Graham

In terms of sleekness, I think the VF-27 (sans gun), looks sleeker than the SV-51. However, I personally prefer the look of the SV-51 in all three modes over the VF-27. The SV-51 just looks meaner and certainly more 'real-world-ish', in fighter mode. For ultimate sleekness, nothing beats a VF-19F IMO. Graham

Opening leg missile bays. Rotating seat. Graham

Looks nice. No vertical tails! But if they are only at the concept model stage, how long would it take to get it into production.........30 years?!!!! Graham

That's normal, part of WTO tendering rules IIRC. A large part of my job is bidding on government contracts (tenders) from the Hong Kong & Macau governments. All tenders have a strict deadline (date & time), by which they must be submitted. If you are even 1 second late in dropping your sealed tender proposal into the tendering box, then you are out. The deadline is known from day one, so it's not like they didn't know long in advance by when they had to submit it. Graham

Very interesting. Graham

Yes, Dio was very cool. Probably my favorite album was Sacred Heart, although Holy Diver and The Last in Line were also excellent as well. Now, that's out of the way, can we please refer to dioramas as 'dioramas'!!!!!!!!!! This is a pet hate of mine seeing them called 'dio'. Graham

Hey, when did Yamato start making movies? I thought they just made toys. Graham

Very interesting about the VF-19C being the most produced 19 variant as of 2050. Can't wait to see what the book says about the VF-19F/S. Graham

The gun is of course the 'GU-11', 55mm gunpod used by the iconic VF-1 Valkyrie variable fighter, of Super Dimensional Fortress Macross fame. It is a 55mm calbre, 3 barreled Gatling/Vulcan type cannon with an ammunition capacity of 200rds, that fires at a cyclic rate of 1,200 rounds per minute. The ammunition is stored in an internal helical type magazine that wraps around the barrels. The GU-11 gunpod is significantly larger than 4 feet 5 inches long, given that it is carried by a 12.68m tall robot. Graham

I'll bey the neck joint on that scult is probabaly loose, so the head is drooping forward. It wouldn't surprize me if the neck joint/head can extend up as well. Graham

Yeah, I was also thinking that about the name. As you said, likely to just be an incomplete version, with perhaps just a couple of stages. Graham

Steel molds are incredibly expensive. And no Yamato doesn't go with the 'cheap' option. Production run figures are uaually around 15,000 for an initial first release, but can drop sharply for repaints, to around 7,000, 5,000, or even 2,000 or 1,000 depending on the popularity of that particular paint scheme/head type. Graham

I've always thought the F-22A is very photogenic from the front, top side or rear, but I've never liked how it looks from the side. Too chubby for my taste. Graham

Funnily enough, I did have the VF100s VF-25F side by side with the Hi-Metal VF-1J and VF-19Kai the other day, all in fighter mode. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos though. I've always thought the VF100s VF-25 series is a bit undersized. Graham

Link to new screenshots of the game, originally posted by MWer Bandit29 in the Frontier Movie thread. Macross Trial Frontier Screen Shots Graham

Gotta say, looking at the screen shots of Macross Trial Frontier, the graphics don't look quite as polished as say the new Another Century game. Graham

Gotta say, the Macross Trial Frontier screen shots, don't look as good as the new PS3 Another Century game. Graham

Well, that's debatable. Like they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally happen to think the Zaku and well all the mecha from the original Mobile Suit Gundam are some of the ugliest, unattractive designs in anime history, but that's just me. Back to the subject at hand, I'm guessing that Yamato have done their market research and figure there is not enough demand to cover the costs of producing this as a mass-production ABS toy. It's unfortunate, as I'm sure many of us here would buy 1 or more if the cost was around the same as a V2 1/60 VF-1. Graham

When I saw the thread title, I thought it was gonna by Roy's VF-1S done up in a custom Ronnie James Dio paint scheme! Graham

Is the PS3 region locked for Blu-Ray movies? Graham

Not just as simple as that. IIRC, the 2 seater cockpt is longer, which would mean a whole new nose-section sculpt as well. Not to mention the new Super Packs and new head. Still though it is do-able. Trust me, we will likely see the VF-17D and VF-17S long before we ever see a VF-17T Kai. Graham

Hmmm........OK, if this is a full game, I might have to start thinking of ways to persuade the wife to let me buy a PS3. I guess if I do get one, I can also buy the new Another Century game, to play some Macross mecha as well. Graham

Hopefully the DVD version is the same October 7th release date? Graham

As long as the get they VF-19F/S/P out of the way before that and even more importantly make the VF-17D/S first. Then sure, by all means release a V2 YF-19. I'd buy it, but it's not a top priority for me. Another very happy Double Nuts owner here. Graham

I fly my Valks around in front of my wife all the time. What's the big deal? Graham