Graham

Here's what I'm hoping we'll see at the show (all just guesses). I've tried to keep the list fairly realistic and not turned it into my personal wish list (well, not too much): From Bandai: 1) Announcement of a 1/60 scale DX VF-171 or VF-171EX. 2) Announcement and maybe test shot of the Hi-Metal VF-19F. 3) Announcement and maybe prototype sculpt of a Hi-Metal YF-19. 4) Prototype sculpt or close-to-finished test shot of the Hi-Metal YF-21. 5) Announcement of a Hi-Metal VF-22S Max type. 6) Some news on the fate of the previously announced Robot Spirits Armored Ozma VF-25S (a release date would be nice). 7) More news on set # 4 of the 1/250 scale Macross Fighter Collection, with hopefully confirmation that the set does NOT actually include repeats from set # 3. From Yamato 1) Test shot of the Regult. 2) Physical sculpt or test shot of the new smaller SDF-1 (I forget what the scale is supposed to be). 3) Physical (resin) sculpt of the 1/60 VF-19 Fire Valk (too early for an ABS test shot I think). 4) Likely they will have the various Chronicles exclusive V2 1/60 VF-1, like the VF-X on display. I'd love to see more stuff from Yamato, especially an announcement about a 1/60 scale VF-17D, but I think for various reasons (the economy and a slow down in Macross in general), they are not going to have too much new stuff to show or release this year. Graham

Great job with the comparison pics. I find it interesting that the Bandai 1/250 scale VF-19kai/F/S/P toys have larger tail fins than the Bandai 1/250 scale YF-19 toys, where as the VF-19 Master File has the YF-19/VF-19A with the larger tails. Then to throw another spanner in the works, Kawamori's lineart seems to have the tails of all types about the same overall size (although with the lineart being all hand drawn, it's all a bit subjective IMO). I noticed another error by the CG artists in Master Files. All the CG pics of the various 2 seater recon and ELINT varations have the wrong canopy. In the side-view line-art these types are drawn with an all new style 2-seater canopy, but the CG pics show them with a normal VF-19A type canopy. Graham

I haven't hard much contact with them recently. We sort of go through these quiet periods, where there's no contact for several months and then things pick up again. They did actually call me last Friday to try and arrange a drink that night during a flying visitto HK, but unfortunately I wasn't able to make it. Graham

Last time I went was in 2002. Wow, 8 years ago already, time really does fly! Here's a link to a report on the 2002 show. 2002 Tokyo Toy Show Graham

No idea about what the text in Master Files says, but from the pics, it seems to refer to the verniers and strakes on the nose (posibly part of the shoulders as well). In the older TIAS Mac Plus movie bok, this was refered to as the Active Airflow Control System (or something like that). In Kawamori's lineart, the VF-19E/F/S/P, has never been shown with these nose verniers previously, but Master Files now shows them for all models of 19. Grahm

Unfortunately, due to the angle and positioning of the arms on the Bandai toy, that wouldn't really work. You would need some sort of extended connector, like on the VF-25DX toys. Graham

Well, it's nearly that time of year again, for the Tokyo Toy Show. Wish I was there again, but I'm not. What new Macross products will be revealed this year from Bandai and Yamato? Post all news and pics in this thread. Graham

Started checking shops daily already. Very excited about this. Blazer rocks! Graham

Reading the article, seems it's a wee bit incorrect to say they began testing the Silent Eagle. Seems like all they were testing was a modified Conformal Fuel Tank with a weapons trapeze mounted on an F-15E. Graham

I also like Predator 2, a lot. I didn't mind the scene with the Yakuza using the Katana, in fact I quite enjoyed it. Yes, it's a bit cliched that a Japanese must be able to use one, but who's to say the character didn't have an interest in swordsmanship and maybe practiced Kendo. Graham You mean you've never watched the movie 'Zulu' with Michael Caine? Go and buy or rent it at once! Graham

Interesting that Master Files shows the VF-19E/F/S/P with the VFC (Vortex Flow Controller) on the nose, whereas previously it was only the YF-19/VF-19A that was shown with the VFC. Graham

Forearms (sans shield) have always been another shared part between the YF-19/VF-19A and the VF-19E/Kai/F/S/P. Regarding the commonality displayed in the Master Files CG pics for the Chest, Groin and Thighs areas, I'm wondering if this is just laziness on behalf on the CG illustrator. I note the CG battroid pic on page 53, shows the VF-19F, with the VF-19A's chest guns. In Kawamori's lineart, the chest, thihs and groin of the VF-19Kai/F/S/P have always been distinct and different from the YF-19/VF-19A types. Graham

