do not disturb

i think they made it so you have to switch out the regular cockpit with the heatshielded cockpit. looking at the pics we have so far, i don't see how the HS would retract in anyway. anyone notice the 1D? i gotta chubby just looking at it. it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine!

^

finally! i haven't picked up any of the newer 1/60's but seeing as this is a unique 1st time release of this toy, i might be compelled to pick it up. i remember reading that the new 1/60s have some shoulder issues, i'm hoping that'll be resolved by the time this one is released.

sweeping generalizations, who cares? why get so butthurt over a strangers opinion in a toy forum on the internet? i think the average fan(everyones definition of "average fan" is obivously different) wouldn't be able to tell what this toy is. most average fans don't know much at all when it comes to specifics on anything. the average fan wouldn't know what they saw on TV some 25 years ago. thats my definition(along with the other stuff i posted) of what i think the average fan is. i know the internet is serious business for a lot of folks, like really serious business. so i'll just chill out now. i should add that anyone who wants to continue this, keep in mind....

your intial reply was as if i were specifically calling you out when it was just my opinion. you took it personal even though it wasn't directed at anyone in particular, then tried to make it personal by throwing your weak jab, please.

i don't remember blaming the manufacturer for anything? the only person/entity i "blamed" is us. and that special "tax" i speak of is from retailers. i don't pay any kind of tax when i get import toys from japan/china, i just pay shipping to the US.

not once did i ever claim to be an average fan. if you're posting here, if you're a member of this site, then you're not the average fan. the average fan still thinks robotech is the original series. the average fan wouldn't even know what a beta fighter is. the average fan might remember the alpha, if even that. the average fan posts on RT.com!

the YF-19 sold above the japanese MSRP. most people(in the US) paid $200+. i paid $160-ish shipped and i'm in the US. a japanese member of this forum paid $125. the YF-21 sold above the japanese MSRP. most people(in the US) paid $200+. i paid $160-ish shipped and i'm in the US a japanese member of this forum paid $125. the real problem is that the members/fans have gotten so used to the $200 price tag that the majority don't even bat an eye and plunk down our money. it also doesn't help that everyone outside of japan/china has to pay an you're-overseas-so-i'm-charging-you-more tax. these toys don't have to be expensive, we make it that way. its been said time and time again that if you want lower the prices, if you want your voices heard, do it with your wallets! threads like these don't do much else other than go in circles. and i agree reddsun1, these are in fact just toys and overpriced toys at that. its the reason why i sold off many of my macross toys.

alright, i'm going using the YF-19 as an example again. when it first came out, we all agree that it retailed for $200+, yes? but somehow i got the same YF-19 for about $160-ish shipped. and mind you this wasn't months later, i got them when they was first released. yes, yamato sets a MSRP but if they say something should sell for $150 yet dozens of people are placing pre-orders at HLJ for $200, what would you as a retailer charge? maybe a nice guy would sell it for $150, but the majority would sell it for $200 because thats what people are willing to pay, as was the case for the YF-19.

if you really are the average fan as you claim to be, let me ask you this... how many average fans have been a member as long as you? try none. and posts here as often as you do? try none. and exactly how much have you spent on macross toys? probably more than $500. so you aren't as "average" as you claim. BTW, your jab is weak but your baiting is sweet!

if you actually get a good one, let me know. i've bought 3 of them trying to get 1 good one. the last one was the best but only because it wasn't the worst.

no you don't, you really don't. even if you get a good one, it'll turn into a floppy mess after 1 transformation. i'd say wait for a better version or skip it all together. the ivanov was the most anticipated valk i wanted to own yet somehow became the most disappointing yamato toy i own. a total POS IMHO.

yamato has a set wholesale price, its the retailers that are marking it up to what the market will bare. i.e. when 1/60 YF-19 was released it was $200+, now a retailer would be lucky to get $150. the wholesale price was the same as the 1/48 but due to the demand and everyone pre-ordering it at that price($200+), every macross retailer marked it up accordingly. the way retail prices are set for macross toys has been the same. HLJ is almost always the first vendor to set a preorder price. the asking price is usually high just to see what people are willing to pay. if they get 1000 preorders at that retarded price, then thats exactly what they'll charge and all the smaller vendors will follow suit. if no one pre-orders(exactly why i always say its a bad idea) the preorder price will be lowered and the smaller vendors will follow suit.

