VFTF1

This is just my personal opinion - very well possible that it has zero merit - but I get the distinct impression that above all, when looking at the designs in Macross First, particularly the character designs - one needs to see the from the perspective of Macross: Frontier. That is - it seems that the characters are designed in such a way that they could "fit in" with the characters from Macross Frontier. To get an idea of what I'm talking about - compare how the characters are designed in Macross: Plus to DYRL or Macross:Frontier and you'll see (I think) that there's a bit of a gulf. Macross: Plus steps away from "anime" faces in favor of more "realism" while DYRL manages an amazing balance that nevertheless favor anime (I always called it "brining realism to anime" rather than "realism instead of anime"). SDFM TV sort of does this although there is more "pure" anime design in it than in DYRL. Macross Frontier strikes a wonderful balance insofar as we sometimes get "goofy" manga-like faces from Alto, Sheryl, Luca and others. I get the impression that Macross:Ace mainly exists to show Macross:Frontier fans who might not have been around to love DYRL and SDFM:TV where it all began and what it was all about. And as such - the designs - mainly the character designs - need to be reminiscent of what Macross: Frontier fans already know and like - because then it will seem like there is a linear connection between the world of SDFM:TV and MF. If the designs were not reared with a view to making them "fit" with MF then the designs could be a barrier for MF fans to enjoy SDFM:TV and DYRL. Naturally - the design changes are subtle (IMO) - subtle enough to not become a problem (it's not like Bayformers vs. G1) - but they do exist. As for mecha - I would think that this is partially a nod towards DYRL but more than anything a nod to the popularity of Yamato's VF-1. It is the premiere VF-1 on the market. It is also based on DYRL. And finally - unless I'm mistaken - but Kawamori's rendition of the VF-1 in MF was also DYRL based, was it not? And as an aside: was Myria's 1J in M7 DYRL based? Pete

Sweet mother of pearl. That is just TOO fcuking coool!! I am soooo getting rid of all of my Transformers Animated and Henkei. G1 is just so utterly mind bogglingly awesome!! Hot dag. I mean - THIS is what's worth getting - no doubt, no doubt. It's a shame Star Convoy looks so butt ugly in pictures... but then again - all the other Zone figures - particularly these three Powered Masters look just amazing. Roadfire looks like pure unadulterated classic Autobot goodness. Hot dag does that look awesome. Prometheum5 - between your ace Gundam models and these - I think you've got some of the best taste of any collector I've encountered. Definitely TOP TOP props for this stuff. Wow. Big time in awe. Pete

I passed my drivers test! yippee!! Now all I have to do is pass the actual driving test where you...er... drive But that should be a cake walk compared to the written exam which I ranted about a couple posts up. Soon... I shall have a drivers license - and then - the galaxy will tremble before my power! Pete

I dunno. I'm on the fence about Di-Gender and Ass-grabber. The thing looks cool - but it also looks kind of like a blob. Maybe it's the colors pouring into eachother? Also - the horse doesn't look right... Pete

if you are in a relationship because you chosoe to be and want to be and the same goes for the other person - both of you are independent. No relationship should demand "sacrifice" - because the person you're with should love you as you are, not as you are MINUS some Macross toys because she wants a pair of shoes. Besides - it is possible to get her the proverbial shoes anyways. It's kind of like modeling. You don't just get to enjoy the model, you have to get paint, markers and assorted tools - and then if you're a collector of toys and models you need to have some shelf space to display the stuff. Same with women. You don't just get to enjoy the girl - you have to factor in clothes, shoes, gifts, dinners etc etc. The key is to never give up, never surrender and keep looking for ways to make more cash and therefore afford all the stuff you want. But yeah - I "want" a porsche and a million other things - but only if someone gave them to me for free or for peanuts. The stuff you REALLY want is the stuff you're willing to work for to get - macross toys, the girl, [other stuff] By definition I don't accept the idea that you have to give up something you love for some other thing you love. Problems arise when you're not sure what you really love - like if you're with a girl that you're unsure about or if you have a bunch of crappy Transformers that you really think you can live without... Pete

Just wondering - does the decal problem extend to the Sheryl Nome decals? I used stickers on my Ozma 1/72 - but I do want to put the Sheryl decals on a second VF-25 I'm building... ? Thanks, Pete

