David Hingtgen

IMHO if you have one 1/48, you have them all. Pick the one you think looks best, and if it's a hard to find one--save up and wait. Far better to have a 1/48, a VF-0, and a YF-19, than 3 VF-1's with different color stripes.

It's a common question, but there's no "good" answer---I just read and observe a lot. Never in the military, no pilots in the family, nothing like that. A lot of "detail knowledge" comes from building model kits---we inherently notice any difference in paint or configuraton, and always want to know why/how, to insure accuracy. I've learned more about the F-15E from reading reviews about F-15E kits, than F-15E books. And my Macross "history" actually goes back to Transformers---I never saw Robotech, but while "reminiscing" about old toys I remembered that my bother owned a Jetfire, and it was the best TF I never had. Researched a bit, found out Jetfire was really a Macross toy, and soon thereafter found subbed M+ videos. Went from there.

In real life drop tanks are often colored to match a plane/squadron, but there's no really off-colored planes in a real squadron---you can see the CAG and CO planes in a naval squadron with colored tanks but they will still be suitable for the other planes in the squadron. Like the Jolly Rogers---sometimes the commander's plane will get black and yellow tanks. Those tanks would still be appropriate for the low-vis grey planes in the squadron, as those are inherently the squadron's colors. Not that they'd get switched around much, F-14 intake tanks and F-18 center tanks are carried 99% of the time so there's little opportunity/need to change them. As opposed to say custom tanks for Nora, which would look really wrong on any non-pink plane. Also, in wartime, any "custom" tank probably wouldn't be used---when US planes "go to war" and there's a good chance drop tanks actually will be dropped, they switch to cheap, temporary "disposable" tanks, and they wouldn't be custom-painted like a peacetime tank that's expected to remain attached to the same plane for months on end. For a long time nearly every drop tank the US had was 36375 grey (same as missiles, bombs, pylons, and rails) as almost every plane had that color as the belly camo color, but due to the F-15 changing to the Mod Eagle scheme and the F-16 switching to two-tone, there's 3 main colors now. (ironically the Harrier's custom 36495 tanks switched to 36375) When all else fails, go with 36375 grey. It's never the 'wrong' color, on any part of any plane.

I went with all I bought new. Because otherwise, if say a certain 1st ed YF-19 got swapped around between 5 different members here, and they all entered it--that's 5 times as many YF-19's as were actually sold from a dealer (and Yamato made money off of). I would suggest just stuff you bought that was new, whether you now own it or not.

BBTS just updated---Jan 2007.

Don't worry, NB4M does perfect color matching.

Based on current intermixing, I'd say that while Yamato may have rather "bright" colors, the combinations aren't unrealistic. Go look at current US Navy bombs. The seeker/fuse, body, and fins, can all be different colors due to swapping/age, plus live vs dummy. Blue bombs with green fins, blue bombs with gray fins, green bombs with grey fins, grey bombs with green fins and green seeker, grey bombs with grey fins and green seeker, etc. Missiles were the same "mix" of white and grey parts for years until the white was finally used up. IMHO Yamato is pretty close---there's not that many colors, just a lot of combinations. A bit unrealistic, but nothing severe. The only thing I really have an "issue" with is Yamato's use of red--it's almost flourescent. Note: Harrier-exclusive weapons are painted to match Harriers (only weapon I can think of painted to match a particular scheme).

Where have we seen custom-colored ordnance? I can only think of white, and low-vis----which is the same as we have now. (though I think all the white is finally gone, from the US inventory at least--still plenty of green bombs left though) Does the stealth have black missiles or something?

My translation of the translation: A new life form called "Hardy un" (I won't even try) shows up at a time when the human race is at the peak of prosperity. It rapidly grows and attacks humanity. The NIDF was formed to fight Hardy un. The scientist "Flow princess" shows up to investigate the relationship between The Book of the Dead and Hardy un. (And if I get the middle part right, Flow Princess and the hero-boy-pilot will be the main pairing in the relationship category) Of course, I could be totally wrong. Ever see the grammar test that is simply a letter missing all the punctuation? Depending where you put the commas and periods, it's either a love letter or hate mail. And each option is equally grammatically correct. And that's a situation in your own language! (the troubles of translation)

Define "first time collector". Are you looking to make investments, or just want the toys?

