regult

it was mentioned, but the Destroid is surely a short/stubby mecha. I love the little people included in the package...maybe it compensates for not being transofrmable? what surprised me was the lightness of the package...probably lighter than the clean VF-1S. Of course, it's a non-transformable mecha (therefore less internal mechanism), but since it looks so heavy, I got deceived. I just wish it was a bit cheaper!

Jarrod, Looking at your build, I am really really humbled...it seems easier to build gunpla out of the box than this kit, had to do a lot of painting, and the decals or stickers look overwhelming too. A closer look at your shield, it seems you didn't use the decals, but actually just washed over the "macross big screws"? Did you apply the decals/stickers during assembly as the instructions seem to indicate or after you finised the build? Was too impatient to wait for the 1/60 DX toy, but really am terribly inexperienced builder. Thanks for showing us what the kit can turn out to be!

I made some progress, after panel line and clean up, painted landing gears and cockpit, head, now assembled 1 leg and the front of the plane. I took a shortcut and decided to use the sticker for the crotch area, what about you guys?? I am also puzzled at the instructions, which seem to tell me to add the decals or stickers during assembly, is that really necessary? I am also not sure what to do with the "big screws", they're moulded, so applying the decals could be tricky...and I am not great at painting with a brush, but have no clue how to do it otherwise.

lucky lucky you...I paid almost 100 more than you and I haven't even started putting the pieces together. have some terribly silly questons I hope more experienced guys like jarrod can answer. 1) what are you doing with the Macross signature "big screws"? seems the best way to go is to paint them black, but I had a go with the gundam pen, it looks silly. Got tamiya enamel flat black, but I am not sure how thick or thin should the paint be for ideal application, also there is one of these big screws under a decal, and it's represented in the decal as well as molded in the plastc...what is the best way to go? 2) the crotch area, or the big black chung between the legs should be mostly white, but tried the tamiya enamel flat white, looks like crap and comes off too easily...what's the best white paint for these surfaces? I have limited access to american stuff here in hong kong, mostly tamiya and mr. hobby (??) stuff... 3) my landing gears want to remain grey, same problem, tamiya doesn't want to stick. In the anime, I see it's mostly off white or just grey (by the way, in the anime I didn't see the catapult launch rod that sticks out like a huge dic* in the model)...what are you guys doing with yours? At this point, I must confess that I don't have an airbrush, and suck with spray cans...so far everything's been done with gundam pens, paint and brushes. Jeez, we're all so serious about building this kit! IT is actually a fact that Yamato toys are unpainted (except the occasional stripe or arrow) and just leave panel lines bare.

The 20-minute thing was on some website, the link is somewhere buried in this very thread.... Don't take my word, but for Bandai kits it is a good idea to paint the parts right out of the box (or right after you cut them out) since they're already color-sorted. Then, you leave out the grey parts (inner mechanism) out of the painting process from the start. Otherwise, you will have to engage in a complicated masking process. OF course, only if you have an airbrush, a spray-can won't do any good on an assembled model. In Alto's VF-25, "flat" white may look even better than clear coat...

Graham already went away searching for it in Japan...I am here still resisting buying online, and certainly not willing to pay more than the listed price for a "grey" import. Totally agree, Bandai WILL eventually release it in Hong Kong (maybe even in the US), but the problem is, I don't think I can wait that long...

It took me a while to finish my MG Zaku V 2.0, which had a lot of parts and articulations. I was tired after making a pair of legs (3 layers in two sections...forgot how many parts). Honestly, I'd rather enjoy the soreness of fingers and eyes than waiting empty handed. Just read in a forum in HK that Bandai is reluctant to release it outside Japan...so my question is, how did you find it in a mall in Malaysia??? not even the usually highly resourceful Hong Kong "toy merchants" have shown no signs of the VF-25!!! I guess Graham was right about giving up searching for the kit here.

Thanks for the update, I am getting really impatient here, and after I got Hobby Japan, the symptoms are aggravating. Seems getting your "Sheryl's panties" is going to be easier than that Bandai kit!!! You already pre-ordered Ozma! "no more wastin' time" (Basara singing)....

I wanna see Aikun grow up....

Hm...I used the famous gundam pen for panels once, and it did rub off with Tamiya thinner, but the thinner was cracking the plastic... maybe alcohol with diluted in water is safer for gundam pens? will experiment Did try very diluted tamiya "flat black" enamel and it didn't really look great, will probably use some kind of enamel grey. Have 0 experience with acrylic paint but feels it would work better. The thing with Alto's VF is the white...too much white and those seamlines to allow transformation are huge, so putting an accent to all panel lines will help disguise the real gaps. I didn't even get the Alto custom and already drooling over the Ozma custom! first time I have to wait longer than you guys...Graham, are you there? any news from Wanchai??

Thanks a million for translating, I also have a question first row, on putting an accent to the panel lines: http://macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?act=...st&id=58626 what pen is recommended and what is used to wipe the excess?

