bars could be made of die-cast for the VF-0, since there is no other die-cast content in it whatsoever, meaning the whole thing would be light a a feather. That way it would be thin yet strong. It would be a similar deal to the 1/48 swingbar, only one bar for each leg, a la the Banprestos, or even the actual Zero animation. I don't see wh that's not possible. The more news I hear of this, the more disappointed I get.

I dunno... But let's face it: People who don't know about the Bud missiles in DYRL are not the same people who spend huge amounts of cash on 1/48 valkyries. In other words, only hard-core fans buy the 1/48 line so them not knowing about the Bud labels would be a rare case indeed.