danth

I don't think it's getting a free pass. I think we can all agree that the canopy hinge really sucks. The battroid's arms seem a bit too long as well. I think a lot of us are relieved that this toy already looks light-years ahead of the craptastic Bandai VF-19. Maybe people just don't expect as much from Bandai when it comes to Macross toys. Honestly, I didn't even notice the hinge until it was pointed out, so I think others might not have noticed at first. The general shape and detail of the toy look pretty decent to me, though. But I'm not too familiar with the VF-25 design yet. I'm super critical of the VF-1 and YF-19 toys because I'm very familiar with exactly how they should look. I think people just get more excited about Yamato toys in general, and the iconic designs they get to make into toys. I know I don't care so much about the VF-25. But I did appreciate the post that had the Battroid line art next to the Battroid prototype. Someone should do that for the fighter mode.

I just realized something. A prototype made with a rapid-prototyping machine isn't really set in stone at all. If I understand right, the computer model can be tweaked and then another prototype can be spat out. No biggie. But when you make toys the old fashioned way, carving the prototype out of wood or whatever, it's a big pain in the butt to change anything, so they usually don't. Still. I've never seen a half decent-looking prototype that wasn't the finished design, except for Masterpiece Starscream.

In this thread at least, I agree. Eugimon, we're in a thread where everyone is bashing Bandai's prototype, and you're angrily complaining about people bashing Yamato. I don't get it.

It definitely goes a bit nuts around here when Yamato releases CAD drawings, and the drawings are always heavily scrutinized. I believe it's fair to criticize a CAD drawing because at that time there's still hope that problems can be fixed. However, I don't believe there's a cabal of Bandai sycophants who are hostile to Yamato. Sure, there are some people who have been burned and resent the way Yamato is worshiped by some, but I don't think they're rabid Bandai fans.

Right on. Prototypes are fair game if you keep in mind that it will look different painted and transformed correctly. Unless it's just a mock-up, like the very early VF-0 prototype from Yamato (Remember that one? It was based on the 1/48). But modern transforming toy prototypes rarely change at all.

I don't think this "Bandaide" boogey man of yours really exists, but I agree that prototypes like these usually don't change one bit. It'll look different when it's painted and transformed properly, but it's almost certain the sculpt/mold itself is set in stone.

Just to be clear, I think Yamato is a good company that tries hard to make great products. Their strengths are their ingenuity and dedication to accuracy. Their products seem to get better, too. They do have QC issues, which doesn't make them bad people. Maybe they're willing to accept some QC issues so they can focus their resources on sculpt and design. As for complaining, I'm a critical person by nature and it's fun to be a critic, to tear apart things like movies or video games or toys, to decide what sucks about them. But let's say we're talking about a $150+ product that I'm considering for purchase. And let's further imagine this product is a replica of a design that I have an unhealthy fascination of, a love for if you will, based on childhood nostalgia. Let's also say that this is likely to my only chance in the next 20 years to have a decent representation of my beloved childhood toy. If the product has problems that ruin my ability to enjoy it, of course I'm not going to buy it. Buying it won't make me happy, especially at the high price. But not buying it doesn't make me happy. Seeing my opportunity ruined by poor design or poor QC doesn't make me happy. It actually really sucks. The only thing that can make me feel better is commiserating. So when people do complain -- and this is directed at the community at large -- try not to be a jerk about it. Don't ridicule them for worrying so much about a toy. If it's just a toy, then you shouldn't get so butt-hurt about the complaints. If it's just a toy, spending thousands of dollars on repaints doesn't somehow make you more mature than the people who are critical of it and pass. Also, if you really are tired of complaints, don't respond to them. One sure fire way to instigate more complaints is to dog-pile a guy who is annoyed about perceived flaws in a favorite childhood design. Just let the guy vent for the love of Jebus. Disagree, but don't deny him his grievances. The guy's upset because he really wanted to love and purchase a great toy. Show some empathy. Obviously, complaining in the wrong thread is stupid and annoying. Going on and on about a complaint is annoying, but honestly, it's usually caused by the people who aggressively harass and deny the complainer.