Perfect means you don't have to remove/swap large parts to transform it. That toy is Yamato's 1/48 VF-1J Super Valkyrie, Milia Fallyna Jenius. http://www.hlj.com/product/YMT00032 And it is very, very, hard to find now.

I'd suggest looking over the SHE VF-4 instructions, shows it step-by-step. Generally--there's a LOT of parts and folding panels involved.

Ok, don't know what happened there. I fixed the poll options, but then the entire poll itself disappeared. I'd suggest starting a new thread. Never had that happen, I've edited polls without problems before. Maybe it thought your poll was beyond help or something.

I wondered about that, as VF-1 usually had them centered vertically, or even just below--but that would have put them right over the chine on a VF-0. Though the -19 has its kite across the chine. BTW, "NE" is from when VF-1 was assiged to Carrier Wing 2 on the USS Ranger. Just FYI. VF-2 was paired with VF-1 for as long as VF-1 existed I think. VF-1 is THE Tomcat squadron IMHO----it was created for the sole purpose of being the first Tomcat squadron, and disbanded as a Tomcat squadron. (Always wondered why VF-2 was spared, instead of VF-1)

Finally, pics of the Wolfpack stickers applied!

Aren't the fins as big as they can be, yet still accomodate the "backwards" foot/ankle in GERWALK? AFAIK that's the limiting factor on the -19's v.stab size. You could make them larger for a battroid/fighter only option, and much larger for a fighter-only option. But to do GERWALK mode, there's not much you could add I think. (You could make them taller, and not increase the chord, but then you have the shape/proportions off)

All I ask is that they don't "imagineer" "western" sounding names like they did in Gundam SEED. I think that show may be the only example of Engrish names.

A secondary concern for the white wings was hot fuel vapors.

IMHO the 0 is just "easy" compared to the 19 to do accurately. It's not that different from the VF-1 which Yamato has lots of experience on, and uses little anime magic. To do a -19 in 3D is almost impossible, and I think they did a great job. It's not very noticeable, but even the "simple" way the wings fold back into the wing gloves to transform to battroid uses anime magic--it still hasn't been done "right" in 3D and probably never will. On the -19, even things like that (that you don't think/expect to use anime magic), do. (If BBTS ever gets their shipment in, I'll know first-hand how well they did).

Little update from Boeing: All 787's will have white wings, period. It'll help reflect heat and keep the composites cool. First grey engines, now this. Some airlines will look really weird with that combo. I still don't get the reason for grey engines--Boeing said it'd cut drag, but I've never heard of grey paint having inherently less drag. I could understood if they said no multi-color stripes and logos, as the demarcation line/decal edge DOES create a miniscule amount of drag, but surely if they have "low-drag grey", they could make "low drag white"--that'd cover 95% of paint schemes.

Is that more of a "VF-0 has more engraved details" comment, due to the YF-19 line art being more inherently "plain"? Just think of the YF-19 like the Super Hornet---the skin is made of fewer, larger panels, with 1/10 the hinges/rivets/fasteners of older planes. Super Hornets are pretty smooth and featureless up close, exact opposite of the F-14. Same should be true for VF-0 vs YF-19.

The tornado in Florida today was direct hit on Embry Riddle, multiple planes destroyed: http://erau.facebook.com/album.php?aid=202...amp;id=39700384

Do we know Block 1 THROUGH 5 existed? Or are only 1 AND 5 mentioned? Rarely are block numbers sequential. And having 2 sequential numbers (5 and 6) doesn't at all mean others are sequential. The F-16 skipped right from block 1 to block 5.

The Yamato Garland seems to break its arms more than any other toy mecha has ever broken anything. A quick check at ToyBox DX pretty much shows it to be "problem of the year". You probably could get a third, fourth, and fifth, and have all their arms break off in a day. You might just want to cut your losses, unless you want to keep paying and paying.

Re: -19/21 fold ability I always got the impression the -19/21 were the only ones able to use the fold booster, that was their special ability. (though didn't we see Gamlin use one on his -17?) Maybe the booster is actually powered by the valk's engines, and only the high-power engines of the -19/21 etc can produce enough power to allow the booster to work. Or, the system wasn't ready yet, and they had to use the fold booster since it was an emergency. (many a plane has had its first flight with a block of lead in the nose instead of a working radar)