VFTF1

I would just like to point out the following: 1) Questions of this nature ("which one should I get?") are somewhat moot. 2) The reason is simple: There are actually not that many Valkyrie out there. I understand that when you've got none and are wondering which one to get, then this might be a valid question, but eventually, you will end up getting every last one that you can get your hands on 3) You will even come to the point where (like me) you suddenly want doubles! I have only one Nora, one Ivanov, One VFOS, one VFOA...it's not enough dang nab it! I'm already making every effort to buy the V.2 1/60s as doubles (two at a time) - but failing that, you can rotate. 4) The better question would be: How do I budget a constant stream of Valkyrie? I think the best thing for you to do is set yourself a long term goal - if you get the OS, then you obviously have to get the OA as well. And if you get the OA, then you must get the OA with Ghost. And while you're about it, maybe the OS with Ghost as well. And if you're going to get the UN valkyrie from zero, then CLEARLY you need to get the SV-51. And obviously you need both Nora and Ivanov. And suddenly - whamo - you have the ENTIRE collection for Macross Zero. Only four fighters. Oh - wait - then there's the cannon fodder SV-51. Maybe you can skip that My point here is, however, that it's kind of pointless to get all worked up over which one you should get. Get one of them now, another one a month from now - maybe get whatever you can find at a bargain? Just get Pete

Of course There's: 1) Needless melodramatic love stories 2) Needless Machiavellian themes of political manipulation 3) Needless Attention to mechanical detail 4) Needless plot twists I could go on The only thing that REALLY matters and is not needless is the music and the fan service! Bomba! Pete

Heh Yeah - there's that too. There is soemthing totally endearing about really bad cartoon episodes, just like junk movies are great too. You just need a rainy Friday night, lots of pizza, some beer, and a few friends over to make it all work right Pete

People who want to dissamble their Masterpiece Transformers are brave As for Carnage in C Minor - I never saw it, heard it was terrible though... But one rotten episode a bad season does not make Pete

Ok, this is part one of a multipart story- and it should all be wrapped up by the end of the month! Just in time for Christmas... Now - before anyone starts saying "but they didn't know about the Zendradi until..." or "But Roy was actually somewhere else then" please: a) Let the story actually run its' course - that is wait for all the parts to go up. b) Please allow that this is fan fiction. I am basing it off of my watching of SDF Macross TV series and Macross Zero and I have NOT studied online time-lines and official "histories" very thoroughly. I am trying to respect the source material and be reasonable in my inventiveness; but if there are glaring errors, please forgive them. c) Take it with a grain of salt Comments and criticisms are welcome and appreciated. Enjoy part 1: Pete

There is a group of Macross fans here who specifically love the "chunky monkey" - the Bandai VFs. The problem with the Bandai VFs; if you notice, is that they are...err...well..chunky, for one, but also - the detailing and precision on a Yamato is just light years ahead. Of course, this is not the fault of Bandai, since we're comparing a figure that was engineered now with something from twenty odd years ago. It's really not right to compare them, I think. The Bandai VF was revolutionary for its' time - think about all of the moving parts and the fact that overall it looks good. But the Yamato VF-1 (v.2 1/60) is revolutionary for its time - now. The real problem is that you might be unlucky enough to buy your first Yamato and end up getting a dud. This is why I recommend the YF-19 - from what I have gathered, the only problem encountered with this guy is the crooked gunpod - and that was on the very first versions (like mine). One member has reported a neck crack - but that is an anomoly that is being investigated and no one else has reported something like this (and since the majority of QC flaws on Yamatos are reported by a lot of people who have the exact same flaw, then we can safely assume that the neck crack problem is an isolated incident). Once you get the YF-19 - you will understand why there is no better way to spend your money than on Yamato's stuff, even if you end up "loosing" some cash to broken/QC problem pieces - it is STILL worth it to fish for the perfect ones. If you want a VF-1 - go for the VF-1J or VF-1A in 1/60 scale (version 2). Stay away from the 1S as some of them have defective shoulder hinges (I have 2 - one is perfect the other is defective). So - yeah - I would say either the 1/60 YF-19 or the 1/60 VF-1. And BE CAREFUL TRANSFORMING IT. Pete

I had two of the VFO-A Shins with Ghost. The first one: 1) Foot fell off 2) Arm snapped at the elbow The second one is in good condition and I actually just transformed it into Gerwalk mode before reading your post. He is a lovely lovely bird. But yeah - floppy. The Ghost pack combo is really impressive though, and overall it's a fantastic pieace. I recommend you get four of them and assume that one will be broken and go from there. Pete