Tons of Guncrap...I just went to Oriental188 un Wanchai and nothing. One shop even showed me some new Guncrap the moment I said "Bandai"...Called Animate (a chainstore) and they couldn't even say if they'd get it or not. I guess there really is some issue at play! Guess I will have to keep waiting. By the way, there are some construction tips on Hoby Japan's macross special, anybody who reads japanese can give us ignorants a helping hand? Got no scanner...otherwise I'd post the said pages here to share. Also, the VF-25S shown in the macross special IS the upcoming Bandai kit, not a custom mod. Of course, the expert modeller painted the entire kit, which made it look much better than the "snap the parts togeter and presto" thing I would be able to achieve.

Exactly!!! Frontier was so full of homages to 25 years of Macross...I especially liked the Isamu tribute when Alto hime gets his VF-25 in slave mode...wish I could fly a Valkyrie like that! I don't mind the open-triangle...Alto hime seems to be happier flying in a "real" sky than rushing to the two girls anyway! Are there really so many open questions left unanswered I became a fan of Macross with (hmm...very ashamed) "robotech", and somehow my life made me miss the all that happened later (hence being a "cannon fodder" here despite my advanced age), until I rediscovered Macross and all the sequels and prequels (edit, only one prequel: Zero), and for the last few months, anxiously waiting for every new Frontier episode, but now it is all over, again! Guess I can go back to my normal life now (will try to stay away from other anime, Macross is enough .

Graham, time to grab the wallet and go to Japan...or Malaysia!!! Can't stand this anymore.

Would like to add that experienced model builders (not me) never leave water slide decals exposed, they will apply a thin clear coat on top of it, either glossy or dull according to the subject, so it is safely sealed and is not damaged when handling. Given this is a transformable model/toy, I have mixed feelings about decals, but as the magazine shows, there are VERY good builders who seek a more professional look, they apply paint to all parts and use custom made decals, etc...

i am puzzled...what the heck is a nyan call?? ideas anyone?

Years of diecast aircraft/bus/car collecting and friends in the industry taught me that when things come to "test shot", many things are defined, especially those which concern us: shape, sizes, proportions, materials...as Graham, David and some other guys here pointed out, none of those changes are expected to happen when Bandai tweaks the mold, a very expensive rig by the way. Miracles? I haven't got it yet, but the 1/72 plastic kit seems the best they could pull-off, so we should look that way for a better looking VF-25!

Yeah, coz if it was to show-off "hey it's compatible with gundam action base!!" it did't work, it made me feel the model was floppy. Ozma's version seems seriously good in that magazine scan, but then, the Alto version looked just as good on print too...If I could only get one, it would be Ozma, but I think I can't wait that long, so I will end up getting both and annoy the wife!

Thanks for the update...I feel you're just as impatient as I am, must have been hard to go out into the concrete jungle and recce for this kit under the current weather conditions in Hong Kong, hot and insanely humid/stuffy! You said a model shop in Taipo was at least certain it would get it this weekend...let's hope other areas get it at the same time, or earlier! I cannot afford to go model searching everyday...

I am sure you get his all the time, but I almost put my finger on the screen trying to kill the virtual bug when I saw your avatar...it sure looks real.

This is terrible...I am so impatient...hopefully next week or over the weekend????

I know, that's the strategy, and I am sure I will be all over the Ozma one once it's released...and if the reverse was the case, I'd probably never get the Alto one! Hmm...should I wait? Coloring is different, Bandai needs to use different colored plastic and a different conbination of stickers/decals/colored plastic if they want to keep it in line with Gunpla... Have you already seen it in the shops or are you referring to the pictures on that japanese site? I am contradicting myself, but I think I will not be able to hold myself for the Ozma VF-25!

Damn right! The valkyrie+booster set is really pricey for a toy (but of course most yamatos are not cheap)!! I am so looking forward to a Roy Focker VF-0S!!! I also fear I will get a "repack" from some cheap retailer...I never owned a Yamato VF-0S (lucky?) so I cannot tell the difference at first sight, and previous posts indicate it is really not that easy to tell them apart until the actual sholder or elbow break!! Are there any external differences that can be noticed by simply taking the valk out of the box? I am planning to look for it once the announced re-issue is supposed to be out there on the streets, so getting the thing out of the blisters should be possible, but transforming it...what do you think?

Then this kind of Bandai toy/model is really ideal: 1) it is a lot easier and fastor to build than a traditional kit, but still gives you the satisfaction of "I built it myself" 2) it is cheaper than toys, which in Yamato's case, they're awesome, but also come at awesome prices and have some QC problems. Bandai is going to price the DX 1/60 cheaper than the Yamato Macross toys, but I have no idea if it can compare to them once we see the actual product. I personally have no experience with Bandai Chogokin DX stuff, but love Gunpla for their concept and quality. Can't wait to get my hands on the VF-25, landing gear/support issue and all: Batroid looks too cool (Off topic: Ozma custom would be better, I am a bit tired of the Alto Saotome character.

Status report: no Vf-25 in the radar...will keep surveying. Some shops said it could be around by the end of the month, but Japan should stick the the announced date (18th) I guess.