lavinrac

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?

Green EXISTS ..but i dont know about chrome..

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/saikosha/item/pump-shield/?s-id=borderless_recommend_item_en

I did not find a green in my hunt on normal sites like amazon and american motorcyle shops.

Which one was that out of the links, or is it something different?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MNLCCY

Note it took 'considerable' modding to fit.

Ok this editor is weird..

Yea so i was saying i added the blue chrome lens

it no longer flips up when installed here

When they send me a new red visor i intend to fiberglass or plastic-work this chipped one, and extend it's length.

I've still got to decide which to buy and then order. I may check local motorcycle shops and try to get a better look before i choose

Without you Linking I don't know what you're talking about.

Ok here's some links:

Picture modifications to put one or any of these on the helmet:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/65650/i/afx-flip-3-snap-helmet-shield

http://www.amazon.com/Hydron-Anti-Scratch-Flip-Shield-Clear/dp/B001880FJ4

http://www.amazon.com/Biltwell-Inc-Helmet-Bubble-Shield/dp/B00DX8BZ6Y

check out the blues and chromes.

Anyone successfully tried to replace the clear visor with a rounded one?

I am looking at these:

(Not linking in case there's a rule against it..)

afx-flip-3-snap-helmet-shield

(check the blue, and see how it has the plastic part to make it stick out more on the top? that might look better on the helmet if all fits reasonably well..

also looking at

hydron - anti scratch flip shield

and hardest probably to adapt..

biltwell-bubble-shield

I've done a lot of helmet modding for my 501st legion (built a vader helmet and stormtrooper) so I think its doable if the rounded plastic comes to me as raw material..

I really hope these 'kits' actually materialize in 3-4 weeks.. Getting a little nervous about the whole thing the more I read. Wondering I should just cut my losses...

2ND helmet shipping today. Extra packing guaranteed.

But it'll take another 3-4 weeks for them to make extra visors....really?

Did they ship your second helmet AND the extra visor in one box or do you have to wait for ANOTHER box in 3-4 weeks?

Anyone successfully taken off the nozzle connectors, intentionally, without breaking them? How are they attached?

FYI - Masei offered me A kit including "top shade and the back side cover.. and lower cheek part.. not including the open face helmet."

$25 shipped. In 'within 1 month'

If this happens in a reasonable time. I am pretty happy with it.

I can replace the broken top shade, and will probably replace the other parts as they all had some minor paint scuffs from the shipping (not no dents or breaks on the other parts than the shade). Im thinking they will probably come through. They did come through with the helmets.

your right no helmet will protect you fully form crash . side note look at the size compared to yamato helmet wow !

Clearly the Masei is designed for a 'human' head. The Yamato is sexier but i don't know anyone with an anime head. ;)'

Has anyone gotten them to fix it without paying for a second helmet?

So is this now the Macross-related product with the worse QC record ever?

To be fair.. maybe worst shipping? I believe mine was in good shape when it left the sender. packaging was inadequate.

Oh a few other notes. Its not too bad:

- All the decal/lines are applied straight everywhere, no wiggly lines like I have seen on some samples here.

- Unwanted skull (frontier style) decal can be removed with a simple scraping with a plastic scraper that does not damage paint

- Side arrows lined up perfectly on one side, slightly off on other. really not bad. Can live with it.

- Liner is 'luxurious' feeling and high quality, to my eye anyhow. I do not ride motorcycles, but it certainly feels plush and nice.

Once they get me a new top visor I will be happy with it.

Got mine today. The crack/chip on top-center that everyone noted is present on mine as well.

I emailed and they offered me the $85 'deal' for another helmet and visor. I don't have the $$ right now for that. i just want the one I have to not be broken. I hope they can make it right. I'll hold out to see if they come through.

That one looks nice. Closer to the movie and allows you to paint yourself. Would look good next to my vader and stormtrooper.

Mines spent several days in New York at customs. Getting a little tired of that. No fault of Masei, but really, customs, get it together.. it doesnt take this long when i order from HLJ. EVERY month.

Thanks for the binder info. Gonna have to order a few. My issues are definitely hard to dig through.

Not to mention I will probably print out sketchley's translations and holepunch then and put them in there too. Might be nice to know what is going on.

Just seems like sacrilege to take them apart.. but.. it seems that is what they are meant for.

Do you leave them as issues, or have a binder for each 'colored section' ? What do other people do?

Yep they have the regular binders. But there is a special binder to put all your COVERS in thats slightly bigger. I think its a japan exclusive or something. So did you separate yours out into binders ?

OH BTW they always get back to me. Sometimes i just sense a bit of language barrier in the responses. but i have nothing but love for this great company.

Never had a problem with HLJ, either in communication or sales.

Sure... doesn't HLJ have a listing for the binders themselves along with the issues? They did when I bought mine (didn't wanna get stuck in the same situation as last time, where binders became unavailable before I had all 5 I needed, so I got all mine right when I started). 'course, because the first issue comes with one, I ended up with nine binders when, AFAIK, I'm only supposedly going to need eight.

EDIT: Yep, they have binders listed as In Stock: http://www.hlj.com/product/DIGWMSP/Boo

Yep HLJ got it straightened out. They are really great. I just wish it was easier to communicate with them in a timely manner. But they have always done me right.

Oh is there any for those who live in the US to get the binders for covers?

I cant yet bring myself to break my Chronicles up into pieces.. but i imagine eventually they will start falling apart as they are designed to be taken apart. at that point I may binder them.

Seriously wondering if HLJ is stopping carrying macross chronicle? 53 is in stock and 54 is nearing a week late for their usual preorder. Anywhere else sell it? Naturally I want to keep buying from HLJ cause private warehouse is brilliant for shipping price on these thin magazines.

Man I was just cleaning my shelf and i had forgotten these Garlands had a disintegrating shoulder problem cause it hadn't gotten me..

Ha.. I picked him up and his right arm fell to the floor. So I look at the left arm to see what I'm gonna have to do to fix it and that one comes off in my hand... So a quick search led me here.

VF5SS I just ordered a red and a white set on Shapeways. Looks like you may save my toy here. Also looks like I need to figure out how to get started in 3d object design!! This is great!

Thanks!!