lavinrac

This is exactly what I plan to pre-order.. and I am pretty sure I will fail.

I'll Check it out. Customizing doesn't sound INCREDIBLY Daunting. I'd really like if they did it right.. but really.. Macross product is so hard to get.. I'm glad to get anything. Still have not managed to pre-order anything Hi-Metal R. Model Kits, requiring a lot of work, are at least able to be preordered. Is there REALLY an issue with the rights to TV Macross IN JAPAN? Thread to look at?

This process is sort of asinine. I didn't stay up all night, so nothing for me.. Makes one rethink their priorities. Do you need a toy worse than sleep? I don't. What confuses me.. the toys have not been made yet.. what benefit could this artificial scarcity be to Bandai?

No I will never get to find out what Pigeon Lloyd mode looks like.

Ok your post just answered my earlier question. THANKS!

This as probably been said before.. But I missed the HLJ pre-order of Armored VF-1J. I just use my HLJ Private warehouse so much Im hesitant to order from elsewhere. HOWEVER.. Who's the best place to pre-order these when it's time. I went to bed last time and it was not on the site. Woke up in morning and was sold out. I'm not used to missing sleep to it a pre-order.. but I might do it for a super ostrich.

Those VF-1 leg-to-body joints still look a little wonky. Anyone have the older hi-metal and can speak to whether they are durable and look okay in real life? These look good due to the availability of some enemies and some non-standard stuff.

Get expanding foam on your hand once. You will never go near it again. ever. *This comment is useless, i apologize.. i just hate that stuff.

I bought two copies of the book. Still.. considered making a photocopy onto some decent paper and going along with your tutorial with a 'mockup' build. The mockup will be black and white, but as i have never done a papercraft.. I'd feel less bad when i make all the little first-timer mistakes. Is there a weight of paper you'd recommend that will behave nicely? Looking for more specific than just 'cardstock' as those can vary a LOT Thanks.. its looking great already. the attention you put into each step is both impressive and a little daunting.

I did not cut the visor at all. I did all modifications to the masei parts. They were already scratched and stuff so i felt safer doing that. Also.. I wonder if Masei can mail a visor without it breaking.

Scratch that. Back in stock on amazon japan. ordered another. now my fear can be alleviated. Also you may want to order if you missed it.

I am super scared to start mine. Never done a papercraft before. I totally should have bought two copies. Gah!

To me, it does not matter which company is right or wrong, I'd just like to be able to legally obtain subtitled and translated Macross video and Manga in the US, at US market prices. Its a shame that Frontier, DYRL, Macross 7, Macross the First, etc.. aren't widely available over here without importing. For example: I have bought Macross the First in Japanese, and while its beautiful, it sure would be nice to have some idea what they are saying. I really love my Vertical Pub. Gundam Origin Books. They are top notch high quality, properly priced products.

Can we blame Harmony Gold? Kidding of course (NO really i am kidding don't hurt me) But I do have a LOT LOT LOT of legally purchased Gundam IN ENGLISH. and a lot LESS legally purchased Macross.. i wonder why that is. Anyhow. It is exciting news that a new volume of Macross the First will be published on paper. Maybe I'm just old, but online digital comics just don't do the same thing for me that a real book does. That 'japanese paper smell' I remember from hunting for things in Los Angelese as a kid, is so exotic.

Me too! My faith in ability to sign up for the japanese account is no longer in question. It IS still odd I can't link the accounts. Oh well. Fun toy coming in the mail.

Wow those fabric suits do NOTHING for me. :| Bring on the fibrerglass or thermoformed plastic! (and thicker fabric for the Spacesuit

Tiny bit off topic.. are you using the new cordless dremel mini? Im using the regular dremel with the handheld attachment. i really like how well the attachment fits in hand. makes precision so much easier... but i am very tempted to buy the cordless mini

I'm hoping they will someday send me replacement parts that are in good shape! Thanks for the comment. I hope you like dremeling. (Or your precision cutting tool of choice) the edges of the plastic add-on parts to the helmet need some considerable trimming. I used a dremel quick-change cutting wheel, on medium speed, with the handheld attachment, and moved very slowly and carefully. I think as the visor mods go one thing mine i not good with is the fact that it makes it obvious that the top shield needs to be longer/stick out further in the front. Which.. once my non-broken one arrives, I may work on modding this one to be longer. Time to get out the sheet styrene and possibly fiberglass.. Will require a lot of almost-from-scratch work. I REALLY like the bulbousness of the green visor but i want it higher up in profile view.. Don't know if i can do it. Clear stuff is hard to mod. no sanding or patching if you screw it up. :|

Does the bubble helmet come with enough 'leftover plastic at the bottom so that i could cut an inch off the TOP and then redrill holes for the screws? I can't tell the scale too well from pics. (giving it a curve that more closely, from the side, looks like it's in 'plane' with the oval/circle shape of the round base helmet? (that sentence may be badly worded...)

Well that was fun! I THINK i successfully ordered.

I'm also curious how to order this. Definitely hope HLJ will sell it as i have an established relationship and know what to expect with shipping and payment. not sure how to do that with amazon japan.

Any word on shipping of replacement parts yet? I have heard nothing. I suppose i will mail them soon.

Looking good. Wow you are going for Shin Kudo Paint job on DYRL style? I just now looked his up to see your color scheme and he has significant cosmetic differences. Your paint application looks great! Have you given any thought to if/how to hide the screws? I have not come up with a good way yet.

It doesn't look like they learned anything about shipping. I can't believe these are in the same size box. one layer of bubble wrap for a transcontinental journey? I'm glad I didnt go for the second helmet. Ok i was being an apologist before but seeing how they are shipping the 'better packaged' replacements is making me a little hotheaded.

Glad to see you did it too Jasonc ... I definitely was more cavalier with these cracked parts than I would have been if they weren't damaged in the shipping. Once they send me good ones I will try to find a visor that requires NO modifications to the helmet plastics.. which will mean MORE mods to the visor I suspect. Still.. It looks SOOO much nicer on the shelf. I may redo those mismatched arrows on the side too... The shame of it is this is not at all a bad product.. its your typical scenario where everything gets hosts up in the last 5%/last mile. Finish and shipping are the issues. Oh.. I also am going to try to find and paint removable 'plugs' for the screw holes. Should I try to take nicer photos with more that a phone camera?