Batou

Little working floodlights, eh? I'd rather they leave it out and make it more affordable, but that would be undeniably cool. Without transformation, they might decide it needs some extra gimmick to sell well, and throw it in just for the sake of adding another bullet point to the marketing writeup.

Agreed. BTW, wasn't it the old ET game for the Atari where the marketing people had them so convinced of astronomical sales (which never materialized, obviously) that they actually manufactured more game cartridges than there were Atari consoles in existence? They were rumored to have eventually been buried in some landfill out in the desert somewhere. Sad but true lessons in business strategy.

Very true and worth pointing out. You have to cut all of these off the sheet yourself. The results are undeniably much better, but it will increase the time involved by quite a lot. However, I find that you'll wind up having to trim a lot of excess flash off of the included Yamato stickers anyway (some of them simply won't fit or position correctly unless you do), so expect to have to break out the exacto whatever you choose to do.

Hear hear. I could care less how popular it is, and I think the Hoary Froating Head is of the same mind on this one. It's his baby, and why on earth should he have to compromise his vision and integrity for the sake of mass-market appeal? Sure there's the money from merchandising, but I think Kawamori considers himself an artist, and I would say that Macross is his life's work (whether he'll admit to it or not is another story). I think Kawamori-sama is living comfortably enough, and has his priorities straight. No need to sell this one out just yet. I'd much rather Kawamori stick to his guns and do it his way, mass-market appeal be damned. When Macross (Insert Version Here) comes out, I'll tune in to see what's new regardless of when it's released. I might be the only geezer in the nursing home making "swoosh" noises while I fly my (now vintage) Yamato 1/48 around the room, but I'll be a blissfully happy old bastard. Look at the great music groups of the last few decades - I won't name names since tastes will obviously vary, but think about this: How often do the truly great bands release albums? Do they do it like the bubble-gum pop cookie cutter flash-in-the-pans that Mtv force feeds to the masses with a new album out every 9 months or so until they're burned out and used up and discarded like a used tissue? (breath) Or, do the great ones sometime take YEARS between releases, only putting them out when they have something to say and when they're ready to release it (as opposed to fitting the schedule of some seedy music exec looking to fund a new wing on their Beverly Hills palace)? Macross is like one of the great bands - it might not pull in as many new fans en masse, but the fans it has are devoted, rabid, and unquestionably loyal to a fault. I say leave Macross to Kawamori's best judgement. Macross 7 aside (and even that's debatable), he hasn't steered us wrong yet, and I don't expect him to. Let the attention-starved children have their new Gundam series and associated merchandise every year. Leave Macross fresh and for the adults who've been around long enough to appreciate it. If I have to wait 5 years for a decent Macross series, so be it. Better that than the alternative ... P.S. - No disrespect to Gundam fans intended. Hey - I like a few of the series myself. I just don't particularly like the way they keep rehashing essentially the same series over and over with not much new to show for it. It's very obviously become about making money, and not telling a story, which - let's face it - is what brought down even the mighty Star Wars from its pedestal.

Because I'm a cheap bastard. Seriously, because for the price of a Roy VF-1S Strike, I could just get a new fast pack for my 1/48 Hikaru, and then at least one of my Hikaru 1A's wouldn't be naked anymore. I hear what you're saying - I just don't want to spend much (if any) money on this.

