westfall

Yes. Yes, you are. And i think most people in these forums are too, me included. But it's the good kind of sick. So, it's OK. OK, progress report: Applied the afore-mentioned wash to the treated main parts. I was afraid the panel lines wouldn't be noticeable in the dark green parts but they look great. Some pics of the process in one of those parts: Future coated clean part (in bare plastic the wash works but with the Future it holds a lot better) part with the wash applied ( roughly 20 minutes to dry, according to the manufacturer) one half with the wash rubbed off and finally the completed part After that i applied some burnt iron to the exausts and after that dried another coat of Future. Snapped the main assembly together and now i'm brassing myself for the most terrifying part of the process... DECALING. One problem is the pointy ends seem to split a bit, especialy the nose (as can be seen in the last pic). I might have to apply a hint of glue to get them to look right. Any alternative ways to do it would be welcomed as well as any hints you might have on the better way to apply those nasty decals.

That prototype kicks all kind of @ss. Awesome sculpt. Just hope they sell the Armored Pack as a standalone cause i gotta have it, even if i have to buy it with the 25S. Thank you for that link.

The big white one on the right wraps around the "crotch" piece (Part F-1) The 2 purple on the top left are used to "color" the clear forward sensors (Part A-9) if you choose not to tint them The green in the middle is the green sensor on the gunpod The 2 green ones on the bottom left are used to "color" the clear eyepiece (Part A-22) if you choose not to tint it

edwin3060, you just made my day. Hope a standalone Armor Pack comes out, though. I've been saving Ozma for it. I already have to buy a 2nd VF-25F for the Super Parts and buying a 2nd Ozma is not in my plans... unless i absolutely have to.

In the VF-25F's head and gunpod. for the other parts of the VF-25F i used a Gundam Marker Mechanical Pencil (GNZGP01) wich is easier to remove (too easy at times). The panel lines in the Ghost were done with Pro-Modellers Black wash. I think this last one worked the best, the excess paint is removed with a papel towel (slightly moist, if necessary) and the lines are very crisp, even small detail, like rivets, show through. I will still use the markers but only for smaller paint jobs. I'm not saying they're not a good product, but the Pro-Modellers wash makes panel lining a lot easier and quick, once you get the hang of it.

These kits are certainly complex but i wouldn't say they're not fun. I'm having a blast, even if i'm progressing slowly. That's more due to lack of time than anything else. What i find so fun in building these guys is that to make an actual part of the craft you have to snap several small parts that don't look like anything separate. Great enginearing. Anyway here's some pics of what i have built so far, from the VF-25F and one of the RVF-25's Ghosts.

About the Ghosts markings on the RVF-25, i always thought Bandai would either do as they've done till now and have both Decals and Stickers or just the Stickers. They went with only Decals wich for those (like me) who dread decals is a real bummer. I've started work on one of the Ghosts, alternating its contruction with that of my VF-25F, while parts of one are drying i mess with the other. That way, i keep myself busy and don't rush with either. Rushing is what has gotten me into trouble in the past. As for the Gosts, i started by making a rough assembly of the larger fuselage parts (without snaping them into place). Because i won't use the decals except where absolutely necessary, i immediatly dismissed some large ones wich are used to "color" the green parts grey. I masked them where necessary and sprayed them with Mr. Surfacer 1000, wich as it turns out, is almost the exact same shade of grey as the Ghost. After it dried i removed the mask and brushed the parts with Future. That was it. As for the grey parts i've aplied Promodelers black wash and the panel lines came out quite nice. I'll spend tonight getting some screen caps of the Ghosts to check what else needs painting. Right now the only spot i know of are the exaust ports. I'll post more as i progress in both the Gosts and the VF-25F.

Thanks for the link.

can someone translate the interview in the following pages? 18 and 19 seem to have an interview, i believe its kawamori but i'm not sure.

