Graham

Don't know. Will try tonight. Graham

No shoulders are loose on any of mine. The shoulder on the VF-25S with Armored Pack is a bit tight though. The gun hand droops under the weight of the gun on all of them. Not a big deal for me, I can live with it, I just use a two hand aiming pose, with the left hand under the barrel for support. Crotch lock tightness on my VF-25 toys ranges from acceptable (25S, 25F, RVF-25) to fairly loose on mine (VF-25G). However, without Super Packs fitted, even the loose ones are acceptable. Again, I haven't really found this to be too much of an issue. The Super Packs generally make the toy frustrating enough with all the bits that fall off that they are for display only. If I actually want to play with one of the DX 25s, it wil either a bare version, or sometimes with Armored Pack. I really enjoy the bare VF-25 toys. They are hassle-free, fun toys IMO, where as with Super Packs fitted, they become frustating pains in the ass. Graham

As coincidence would have it, I'm just re-reading the original Robert E. Howard Conan stories. Must be 20 years since I last read them. Damn good stuff. Graham

Bah, the first time i got my hands on the 1/60 VF-11B prototype, I transformed it without instructions or advice in under 5 minutes. It's one of the easiest Valks to transform IMO. Mind you, I do have a bit more experience than some. Graham

The VF-19F/S Blazer better come with closed fists, FAST Packs and an attachable gunpod. Graham

I'm remaining cautiously optimistic about this production. I like that the mercs are not all body builders this time round. Heh, note the mini-gun in one of the pics. Graham

I also feel (hope) 3D is just a short-term fad. I don't mind seeing the occasional 3D movie (say once a year), but I don't want every movie I watch at the cinema to be in 3D. I don't have any physical problem with 3D, no headaches, nausea, dizzyness etc, I just don't think it's necessary for the majority of movies to be in 3D. Heck, even my 5 year old son is getting tired of seeing movies in 3D, with just about every kids cartoon I took him to see last year being in 3D (Ice Age 3, Monsters vs Aliens, Up). Graham

VF-25S with Armored Pack is generally pretty safe. But to be honest, I haven't had any problems with any of mine, except for some minor blemishes on the paint apps or printing. Of course with any of the Super Packs, the intake covers fall off at the slightest touch. The one that gets most handling from me is a second issue VF-25F Alto that I keep without any packs on. It's fun, easy to transform and has no frustration factor. Graham

