Graham

My theory is that the two cylinders on the right shoulder are either fuel tanks for greater endurance in space, or power packs or liquid propellant tanks for the large cannon on the left shoulder. Graham

Guys, lets stay on topic with Macross Frontier news please. Graham

If anything, the QC on the 25th anniversey YF-19 is near perfect IMO. If transformed correctly, the nose should lock up super-tight. OC-wise Yamato seem to have been on a bit of a roll recently, with the Nora SV-51 and the 25th anniversery toys being near-flawless (especially Nora). Hopefully, the cannon fodder tan SV-51 and the YF-21 will be just as good. Graham

Please bear in mind that these are very rough samples, made on a rapid prototyping machine and quickly hand painted. Graham

The only problems with the first issue Ivanov are as already stated, the wings sagged a bit and the hard points were too loose. Graham

From the manga, it would seem like the VF-171 still has the full size gunpod from the VF-17 as well. Graham

Wasn't XStoys working on one at one time? Graham

Not sure, but I think the bottom paragraph that Kresphy posted is just talking about the next issue of the Shonen Ace Macross Frontier manga. I should be able to pick up the manga in the next day or so. Graham

No, it does not. Can you recommend a good free software that has this feature? Graham

No, they don't wear it like a suit. The Meltran's arms stay in the toso, not in the Q-Rau's arms. Also (at least according to Yamato), the Meltrans legs actually go into the backpack, not intothe Q-Rau's legs. I think Yamato's interpretation is correct. Graham

Yeah, I think a lot of the issues with the VF-171 battroid are just that particular pose. I'm sure it will look better in action or in a more dynamic pose. Graham

Middle scan is Megahouse. Graham

Here's a slightly higher resolution scan of the pics I posted earlier today, from the March 2008 issue of Dengeki Hobby magazine. Graham

Here's a slightly higher resolution scan of the picture I posted earlier today, from the March 2008 issue of Dengeki Hobby Magazine. Graham

Guys, here's the latest pics from the new March 2008 issues of Dengeki Hobby Magazine and Hobby Japan Magazine. Enjoy (or not as the case may be). Graham

Here's the latest pics from the new March 2008 issues of Dengeki Hobby Magazine and Hobby Japan Magazine. Enjoy. Graham

So who's gonna be the first one do a custom SMS paint scheme on their Yamato 1/100 Konig Monster? Guess we need somebody to make some custom decals or stickers. Graham

Here's a higher res scan of the mecha. Graham

You two go get a room or something, before I throw a bucket of cold water over you. Graham

Showoff! Graham

I'm guessing they are propellant tanks or power packs. Graham

Doggy style? Graham

I just noticed the Gerwalk mode ventral vernier slats are there..........sorta. David H should be pleased. Graham

The new slim lower legs on the VF-171 mean that a transforming toy that is accurately proportioned in all 3-modes should be possible. Although the chunky lower legs on the original VF-17D/S from Macross 7 look better IMO, they make it impossible to have a slim line-art accurate fighter mode toy (witness the Bandai 1/65 DX VF-17D/S). However, the slim lower legs make me wonder whether the VF-171 does have a gunpod, or just relies on the twin chest guns only? I know the manga shows the VF-171 with a VF-17 style gunpod, but it just seems to me that there is no way it would fit in these new slim lower legs. Graham

Don't quote me on this, but from what I understand, the 1/60 VF-1 with FAST Packs will retail for roughly the same as a 1/48 without FAST Packs. Graham