Graham

My GBP armor is now happily being worn by my original VF-1J Hikaru, who has also had a head swap, so he now has the head with the grey visor. The newer VF-1J Hikaru with the broken shoulder is now sulking in fighter mode, to hide his injury. Graham

Haven't heard back from Yamato yet. Here's a theory, I thought of a few minutes ago: For every item Yamato has made, they give the factory a set of instructions, or a work guide if you like, which lists what they want made, the number and type of components it consists of, how it should be made, painted, tampoed etc, etc. Although the GBP is a new item, the VF-1J that it comes with is basically a toy from last year, with the exception of a small paint application change (the grey visor). Suppose Yamato just cut and pasted the work guide from last year's Hikaru VF-1J into the guide for the GBP + VF-1J and forgot to change the pin part number. This could explain why recent releases (I hope) use the new non-knurled pins and have had no breakages reported, but the VF-1J+GBP uses the older knurled pins. As I said, just a theory and probably wrong. Can anybody remember if the pins on the original VF-1S Focker an VF-1A Hikaru where knurled on both ends or on one end only? Also, can anybody check some of the recent releases now to see if the pins are completely smooth on both ends, or knurled on one end like in my photo of the VF-1J that comes with the GBP? Anyway, this is the first reported breakage (that I am aware of), in a long while, so the sky is not falling yet! Graham

The knurling is quite visible even on the intact shoulder, so I'm going to carefully check other recent VF-1 releases tonight when I get home to see if I can spot it or not. I'm hoping it's just a case of the factory using the wrong pins by mistake and Yamato not realising. Graham

Picked up the Yamato V2 1/60 VF-1J with GBP yesterday and also the VF-2SS Max at the Ins-Point shopping center in Yau Ma Tei. Now there’s some good news and some bad news. First the good news: The GBP-1S Armour is absolutely beautiful IMO. Yamato have really outdone themselves. Yamato obviously designed the V2 VF-1 from the ground up to be compatible with the GBP Armor. The folding leg fins on the VF-1 really mean for the first time ever that we can have lower leg armor that is in proportion. And talking of proportions, the new V2 GBP has absolutely the best proportions of any GBP toy to date IMO. It’s packed full of detail, lots of nice little touches everywhere and I’m so happy that all the major markings are actually tampo printed on this time. The GBP not only looks good, but it is extremely playable as well, as all the armor pieces stay on very well and nothing falls off. It's a huge improvement on both the original 1/60 GBP and the 1/48 GBP. The side torso covers attach very securely and actually clip into place into the U-shape brackets that hold the hip bar in F/G modes - another nice touch that shows the V2 VF-1 was designed from the beginning with the GBP in mind. The cover behind the neck (another nice touch), also clips into place very securely. Now for the bad news: I took the toy home last night, unpacked it, transformed the included Hikaru VF-1J from fighter to battroid mode, so I could fit the GBP armor and on the first transformation, the shoulder hinge broke, which means the arm now falls off! I was surprised to see that one end of the metal shoulder pin is knurled. I thought the factory had stopped using the knurled pins ages ago. In my opinion, the knurling does put too much pressure on the plastic and makes it very easy for the plastic around the end of the pin to crack. See the attached photos, which show the broken plastic part and also the knurling on one end of the pin. I have many V2 1/60 VF-1 toys and have transformed them dozens of times, but this is my first time that I have personally experienced a cracked shoulder. I'm pissed that this happened, when I thought the problem was fixed. I've written to Yamato and am awaiting their reply. For now, transform the arms with extreme care. Graham

Saw the 3D version yesterday and enjoyed it much more than expected. Yes, the story was extremely simple and predictable, but the CG combined with the 3D really did offer an immersive, believable experience. I'll probably see it once more. Not sure if I'll buy the DVD though, as, I think a lot of what makes the movie special will be lost on a 2D small screen. Graham

Got mine on preorder from Amazon jp. Graham

Wish I had time to head over to Ins Point in Yau Ma Tei after work to see if they have the GBP, but alas, have to head straight home tonight. Graham

Gonna bite the bullet and watch it tomorrow afternoon. Bought my ticket already for the 3D version. This movie is going to have to work awfully hard though to beat District 9 as my personal favorite movie of the year. Graham.