Well, here's ol' Roy's first love next to his newer, younger, sleeker model I do like how they actually are not that radically off kilter in terms of size - although the VF-1 is smaller; it is only slightly smaller in battroid mode, and indeed looks sleeker. And the arms actually have...you know...armor plating As for the shoulder hinges on the 1S V.2.... Willing to let it slide as long as all of the other Js As and the Hikaru red 1S are problem free. Especially since my other 1S fokker is perfect with no shoulder problem at all. Pete

Wives and girlfriends are never happy I will never forget how, a couple of months ago, my girlfriend blasted me with the following line during a quarrel: "All you do is waste your money on me! Expensive dinners! Clothes! You don't have any savings!! What if something were to go wrong!?" a guy just never wins Best do your own thing and assume the wife will yell at you for it anyways But being on a budget is smart anyways - I keep trying to get on one, but there's just so much cool stuff out there to desire Also, I notice you have Voltes V - a personal favorite of mine Pete

Well if that's true - that the hinges on the 1Js are fixed - then I hope they go back and fix the 1Ss later. I LOVE the 1S for all the reasons you give. In fact, I was just comparing it now battroid to battroid to the 0S from Zero. And you know what? I used to think Zero was so slick - and that it was so awesome - but side by side - Zero S looks clunky; like a real prototype of sorts. The VF-1 is just such a classy design - it's mind boggling. And the v.2 really shows that. So yeah - fix that hinge Yamato: because dag - the rest of the figure is super super super durable - that's for sure. Very very well done. But I want to have like - a lot of 1Ss With good shoulders. So far I'm 1 for 1 Pete

Best of luck! Pete

Huh? My hinge crack doesn't really show that. Maybe I should be more precise. My hinge is not "broken" - it is slightly cracked. A hairline fracture. I mixed up some epoxe glue and used a sewing pin to insert a few dabs of the glue into where the crack exists, so that it doesn't widen. I don't want to file anything or mess with it any more because it shows no indication of widening the damage. Furthermore - the hairline crack only runs down half the hinge wall on one side - the other half is good - not cracked - so I want it to stay that way. It's so minor that I probably would never have even noticed it if not for all of these threads - this way I looked and saw it right away... I guess I understand what your saying - that this "corner" will indeed stick out and, during transformation, snap off, revealing the pin and destroying the entire mechanism.... But I just don't see it happening - I'm very careful when transforming, and besides - the hinge is not broken - it's not like it's split into two halves jutting in opposite directions. There's just a fracture running down half of one wall. I hope the glue will hold it together.... This only inspires me to buy MORE Roys ! Pete

Well, it's nice to see that the hinge issue on the V.2 1/60 is still being discussed and people are still wondering about it. I am now amongst the wondering:) NO - my perfect unbroken Roy did not suddenly "break." Instead, I opened my second, hitherto unopened Roy and lo - cracked shoulder hinge Epoxy glue mix was put into the crack and he's drying up as we speak. Overall - I have no clue why it was cracked. It came like that out of the box. Whatever - it doesn't bother me much. Functionality is still Ace and hopefully it'll just be a minor boo boo that the glue will stabilize. But it is very very wierd Pete

It all depends on what you mean by "play with it." Here's the scoop: I play with ALL of my Yamato valkyrie and I do so very frequently. However, my form of play is taking pictures for a running photo-comic of my own creation. On certain occasions, these pictures are taken outside, in the wild, although I've scaled back on that method and switched to using photoshop more and more. This type of "play" is overall not very taxing on the yamatos - or any of the other participating figures - because all it calls for is that I pose the figure and take a picture at any desired angle. Now - if by "play" you mean that you will take your yamato on an adventure that will entail him standing on the end of a couch about two feet off the ground, or being tossed in the back seat of a car, or that you will toss your Yamato figure into your back pack along with your school books and take him to show off...then NO. So it all depends on how you play with him. Another consideration: On seibertron.com, a long time ago, when Masterpiece Starscream came out, people were writing things like "boy is he delicate!" and "boy those thin wings are delicate" and I was scratching my head thinking "these guys must be kidding! MP Starscream is built like a rock compared to a Yamato figure." And that basically sums up the extent of what "delicate" means - you will have to relearn how to handle a plastic figure. Until you learn how to move it, where to pivot, what goes where, where there are pressure points etc - then it will be like a bit of a heart attack experience. But - I write all of this because it is a fact - but it does not mean that you should not go for it. As Roy Fokker would likely say: It is the same with women. If you do not know how to handle a woman, then you will be timid about it (which will not be attractive to her) and you will be afraid to touch for fear that she will be damaged and snarl at you. If, on the other hand, you approach her as you would approach your dog or your best friend during a round of football - then your brutality will scare her away. You must be firm, but gentle, bold but also patient. It is the same with a Yamato figure. Sometimes, like a woman, a Yamato figure will start to develop all sorts of problems which require remedies. When a woman develops such problems, you must be gentle and help with the remedy - so to be prepared to remedy some of your Yamatos. Nevertheless, the satisfaction from owning many Yamatos is equal to the satisfaction of having one great woman for all of your many days. And you can view the trials and problems that arise in some Yamatos as a challenge akin to what will arise for you in your relationship with women. If you refuse to buy Yamatos because of the high price and great risk - then it is like refusing to try for a great woman for fear of the same. So - get a Yamato Start with something relatively safe like a 1/48 VF-1 or a 1/60 YF-19. Although, of course, the V.2 1/60 VF-1 is the most beautiful prize; as are the SV-51r (Nora or Ivanov) - but ultimately, no matter which one you start with - be gentle and be ready to break at least two or three of these figures before you get the knack of it. Think of it like having a few bad relationships that you learn for, to get you ready when a real babe shows up - and you will know how to handle her It's the same with Yamato Pete