Here's my quick mini-review on Bandai's Hi-Metal VF-19 Fire Valkyrie, which I purchase last Friday (22 Jan 2010) on the second floor of the Oriental 188 Shopping Center in Wanchai for HK$499.:- Box First of all, I really like the box this toy comes in. It' a flip-top window box, which displays the toy in fighter mode. The box itself is extremely compact, which means easy to store, a definite plus here in Hong Kong shoe-box size apartments. Also, I find the box art and layout very visually appealing. Although opening the flip tip lid, you are presented with a fairly largest picture of Mylene in her flight suit, so anybody not familiar with Macross 7, might well jump to the assumption that she is the VF-19Kai's pilot! The toy itself is packed in a two piece clear plastic tray, with the two-sided black and white instruction guide being packed in a separate clear plastic bag, packed under the tray. Contents 1 x VF-19Kai Fire Valkyrie, packed in Fighter mode. 1 x black and white double-sided instruction sheet. 2 x head lasers (for Battroid mode). 1 x head fin (for Battroid mode). 1 x gunpod (for Battroid mode). 6 x rear leg parts (for Battroid mode). 1 x optional closed mouth face (for Battroid mode). 1 x stand adaptor (for fighter mode). 2 x open hands. 1 x gunpod hand. Appearance & Detail Despite not being 100% anime accurate in a few areas, most notable the knees and gullet, this is the closest we've come so far to a VF-19Kai that looks good in all three modes. Paint application, fit, finish and materials were generally top notch ion the one I purchased. Although I should mention that there is some slight colour variation between the red plastic used in different parts of the toy, but this doesn't bother me at all. Also, some of the red plastic looks like they may have added some metallic powder into the plastic, to give it a more shiny or metallic finish. I especially noticed this on the lower legs. Anyway, it looks good. Unfortunately, even though the toy has no front landing gear, the gullet still looks bigger than it should, but I can live with it. Compared with the older Bandai 1/65 scale transforming VF-19 Fire Valkyrie, the new Hi-metal is light years ahead in appearance. Detailing on the toy is good, but not excellent. Certain features such as in-foot thruster detail, opening canopy, and removable intake covers are not featured, although given the size of the toy this is not unexpected. A nice detail touch from Bandai though is that they included plug in wrist covers for fighter mode, instead on just leaving us with open sockets. The inclusion of a painted Basara pilot figure is also nice, although at 1/100 scale it lacks much detail. Transformation Transformation is very similar to the Yamato 1/60 scale YF-19, although simplified is some areas. As noted, this toy is a parts-former, NOT perfect transformation, although the number of parts you need to remove or swap is far less than with the Bandai VF100s VF-25. If you are not too fussy about the appearance of the back of the Battroid's legs, you can further reduce the number of parts you need by just leaving some parts off. So, to transform from fighter to Battroid, you need to remove just 3 parts from the fighter, these being 1 x neck cover and the 2 x wrist covers (left and right). To then transform to Battroid you need to add 12 parts, although as mentioned above, if you are not fussy about the appearance of the back of the legs, you can reduce this number to only 6 parts. The parts you need to add to transform from fighter to Battroid are: 2 x head lasers (left and right), 1 x central head fin, 2 x hands (left and right), 1 x gunpod and 6 x parts to fit on the pack of the legs (3 parts for right leg & 3 parts for left leg). The removable parts all snap into place very securely, and so far I have not found any parts that fall off easily. This is a big improvement over both Bandai's 1/60 DX VF-25 series (Super Packs I'm talking about you!) and the aforementioned VF100s VF-25 (many parts). I suspect a lot of people will end up leaving the rear leg parts off in Battroid mode, just for convenience. Although the toy does look better with them on,it still looks acceptable with them off and to be honest, how often do you stare at the back of a robots legs? As mentioned, the transformation is very similar to Yamato's 1/60 YF-19. The Bandai Hi-Metal VF-19 Kai shares the same method of folding the fighter nose and the same way of shortening the torso section, although this is easier to perform on the Bandai product as the unlocking is not as tight. The Bandai does not feature the complicated unlocking elbow of the Yamato, this is because the removable rear leg parts allow more space for a simpler elbow design. The way the hips/LERX slide up and down is quite innovative and the first time seen on a 19 toy. If you are familiar with the 19 design, you will find transformation quite easy. There are no real difficult steps in the transformation process. The only minor difficulty I had was when transforming back to fighter mode, I could not get the right shoulder nacelle to lock down and it took quite a few minutes of minor adjusting to get everything in just the right place to accomplish this. Joints and articulation and parts locking Joints are firm but not overly tight, i.e. they can be turned/moved easily with light to moderate finger pressure, but do not need excessive force unlike some of Bandai's recent DX Frontier toys. The toy will hold a pose well without any part sagging, even the wings will hold in horizontal position in Battroid mode, although I suspect like most 19 toys, the Battroid wing hinge may loosen over time. Articulation is good for a toy of its size and it can be posed in some dynamic action poses. I especially liked the hinged shoulder nacelles, which can be angled up for a more aggressive pose. For the first time ever, we have a 19 where the torso actually locks solidly together in Battroid mode. Actually, for me personally this is not a big thing as the 'unlocked' torso on the Yamato 19 never bothered me, as I always hold the Battroid by the leg or lower body, but I understand how it bugged some people. I have not yet transformed the toy into Gerwalk mode, so can't yet comment on its articulation or posability in that mode. Complaints No landing gear - while folding front landing gear may have been difficult to engineer without some compromises in a toy of this size, there's no excuse for not having removable front and rear landing gear. No display stand - The toy comes with a stand connect for fighter mode, but no actual stand base, which I understand you have to buy separately. While other companies do this, also, notably Yamato, at least with Yamato toys you get landing gear. with the Bandai toy, you have no way to display it out of the box in fighter mode, unless you want it lying on it's belly in a simulated crash landing position. Oh well, luckily I've got some spare Flexi-stands. No fists - toy only comes with only 2 x open hands ( left & right) and 1 right hand for holding the gunpod. It looks like fists will only come with the web-exlusive Sounder Booster set. Boo Bandai! Gunpod can't attach in fighter mode - Really, this is what I dislike most about the toy. Really, it's a no-brainer that the gunpod should have been able to attach even it it required a separate detachable connector piece in order to do so. I really hope Bandai rectifies this for the upcoming Blazer Valks. Price Point - A little on the high side, close to what you would pay for a Yamato 1/60 V2 VF-1 (without FPs). Conclusion Despite the above-mentioned issues I really like this toy. It's a nice handy size, locks together well, looks good, is not floppy, has decent articulation and so far doesn't seem to have any fragile parts. You can't really ask more from a transforming toy. While I probably won't buy the Hi-Metal VF-1 (I've too many VF-1 toys already), I'll definitely purchase the upcoming Blazer and YF-19 and will be keeping a close eye on this line. A Hi-Metal VF-171, VF-17, VF-2SS w/SAP or VF-0A/D/S with the same quality as the VF-19Kai would be sublime and a must-buy for me. Graham

