mechaninac

Irrelevant how? That's like having a VF-19 in Macross Zero.

Like having a VF-19 in Macross Zero??? That doesn't even address my point. In my opinion the VF-2SS is far more advanced than the VF-1 and VF-4, in your opinion it's not. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this point. If you really want to see something that looks totally incongruous with its stated time frame, just look at the VF-0...engines aside, the VF-0 looks far more modern than the VF-1 (I know this has to do with modern aircraft influences, more mature mechanical designing and computer modeling, and higher production budgets, but the fact remains that, aesthetically, the VF-1 looks like a through-back next to the VF-0).

Except that Kawamori's numbering system has never made such irrational leaps. Nor does the VF-2SS show a significant level of advancement over the VF-1 & VF-4, let alone an 80 year level of advancement.

That's just it; Macross II is not Kawamori's baby, thus his VF numbering system is not relevant. Stating that a fictitious machine's numbering system does not follow a linear progression that was not really set in stone at the time the OVA was made, in a project that did not include the originator of said system, is not much of an argument...it's nitpicking. You're entitled to nitpick, but I'm not bound to agree with it.

I found the designs to be rather weak, nor do they show much of a level of originality. They're simply a cross between Valkyrie & Gundam styling. Kawamori showed much better variation in his advanced variable fighter series years earlier.

That is completely a matter of opinion. The VF-1 design lineage is entirely intentional and I see more of a Patlabor influence than Gundam in the VF-2SS...just take a look at the head. As far as originality goes, there isn't much of it anywhere you look, anime, American cartoons, TV programs, movies, they all borrow from each other and influence each other...a truly original work is like a rare gem. I agree that Kawamori's mechanical creations are fantastic, but even he is guilty of derivative designs, and his genius in no way diminishes the work done on Macross II. IMO the UN SPACY mecha from Macross II are excellent.

Except that FB 2012 has just the opposite effect. It doesn't diverge the two versions of the story, it brings them together. Macros II still ignores the Protoculture of DYRL, colonization fleets of 2012, and to top it off, mishanldes the entire message of music in Macross. Then it takes some odd steps by showing a society that's still dpeendent on using Zentradi reckage to build cities & gunships.  Had Macross just been about a girl singing to distract an enemy while you can shoot at them, that'd be one thing, but it was about emotions from one person awakening emotions in another person, and helping them see that there are peaceful solutions.

I'll grant you this one, as haven't seen FB 2012, and used it only as a point or reference. However, if you disregard it, and assume a bifurcation point prior to 2012, than my assertion still stands: "As a sequel to DYRL? only , MII works...".

Also, music in Macross has the effect of confusing the Zentradi exactly because it awakens an emotional response in them that is so alien to their existence that it nearly paralyzes them. In Macross II this effect is used as a defensive weapon against renegade Zentradi forces that did not participate in the events of DYRL?, and still roam the galaxy (the theme of other Zentradi armies being a recurring problem for the UN SPACY is even, however unrelated, touched upon in Macross Plus). The "music effect" is also used by the Marduk through their emulators, but in their, case not to influence, convert or defend against, but in order to control and enslave the Zentradi battalions they use as cannon fodder in their mach of conquest. If taken only on its merits, without the baggage of the Macross canon, Macross II can be enjoyable IMO.

As I said before, just like with Orguss 02 & Gundam 0080, this production team misses the entire point of the series they were following up on, just to make a fast & easy OVA buck.

Again, just a matter of personal opinion. All productions are intended to make a buck, fast & easy or otherwise...no consumption oriented art is ever created for art's sake.

Conclusion: different strokes for different folks.

There have been only two films in the past 10 years that made me feel as if I'd been mugged coming out of the theater, Starship Troopers was one, the other was Waterworld. While Waterworld was utterly irredeemable, at least Starship Troopers had cool visual effects, but not cool enough to outweigh the sheer craptastic quality of the scrip, acting, editing (I absolutely hated the "would you like to know more?" bits...it may have worked in the book, but it sucked camel balls in the movie), and the piece de resistance...Verhoven's directing. A stinker tour the force.

TAM at tmpanime posted on his forums today that the Alpha's had arrived today and that they were going to pick them up... Perhaps no pirates this time!