I just transformed my V.2 1/60 VF-1S back to fighter mode (with super and strike parts) - and guess what? A) Didn't have to remove the missiles to transform him. In fact, the missiles didn't even budge B) The shoulder is not cracked and shows no sign of cracking and as long as you are careful and not impatient, it is hard to see how you can break it C) I didn't have to remove the head in order to transform it I agree with the previous statement that some of the joints a "too tight" - but the solution to this is just be patient. Don't force things - everything has to be in just the right positions for stuff to work. I am seriously thinking of opening up my second VF-1S now... hmm .... should I... shouldn't I...should I...shouldn't I? As for the 1/48 - yes, it is built like a tank and it is a very fine piece, but aesthetically it doesn't hold a candle to the VF-1S 1/60 v.2 The V.2 is better detailed, what with the tampoo printing, but also the mold/sculpt is more anime accurate and less ...well...sorry...but less CHUNKY. Yes - the 1/48 is the Chunky Monkey of the XXI century. If you compare it to the sleek and slender 1/60 v/2 in either fighter, gerwalk or battroid modes...the 1/48 just looks boxy by comparrison all around. It is a great technical achievement - I'm not knocking it - but the V.2 is just miles ahead in almost every department. The hands are not only bigger and more anime accurate, but they are not so complicated to fold in... I think this is really really well put together. The swing bar is super sturdy, doesn't flop around. I don't think I'm gonna be able to resist guys. I have to open my second one. Screw it. I am so tempted to put my two Roys together... Tempted... Tempted... Can't... Resist... Even though my V.2 VF-1A is probably gonna be in my hands in a week's time...I...still....need...to have...a third...Roy....can't...resist! *RUNS TO THE BOX TO OPEN IT AND CACKLE MADLY!* EDIT: Well - that took a little longer than expected, because I had to go mix up some epoxy glue and apply it to the cracked shoulder hinge on my second VF-1S But I STILL think he's beautiful and the shoulder defect is really minor. Hopefully the glue I used will seel it shut and keep it sturdy. Very nice. Wanting more Pete

Yeah...that "small" collection is really high on quality stuff! I spy SOC Daimos, Classic Ultra Magnus armor, THS-02 Convoy... only gems And good. That is what I am aiming for in my collection as well. Pete

A detailed response: Q: So two questions: What do you think of the Toytech line, because I have a deal here which puts Hikaru and Max's VF-1As and Roy's VF-1S, 1/100th scales that are fully transformable at 85$. A: Stay away. Stay as far away from those as you can. They are not worth it. The stands are flimsy, the cups that hold the fighter are made of cracking rubber (yes it is possible) and the fighter topples under its' own weight. The fighter is also unbelievably horribly ugly and misproportioned. A waste of money. Q: I'm also curious of the new Bandai DX model of Alto's (the VF-25) and can't really get an exact date of release from anywhere. I can preorder it here for 130$ with no shipping charges. A: These will be great; although some people have reservations about detailing and we really have yet to see any class A final pictures of the product. I personally do not believe it will be possible to get these for Christmas. So take them off your list for that reason. Q: I'm also curious of the new Bandai DX model of Alto's (the VF-25) and can't really get an exact date of release from anywhere. I can preorder it here for 130$ with no shipping charges. A: That's like asking if a rotten apple with worms crawling inside it that is in bargain bin at the local deli is preferable to fresh apples bought at an orchard in New Hampshire (or something like that). The DX is definitely preferable. But again - I doubt it'll be out in time for Christmas. Q: After sifting through more threads, I noticed the super sale thread and the Banpresto VF-1s that unfortunately we're lost to ebay. Seeing they're 1/55th scale, would they be worth 70$ NIB if I bought one for show/play? A: Unless you have a nostalgia vibe or just love chunky monkys; avoid the old Banprestos and the likes and go for the version 2.0 1/60 VF-1s by Yamato. All of them are out now and ready to ship. They all come with super and strike parts and have tampoo printing. However, be forewarned - if you have never handled a Yamato before, you will have to be extra careful and read the instructions carefully, otherwise you WILL BREAK IT. So be prepared to be delicate and learn how to handle these. Merry Xmas Pete