Thanks for the response, guys. I'm aware of the plans for the 1/60 FP upgrade kits, but I just don't feel like waiting for it (or paying for them either - if I'm going that route, I'd just rather cough up the $50 or so for a 1/48 FP kit). I don't mind getting a drill to do this (if it's not too much - again, anything over $30 or so, and I'll just get another 1/48 FP), but I'm not really confident as to whether or not I'll ruin it. I got my little 1/60 Hikaru 1A for cheap, but I'd rather not mangle him if I can help it. Glue and sanding don't bother me - I just don't want to cause any "permanent" damage, and would prefer to be able to remove the armor if at all possible. Anyway, maybe it isn't possible without going to a lot of extra expense and trouble. I just can't help thinking that Hikaru's FAST pack would look much better (and correct) than having it on his TV 1J. I know Monkey Nugget has a thread ( here) where he's putting together an order for Yamato parts, but I can't think of a single Valk in this color that accepts FAST packs. Remember - the Hikaru 1A was all white - NOT the off-white featured in all of the later models (including the Roy 1S Strike and Hikaru's Super 1J). That though had occurred to me to just swap the backpacks, but since the color is off, I'd wind up having to paint them both. Not a HUGE issue, but I'd rather avoid it.

<_< Funny how that song still induces a facial twitch followed by uncontrollable rage. I stand corrected. Whatever it was, it was awful. I seriously would have preferred that they had just left it Macross and done the dub instead of "altering" it into Robotech, though (and I use that term loosely). Still, it's a little tough to swallow after getting used to my Animeigo boxed set.

Here's hoping some of you heavy-duty modders can give me some ideas: I'm looking at my 1/60 Hikaru 1J, and it keeps bugging me that you never once saw him in this valk wearing FAST packs. I plan on getting the 1/48 version with the FP's, which seems doubley silly, but hey - I just can't help myself (you guys can relate, right?) After having to cut my 1/48 FP order down to 2 (had to get the Elint and Super O, and had to draw the line somewhere), it looks like my 1/48 Hikaru 1A is going to have to go naked for a while. So anyway, I now have 2 FP-less Hikaru 1A's without anything to wear, and it occurs to me: Why the heck don't I just attach the FP's from the Hikaru 1J to the 1A??? Well, as many of you are probably aware, this is a little more difficult that it seems. Since there aren't any attachment points on the 1A, I'm a little puzzled how to get the things on there. I guess I could just sand the attachment pegs away and glue them on, but I'd prefer to have them removable if at all possible. I know I've seen people on these boards with either the Hikaru or Max 1A's wearing FAST packs. Can someone point me in the right direction here??? Thanks in advance for any help. Edit in: I guess it seems pretty obvious I'd have to do some drilling at some point, huh? Die cast, no less? I don't have any drills - nothing that could do delicate work like this, anyway. Hmmm... maybe I ought to think about this. Any suggestions on how to do this on the cheap? Maybe sanding and drilling isn't so bad of an option. Unless someone has any better ideas? Thanks again!

I've used Takatoy's stickers on all 3 of my 1/48's so far, and I can attest to the quality and love he pours into them. These are VERY well done, and mop the floor with the included stickers from Yamato. They definitely have more of that "painted on" look - not quite the same as decals, but good enough for me. No peeling whatsoever, and a very professional look. I've got a few stickers from Anasazi on order, so I can't testify as to how good they are yet, but I've heard great things. One thing's for sure - they look absolutely incredible. I've been dying to give these a shot, and can't wait to see how they turn out. One thing's for sure - after-market stickers are the way to go if you really want to pimp out your valks. The Yammie stickers are usable, but nothing beats some custom sheets from these two guys. Definitely don't ruin your 1/48 with the included stickers. $10 or thereabouts is SO worth the investment. Trust me - you'll be glad you did.

Definitely Macross Plus. Yoko Kanno is the ONLY musician associated with Anime that I can (and do) listen to outside of the series in which her music is featured. Sharon Apple isn't exactly my cup of tea, but it's definitely listenable. The symphonic stuff on that soundtrack was great too. Fire Bomber was quaint and mildly entertaining, but YK is imcomparable, IMHO.