Macross II, like it or not, does not fit. You might have been able to make weak excuses for it before the official sequels, but now, forget it. For starters, after 80 years, they've only been able to get up to the VF-2? Come on, we already had the VF-4, now we're moving backward. Not to mention that, after the official sequels, the VF-2 is really backward, and decidedly low-tech.

I'm sorry, but using VF numbering continuity as a reason for why Macross II does not fit into Macross canon is an irrelevant argument. It is perfectly logical for the Valkyrie II VF-2SS to be much more modern than the higher numbered VF-22, for example. Discrepancies in plane number designations are nothing new; the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers are much more advanced that the much older B-52 Stratofortress, also the F-22 Raptor is a new fighter, whereas the F-100 is a relic.

There may be problems with Macross II, and you do a good job at pointing some of them out, but the human mecha are not one of them. IMO, aside from the Metal Siren, MII has some the coolest looking mechanical designs of any of the Macross series.

As a sequel to DYRL? only , MII works, if you're able to disregard later series. I consider it more of a tangential story than an alternate universe, as if after FB 2012 there is a split...take door number one and you get MII, take door number two and you get the recognized canon. They are different, yet equally valid, depending on how you look at it.

Second week of August...Where the hell is my Alpha?!!

IS this a gakken-or MPC. ????????

It's got the blue dude's head???

It's neither. That's a 1/48 tripple change IMAI Mars Base blue Legioss kit sporting a red Legioss's head. The large Gakken is 1/35 and the MPC is 1/55 in scale.

It's the length in shuttle mode.

...12.6 inches long in shuttle mode . This thing is going to actually be a pretty big toy; add Yamato's customary box size overkill and shipping and the VB-6's price will fall somewhere between a 1/48 VF-1A,S,J and a VF-1J w/FP ...probably closer to the latter.

The text shows a measurement of 32 cm; is that the battroid height or the overall length in shuttle mode? As for the Lucite blocks...meh, I remember a similar concern with the 1/60 Q'Rau as the prototypes for that power suit were also supported by blocks in most/all pictures.

The Koenig Monster does look pretty cool, however, and I'm seriously tempted to get it when it comes out. Now all we need is, at least, a tentative MSRP to give us an idea of how much of a dent this thing will cause in the bank account.

If they made a VF-1D I'd buy it. One of the sticking points of the VF-1D, VE-1, and VT-1 designs is that they are too unique; unlike the other VFs, there are no color variations to help amortize the cost of development and tooling. However, they could get around that somewhat by making not only a VF-1D, for example, in orange and sand like on the show, but also a special edition low vis version...I'd buy THAT in an instant.

Toynami sure runs an amateurish operation, don't they? Well, I guess another couple of weeks won't hurt, too much.

I've done this to my 1/48s also, its a quick mod that enhances the look of the valk's head considerably, akin to panel lining. Here's a quick how-to:

1. Use a No. 11 exacto blade to mark/start the drilling. Just eyeball the center of the cannon and work the blade like a drill. Make a hole big enough to firmly hold the drill for the next operation. The blade gives you much more control than a pin vise and drill.

2. Next comes the drilling. It's best to have three different sizes to work with, a small diameter drill, an intermediate sized drill, and your final barrel bore size. Drilling in three steps is 99.99% guaranteed to eliminate any chance of splitting the gun barrel of your precious 1/48. A quick way to achieve evenly deep holes is to put tape around the drill about 1/8" to 1/4" (your preference, but they should be the same for each drill) from the tip of each drill to act as a depth guide. Work the drills in slowly, giving 3 to 6 turns and backing out to clear the shavings and repeat until you reach your set depth; try to keep them going down concentric to the barrel to avoid punching through the side.

3. Add some flat black paint to the drilled holes and bingo, you're done.

I wouldn't fret over the green Alpha's head sculpt overmuch. The head on the super poseable looked dead-on, so there is no reason to believe that they'd make it inaccurate on a flagship item.

Anime: Haro (MSG & SEED) and Mint (Mospeada).

American Cartoons: Orco (80's He-Man).

