westfall

I second that. As i've posted before, a DYRL style set of TV arms (Prometheus and Daedalus) would be great. And, yeah, in a perfect world Yamato would release a TV design too but i don't see that happening. So its really a matter of weighing what people want the most and a certain amount of compromise. Me, i prefer the DYRL design because i prefer its bulkier, super detailed and bad-ass look, but mainly because, although people call it the DYRL version, when you look at the rest of the Macross series and OVA, even Macross II (yeah, its an alternate universe, i get it) that is the dominant design. The "TV Version" was only used in the original TV series. I get that nostalgia value is big, being a SB Yamato fan i have a special place in my heart for the Yamato design from the original Iscandar series, but if i had to choose a design for a figure such as this, i would go for the more updated PS2 games design, much like they did with the 1/350 kit that Bandai released last year or the Soul of Popinica figure (I actually have that one - if i get an Arcadia in the same scale... DAICON Macross, anyone? ). I love the original but the redesign looks more real and detailed and ready to kick Gamilon ass. (At least until Dessler turns Gamilas into Earth's ally )

I agree with you. It is called Super Dimensional FORTRESS Macross, afterall. But i get why some people like the look of the Tv design. Personally, i wouldn't buy it if Yamato made it like the TV design, wich kind of makes wish they did because this baby will obliterate my budget for next year.

HLJ has Early-Bird offer for the VF-25S Armored, scheduled to come out in June. Although not stated as for the others, this must be the DX toy, not the 1/72 model, i'm assuming this based only on the price tag. Hope a 1/72 Armored VF-25S comes out soon, though. Any news on the VF-27 or that cool Vajra we kept seing with the initial prototypes? Or for the EX-Gear?

You call that small? From the first picture it seems to be at least half the length of the VF-25, wich is actually bigger than i had thought. I'm really happy they put 3 ghost in there, just one would be a bummer. As for the canopy, although i agree with you, they should just come molded in color, the fact is that, since the canopies for all 4 fighters are the same, they must be mass produced separatly and then atached to the required sprue (notice as the canopy sprue section is separate from the clear visor and white parts?). Its a pain but cost effectiveness is an important factor. Molding an exact amount in the correct color (as far as i've seen there are 3 diferent color for the canopies) would never happen. Now, the eyepiece for each VF is different, and could be molded in color lust like the sensor domes for the ghosts. But then, how would they sell their clear paints? In the end its just business. Of course, from that perspective, why did they mould the ghosts clear pieces in color... (HEAD EXPLODES). On a different subject, now that Ozma's Super Messiah as come out, any one knows if there are plans to release the Armored version?

My thoughts exactly. That's why, after i have the full squadron and my budget back up, i'll buy another VF-25F. Maybe i'll just assemble the super pack i have on the way and display it as a standalone piece and just get the bundle pack, just for the new box art. As for the VF-25S i'll keep it unassembled until the armored pack is out... or until i freak out and just assemble it... whatever comes first. I always liked it a lot better with the armored pack any way. Bottom line is, these will have to be displayed with or without the packs, part swaping is TOO dangerous for any already assembled VF.

I was just talking about a practical design point of view, i don't even want to mess with whats canon or not. But about DYRL being a movie made within the Macross universe, depicting the events of the 1st Space War, this is what i don't get and why i don't wanna touch what is canon or not with a 10 ft pole: If we follow the "DYRL movie" assumption, then its based on SDF Macross wich is the real story in wich the movie is based. The diferent SDF-1 is based on the 2012 refit of the ship. OK. What about the rest? The Zentradi (Bretai, Exedore, Bodolza,etc.) are very diferent in DYRL from their "real" counterparts. That could be justified as the DYRL movie producers wanting to give the audience scarier "bad guys". (The Zentradi in SDFM looked silly, admit it, Exedore's hair cut alone makes me clench my teeth). But in the subsequent series, wich are part of the same reality in wich DYRL was just a movie (Plus, 7 and Frontier) the Zentradi look the same as in the "movie" DYRL. See where what is canon and what is not makes me wanna shoot myself? Yamato's SDF-1 will make all this irrelevant because when it comes out, IT will be real and all else will be sweet anime fiction, and we will all bow before its 1/2000 magnificence and drool... Sorry, since i found out this was coming out and started having sweet mecha-porn, 1/2000 plastic awesomeness filled dreams, i think i lost all capacity to old a coherent line of thought. Does it show?! (as LOGOS pointed out below it is 1/2000 scale, so that has been edited. OOPS! )