My feelings exactly. Really, for every one guy with a Yamato complaint, there are five guys that shout him down with crap like "if you don't like it, don't buy it (but by all means don't make constructive criticism)" or "Hah hah, it's just a toy you loser. Be a baller and shell out $200 unconditionally" or "How dare you, Yamato died for our sins." The fact that this thread is only about Yamato complaints really highlights the overall bias in favor of Yamato on this forum. Why is nobody tired of Bandai or Toynami complaints? It's really the complaining about complaining that bugs me. Commiserating with fellow fans about f*ck-ups on the toys you really want to love is understandable. Jumping down your fellow fan's throat for wanting to commiserate is unfathomable.

Awesome, I don't think I've ever seen that one before. Thanks.

If we're just talking about the tip, it's a separate piece. So you'd just need a screw driver, right? I was hoping Yamato would make it so the nose cone snaps in and out, and then they could just include a long and short version.

As much as I want to like Southern Cross, I can't say I like the mecha designs all too much. For sure the Hovertank is the least worst. But that Ajax is just ugly.

Yay, you nailed it! Exactly what I had in mind. Nice work.

I know exactly what you mean, but is the area behind the radome really curved? It looks like it's fairly straight to me. Based on what I've seen, I think it's still possible, but perhaps your eye is keener than mine. This is the valkyrie toy I've been waiting for, though. It looks perfect to me. Now all I need is a 1/60 VF-11 and VF-4 and I'll be done.

Damn you people and your posts. Where are all the new pics? Another question: Does anyone think this toy is gonna come with 2 different nosecone tips? Like a longer and shorter one? I think that would be awesome.

Damn, this manga is finally getting a show? Seems like it's been around forever.

Yes, you're both right. 80% of the posts would be saying what Shin said, 5% would be posting lineart to show that there are valid complaints to be made (which will only anger the Yamato fanaticists more), and the remaining 15% of posts would be roger trying to make fun of people.

Thanks. It'd be nice if case did come with one of everything.

These look pretty cool, but I'm only interested in the fighter modes. Can these only be bought as a set of three? Or is each individual fighter/gerwalk/battroid sold separately?

Whoa, VF-27? Pics please!

That's exactly how I feel. I voted for the Super O, but my second choice would be an Angel Bird. I always wanted one of those.

Yeah, what made San Andreas great were the RPG and empire-building elements. You could improve things like your gun skills by completing certain challenges, or health by lifting weights. I loved that. There seemed to be more options for clothing too. And you could buy properties to increase your income, expand your gang turf, ride a f*cking motocycle off a mountain and parachute to the ground. And there was a whole system for car customization. Also, the whole "smaller but more detailed city" talk I heard before GTA4 came out was bullsh*t. There are like a total of 30 buildings you can actually enter in the whole city, which is so lame. If you look at the map, you can see how there just aren't many places to go. Another gripe is that none of the missions were balls-to-the-wall crazy. It was just chase that car, kill those guys, repeat. There were scripted crashes in a few of the chases, but nothing memorable. Oh yeah, and some cars just refuse turn corners at normal speeds. It's ridiculous and not realistic. I really feel like the whole game review industry chose ad revenue over honesty on this one. There are two great things about GTA4: the overall graphics and the dialogue. Other than that, San Andreas was a better game.

Good luck, and be careful. It can be hard to match colors. I'm not speaking from any experience here, but maybe you should let the paint dry on some other piece of white plastic to make sure it will really be the same color.

Not sure if feet are so useful either, though.

I have to stick up for Toynami on this point. I think their Alpha is significantly different from the old Imai kit. But if it's true that the Toynami Alpha is based on the Imai Legioss, then Toynami made many significant improvements, such as: 1) front winglets are flush with the rest of the airframe 2)no gap between wings and airframe 3)vertical stabilizers angle out 4)front winglets meet in armo soldier mode 5)no big, ugly hinges 6)bigger wings 7)legs and feet more line-art accurate, aren't so squat So yeah. I think the Toynami Alpha is a great design. Just not well made.

The paint job so far looks great, MisterRyno, but most of the chest and wing area should be blue. Are you going to paint those areas too?