Sci-Fi TV: Tweekie (Buck Rogers)

Sci-Fi Movies: Jar-Jar Binks...undoubtedly the lamest, most annoying bag of puke ever to disgrace a screen.

The first is a tequila gunner, or some such, from Dougram; the second one is a drifand Dall form Orguss. Go HERE for a comprehensive list of Revell kits from the Robotech Defenders line.

Serge

I'm a bit concerned about those stickers. They look kinda "Yamatoish". Maybe we can get Anazasi to made some decent ones for the MPC's

I second that notion. Anazasi or Takatoys stickers or decals would be THE thing to use; not only are they of superior quality, but you also get to keep the originals intact.

So what else is new?...If you remember, Star Wars Special edition had several questionable PC editing choices in it; the one that comes most glaringly to mind is the cantina scene where a nonchalant Han Solo shoots Greedo in the gut and leaves is replaced by a nonchalant Han Solo shooting Greedo in the gut AFTER Greedo misses a point blank range shot at Solo without him even trying to duck--and Greedo was supposed to be a bounty hunter...please. Lucas and Spielberg are the vanguard of this PC editing and re-release nonsense.

For the perfect rebuttal of this nauseating trend see the South Park episode dedicated to skewering this trend...priceless!

...Transfans...

Transfans???

Somehow that word just reads/sounds so wrong on so many levels...

If it's at least two years for a beta then does that mean we might get cyclones in the meantime?

I do believe those are Toynami's plans; after all the Alpha variations are released the next MPC subjects should be the cyclones/ride-armors, and if past practice is any indication, the first 3 should be Scott, Rand, and Lancer, as those already exist in kit form, and I'd bet that they will be around 1/12 scale.

... sounds like creators are scrapping the bottom of the barrell.

Actually, a live action Transformers movie is what happens when you lift up the barrel to look under it...

Room?  That's the last concern when buying a model.  I've got 2 1/350 battleships, 2 1/32 Hornets, and a 1/72 XB-70 in my stash...

Those are mostly, if not all, still boxed, aren't they?

You have a point there, though. Practical considerations rarely have any impact on one's purchasing decisions when it comes to model kits, toys, or any collectible. However, size was a factor in my decision not to buy Polar Light's 1/72 C-57D kit. But, although I like Forbidden Planet as a movie, that space cruiser doesn't have the same attraction (its just a fling saucer, after all) as the Constitution refit does. I guess I will end up buying it and then find room for it.

i got an email from toynami saying the alphas should be in an august....

the first wave is completely sold out from them, and retailers have to order the second wave to get more...those are prob going to get here in Oct or Sept

If this is true, and I have no reason to doubt Toynami on this since there is a significant pent up demand for this new MPC, let it be a warning to all procrastinators: if you want a new transformable Alpha toy, Scot's/Stick's at any rate, you had better think hard about weather or not to bite the bullet and order it now...it looks like this thing will sell out, fast. This is not intended to push anyone into spending money they may not have, or peddling a product that may or may not live up to expectations, but one should keep Yamato's Low Vis in mind; many have waited too long and now find themselves scrambling to find this coveted item and paying outrageous prices for it.

That looks impressive. My only problem with this monster is that its biggest selling point (it's size) will also be its biggest drawback. Where do you store/display such a behemoth once completed?

One of the myriad details that make me seriously consider buying this goliath of a kit is that it will include a host of auxiliary craft...cool.

Like Graham I've never been a fan of Transformers...tried watching it a few times, in all of its incarnations, over the years from the time I was a kid and was never able to get into any of it; the concept of the show just never appealed to me. Having said that, I think that a live action version would be, by far, the worst interpretation of a much loved--by many--franchise.

There are two movies that came to mind immediately as soon as I read this thread: The odiously silly Power Rangers movie of a few years back (at least that was live action to begin with...very bad live action), and the upcoming Thunderbirds movie...talk about raping a childhood memory, those previews on TV look so incredibly bad that they make me cringe every time they're shown.

Some things are just better left alone.

Thanks for the pictures. Although they look like prototypes (solid blue canopies) this is the first time I've seen the Red Alpha MPC in fighter mode, and the first time ever for the Green version in any mode. Damn, they do look nice, don't they? My only nitpick other than the clown feet is the sensor pod just looks "off".