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Bobby

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    VF-XS-II Uncensored & uncut

    in Movies and TV Series

    Posted

    It seems possible then Animage's article in Nov '91 was during a time when the design and naming were still under development (and both did change). Since 300yrs would have passed, maybe they were debating if the prefix should change from VF to something else since a precedent had not yet been established per say. The later published Bandai Monthly Journal Dec '91 shed some light on what they'd decided (VS-XS).

    If we fast forward to May of '92 once MII's officially released we see for the final design they went the conventional route of following a VF-1 (A/J/S) with a VF-2 (SS).  I can also see how one could assume the initial draft design should then be given an VF prefix, however I can't find any publication after May '92 actually calling it that.

    Could it be VF-XS is an assumption then if the last known publication referencing Ohata's design calls it a VS-XS? I went through all my books (e.g. Entertainment Bible #51, B-Club's #73 & #79, Hobby Japan #9/92, MechaPress Jan/Feb '93, This is Animation Special Macross II, Bandai Monthly Journal #149, Macross II The RPG, Macross Chronicle #21 & #52, Macross II Viz Graphics Novel, and I know there's still at least one other B-Club reference) and none of them reference a VF-XS that I know of.

    I guess the right question is what is the last official publication of this design and it's name? ... is it the Dec of 1991 calling it VS-XS or is it VF-XS from a later date? I'd just like to know so I can start hunting for it to add to my collection.

    VF-XS-II Uncensored & uncut

    in Movies and TV Series

    Posted · Edited by Bobby

    Came across this when going through my DEC 1991 vol.149 issue of the monthly Bandai Making Journal and strangely it refers to this design as the VS-XS.

    Both BMJ / B-Club were official Bandai publications back in the day and you'd think they get it right so is this a typo (or did Animage have the typo) or did it just change over time to conform to having a VF prefix ... anyone know?

    vs-xs_valkyrie_bmj.jpg

    Megazone 23 Aoi Garland Artbook

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    From what I recall those pages feature black and white action poses of the Blue Garland, Garland, the different versions of Hargan throughout the game, the main antagonist mech (name?) and Flagger (it's been awhile).

    If it's a good price it covers the Alternate Continuity timeline and acquiring any new and fresh licensed material is hard to come by.
     

    Consolidated Megazone 23 Toy/Model Thread for 2017-2018

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted · Edited by Bobby

    Yes, that's is correct ... that Hargan is from a  limited production run for Wonder Festival (avg about 3.5" tall) sculpted/designed by Hiroshi Imizu who does amazing Megazone 23 work! (some of his creations to date...)

    imizu_hiroshi.jpg

    In looking at some other pics of Hargun I recognize the teeny-tiny screws ... I had managed to pick up a couple of his Garlands (pics of one below w/some size comparisons) and it was a blast to build (his kits come in color-ready resin), is fully transformable, but man, drilling all those teeny-tiny holes and working with all those tenny-tiny screws which are the size found in eyeglasses was rather tedious!

    imizu_garland.jpg

    Consolidated Megazone 23 Toy/Model Thread for 2017-2018

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    4 hours ago, daBlah! said:

    Does anyone know a supplier than can ship the R_AREA comics outside of Japan? I've seen their links to some online ones but haven't seen international shipping options?

    In instances like this I have used ZenMarket's "Other Shops" link and add the direct URL of the item(s) I want to purchase. Then they buy it for me and charge ¥300 per item for proxy and hold it my "warehouse" for up to 45 days for free. I will then usually purchase other things during that time to make a haul and then around day 40 create the parcel (also a free service). They provide around 6-7 shipping options to choose from (I actually just got a package from them yesterday). This was interesting to me that just recently I calculated that it was cheaper for me to buy 5 books from Mandarake going through ZM vs going through Mandarake direct. Shipping within Japan is fairly cheap when vendors use things like Yu-Pack (Japan's parcel post equivalent) and for this instance having Madarake ship my items to ZM and then having ZM consolidate it into one package for me (free) was cheaper mainly because ZM offers way more shipping options than Mandarake at the moment.

    Consolidated Megazone 23 Toy/Model Thread for 2017-2018

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    To RavenHawk's point regarding lean, that's probably the Garland's overriding issue and mainly how low the side-mounted legs hang. In one of the Megazone art books I have the Garland has been given some sort of "biker assist system" (see pic) where it detects the rider's banking angle and the legs automatically move/rotate out of the way to help the rider achieve maximum lean on sharp turns. The left and right "leg engines" are actively always trying to keep as low of a position as possible to help maintain a low center of gravity. Both Kawasaki and/or the backyard-hobby-enthusiast-builder are welcome to tackle that!  We've all probably seen some of the real-life Akira bikes and Tron Light Cycles people have made here and there online, but nothing this elaborate ... oh anime-magic transformation, you got us again!

     

    garland_lean.jpeg

    Consolidated Megazone 23 Toy/Model Thread for 2017-2018

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    Actually, it does have a "secret" fold out poster in it ... if you remove the book jacket, on the reverse side of the jacket there is quite a large fold out poster (over 2 ft) of the red Garland in bike mode which is pretty awesome and pretty detailed. The Megazone Manuever Book that was sold separately from the box set (has silver cover) which I bought first, did not have this jacket hence no poster.

    I regularly check behind my book jackets from Japan because sometimes the art printed on the binded cover (both front and back) of the book differs from the art found on the book jacket (nice way to sneak in more art!). While it is not that common it's always nice to find these easter eggs!

    The Unlicensed Third Party Transformers Thread

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, Chronocidal said:

    Technically I wasn't -missing- the tailhook panel.. what they did was give me two right-side copies of one part.  It wasn't visible because it was packed in bot mode, and that piece was embedded in the leg so deep you'd never know it was assembled incorrectly.

    I know exactly what/where you're talking about and also since it's technically a faux tailhook makes it even easier to mix'em up during assembly!

    The Unlicensed Third Party Transformers Thread

    in Anime or Science Fiction

    Posted

    55 minutes ago, Chronocidal said:

    Unfortunately, Zeta's QC on this one hasn't been great, and I've seen lots of reports of missing pieces.  Mine came missing the two larger ball-jointed flaps on the back (really insignificant, and I'm not worried about them) and one of the tailhook panels between the engines (requested a replacement for that one).  I also managed to snap off one of the tiny folding fins behind he head somehow, might have been a weak molding.

    Sorry to hear ... broken or missing parts is always a bummer.  Mine just arrived and is actually missing the front half of his head which means he has no face ... I sent in a request to David @ ShowZ and am hopeful.

    MKT's comments about requiring lots of focus and time and parts being a bit too snugly are spot on but the reward's worth it.  

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