Graham

Guessing it wont have removable intake covers like Yamato. Graham

Just out today in HK, so probably out yesterday or the day before in Japan. Graham

Sorry correction, the 1/72 scale scratch built VF-27 model in the new Hobby Japan is battroid mode only, not variable. Graham

Sorry correction, the scratch built VF-27 model in the new Hobby Japan is battroid mode only, not variable. Graham

As I said, a scratch built variable VF-27. Graham

I'll scan some, but probably not all. I'll try to get some done tonight after my son goes to bed. Graham

Stay on topic please. This thread is for discusing the 1/60 DX toy, not 1/32 PG kits, which don't even exist. Graham

Definitely recommend getting the new November 2008 issue of Hobby Japan magazine. Not only does it have a Macross Frontier cover, but it also features a 47 page article on the Macross Frontier kits and toys and CG art. Most of the pages showcase the completed builds of the 1/72 Alto VF-25F and Ozma VF-25S model kits, along with custom conversions for Micheal's VF-25G and Luca's RVF-25 and a scratch build variable VF-27! There's some really beautiful photos. I'll try to scan in some of the pages later. Graham

Pics of the 1/100 VF-25F from the new November 2008 issue of Hobby Japan magazine. Graham

New pics from the November 2008 issues of Hobby Japan magazine and Dengeki Hobby magazine. New Super Pack Photo....Yay! Quite a nice detailed cockpit interior as well. Actually, it looks pretty good in some of these photos. However, given the long lead time in print publishing compared with online publishing, these photos are probably older than the ones that came out yesterday on the Tamashii Nations website (page 11 of this thread). Also, these magazine photos appear still to be the resin prototype, rather than the ABS and die-cast test shot. Anyway, enjoy (or not). Graham

Definitely recommend getting the new November 2008 issue of Hobby Japan magazine. Not only does it have a Macross Frontier cover, but it also features a 47 page article on the Macross Frontier kits and toys and CG mecha art. Beautiful builds of the 1/72 Alto VF-25F and Ozma VF-25S are shown along with custom conversions of Micheal's VF-25G and Luca's RVF-25 and a scratch build variable VF-27. There are of course some interesting new pics of the 1/60 DX. There are also the largest CG pics published so far of many of the mecha, including the VF-171EX, Vajra carriers and others, which I'm sure Mr. March will love. Oh and a custom Yamato VB-6 in SMS scheme is also shown, complete with Ranka nose art. Graham

Yep so will I buy 1 of each, but with landing gear like that, it will be displayed wheels up in flight. I wonder if Bandai will include a display stand with the toys? If not, time to invest in some more flexi stands. Graham

If I use a Gundam marker to panel line an unpainted VF-25 kit, what should I use to wipe off the excess ink? Water? Mr. Thinner? If the latter, should it be diluted? If yes, what ratio? And do I use tissue, a soft cloth, q-tips, cotton balls? help! Graham

Which is what I've been saying, but people are still expecting miracles. Graham

Season 1 just started showing here in Hong Kong last night. Pretty good first episode IMO. Mind you, even if it was crap, I'd watch it just for Summer Glau, as she is a real hottie! Graham

For Luca, you would also need the folding ventral ELINT fin that is sometimes (but not always) shown. Graham

Exactly, it is a test shot. And when you are at the test shot stage, that is already 98% representative of your final product. Test shots are just for the factory to refine the fit and finishing, tighten or loosen tollerences where necessary to ensure good parts fitting, minimise gaps, tighten up joints etc. Once you are at the test shot stage, it's unusual for any major design changes to be implemented, unless a serious problem is encountered, requiring redesign and retooling of a part or parts (expensive). As I said before, once you see a test shot, it is usually a case of 'what you see is what you get', although the final product will always fit together better, have fewer gaps and a better finish than a test shot. Graham

Heh, I don't want to say "I told you so" just yet, but thinking back to when it was first announced that Bandai had the toy licence and the Bandai fans were all like "Bandai's gonna kick Yamato's ass with their superior design. Bandai is so great....blah...SOC....blah....Gundam.......Blah........Blah...etc! And look what we get. Mwahahahaha! But seriously, I really wanted them to make a nice looking VF-25 and they did it with the 1/72 model kit, but failed miserably so far with the 1/60 toy IMO. Well, they have 3 months to redeem themselves. Lets hope they use the time wisely. Graham

Even with CAD CAM, the first test shots always have tollerance issues resulting in loose or poor parts fitting. It usully takes about 4 generations of refiniments from the first test shot to get things to a standard acceptable for production. Graham

LOL......can I use that in my signature? GRaham

So are the stickers on this foil stickers or what? Graham

The Ozma looks awesome. Serious props to the Bandai VF-25 model design team. They have absolutely kicked the asses of the Bandai 1/60 design team. Graham

That sounds worrying. Fighter mode is my favorite. Maybe I should buy two, one for battroid mode and one to glue permanently together in fighter mode. Graham

I've added the other 2 pics that were missing to the first post (1 more battroid and 1 more Gerwalk pic). Graham

Its a test shot. That means the molds are already cut. If Bandai works the same as Yamato, the from now on only minor changes such as tweaking the tolerances to close up gaps and get parts fitting together better will be done. Retooling an all new steel mold is very expensive, so it's unlikely that we will see any major changes now. Graham