Graham

They are not 'weapons tubes'. They are engines that just happen to have some micro-missiles launchers built into the outside of the engine nacelles. The YF-29 is a 4 engined variable fighter, just like the VF-27. Not sure what the endurance is like though, as in space, using 4 engines, it's going to burn through fuel at a fearsome rate. Graham

Just watched this over the weekend. Some of it was OK, but I ended up fast forwarding through at least half of it. Only really for hard-core Sheryl & Ranka fans IMO. Nothing here for mecha fans to see. Graham

Too bad that preview site doesn't let you view it if you are outside of the US! Graham

While I also love the VF-19S Hi-Metal, the fighter mode sculpt is far from perfect. IMO, Bandai didn't really nail the shape of the forward fuselage. Makes me wonder if they could/would get the shape right on a YF-19. Graham Graham

It's debatable whether the YF-29's leg micro-missile launchers are actually internal to the leg per se. Rather it looks more like they are mounted externally onto the leg. After studying the DX toy CAD art and model kit photos it looks like the leg micro-missle launchers are actually just FAST packs bolted onto the outside of standard VF-25 legs. We've had something of an indirect debate about this in the YF-29 toy forum thread. Graham

I really like the VA-3M from VF-X2. Graham

Not the first time I've heard (or seen)of Bandai toys yellowing even in the box. I used to have some variable V-Gundam toys that were never taken out of the box and stored under my bed that were almost completely yellow, when I took them out a couple of years later. Very disappointing. Graham

So no Japan or HK based members got this yet? Wanna hear a review from a Macross fan's perspective and also hear how it compares gameplay-wise to MUF. Graham

Whoops, posted my comment above in the wrong thread. Meant to post it in the ACE R PSP thread. Graham

Commander Wolff, Commander Colt and the Aquadroid are must buys for me. Graham

None of our Japan or HK members got this yet? Wanna hear a review from a Macross fan's perspective. Graham

Iron rule of realistic atmospheric fighter designs: If it looks too much like a 4+ Generation fighter jet, it's probably not a "realistic" space fighter design. Graham

Definitely need to do some serious magazine picture studying when I get home tonight, as some of the pics posted in the various YF-29 threads are too small for serious examination. So far it seems like we have 4 different versions of the YF-29, each telling us something slightly different: The DX CAD pics (in multiple angles). The early unpainted model kit scuplt (in multiple angles). The more recent painted model sculpt (in multiple angles). Kawamori's line-art (in one angle only). Each set of pics seems to be telling us something slightly different regarding the legs. The early unpainted kit sculpt for example had the ventral leg fins, but seemed to lack the micro-missile packs. I'm especially interesting to see if any pics besides the DX CAD pics show the VF-25 type ankle collars. Graham

Still no domestic release of the DVD here. We didn't get a theatrical release either. Will have to order from Amazon. Graham

Last time I played a SRW game was years ago back on the PS1. Probably more than a decade ago. Whether I pick this up, depends on how difficult it is to play for a non-Japanese reader like myself. Graham

Has anybody else suffered any yellowing of their DX VF-25F Alto? Just noticed the other day, that my first-edition VF-25F Alto, which has been sitting in my display cabinet in fighter mode with Super Packs fitted, has started to yellow in certain areas. The white plastic of the lower legs and also the plane's belly area (part with the crotch lock) and some of the screw-hole covers are now a significantly different (yellower) shade of white. I bought this VF-25F when it was first released and it has pretty much been sitting in my display cabinet the whole time. My display cabinet is in my study (computer room), although the room has a window, it's located on a side of the house that doesn't get the sun. Also, my display cabinet sides are wood and the cabinet is at 90 degrees to the window, so even if direct sunlight enterd the window, it won't shine direcctly on the cabinet. So far my much newer DX VF-25F Tornado in the same cabinet doesn't seem to have yellowed. Graham

That looks great. I'd buy a toy of that in a heartbeat. You should post the pic or, or do you mind if I post it, as I have no pic posting limits? Graham

Hmmm........very interesting observations Reïvaj. I really hope Bandai is not simply going to reuse the legs from the V.1 VF-25 on the YF-29 toy. Need to go back and study all the available YF-29 model kit pics, to see if the kit has the same ankle collars as the VF-25 or not. Graham

I saw this game is now out here in Hong Kong, so I presume it's been released in Japan as well. Saw it in the Oriental 188 center in Wanchai for HK$458. Anybody bought and played it yet? I want to hear some reviews before deciding if I should buy. I'm specifically interested in how easy or hard it is to play for someone who can't read Japanese? If there are too many long and complicated menus in Japanese then I'm not interested. Something like MUF I can handle, but any more complicated, forget it. I hate having to always refer to FAQs just to play a game. Also, I'm very interested in how well (or not) the VFs handle in all three modes? If the fighter mode is crappy, flys/turns like a brick, then forget it. Graham

The VF-25F Alto Tornado did have tighter joints and a tighter crotch lock, a darker gunpod and a coloured SMS stand, so yes, it was a small improvement on the original Alto VF-25F. IIRC, some of the grey parts (hands& lasers(?)) were a bit darker as well. I expect the VF-25G Michael Tornado to have the same changes. Graham

Apart from the engine nozzles, I think the J-20 looks much nicer than the F-22. Graham

It all depends on how popular Macross The Ride turns out to be. I'd also love to see Yamato do the VF-19EF caliburn. Graham

Read a post somewhere about the head lasers handling differently to in MUF (although I can't find the post now). Is there a difference with the handling/performance/usage of the head lasers in Trial Frontier? Graham

Again, as stated earlier those magazine pics are just of the painted or photoshopped resin prototype, they are not representative of the final product. Graham

Yes, the VF-9 was already featured as a playable mecha in the second game of the series, Macross Ultimate Frontier or MUF. You could play in Max or Milia colors scheme, as originally featured in the Dreamcast Macross M3 game. Graham