Graham

Joints are pretty tight so far. Graham

He's watched most of the episodes that have action in them already, that's how he remembered the opoening song. Graham

Not really news, but a Frontier related story. While I was shaving this morning, my 4 year old son got hold of my cell phone and managed to activate the built-in MP3 player. I currently have the Macross Frontier OST-1 on my play list and it started playing the opening song from the anime. My son came running too me, holding the phone saying “Daddy, Daddy, it’s that airplane song” (he likes watching the VF-25 in the opening animation). I thought that was really cute. He than asked my if he could watch some Frontier, so I put episode 7 on the TV for him (lots of action). Graham

Links to the previous chapters: - Macross Frontier Manga - Chapter 1. Macross Frontier Manga - Chapter 2. Macross Frontier Manga - Chapter 3. Macross Frontier Manga - Chapter 4. Macross Frontier Manga - Chapter 5. Finally manged to find the July 2008 issue of Shonen Ace, containing chapter 6 of the Macross Frontier manga. I will be working late tonight, so no time to start the scanning today. I will get started on the scans Tuesday evening (HK time). This chapter is basically a near exact retelling of the events of episode 7 of the anime. Graham

Can't remember if anybody posted clear scans of the mecha section from last month's Newtype yet. Here are some scans I just did on the office scanner. Unfortunately, the scanner is just not quite biog enough to scan both pages together without cropping one edge. One of the scans is missing the right edge and the other the left edge. Later, I'll remove the pages from the magazine, to do a completely flat scan. Graham

Here's the DVD and BluRay advert that appears on the back of last month's Newtype. I don't think anyone has shown this yet. Nice picture IMO. Graham

Heh, the thread title makes it sound like you wanna have sex with the toy......LOL! Graham

Great job Yamato. I've never really liked the VF-9 Cutlass, but Yamato's toy sure looks sexy. Graham

The one without hinges, is just where they initially ran the anime CG files through a rapid prototype machine to get some idea of what an actual physical representation of the VF-25 would look like and to help them work out how to make it transformable. AFAIK, it's not meant to be a release product. Graham

They do come with multiple hands - closed fists, gunpod hand, open hands. See attached pic from Save below. Graham

Yes, so far I've found them to be quite sturdy and stable, although that is only based on 1-2 weeks of owning them. Graham

Cross posted from the Macross Revoltech thread. Picked up the Revoltech YF-19 and YF-21 for HK$129 each today at Tai Yuen Street, near my office. Attached are some quick comparison photos I just took together with the Yamato GNU. As you can see, the Yamato GNU are significantly larger. I've tried to be objective in my comparison, but IMO, after handling both the Revys and GNUs, the Yamato GNUs are superior in the following areas: - Accuracy of sculpt = GNU hands down winner. Revoltechs are too stylized IMO and the GNU's are far more faithful to the lineart overall. Although the Revoltech YF-19 has a more accurately sculpted gunpod than the GNU. Quality of material = GNU wins out here again IMO. The high quality ABS used in the GNU both looks and feels better than the rubbery PVC of the Revoltech figures. You definitely get flatter, sharper, crisper looking lines with the ABS GNUs. Paint application and overall finish = IMO a slight edge to Yamato. Value = the Revoltechs have the edge, especially given the amount of accessories included. Articulation = A tie surprisingly. The GNUs have overall nearly as good articulation as the Revoltechs. However, the display stands included with the Revoltechs really allow them to take advantage of their articulation more so than the GNUs. Note that the GNU YF-21 actually has a greater degree of elbow bend than the Revy, although the Revy YF-19 has a greater degree of knee bend than the GNU YF-19. The GNUs can actually stand with their legs straight or adaopt a very wide spread 'A' stance. The Revys are limited to a constant spread leg stance due to their design. The Revy YF-19 does have a rotation point below the intakes, which the GNU does not. IMO (and this is subjective), the Revy YF-19 shoulder joints really give the toy a hunched shoulder look, which looks bad IMO. Accessories = Winner Revoltech, as they include display stands, FAST packs (wrong color on the YF-19 like the promo pics, same as the body color) and green jelly fish, AKA pin-point barriers. Yamato would really do well to take a leaf from Kaiyodo's book and sell the GNUs with display stands. Note, only 1 x YF-21 gunpod is included. I think I will probably drill a few discrete holes on my GNUs, to allow them to use the Revy display stands. Note, the 4th pic of each of the YF-19 and YF-21 is to compare the degree of knee and elbow bend. Graham