I also hope for a redesigned gunod for the F/S. I too consider Yamato's gunpod for the YF-19 a bit short and thin. Graham

Although you can't see it on the side view line-art, another difference that the E/F/S/P has is an additional verner thruster located at the mid-wing pivot point that the VF-19A lacks. I'm glad you also caught the additional vernier located below the hybrid sensor on the nose of the VF-19E/F/S/P. I only recently noticed that myself! Graham

As also posted in the VF-19 Master Files Thread:- Well, although some of the CG art in the Master File shows a common thigh/intake, the front view line-art on pages 66 & 67 still shows the two district intake shapes that we have come to associate with (1) the YF-19/VF-19A and (2) VF-19E(Kai)/F/S/P. In fact all the side view line-art also seems to show the two distinct intake shapes, although admittedly the difference is a tad more subtle than Kawamori's original line-art. Graham

Well, although some of the CG art in the Master File shows a common intake, the front view line art on pages 66 & 67 shows the two district intake shapes that we have come to associate with the YF-19/VF-19A and VF-19E(Kai)/F/S/P. In fact all the side view line-art also seems to show the two distinct intake shapes, although admittedly the difference is a tad more subtle than Kawamori's original line-art. Graham Yes the shape of the bottom edge of the canopy on the VF-19E/F/S/P/Kai is very different to that of the VF-19A. Graham Will give a proper answer to this post in the next day or two. Too tired and drunk too much red wine right now to give a proper reply. Graham

Anybody know a good online source for preordering the two accessory sets for the Fire Valk (Sound Booster & stand)? Just looked at HLJ & amiami, but couldn't see them. Graham

1) Doubtful on an alien planet that any of the flaura and fauna would be compatible with human biology (i.e. would likely be inedible to humans), so I guess he likely survived by killing and eating other humans, or eating the their remains after they'ed been killed by Preds. 2) Agreed. 3) Good point, I hadn't thought of it in terms of a booby trap plantd by the the Super Predator. The lead character (Royce?) looked to have carried 2 x 20rd drums for his auto shotgun (one drum in the gun & one drum in a pouch on the back of his belt) + another 16 loose rounds on his chest webbing (I counted during the movie). That would give him a total of 56 x 12gauge rounds. He also looked to have a 1911 pistol in a thigh holser, with a spare double magazine pouch, which depending if he carried 7rd or 8rd mags, would give him a max total of 24rds of .45ACP ammo + another 1 in the chamber if he carried that way. Graham

A VF-5000B in white with blue stripes would be a dream. Graham

I've found that so far my Yamato YF-19 Double Nuts and Bird of Prey are still pretty tight. But yes, the anime colored YF-19 releases do often get pretty loose in battroid mode. Graham

Basically just the feet and swing bar are die cast, so more like 90-95% plastic. Graham

Well, you are in for some good news then. Bandai have already said they will make a Hi-Metal YF-19. IIRC, it was on mentioned on a Bandai blog post on th Tamashii site, or perhaps in a magazine article. I'll try and dig out the relevant post. Personally, I prefer the VF-19S and VF-19F, but I'd definitely buy a Hi-Metal YF-19 as well. Graham

Although I'm sure the Predators as a race have other advanced weapons, armour & technology than what is shown in the movies, I imagine that they are perhaps limited by their honor code or hunting code to only using certain types of weapons and technology on hunts, in order to give their prey a fighting chance. Standing off from a couple of klicks and blasting your enemy with some sort of super-duper, ultimate mega-death ray is hardly sporting now is it? Graham

Just noticed that on the markings pages, both the A type and F/S types have wingtip verniers. Nice to have confirmation of that. Graham

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Predators last night. It's not without it's flaws (more on that below), but it was a fun, enjoyable movie with a nice 'old school' vibe to it. Definitely a worthy successor to the original Predator movie in my opinion. Although of course, nothing tops the original. I'll definitely be picking up the DVD when it comes out. I do feel the movie could have done with a bit bigger budget and perhaps a different director with a bit more experience under his belt. The pacing felt a bit off to me in places. There were also a few plot holes: Would give the movie a solid 7/10. Graham