I look at this whole debate about different versions and designs and i see it like this: There is only one SDF-1, the differences in design and detail are just diferent ways to portray the same ship. The TV "version", for example. If you look at line art it looks more detailed than the one that appears in the anime, most of the time. Today, with 3D CG, you can make super detailed models and have a consistent look for your ship. But back in the 80's when Macross was made, it was all hand drawn. For static poses, they could draw some more detail, but when motion of any kind was involved, they would have to make several drawings and in this case the less details and greeblies they had to deal with the better. Thats why the TV SDF-1 looks more steamlined and less detailed, most of the time. The DYRL "version", as far as i know, was also hand drawn, but given the longer production time and bigger budget, more detailed animation was allowed. It comes down to the type of production and schedule you're dealing with. Also, each artist will have different interpretations of the same subject. If 10 people in this forum were to draw the SDF-1, we would end up with 10 slightly different designs, but it would still be the SDF-1. If you follow this reasoning, the only actual diference between the two "versions" are the arms. So, YAMATO, give the fans a figure that balances the best designs that have been made from the SDF-1 through the years, swapable "arms" and i believe you'll have a winner. I apologize to those that are now calling me "blasphemer" or "captain obvious" for my tendency to rant. I think the bottom line is, we love this ship and we can't wait for it to come out.

That armored looks amazing. I'm a bit disapointed with all the part swapping that the super parts will require, guess i'll have to buy a 2nd VF-25F to assemble them and when the Armored Ozma comes out i'll get the bundle pack. Nice detail on the damaged VF-25 from episode 2, i only noticed this yesterday (and i've watched that chase scene several times) but the area behind the cockpit (the batroid head piece) was white in Gilliams VF-25. Guess Alto kept the same overall color scheme but had the black and red motif painted in that section to make it different from Gilliams. Kudos for Mr. Nishibayashi. A great model depends on those small details and he nailed it.

I think a TV add-on pack is possible if you look at it this way: I think most people that want a TV version of the SDF-1 want the design quality and intricate detail of the DYRL design, wich, lets face it, is totally laking in the TV design wich was, IMHO, too plain and simplistic. But instead of the ARMD's for the "arms" they want the Prometheus and Deadalus. With this aproach, Yamato can simply produce the Prometheus and Deadalus with a DYRL redesign, wich in the Prometheus case was already done (I love the scene where they find its rusting hull, its look hit me like a ton of briks). It would be a simple case of switching arms. For that matter, the toy could already come with both sets (Yeah, i know, wishful thinking) I speak only for myself in regards to the TV design, don't get me wrong, i love the ship, but its too plain for a figure this big and pricey, it would end up looking like the old toy that was about the same size. I would not buy that. (Sorry for the blasphemy) The DYRL design style, filled with panel lines and detail, gives it mass and more depth (and if you really want to go overboard, use the Macross Plus design, wich is even more detailed) Everyone has his taste and many want a faithful replica of the TV version. But to make a faithfull replica of the TV design, as its been said, Yamato would have to make a totaly new mold for that, too many details are diferent. I think making replacement arms with the DYRL design is a good compromise. But thats just me...

That was, IMO, the funniest part of this segment. "Well, you don't want to shoot stupid children either" ROFL. This actually aired on TV, here in Lisbon, about an hour ago and i honestly admit i didn't notice the Queadluun-Rau, i mean, it looked sort of familiar but it didn't ring any bells at the time. This goes to show you, MACROSS RULES!!!