Actually...there was. It just wasnt finished. It was Macross in English dub by HG. They still changed alot of names but it was cooler than RT. You can find the VHS on Ebay sometimes. I think only the first 3 or 4 episodes were completed before they turned it into Robotech. Actually, it was just the first episode they did as a pilot, and it's available on the RT box set extra disk volume E5. It was still edited (no Roy ogling Mimay's backside on the tarmac ), the plot was still changed (the Unifaction wars weren't mentioned, and follows the same RT theme) the names were still changed, and the voice acting is about what you'd expect. "Rick Yamada" specifically calls the Vf-1D a "valkyrie". Interestingly enough, it uses the same annoying voice actors, but none of the sound effects or music from RT. They DO use quite a lot of the original Macross music, but they took some ... let's say, some 'Creative license" with a few tunes --- especially the intro music. They basically got some no-tallent ass clown to sing english lyrics over an original tune from Macross, but it had NO business being violated in this way. This is especially painful, and those of you who read this and have seen this atrocity can back me up. Imagine a bad Tony Bennett impressionist (badly) singing lounge tunes to an old synthesizer: "Soldiers of warlords from deep space" ... (synth horns go 'da da dam' as Hikaru takes off for the intro scene...) It's kind of like how bad and cheesy Bill Murray was on SNL doing his lunge singer bit. "Just a pile of rust was all they found on that isle" (he really cranks it up here ... as picture of Macross on S Ataria pans by) "No one never expected to see... 10 years Super Fortress Macross ... would rise Guardian of you (really high note) and of me ..." Just teeth-grittingly awful.

I dunno - these are getting harder to find now that it's been licensed in NA. Is anyone still actively fansubbing this now? I can't find torrent links for them anywhere, and I still don't have a fansubbed episode 2. It's an undeniably fantastic series - I just wish I didn't have to wait until Bandai gets off of theur @$$ese and get around to releasing it over here to actually enjoy it.

What the title says: I just got my shipping notice today. Here's hoping that SAL works as fast for me as it has the last two times now - I get my last two orders in a week! Is anyone else here as impressed with these little guys as I am? So rugged, yet still so posable. These are the ultimate Evangelion toys IMHO, and I can't wait to add Rei's Eva to my line up.

Ditto. Now all I have to do is find something to use as a stand so I can display it in flight with the radar array on the bottom fully deployed.

Yeah, as much as I love my 1/48's, I couldn't see myself dropping all of the smaller valks in favor of them. Like Graham said, we're at least going to see the Q-Rau come out in 1/60, and possibly destroids and other enemy mecha (just give me a few Regults, and I'll be happy - throw in the Glaug and N. Ger, and I'll do cartwheels), and it's just undeniably cool to be able to put all of these little buggers in the same scale next to each other. Anyway, the 1/60 line might not be as flashy as it's bigger brothers, but I can afford to buy and display just about all of these - definitely NOT the case for the 1/48's. Besides, I'm just about done with the 1/48 line after the Hikaru 1J until they start putting something out besides VF-1's. Don't get me wrong - I love 'em to death, but at US $140 or so shipped, plus another $55 for fast packs, it's getting to be too much for just more repaints of existing molds.

Meh. I'll wait for the next one. Whatever it is. I'm still waiting for a Hase '17 or '11, and wish to @$&% they'd get around to making them already. Yet another rehash of the last release with new decals is a little less than exciting, if you ask me. <_<

Holy crap does that thing look cool wearing all of that stuff. I just lowered the shelf mine sit on so the strike cannon will fit. I've got two paid for and all there is to do now is endure the eternity before they arrive in my grubby little hands ... <_< These are definitely getting used! .

I've gotten all of mine through online retailers, and ebay. All of the models I've gotten came from ebay, or HLJ. Most of my Yamatos came from Kevin Lam at Valkyrie Exchange, but I've gotten them from other sources when the deals were just too good to pass up. HLJ for for several (love it when they have those sales !!! ), and I got one of my 1/48's from Treasure Island. I've snatched up a Yammie or two on the cheap from time to time on ebay, but I'm a little wary of getting something as large and expensive as a 1/48 without some kind of assurance that if I receive it all busted up, I'm not left out in the cold. It's never happened yet, but I don't want to take any chances, so VE usually gets my dollar for the big purchases.