Just did a quick check from episode 15 to 22 and in those he uses only the Super PAcks. From episode 22 to 25 he flies in a VF-171EX, so i didn't check those. The only other place where he uses the Armored Pack is in the Lion Opening, but most of those clips are taken from episode 25. Of course that won't stop me from rewatching every single episode again, as many times as it takes. Its all for the cause... Not really sure what cause that is but i'm willing to do it. (One last note: Total "DUUH!!" moment. I just looked at my current avatar, wich is from episode 25... Armored Pack staring me right in the face... )

You're right about 25, i've seen that episode a dozen times and i hadn't noticed that. That thing is so jam-packed of mecha porn that you miss the most obvious things. And having missed that one i'm willing to accept there might be more. Damn, i guess i have to re-watch the whole series again... (Yeah, what a sacrifice that will be! )

Yeah, that was cool but what did it for me were these, a few minutes earlier If you look in a dictionary for the expression "BAD-ASS" you'll find these pics there. And the armored pack was almost an Ozma exclusive. As far as i recall, the only other Messiah to use it was Alto's in episode 14.

So true. I'm glad that they didn't go over the top with his "gayness". I mean he had the look and the attitude but they didn't cheapen the character by making him the stereotypical fruity gay guy (Will and Grace, anyone?). I remember Mash from Macross II being along the same lines, though he didn't get that much screen time... and he didn't pilot a ginormous transforming battleship. And his unrequited love for Ozma makes him very endearing, not to mention he's portraied as a very caring friend (supporting Ranka, nurturing Cathy after her father's death). He's an all round nice guy... that happens to be gay, not the other way around. As for Nanase... she could have been portraied better, although she is caring and a true friend for Ranka, she ends up being the token fan service, giant boob that would break a normal womans spine, cute girl. In the end she becomes a strong motivation for Luca and his development but when that hits its stride, she's injured and spends the rest of the series in a coma. So, although i do like Nanase, Bobby just beats her all the way. (Not to mention he had me ROFL with his rendition of "Ninjin Loves you, YEAH!")

Yeah, the Armored Pack will be an heavy beast but because its almost a whole ship in itself i think that in fighter and gerwalk modes it might be a bit more solid than the Super Pack. In batroid mode it might hold up a bit better but because of all the armor it will probably be less posable. I intend to have Armored Pack for Ozma only and i plan to display it in gerwalk (episode 2, 1st act is just burned into my mind). Transparent Green Vallejo Model Color straight from the bottle. Paint brush dabbed in Future, then in the paint and just brushed the part, inside and out.

Yeah, that's what i was thinking but to buy another 25F, i'll probably get the bundle wich has the red parts molded in color. So... what to do with these Super Parts? My display idea was Alto with SP, Ozma with Armored, Luca standalone (with the extra parts it has and the ghosts it looks good on its own) and Michel with either SP or standalone in Batroid mode, sniping. So i can either use them in Michel's VF or, and this is just a thought i had, have them displayed along with standalone 25F in a sort of hangar diorama scene, as if they were about to be assembled to the fighter. That way, i have the standalone 25F and i use the Super Parts. (Using them in Michel was always plan B). The DX as a toy piece is sturdier than the 1/72 but it seems the consensus is that the 1/72 have better proportions. The stability issues with the SPs arrise when you try to use this as you would the DX. Basicaly the 1/72 are to be built and used as display pieces, as you would with the Hasegawa Valks, the fact they can transform is just so we can actualy choose in wich mode to display them and ocasionaly change them. If used with an Action Base the Vf-25 seems to old better with the SPs, but as a display piece, once the right pose is found, you should handle it as little as possible. To fly around and transform often, then yes, the DX would be a better option. I still think that the 1/72 is more acurate and despite so all these posability issues, for its price tab, its a very good piece and one of the best engineared kits i've seen in a while.