Burton's Apes was pure crap IMO. Nothing beats the original movies. Graham

From the latest hobby mag pics, looks like the pilots (Brera & Ranka) are actually removable. Graham

There's definitely at least one, if not two episodes where we see Basara's VF-19Kai parked in fighter mode on its landing gear. Graham

Me for one. I often display fighter mode with gear down.

Ok, I've been forcing myself to sit through Terminator Salvatation Machimina & I do mean forcing myself. The production quality, animation, script& voice acting are all absolutely pure crap, with absolutely no redeeming features. Were they deliberately trying to put the final nail in the coffin of the franchise? Do not buy this DVD. You have been warned. Graham

Ok, I can live without the landing gear & the fists, but the fact that the gunpod can't attach in fighter mode is really unacceptable. What were Bandai thinking!? Otherwise, nice toy. Graham

Jurt picked up one, but won't have chance to open untiil tomorrow. Graham

Yeah, I saw those PLA toys in TRU last year. They're actually pretty cool for the price. Nealy bought the big tank for my son for X-mas. Graham

Heh, maybe the new spidey suit will have nipples!

Amazon.jp has it, I pre-ordered from them weeks ago.

Hi Metal, Bye Metal! LOL! Graham

Frak, Terminator Salvation Machinima is bad, bad, bad. I thought nothing could take the franchise to worse depths, but this is just pure crap. Well, I should of known when the blurb on the DVD box mentioned it was made using a video game engine. Really, watching it, is just ike watching someone play an jerky FPS. Glad I only bought a bootleg. Graham

You do all realize that this Marc Webb guy is primarily a music video director and we all know that NOTHING good ever comes of letting a music video director direct a genre movie. Graham

Err............I guess the director or script writer doesn't realise that the remaining reactors of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant were all shut down and abandoned in 1986 after the disaster at reactor No.4 and there's a 17 mile exclusion zone around the area. Graham

Looks great and I'll definitely buy one, but really................the gunpod can't attach in fighter mode? C'mon shame on you Bandai, that's a no-brainer! What is this the 80s'? Fantastic news that the Blazer is in development. I've wanted a nice looking VF-19F/S toy since I first saw Macross 7, 16 years ago. They better bloody well modify the molds to make the gunpod attachable in fighter mode though! Same goes for a YF-19. Oh yes and landing gear, even if detachable...........another no-brainer one would have thought. Graham

Good, VF-0D. Really looking forward to that one. Hope it's a nice Tenjin fighter mode cover pic. Graham