Well I didn't - at the remark was made towards me - so I don't want other people taking it badly either... Aaanyways - I would also remind everyone that it's ok to make fun of something you love. You remember people like Raksha who took G1 so seriously that they went on a holy crusade against Beast Wars? Now - I remember when BW came out - I had my doubts - but by the end of the series, was there any G1 fan who didn't love Beast Wars? And judging in retrospect, compared to Armada-Unicron-Energy... can anyone really doubt that the Beast Wars were in many ways the apex of what was possible in terms of story telling and Transformers? I dunno - I guess I'm just one of these people who are constantly sort of back and forth about stuff... I guess in my heart I AM a Geewuner - I mean, I sold off all of my Transformers except for G1 and Beast Wars (and nowadays, Beast Wars I view as integral to G1)... I also love the BW II and Neo toys because of the "vanilla" animals and the great diversity of animals. Not so much a fan of Transmetals (too easy to pull off)... But let's face it - designs aside - Bay at least did a decent job with the story. But it's tough. It's tough being a long term fan of a franchise that keeps revolutionarily changing... so you walk this tight rope between fodness for what was an the need to be open to what's coming along. I dunno - I'm so hardcore that I don't even really like Henkei that much. I mean - yeah, I guess I like it... But what I'd really prefer is if all of the G1 guys were done as Masterpieces. Not as "Binaltechs" - because even those aren't perfectly accurate. I want Masterpieces - of all of them. Then - the dilema would vanish. I'd have only G1 and Masterpiece...and BW... As such... I'm tossing and turning - to sell off my animated collection...or not? Pete

Amazing how similar it is to the VF-25 from certain angles... namely seen from the top - the wings and the back...not so much the cockpit... err... anyways- nice job The Zeros are lovely birds Pete

Well - I certainly didn't mean to be divisive or anything. All of my bashing is tongue in cheek, if you will. Besides - as I've stated numerous times: on screen, I think the Bayformers look great. What I DON'T like is the toys that Hasbro has made for them - all basically fail and look very little like what we see on screen. As for aesthetics - Gurren Lagann shows us that it is possible for "classic chunky" style robots to be a hit in our day and age.... but then again - yeah, yeah - it's an anime... on screen real live action is different... I dunno... Also - in fairness, Bumblebee, Jazz and Prime did resemble their G1 selves pretty fairly. Well - at least Bumblebee's head looks like his toy/Godlbug incarnation. Prime looks fine. Jazz - hard to argue that he doesn't look like Jazz... Ironhide and Ratchet had the most "re-doing" done to them... but then again it could be said that their Marvel comics forms were Tele-Tubbies in disguise... I guess I just sometimes get annoyed at stereotyping - all the Decepticons look like monsters. Because..."evil" must look ugly and fearsome? But then Jetfire will become an Autobot - proving that Gremlins can be good? Well... whatever... I did like the movie... honestly... I saw it with my girlfriend in Dubrovnik in an outdoor theatre in a medditeranian paradise where you can go swimming at 10 pm and the sea is still hot from the sun, the food is great and the town is beautiful... it was such an awesome experience to be sitting in such a luxurious place with the woman I love watching something I'd dreamed of seeing in live-action ever since I was a kid. It was a very very moving experience for me. But that doesn't change the fact that Bay SUXORZZZ!! Pete

This is an interesting point that I had not considered - but couldn't a metal swing bar have been used? I mean - for a company that has made so many innovative transforming robots - this should have been a no brainer... Pete

Fine. I am now free of nostalgia goggles. I have imagined Unicron as he would look, fitting into the aesthetic of Bayformers: Pete

So I googled Traci Lords. She was born one day before my girlfriend Cool. But other than that - I couldn't find any of her under-age born which supposedly proves her huge breast size... Generally though - I contend that no girl could POSSIBLY have breasts that compete with Yoko Proof of this is that my girlfriend, who has nice breasts, likes Misa, likes Minmey, thinks Sheryl is cute... but when it comes to Yoko, my girlfriend flies off the handle "she's such a slurm!" "look at her! what a slurm!" The cause? IMO - breast envy. My girlfriend feels that Yoko could give her a run for her money And my mail lady who picks up the packages my store delivers just died her hair red... hmm.... Pete