The OVA Macross Dynamite 7. It even has yellow trim just like his VF-17 from the series. What she said. B) Here's a not so great pic, but you can kind of get the idea. I'd do a screen grab for you if I wasn't such a lazy SOB.

Yep - sure does. It also includes a "pilot" name decal for Gamlin, but it doesn't have the yellow stripes you'd need for making his paint scheme.

Naw, that was made up and wasn't in the books. I think he's referring to either the Scouring of the Shire, where the Hobbits return and find that Saruman and Wormtongue have set up shop in their homeland upon returning home and make a big mess of things, or ... ... the VERY end of RotK where Frodo hops on the ships bound for Valinor along with Gandalf, Elrond, and the rest of the Elves as they finally abandon Middle Earth, and the Age of Man truly begins. My guess is that for time's sake, neither part will be in the movie, and if they are, it will only be briefly. I'm kind of torn about this along with some other people here - I love these movies for what they are, but I'm still more than a little miffed by some of the "creative licensing" changes Jackson and crew have taken with this story. How can you leave Bombadil, Glorfindel, Halbarad and the Grey Company (the Dunedain returning to Gondor from exile - this is a HUGE and unforgiveable omission!! ), and other crucial parts of the story out? Why are we making Arwen such a major player in these movies when she was barely featured at all in the books? I understand it has to fit within the length a movie, but these are MAJOR deviations from the original narrative. I mean, it's a CLASSIC fer 'crissake! You don't re-write the script if you do an adaptation of the Illiad, or Macbeth, do you?!? I mean if something has to be left out, just skip it already, and just pretend we took a nap and missed it. The way the Old Forest and Bombadil, and the Barrow Downs were just skipped was fine - if you don't have the time to fit it in, just leave it out. DON'T make stuff up, and DON'T fit Arwen in places she never was because it allows you to sell more action figures!!! That said, I really do love these movies and will be there to see this within the first week or two of release. It's just that it bugs me that these aren't all the could have been than if they had stuck a little closer to Tolkein's original narrative.

Been there, done that. I've spent a lot, but the best find ever was coming across a '64 Les Paul Custom in a pawn shop in Jacksonville, FL - the poor sap had no idea what he had his hands on. I scooped it up for the princely sum of $750. It's hardly mint, but it plays and sounds like a dream, and it's still my favorite by far. As for Anime/Manga related stuff? Well, I just burned through almost $300 on fast packs and the Ostrich and Elint from Kevin at Valk Exchange. While seperate items, I think that's the most I've dropped at one sitting. I didn't get into collecting Macross stuff until Yamato started releasing the Macross Plus valks, so I kind of missed the whole "let's pay $700 for this POS Takatoku" thing. I never really understood the whole vintage Macross toy thing, as I always thought they were ridiculously overpriced and frankly kind of ugly. [ME]Ducks as brick aimed at head crashes through window[/ME]. These 1/48 Yamatos are about as much as I'm prepared to spend on a toy - and believe me, if these weren't Macross and something comparable could be found ANYWHERE else, there's no way I'd spend as much on these as I have.

How do you like that? So at $54.99 each plus free shipping from Kevin at Valk Exchange, I'm getting the same prices folks are paying in HK? That's a first. (No rip intended to Kevin - I've never been dissatisfied with his prices - it's just there's almost always at least some markup getting them to the US).

You didn't miss anything. This has been assumed to be coming out by pretty much everyone, but nobody except for Yamato (and maybe Graham) knows if this is ever going to get made. It seems like a safe enough bet, as I would imagine the Japanese fans are demanding this as much as the rest of us are, but it hasn't been confirmed or even hinted at yet. My bet is you'll see it eventually, but that's just speculation.

It looks painted or printed on there. Definitely not a clear piece. Check CF18's link here: http://www.visualmedia.com.hk/cgi-bin/news...tem=46075&utag=