if toynamis past says anything, i bet my leftest of testicles on it! its only a matter of time before all the QC issues arise and the complaints start pouring in. right now everyone is suffering from i've-waited-too-long-this-thing-shut-up-its-awesome syndrome. keep in mind that for the average fan or toy collector, this thing is beyond hideous...it just not a good looking toy. it also doesn't help that its difficult finding an alpha at a reasonable price and if you don't have the alpha, this toy is pointless to own. all this leads to 1 conclusion....sale rack baby!

when selling things at a loss is called a "loss leader". retailers do this with new products they know people want. i.e. music stores sell a brand new CD for $11.99 which is below cost in hopes you'll buy another CD at regular price, $18.99 or whatever. HLJ, is not using a $200 toy as a loss leader. its more likely that they got them on closeout from yamato who produced more than they thought they could sell. no retailer is going to take a $200 item and make it into a loss leader, no one.

what up ray! i ask that you look at the beta again. while its large in size, theres hardly anything i would say is complex about the toy or its design. its one of the plainest/simplest transforming toys i've seen in a long time. honestly, yamatos destroid is more complex than toynamis beta and it doesn't even transform.

another fine example of making mountains out of mole hills. it wouldn't be MW any other way!

i know you are! and i knew you'd get them all, haha! don't get me wrong, i want one, really i do. i just feel i'd be disappointed with either of them. yes i've been skating alot, thats why you haven't seen me around here. i converted my living room into a skateshop and working with the NYC parks dept and my sponsors throwing skating events in NYC. its a lot of work organizing everything but tons of fun and the kids really appreciate it. i actually got redbull, emerica, and volcom to sponsor my last event back in october. about 600 kids showed up from all over the tri-state area for a fun filled day of skating, i was super stoked to say the least. if/when i make it down there, we'll have to link up and hit some spots!

maybe i'll break down and pick one or the other after the holidays but right now, no. toynami, CMs, it doesn't matter, i think i'll be instantly disappointed as soon as i open either box.

its not so much tampo printing or details, its literally the toy's design. even though its 2008, it still look rather 80's ish you know what i mean? i know its a 80's design mecha but it just doesn't look like it has much to it. in any case, i don't have money for these luxury items as of late. real life stuff has put macross in the back seat...actually more like the trunk.

is it just me or does that thing look plain as all hell? its funny that it took so long to make what looks to be the most simple toy ever.

i've been so out of the loop, i have no idea whats going on in regards to mospeada releases. with all these legioss's and beta's, its seems like whatever you buy its not because its the best one, but because its not the worst one. as far as cyclone, i got first 2 megahouse release but they're both borderline craptastic so i haven't bothered to get the other/s. i thought about picking up the CMs but they got wheels/forks that don't line up which is totally unexceptable. the beagle looks promising but theres talks of toynami getting involved which means whatevers good about it will evitably turn bad. how do i make an informed decision when everything every company has put out is subpar? its like you just gotta deal with whatever you purchase instead of just being happy about it. help me!

haha, you never know in this place. someone almost always reads too much into my posts. also note, i misquoted graham(i'll fix my previous post after i post this). he said they make 1000 yen per unit, NOT that it costs them 1000 yen to produce them. anyway, like you said, its almost impossible to know what the actually production cost is per unit based on every dollar that has been spent to have them produced. i'm sure someone in yamato financial knows but they're not coming here to tell us nor are they going tell graham or anyone else in the public for that matter. i.e.if i made something that only cost me $5 to produce, i'm not going to tell you it cost me $5. i'd tell you it cost me $25 so i can sell it to you for $50, and you as a retailer can mark it up to a $100. know what i mean? the true cost will never be know but i'm pretty certain they're making more than 1000 yen per unit. its pretty clear that they're moving high quantities while the retail for their wares keep going up. they're making it for less, selling it for more because thats what the market will bare...not that theres anything wrong with that, thats business. people claim yamato is small but they are far from it. maybe back when the 1/72 came out but they made a killing on the 1/48 and it took them from a small garage company to one of the better companies producing high end toys for the adult collectors market. anyway, whatever the case, greedy is a bit strong and way too negative so i'd say they're business savy. same way i describe stealing something as liberating it from someone. again none of this is fact, just my opinion.

not to start trouble but just because graham says yamato only makes 1,000 yen profit per unit doesn't make it a fact. if they made 100000 yen per unit, you think he'd come here and tell us that? you think yamato would knowingly let out the real cost of production/profit margin, and blow up their spot? come on, lets be real. sorry graham but you never really say anything bad about them. i understand why you don't but the fact remains that you're cool with them and would like to remain cool with them. i know you're a fan like the rest of us but you're not going to publically bash them so your opinions are somewhat biased. this isn't a thread to bash/back graham nor me. if you have a problem with my post, please PM me and don't clutter the boards.