Graham

Just picked up the Takara 1/18 Vanilla + RSC Parts set during my lunch break, for HK$299 (US$38.34) from the Animate Branch in Sugar Street, Causeway Bay. Won't have time to open the box until I get home at about 11pm tonight though. Graham

According to the new Hobby mags, the Takara DMZ #05 Scopedog Turbo Custom has been delayed until December. New photos in the mags show it will come will an all new Chirico figure wearing the OVA green military uniform and beret. Will get the pics scanned tomorrow. Hoping to pick up my Vanilla + RSC parts set today. Graham

No, it doesn't. This new YF-21 is definitely high speed, low drag and far more anime accurate than the old 1/72. Graham

Eh? The 1/60 YF-19 was specifically designed so the codpiece would not block line of sight of the gunpod in fighter mode, unlike the older 1/72 version. Are you remembering to fold the backpack thruster up and out of the way inside the backpack, so that the codpice can sit as high up as possible? Graham

I'll do a scan of my 25th Anniverery sticker, but it will have to be when I'm back in the office on Monday, as my home scanner has decided to die on me. Graham

I think you mean 'Yang', not Yuan. Graham

I did try with a second Isamu in the back seat and while I could sorta get him squashed in, the rear canopy would not close completely. Graham

Yep, it would be great to see Gamlin back. He's probably my all time favorite male Macross character. Heh, wonder if he would be married to Mylene. Graham

Not interested in the 3rd version. I hate wearing clothes that have writing on them I can't read. Graham

Actually, I quite like the Unicorn in it's 'armor closed' form. Not digging the open form at all, especially the head. Looks identical to every other Gundam.......yawn. Graham

While it's true missiles are much better now than in the Vietnam War era, there are still things that missiles can't do that only guns can. While of course dedicated ground attack munitions are better for ground targets than guns, you might find yourself all out of bombs but with a ground target that urgently needs taking out, i.e. a truck full of enemy troops racing to capture a downed allied airman...etc. Need to fire a warning shot at a suspected terrorist plane, drug smuggler etc. Good luck trying that with missiles. And while missile-only proponents make a big thing about the ability to take out targets beyond visual range, that is completely irrelvant if your rules of engagement require you to close to visual range and get a visual ID on your target with your mark one eyeball before opening fire. I say keep guns. While they are seldom used, they do get used and it's far better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them. Graham

The Takara 1/18 Vanilla + Red Shoulder Custom Parts set was released in Japan on August 22, so I'm expecting it here in Hong Kong within the next day or two. Graham

Got my 25th Anniversery goodies today. Got two T-shirts. The first is black with "VF-1S" in big white letters on the chest with the Skull Squadron emblem also in white below it. The second T-shirt is the Minmay Meets Fire Bomber T-shirt. I haven't taken any pics of them yet, but I grabbed some pics off Yahoo Japan, which you can see below. Also got a cool white plastic bag with the 25th Anniversery logo on it and also a 25th Anniversery sticker. Graham

Difficult to chose just one. My favourites are: - 1) 1/48 Hikaru VF-1S with Strike Packs. 2) 1/60 VF-0A Cannon Fodder. I actually prefer the color scheme over Shin's version and now that I have the replacement arms with the SBS rubber instead of PVC and the harder ABS plastic, I feel confident in the toy. 3) 1/60 YF-19FP/FB Set. No more wonky gunpod! Overall best looking toy IMO goes to the VF-0 series, I think the sculpt is just stunning. Graham

Nope, the first Spec Eva got a terrible reputation for fragile hips. Lots of breakages reported. Graham

But surely the box blurb should read "Hip Breakage Rate of 400%". Graham

I'd vote Empire. Personally, I never thought they were all that evil. Plus, they have the cooler uniforms. Graham

She's too small, I'd split her in two. Graham

Yamato no longer have a physical office in Hong Kong, so I don't meet with them every week, face-to-face like I used to. However, I still talk with them on the phone usually at least once a week, as well as regular email correspondence. Occasionally there are dry spells though with no communication for a few weeks if they are really busy. About every 2-3 months, my contact in Japan usually visits Hong Kong and we get together for drinks and dinner, so that's always a good time to discuss issues. So basically, yes, if you have any request or concerns I can easily pass them on. Graham

Because BW is and always has been been pretty bad at promoting Macross. Graham

Hah, including preproduction more like 2 years already, but SK & BW move so slowly. Graham

It's not an upgraded version. It's a stylized version of the Dragonar that appears only in the opening animation. Graham

Great pics, they are beautiful, especially the 19. Now I definitely want the markings to be tampo printed on. Graham

Those are 100% Hasegawa YF-21 and YF-19. Graham

Sometimes you MWers are really schitzo. Normally you are all screaming at Yamato for more Tampo printing, yet now when there is a possibility of tampo printed markings you want stickers!!!! Graham