That's actually a pretty bad representation of Yoko, at least for me. But the price is not that high. Pete

I think it won't effect Transformers 2 at all. Also, it's not that big a deal. He probably needs 6 months to recouperate and just chill out to heal up his hand. He dropped out of a movie which didn't sound like it was going to be "important" anyways - at least not as important a the Indiana Jones or Transformers films - so - it seems to me that he just decided to cut out when it was least harmful to his film career and most beneficial to his long-term health. Pete

I dunno. I liked season 3 - largely because it broadened the span of Transformers, taking things off of Earth proper and making it a more galaxy/universe spanning struggle. Also, thanks to this, there was a lot more focus on the Transformers as characters, rather than on The Transformers in a particular situation. Sure, there were some poorly animated episodes, but for the most part I think it was well rounded, annd certainly no worse than the previous two season. In fact, my least favorite off all the season is ironically...season 1. Mainly because, other than a very few truly good stories (like Countdown to Oblivion), nothing much happens. We just have the "Introduce the Transformers" episode, and then the "Introduce Skyfire" episode, the "Introduce the Dinobots" episode, the "Introduce the Insecticons" episode, and the "Introduce Devastator" Episode. Season 2 is where things really pick up the pace. If anything, season 3 has the downside of going too far out in some cases, but it still remains a good season, Episodes like Ghost in the Machine, Dark Awakening or the one where Galvatron gets sent to a psychotheraputic world are great. Also, I think Five Faces of Darkness is probably the best Transformers story out there for sheer scope and cohesiveness (at least in terms of G1) Pete

I would love to change my legal name to Mr. Superalloy Hello! That would be awesome. As for that translation - I interpret it to mean that there are postponements, that only Alto will come out in December, and that th reason is because the global financial crisis has compelled Bandai design teams to take up part time jobs working rice paddies to make ends meet. Pete

Boy, you guys really are not helpful laughing at me and all of that. I just wanted to learn more about anymee cartoons on the internets. Pete

Hmm.. well... I still honsetly don't get the Chuck Norris joke trend. I am slowly realizing that this seems to be some mass popculture event... I did notice some Chuck Norris jokes on occasion here and there... but I still don't get it. Personally, I like Chuck Norris, although I've never seen any of his movies, or at least if I did, I don't remember much except that he doesn't shave for any of them and always plays himself, although sometimes he just changes his name, but it's always the same type cast... But I never would have thought he'd be walking around in bear suit. I can believe that Tomino was camping in the woods in 1978 and encountered Chuck Norris - but in a bear suit? That part is hard to believe. I wonder if Chuck Norris builds Gundams? And if so, does he pose them doing various Karate stances, and is he annoyed, when despite the "super poseability" of the Mastergrades, he can't get them into a particular stance? Pete

I kind of agree about how the LED light up sword is bad. I too don't like such gimmicks in high end toys...(then again, maybe I shouldn't talk since I'm the only person on Earth lobbying for a Bandai VF-25 Mikhael custom with light up flashing concert lights and recording of Ranka's song) ... but in general - keep the electronics out of the high end stuff and focus on making it as accurate to the original as possible. The "silly" Dino mode is... courageous! I mean - I was always sceptical of an MP Grimlock because I reasoned to myself thus: "Takara will shoot down this idea because no one wants to buy a silly dino mode when the anatomy of the T-Rex is now understood to be so very different." But then again - I should have been smarter - when you consider how many "silly" looking "goofy" robots and "monsters" there are in the Soul of Chogokin line that still sell for high prices; you understand that collectors items are...well...collectors items So yeah - I'm happy and I'm getting him. Pete

Happy Birthday Macross World! I'm still fairly new (I think I've only been here one year so far), but over this time, I've found that everyone here shares my interests and I've also learned a lot, both about Macross and Japanese anime in general! Discussion is always both laid back and informative and fun. Overall, this is a great great forum - so big thanks to Shawn and Graham for running it, and to everyone else who populates Macrossworld for making it so fantastic! Happy birthday! Pete edit: (looks at when he Joined..two years! woo! )