VFTF1

Yeah - the fact that the fingers aren't posseable on a "DX" figure is terrible. Also - this particular VF-25 in the pictures above seems to have been panel-lined; because the under-wing carriage looks much better. But not good enough to get me to like it. Pete

Guys - I wrote the post about the 1:1 inflatable Misa And I think you should take it just as seriously as my post about the Yamato VT-1 coming with a 1:1 inflatable Minmey with built in oral massage motor mechanism Pete

You know - this is so deja vu... I didn't mention it before, but when the first pictures of the DX shoulder/die-cast metal frame structure came out - the FIRST thing that came to my mind was...G1 Transformers Megatron. And I KNEW IN MY HEART that what happened to G1 Megatron (sometimes) was bound to happen to the DX. And presto - it did. Namely - G1 Megatron had a very similar die-cast shoulder frame that held the arms up, and that you locked into the back of the robot mode. But, in the end, the plastic arms were fastened to the die-cast metal by a SMALL BOLT. It wasn't even a screw - and in some cases, that bolt would become loose and slowly start to inch out. You could push it back in, but in effect, the arm was basically always kind of drooping or falling off on you. Some people on these boards have argued that Yamato made a mistake NOT using die-cast parts for "such a delicate" place as the Valkyrie's shoulders. Well - now it seems that we see that plastic is a lot easier to remedy than die cast. I mean - a broken screw is a pretty big deal compared to a hair-line crack. Naturally - both flaws are regretable. Nevertheless, it is just shocking to learn of this flaw in the DX. Sadly, I agree with this. However, let's hope that now that Bandai has the license, and with the up-coming movie, NEW DXs will be developed. I will happily get Movie DXs if they are better made in terms of sculpt than these guys. Pete

Naturally, and Hikaru's VF-1A 1/60 v2 from DYRL will be there too Pete

It's...too late for me, my Son. Tell your Sister...you were...right! You were rigggggghhhhhhhttttttt ********* Pete

There should also be a "Kyle Reese Option" (aka "from your point of view, I don't know tech stuff") ... Actually, the first thing that comes to mind (which probably isn't helpful) is: The YF-19 is superior because it can stand on its' two legs without the use of a Yamato stand. But then the YF-21 comes back because - hey - it can actually take in-flight poses on that very same stand, while the 19 just sits on its' wheels. But naturally - this is silly...so...hmm... I think the YF-19 is superior for a simple reason: It is not dependent on the proper functioning of that Brain-Wave system. Naturally, it IS dependent on the proper functioning of the pilot - but this is a given for both systems in the 19 and the 21. The difference is that with the 21, there's just that one additional system that exists to possibly flub... Although - then again - given how smooth the flying is that Guld manages thanks to the system ... maybe that's not necessarily so. I mean - technically the ability to "see" the flight patterns of oncoming missiles gives Guld a major edge - and it was shown that in spite of his efforts, the 19 just couldn't compete with "manual" steering on this front. Really a touch pick between the two. Pete

Yeah, but they were just being accurate to Cary Fisher's figure there... It's like I said in the DX thread - our fandom is cursed. No matter which toy/figure/model maker makes these things, no matter what banner it's under - if it's Macross - it's BIB (broke in box) We're a brave brave lot Pete

I'm probably going to have people stop taking me seriously (as if they ever did:) ) or throw shoes at me or something - but I've once again had a change of heart and now decided... should write "decided" to get the 1/72 models instead. After reading about the shoulder problem on what I consider to be an already yucky DX figure - I just can't stand it any more. Also - looking at all the pictures - it just never stops looking yucky. Heck - the benefit of it being in 1/60 scale was that it would fit right in with my Yamatos - but looking at it next to the Yammies... well - yeah - it fit in with the Yamato 1/72 YF-19 in terms of overall looks - and it does look like something that would have gotten top marks ten years ago... But when you combine ugly+broken shoulders+bent lasers... it's just too much for me. Already, I have passed up the DXs in favor of Soul of CHogokin Daimos jus now - so no, I'm not a Bandai hater; since I love their SOC and Gundam products. Heck - I am going to get the 1/72s from them - so it's not about hating Bandai. I just have (again) come to the realization that for me - personally - these just aren't worth it. It's like with Transformers: there came a point where I began to distinguish, despite being a big fan, between Transformers that SUCKED and Transformers that merited attention. I am a big Macross fan, and love Frontier, but I'm not going to make the mistake I made with TFs (blindly collecting them all only to regret half my collection - mainly Armada, Cybertron, Energon). I would regret these DXs - and I know myself - if I got even one - I'd feel compelled to get the others too. I will go with the models. Really This time I mean it Pete

Yep. That is a great great piece. But CMS Minmey is pretty sweet too. Should have mine (finally!) on Monday Pete

Interesting tie. I voted "20 plus" - that's my goal. I think these are worth it, and it won't be hard to get 20 of them given how many variants come out. Needless to say, this is not something I'm hoping to achieve in one weekend. Pete

Thanks to Wolfix and all y'all for the tips on Unicorn! I checked him - and yeah - I wasn't locking the arms in to the main body, and I guess the same with the legs. For instance - with the legs, only now do I think I know that they are fastened, because the mechanism in his croch which allows the legs to "swing" a bit to the sides without actually moving the joint actually works now. Needless to say, this is still a minor pain in the butt, because technically the instructions advise taking the limbs off to transform him. Do you guys do that? Or do you transform him with the limbs on? In any case... Pete