Just got a visit from the mailman with 2 boxes from HLJ. Super Parts and RVF-25. Awesome piece of plastic. And now i'm torn. I've been holding back on building the VF-25F till the SPs got here but while i was waiting the idea of a standalone VF-25F has been growing on me. It looks like a bad-ass with the Super Parts but it's sleaker and easier to transform as a standalone. What do you guys think?

I find the fact that Leon beat Mr. Wilder disturbing. And that Leon even appears on the top 6 even more disturbing. Leon is a douche. Leon looks gayer than Bobby (wich in IMHO has become the coolest gay character of all time). And that hair? I couldn't take him serious as a vilain because of that hair. Grace was more bad-ass than him. I DEMAND A RECOUNT!!! (Sorry for the outburst but I REALLY HATE LEON)

Until i read your post about the head stripes, i hadn't even noticed there was a decal/sticker for that. To be honest i hadn't paid much atention to the decal/sticker sheets. And i'm glad i hadn't, i probably would have taken the "easy" way out and applied the head stripe sticker (i don't do well with decals). But because i hadn't noticed, i actually painted two thin white stripes and used a few creative techniques to detail that section. And the green and red bits (sensors or lights, i believe) in the gunpod were painted too and i think they look better than with the foil sticker. I guess i'll just keep pushing myself and use the decals/stickers only when absolutely necessary. Here's some pics (sorry for the lousy photografer skills)

Was that a "HIMYM" reference? If so, carry on. If not ... then forget i said anything. You're not alone. I've had Alto and Ozma's VF-25's sitting on the shelf since they came out, afraid to mess them up. But finaly, 2 weeks ago, i maned up and steped up to the plate. I said to myself "Hey, it may not look as good as some that you have seen (for example, Jarrod and WM Cheng's --- i hate you guys... but in a good "i'm soooooooo jealous of your modeling skills" kind of way ) but you're gonna give it your best and when you finish, you'll know you gave it you're best and it will look awesome". I grabed my VF-25F box, opened it, got the bags out, opened them and i started. First thing i built was the gunpod, just to get the feel of it. Nothing fancy, no weathering, no paint, i just snaped it together. And the fear was gone. Next, i assembled the head, put it all together, looked at it, saw what needed to be changed (2 thin white stripes along the red top section, the head lasers painted, green sensor, inner "jaw" painted, eye piece tinted, pannel lines). And that is just the head. Overwelming stuff. But i did it and it looks great. Next, i dissassembled the gunpod, painted the inner mechanism, weather it, painted the top red and green sensors and pannel lined it. And it looks great. I'm taking it slow now 'cause i'm waiting for the Super Pack to arrive, even though i havent decided if i'll use them on this VF-25F or if i'll just leave this one as a stand alone and get another for the Packs. As for Ozma's that will only be put together when (or better said, IF) the Armored Pack comes out. Luckilly i'll have the RVF-25 to assemble 'till then. What i'm saying here is... i'm a total noob at this, looking at some of the masterpieces these guys have done made me feel even more of a noob. But you just have to take the first step and go for it, not to make a masterpiece but something that will make you proud of a job well done and in the end... it will be YOUR masterpiece. Best of luck, my friend.

I mixed Clear Blue and Clear Red with Future and it didn't turn brown. I diped a test canopy from an old F-14 Revell Kit in it and it ended up with a very light violet tint. I wanted it with a bit more tint so, as an experiment i dipped only half of the already tinted canopy and after it dryed it was just right, for my taste, at least. The canopy violet in the animation seems to vary a lot, some times its just blue and sometimes is a grey-ish blue so its really up to anyone what shade they like. What i never got was Brown. I guess it depends on what shade of red and blue the manufacturers use for their clear paints as certain shades mix to violet and others to brown. I used Vallejo Model Color Clear Red and Clear Blue. The Green Eyepiece was tinted by dipping a wide brush in future and then in Clear green and brushing the outside. It looks great. Of course this whole exercise could be avoided if Bandai would just mold these parts in color. But at least it pulled my creative muscle to new heights.