Damn, couldn't find the GBP in Wanchai today, nor the VF-22S Max. Graham

Could do what? I haven't tried it yet, but am curious. Graham

I love Max's VF-22S. It's one of my all time favorite schemes and one of the Valks I've most wanted as a toy, since first watching Macross 7, 14 years ago. Can't wait to get it and the VF-11C when it comes out. Graham

I just paid regular retail price. I don't get any special deals on Bandai stuff. Wish I did. Graham

Wondering where the Q-Rare and Konig Monster are supposed to launch from, cus' if the mini-figures are in scale with the Quarter, there's no way the could fit into the carrier section or even on the carrier launch elevators. Heck, if the Quarter's carrier arm sculpt is correct and in scale to the mini-figs, it's not like it could even hold a great many VF-25 inside, give how shallow it is. Can any body remember if the anime showed where the Konig Monster and Q-Rare launched from? Graham

It's annoying to me, that the hobby mag scan shows the Tornado pack ofn the new bluish-white VF-25F (which I dislike). I hope the production toy comes with a standard white VF-25F. And yes, I have that magazine and it's definitely shown with the bluish white VF-25F. Graham

Two pics attached. The white marks on the shin are the partial super glue fingerprints. On the knee cap, just above the gun turret, you can see the extra grey slodge of paint. Graham

Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but it sounds like you don't like the Quarter design from the anime in the first place. If so, knowing that you don't like the designI think it is "wacky", why did you even buy the toy? Graham

Ditto.

Opened mine yesterday as my Christmas present to myself. Even though I'm more of a VF fan than a capital ship fan, I think it's a really nice toy. Bandai have done a great job. My only minor complaint is that one of the factory workers had left a partial super glue fingerprint on the front left lower leg & there a small spot of grey paint on the left knee cap just above the gun turret, that shouldn't be there! :angry Found transformation to be easy. Even the shoulders, which are tight were not really an issue. Thanks to other people's comments, I'd expected them to be tight, so used the appropriate level of care and gentle steady force. Anyways, attached are a few quick and somewhat blurry pics (still a bit hungover from yesterday, so couldn't hold the camera steady). Merry X'mas to all. Graham

I'm liking the VF-19Kai. Realy hope they release the VF-19F/S/P as well. But yeah, yawn...........another VF-1 toy. C'mon Bandai, let's see a Hi-Metal, VF-171, VF-17, VF-2SS, VF-4 etc. Heck, anything but another VF-1. Graham

And the Brera and Ranka figures in the DX VF-27 cockpit look a good deal more detailed and better painted than the blobs we get for pilots in the DX VF-25 toy. Graham

I loved Inglorious Basterds & District 9. Thought everything else this year ranged from average (Star Trek), to crap (Terminator Salvation). Still waiting for some friends reviews before I decide whether to see Avatar. I'm definitely not a fan of the Na'vi or mecha designs, or of CG heavy movies in general.

Based on my quick glance yesterdax, while checking the box contents in the shop, I suspect that the individual turret guns may be capable of some limited degree of movement, which may explain why in some pics they where not aligned properly.

Picked up one yesterday at the Oriental 188 Centre in Wanchai for HK$1,348. No time to take it out of the box yet, as I had an Xmas party to go to last night. I did check it very quickly in the shop and the gun turrets looked OK. Not sure, but they looked to be ABS, not PVC.

If you are only getting Nyan Nyan points, but no tune points, you must have the second from last auto skill on the 4th row selected. Simply choose another auto skill.

RIP Dan. You will be missed. Graham