It's kind of sad that KAKIZAKII gets a BEAUTIFUL Valkyrie model, while people like...oh...I dunno...OZMA get banana-lasers and turtle heads. Wierd. Pete

Yay. Finally "finished" - well - sort of. Still have to build the Force Silloquette. And dag nab it - still have to check my Unicorn via Wolfx's advise and fasten those legs securely in Anyways - I like the Force Impulse. The legs are a real treat - but then again, is there a Gundam alive (except for the 00 Gundams) which don't have some nifty leg mechanics going for them? In any event - good stuff Pete

I found Grace to be about as sexually appealing as generic female accountant whose personal life revolves around counting assets in the dead of the night. I think she was the perfect "sleeper villain" - insofar as she was such a bit of wallpaper as to hardly have made a connection as a character. When she turned out to be the villain, I wasn't like "oh no! Hot sexy wonderful Grace is evil?" - but rather like: "Huh? That seemingly unimportant rock behind the garbage can from episode three has suddenly morphed into one of the main characters from the cast?" I found her male-disguise (didn't know it was her then) to be more interesting as a character and half hoped that he (turns out she) would be developed more as some kind of spy (although - the dress code and dark glasses kind of gave him/her away:) )... But...anyways...sexually appealing? Grace? Nope. Sheryl was good looking, Ranka was utterly gorgeous, Klan-Klan I just didn't like (this actually makes three for three. None of the "big" Zendradi have ever been in my "wow what a babe" list - not Milia, not Emilia, not Klan - just something too perfect/bio-engineered about them)... And Grace, who is ultimately AI also did not appeal to me. Hm... seems to be a pattern here. Bio-genetically engineered women and android-women do not arouse me sexually. Ergo: every woman who I don't find super attractive MUST therefore either be an android, or be bio-engineered I guess I like natural girls Pete

I can't believe it. is Macross CURSED? I mean - does every single Macross mecha product HAVE TO have a defect, independent of who produces it? I never complained about Yamato, always liked and bought their stuff, even if sometimes I had a defective one. Still - if anything, I was looking forward to this NOT being a problem with Bandai... Add to this the somewhat cheap plastic feel (particularly around the rear-wing area) and the lasers/neck problem on Ozma... These figures are moving further and further down my list of priorities. Such a same, as Frontier is such a beautiful anime. Deserves better really. Pete

I guess they just wanted to do something that wasn't so obvious. The Monster-pose is a good candidate. It threw me at first until someone pointed out where it came from. I like it. I'm a Ranka fan. I'll get it. And now here comes the real question: Is she taking her bra off? ....or...is she having trouble putting it on? Knowing our little munchkin - I'd wager that Ranka had trouble clipping/fastening the bra and was stumbling her way through the process - and maybe the artist decided to capture her that way, rather than wait for it to be fastened. It's a very good character piece, in this sense, because it shows how so much of her cuteness flows from her clumsiness Pete

I think that's the standard I was pretty much expecting when it was announced that Bandai would handle these. Instead, I feel like they gave Frontier the Powerrangers Megazords treatment... Then again - we'll see what I say when I actually get mine. Pete

I have a few of the HG 00 line kits - and so far after building Virtue, Exia and Dynames - I think they're good, solid kits. Pete

That news is so yesterday My grandmother wanted my mom to name me Rocky She ended up with Peter (which in ancient Greek means "stone"), which is basically a nice way to call someone Rocky Yo! Pete

Eugimon - that pic with your son is fantastic Great looking kid; the expression on his face is priceless. Also, the size of the YF-21 in kiddie hands is ginormous However- I generally gett he feeling from that picture that the kid wasn't very rough on the 21 He doesn't look like he'd be prone to doing anything dumb with it Pete

Good Lord! Lisa looks like the Winner of the German Mother of the Year Award or something She looks like she's born 12 babies in the span of a a couple months time; all of them born as three groups of triplets. AND managed to iron and clean and vacuum the house a few times. Good god those figures are horrible I know it was 1985 - but - I remember the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles April O'Niel came out back then - and at least she had some curves and remotely feminine appearance that evoked the cartoon Pete

I wonder how the Japanese audiences recieved this? Doing something like that in America would be lame... "Hi - I'm tech specialist Abraham Lincoln." "Hi - I'm normal school girl Oklahoma Washington." "Hi -I'm party hardy love interest Enterprise Bush" (well - that last one would actually be great ) etc etc Pete

You know - the sucky thing is... when I first saw it - I thought: no - thighs to hefty, calves too fat and too big a gutt to be Ranka - and then suddenly, it turns out it's off the Monster - and yeah - the body type fits. This makes me wonder - is that Ranka an artist's impression, or did she really model for it? Because honestly, her body is way to beefed up in that pick - at least that's the impression I get when compared to her "in clothing" looks. Still - might pick one of these up. Pete

Ah - thanks. Might have to get this then. Actually - at least now we also know that the hair color is anime accurate. It isn't a heavy real green on the Monster - but a kind of yellowish/green tint. As for the panties. I think she has panties on in that painting - you just can't see them... although - yeah - there's no panty line on her hips there... non-anime accurate Pete

My girlfriend still hasn't seen any of the Star Wars movies. Not her type of thing I guess... Pete