Old pic and news, 1/72 scale kits. Graham

Picked up the Revoltech YF-19 and YF-21 for HK$129 each today at Tai Yuen Street, near my office. Attached are some quick comparison photos I just took together with the Yamato GNU. As you can see, the Yamato GNU are significantly larger. I've tried to be objective in my comparison, but IMO, after handling both the Revys and GNUs, the Yamato GNUs are superior in the following areas: - Accuracy of sculpt = GNU hands down winner. Revoltechs are too stylized IMO and the GNU's are far more faithful to the lineart overall. Although the Revoltech YF-19 has a more accurately sculpted gunpod than the GNU. Quality of material = GNU wins out here again IMO. The high quality ABS used in the GNU both looks and feels better than the rubbery PVC of the Revoltech figures. You definitely get flatter, sharper, crisper looking lines with the ABS GNUs. Paint application and overall finish = IMO a slight edge to Yamato. Value = the Revoltechs have the edge, especially given the amount of accessories included. Articulation = A tie surprisingly. The GNUs have overall nearly as good articulation as the Revoltechs. However, the display stands included with the Revoltechs really allow them to take advantage of their articulation more so than the GNUs. Note that the GNU YF-21 actually has a greater degree of elbow bend than the Revy, although the Revy YF-19 has a greater degree of knee bend than the GNU YF-19. The GNUs can actually stand with their legs straight or adaopt a very wide spread 'A' stance. The Revys are limited to a constant spread leg stance due to their design. The Revy YF-19 does have a rotation point below the intakes, which the GNU does not. IMO (and this is subjective), the Revy YF-19 shoulder joints really give the toy a hunched shoulder look, which looks bad IMO. Accessories = Winner Revoltech, as they include display stands, FAST packs (wrong color on the YF-19 like the promo pics, same as the body color) and green jelly fish, AKA pin-point barriers. Yamato would really do well to take a leaf from Kaiyodo's book and sell the GNUs with display stands. Note, only 1 x YF-21 gunpod is included. I think I will probably drill a few discrete holes on my GNUs, to allow them to use the Revy display stands. Note, the 4th pic of each of the YF-19 and YF-21 is to compare the degree of knee and elbow bend. Graham

Release from other Mac anime are planned. Stay tuned. Graham

Guys, stay on topic please. We're here to discuss the Bandai Macross Frontier toys, not slag off Toynami. Please take any discussion of Toynami to the appropriate Toynami thread. Graham

The painted Alto VF-25F and the unpainted Ozma VF-25S shown so far are the 1/72 scale model kits. Absolutely nothing has been shown for the 1/100 line yet, which is why I suspect it may have been dropped. Graham

Another thing about these is that the plastic is really good quality and the finish looks really nice. I'm really loving the YF-19 and VF-11B. Still think the 21 proportions are a little off though. Yamato really should have included a Revoltech type display stand to take advantage of the toy's articulation. Graham

I've been trying to push the idea of GNU Fighters, but no luck yet. Graham

Hope I'm wrong, but from the silence on Bandai's part, I have a nasty feeling the plan for the 1/100 toy line has been quietly dropped. Graham

I'm guessing you haven't watched episode 10 yet? Graham

Judging from Ranka's dress and Sheryl's bikini, that pic should be based on ep 10. The VF-25, will be the white n' grey VF-25 that stood in for the VF-0 during filming. Graham

The Yamato 1/200 Scale Macross Variable Fighter Collection (VFC) figures are out in Japan and Hong Kong. I just picked up a set of the YF-19, VA-3M & VF-1J Hikaru yesterday. Just a few words about these toys. Yamato plan for these was to make the sculpts as lineart accurate and in some cases as lineart pose accurate as possible. Yamato also knew that they had to get around the common warpage problem associated with PVC gashapon figures (AKA gasapon disease). To solve this, they made the parts that would be prone to warping, such as the wings and in some cases the tail fins out of ABS plastic. All the Fighter & GERWALK Figures have ABS plastic wings. The VF-1 Fighter also has ABS tail fins and an ABS chest and back section. All the Fighter GERWALK figures also have clear ABS cockpit canopies. Other parts are PVC. The display stands are ABS plastic are are really nice with painted on UN Spacy Kite emblems. They clear plastic stand arms come with ball jointed mounting adaptors that plug into the Fighter and GERWALK modes, allowing you to pose them flying at different angles. The level of detail on these figures is really high, despite the small size. Yamato really went all out trying to pack as much detail and panel lines on as possible. The figures also have quite a lot of tampo printing. The UN Spacy Kites are all Tampo printed, as in some cases are the 'VF' markings and 'UN SPACY' Markings. The only thing I'm not to keen on is the light paint wash that was given to these figures. Earlier prototypes I saw did not have this. Still, it helps to pick out the panel lines. Sculpt on all the figures is really great. The VF-1 Fighter even has swing wings. They definitely look better than in the photos. The packing is pretty classy too. The come partially disassembled. Basically, it's just a case of plugging the limbs and wings into the main body. The fit is pretty good, but if you are going to be handling these a lot, a dab of glue might be recommended. Perfect for tabletop wargaming, desktop displays or just for anybody with limited space. Can't wait for the series 2, YF-21 and VF-9 Cutlass. Graham

They are not PVC. Biggest selling point in my book. No PVC = nice straight clean lines, no dents, dimples, or other issues accociated with PVC. Graham

Ah OK thanks, Newtype. Been stuck manning a booth at an exhibition for the last 3 days, so no chance to go online. ot a olot of catch up reading of various threads to do. Graham