Underage pornstars have huge breasts:) ?? Since when?? Are we talking about the same Yoko? http://dyrl.pl/detale.html?id=267 No way that looks under-age to me Don't worry - I didn't even remember that it was you who posted/praised Transvestite Yoko But in all fairness - I think I understand what they wanted to do. It's kind of like with those "3D" NGE figures of Asuka Langley from Takara-Tomy -- an attempt to see what the character would look like given "realistic" facial features rather than "anime" features... Except - in both cases they seem unable to recognize that you don't need to make the faces more slender, the eyes smaller, and those noses more pointed... It looks like animation from Macross Plus (and I couldn't stand the animation choices there - also more "realistic")... Because there actually are girls out there who can "play" the part of Yoko, Sheryl and other anime babes just fine - I mean - heck, just look at our Cosplay thread - lots of great girls there who actually LOOK the part rather than being "variations" of the part... But I'm not judging anybody on their taste. If transvestite Yoko is your thing: more power to you Pete

I'm now watching a Getta Robo movie with subs that call him "Gattai Robot" ... It's wierd - because it's only 24 minutes long...that's not "movie" length is it? Besides that - it just seems to be standard fair... it looks kind of like episode 1 of the series... maybe I made a mistake (again)? Anyways - I love the gay 70s love hunk who keeps showing off his manliness by doing things like: a) talking to other people while having his back turned to them b) swinging from tree branches rather than walking or running c) Drives a normal cool vintage motorcycle rather than a rainbow colored supper-duppa-cycle (this is actually cool) d) Wears a neclace with a crucifix and keeps his shirt unbuttoned down the length of his chest e) Enters and Exists homes through bedroom windows... I also like the Dragon Kingdom and the monsters. And dag - this is the typeo f animation I really dig. Cats. And it's also why I like Gurren Lagann so much - because Gurren Lagann features a return to this type of animation in numerous episodes - the thick thick lines and gritty-ness that almost makes it look like somebody stuck a comic book under a camera... Sniff sniff... so cool Pete

No... The GIF 1/5 Yoko is porn star Yoko - which is why she's great. That ...thing is more like "Transvestite Cosplays Yoko" I'm all for equal opportunity, and have nothing against Transvestites dressing up as Yoko - but sometimes it just doesn't work... Pete

Do a search, and you will find my Groxier X thread Maybe - since you and I seem to be the only people around who love Yamato's GNU Hagane line... we can start a GNU Hagane worship thread? I am going to get Dangaurd Ace sometime this year For sure! Pete

I honest to goodness don't remember if I posted in this thread or not... But I am a v.2 fanatic - no doubt. These are the best figures on the market today and the best VF-1s ever Here's my collection so far: 2 x VF-1S with super and strike parts Roy Fokker 2 x VF-1J with super and strike parts Ichijo Hikaru 2 x VF-1D Ichijo Hikaru & Minmei and... 1 lonely VF-1A Ichijo Hikaru ... with no super or strike parts... Planning on getting: Max TV, Kakizake TV, M&M Red/Blue, VT-1 Skipping: Kakizake DYRL. why? Because I don't much like the design. Pete Edit: I probably will end up getting DYRL Kakizake anyways knowing me Pete

I spent the mid-90s missing the mid-80s. Truly the one redeeming feature of the mid-90s. Sadly- I did not learn of the existance of Macross 7 and Fire Bomber until a couple years ago... As for the Macross + the movie... I prefer the series. Didn't like what they cut out. I kept thinking "hey what about that other scene?" Even if a scene is "unnecessary filler" - I still like it. I like drawn out stuff more than compact stuff. Either that or just make it all new like DYRL. Pete

There's a lot I could explain just by looking at him - so here's my guess: Jetfire is not going to be an old man. Instead, he's meant to be a gremlin crossed with Batman. He's menacing as he swoops around. The wheel-cane is actually a scanning device that finds Plot Devices - the very Plot Devices that the Plot Devices tattooed on some of the pyramids sygnify. The wheel-cane is the key to finding the biggest Plot Device of all. The wheel-cane is Sam's Great Grandfather's glasses II. That or Jetfire is going to be an old Geazer who talks like Yoda. "Combine with me you shall. My legs around you I will wrap." Yeah. I agree. When I look at these designs, I'm reminded of HL Menken once noting that Americans have a tendency to love things that are ugly. There's no other way to explain how this stuff is actually selling well and has been deemed marketable Pete