Even though i would like a sequel better, if they made a movie remake series with even better animation and that plugged some of the plot holes, that wouldn't be so bad. The Evangelion 1.0 Movie was awesome, the story was almost the same but they changed it enough to keep it fresh. And the new animation was just jaw dropping stunning eye candy. The diference between the two is that, although it still holds up, Evangelions animation is a bit dated, making the movies state of the art animation shine by comparison. Macross F is stunningly animated (despite a few flaws here and there, some of wich have been fixed for the Blu-Ray release) . That, coupled with the fact that the movie is coming out about one year after the series ended, means it won't have the same impact as the Eva movies, in terms of animation comparison between series and movie. Whatever venue they go with i just hope they make a great movie and that they keep them coming in order to keep the Macross franchise, in general, and the Frontier series, in particular, alive and kicking. In the very least, long enough for the still unreleased music to come out and for Bandai to make more models and figures and... (His wallet jumps out of his pocket and runs for dear life)

I'm guessing you're refering to the tint of the cockpit? For the VF-25F and VF-25S I'll use clear blue mixed with a touch of clear red. Yeah, purple. (Or is it violet? I never know!) The RVF-25 has a green tone wich will be harder to get. As for the VF-25G is clear blue. I mix the clear paints with Future and i've been getting good results.

I support what you said word for word. Its just a matter of updating a design for a different media. The most recent example i can think of is "Transformers". Everyone cried bloody murder for how much Michael Bay altered the look of the robots. I think they looked bad-ass and very organic, like true life-forms, if they had kept the look of the original, man... that would have sucked. Me? I'm just happy the movie got made and looked as awesome as it did. And now? Well, "Revenge is Coming"!

REALLY? Thank you for showing me the error of my biased ways. Better start sending emails to most of the fansubs out there and tell them to stop using english in their subs, they're being biased too, i guess. And the guys in these forums that are translating Macross Chronicles? I thought they were doing a great job but they better STOP because they're being biased, as well... and we wouldn't want that. Oh! HECK, contact the Forum Administrators, this whole site is mostly writen in English!!! It's like a conspiracy to erase every other language in the world Sarcasm apart, "sonny", don't be so quick to point your finger at others. I may have not phrased the best way but take it easy there. Its a "problem" for those who don't read Japanese, i'm not saying they should stop using their language in the books they make. As i said, i buy these books for a long time and i don't really care what language they're writen in (don't take this to mean i don't like Japanese, i love the language and if i don't know as much as i would like, it's because i just don't have the time to study harder). I buy these books for the art within them and, as it has already been pointed out, to support the cause. I had no ill intention of starting a debate about about the fact that, when it comes down to it, most of the times, if a translation is made, it is in English. FACT, not bias. Me? I would prefer it if this got translated into Portuguese. To each his own. Thanks however for pointing out the diference between "japan" and "Japan". That was my bad and i learned from it. 2 points, though: 1 - I know there's some English in Macross Chronicles but i was talking about actual text translation. Loanwords here and there don't count as such. 2 - I wasn't aware i needed to know perfect grammar to write in these forums, but judging from many other post i've read in this same site, it seems i don't, so... i'm guessing you're the only one who's taking names. And English tips from a guy that called me sunshine? Thanks but no thanks.

I only now began buying this collection and only because HLJ finaly got the entire batch on their site. I only have issues 1,2 and 5 with me, with the rest already on their way and i must say... THIS IS QUALITY STUFF. You get 2 foldout pages (1 for the mecha section and 1 for the galery), lots of lineart and colored pics. And at 32 pages per issue, when 18 comes out you'll have 576 pages of Macross goodness. The only con is being in japanese only. Knowing that fans all over the world would probably get this they could have some english text, at least for the most important stuff. But thats the problem with all japanese magasines and artbooks, not just Chronicles. I for one, will keep buying it.