Don't get me wrong, i love the little bastard. It has very nice detail and its a lot more managible than this monster will be. I keep mine in Fortress Mode, after transforming it once i felt it holds up a lot better that way. But this... this is one of those figures that, if done properly, will be a fans dream come true. I hope Yamato does this properly, it will have to be pretty solid, a lot more solid than their 1/60 Valks, if not it will break apart in the first transformation. Surface detail should be a concern, lots of small pannel lines so it gives a proper feel of scale that, with a figure this big, is important. The bigger the figure, the more detail it needs. And some lighting, as some have suggested, would be nice. Unfortunatly, all this comes at a cost. Not only will this beast be expensive but probably also heavy as hell, for a figure, that is. Shipping alone will probably cost as much as one valk. But who among us can honestly say they wouldn't love to have this thing towering over their collection, keeping guard at your house during the night while you fly a VF-25 in your sweet, mecha-porn filled dreams?... ... Huh! Sorry, wondered off there for a bit... Wish i could see one of those in my life time.

You are a true artist. If i may ask, what software did you use?

Except this cat, instead of purring, will blast giant holes in your ceiling with its main gun... what? the weapons don't work? it's just a model ship? I wish i had the budget to get one of these but i'll settle for my 1/5000.

I wish they would do a proper artbook, with character and mecha line art, scene deconstruction and some Gengas. That type of material exists, the line art pages in this book are just the tip of the iceberg. On another topic page someone posted scans from the booklet that comes with Blu-Ray volume 7 and it has some preliminary sketches for the characters and i have a magazine called Animation Note, dated September 2008 wich dedicated 21 pages to Macross Frontier. It has lineart for some of the sets, characters and even the VF-25F that aren't in any of these books, a breakdown of how the 3D was done in certain scenes and a couple of gengas. Oh, and Shoji Kawamori himself, holding a transformable "lego" VF-25, i guess they used it in the design stages of the Messiah. So the material is out there. Let's hope someone gathers it in book form and give the fans what they want.

Sorry. My bad.

Collection DX had pics of the SDF-1 prototype display but the page seems to have been downed. But the Google cashe copy of the page is still up and there it is, a huge SDF-1 that had me drooling uncontrolably. Predicted price is around 50000 yen. If you want to see it here's the link. http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:c6kRT...;cd=2&gl=pt

I stepped on the ball on this one. Yasaburo Saotome IS Alto's "brother", Alto's father is named Ranzo Saotome. OOPS Sorry to correct you but its not for ANY Macross product. Here's the link for HLJ's list of Macross products that are part of this promotional campaign. http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?SaleGroup=MAC...Decal%20Present Also, while Yamato's site is teasing fans with this Collection DX gives us a first look at the actual prototype, here http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:c6kRT...;cd=2&gl=pt This thing will be huge and pricey, according to Collection DX the price is rumored to be around 50000 yen (The actual page seems to be down, thank God for Google cache )

Very... nice...

I can't wait for this to come out although i would still prefer it in kit for like the 1/72 VF-25's. But if this is all they'll give us, i'll stop bitchin' and get it just the same.

Here's a screencap where we can see the Quarter's arms and hands.

Funny one And as a fan of obscure references, i would love to know what the "$1.05" was all about, too. Although i'll probably have the same reaction as SchizophrenicMC.

Best TV Animation (tie with Code Geass R2) and Best Composer for Yoko Kanno. YES. One more reason for that BGM compilation to come out... NOW!

I'll keep your offer in mind I love my 1/5000 too much and i agree with you, the 1/2000, although it will be one impressive piece to have in display, will be too big and expensive to play around, i would get it out of the box, into a display case and that would be it. Unless i win the loto until it comes out, my budget won't allow it and the Quarter. And a 30cm Quarter will be enough for me. And, hell yeah, the EX-Gear looks awesome too.

What are those card holders like? I havent seen any pics of them and i would like to see what they are like.

I have just read about the Yamato's 1/2000 SDF-1. They were just waiting for me to get the 1/5000 SDF-1 from WAVE to get this out. Curse you, Yamato and all your devilish spawn. If the 1/5000 looks impressive, a 1/2000 will be jaw-dropping awesome, but i bet it will be a pretty expensive toy. And since i'm pretty pleased with the 1/5000, my priority will be to get the Macross Quarter. She looks like a sleek, sexy, bad-ass mother-f****. And its just a grey colored prototype. Imagine it painted... mecha-gasm guarantied. And by the way, although they didn't allow pictures of the 1/2000 SDF-1, this one sliped past them. Look right from the doll and there's the front of the prototype in cruiser mode Is this the release date? If so... long wait ahead