No - actually - please do go on. See - when I saw this topic, I considered writing a long winded thread about how the whole "Sine Flu" panic was ANOTHER manufactured drama used by all the usual suspects to spread fear, panic, and submission to the state. Just like they tried in 1976 (the world was going to end because of Swine Flu then as well). And of course they always bring up the flu pandemic from 1919 when millions died as "justification" for why the state needs more power and you need to just cower and submit. But of course - they always fail to mention that it was the state's bloody World War I which left millions of corposes scattered throughout Europe, rotting and decomposing, and had millions of men living amongst their own urine, manure and the corpses of their fellows fighting senseless trenchwarfare which ultimately led to a health pandemonium and economic collapse- which in turn of course fueled the health pandemonium. No. They won't tell you that part. Better for you to think "hey - a hundred years ago or so millions died because of the flu and the state wasn't there to save them like it is in our enlightened time" - always keeping us panicked... But then - whenever I entered this thread to rant against the title which is just pure indilluted panic - I saw that you guys were talking about guns. That made me happy. Really - every year there is a new flu du jour which is going to stamp out all life on Earth. Every year this new deadly flu du jour just so happens to coem upon us...in the spring...when flowers and trees start to blossom and people start to cough and get itchy throats because of...hay fever...and allergies.. sowing panic amongst people who are coughing every year for a couple of days when the flowers bloom is a great way for states to increase their power over populations and for pharmaceutical companies to have a good reason to lobby for more funds from states. Millions of people are dying from AIDs, from car accidents, from cancer - but the media goes all fracking alarmist because a hundred folks died from swine flu... Although - granted - in 1976- a hundred some odd folks died too. Although - not from the actual swine flu - but from the vaccine that the state stuck people with (literally) - thereby making the casualties from swine flu equal to like...3 and the casualties of the vaccine equal to like...100 and something. No - I don't therefore think people should throw caution to the wind. No, I don't think reporting these things is "unnecessary." It's all well and good to know that stuff like this is going on, just like it's good to know that there's traffic on I99 or a detour or whatever. But that doesn't mean we need to bring the national gaurd out to direct traffic. And it doesn't mean we need to run around like a bunch of chickens with heads chopped off screaming "it's the end of the world! WHO will save us!?" (pun intended) because the effective result of this is more money for people who don't deserve it, and more power for people who have too much of it. Some danged common sense would be enough. So don't worry. You won't die from swine flu because you opened your VF-1. And I'm extremely happy that this topic has centered on guns instead of hysteria about a manufactured non-problem Pete

You guys have it all backwards. There's way TOO LITTLE commercialism in all of this. Why don't I wake up in the morning, step out onto the street and see girls in cute Ranka Lee outfits with green hair? Why can't I to a restaurant and see the waitresses cosplaying? Why is it that when I walk down the street - chicks dressed as carrots don't jump out at me to tell me carrots love me? Why can't the Metro be colored red and instead of being called "the metro" or "the tube" instead be called "the red commet?" Why can't my drivers exam also consist of "piloting the car once it has transformed into super robot mode?" Why can't I own a customized mecha? Why doesn't Fire Bomber come sing in my town? Why can't I just walk into the store and BUY oneo of those Miosha academy shirts that Alot wears? Why don't 15 year old girls get some bottox or silocon injections so they can look like Nanase? Why can't McDonalds sell 1/200 Yamato Macross mecha instead of the crap they usually put in there? Why can't blimps fly over head blaring "What Bout My Star?" Why can't I go to a movie and trip only to catch a cute girl's ass? Why can't people on stilts routinely walk around town with long flowing robes pretending to be Lord Boldoza and other Zendradi big shots? I dunno. As far as I'm concerned - this stuff should be marketed a lot more than it is now. Pete

Well - I transformed him into battroid mode... First things first - I had a near fit of rage at the beginning - because I looked at him and was like: HUH!? HOW COME IT HAS DX WAIST/UPPER LEGS!? It looked JUST like the DX... until I figured out that the waiste/legs are on a swivel joint and you can actually...swivel them down. now...somebody tell me - WHY can't the DX legs be on a swivel joint and just - you know - get swiveled down? How simple is that? How wonderful? Why didn't they do it for the DX? On the other hand - major nags: 1) The legs don't rotate at all - Yamato's VF-1s can rotate their legs. This guy can't - that really limits poseability. 2) I appreciate the feet being semi-swivel for Gerwalk mode - but there is way too little movement going on there. This guy is basically perfect for a stand in battroid mode - for "in air" poses - or maybe "in space" is the better term... He's not really suited for land combat - even though that's the battroid's function in a big way... I dunno. Overall - Bandai could have EASILY made this the DX in terms of parts design and transformation. It's frustrating that there are so many Bandai VF-25s to chose from - NONE OF THEM PERFECT!! I would rather have Yamato doing these. QC issues are better than bad design. If I get a QC Yamato problem - I just chug it asside until a Yammie with no QC issues comes along - but the design is stellar. With Bandai - yeah yeah - it holds together fine, building it is great fun, it's amazing - wow - bla bla bla - but I would really just prefer if they made a tolerable DX that uses this transformation scheme. And that the thing actualyl have decent poseability. As such - I'm happy with the 1/72 - but I feel that the VF-25 has not been done justice yet. pete

Well... Hopefully this thing will be a lot less delicate than the 1/72 - although there's a certain elegence to the 1:72 - we'll see what it looks like in Battroid mode. I recall that the 1:100 line looks cack in Battroid mode - just like the 1/60 DX... Pete

No no no...this is not the way to go. Here - lemme suggest: 1. Don't own a home. Rent. Change homes constantly and be free of mortgages and all that crap and take advantage of mobility and falling prices. If you end up homeless for a month while looking for a new place - move back in with mom for a while 2. Stay away from BAD women 3. Be in a relationship with a GOOD woman (hint: one who a) thinks you'll be happy to get Yamato Groxier X for Christmas and gets you the Takara Beast Wars Megatron/Primal two-pack MISB for your birthday and Takara reissue God Ginrai MISB just because she loves you, b) says things like "I think you're intelligent and ambitious enough to EASILY afford taking me on vacations, buying me clothes, taking me out to fancy restaurants AND having a huge collection.. now get to work!" instead of ONLY brow-beating you for having toys, c) basically is someone who loves you as you are and you can trust 4. Avoid takeouts and ONLY go eat out and restaurants that serve the best food in town and ALWAYS buy LOTS of bottles of wine to dampen the consciousness of what it is your spending money on. Naturally - take the girlfriend on such outings and get her pleny drunk 5. "Bring lunch to work" ? How about: NEVER HAVE TO EVER EVER EVER GET UP AND "GO" TO WORK - EVER. EEEEEEEEVVVEEER:) In other words: be self-employed, make your own schedule - skip lunch and take the woman to dinner What else? Well - I think prioritizing helps. Do you you really want or need certain things? You have to focus on what you truly love. In my case it's: G1 Beast Wars Neo/II Gundam Macross Soul of Chogokin Tengenn Toppa Gurren Lagann I am OPEN to other stuff - but not mindlessly. And finally: Always have only ONE pair of clothes. When your pants and shirt and socks get worn out from constantly washing them over the course of two weeks - just go out and buy ANOTHER pair. This beats having a closet exploding with old clothes that are out of fashion, socks that keep getting lost in the laundry and it helps please women who think that you are always well dressed and your clothes look fresh. Also leaves lots of closet space for boxes and toys I do have a couple of nice trench coats though - always wanted a trench coat like Boggie and finally found one that was also relatively affordable... Hm... what else? Oh yeah - don't be an alcoholic I did that before meeting my current girlfriend - spent EVERYTHING on booze (thankfully my boss was an alcoholic too, so this didn't conflict with work)... but it really does kill your liver, your wallet and dries the skin on your face... Drink moderate amounts of wine (two or three bottles to dinner) instead of drinking Vodka on weekdays starting at 2 pm. Pete

Banpresto: Win Max Factory: No. I've seen cosplay girls hotter and more Yoko like than THAT "yoko" ... I'm all over the 1/5 GIF Yoko and the Bounty Hunter from ALT. Realism is bad. Anime is good. Pete